We have now completed the treacherous journey from Thailand to Singapore. I say treacherous, it was actually very easy considering the lying planet told us stories of peering Toms, brothels disguised as hotels and general harassment in Malaysia. In some areas of Malaysia we did feel rather uncomfortable with the constant staring. And one day when I walked to get my washing a man asked me if he could have me. Rank!
From Thailand we went to Lang Kawi in Malaysia then Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, then to Singapore where we are now. Melaka probably being my favorite, reminding me a bit of Mexico.
The Thai food was really good but then we got to Malaysia, where the food was even better, especially the curries. Also the chicken rice balls and Cendol, an iced coconut dessert, although it would have been better without kidney beans.
Today we took our very last long haul bus journey here to Singapore, I think if I added all the bus journeys up from the last 6 months it would probably be at least a weeks worth of travel.
Oh how i'll miss those meat coolers on wheels.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Flying Spiders
Arrived in Thailand, to humid, busy Bangkok. Me and Briony were suprised at how un-hassled we were by street venders, commenting that Turkey is much worse. Which was true until Tom arrived and suddenly every man and his dog wanted us to use his tuk tuk or come to his bloody taylor. They must have seen his friendly face and knew he would stop and listen, unlike me and Brionys "piss off" faces. So we spent quite a lot of time standing on street corners waiting for them to off load their problems or latest fake t-shirt to him.
We decided as we were in Bangkok that we should go to a ping pong show, you have to really dont you? Yep they manage to stick a lot up there thats for sure, and one part of it was basically live sex on stage, where I spotted a lot of pink faces english guys rushing out with their hands firmly in their pockets. I think we were all a bit disturbed, or at least pretended to be :)
We spent 2 nights in Kho phangan, where we rented a jeep to get round the island. Now in Kho Samui, where our bungalow is right on the beach. Iv never been in such warm sea before, its more like bath temperature until your in the deep bit.
Toms photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/tdacosta
We decided as we were in Bangkok that we should go to a ping pong show, you have to really dont you? Yep they manage to stick a lot up there thats for sure, and one part of it was basically live sex on stage, where I spotted a lot of pink faces english guys rushing out with their hands firmly in their pockets. I think we were all a bit disturbed, or at least pretended to be :)
We spent 2 nights in Kho phangan, where we rented a jeep to get round the island. Now in Kho Samui, where our bungalow is right on the beach. Iv never been in such warm sea before, its more like bath temperature until your in the deep bit.
Toms photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/tdacosta
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Elevator Music
We're back in Sydney after traveling right up the coast to cairns, 3,500 km all together. The greyhound was pretty good without too many delays.
So after travelling such a way I thought you would notice a big change in scenery, after all our flight back from Cairns was 3 hours which is how long it takes to get to Turkey which is a total change from England.
Well it was hotter, more humid, but apart from that there wasn't much of a change, I guess some of the trees were different too. But the houses and buildings are really plain, and I actually miss pretty, old buildings in England.
As for the culture thing....what culture, Australia could have been 'created' 50 years ago and you wouldn't know. The Aboriginal culture is ignored and denied as far as I can see.
In New Zealand we were always being told nice Maori stories, about the waves in the sea, being a giants heart beat and Maori women creating sand flies to keep the people away.
I learnt Maori songs at the school and colours. If we went to the pub, we'd get talking to Maori's and they loved talking about their culture.
The Aboriginals keep to themselves, someone said to me that the Maori's had been more naive when Cook came along and believed that they would get a fair deal, which they didn't but at least they dont get the sort of racism now that the Aboriginals do. The Aboriginals knew Cook was up to no good and stayed away, but maybe it's better that they can still have their tribes and keep away from the western culture now. Sure some of the Aboriginals you see are alcoholics or tramps but I dont know what the Australians expect, im sure they'd be alcoholics too if there babies had been taken away from them.
So after travelling such a way I thought you would notice a big change in scenery, after all our flight back from Cairns was 3 hours which is how long it takes to get to Turkey which is a total change from England.
Well it was hotter, more humid, but apart from that there wasn't much of a change, I guess some of the trees were different too. But the houses and buildings are really plain, and I actually miss pretty, old buildings in England.
As for the culture thing....what culture, Australia could have been 'created' 50 years ago and you wouldn't know. The Aboriginal culture is ignored and denied as far as I can see.
In New Zealand we were always being told nice Maori stories, about the waves in the sea, being a giants heart beat and Maori women creating sand flies to keep the people away.
I learnt Maori songs at the school and colours. If we went to the pub, we'd get talking to Maori's and they loved talking about their culture.
The Aboriginals keep to themselves, someone said to me that the Maori's had been more naive when Cook came along and believed that they would get a fair deal, which they didn't but at least they dont get the sort of racism now that the Aboriginals do. The Aboriginals knew Cook was up to no good and stayed away, but maybe it's better that they can still have their tribes and keep away from the western culture now. Sure some of the Aboriginals you see are alcoholics or tramps but I dont know what the Australians expect, im sure they'd be alcoholics too if there babies had been taken away from them.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Bobbing The Briny
We had a brilliant 3 days, 2 nights sailing the briny sea of the Whit Sunday islands. The Snorkeling was amazing, with the fish just swimming around your face and the coral being all pretty.
Everyone on board was really nice and included one guy from Brighton (who wasn't particularly sociable) and two guys from Guadalajara in Mexico who were really nice and couldn't believe I had been there.
One night, I woke up, (no the Irish man hadn't come back with a vengeance) but I found myself up an unused staircase with a door at the top leading out to the deck. I was very confused, it was pitch black so I stumbled down to find my bed (top bunk) I had to switch the light on to get back into bed so I couldn't work out how I had made it down in the dark without waking the girl underneath me up AND got up some stairs.
I never sleep walk, trust me to have my first go on a boat in the middle of the South Pacific, I'm just glad I woke up when I did. I didn't think much of it at the time but in the morning I was like "oh my gosh!!"
In Cairns now, which is very grey and humid, flying back to Sydney on saturday morning.
Everyone on board was really nice and included one guy from Brighton (who wasn't particularly sociable) and two guys from Guadalajara in Mexico who were really nice and couldn't believe I had been there.
One night, I woke up, (no the Irish man hadn't come back with a vengeance) but I found myself up an unused staircase with a door at the top leading out to the deck. I was very confused, it was pitch black so I stumbled down to find my bed (top bunk) I had to switch the light on to get back into bed so I couldn't work out how I had made it down in the dark without waking the girl underneath me up AND got up some stairs.
I never sleep walk, trust me to have my first go on a boat in the middle of the South Pacific, I'm just glad I woke up when I did. I didn't think much of it at the time but in the morning I was like "oh my gosh!!"
In Cairns now, which is very grey and humid, flying back to Sydney on saturday morning.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Bad night g'day
So after having a very bad sleep I woke up and went to put my washing out, but the lovely guy from last night had taken it out and already hung it on the line for me.
We then all headed out to the Bushtukka pampering tour, which involved a bush walk seeing spiders, lizards, lots of trees and caves etc. Then we got to a beautiful beach and had a swim and got covered in mineral mud.
The tour guide was very into his conspiracys about sun block giving you cancer, UFO's and the end of the world in 2012, I just though it was the bloody olympics!
I had to hold my tongue abit, some of it was so stupid.
We got back to the hostal,ate lunch then got picked up by 'Chopperoo'. A tour on choppers, which was so much fun. The flyer said "licence needed but no need to show" perfect! So we all chose a chopper (mine a nice Auzzie flag number) and head out on the highway, looking for adventure. For $50 we got an introduction and 3 hours on the road driving round Agnes waters and 1770, stopping at a pub for wedges and a nice sunset.
When we got back to the hostal, the owner gave me dinner and free drinks and money off my stay, anyone would have thought he had pissed on me!
So it ended up being a really good day, and I would recomend this hostal to anyone!
We then all headed out to the Bushtukka pampering tour, which involved a bush walk seeing spiders, lizards, lots of trees and caves etc. Then we got to a beautiful beach and had a swim and got covered in mineral mud.
The tour guide was very into his conspiracys about sun block giving you cancer, UFO's and the end of the world in 2012, I just though it was the bloody olympics!
I had to hold my tongue abit, some of it was so stupid.
We got back to the hostal,ate lunch then got picked up by 'Chopperoo'. A tour on choppers, which was so much fun. The flyer said "licence needed but no need to show" perfect! So we all chose a chopper (mine a nice Auzzie flag number) and head out on the highway, looking for adventure. For $50 we got an introduction and 3 hours on the road driving round Agnes waters and 1770, stopping at a pub for wedges and a nice sunset.
When we got back to the hostal, the owner gave me dinner and free drinks and money off my stay, anyone would have thought he had pissed on me!
So it ended up being a really good day, and I would recomend this hostal to anyone!
Rain drops keep falling on my head
Sometimes you get to a hostal and it feels like home, cool bananas was definetly one of these with cosy out door seating with candles and a fire, some good raggae beats and a long haired hippy cooking nutritious $5 meals every night.
Everything was going well until I woke up at 4am and could feel and hear something dripping down on me, once i had woken up properly I realised what it must be, being on the bottom bunk means gravity takes its course right on down.
I waited for the mini Niagara falls to stop (which took a good 5 minutes) and climbed out of bed, knowing i would get more wet if i made a dash for it staright away. With one very wet side, I shone my torch at the guy above me, hoping he would have a leaking 2 litre water bottle next to his crutch. No, this was some drunk Irish mans piss all over me! I didn't really know what to do so I woke up Briony and Becky for some moral support.
Which they gave saying nice things like "Oh my God your so calm, I would be FREAKING OUT!"
One of the house keepers was up and he was so nice, putting my stuff in the wash and taking out the matress etc.
He woke up the guy who firstly said "oh fuck" followed by "this isnt my bed, i just got into it"
How thick does he think I am?? Apart from the fact his sleeping bag was soaked. Briony set him straight.
The hostal chucked him out so when I walked back in the room he was packing, I kind of expected him to be on his knees begging for my forgiveness, nope nothing....he literlly didnt say anything. As he left the room i said "thats it piss on my leg, then piss off" then i realised it sounded comical and just laughed, didnt have the effect I really wanted. At least he had to do the walk of shame with all 3 of us glaring at him.
I didn't know you could create so much pee, It had gone through his sleeping bag, his matress, me and my matress. It got on my PJ top, trousers and even my pants, I have never washed with so much soap!!
So in the end Briony kindly let me share her bed, as the hostal was full, and i dont no what happened to the pee man, I almost felt sorry for him...almost, actually no he didnt even say sorry he deserved it.
Everything was going well until I woke up at 4am and could feel and hear something dripping down on me, once i had woken up properly I realised what it must be, being on the bottom bunk means gravity takes its course right on down.
I waited for the mini Niagara falls to stop (which took a good 5 minutes) and climbed out of bed, knowing i would get more wet if i made a dash for it staright away. With one very wet side, I shone my torch at the guy above me, hoping he would have a leaking 2 litre water bottle next to his crutch. No, this was some drunk Irish mans piss all over me! I didn't really know what to do so I woke up Briony and Becky for some moral support.
Which they gave saying nice things like "Oh my God your so calm, I would be FREAKING OUT!"
One of the house keepers was up and he was so nice, putting my stuff in the wash and taking out the matress etc.
He woke up the guy who firstly said "oh fuck" followed by "this isnt my bed, i just got into it"
How thick does he think I am?? Apart from the fact his sleeping bag was soaked. Briony set him straight.
The hostal chucked him out so when I walked back in the room he was packing, I kind of expected him to be on his knees begging for my forgiveness, nope nothing....he literlly didnt say anything. As he left the room i said "thats it piss on my leg, then piss off" then i realised it sounded comical and just laughed, didnt have the effect I really wanted. At least he had to do the walk of shame with all 3 of us glaring at him.
I didn't know you could create so much pee, It had gone through his sleeping bag, his matress, me and my matress. It got on my PJ top, trousers and even my pants, I have never washed with so much soap!!
So in the end Briony kindly let me share her bed, as the hostal was full, and i dont no what happened to the pee man, I almost felt sorry for him...almost, actually no he didnt even say sorry he deserved it.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Sunny side down
Briony and I are really starting to get this traveling buisness, the first sign was when we get to a new hostal, we would always have a good rummage of the free food/stuff shelf. And it always made our day if we found something good. I was very happy with my half full, rather muddy bottle of contact lense solution...do you know how much that stuff costs??
We realised that a good way to save money driving round the south island would be to buy a thermos and make our own tea and packed lunch, we looked like little old women sitting there with our cups of tea and our easy on the teeth jam sandwiches.
Said our goodbyes to everyone in rainy Wellington which was sad and headed to sunny Sydney. Went to Byron bay, which was really nice, walked to the lighthouse and saw more dolphins and about 6 whales, which was amazing.
Today arrived in Surfers Paradise and are hastily leaving tomorrow, its what I imagine magalufe-or whaters like with big towers blocks of hotels. Yuk!
We realised that a good way to save money driving round the south island would be to buy a thermos and make our own tea and packed lunch, we looked like little old women sitting there with our cups of tea and our easy on the teeth jam sandwiches.
Said our goodbyes to everyone in rainy Wellington which was sad and headed to sunny Sydney. Went to Byron bay, which was really nice, walked to the lighthouse and saw more dolphins and about 6 whales, which was amazing.
Today arrived in Surfers Paradise and are hastily leaving tomorrow, its what I imagine magalufe-or whaters like with big towers blocks of hotels. Yuk!
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