My time spent in London... has been really boring.
Literally, I sleep in, maybe meet up with Pete, do laundry, talk to pete about our nights plans, maybe watch scrubs, meeting up with others for lunch, bus/day trips to see Australian coworkers and sometimes I even get online to look up all the stuff I need to get done. Oh, I've seen 2 movies during the last 2 weeks, gone to a CS meet up, work drinks with Pete... basically we seem to do stuff at night... well, at least meet up and do dinner. Its sad when dinner is cheaper to do out (cuz he has a two for one at a lot of places) and my food is so expensive... and that way we can do stuff... since he works so late. Last weekend consisted of: sleeping in, making a really late brunch, Portobello Market, sitting around while Pete fixed a computer (That was torture as it turned into 8 hours.. and I would've done something but no one though it'd take that long), making a curry, going to sleep cuz Pete played xbox games with his brother in NY ... sleeping in, walking along the riverfront, showing Pete the Tower of London and Tower Hill (which we didn't go in), a fair trade fair, a trip to starbucks, the Tate Modern, and then a tube ride home.
Its been SOOOO cold, dreary and miserable that I haven't done much. The last thing i've wanted to do is walk around and get all down from the weather... i'm really affected by it.
So TODAY, turns out, the one day I told myself I'm ACTUALLy going to research the gazillion things I need to do... and not wonder around the neighborhood in circles (i seem to visit each of the grocery stores, often)... the sun decides to shine! Instead of going out into it though...i sucked it up and sat next to the windows while doing all my research! At least I got a bit done....and got a trim... which feels like a huge haircut. Maybe should've actually gotten more taken off and actually styled. Oh well.
Tonight is movie night. I'm gonna make nachos and watch a movie. And get up early tomorrow and spend my last weekend enjoying London. Maybe. Hopefully they'll be a bit of sun out!
I think i'm a sad London visitor... except I feel just like a Londoner... someone who isn't out to 'site see' and just lives their day to day lives in and around London. In the end.. I've seen and done more than Pete has... so I'm just enoying hanging out and visiting!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Netherlands, Holland and a world of the Dutch
Pete and I went to Holland for a long weekend.
We arrived Friday around 9pm ish... and it was crazy bright still. Not used to the light so dark... having been/lived close to the equator for the last few months.
Sadly we arrived into town pretty late for their National Day. Everyone (well, loads and loads of people) were on their way home. You could hardly walk at central station. Their national day is the 29th so many of these people had been partying in the streets since Thursday night. It was a site to see though... a sea of Orange. Orange on EVERYTHING, everyone, and anything possible!!
Mind you... holiday weekend.. and last minute trip. We were 3 kms outside the city centre... but still 'in' the city. And the prices were TRIPLE the normal costs. As in a 16 or 20 bed dorm room was anywhere from 35 to 60 Euros EACH! With that in mind Pete booked us a room... and one of the only rooms we could find (ok, we did book it Friday!) so we didn't have to deal with 15 crazy drunk people for 2 days straight!!! On the way to the hotel... i got kicked... 3 times.. on the crazy packed Metro. None of them were on purpose... but drunk people do drunk and stupid things. I got walked on, spilled on. Seriously, even Pete was doing it. I thought maybe I had a label on that I'd forgot to remove.. or some sort of target!! Well, we finally dropped off our bags and decided to walk back into town and see who was still about.
The town was 'dying' down. Well, not really. There were bits we walked around that were sooo crowded you couldn't get past. There was trash EVERYWHERE, there were bits closed off. Basically, one could see that it'd been a GREAT party during the day. To me it seemed like people were sooo far past their happy point and were just stumbling around. We walked around a bit but I was freezing and exhausted and wanted to go back.
Saturday... I had the best of intentions to wake up early and make the most of the day. But instead... jet lag really got me that day... so I slept in. Think i got out of bed in just enough time to go get a cup of tea before breakfast closed at 11. We ended up getting in line at a museum to decide we didn't have enough time before the walking tour. We met up with Daniella (someone Pete met in the South Island in NZ) who lives an hour away in Holland. We did the walking tour.... with 61 other people (in just OUR group)... there were 3 or 4 groups that day. Literally, thats how crowded the city was! We ended up getting Mexican for a really late lunch... sitting inside... meeting up with an old co workers of petes... taking Daniella back to the station.. and exploring the Red Light District. (which I'll get to in a bit)
Having just spent 8 months in summer and no where near anythign cold.. I didn't have a proper jacket. I had picked one up from Davids (one of very few things I got to keep) but for some strange reason didn't bring it. I also had thrown out ALL of my scarves, gloves and hats. Don't ask. But in my mind May= spring and warmth. Oh, i know, i had taken my RAIN coat thinking with a jumper it'd be plenty. Remember... I was thinking warm... not FREEZING!! Turns out. I was wrong. I was no where NEAR warm. I had gone from 30+ degrees for 8 months to 3 degrees. And when you realize I'd spent the last 4 months closer to 40 degrees... it was over a 35 degree temperature flux!! I didn't handle it well with just a thin jumper and rain coat!!!
Ok, so basically the weekend went like this: sleep in, freeze, avoid the cold, freeze, complain, repeat, continue. I was miserable!!
Sunday: sleep in... freezing in line in the rain for 2 hours for the Van Gough museum....walking through the museaum..... waited at HardRock (i have to buy shot glasses) to decide that we wnated Mexican instead... finding the mexican.... searching online for an hour for a new hotel (that would take us for just one night)... finding the new hotel which was in the city centre so we could explore.... searching for an ATM... paying for said room.. and getting into room and realizing it was the size of a tissue box but a cool loft style room.... me falling asleep while Pete looks up somewhere to explore for the night.... me convincing Pete that its TOOOOO WAY TOOOO Cold to leave the room to go anywhere... and then... both sleeping.
Monday: Sleeping in (ok, I said I'd gotten lazy)... going to the Anne Frank House... deciding that I wouldn't stand in the cold and rain for 2 hours... even though it was teh ONE thing I wanted to do in Amsterdam. Walking around to coffee shops (which mean a place to smoke pot) and looking at random things. Going to the train station and heading to Delft to stay the night with a friend of Pete's from uni. Getting to Delft... looking at old pics... walking through the city centre to a pub... going to another pub... cooking an awesome gluten free vegan dinner....starting a movie... me falling asleep.
Tuesday: waking up at a reasonable hour... enjoying a breakfast FEAST... train back to Amsterdam...back to the Anne Frank House.. this time we waited as it wasn't as cold or wet...enjoying it but getting really depressed... walking around the red light district.. enjoying a couple shots... more mexican.... more walking around.. and then off to the train... airport...flight.. and then getting the millionth degree from immigration in the uk!
Wow. The Red Light District. Its a bit shocking. And a bit not as exciting as I'd heard it talked up to be. There are chicks in windows... literally. All day long, even across from the 'Old Church' trying to get you to open their door for 15 mins of pleasure. It'll only cost you around 60 Euros. It was crazy to see that even during the day there were so many girls in the windows. There are different areas: for those with different preferences (think ethnic, cross dressers, big boned, etc) you just have to search and you can be as happy as your heart or pocket book would allow. Now my thought always goes to the guys walking into/out of these rooms. What do they think? Do you think they have any thoughts about what the people that see them think? Or when you resort to a prostitue does it not matter what a random stranger thinks when you walk out of a room? I dunno.. but I was feeling bad FOR THEM.. and they sure as hell didn't seem to care!!! also in the Red light district are sex shops, sex shows, coffee shops, and anythign else you can think of.
However, in saying all this... it was no where near what I thought it'd be. I'd heard Amsterdam worked and talked up to be this crazy place. I had such a laid back, relaxed and low key weekend. I had a couple drinks... mostly cuz the last day Pete set out to find a good brownie and I decided I'd have a drink or two as I wasn't going near Pot. Seriously, we didn't party, we enjoyed a bottle of wine in Delt, i had a glass of wine another night. I think i've become boring.
Now for those as confused as I was.... Holland is The Netherlands as The Netherlands is Holland. Its a nickname that has now taken over the Dutch world! Haha!!!!
It was a fun trip.. and glad we chose there as it was one place I didn't get to in my backpacking adventure in the Summer of 07!
We arrived Friday around 9pm ish... and it was crazy bright still. Not used to the light so dark... having been/lived close to the equator for the last few months.
Sadly we arrived into town pretty late for their National Day. Everyone (well, loads and loads of people) were on their way home. You could hardly walk at central station. Their national day is the 29th so many of these people had been partying in the streets since Thursday night. It was a site to see though... a sea of Orange. Orange on EVERYTHING, everyone, and anything possible!!
Mind you... holiday weekend.. and last minute trip. We were 3 kms outside the city centre... but still 'in' the city. And the prices were TRIPLE the normal costs. As in a 16 or 20 bed dorm room was anywhere from 35 to 60 Euros EACH! With that in mind Pete booked us a room... and one of the only rooms we could find (ok, we did book it Friday!) so we didn't have to deal with 15 crazy drunk people for 2 days straight!!! On the way to the hotel... i got kicked... 3 times.. on the crazy packed Metro. None of them were on purpose... but drunk people do drunk and stupid things. I got walked on, spilled on. Seriously, even Pete was doing it. I thought maybe I had a label on that I'd forgot to remove.. or some sort of target!! Well, we finally dropped off our bags and decided to walk back into town and see who was still about.
The town was 'dying' down. Well, not really. There were bits we walked around that were sooo crowded you couldn't get past. There was trash EVERYWHERE, there were bits closed off. Basically, one could see that it'd been a GREAT party during the day. To me it seemed like people were sooo far past their happy point and were just stumbling around. We walked around a bit but I was freezing and exhausted and wanted to go back.
Saturday... I had the best of intentions to wake up early and make the most of the day. But instead... jet lag really got me that day... so I slept in. Think i got out of bed in just enough time to go get a cup of tea before breakfast closed at 11. We ended up getting in line at a museum to decide we didn't have enough time before the walking tour. We met up with Daniella (someone Pete met in the South Island in NZ) who lives an hour away in Holland. We did the walking tour.... with 61 other people (in just OUR group)... there were 3 or 4 groups that day. Literally, thats how crowded the city was! We ended up getting Mexican for a really late lunch... sitting inside... meeting up with an old co workers of petes... taking Daniella back to the station.. and exploring the Red Light District. (which I'll get to in a bit)
Having just spent 8 months in summer and no where near anythign cold.. I didn't have a proper jacket. I had picked one up from Davids (one of very few things I got to keep) but for some strange reason didn't bring it. I also had thrown out ALL of my scarves, gloves and hats. Don't ask. But in my mind May= spring and warmth. Oh, i know, i had taken my RAIN coat thinking with a jumper it'd be plenty. Remember... I was thinking warm... not FREEZING!! Turns out. I was wrong. I was no where NEAR warm. I had gone from 30+ degrees for 8 months to 3 degrees. And when you realize I'd spent the last 4 months closer to 40 degrees... it was over a 35 degree temperature flux!! I didn't handle it well with just a thin jumper and rain coat!!!
Ok, so basically the weekend went like this: sleep in, freeze, avoid the cold, freeze, complain, repeat, continue. I was miserable!!
Sunday: sleep in... freezing in line in the rain for 2 hours for the Van Gough museum....walking through the museaum..... waited at HardRock (i have to buy shot glasses) to decide that we wnated Mexican instead... finding the mexican.... searching online for an hour for a new hotel (that would take us for just one night)... finding the new hotel which was in the city centre so we could explore.... searching for an ATM... paying for said room.. and getting into room and realizing it was the size of a tissue box but a cool loft style room.... me falling asleep while Pete looks up somewhere to explore for the night.... me convincing Pete that its TOOOOO WAY TOOOO Cold to leave the room to go anywhere... and then... both sleeping.
Monday: Sleeping in (ok, I said I'd gotten lazy)... going to the Anne Frank House... deciding that I wouldn't stand in the cold and rain for 2 hours... even though it was teh ONE thing I wanted to do in Amsterdam. Walking around to coffee shops (which mean a place to smoke pot) and looking at random things. Going to the train station and heading to Delft to stay the night with a friend of Pete's from uni. Getting to Delft... looking at old pics... walking through the city centre to a pub... going to another pub... cooking an awesome gluten free vegan dinner....starting a movie... me falling asleep.
Tuesday: waking up at a reasonable hour... enjoying a breakfast FEAST... train back to Amsterdam...back to the Anne Frank House.. this time we waited as it wasn't as cold or wet...enjoying it but getting really depressed... walking around the red light district.. enjoying a couple shots... more mexican.... more walking around.. and then off to the train... airport...flight.. and then getting the millionth degree from immigration in the uk!
Wow. The Red Light District. Its a bit shocking. And a bit not as exciting as I'd heard it talked up to be. There are chicks in windows... literally. All day long, even across from the 'Old Church' trying to get you to open their door for 15 mins of pleasure. It'll only cost you around 60 Euros. It was crazy to see that even during the day there were so many girls in the windows. There are different areas: for those with different preferences (think ethnic, cross dressers, big boned, etc) you just have to search and you can be as happy as your heart or pocket book would allow. Now my thought always goes to the guys walking into/out of these rooms. What do they think? Do you think they have any thoughts about what the people that see them think? Or when you resort to a prostitue does it not matter what a random stranger thinks when you walk out of a room? I dunno.. but I was feeling bad FOR THEM.. and they sure as hell didn't seem to care!!! also in the Red light district are sex shops, sex shows, coffee shops, and anythign else you can think of.
However, in saying all this... it was no where near what I thought it'd be. I'd heard Amsterdam worked and talked up to be this crazy place. I had such a laid back, relaxed and low key weekend. I had a couple drinks... mostly cuz the last day Pete set out to find a good brownie and I decided I'd have a drink or two as I wasn't going near Pot. Seriously, we didn't party, we enjoyed a bottle of wine in Delt, i had a glass of wine another night. I think i've become boring.
Now for those as confused as I was.... Holland is The Netherlands as The Netherlands is Holland. Its a nickname that has now taken over the Dutch world! Haha!!!!
It was a fun trip.. and glad we chose there as it was one place I didn't get to in my backpacking adventure in the Summer of 07!
My birthday!
I booked my flight to London crazy quick so I could spent my birthday in London with a true friend .
I woke up and had great aspirations for doing awesome things.... instead... I think I lazed around for 1/2 the day!
I met up with Pete for lunch and treated myself to an awesome gluten free vegan lunch and dessert. Then I wondered around Oxford street looking for a few odds and ends.
That night Pete and I saw Les Miserables. It was cool. Totally enjoyed it. Neither of us knew the songs ahead of time... but were happy to actually recognize many of them.
After we got Indian and enjoyed a bottle of wine. Came back to his flat, had another glass of wine.. and I passed out in bed from exhaustion!!
Was a great and low key birthday!
I woke up and had great aspirations for doing awesome things.... instead... I think I lazed around for 1/2 the day!
I met up with Pete for lunch and treated myself to an awesome gluten free vegan lunch and dessert. Then I wondered around Oxford street looking for a few odds and ends.
That night Pete and I saw Les Miserables. It was cool. Totally enjoyed it. Neither of us knew the songs ahead of time... but were happy to actually recognize many of them.
After we got Indian and enjoyed a bottle of wine. Came back to his flat, had another glass of wine.. and I passed out in bed from exhaustion!!
Was a great and low key birthday!
Cham Am to London
Well... I had quite the long adventure to end my SE Asia trip and arrive in London!
*3 hour bus trip Cha Am to Bangkok
*2 hour wait on the side of the road for supposed airport bus (that never came)
*45 min taxi ride to airport
*check in and 3 hour wait at airport
*most horrendous 10 hour flight to Cairo (words can't describe how horrific this was.. so I'll just not even attempt)
*5 hour layover in Cairo
*5 1/2 hour flight
*45 mins through security, getting bag, walk to tube
*30 min tube ride to Pete's
*2 hours: shower, get new sim card
*1 1/2 hours: tube/train ride to Rainham, Kent to David's
*3 hours to sort through all my crap (sooo much!)
*1 1/2 hour train/tube ride back to pete's in London
During that journey.... I slept:
*1 hour on flight from Bangkok to Cairo (ugh, again, I'm going to NOT mention how horrific this flight was!)
*1 1/2 hours during layover
*the BEST 20 min nap on Cairo to London flight (seriously, cat naps sometimes are sooo much more restful!)
I was super exhausted by the time I made it back to Pete's!
I had made note that I started my JOURNEY (that doesn't include the gettting up, time spent ath beach, etc that day) at 9am London time on TUESDAY and collapsed (literally after walking in the door, putting jammies on and brushing my teeth!) into bed at 11:45 WEDNESDAY night!
The stupid thing was.. I was wide awake the next morning... because my body thought it was the afternoon. However, jet lag hit me the next day or two (thrown in with the flight to Holland, another time change, etc)!
*3 hour bus trip Cha Am to Bangkok
*2 hour wait on the side of the road for supposed airport bus (that never came)
*45 min taxi ride to airport
*check in and 3 hour wait at airport
*most horrendous 10 hour flight to Cairo (words can't describe how horrific this was.. so I'll just not even attempt)
*5 hour layover in Cairo
*5 1/2 hour flight
*45 mins through security, getting bag, walk to tube
*30 min tube ride to Pete's
*2 hours: shower, get new sim card
*1 1/2 hours: tube/train ride to Rainham, Kent to David's
*3 hours to sort through all my crap (sooo much!)
*1 1/2 hour train/tube ride back to pete's in London
During that journey.... I slept:
*1 hour on flight from Bangkok to Cairo (ugh, again, I'm going to NOT mention how horrific this flight was!)
*1 1/2 hours during layover
*the BEST 20 min nap on Cairo to London flight (seriously, cat naps sometimes are sooo much more restful!)
I was super exhausted by the time I made it back to Pete's!
I had made note that I started my JOURNEY (that doesn't include the gettting up, time spent ath beach, etc that day) at 9am London time on TUESDAY and collapsed (literally after walking in the door, putting jammies on and brushing my teeth!) into bed at 11:45 WEDNESDAY night!
The stupid thing was.. I was wide awake the next morning... because my body thought it was the afternoon. However, jet lag hit me the next day or two (thrown in with the flight to Holland, another time change, etc)!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Positive thinking
Starting now:
I'm going to accept my body had a different idea for the last week of my travels than I did.
Yes, I may have wanted to trek, explore, beach, etc but I will accept and understand that it wanted/needed different.
I will not feel guilty or mad for not getting to do what I wanted/planned but glad that I am not more injured or hurt from the fall and whatever bug I have will pass.
I will be glad and positive that it WILL be gone before my flight to London and birthday (I had the flu bad 2 years ago on my birthday).
Sorry if I was negative. Its hard sometimes when your mind plans one thing, your klutzy self does another and thus body must have another.
Positive thoughts and thankful for not being worse!
Dear digestive track, I'd appreciate it if you'd resume your original anatomical function, immediately. While my a/c room has allowed great catch up on sleep lost from the numerous overnight bus journeys, I really fancy the chance to see & enjoy the beach that is just around the corner for my last 2 days in Thailand. Your cooperation would be much appreciated! Cheers, your frustrated owner!
I'm going to accept my body had a different idea for the last week of my travels than I did.
Yes, I may have wanted to trek, explore, beach, etc but I will accept and understand that it wanted/needed different.
I will not feel guilty or mad for not getting to do what I wanted/planned but glad that I am not more injured or hurt from the fall and whatever bug I have will pass.
I will be glad and positive that it WILL be gone before my flight to London and birthday (I had the flu bad 2 years ago on my birthday).
Sorry if I was negative. Its hard sometimes when your mind plans one thing, your klutzy self does another and thus body must have another.
Positive thoughts and thankful for not being worse!
Dear digestive track, I'd appreciate it if you'd resume your original anatomical function, immediately. While my a/c room has allowed great catch up on sleep lost from the numerous overnight bus journeys, I really fancy the chance to see & enjoy the beach that is just around the corner for my last 2 days in Thailand. Your cooperation would be much appreciated! Cheers, your frustrated owner!
Cha Am, the Thai Beach
Ok, so I picked Cha am as my last place in Thailand because I knew it was a place Thai's came to the beach for the weekend. I knew I could get a proper cultural beach experience instead of one in Phuket or any of the other islands geared towards tourists.
However, I've now been here for 1 1/2 days and only left my room for a total of an hour. I've been sick as a dog :-( Not felt this bad in a LONG LONG time.
After my nap got up and went for a walk. That was great. Walked up the south and north streets. only 'white' people I saw were obviously with Thai people. I enjoyed that. usually I'd attempt to talk, make friends, etc. Except I felt crap. My stomach hurt and turning, I was bloated I ached, had a stuffy head, and oh, my body was still hurting in random places from the fall. I had dinner and promptly came back to bed... well my room anyways.
I've been stuck in my room with a case of not being able to leave the toilet for more than a VERY short period of time. Not sure if i ate something bad, got whatever everyone on the last few buses seemed to have, had gluten in food somehow, or what. But OH MY GOODNESS. My stomach has been hurting... soo much. My head is stuffy. My tummy is turning. Its crampy and icky.
I'm sooo thankful that I 'splurged' on the room with AC. Actually, turns out while it is douple to triple what I'd been paying the rest of my trip its actually cheap for the town.
So today, I've laid in bed and watched the same 3 episodes of Monk, SVU, and I cant even remember now... felt sorry for myself for not being able to leave the room for more than 5 mins.
I've tried. I've walked to the beach... road... thats as far as I made it before having to turn around. I got dinner to go. I've felt more sorry for myself. Then glad.... because I have a huge day of travel coming up and glad its happening now and not in 2 days. Then felt pissed off because I've been at the 'beach' for 2 days and yet to actually walk on the becah. (ok, i knew yesterday would probably be a write off after 3 night buses in 1 week but come on, two days!)
I'm determined to take as much Immodium as it takes to let me leave the room tomorrow. Ok, that may not be technically smart but it didn't work today.... it cant go on for two days, can it? Oh, and since about mid day i've been throwing up too. Lovely.
Come on body... rid yourself of this bad stuff so I can enjoy the beautiful sunny beach tomorrow!!! Please, I beg of you.
Well, while i feel guilty for wasting time indoors when there is so much to see, what can i do if my body decides its had enough!?!!!
However, I've now been here for 1 1/2 days and only left my room for a total of an hour. I've been sick as a dog :-( Not felt this bad in a LONG LONG time.
After my nap got up and went for a walk. That was great. Walked up the south and north streets. only 'white' people I saw were obviously with Thai people. I enjoyed that. usually I'd attempt to talk, make friends, etc. Except I felt crap. My stomach hurt and turning, I was bloated I ached, had a stuffy head, and oh, my body was still hurting in random places from the fall. I had dinner and promptly came back to bed... well my room anyways.
I've been stuck in my room with a case of not being able to leave the toilet for more than a VERY short period of time. Not sure if i ate something bad, got whatever everyone on the last few buses seemed to have, had gluten in food somehow, or what. But OH MY GOODNESS. My stomach has been hurting... soo much. My head is stuffy. My tummy is turning. Its crampy and icky.
I'm sooo thankful that I 'splurged' on the room with AC. Actually, turns out while it is douple to triple what I'd been paying the rest of my trip its actually cheap for the town.
So today, I've laid in bed and watched the same 3 episodes of Monk, SVU, and I cant even remember now... felt sorry for myself for not being able to leave the room for more than 5 mins.
I've tried. I've walked to the beach... road... thats as far as I made it before having to turn around. I got dinner to go. I've felt more sorry for myself. Then glad.... because I have a huge day of travel coming up and glad its happening now and not in 2 days. Then felt pissed off because I've been at the 'beach' for 2 days and yet to actually walk on the becah. (ok, i knew yesterday would probably be a write off after 3 night buses in 1 week but come on, two days!)
I'm determined to take as much Immodium as it takes to let me leave the room tomorrow. Ok, that may not be technically smart but it didn't work today.... it cant go on for two days, can it? Oh, and since about mid day i've been throwing up too. Lovely.
Come on body... rid yourself of this bad stuff so I can enjoy the beautiful sunny beach tomorrow!!! Please, I beg of you.
Well, while i feel guilty for wasting time indoors when there is so much to see, what can i do if my body decides its had enough!?!!!
Chiang Mai
What an AWESOME night market! Literally huge!! Walked around for hours.... trying to stretch my back after the long bus... but popping ibo and battling the tears/pain!
I found an awesome shirt for my brother, and 2 for myself. And an awesome dress for Anna. I could've bought more clothes... but stopped at that. Could've figure out any other good gifts. I was wishing the last two markets that I'd splurged in Cambodia on the silk bed stuff though... it was awesome!
I woke up early the next morning, as I'd emailed the lady from the ESL centre for Ukraine that I'd be online for the interview. It took me AN HOUR to find somewhere open...besides McDonalds/Starbucks (which I refused to pay $5 for 1 hours internet!).. or street stalls which don't have internet! Seriously, it was 7 and the locals had all been up and to their local markets already but everything geared towards tourists was locked tight!! Interview was great, except the internet at the place got cut off right at the crucial end of the convo!! oops!
Again, this was a place I had been sooo excited about trekking, cooking classes, etc. I had asked after arriving and everywhere I asked I could maybe eat one dish. Even the vege places didn't have much optionwise for me.. and I just decided I didn't want to waste my money. I REFUSED to do the 1 day treks that exploit the 'long neck' hilltribes and elephants in the region. So that left my day pretty wide open. I found teh big shopping mall which took hours (walking there, around it, and back). Again, I could barely move but decided stretching my body was the best thing to do....cuz you guessed it, another night bus for me! That avo I got my first Thai massage. Thats quite the experience... not so much massage and stretch, bend and loosen up...actually just what i needed! Had dinner at an awesome Vege place and back to another bus!!!
our tuk tuk was the first to arrive at the bus so those of us on it all go to pick our seats. I was LUCKY and go the best seats! Again, got my own row, and even had no one in front of me as it was the stairwell, so i could put my feet up. Took some more pills and hoped for the best. They were playing Avatar and fell asleep about 2/3 in. However, my sleep lasted aprx 1 1/2 hours.... until the 1130 dinner stop? What the heck? How retarded!! After that, no sleep for me! We arrived and literally got dumped out on the side of the road in Bangkok at 5 am! Great! I found the popular tourist road... found a tuk tuk that wasn't going to robe me blind in price.. and went straight to the Southern Bus station. Got there with 10 mins to spare and got on the bus to Cha am for 4 1/2 hours. Got another 1/2 hour sleep on that bus. Walked 2 1/2 kms to find a GH. Got online, and then crashed.... till 430 pm. Eh, it was overcast and muggy out anyways!
I found an awesome shirt for my brother, and 2 for myself. And an awesome dress for Anna. I could've bought more clothes... but stopped at that. Could've figure out any other good gifts. I was wishing the last two markets that I'd splurged in Cambodia on the silk bed stuff though... it was awesome!
I woke up early the next morning, as I'd emailed the lady from the ESL centre for Ukraine that I'd be online for the interview. It took me AN HOUR to find somewhere open...besides McDonalds/Starbucks (which I refused to pay $5 for 1 hours internet!).. or street stalls which don't have internet! Seriously, it was 7 and the locals had all been up and to their local markets already but everything geared towards tourists was locked tight!! Interview was great, except the internet at the place got cut off right at the crucial end of the convo!! oops!
Again, this was a place I had been sooo excited about trekking, cooking classes, etc. I had asked after arriving and everywhere I asked I could maybe eat one dish. Even the vege places didn't have much optionwise for me.. and I just decided I didn't want to waste my money. I REFUSED to do the 1 day treks that exploit the 'long neck' hilltribes and elephants in the region. So that left my day pretty wide open. I found teh big shopping mall which took hours (walking there, around it, and back). Again, I could barely move but decided stretching my body was the best thing to do....cuz you guessed it, another night bus for me! That avo I got my first Thai massage. Thats quite the experience... not so much massage and stretch, bend and loosen up...actually just what i needed! Had dinner at an awesome Vege place and back to another bus!!!
our tuk tuk was the first to arrive at the bus so those of us on it all go to pick our seats. I was LUCKY and go the best seats! Again, got my own row, and even had no one in front of me as it was the stairwell, so i could put my feet up. Took some more pills and hoped for the best. They were playing Avatar and fell asleep about 2/3 in. However, my sleep lasted aprx 1 1/2 hours.... until the 1130 dinner stop? What the heck? How retarded!! After that, no sleep for me! We arrived and literally got dumped out on the side of the road in Bangkok at 5 am! Great! I found the popular tourist road... found a tuk tuk that wasn't going to robe me blind in price.. and went straight to the Southern Bus station. Got there with 10 mins to spare and got on the bus to Cha am for 4 1/2 hours. Got another 1/2 hour sleep on that bus. Walked 2 1/2 kms to find a GH. Got online, and then crashed.... till 430 pm. Eh, it was overcast and muggy out anyways!
LP to the Laos/Thai border to Chiang Mai
Oh, 2nd night bus in a few nights. This time I'd bought my own sleeping pills.
I was in severe pain and hoping they'd work like magic. (Ok, to clarify, these are non addictive, muscle relaxer, anti anxiety, etc pills... used for lots of things including insomnia.)
I got SOOO lucky and got a whole seat to myself. I was the only Westerner and they didn't mix us with the locals. Totally glad I was traveling alone!
Well, this road was the WORST road. Bumpy, turny, crazy, words don't describe it. Now most people take a 2 day slow boat to avoid this bus trip... but I didn't have time so I had to endure.
The pills didn't work. Well, i was slamming my head, falling off the seat, and just plain being thrown about too much to have any sleep.
A funny part of the journey. We stopped around 5 am and I had to use the bathroom. We were supposed to pay 1000 kip (like 13 cents) but I literally only had enough kip to get me the tuk tuk and boat across the border and not 1000 to spare!) so I used it without paying. I ignored the guy when he was shouting at me... he ran after me and kept shouting at me. I kept saying sorry, I don't have any. No money, no kip, sorry, sorry. He was sooo pissed. The girl on the seat in front offered to pay for me and he wouldn't take her money (for me) because he wanted me to pay... but i literally had no money. And mind you i saw a couple guys go in and not pay.. and they don't evne have to use the stupid toilets as they can go anywhere! Ugh, I hate being female sometimes!
So we get to the Thai border town around 930 am (16 hours after being picked up at my GH) and get to the river. Now everyone had apparantely booked their ticket all the way to Chaing Mai, except me. I knew it'd be cheaper to do it as two separarte journeys... except I refused to tke out more Kip at the atm. So I finally convinced the guy to give me a seat in the bus (along with the boat to cross the river.. which is the official border) and that I'd take out Baht to pay him in thailand. Kip is useless and each time you use an ATM in this part of the world its about a $5 fee, and I didn't want more kip and didn't wnat to pay the fee twice in one day!! I paid the guy.. we waited for awhile and got in a mini bus.
At one point towards the end my back was so bad along with my neck/legs/arms that I was again in tears. Literally, spasming up and down my legs and my neck was so stiff from jarring it I couldn't look at all to the sides.
22 1/2 hours after leaving my GH in Luang Prabang, Laos I arrived at my GH Chiang Mai, Thailand!!!!
I was in severe pain and hoping they'd work like magic. (Ok, to clarify, these are non addictive, muscle relaxer, anti anxiety, etc pills... used for lots of things including insomnia.)
I got SOOO lucky and got a whole seat to myself. I was the only Westerner and they didn't mix us with the locals. Totally glad I was traveling alone!
Well, this road was the WORST road. Bumpy, turny, crazy, words don't describe it. Now most people take a 2 day slow boat to avoid this bus trip... but I didn't have time so I had to endure.
The pills didn't work. Well, i was slamming my head, falling off the seat, and just plain being thrown about too much to have any sleep.
A funny part of the journey. We stopped around 5 am and I had to use the bathroom. We were supposed to pay 1000 kip (like 13 cents) but I literally only had enough kip to get me the tuk tuk and boat across the border and not 1000 to spare!) so I used it without paying. I ignored the guy when he was shouting at me... he ran after me and kept shouting at me. I kept saying sorry, I don't have any. No money, no kip, sorry, sorry. He was sooo pissed. The girl on the seat in front offered to pay for me and he wouldn't take her money (for me) because he wanted me to pay... but i literally had no money. And mind you i saw a couple guys go in and not pay.. and they don't evne have to use the stupid toilets as they can go anywhere! Ugh, I hate being female sometimes!
So we get to the Thai border town around 930 am (16 hours after being picked up at my GH) and get to the river. Now everyone had apparantely booked their ticket all the way to Chaing Mai, except me. I knew it'd be cheaper to do it as two separarte journeys... except I refused to tke out more Kip at the atm. So I finally convinced the guy to give me a seat in the bus (along with the boat to cross the river.. which is the official border) and that I'd take out Baht to pay him in thailand. Kip is useless and each time you use an ATM in this part of the world its about a $5 fee, and I didn't want more kip and didn't wnat to pay the fee twice in one day!! I paid the guy.. we waited for awhile and got in a mini bus.
At one point towards the end my back was so bad along with my neck/legs/arms that I was again in tears. Literally, spasming up and down my legs and my neck was so stiff from jarring it I couldn't look at all to the sides.
22 1/2 hours after leaving my GH in Luang Prabang, Laos I arrived at my GH Chiang Mai, Thailand!!!!
Luang Prabang
This was a place I had been really looking forward to visiting!! There are some amazing treks in the hills surrounding, awesome Wats, and its just supposed to be a great place to chill out.
Well, after a crazy bus ride, where I thought we might go over the side of hills (think roads crazier than NZ!) I made it. At least I had a seat to myself and could stretch out and not get too cramped.
Great, well, as I could hardly move by the time we arrived. I realized there was NO WAY I could do a trek. Instead I explored the awesome night market, found amazing vege food I could eat. Ok, so my excitement was over cucumbers and tomatoes mostly.. but hey, i got a whole plate of food for under $1. Which I could've had that more often!
I went on a walk with the couple to the river and met this lovely Laos guy. We ended up talking for awhile, walking around, and attempting to communicate. He's learning english... and its always a fun adventure. He was going to take me to a Laos bar outside of town but I bailed as I was hurting WAY WAY too much. The couple hours spent with him make me love traveling!
A huge 'tourist attraction' in LP is the morning monk procession. Now, I'm not sure why its so popular there... but I decided to get up and watch. Monks traditionally live off the donations and alms they receive. They walk around at daybreak to receive them.
I couldn't get a straight answer on time. It varied from "5, done by 530, to 6 or done by 6." I decided to get up at 445 and just go with it. I had to break out of the GH and instantly was followed by drunk crazy guy. Turned around, walked the other wahy.. he followed. Repeat and repeat. Walked up to a couple and started talking to them. Turns out, he'd followed them earlier... and continued to follow all of us. He wasn't threatening just creepy and obviously drunk. We wondered what time this process took place and sat on the kerb and waited. The women selling rice showed up.. so at least we knew we were in the right place.
I guess at one point the monks decided they would no longer go around and take offerings because it'd turned into too much of a tourist charade. The city told them they'd hired actors and pretty much MADE them continue doing it. There are MANY customs that go with this tradtion. Including such things as woman being lower than the monks, etc.
Well, the monks soon came.. and soooo did the tacky ANNOYING stupid tourists. I HATE stupid annoying tourists. Again, this deserves its own blog, so I'll stop there. Anyways, I watched, others were rude and in the monks face taking pictures.
I had planned to rent a bike and cycle around to the wats. But that morning I could barely move. Like WAY worse than the day before. I headed back to lay down for 2 hours. Walked around and saw a few Temples. Spent time indoors attempting not to melt in the heat (boy was it hotter than it'd been since Cambodia). I basically spent the day upset that I was in soo much pain that I couldn't do what I'd wanted and knowing I was getting on another crazy long bus ride that night. UGH
Well, after a crazy bus ride, where I thought we might go over the side of hills (think roads crazier than NZ!) I made it. At least I had a seat to myself and could stretch out and not get too cramped.
Great, well, as I could hardly move by the time we arrived. I realized there was NO WAY I could do a trek. Instead I explored the awesome night market, found amazing vege food I could eat. Ok, so my excitement was over cucumbers and tomatoes mostly.. but hey, i got a whole plate of food for under $1. Which I could've had that more often!
I went on a walk with the couple to the river and met this lovely Laos guy. We ended up talking for awhile, walking around, and attempting to communicate. He's learning english... and its always a fun adventure. He was going to take me to a Laos bar outside of town but I bailed as I was hurting WAY WAY too much. The couple hours spent with him make me love traveling!
A huge 'tourist attraction' in LP is the morning monk procession. Now, I'm not sure why its so popular there... but I decided to get up and watch. Monks traditionally live off the donations and alms they receive. They walk around at daybreak to receive them.
I couldn't get a straight answer on time. It varied from "5, done by 530, to 6 or done by 6." I decided to get up at 445 and just go with it. I had to break out of the GH and instantly was followed by drunk crazy guy. Turned around, walked the other wahy.. he followed. Repeat and repeat. Walked up to a couple and started talking to them. Turns out, he'd followed them earlier... and continued to follow all of us. He wasn't threatening just creepy and obviously drunk. We wondered what time this process took place and sat on the kerb and waited. The women selling rice showed up.. so at least we knew we were in the right place.
I guess at one point the monks decided they would no longer go around and take offerings because it'd turned into too much of a tourist charade. The city told them they'd hired actors and pretty much MADE them continue doing it. There are MANY customs that go with this tradtion. Including such things as woman being lower than the monks, etc.
Well, the monks soon came.. and soooo did the tacky ANNOYING stupid tourists. I HATE stupid annoying tourists. Again, this deserves its own blog, so I'll stop there. Anyways, I watched, others were rude and in the monks face taking pictures.
I had planned to rent a bike and cycle around to the wats. But that morning I could barely move. Like WAY worse than the day before. I headed back to lay down for 2 hours. Walked around and saw a few Temples. Spent time indoors attempting not to melt in the heat (boy was it hotter than it'd been since Cambodia). I basically spent the day upset that I was in soo much pain that I couldn't do what I'd wanted and knowing I was getting on another crazy long bus ride that night. UGH
Stairwell acrobatics
HOLY CRAP.
Am I lucky to be alive.
I was walking down the flight of stairs... and once a klutz... always a klutz.
My ankle gave out on me.
I went FLYING.
I did a somersault.
I flew down some more stairs.
And then I CRASHED, SMACKED, and landed.
on TILE.
I was wearing both my backpacks.
Thank goodness.
Well, I could've get up because my arms were bent back in a way (and if you've worn 2 you know how hard it is to get them off) that I couldn't move them.
My legs were already black and blue in spots.
BUT I didn't hit my head or snap anything. And I'm thankful as heck.
Thank goodness. My backpacks really saved me, in that, I know for a fact.
The couple I'd hung out with on and off for the day ran over and helped me up, Marie ran down as well.
Guess what I got to do right after this awesome acrobatic display?
Yup, you guessed it... get on a 8 hour bus trip!
Am I lucky to be alive.
I was walking down the flight of stairs... and once a klutz... always a klutz.
My ankle gave out on me.
I went FLYING.
I did a somersault.
I flew down some more stairs.
And then I CRASHED, SMACKED, and landed.
on TILE.
I was wearing both my backpacks.
Thank goodness.
Well, I could've get up because my arms were bent back in a way (and if you've worn 2 you know how hard it is to get them off) that I couldn't move them.
My legs were already black and blue in spots.
BUT I didn't hit my head or snap anything. And I'm thankful as heck.
Thank goodness. My backpacks really saved me, in that, I know for a fact.
The couple I'd hung out with on and off for the day ran over and helped me up, Marie ran down as well.
Guess what I got to do right after this awesome acrobatic display?
Yup, you guessed it... get on a 8 hour bus trip!
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