Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Egypt
The first day, not my first day but the first day i met the group we went to do the touristy thing. aka the pyramids and the sphinx. a little crowded but still quite bizarre all the same. It was here i encountered my first camel. The group i cycled with were really nice and I made friends quite quickly - seems to be the thing when you are shoved into that situation together. We sweated, cried, moaned and drank together. And when it comes to putting sudocream in places in a tent in front of a group of strangers... well you tend to form some kind of a bond!
My highlight had to be the Mount Siani climb. We were woken up at 0145am which wasnt great but a small group of us managed to roll out of bed. The climb was quite tough. And also very demoralising when you think you are near the top and you can see a line of torches going up further for ever. Anyway we reached the top befor light and sat watching the sky turn from black to red. We knew we had to make a quick decent as soon as the sun rose. It was worth it. And no, I didnt see Moses. Our trip ended in Taba - the very eastern boarder of Egypt, where we could see the boarders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. And after much drinking in our luxary resort we made the six hour journey back to Cairo where I knew I had my 4am flight to look forward to. Must return to Egypt me thinks, though I may chose an alternative form of transport!!!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Madrid
In Madrid I felt spoilt. It was five days of luxary - meals out, tickets to places etc. The first day we visited the main square (quite similar, we noted, to st. Marks square in Venice only missing the big building at the end which i guess you could call St Mark's Basilica) and took an afternoon stroll through the park. It was sunny, but not to hot - perfect!
The Prado museam had to be one of my favourite moments. There were so many famous paintings - I mean -'walk round the corner, fight through the crowd and think 'hey, i know that one' famous painting'. there were Goya, Velazquez, Bosch, Dali, Rubens, and Picasso, from what I can remember. Guernica was amazing, that garden one, the one with the princess with the king and queen in the mirror, 3rd of may - maybe not 3rd of may but we saw it and it was ace.
I really like the monkey one - was that Goya?
Anyway - we saw alot of art. We also went to a tapas restaurant and afterwards saw a flamenco show - 2 dancers, 3 singers and two guitar players. And I was transfixed, they were amazing. Even down to the expression on the womans face - it felt like she was telling a story. A must do if anyone visits Madrid.
The market was very picturesque. Indoors, not smelly and you could drink wine there! Another of my favourite moments was our first glass of wine there.
What else can I say - the buildings were gorgeous, the food not so great although I can remember two good meals, lots of rioja (well i was with dad what do you expect). I had a great time. Shame I had to leave
Monday, 26 October 2009
New York
I decided to leave Mexico early and spend longer then a day and a half in New York. And I'm so glad I did. I arrived at JFK airport and it was pouring with rain. I was wearing a short skirt and a strappy top. Well I have had a prolonged very sunny summer. I got a bit cold and wet but didn't really mind. So first stop had to be century 21 - NY's biggest discount store. I was good - all I bought was a nice purple coat and some boots - just the essentials me thinks. Century 21 is opposite ground zero, which I had a walk around. It’s all blocked off and is now just a big construction site inside. Still it was quite sad to see it - all those images from years ago seem so real now.
I've decided I am very much a Manhattan girl. There is just a certain vibe there. I seemed to blend in quite well and it amused me when the ticket touting bus tour guides just smiled and let me pass while they zoomed in on some map holding, camera showing, big apple t-shirt wearing groups of people. But I did hit the main tourist spots. The statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park, Broadway, The Empire state building.
I also walked a lot up and down 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th avenue and Broadway. I wondered around Times Square and went to Madame Tausards. I also managed to squeeze in a show - called Burn the Floor as I am missing my strictly Come Dancing this year.
There was a lot of Halloween set up which put a wintery feel to it. I didn't want to leave.
But I did leave and had a far too excitable 2 and half hours in ENGLAND. Ok I didn’t leave Heathrow but still it was nice to be home for a bit. But time keeps a moving and Madrid was waiting just for me.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Mexico
2) Nice little not so touristy destination = no one to talk to. I enjoyed seeing the sights but I like talking to people and as you are already aware of my Spanish knowledge it didn´t get me too far. The only people who seemed to talk to me were the Mexican men. And I got the impression it wasn´t conversation on their minds!
So I have walked the streets (not in that way), I have seen the churches, museams, bars and restaurants and it seems that 4 days is my limit to being alone (making a total of 7 on my whole trip). But that is proof enough for me, if I needed it that I can do it!
I have managed two of three things on my list - Fajita (yes dad - very yum), tequila (infact two Helen - seemed only right) but no hat or sombrero (sorry Andy). I think thats MexiCAN enough, don´t you?
So tomorrow dawns and I fly to Miami where I have 8 hours only before I become a ¨legal alien¨ and become an english (wo)man in New york. Sorry couldn´t help it. I could have come up with worse. I know you could dad!!!!
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Cairns
After the two days we packed our bags and headed for the Great Barrier Reef. We stayed on the boat for two nights and three days and I did a total of 9 dives. Four training dives with our little group of 6 and our instructor. Our instructor was a japanese guy called Massoa. He was very enthusiastic and funny. Whenever we completed an underwater skill he'd smile and clap his hands and shake ours. Just seemed funnier when you are hovering at 18m water. Our little team (team Massa/ team special needs) bonded quite well. You always did you dives with a buddy - mine was an english girl called Sophie. There was one occasion when I lost Sophie as I didn't realise until she had fl;oated up to the surface and Massoa had to pull her back down. Unfortuantly when we swapped buddies as Sophie and Martin wanted to do the advanced course the same thing happened to my new buddy David. I still think I am not the contributing factor here. It was not because they were both trying to escape me.
We saw lots of colourful big and small fish - including Nemo, giant turtles, Stingrays, lots of coral among many other things . Oh and of course the reef sharks. That was fun!
Night times the alcohol cam out and on the last night we played some starnge party games involving a broom, a toilet roll and a snorkel - don't ask. One of the nights we did a night dive. That was a little bit scary - we did have torches though.
The best dive by far was the early morning dawn dive. Shift change over for the fish. the day fish were emerging as the nocturnal fish (inc sharks) were still about. It was literally rush hour. Amazing.
Now can't wait to dive again. :-)
Onwards as per usual. Next stop Mexico. Are you a Mexican or a mexican't!
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Sydney
Anyway it turned out to be a lovely morning with temps of 32 degrees. Spring hey but not as we know it!
Alice had to work a shift in the afternoo and my excitability had started to wean so I went for a qick nap only to wake just as Alice was finisheing her shift! Must have needed it. In my defense I had a lot of last nights to celebrate - Cambodia, Singapore and then a sleepless flight!
The next day Alice had managed to swing things so she had a day off. After a lazy start we made it out the house and the first stop the local hospital where we could pick up some free tickets from the gym there for the zoo - confused!?! Bad things happened today. I lost my camera - someone swiped it. I don't want to talk about that anymore. I underestimated my pay, badly. Again the less said the better. I found out it was a national holiday in Australia and therefore my flight to Cairns stung. But on the upside I saw a kangaroo - well the back of one, the lazy thing wouldn't stand up, even when I shouted hey Skipper. Oh and i saw a koala and her baby - caught the one hour they were not sleeping and eating instead and got a great picture, not on my camera though! Also saw a komodo dragon (huge), a croc (ace) and for anyone who knows me well I managed to walk all the way through the reptile house.
To top the day off we then went to a typical aussie pub, well a pub in ausiie anyway and drank copius amounts of beer. When in Rome.....
Had a great time in Sydney even though it rained for the next two days. Kinda reminded me of home. Shame I had to leave but it was worth the extra money and hassle.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Singapore
To begin, Singapore has the most beautiful airport I have ever seen - it is full of plants and flowers , free internet, lots of shops and you can get a massage. I found a hotel (luxuary again for the night - 4*, cost about 30 quid) and hopped on the aipport shuttle bus. When Arriving at the hotel I thought I'd do my usual trick of sleep, shower and food but as I only had one night I skipped the sleep. Straight away I did the touristy thing and booked a tour for that evening and another one for the next morning. Which meant I had two and a half hours to spare. What to do, let me think, well the sun was past the yard arm - well past!
Raffles hotel, hmm - looks a bit posh but I made my way into the courtyard garden bit and found myself a seat next to some nice Australians (to repeat - the friendliest nation in the world) and had a Singapore sling - only one though as it cost $27 (sing) which is roughly 11-12 pound. I made it last!
Singapore otherwise is quite Westernised and very clean. It was so nice to go on a walk without be hassled a hundred times - 'tuk tuk lady, where you going?'. The night safari was interesting. I met some nice chaps from Barain - lots of nocturnal beasts - the animals I mean, some fire breathing men and a recycling friendly otter!
The next day I dragged myself out of bed for my second tour of the city - one of those hop on hop of bus. Sad I know but fun. We went to a jewellry makers and one of the shop assistants tried to sell me a diamond necklace -20% off but at 2500 quid not really a backpackers price range. Afterwards I still had a few hours to kill before my flight to Sydney so, and in my defense I was dropped off there, I raided the biggest shopping mall. What did I say about backpackers price range??
Monday, 28 September 2009
Pol Pot
Anyway they first cell still had old blood stains splattered up the wall. We also saw many pictures of the tourtured prisoners and the tourture devices themselves (apart from the scorpions - I think they're dead). In another room we saw pictures of prisoners and the story told by one of their remaining alive relatives. Sad, sad stories including one of a lady who visited S-21 after it had been turned into a museam and discovered one of the prisoners was that of her missing brother.
It also contained pictures and stories of those who were forced to work at s-21 in fear of thier lives, also very sad.
After S-21 we made our way over to the killing fields. The site is an old Chinese graveyard. Prisoners who did not die of tourture or starvation were brought here in the truck loads, often having being told they were being sent to work in an office or something to that extent. It happened in the dead of night and loud music was played so the local villagers could not hear the screams. There is a monument at the entrance housing 9000 skeletons that were first found. The other 11,000 remain in the mass graves. The largest mass grave holds 450. One grave holds just women, foung naked alongsid their babies. Babies and children were killed because they had no use and the Khymer Rouge feared revenge and retribution if they kept them alive.
Guns were not used as that would be a waste of bullets. The prisoners were blindfolded and chained to each other and one by one beaten to death. Some were not dead when thrown into the mass graves. Babies were beaten against trees infront of their mothers.
As we walked around the site we could even see the evidence ourselves. The graveyard is next to a lake and during the rainy season clothes, bones and teeth woould start to appear on the path.
I can remember a bit about Pol pot from when I was younger and remember the significance of when he died (without a trial) but now know a lot more about this horrible period of very recent history. The sad thing is the trial has only just finished for some of the main leaders and yes they have been imprisoned - only one has shown an ounce of remorse. Some have been granted amnesty by the government to try and bring some peace to the country.
Sunday we had a relaxing day by a pool we found. Much needed I think.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Siem Riep
I settled myself in - there was a pool and I had, I won't say good but a book anyway. I found out you could rent DVD'S and to my shame revolutionary road, marley and me and the fellowship of the ring happened to find there way into my room.
The next day I hired a tuk tuk driver and it was temples, temples and more temples. 6 and a half hours of them. I saw about ten - satrting with the most famous- Ankor WAT and ending with my favourite Ta Phrom - where they filmed Tomb Raider. At Ankor Wat a man attached himself to me and straing showing me around. I finally clicked on after 10 minutes that he was a tour guide and not just a friendly bloke and brushed him off parting with $5 as I did. He cheekily asked for more though!
The bus ride home was long and dull today and they showed repeats of some cheesy Cambodian veriety show!
I was glad to get home and managed to catch the group on their way to dinner. Nice meal. Including the speciality which I didn't try but it was enough to have on the table - Tarantula!
Cambodia
The next day the bomshell was dropped - instead of working in an orphanage - playing with the children, washing and feeding the babies, plaiting the girls hair (ok that bit wasn't on the website) and generally caring for the children all they wanted was teachers! Worse still you were put in a class on your own with no idea of the curriculam but they expected lesson plans etc... And to put the nail in the coffin I had the advanced class - 16 - 19 year olds who just looked bored as hell! I lasted one day.
The rest of the group when they came back had already bonded and although they were all lovely its always a difficult situation.
Still we managed to fit in a trip to the temple and silver pagoda. And I found the joys of skype - why had no-one told me of this - calls to England for 0.12p. Mabye they're trying to tell me something. And one other thing Cambodia, compared to eastern asian standards it quite expensive. So I apologised to the group leader and took myself of independent travelling on my own
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Sapa
After we found a hotel - 3 star, paid for 1-2 star, felt like 4 star - we had a sleep a shower and some food. Feeling much refreshed we also managed to tag along on the aformentioned blokes tour - a 3 hour trek down the mountain and up again stopping at the local village on the way. Sapa is very picturesque when you can see it - there's alot of fog. During the evening we found a cheep place to eat - us$1 for a main and stayed on for many beers, and maybe a small bottle of vodka. We had a sizeable group in our defense!
Quick mention here about the locals who try to sell you stuff. They are present in the whole of Vietnam and quite persistant, if you don't watch it you could easily buy 3 pillowcases, two hats and a musical instrument you don't even know what its for. In Sapa they take persistance to the next level and you actually get stalked. They will quite happily follow you down and up mountains and wait for hours outside your hotel. The only sad thing is while the mums at work the little childran have to fend for themselves - often selling too. You can Commonly see 5 or 6 year olds with their baby brother on their back.
The next day (friday) we arrange a moterbike tour to some of the remote villages. It was lovely, small little villages with no hint of tourism at all. After lunch - beef soup so I had a banana - we walked to a remote waterfall where all the locals swim. We had bought tshirt and shorts to swim in but we were assured by out guide and over moter bike driver that we were allowed to stip into our bikini's - infact they insisted. Soon after we found out why when we were offered a far, how should i put it, lets just say a personal massage. After a firm no we decided it was best to leave. We than had a hours ride back with these guys but i think thay had got the message!
Back to hotel, another sleep, another shower and more food and it was time to go home - well back to Hanoi. We artrived in Hanoi in time to meet a privat cab driver at 5am who promtly took me to the airport for my 8.30am flight. Don't worry mum - remembered my passport.
We have had to give our passport to all hotels on arrival so the police can track all travellers!!
I am now in Cambodia......
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Halong Bay
What more can I say. Pictures to come will explain all. This is when I get around to putting them on!
Hope England is nice! ;-)
Hanoi
We ahd an amazing breakfast here at a non profit cafe to give disadvantaged Vietmanese children the chance of a better life. And my stomach was grateful for it. You could have anything from Vietmanese to English to continental breakfasts and plenty of fresh fruit!
We are now back in Hanoi (up to date) after spending the night in Halong Bay. Our tour finishes tomorrow and I will have to say goodbye to Alex who is going back to America (L.A) and our group leader Sonny. But have a farewell dinner tonight and then I cant lie proberly more bar action. Tomorrow night I will be catching an overnight train furthe up north to Sapa with the rest of the tour group - Alice (who has an extra week in Vietnam).
Hue
During our trip we ahve took several cyclo rides - you sit in a comfotable carrige type seat which is connected to a cycle at the back. On our way to the bar we were approached by - most likely the hundenth cyclo man asking to escort us so we decided to turn the tables. To our surprise they agreed and we ended up cycling them in the crazy Vietnamese traffic and then paying the at the end. Good fun though.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Hoi An
This is the town of clothes and the beat place to go if you want fitted clothing made specially for you, or footwhere. Of course I'm all up for trying out new experiences so I forced myself to have several new dresses made and a skirt and a pair of shorts and a few tops...
We arrived here on a rainy day. It is not flood season just yet but while we were having lunch we watched to water rise up the back steps of the restaurant. The river banks overflowed and you had to doge you way around or through at some points. Some cafes had to resort to using boats to escort customers to their premises.
This was a lovely break from the heat though and the river was lit with lanterns at night and very picturesque. We met a couple of south african lads, played pool very badly and then sat on a wall and watched the weird animals floating by.
If you ever visit Nha Trang just beware of how much you want to buy and pay because they are very good at convincing you to get just that one more item!
Nha Trang is the first coastal town we reach and it is gorgeous. Here we relax a bit, explore the town and swim in the lovely warm sea. What made me ever think I should swim on the British coastline i'll never know.
We took a boat ride and visited a little fishing village where the fishermen start early to get the beat fish. Then its beer o'clock, food, sleep and karioke! the same routine every day. The also have cock fights on a sunday. Here two little girls got very excited at our presence and decided to follow us. Cue great photo opportunity and they were happy to oblige by high fiving and sticking their tongues out.
We also had a go at snorkelling, para-sailing and relaxed in a mud bath.
Mekong Delta
We stayed in a lovely home stay with an elderly couple, their youngest son and his wife and children and other members of the extended family. They cooked us a massive feast. And yes they had a pet snake - luckily for me it was kept in a cage but rather off putting when you are trying to eat your dinner - I managed! The next day we saw the floating markets which are exactly waht they say on the tin - markets on boats!
Ho Chi Minh City
Chu chu tunnels
Apparantly you could get to Cambodia in the very long and tight fitting tunnels. We didn't ahve our passports on us so had to make do with just 30 metres of widened tunnel for tourists. I think they may have realised we (all tourists) are slightly bigger then your average Vieatmanese. Still we had to croutch all the way through. We had one guide with one torch who sped through the tunnels with ease while we stumbled along behind in the semi darkness trying not to whack our heads. We did however manage to pause for photographs. The whole site is set up to show some of the harships of the "American war". We also spotted some of the traps which were originally made as tiger traps but happened to come of some use during the war.