A few blogs ago I talked about how jelous I was of the people who were still working in the states with ISV. Now that the season has finished alot of those people who made it to the end are travelling various places in Europe and South America leaving me with an even deeper feeling of jelousy.
Jelousy... why do we get jelous? It is a natural feeling to be jelous of others who have more than us. But I hate being jelous! I've started reading one of the books I bought in Vietnam; The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. It talks about how, when it comes to overall happiness, 'your state of mind is key'.
When we are jelous, we are comparing ourselves to someone who, to us, seems more fortunate than we do. But, if we step back and put it into perspective, there are a lot of people out there much less fortunate than us that should actually make US feel like the fortunate ones.
However, I've read this, and I understand it to be true, but for some reason I am still jelous. Lately I've started to realise how short life really is, because I have so much I want to do in my life and now, only at 21 years old, I feel like I'm going to struggle to do everything I want to do! Anyone who is older than me right now is probably shaking their head at what im saying haha!
I know I need to just accept that we can only do so much, I'm not superwoman (unless I find some kriptonite...hrmmm).
And I do know how fortunate I am to have had a financially stable upbringing, a loving family, opportunity in education....
Sometimes we just need to keep reminding ourselves to put it in perspective. Or get someone to help you put it in perspective! Its not always easy, especially when you're having a bad day. Like yesterday, I broke my toe!! I just walked into the wall...really hard obviously. Its not even a good story is it? But it really hurts and now I cant walk properly! It has certainly affected my immediate happiness, but I'm working on it :)
And to finish this blog I have a nice quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself
"we dont need more money, we dont need greater success or fame, we dont need the perfect body or the perfect mate - right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to acheive complete hapiness."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Figuring it all out
I've been working at Roger David for 2 weeks now, and really enjoying it. Infact, I was one of the top sales people in all of Australia in my first week and got an award! Thanks ISV for the training...now I can use it to succeed elsewhere!ha!
Today is the first real day I've had a good break. Its 6.30pm and I'm still in my PJs but I think I deserve a day like this after how busy Ive been this week! Ive been going to Yoga with Dee every week and am starting a beginners course tomorrow. I love going to class, its so challanging but the way our teacher structures the classes makes you feel like you've improved hugely in just one session. I also bought a little book with yoga techniques so me and Dee can keep it up at home as well! I feel more relaxed, more energised, more flexible..and just generally happy. Highly recommended!
In terms of how the adjustment is going...it seems to be going slowly. I still havent got my tax file number from the government which I have been waiting for, I need it soon because if I dont get it I will be taxed 47%! I've tried to sort out health insurance but have to get a medicare card first, and in order to get that I need to sign a statutory declaration stating that I will be in Australia permanently. What is permanentley anyway??! I don't do permanent...
Otherwise...I have made a big decision. One I'm really excited and happy about. Im going to be a teacher!!! I was working yesterday with a girl who has just finished her teaching degree and thought to myself..why did I not think of this before!! The pay in Western Australia for teachers is amazing. Starting rate is $57,000 in the cities and $75,000 in the country. I would get to work with kids which would be heaps of fun, AND I wont be sitting on my bum all day which I hate! AND because I already have a degree I only need to do a 1 year post grad diploma and Im ready to teach!
I've had a look at the Edith Cowen University website and have got my application form ready to fill out this week. *cross fingers touch wood etc etc*
"Gooood morning Missss Looooong"
hahah!
Today is the first real day I've had a good break. Its 6.30pm and I'm still in my PJs but I think I deserve a day like this after how busy Ive been this week! Ive been going to Yoga with Dee every week and am starting a beginners course tomorrow. I love going to class, its so challanging but the way our teacher structures the classes makes you feel like you've improved hugely in just one session. I also bought a little book with yoga techniques so me and Dee can keep it up at home as well! I feel more relaxed, more energised, more flexible..and just generally happy. Highly recommended!
In terms of how the adjustment is going...it seems to be going slowly. I still havent got my tax file number from the government which I have been waiting for, I need it soon because if I dont get it I will be taxed 47%! I've tried to sort out health insurance but have to get a medicare card first, and in order to get that I need to sign a statutory declaration stating that I will be in Australia permanently. What is permanentley anyway??! I don't do permanent...
Otherwise...I have made a big decision. One I'm really excited and happy about. Im going to be a teacher!!! I was working yesterday with a girl who has just finished her teaching degree and thought to myself..why did I not think of this before!! The pay in Western Australia for teachers is amazing. Starting rate is $57,000 in the cities and $75,000 in the country. I would get to work with kids which would be heaps of fun, AND I wont be sitting on my bum all day which I hate! AND because I already have a degree I only need to do a 1 year post grad diploma and Im ready to teach!
I've had a look at the Edith Cowen University website and have got my application form ready to fill out this week. *cross fingers touch wood etc etc*
"Gooood morning Missss Looooong"
hahah!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I'm ripping up my degree, I think it would be more useful recycled and used as toilet paper
12 hours after arriving in Perth, I was offered a job and started on the spot, then I quit 3 hours later. The job was, what I thought would be perfect. Tour consultant at Discover West Holidays. They offered me the job on the spot which made it hard to refuse and asked me to start training right away. They then told me I could only wear black, white, beige and navy to work..even though I would have no customer contact. Apparently what I was wearing looked like I was on holiday! (I don't think these people know how to holiday). I hated it already. And then, I'm told we can't even have our cellphones on in the building...what about the lunch room?? Where is the trust in your employees??
I thought about it over lunch. My neck was already sore from sitting on my ass all morning. The pay was crap and it would take me 1 1/2 hours to get to work every day. BUT This job COULD be good for my career, right? But whats the point in being unhappy in a job that is only going to lead me to another, maybe higher payed and respected, but boring job in every way. I decided right there and then, I just cannot work in an office anymore.
So now I have no flippen idea what to do with my life. But it feels kind of good to be lost. At least it means theres lots of things to find! Good or bad...
I decided I need to do something on my feet, talking to people. Mainly because thats what I liked about working for ISV. First thing that comes to mind - retail.
But then I have a moral dillemma. I'm trying to become less materialistic, and would love others to be the same. Thats not really retail in a nutshell..
However, I don't have time for moral dilemmas, I'm running out of money, and I need a fun job to do. Fast!
Anyway, I've landed a job as Assistant Manager for Roger David which is a rather flash mens store in Aussie. The Manager is so lovely so I'm sure I will enjoy working with her. Its in a mall only 15 mins up the road, and the hours are good. It means I can be on my feet bouncing around all day talking to random people, yay!
Oh, but disapointment! Its rained 2 days since I got here! Come on Perth mr sunniest city in the world! Actually, I'm not complaining, I did get to spend an hour on the beach the other day. Plan to do that everyday after work alllll summer! You jelous? huh? You better be!!
I thought about it over lunch. My neck was already sore from sitting on my ass all morning. The pay was crap and it would take me 1 1/2 hours to get to work every day. BUT This job COULD be good for my career, right? But whats the point in being unhappy in a job that is only going to lead me to another, maybe higher payed and respected, but boring job in every way. I decided right there and then, I just cannot work in an office anymore.
So now I have no flippen idea what to do with my life. But it feels kind of good to be lost. At least it means theres lots of things to find! Good or bad...
I decided I need to do something on my feet, talking to people. Mainly because thats what I liked about working for ISV. First thing that comes to mind - retail.
But then I have a moral dillemma. I'm trying to become less materialistic, and would love others to be the same. Thats not really retail in a nutshell..
However, I don't have time for moral dilemmas, I'm running out of money, and I need a fun job to do. Fast!
Anyway, I've landed a job as Assistant Manager for Roger David which is a rather flash mens store in Aussie. The Manager is so lovely so I'm sure I will enjoy working with her. Its in a mall only 15 mins up the road, and the hours are good. It means I can be on my feet bouncing around all day talking to random people, yay!
Oh, but disapointment! Its rained 2 days since I got here! Come on Perth mr sunniest city in the world! Actually, I'm not complaining, I did get to spend an hour on the beach the other day. Plan to do that everyday after work alllll summer! You jelous? huh? You better be!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Life will do a 180 on you at least twice a year...
I promise there has been a reason I haven't updated this for a while...
I've been contemplating whether to tell the world the truth I guess. So here I am deciding to say it…I got fired!
And I’m currently sitting back at a desk at SeaLink in New Zealand working on the phones because I’m practically bankrupt! I’m so thankful for them letting me come back for a few weeks while I’m home.
So I’m going to attempt to tell you the answer to the question I have been asking myself for the last few weeks. What the hell went wrong?
My last entry was talking about how hard the work was as a Recruiter, but how fun it was. And I certainly haven’t changed my mind on that. When it was good, I felt like a rock star. But, when it was bad, it was hell with no way out. No one will ever quite understand the intensity of it all, because at the end of the day, it was just a sales job, right?
No, it was not just a sales job. And I would love to go into the intensity of it but bad mouthing a good company publicly is not how I roll. I’m just disappointed, because I KNOW that had I been given equal opportunity I would still be in America and could be doing an awesome job of it. I keep looking at some of the other recruiters photos and feeling happy for them but sick to my stomach because I know I should be there selling the program. I don’t care that it was so stressful I started biting my nails again for the first time in years, swore more than ever, and that I almost wanted to start smoking (but didn’t). I don’t care! I feel like no one on this planet wants anyone to go on that program more than I want them to, because it was a beautiful thing for me and it changed my life. So why shouldn’t I be selling it?!! I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason, I just wish that reason was evident right now…
Anyway, rant over. I do apologise to everyone I haven’t contacted since I’ve been back in NZ, I didn’t see the point in saying hello and goodbye all over again, since it was such a big goodbye when I left in June. I’m leaving for Australia again this Saturday morning. I’ll be spending a weekend in Sydney with my friend Greg then I’ll be starting life in Perth on Monday!
Since there’s always a lot of talk about people crossing the ditch for various reasons (mine being change, money and weather), I’m going to keep updating my blog as to how the adjustment is going.
So far I have already set up an Aussie bank account, which was super easy over the phone because Commonwealth Bank in Australia own ASB bank. All I need to do is go and pick up my debit card when I get to Perth. I’ve applied for jobs on Seek, and I will be staying with my friend Dionne till the end of summer. Hopefully this attempt to work in another country doesn’t turn out so badly! Wish me luck. :-D
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
ISV - the most intensive training ever.
I've just started my first week on campus and let me tell you... it hasn't come easy.
First let me explain what my job is..
Mon - Wed I am running between classes making announcements (At least 20), not just any old announcement, but a LOUD, fast and entertaining announcement in front of lecture halls filled with students! Then on Thursday I am giving 45 minute presentations with a partner talking about travel and volunteering opportunities overseas!
Does everyone understand this? (Nod head).
To get to this point all of the recruiters went through a 2 week training process starting in Sydney but the majority in Big Bear - California. Big Bear is 8000ft above sea level and being a Kiwi and always close to the sea it actually made it difficult to breath. And considering breathing is rather important especially when your running and yelling for 12 hours a day... we ALL got sick. I don't just mean we got the sniffles, there was Pneumonia and Bronchitis going around. I think overall 4 people ended up leaving training because they were too ill or realised that the job ahead was going to be a bit too intense.
And when I say 12 hours a day... it was actually more like 16... because on top of training we had homework. Homework yay!!!! We spent a lot of our 'homework' time complaining about things though to be honest, about how crap the food was or about how insane it is to be expected to train so much BUT, I hate to admit it, it was all necessary. I'm on campus now and my first 2 announcements were sooo shaky, even though Ive been practicing it for over a month.
Good news is, in my last round of announcements I actually got cheers and applauds by everyone in the lecture. Never before have I felt more like a ROCKSTAR! WOO!
Super amped.. but cant wait to get to bed tonight... the 5.45am start was killer especially being Jetlagged errrr
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
20 hours in Singapore
What a city! We ended up with an overnight stay in Singapore because we could get the most ridiculously cheap flight if we did. So sweet, a night out in Singapore! Except...Dionne was still feeling the affects of food poisoning :( Although we were staying in a dorm so I asked some of the English girls (Selena and Zoe) in our dorm if I could tag along when they went out for a 'Singapore Sling'.
Im glad I went with these girls, because they had been in the city a few days and knew their way around! I had no idea where they were taking me :P But we ended up at Raffles which is THE PLACE to get a Singapore Sling, for $22!!! (Around the same in NZD). F*** me Ive never had a cocktail that expensive! :P But it was pretty good...
We then moved on planning to get some food, and went down to the river which is apparently the place to be. It was soo busy because the following day was Singapore National Day and it was also the evening that the Olympics started so everyone was watching the opening ceremony on a big screen. Downtown was so pretty as well, it was so clean and lit really well. We met 2 other girls in town - Lindsey and Ada.
There was a bar called 'clinic' where you could sit in a wheelchair and drink out of a drip!! We were set on going to the biggest Ministry of Sound club in the world though, and after asking some Singaporeans where on earth we were, we found it! Although, I didn't even think to have ID on me and they almost didn't let me in! I didn't even know what the drinking age is...
Anyway, it was $20 to get in but that included 2 drink vouchers, and lucky Emily found another 2 drink vouchers in the Ladies! So I was pretty much set for the evening :) We all seemed to loose each other during the night so met up every hour, but me and Lindsey decided we wanted to stay out later than the others, I mean, you don't get to go to the worlds biggest MOS club everyday right?! Although Lindsey did end up going again the next day haha. The club had a few different rooms but we stayed in the main room where there was a rotating dance floor and much better music :)
We caught a cyclo home with a boom box attached so we sang Pussy Cat Dolls 'When I Grow Up' and Oasis all the way back down Orchard Street. Hahaha. It was a great night!
Next morning I was far too tired to get up for breakfast so we hung out in the hostel until it was time to go to the airport. I was soo not ready to leave Asia, but now Im in Perth and can't wait to be back here in November!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hong Kong
When we were on the boat to Hong Kong, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Well I kind of could.. I WAS expecting a big city. But my God, did it ever end! There was just high rise after high rise for miles. Some were nice, and some looked like a bomb site. We were staying in Kowloon, and as soon as we got there went for a look around. Every single 'alley' was a MALL! It was insane. We probably never got more than 100metres from where we were staying because there was soo much to see. That evening it started raining and we saw a sign saying 'Typhoon warning 1 has been enforced'. Oh, great.
The next morning when we woke up the weather seemed a bit worse and we were meant to be going to Disneyland so I checked their website and now the Typhoon warning was up to number 8! I checked the HK weather site and warning number 8 meant everyone was to stay inside and not much was open. So, we spent the majority of that day in our room reading and sleeping and watching Chinese Soaps, ha! At that point we were more concerned that the typhoon would still be here when we were leaving and we wouldn't be able to catch a boat to Macau to fly out!
Thank goodness, the next day the typhoon warning was lifted and we could go out! It was a long day though, we had to fit a lot in! We went to Lantu Island and up to see the Giant Buddha and Monestry. The views out there were amazing and no pictures I could take gave it justice. The Buddha really is Giant - and it is situated right on top of a hill. Afterwards we went and had a really really yumm vegetarian lunch at the monestry (this is where the monks live).
Then we went to Disneyland! Where all your childhood dreams become true! Unfortunately we happened to be there during the school holidays and since it had been closed the day before it was PACKED! We spent so much time in lines and most of the rides were all of 30 seconds long. However the 30 seconds were still lots of fun! Its funny how it doesn't matter how old you are, if you've wanted to go on the teacups all your childhood its pretty damn exciting even when your 20 or 50! We watched a parade which was also really cool despite it being aimed at 10 year olds, haha. And at the end of the night we watched fireworks over the castle - in true Disney Style! It actually gave me goosebumps it was so cool. It really was like being a kid again...
There were 2 downsides to Disneyland. First was the kids (and adults) pushing in front of you in line. Now kids, I can understand, because they get excited and dont think about anyone but themselves. But Adults? Argh. Every single line we lined up in, including the ice cream line, someone pushed in front of us. Maybe its because we're foreign? I dont know. But it was really annoying!
The other downside was the food. (apart from the popcorn). We got these grosssss noodles for lunch and they ended up giving Dionne food poisoning, and she has been sick since.
I think I have to go back to Hong Kong, because I don't feel like I saw enough of it. Although I think it would take quite some time!
By the way I have uploaded LOTS of photos to Facebook so if you dont have FB, get it. You can search for me by my name!
The next morning when we woke up the weather seemed a bit worse and we were meant to be going to Disneyland so I checked their website and now the Typhoon warning was up to number 8! I checked the HK weather site and warning number 8 meant everyone was to stay inside and not much was open. So, we spent the majority of that day in our room reading and sleeping and watching Chinese Soaps, ha! At that point we were more concerned that the typhoon would still be here when we were leaving and we wouldn't be able to catch a boat to Macau to fly out!
Thank goodness, the next day the typhoon warning was lifted and we could go out! It was a long day though, we had to fit a lot in! We went to Lantu Island and up to see the Giant Buddha and Monestry. The views out there were amazing and no pictures I could take gave it justice. The Buddha really is Giant - and it is situated right on top of a hill. Afterwards we went and had a really really yumm vegetarian lunch at the monestry (this is where the monks live).
Then we went to Disneyland! Where all your childhood dreams become true! Unfortunately we happened to be there during the school holidays and since it had been closed the day before it was PACKED! We spent so much time in lines and most of the rides were all of 30 seconds long. However the 30 seconds were still lots of fun! Its funny how it doesn't matter how old you are, if you've wanted to go on the teacups all your childhood its pretty damn exciting even when your 20 or 50! We watched a parade which was also really cool despite it being aimed at 10 year olds, haha. And at the end of the night we watched fireworks over the castle - in true Disney Style! It actually gave me goosebumps it was so cool. It really was like being a kid again...
There were 2 downsides to Disneyland. First was the kids (and adults) pushing in front of you in line. Now kids, I can understand, because they get excited and dont think about anyone but themselves. But Adults? Argh. Every single line we lined up in, including the ice cream line, someone pushed in front of us. Maybe its because we're foreign? I dont know. But it was really annoying!
The other downside was the food. (apart from the popcorn). We got these grosssss noodles for lunch and they ended up giving Dionne food poisoning, and she has been sick since.
I think I have to go back to Hong Kong, because I don't feel like I saw enough of it. Although I think it would take quite some time!
By the way I have uploaded LOTS of photos to Facebook so if you dont have FB, get it. You can search for me by my name!
Macau - Bungy and Casinos all in one day!
To get to Macau we flew from Hanoi to Bangkok, slept on the floor at the airport, then flew from Bangkok to Macau. What a mission! Somehow though when we flew into Macau I wasn't tired, I was excited. Well, I was about to do the worlds highest bungy jump!
I've never really thought of a city as beautiful before, its not really my thing. But Macau IS beautiful. It's so clean and so varied in everything from food to people to buildings. There are buildings as old as 1500 (which for a Kiwi is like the oldest building Ive ever seen!) and then there are a number of amazing modern buildings. Macau is a mini vegas, except more money is spent there annually than in Vegas! (Thanks to rich Chinese men)
The bungy...was REALLY REALLY high. It was so unreal when we got up there. I watched a girl go before me who had never done a bungy before and there she was, doing the worlds highest one. Apparently 95% of people who do the jump its their first time. And you thought I was mad!
I wasn't overly nervous until I was standing on the platform and felt how heavy the cord was, even if I didn't want to jump, I'd be going over the edge because that cord was so heavy it was going to pull me down with it! I closed my eyes for a second until I was falling and then I realised how awesome it was. I kept my eyes open and couldn't believel how fast I was falling! It was soo much fun. Well, it was fun until Id finished bouncing and hung upside down for about 5 mins. I honestly thought maybe they had forgotten about me as there was no one I could see at the bottom. My ankles were really hurting (and were sore for about 3 hours after) and I was pretty dizzy! Eventually I was lowered to the ground and wanted to do it all over again!
That night we got all dressed up for the first time in a while and headed out to the casinos. We didn't even need to go inside, just looking at them from the outside was awesome enough! We did go in and play some pokies, and watch a show or 2, but we really had no idea how to play any of the real games so we just watched other people lose their money! We ended up at MGM casino, where there was a nice little cocktail bar. While we were sitting there, in walked a group of pornstars! I don't know what is so fascinating about porn stars but we couldn't stop looking at them, and neither could the rest of the room. Although it was kind of funny, they looked really gross to me, and you could tell they all thought they were so extremely hot. Laughable.!
Thats really the end of Macau - the next morning we jumped on the boat to Hong Kong!
Vietnam - Hanoi and Halong Bay
* Im now back in Perth until Wednesday. Hoping to sit here for a few hours and update my blog and finish adding photos to facebook!*
As soon as we arrived in Vietnam Dionne and I were completely confused by the currency. I had no idea how much money I needed so got 600,000 dong out at the ATM, which turned out to be only $35, whoops. Then, in true Vietnamese fashion, we got seriously ripped off by a taxi driver. It didnt help we couldn't figure out for ourselves how much he was actually charging us, but by the time we got to the hostel...after being driven to a different hostel we didnt ask for... I had already spent all my dong. We paid more for the taxi than I would ever pay for a taxi at home, and he was STILL arguing with us for more money. We were like 'You've got to be f**king kidding mate, we've already paid your yearly wages!'. Grrr.
Anyway, shit happens, I was pretty pissed off but really just had to get over it. Thank god our hostel was awesome, and we were greeted by some Aussie guys who made us feel right at home. We booked an overnight tour to Halong Bay through the hostel because it was called something like 'rock hard, rock out tour' and promised it to be a whole lot of drunken fun, with the possibility of nakedness. haha.
We set off the next day for 3 hours to Halong Bay, when we got on our boat I was stoked! I thought it was quite possibly the most luxurious place we had stayed our whole trip...until we got our room... Me and Dionne got the room right above the kitchen and beside the engine. SO it was like an extremely noisy sauna. And our shower head didnt work so we had to use the tap and a cup to wash ourselves. Lol. But to be honest I was more concerned about dying of toxic fumes in my sleep.
During the day we went kayaking, the boat had taken us to a place none of the other boats so it was so amazing because I've never heard a place so quiet! A few of us jumped off the roof of the boat which the boys soon discovered wasn't so much fun for their bits. Although I kept jumping because we all know how much Emily loves to jump off high platforms.
During the day a lady in a little boat came around selling bottles of Vodka for 80,000 dong, which is about $5!!! I don't mean a small bottle, I mean a decent sized 40% vodka.
So, we had to get some of that! Later that night when we started drinking it, we realised why it was so cheap, it was DISGUSTING. And even though I haven't really had Cocacola since sometime last year, I felt it was the only thing to drown out the taste at all. We tried playing drinking games but there was way to many of us to know what was going on. At some stage during the night a few of us, including myself, thought it would be smart to jump off the roof of the boat again, drunk and in pitch blackness, knowing from the day that there are jellyfish lurking. And of course, all 4 of us got stung. I was the luckiest, my sting didn't bubble up like the others.
The breakfast they provided the next morning was not really sufficient enough to soak up all the foul vodka, and most of us went back feeling pretty under the weather.
That night Tom, Mike, me and Dionne went out to find a restaurant that was in the Lonely planet and couldn't find it so ended up at some random place where the boys ordered Pigeon! Yum. Ive got some lovely photos of the boys eating Pigeon head.
The next day we went to see Ho Chi Mihns body but unfortunately it was closed sooo we went shopping and I bought a HEAP of stuff, too much stuff to take to the states so I'm going to have to leave it in Perth :(
Best thing about Hanoi: Hanoi Backpackers
Worst thing about Hanoi: Taxi drivers, the heat and only being able to eat spinach and rice.
Verdict: Done Vietnam twice now, don't need to do it again!
Compared to Thailand...
Best things: Food, friendly people, plenty to do, amazing shopping, easy to travel, beautiful country.
Worst things: The afternoon rain, although I learnt to love this too!
As soon as we arrived in Vietnam Dionne and I were completely confused by the currency. I had no idea how much money I needed so got 600,000 dong out at the ATM, which turned out to be only $35, whoops. Then, in true Vietnamese fashion, we got seriously ripped off by a taxi driver. It didnt help we couldn't figure out for ourselves how much he was actually charging us, but by the time we got to the hostel...after being driven to a different hostel we didnt ask for... I had already spent all my dong. We paid more for the taxi than I would ever pay for a taxi at home, and he was STILL arguing with us for more money. We were like 'You've got to be f**king kidding mate, we've already paid your yearly wages!'. Grrr.
Anyway, shit happens, I was pretty pissed off but really just had to get over it. Thank god our hostel was awesome, and we were greeted by some Aussie guys who made us feel right at home. We booked an overnight tour to Halong Bay through the hostel because it was called something like 'rock hard, rock out tour' and promised it to be a whole lot of drunken fun, with the possibility of nakedness. haha.
We set off the next day for 3 hours to Halong Bay, when we got on our boat I was stoked! I thought it was quite possibly the most luxurious place we had stayed our whole trip...until we got our room... Me and Dionne got the room right above the kitchen and beside the engine. SO it was like an extremely noisy sauna. And our shower head didnt work so we had to use the tap and a cup to wash ourselves. Lol. But to be honest I was more concerned about dying of toxic fumes in my sleep.
During the day we went kayaking, the boat had taken us to a place none of the other boats so it was so amazing because I've never heard a place so quiet! A few of us jumped off the roof of the boat which the boys soon discovered wasn't so much fun for their bits. Although I kept jumping because we all know how much Emily loves to jump off high platforms.
During the day a lady in a little boat came around selling bottles of Vodka for 80,000 dong, which is about $5!!! I don't mean a small bottle, I mean a decent sized 40% vodka.
So, we had to get some of that! Later that night when we started drinking it, we realised why it was so cheap, it was DISGUSTING. And even though I haven't really had Cocacola since sometime last year, I felt it was the only thing to drown out the taste at all. We tried playing drinking games but there was way to many of us to know what was going on. At some stage during the night a few of us, including myself, thought it would be smart to jump off the roof of the boat again, drunk and in pitch blackness, knowing from the day that there are jellyfish lurking. And of course, all 4 of us got stung. I was the luckiest, my sting didn't bubble up like the others.
The breakfast they provided the next morning was not really sufficient enough to soak up all the foul vodka, and most of us went back feeling pretty under the weather.
That night Tom, Mike, me and Dionne went out to find a restaurant that was in the Lonely planet and couldn't find it so ended up at some random place where the boys ordered Pigeon! Yum. Ive got some lovely photos of the boys eating Pigeon head.
The next day we went to see Ho Chi Mihns body but unfortunately it was closed sooo we went shopping and I bought a HEAP of stuff, too much stuff to take to the states so I'm going to have to leave it in Perth :(
Best thing about Hanoi: Hanoi Backpackers
Worst thing about Hanoi: Taxi drivers, the heat and only being able to eat spinach and rice.
Verdict: Done Vietnam twice now, don't need to do it again!
Compared to Thailand...
Best things: Food, friendly people, plenty to do, amazing shopping, easy to travel, beautiful country.
Worst things: The afternoon rain, although I learnt to love this too!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Laos - Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is the 2nd biggest city in Laos. Although its not really a city... any 'city' like building are really built around tourists. Infact, on the main road, I could hardly tell I was in Laos.
Off the main road though are hundreds of temples. One for every corner of every road. And with temples come monks, making Luang Prabang a very colourful city. Overall I really liked it because of its diversity and the friendly people. Just walking down the road everyone say 'Sabaidee' (hello), and not just because they're trying to sell you something!
We spent a bit of time in LPB because we had heard that the tubing in Vang Vieng (the whole reason you go there) had shut because someone had died. To be honest, I'm not suprised, the rivers were raging! I wouldn't have wanted to swim in one. The day we arrived 2 kayakers had also gone missing. It seemed as though the wet season had come to Laos a but earlier and a but harsher than usual and tourists who thought they could beat nature we're drowning. So, we pretty much stayed away from the tubing.
Chilling out in LPB for 5 days was great though, there is great food, good people, shopping, markets and LOADS of places to get a massage.
We did do 2 tours though. The first one was to a waterfall, which was nice and refreshing considering we were a little tired and hungover. Because of the rain the waterfall was pretty spectacular and you could actually trek through it and right to the top. Thank goodness for my waterproof camera!! I had a few comments on my new tattoo at the time which was nice :)
The 2nd tour was to Pak Ou caves, which is a temple built into a cave about 25kms along the river from LPB. I think we probably had the worlds worst boat driver, for some reason he got distacted along the way and the boat veered off to the side and crashed into another boat. Our driver went fully clothed overboard! It was actually pretty amusing. We drove off leaving the owner of the other boat looking pretty cross. It took a while to get to the caves and they were OK. Probably wouldn't go there again but glad I did while I was around.
For our last night in LPB we walked to the top of a mountain to watch sunset, and as it was recommended in the lonely planet the top of the mountain was filled with travellers. At dinner we ended up sitting with a Laos girl and her friend, and an old German guy. It was an interesting night... they took us to a Laos nightclub and when we walked in it was like any nighclub except there were people line dancing! What?! Anyway that was heaps of fun until it was curfew time (LPB has a 12pm curfew) and we figured we better not piss off our lovely guesthouse owners so we went home. Although it was still a bit late and our GH owner came out in his tighty whiteys to let us in! eeek.
Off the main road though are hundreds of temples. One for every corner of every road. And with temples come monks, making Luang Prabang a very colourful city. Overall I really liked it because of its diversity and the friendly people. Just walking down the road everyone say 'Sabaidee' (hello), and not just because they're trying to sell you something!
We spent a bit of time in LPB because we had heard that the tubing in Vang Vieng (the whole reason you go there) had shut because someone had died. To be honest, I'm not suprised, the rivers were raging! I wouldn't have wanted to swim in one. The day we arrived 2 kayakers had also gone missing. It seemed as though the wet season had come to Laos a but earlier and a but harsher than usual and tourists who thought they could beat nature we're drowning. So, we pretty much stayed away from the tubing.
Chilling out in LPB for 5 days was great though, there is great food, good people, shopping, markets and LOADS of places to get a massage.
We did do 2 tours though. The first one was to a waterfall, which was nice and refreshing considering we were a little tired and hungover. Because of the rain the waterfall was pretty spectacular and you could actually trek through it and right to the top. Thank goodness for my waterproof camera!! I had a few comments on my new tattoo at the time which was nice :)
The 2nd tour was to Pak Ou caves, which is a temple built into a cave about 25kms along the river from LPB. I think we probably had the worlds worst boat driver, for some reason he got distacted along the way and the boat veered off to the side and crashed into another boat. Our driver went fully clothed overboard! It was actually pretty amusing. We drove off leaving the owner of the other boat looking pretty cross. It took a while to get to the caves and they were OK. Probably wouldn't go there again but glad I did while I was around.
For our last night in LPB we walked to the top of a mountain to watch sunset, and as it was recommended in the lonely planet the top of the mountain was filled with travellers. At dinner we ended up sitting with a Laos girl and her friend, and an old German guy. It was an interesting night... they took us to a Laos nightclub and when we walked in it was like any nighclub except there were people line dancing! What?! Anyway that was heaps of fun until it was curfew time (LPB has a 12pm curfew) and we figured we better not piss off our lovely guesthouse owners so we went home. Although it was still a bit late and our GH owner came out in his tighty whiteys to let us in! eeek.
Laos - Bokeo and the Gibbon Experience
We arrived in Huay Xai from Thailand - about 100metres across a river. It was really strange to think that we were already in a different country.We exchanged our money and instantly we were millionaires!
My first experience with a Lao wasn't the best considering spending a month with super friendly Thais. The lady running our guesthouse who we fondly named 'Big Momma' was rude, pushy, never smiled, and did NOT like being disturbed when watching TV in the restaurant despite not having received my dinner in over an hour. In the end I think they mustve gone to Thailand and back to get the mushrooms because I didnt get fed until bedtime!
Big Momma also tried to tell us that the Gibbon Experience wasn't running due to bad weather and that we could just stay at her guesthouse instead of going.
Well the Gibbon Experience was going, but it had changed dramatically. Normally they take you in a 4WD out to a village then you trek for 3 hours. Because the rain had washed away some of the road, we now had to trek 5 hours to get to the village on top of that!
We were advised to buy special rubber shoes to walk through mud which I'm very glad I did!
The first day was some of the most physically draining exercise I have ever done. I was trying not to get fed up but I couldn't help but be annoyed with the fact I was walking through mud up and down hill for 5 hours when normally I'd be sitting in a 4WD. The downhills were fine, but the uphills were killer, they just kept going and going. And it was HOT, I was dripping with sweat, and had pretty limited food. I managed to take a few photos but it seemed to require so much of my effort. Oh and our guides not once took a rest. Machines! So I decided to take my own pace, taking rests when I needed it, and only took about 10 mins longer in the end anyway!
When we arrived at the village everyone was enjoying some Cocacola which looked appealing but still in my anti-coke mind I opted for Miranda which is probably made by Cocacola anyway! lol. With sugar levels back up we headed on our merry way, but oh my God, the next few hours were INTENSE. I have never pushed myself that much ever. When we reached the top I couldnt even talk, just groan.
Part of the Gibbon Experience involves using zip lines over the forest to get from tree hut to tree hut. So we zipped into the first hut. Thank God! I was home for the night! While everyone else in my hut went zipping I stayed back to do some yoga and meditation in a tree hut 150 metres above the ground looking over a valley. Perfect! And can you imagine the view from the shower? It was definitley one of the top 5 shower experiences of my life.
At night we could hear rats running around our beds, BIG rats. But we had already been warned so all our belongings were safe in our beds under our nets.
The next day I could still feel my legs. Amazing! So I walked up to treehut 3 to meet Dionne and walk to treehut 5. I used 3 or 4 ziplines along the way and it was so much fun!! I got some videos of it which are awesome. One of which has a monkey in it that I didnt actually see while I was videoing it but only when I showed the video to Dionne did she see it was spinning around a tree at arms length away! Man I felt stupid.
We chilled out (lakalau! personal joke) in treehut 5 for the afternoon and used a few ziplines from our hut. We were staying with 4 Dutch travellers which was fun, learnt a few dutch words and tried playing card games with them which was amusing.
We went to bed early, the 3rd day was going to be the longest. We were so far into the jungle now and had to walk all the way back! I woke up in the night because of the rain, thinking 'nooooo pleaaaase stop raining', but it continued raining till morning. Which of course meant, MUD!
So for 8 hours we trekked through mud. And for some reason, it sucked, but it didnt suck as much as the first day. Had my fitness increased? With every step we were saying words to motivate us to get back to Huay Xai "good food, clean clothes, clean sheets, BeerLao" and our guide Max let us listen to his mp3 player which mainly consisted of old American country music.
After another 8 hours of trekking. We arrived. Huay Xai isn't much of a town, its just a border town, and pretty much everyone in the town ends up in the same restaurant for dinner. This night everyone seemed to be eating Indian food and so I managed to pick the brain of a few people travelling to India which is definitley going to be in my next trip.
The next 2 days were spent down the Mekong river on a slowboat. Now a lot of people complain about these boats, I dont know why. I mean yes the only seats are wooden planks and most of the time you end up on the floor but for goodness sake you're in Laos people what do you expect. Im sick of people here complaining all the time when they know full well their in a 3rd world country and you're not at home anymore. Oh and please, ditch the mini skirts and crop tops! Have some respect!
Anyway, 6 hours on the slow boat gave me plenty of time to read books, write in my diary, listen to music I never knew was on my ipod, and watch the world go by on the Mekong.
By the way, my opinion of Lao people was soon changed by our friendly guides and the different guesthouse we stayed in when we returned to Huay Xai. The Laos are just as friendly as Thai, if not friendlier!
My first experience with a Lao wasn't the best considering spending a month with super friendly Thais. The lady running our guesthouse who we fondly named 'Big Momma' was rude, pushy, never smiled, and did NOT like being disturbed when watching TV in the restaurant despite not having received my dinner in over an hour. In the end I think they mustve gone to Thailand and back to get the mushrooms because I didnt get fed until bedtime!
Big Momma also tried to tell us that the Gibbon Experience wasn't running due to bad weather and that we could just stay at her guesthouse instead of going.
Well the Gibbon Experience was going, but it had changed dramatically. Normally they take you in a 4WD out to a village then you trek for 3 hours. Because the rain had washed away some of the road, we now had to trek 5 hours to get to the village on top of that!
We were advised to buy special rubber shoes to walk through mud which I'm very glad I did!
The first day was some of the most physically draining exercise I have ever done. I was trying not to get fed up but I couldn't help but be annoyed with the fact I was walking through mud up and down hill for 5 hours when normally I'd be sitting in a 4WD. The downhills were fine, but the uphills were killer, they just kept going and going. And it was HOT, I was dripping with sweat, and had pretty limited food. I managed to take a few photos but it seemed to require so much of my effort. Oh and our guides not once took a rest. Machines! So I decided to take my own pace, taking rests when I needed it, and only took about 10 mins longer in the end anyway!
When we arrived at the village everyone was enjoying some Cocacola which looked appealing but still in my anti-coke mind I opted for Miranda which is probably made by Cocacola anyway! lol. With sugar levels back up we headed on our merry way, but oh my God, the next few hours were INTENSE. I have never pushed myself that much ever. When we reached the top I couldnt even talk, just groan.
Part of the Gibbon Experience involves using zip lines over the forest to get from tree hut to tree hut. So we zipped into the first hut. Thank God! I was home for the night! While everyone else in my hut went zipping I stayed back to do some yoga and meditation in a tree hut 150 metres above the ground looking over a valley. Perfect! And can you imagine the view from the shower? It was definitley one of the top 5 shower experiences of my life.
At night we could hear rats running around our beds, BIG rats. But we had already been warned so all our belongings were safe in our beds under our nets.
The next day I could still feel my legs. Amazing! So I walked up to treehut 3 to meet Dionne and walk to treehut 5. I used 3 or 4 ziplines along the way and it was so much fun!! I got some videos of it which are awesome. One of which has a monkey in it that I didnt actually see while I was videoing it but only when I showed the video to Dionne did she see it was spinning around a tree at arms length away! Man I felt stupid.
We chilled out (lakalau! personal joke) in treehut 5 for the afternoon and used a few ziplines from our hut. We were staying with 4 Dutch travellers which was fun, learnt a few dutch words and tried playing card games with them which was amusing.
We went to bed early, the 3rd day was going to be the longest. We were so far into the jungle now and had to walk all the way back! I woke up in the night because of the rain, thinking 'nooooo pleaaaase stop raining', but it continued raining till morning. Which of course meant, MUD!
So for 8 hours we trekked through mud. And for some reason, it sucked, but it didnt suck as much as the first day. Had my fitness increased? With every step we were saying words to motivate us to get back to Huay Xai "good food, clean clothes, clean sheets, BeerLao" and our guide Max let us listen to his mp3 player which mainly consisted of old American country music.
After another 8 hours of trekking. We arrived. Huay Xai isn't much of a town, its just a border town, and pretty much everyone in the town ends up in the same restaurant for dinner. This night everyone seemed to be eating Indian food and so I managed to pick the brain of a few people travelling to India which is definitley going to be in my next trip.
The next 2 days were spent down the Mekong river on a slowboat. Now a lot of people complain about these boats, I dont know why. I mean yes the only seats are wooden planks and most of the time you end up on the floor but for goodness sake you're in Laos people what do you expect. Im sick of people here complaining all the time when they know full well their in a 3rd world country and you're not at home anymore. Oh and please, ditch the mini skirts and crop tops! Have some respect!
Anyway, 6 hours on the slow boat gave me plenty of time to read books, write in my diary, listen to music I never knew was on my ipod, and watch the world go by on the Mekong.
By the way, my opinion of Lao people was soon changed by our friendly guides and the different guesthouse we stayed in when we returned to Huay Xai. The Laos are just as friendly as Thai, if not friendlier!
Monday, July 28, 2008
My mothers worst nightmare - Tattoos
After the Elephant Nature Park we had one more day to enjoy Chiang Mai. So we got Tattoos! It was planned quite in advanced to get these tattoos so dont fret it certainly wasn't spur of the moment WE"RE IN THAILAND LETS GET A TATTOO type thing!
Dionne got 'Strength Hope Happiness' in Thai written along her foot, and Nicole will be happy to know the Dionne went first, not me! We decided Dionne should go first because hers was going to be a lot quicker than mine and she may not have been so keen on it after over an hour of me screaming! Dionnes didn't seem to hurt so much which made me reasonably calm...
Except my tattoo is on the side of my torso underneath where my bra strap sits. It was EXTREMELY painful, I almost passed out. It was so hard to keep still I couldn't speak or breathe because it moves your stomach. I swore, a lot. It was a strange pain because it also tickled a lot, and of course I couldn't start laughing either!
I guess you'll want to know what the actual tattoo is..
I got one of the Elephants from the Elephant Nature Park, his name is Hope. The Thai word for 'Freedom' is written underneath.
The reason behind it starts with my last trip to Thailand and the Elephant Nature Park. I came to Thailand saying how much I wanted to ride the Elephants and never stopped to think about the consequences of my actions. I was then shocked when I learnt about how they 'break the spirit' of an Elephant and realised how naiive I was. I realised people should only need to be educated of the consequenses of their actions to make the right moral decision. And I don't want to forget that. I always want to remember what I learnt that day because it's too easy to slip back into old habits of not caring and thinking "what difference can I make" "What difference can one person make?"
Freedom means a lot to me. I think it means different things to everyone but I beleive everyone has the rights to their own freedom however they find it. I am very lucky in life to have the freedoms I have. I'm certainly not the only one who finds travelling a form of freedom but there are so many other ways to be 'free' that I am get to find. Freedom of the Elephant represents a lot to me because it was the start of my realisation that animals on this earth suffer just as we do and they have the right to freedom equally.
I chose the Elephant 'Hope' because he was the Elephant Nature Parks orphan who, instead of breaking his spirit, is being brought up with positive reinforcement to prove that Elephants can we under human care without shoving them into a small bamboo cage and torturing them, some to death. Hope has freedom.
Anyway enough of the mumbo jumbo! Photos will come as soon as I can get them uploaded, the internet in Laos is SO RIDICULOUSLY SLOW! (duh)
Dionne got 'Strength Hope Happiness' in Thai written along her foot, and Nicole will be happy to know the Dionne went first, not me! We decided Dionne should go first because hers was going to be a lot quicker than mine and she may not have been so keen on it after over an hour of me screaming! Dionnes didn't seem to hurt so much which made me reasonably calm...
Except my tattoo is on the side of my torso underneath where my bra strap sits. It was EXTREMELY painful, I almost passed out. It was so hard to keep still I couldn't speak or breathe because it moves your stomach. I swore, a lot. It was a strange pain because it also tickled a lot, and of course I couldn't start laughing either!
I guess you'll want to know what the actual tattoo is..
I got one of the Elephants from the Elephant Nature Park, his name is Hope. The Thai word for 'Freedom' is written underneath.
The reason behind it starts with my last trip to Thailand and the Elephant Nature Park. I came to Thailand saying how much I wanted to ride the Elephants and never stopped to think about the consequences of my actions. I was then shocked when I learnt about how they 'break the spirit' of an Elephant and realised how naiive I was. I realised people should only need to be educated of the consequenses of their actions to make the right moral decision. And I don't want to forget that. I always want to remember what I learnt that day because it's too easy to slip back into old habits of not caring and thinking "what difference can I make" "What difference can one person make?"
Freedom means a lot to me. I think it means different things to everyone but I beleive everyone has the rights to their own freedom however they find it. I am very lucky in life to have the freedoms I have. I'm certainly not the only one who finds travelling a form of freedom but there are so many other ways to be 'free' that I am get to find. Freedom of the Elephant represents a lot to me because it was the start of my realisation that animals on this earth suffer just as we do and they have the right to freedom equally.
I chose the Elephant 'Hope' because he was the Elephant Nature Parks orphan who, instead of breaking his spirit, is being brought up with positive reinforcement to prove that Elephants can we under human care without shoving them into a small bamboo cage and torturing them, some to death. Hope has freedom.
Anyway enough of the mumbo jumbo! Photos will come as soon as I can get them uploaded, the internet in Laos is SO RIDICULOUSLY SLOW! (duh)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Elephant Nature Park - Chiang Mai
It was the highlight of our trip last year so we decided to go back, but this time overnight!
As we had been before we had an idea about what to expect. But when we arrived, the park had changed so much we wondered if we were in the same place! The park now has 30 Elephants, over 50 dogs and over 30 cats. Lek (the founder) just can't say no to all of the animals in need.
On the first day we did the same as last time - fed and bathed the Elephants, then watched a documentary called 'Vanishing Giants'. Dionne didn't want to watch it again because it was pretty upsetting last time. I watched it but managed to hold in my tears, I think the last time I watched it I was so naiive and had no idea of the torture I was about to watch. This time I knew what was coming and wasn't so much in shock regardless of how sad that doco is. I also bought it on DVD this time so eventually I can show people at home instead of trying to explain how the Elephants spirit is broken. On day one we spent most of the day with a Kiwi couple (some of the 1st Kiwis Ive seen so far!) Rebecca and Richard. They were only there for the day and were gutted they couldn't stay the night!
There was an ISV group volunteering too, I chatted to some of the volunteers breifly and they seemed to be having an awesome time. I was gutted I wasn't volunteering with them!
Out huts for the night at the park were SO nice, and the bed was so comfortable I almost couldn't get up for breakfast the next day. The balcony went all the way around the hut with views over the park and Elephants strolling by. It was perfect for meditation and yoga...until an Ele blows its trumpet!
On the 2nd day 'Brad Pitt' aka 'Mammoth' (I love how Thai guys give themselves movie star names so we remember them!) took us for a walk around the park and told us everything he knows about the Elephants. Heres what I can remember:
Elephants are pregnant for 22 months, longer if it is a boy, and the baby tries to walk straight away. Although at first it often thinks its trunk is its 5th leg!
They have 4 teeth in their mouth which are replaced 6 times in their life. When the 6th set wears away (from eating so much!) that is when they die because they can no longer feed themselves, knowing this they seperate from the pack into the jungle to die and later on the pack will walk into the jungle to pay respect to the dead.
Female Elephants can become pregnant at around 13, have around 6 babies and die between 70 and 80 years old.
Mothers are very protective of their babies and often find 'nannies' to help. The families at the Elephant Nature Park are not blood related but they still form communities which they love and look out for.
Elephants eat for 18 hours a day and sleep for 4 hours. That doesn't leave much time for tourist trekking!
They eat 40% of their body weight each day and only digest 60% of their food. One can only assume the rest just goes straight back out the other end...
There is a plant which I didnt get the name of... when rubbed together it makes a red paint and the females use it to paint their toenails!
Speaking of toenails...they play a very important part in the balance and walking of an Elephant. They also feel a lot about the environment around them using the bottom of their feet.
You can tell how old an Asian Elephant is by how hollow their temples are.
Asian Elephants are smaller than African Elephants, they have rounder backs and bums, and only 1 'finger' on their trunk where as African Elephants have 2 'fingers'.
The Asian Elephants tusks are now growing shorter because of people poaching them.
Well I hope you all learnt a little about Elephants in that blog if you managed to make it to the end!
<3 Elephants
Doi Inthanon National Park
On the 15th July (I know..ages ago) we headed to Doi Inthanon National Park. We were geared up for a trek because we assumed to go to the peak of Thailand we would have to trek.
Instead of doing a tour we figured we could do the whole thing ourselves much cheaper so we caught a public bus to Chom Thong, got off where I thought was Chom Thong but we really had no idea! No problems though we had a man in a songtheau take charge and take us on a little tour! He didn't speak much english so kept reffering to a map and from what I could gather he was taking us to 2 waterfalls and then the peak.
Off we went uphill on this windy road, for quite some time, it started to get a bit cloudy (we couldnt see 5m infront), then a bit cold, then a bit misty. And we soon realised maybe we didnt have to hike to the top..this guy seems to be taking us the whole way! We didnt stop at any waterfalls and when we reached the peak it was absolutely freezing!! How ironic that we had been complaining about how hot it was in Chiang Mai and as soon as its cold we were complaining about that too.
Anyway we ran (to warm us up) in the direction the driver pointed and after a whole 50metres found a sign saying THE HIGHEST SPOT IN THAILAND. So there we were, on top of the world, and we couldn't see a thing!! However, the trees we could see around us were truely beautiful, it was like rainforest. And the air was quite possibly the cleanest and freshest I have ever breathed.
We were pretty thankful when we found the little souvenier shop offered hot milo :)
Then on the way back downhill we were taken to a buddhist temple which at first we thought was just a staircase to the clouds because we couldnt see any further. When we reached the top there was infact a beautiful temple there!
We then headed to 2 waterfalls which were good, just great scenery really! We headed back to Chom Thong and went to a Burmese style temple, we weren't sure whether to go in until we read that the actual right side of the Buddha's head lies in there so we had to look! Of course it was locked up very tightly in a magnificant golden statue. I've never seen so much detail even though I swear I've been to 100 temples!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Chiang Mai - Almost disasters and Night Markets
We left Kachanaburi about midday on the 13th, a little later than we planned. After a while we started to wonder if we were on the right bus because not once did we see a sign for Bangkok. Time was getting on and we had a plane to catch. It got to the point when we really thought we were going to miss the plane (first almost disaster). It was a stressful hour but to get through it Dionne and I pretended we were on the 'Amazing Race' and we made it just in time! Actually, we even had enough time to stuff our faces with Onion Rings and Hash Browns from Burger King at the airport. Yuk, we regretted that soon after.
We arrived in Chiang Mai and Ingrid was waiting for us at Julies Guest House. The hostel is really sweet and funky and uber cheap. It's really popular, there are tons of people every morning waiting outside for people to check out so they can check in!!
Within the first 6 hours of being in Chiang Mai I already had sore feet from shopping! The Sunday Walking Street market was on and my god was it cheap. If you've ever been to the Night Bazaar, the Sunday market is even CHEAPER! I felt as though I was robbing people as I bought an Elephant necklace for 10baht (about 30cents). So Dionne and I went a little crazy and bought a HEAP of stuff, really cool t-shirts and jewelery and bags and dresses. My backpack is officially packed to the brim.
At the night bazaar the next night Dionne found an artist to paint a photo of her and Nautee (the girl at the orphanage). We gave him my camera memory card to download the picture, and when I returned the card to my camera the photos weren't showing, there was an ERROR! (almost disaster number 2!) Obviously I had a heart attack and to cut a long story short my memory card is a bit screwed for now but the guys computer still had the photos and we managed to get them off there thank GOD!
Speaking of photos I have been TRYING to upload them but it takes too much time so...be patient :)
We arrived in Chiang Mai and Ingrid was waiting for us at Julies Guest House. The hostel is really sweet and funky and uber cheap. It's really popular, there are tons of people every morning waiting outside for people to check out so they can check in!!
Within the first 6 hours of being in Chiang Mai I already had sore feet from shopping! The Sunday Walking Street market was on and my god was it cheap. If you've ever been to the Night Bazaar, the Sunday market is even CHEAPER! I felt as though I was robbing people as I bought an Elephant necklace for 10baht (about 30cents). So Dionne and I went a little crazy and bought a HEAP of stuff, really cool t-shirts and jewelery and bags and dresses. My backpack is officially packed to the brim.
At the night bazaar the next night Dionne found an artist to paint a photo of her and Nautee (the girl at the orphanage). We gave him my camera memory card to download the picture, and when I returned the card to my camera the photos weren't showing, there was an ERROR! (almost disaster number 2!) Obviously I had a heart attack and to cut a long story short my memory card is a bit screwed for now but the guys computer still had the photos and we managed to get them off there thank GOD!
Speaking of photos I have been TRYING to upload them but it takes too much time so...be patient :)
Kachanaburi
OK so I'm a bit behind writing on here...
We left the orphanage super early in the morning on the 12th of July, and arrived in Kachanaburi at about midday. B, one of the volunteers had suggested we stay at the 'Jolly Frog' guest house which the Lonely Planet describes as 'dirty, but so are the guests' haha! We ended up paying a man on a bicycle to take us there, yes, a bicycle. At first we thought one person per bike, but no, we were both squeezed onto one little seat and the driver/rider used a handy wooden stick out the back to dangle our backpacks on while he rode us through town. You should have seen the guys calf muscles!! I was slightly concerned for my bag but it managed to hang on quite well.
There are a lot more tourists in Kachanaburi, compared to what we had been used to out in Sangklaburi. We stayed on the main tourist drag where of course there are a million guest houses, bars, Thai massage places and travel desks.
While eating our lunch at the guesthouse, we saw this old man standing in blue hawaiin print shorts, no shirt, sunnies and a cigar...holding a GIANT fake gun. Well, at least we thought it was fake at the time. It was hilarious how stupid this guy looked and we nicknamed him 'Rambo'.
After lunch, we watched as police took him away. Maybe the gun was real?! The guy didn't seem too fazed though as he carried his glass of red wine out with him.
The film 'Bridge over River Kwai' was filmed in Kachanaburi, which is the reason a lot of people visit the place. This is where in 1944 the Japanese bombed the bridge, killing thousands of prisoners of war. We went to the war memorial museum which looked as though it would have been nice years ago but wasn't well kept.
We then walked across the bridge, which in any western country would have health and safety barriers all over it. It was pretty dangerous because so many people were walking across it you had to balance on beams over the river. All in good fun though! Good thing it wasn't too windy!
As we reached the other side we saw a Thai Popstar recording a music video - which we had to walk right through and it was pretty hard to keep a straight face.
On the other side we saw an Elephant, strapped to the ground by a chain no longer than 30cms. It was horrible. The Elephant just stood there trying to rip off the chain with its trunk and foot. I have no idea how long it has been strapped there and I didn't see any food around it. It made me so angry but there was nothing I could do. After literally stomping my feet I walked away from the whole situation. I know I go on and on about it at home and I'm going to continue going on and on about it when I write about the Elephant nature park, but this is exactly why I wish people would stop supporting the Elephant tourist trade in Thailand.
Anyway...Since it was Saturday night we figured we'd hit town! We started early because we hadn't really been to bed past midnight for the past 2 weeks haha! We headed to the 'Buddha Bar' which was like this little hippy reggae bar and we sat on some cushions with Martha from Mexico and had a few drinks. A few hours later the street was still dead! I had had enough to drink to just fall asleep, so thats what we did!
We soon learned why the Lonely Planet described its guests as dirty - it seems the Jolly Frog is just the place for Western Men and Thai Women to meet! Hrmmm
Next stop Chiang Mai!
We left the orphanage super early in the morning on the 12th of July, and arrived in Kachanaburi at about midday. B, one of the volunteers had suggested we stay at the 'Jolly Frog' guest house which the Lonely Planet describes as 'dirty, but so are the guests' haha! We ended up paying a man on a bicycle to take us there, yes, a bicycle. At first we thought one person per bike, but no, we were both squeezed onto one little seat and the driver/rider used a handy wooden stick out the back to dangle our backpacks on while he rode us through town. You should have seen the guys calf muscles!! I was slightly concerned for my bag but it managed to hang on quite well.
There are a lot more tourists in Kachanaburi, compared to what we had been used to out in Sangklaburi. We stayed on the main tourist drag where of course there are a million guest houses, bars, Thai massage places and travel desks.
While eating our lunch at the guesthouse, we saw this old man standing in blue hawaiin print shorts, no shirt, sunnies and a cigar...holding a GIANT fake gun. Well, at least we thought it was fake at the time. It was hilarious how stupid this guy looked and we nicknamed him 'Rambo'.
After lunch, we watched as police took him away. Maybe the gun was real?! The guy didn't seem too fazed though as he carried his glass of red wine out with him.
The film 'Bridge over River Kwai' was filmed in Kachanaburi, which is the reason a lot of people visit the place. This is where in 1944 the Japanese bombed the bridge, killing thousands of prisoners of war. We went to the war memorial museum which looked as though it would have been nice years ago but wasn't well kept.
We then walked across the bridge, which in any western country would have health and safety barriers all over it. It was pretty dangerous because so many people were walking across it you had to balance on beams over the river. All in good fun though! Good thing it wasn't too windy!
As we reached the other side we saw a Thai Popstar recording a music video - which we had to walk right through and it was pretty hard to keep a straight face.
On the other side we saw an Elephant, strapped to the ground by a chain no longer than 30cms. It was horrible. The Elephant just stood there trying to rip off the chain with its trunk and foot. I have no idea how long it has been strapped there and I didn't see any food around it. It made me so angry but there was nothing I could do. After literally stomping my feet I walked away from the whole situation. I know I go on and on about it at home and I'm going to continue going on and on about it when I write about the Elephant nature park, but this is exactly why I wish people would stop supporting the Elephant tourist trade in Thailand.
Anyway...Since it was Saturday night we figured we'd hit town! We started early because we hadn't really been to bed past midnight for the past 2 weeks haha! We headed to the 'Buddha Bar' which was like this little hippy reggae bar and we sat on some cushions with Martha from Mexico and had a few drinks. A few hours later the street was still dead! I had had enough to drink to just fall asleep, so thats what we did!
We soon learned why the Lonely Planet described its guests as dirty - it seems the Jolly Frog is just the place for Western Men and Thai Women to meet! Hrmmm
Next stop Chiang Mai!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The kids of Baan Dada
After spending 2 weeks with 58 children at Baan Dada Orphanage I feel rather useless for only remembering the following names....
Puchida - 9 year old boy with glasses, he cant go to school because of his sight which is terribly sad because he is super intelligent and soo eager to learn. When I met Puchida he wanted to carry my bags to the volunteer house. I let him have my day pack. As we walked down the trail he said very quickly 'need to pee!' and before I had a chance to understand what he said I turned around to see him standing in the middle of the path peeing. He then proceeded to hold my hand as we walked up the path. Cute! Hes also a photographer in the making, he loved my camera!
Nautee - Definitely a favorite! Only arrived 2 weeks prior to us, and was brought up in a Karen tribe with a different dialect so can only speak to her sister. She clung onto us a lot, had so much love to give (and tears) and was the cutest little girl ever! Wish I could take her with me!!
Nadoo - Older sister of Nautee. Really interested in learning and achieved a lot in the 2 weeks we were there. A bit of a trouble maker with the other kids but cute so she gets away with it!
Ali Baba - Wriggle worm! Often seen without his pants and likes to start fights. Also extremely cute so gets away with everything :P
Chu Chu - young girl with a bell round her ankle and a necklace made of teeth! Likes to grab your little finger and is often seen with a giant butchers knife! Youngest of 4 sisters
Pordilla - Older sister of Chu Chu, very cute smile and loves to have her picture taken.
Ni Ana - Older sister of Chu Chu and Pordilla
Nina ay - Oldest of the sisters. Really intelligent and willing to learn, but unfortunately doesn't have Thai papers so she can't go to school yet!
Suteeda - Was really quiet at first but by the end of the 2 weeks was playful and fun. Had a wiggly tooth which she liked to wiggle in front of me at the dinner table.
Malay - Young girl who at first had curly hair but by the time I left had a bowl cut. Also a photographer in the making, she kept stealing my camera!
Faa - little girl who is always attached to Dada and always wearing pretty dresses
Sirikou - one of the older girls who is very far ahead in her learning. Loved to play dead. Also loved to play duck duck goose!
Puchida - 9 year old boy with glasses, he cant go to school because of his sight which is terribly sad because he is super intelligent and soo eager to learn. When I met Puchida he wanted to carry my bags to the volunteer house. I let him have my day pack. As we walked down the trail he said very quickly 'need to pee!' and before I had a chance to understand what he said I turned around to see him standing in the middle of the path peeing. He then proceeded to hold my hand as we walked up the path. Cute! Hes also a photographer in the making, he loved my camera!
Nautee - Definitely a favorite! Only arrived 2 weeks prior to us, and was brought up in a Karen tribe with a different dialect so can only speak to her sister. She clung onto us a lot, had so much love to give (and tears) and was the cutest little girl ever! Wish I could take her with me!!
Nadoo - Older sister of Nautee. Really interested in learning and achieved a lot in the 2 weeks we were there. A bit of a trouble maker with the other kids but cute so she gets away with it!
Ali Baba - Wriggle worm! Often seen without his pants and likes to start fights. Also extremely cute so gets away with everything :P
Chu Chu - young girl with a bell round her ankle and a necklace made of teeth! Likes to grab your little finger and is often seen with a giant butchers knife! Youngest of 4 sisters
Pordilla - Older sister of Chu Chu, very cute smile and loves to have her picture taken.
Ni Ana - Older sister of Chu Chu and Pordilla
Nina ay - Oldest of the sisters. Really intelligent and willing to learn, but unfortunately doesn't have Thai papers so she can't go to school yet!
Suteeda - Was really quiet at first but by the end of the 2 weeks was playful and fun. Had a wiggly tooth which she liked to wiggle in front of me at the dinner table.
Malay - Young girl who at first had curly hair but by the time I left had a bowl cut. Also a photographer in the making, she kept stealing my camera!
Faa - little girl who is always attached to Dada and always wearing pretty dresses
Sirikou - one of the older girls who is very far ahead in her learning. Loved to play dead. Also loved to play duck duck goose!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Baan Dada Orphanage
How many kids can you fit in a ute?
25 plus 2 volunteers at my last count!
We took a public bus 7 1/2 hours from Bangkok into the jungle...and we are now amongst some of the most beautiful land I've seen. Its soo soo green (even compared to NZ) and there are massive mountains and big gullys and rivers flowing, incredible.
We arrived in Sangklaburi and 'Dada' (Ricardo Zolenta) picked us up in the truck already filled with kids. We took a short drive to the orphanage. It is offroad - so that was fun, the kids were bouncing around everywhere!
When we arrived there were 4 other volunteers here, now there are 9 others! The other volunteers are so great, all from different backgrounds and all with both different and similar views to each other. Some of the conversations I have had have been great! We eat 3 vegan meals a day, which consist of tofu (much better tofu than the stuff at home) veges and rice. That is for breakfast as well. Sometimes we get spoilt and get chips and tomato sauce! Yumm! We've been eating plenty of fruit as well, because the fruit here is fantastic - dragonfruit, snakefruit and rambuttan. They may look a little weird from the outside but if you come to Thailand you must try them all!! In the evenings us volunteers have been having 'Uno, toast and tea' parties, heaps of fun!
One of the volunteers Anthony, who was here when we arrived, taught Dionne and I some simple yoga. Well, supposedly simple but I still almost blacked out on the first day! I've been really enjoying it, Anthony isn't an actual teacher but he knows a lot and I think we learnt a lot from him. He'll be happy to know we are still doing yoga almost every morning :)
One of the volunteers Anthony, who was here when we arrived, taught Dionne and I some simple yoga. Well, supposedly simple but I still almost blacked out on the first day! I've been really enjoying it, Anthony isn't an actual teacher but he knows a lot and I think we learnt a lot from him. He'll be happy to know we are still doing yoga almost every morning :)
The kids are great - they have so much independence and so much love to give. Most go to school - the ones who have Thai papers. The others and the young ones stay home during the day. We have been teaching basic ABC's 123's and colours in the evenings with the girls which is fun but hard work, they have so much energy! The philosophy the orphanage follows is Neo -Humanism. I found a book in our volunteer house about it and this is a quote which I think sums it up very nicely:
Neo-Humanist education
"We want the children to feel a full and unconditional acceptance of themselves as unique and precious beings, responsible for their own lives and dedicated to the welfare of all. Values we are projecting include non-violence, compassion, freedom, dignity, justice, tolerance, reciprocal respect, friendship, faith in oneself and love for nature. Looking at all creation we see it as a complete and harmonious system where the sky, the clouds, the earth, the plants and the animals all help each other.
Every being exists for and depends on the good of other beings. We are all part of this united earth so no one should harm others. These values are reinforced by daily habits such as the vegetarian diet. sentient songs and stories, daily care of plants and animals, and by learning about people from different backgrounds and races."
I think this is fantastic! I'm glad I found this place, I'm glad there is places like this. I've already decided I have to come back (yes, I've already been planning my next trip to Thailand..)
Pillokkhi Village Fish breeding project
Baan Dada has been working on fishing nets for one of the nearby villages, where some of the children are from. Some people have asked me where I stand on this; I guess I know that every time I have a meal I have the choice to eat meat or not. These people do not have that luxury. For them to survive they need to have a sustainable business and this is the best way for them.
Anyway, we spent a long long time setting up these nets. Then we spent 12 hours on a raft down a river to get to the village. The raft consisted of blue barrels and long poles.....it was great! I actually had a really awesome time even though we got rained on about 4 times and had little food and no toilet. A lot of the things I have done here, I know would have annoyed me at home. Like sitting in a monsoon on a raft for hours. But I loved every minute of it! And I loved the fact that I loved every minute of it! Does that make sense?
We spent the night in Pillokkhi village, then the next day headed back to the fishing village to set up nets. It was a long process! By the time we arrived back to the orphanage (at around 10pm) I was sick, literally. I actually threw up about 5 times in a gumboot! (Not my own gumboot either to Georginas suprise)...
So the next day I took off work. You are meant to take at least a day off a week but I've found that hard because there is so much to do! I actualy spent the day doing washing and cleaning and sewing. Washing here takes an eternity. Its so humid and it takes so long for anything to dry. All of my clothes smell gross, but I'm used to it. It helps because we all smell pretty disgusting..
Yesterday we all decided to go to the Three Pagodas Pass. This is the border of Burma that not many people go to anymore because the border is closed. Previously you could cross over for the day but of course now thats not possible. We went and saw these pitiful 3 statues simply for bragging rights...I saw Burma! ha.
In the afternoon Ingrid, Dionne and I met with a 'Didi', she runs another orphanage in the area and also teaches meditiation which I have been very interested in! She talked to us a little about the principles of NewHumanism and the kind of meditation she teaches and then showed us a basic universal practice. All I could see when I was doing it was the colour purple! I'm not quite sure that that was meant to happen but I accepted it. She then asked us individually why we were interested in meditation and from my answer decided I was ready for a first individual lesson. I'd love to tell you all about it because it was amazing but I promised to keep it a secret. I was given my own personal mantra which I can never say out loud again, only mentally.
We had to go after that, and I told the girls to really consider if they are ready for it because its going to be the start of something big for me I can tell. It couldn't have been better timing and it couldn't have felt more right!
Today Ingrid and I have been working on a Project proposal that some previous volunteers made a huge mess of, I think that will probably take us till the end of the week.
The last 2 weeks have gone way too fast. If anyone is planning a trip to Thailand please consider coming here, its truely an amazing place. Dada doesn't mind if you come from days, weeks, or months. Contact me if you want to know anything!
We leave early Saturday morning to Kanchanaburi, where we will trek to a waterfall in the afternoon. Then on Sunday we're heading to Bangkok then Chiang Mai, one of my favorite places in Thailand! Can't wait.
Im going to try to write a full blog on the kids who I can remember on here next time. Theres so many of them! I do have my favorites ...
Half Moon Party
In the truck on the way to the Half Moon Party
Kiwi - Ozzie- Made in Canada
Glowing paint everywhere!Koh Phangan - 'Samuis little hippy sister'.
The half moon party was on the 26th - it basically exists because the full moon party's were so popular that once a month just isnt enough. There is also a 'Shiver moon' and 'Black Moon' party...so pretty much every week thousands of tourists come together and paint themselves in glowing fluro paint and party till dawn.
We discovered the main town Haad Rin on the 26th during the day - this is where one of our friends, Gary, who we met in Bangkok was staying. We found out they were offering free vodka and redbull after 11pm so we had a pre party there - while drinking and painting eachother! Although the drinks were so ridiculously strong they were almost impossible to drink. 90/10 Vodka/ Redbull..yuk! The pre party was great, we met so many people! I remember thinking to myself that this is one of the reasons why I love travelling...the fact that all of these people from different countries and different backrounds can all come together and have a fantastic time together.
We got on the back of a Ute to go to the party and the driver, as per usual, was all over the windy and hilly road. Very safe of course...
The actual party was in the jungle, it was pretty awesome. There were fluro lights and decorations all through the trees and people everywhere over 2 levels. I did a lot of people watching because it was quite halarious watching all of the western men picking up Thai girls. Ok, it was funny but also really sad. These guys are just your average guys, they should have no problem picking up a girl but choose to pay into prostitution.
We left at about 5am when the repititive trance music was just too much the same. Then the next day we had to check out in the morning and take the boat over to Koh Samui. When we were waiting I saw people with broken bones and massive cuts, scrapes and bruises. Looks like I wasn't the only one who crashed my moped!!
The half moon party was on the 26th - it basically exists because the full moon party's were so popular that once a month just isnt enough. There is also a 'Shiver moon' and 'Black Moon' party...so pretty much every week thousands of tourists come together and paint themselves in glowing fluro paint and party till dawn.
We discovered the main town Haad Rin on the 26th during the day - this is where one of our friends, Gary, who we met in Bangkok was staying. We found out they were offering free vodka and redbull after 11pm so we had a pre party there - while drinking and painting eachother! Although the drinks were so ridiculously strong they were almost impossible to drink. 90/10 Vodka/ Redbull..yuk! The pre party was great, we met so many people! I remember thinking to myself that this is one of the reasons why I love travelling...the fact that all of these people from different countries and different backrounds can all come together and have a fantastic time together.
We got on the back of a Ute to go to the party and the driver, as per usual, was all over the windy and hilly road. Very safe of course...
The actual party was in the jungle, it was pretty awesome. There were fluro lights and decorations all through the trees and people everywhere over 2 levels. I did a lot of people watching because it was quite halarious watching all of the western men picking up Thai girls. Ok, it was funny but also really sad. These guys are just your average guys, they should have no problem picking up a girl but choose to pay into prostitution.
We left at about 5am when the repititive trance music was just too much the same. Then the next day we had to check out in the morning and take the boat over to Koh Samui. When we were waiting I saw people with broken bones and massive cuts, scrapes and bruises. Looks like I wasn't the only one who crashed my moped!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Koh Phangan - Moped Accidents and Monsoons
20 1/2 hours of rail, bus, boat, taxi and tuk tuk we arrived in Koh Phangan tired and sweating like pigs. Have I mentioned how hot it is?...
On the 2nd day here we decided to hire mopeds. It took 3 hours and 4 crashes on my bike before I got the hang of it. My legs are covered in scrapes, burns and bruises. But if you know me, you know what I am like with bikes, and should be very very proud that we rode the whole island yesterday (Even had to keep going when a monsoon hit) without accident!
Yesterday was a fantastic day...
We decided to go and find this 'waterfall' which was easy except it was quite a hike...took us a few hours...and we ended up on top of the island and it was beautiful!! We went for a dip in the water which was perfectly cold mmmmm. Then we decided to bike to the otherside of the island which was a mission but when we got there it was as if we had tumbled on paradise...it was amazing! The beach was more perfect than the pictures. While we were lying on the beach on of the Canadian guys we met in Bangkok found us and he is on a tour and he convinced his tour guide to take us out with them snorkelling. It cost us 50baht which is $2.
So off we went out on this boat and we were watching the clouds because they were growing very very dark very very quickly. Just as we reached the coral you could actuallly see the storm coming our way...it was nuts, you could see the whole thing happening, and before we knew it we were in the storm yelling trying to get our bags under cover! Then they were like 'jump off jump off!!' I jumped in (with my waterproof camera for the first time). And it was nuts. There were these huge waves washing over our snorkels and we were all getting bashed around in the sea. lol. My camera worked fine and Ive got this awesome picture in the water of the storm (will upload eventually).
Anyway as usual after 15 minutes the storm passed and the water cleared and I got heaps of underwater pictures, I was so stoked my camera was working perfectly!!
Once we returned to the beach it was deserted because everyone had taken cover. We then rode back to our side of the island where the storm continued. It was crazy riding in the rain. I was absolutely saturated and we could hardly see where we were going so we took it slow and it took us about an hour to get back.
We gave our washing to the hostel last night and I just saw it hanging on the line...everything that was white or yellow is now pink. Horray. :( Oh well I am trying to forget about the fact I will now have to wear my least favorite colour and looking forward to going to the beach again today, and the half moon party tonight!!!
On the 2nd day here we decided to hire mopeds. It took 3 hours and 4 crashes on my bike before I got the hang of it. My legs are covered in scrapes, burns and bruises. But if you know me, you know what I am like with bikes, and should be very very proud that we rode the whole island yesterday (Even had to keep going when a monsoon hit) without accident!
Yesterday was a fantastic day...
We decided to go and find this 'waterfall' which was easy except it was quite a hike...took us a few hours...and we ended up on top of the island and it was beautiful!! We went for a dip in the water which was perfectly cold mmmmm. Then we decided to bike to the otherside of the island which was a mission but when we got there it was as if we had tumbled on paradise...it was amazing! The beach was more perfect than the pictures. While we were lying on the beach on of the Canadian guys we met in Bangkok found us and he is on a tour and he convinced his tour guide to take us out with them snorkelling. It cost us 50baht which is $2.
So off we went out on this boat and we were watching the clouds because they were growing very very dark very very quickly. Just as we reached the coral you could actuallly see the storm coming our way...it was nuts, you could see the whole thing happening, and before we knew it we were in the storm yelling trying to get our bags under cover! Then they were like 'jump off jump off!!' I jumped in (with my waterproof camera for the first time). And it was nuts. There were these huge waves washing over our snorkels and we were all getting bashed around in the sea. lol. My camera worked fine and Ive got this awesome picture in the water of the storm (will upload eventually).
Anyway as usual after 15 minutes the storm passed and the water cleared and I got heaps of underwater pictures, I was so stoked my camera was working perfectly!!
Once we returned to the beach it was deserted because everyone had taken cover. We then rode back to our side of the island where the storm continued. It was crazy riding in the rain. I was absolutely saturated and we could hardly see where we were going so we took it slow and it took us about an hour to get back.
We gave our washing to the hostel last night and I just saw it hanging on the line...everything that was white or yellow is now pink. Horray. :( Oh well I am trying to forget about the fact I will now have to wear my least favorite colour and looking forward to going to the beach again today, and the half moon party tonight!!!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Stinking HOT Bangkok
It was 31degrees when I arrived in Bangkok last night at 9pm. Ridiculous. The air is so thick I have to seriously concentrate on my breathing. My single bedroom with fan is on the top floor. And incase you didnt know heat rises. First thing I found was a cockroach running accross the floor. All I could do was laugh...I'm defintley in Thailand!
I have a window...which doesnt open and even if it did it opens into the hall...not outside! So I wedged my jumper between the window and the wall to at least get more hot air circulating with my fan. Word of advice - opt for air con, I am tonight!! My body clock said it was 4am but I couldnt sleep because of the heat. Eventually I nodded off but woke up a lot sweating like a pig. Hot.
Then this morning I had a cold shower however it didnt seem to cool me down much. Just waiting at the hostel for Dionne now whos flight should have landed about 30mins ago.
I have a window...which doesnt open and even if it did it opens into the hall...not outside! So I wedged my jumper between the window and the wall to at least get more hot air circulating with my fan. Word of advice - opt for air con, I am tonight!! My body clock said it was 4am but I couldnt sleep because of the heat. Eventually I nodded off but woke up a lot sweating like a pig. Hot.
Then this morning I had a cold shower however it didnt seem to cool me down much. Just waiting at the hostel for Dionne now whos flight should have landed about 30mins ago.
Picture: Sunday at one of the temples in Bangkok
Thursday, May 22, 2008
4 weeks to go...and plans are changing...
I'm getting PAID to travel the US of A! Yes that's right kiddies, I just landed my dream job!
You are looking at (or reading from) one of the new American Recruitment Coordinators for International Student Volunteers!!!! This is the company who changed my life when I travelled with them to Thailand last year to volunteer in Baan Talae Nork.
You are looking at (or reading from) one of the new American Recruitment Coordinators for International Student Volunteers!!!! This is the company who changed my life when I travelled with them to Thailand last year to volunteer in Baan Talae Nork.
SO, I start with 3 days training in Sydney on the 15th of August which is perfect timing, cos I get to Aussie (Perth) on the 9th August. I then fly to California for 10 days training up in 'Big Bear resort' (How American?) and then get partnered off and sent out to Universities to convince the students to get on board with the programme.
The whole thing is so unreal, I cannot beleive I got the job, I know its going to be incredibly hard work but I'm SO up for the challenge and totally cool with getting it all paid for!
I also just realised I haven't said anything in here about where I am going!!
OK heres the list so far:
Thailand (1 month)
Laos (11 Days)
Vietnam (Just north, 5 days)
Hong Kong (5 Days)
Singapore (just one full day/night)
Perth (5 Days-ish)
Sydney (6days ish)
AMERICA! (12 weeks!)
That brings me to mid-November and then I'll see how much money I have to play with, maybe I'll go to the UK! :-)
Now I've just got a million more things to organise before I go...
And yes, I have already started packing...
How to pack my life into 10kgs?
Friday, May 2, 2008
7 weeks till take off...
Thought I'd start up a blog to be a hardcore geeky hi-tech communicator during my journey's but for now I would like to share with you all this video.
Most of my friends and family will know I am vegetarian, and cook vegan food most of the time at home. I know that it will be impossible to stick to a vegan diet while travelling in SE Asia so I'll be sticking to vegetarianism during that time.
This video, created by PETA, talk about the reasons why we shouldn't eat meat. I don't like to push people into doing things they don't want to do but I know from experience that if people are educated with the truth they can make better decisions. So if your sitting down, and aren't too hungover... Please watch.
http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=chew_on_this&Player=wm
"I find it unacceptable that violence is the basis of some of our food habits." - Dalai Lama
"If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That's the single most important thing you could do. It's staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty." - Paul McCartney
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