So, i'm in my third week with the new workplace and i have some initial impressions about working in the UK. (All of which are coming back to me after I spent my year in London in 2004).
1. Regardless of the fact that Australia (or the australia that we know) was roughly based on the Old Country, the culture is vastly different - people have a different approach to everything - relationships, work ethic, morals. I'm not saying that Australians have it better.... But things really are quite different here.
2. I've been told by my 'mentor' at work that she once had a stalker that her brothers went after and broke his legs. I realise she's from birmingham but that even seems a bit harsh for for the Midlands really!
3. One of my colleagues speaks baby-talk at work.... and she's 39. Hmmmm.
4. In the Birmingham accent, you say "Mair-eh" for Mary. It's quite an amusing accent.
5. I'm struggling with the job and feel a right fool most of the time, starting from scratch. But i think they expected this, and are being quite tolerant of my mistakes, but it's been a long time in a job since i haven't known what i'm doing.
6. The pay in this country is dismal - i'm getting paid about half of what i got in australia. That's going to be hard to come to terms with.
7. Commuting on a train for an hour each way allows me to catch up on my reading. I hope the next book is better than the one i'm currently reading!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Home Finally
Well, again it's been a while since i've updated the website but i'll try to be better. Stable Cottage is the name of the new house - it's absolutely lovely and so nice to come home to.
Home. Such a strange concept for Tom and I. Since we've met, we've commuted between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, lived together but with Foo and renovated a house, travelled to India, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, lived with his parents, got married, honeymooned in Turkey, lived with Foo and Sharna, got married again, honeymooned in Rarotonga and the US, lived with Sandy and Francis, lived in a tiny studio and lived with his parents again. It's nice to have a home.
We loved opening boxes, revealing treasures from our travels and lovingly placing them in their new spots in our new house. I loved visiting the auction house, and blindly bidding on a £2 lot and finding that i'd bought two lovely tables for our new spot. I loved going to the flea fair yesterday and impulsively buying a chair which has proven to be the most comfortable chair IN THE WORLD. Probably because it's 40 years old and pretty ugly. But really comfy.
I'm loving coming home. Every time i step into the front door, I'm pleased all over again. I love it, and i love more than anything just being here with my husband. In our home.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sitting and waiting
A photo from the restaurant at Coral Bay, Koh Pha Ngan, one of our favourite places in the world. Typically, the sun didn't shine all week, and this was the view on our last day, moments before we had to catch a sangtheaw (ute-like transport in thailand), a boat, a sangtheaw, a bus, a minibus then a cab - a nine hour odessey to get us to the airport in Phuket this morning. Such is life when we travel!
Well we're in Changi airport in Singapore again for the 5th time in the past 12 months, and spending our time reading, blogging, eating and drinking some booze to relax us for the flight. We did something we've never done this arvo and that was to hire us a sleeping pod in an airport lounge. For $40, we got a bed for 3 hours and a shower and all the trimmings. Money well spent, as we're feeling much refreshed. Or at least we were when we got out of there. That was almost 4 hours ago, and we're still waiting for this damn plane (11 hour stopovers are no fun, even at the best airport in the world!)
But we do have free wi-fi, and i've done a bit of emailing etc, and we've even found a place to plug our computer in, in order to charge it up, ready for the bus trip at the other end, so we can watch a movie or some such!
This trip to thailand was vastly different from the last time. On our last trip, we'd just come from India, so we were used to cheap digs and no bathrooms etc. This time around we sprung some extra cash and made it a bit more comfortable for ourselves, which i liked very much.
I love thailand mostly for the warm people that you meet. One fellow at our favourite place, Coral Bay, a young man 23 years old and eager to please, tried desperately to find our favourite song from last time around. When he found it, he triumphantly placed the CD in the player only to find it so scratched that the first few bars of the song played only. He dejectedly came to apologise, and we assured him that he was wonderful for trying so hard on our behalf. On our last day there, Tom bought the CD, and some extra blank ones, in order to do a copy for him. When presented with the CD, Max was so happy, he gave Tom a hug! We ended our stay at Coral bay with beers with the warm staff, each one of us desperately trying to understand each other in order to be better acquainted for next time.
And i hope next time is not too far away. x
Monday, July 13, 2009
A Bungalow on a Beach in Koh Pha Ngan
A pic of a pig and a dog, playing on the beach in Koh Pha Ngan - they're mates really!
Well, we were going to stay on Koh Samui for a while, but it wasn’t really our scene, so we decided to come back to our old favourite, Coral Bay. And Coral Bay has a rare accolade – it’s the only place we can think of that we’ve returned to stay a second time. And it is not disappointing!
Unfortunately, the weather is not too good, but that doesn’t stop us from having a lovely time. It rained a few times today, and the wind has been howling, but we have a lovely restaurant here on site, and a balcony with a hammock, so we’re all set! And despite the threatening clouds, today we hired a scooter and bombed around the island to explore, my arms tightly locked around Tom’s waist, the wind in my hair. Because it’s the low season here, there is little traffic, and the only thing we concern ourselves with on the road are stray dogs, stopping to scratch themselves on the tarmac. A toot of our horn warns them of our approach, yet they usually don’t move, so engrossed are they in getting that elusive spot behind the ear.
Thailand in the low season is curious, but peaceful. Everyone seems a little more mellow than when we were last here, and I’m even less cranky, not having to deal with idiot tourists farting about the place and getting in my way. I consider myself a thoughtful traveller, and try as much as possible not to put anyone out too much, and when I see morons doing the opposite it makes me cranky. But who am I to complain?
Anyway, the tan is still coming along nicely – despite the clouds, my skin is turning ever browner!
Nothing more to report – except that Tom has man flu and is a bit fractious, but he’ll be ok shortly.
Friday, July 10, 2009
I actually took this photo with my new camera
Gorgeous Thailand - Koh Phi Phi
Are you jealous of my talents (and the fact that i have this view to wake up to in the mornings?)
I don't want to write too much when i don't have much to say, but we DID go out snorkelling today and DID see a sea snake only metres from us (well, i saw it and Tom was too busy trying to figure out whether the bag he was looking at was, in fact, an octopus!) So that was exciting.
Off to have a Chang beer. Then tomorrow we go to Ko Samui for a few days before back to our beloved Koh Pha Ngan. This is living people!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Koh Phi Phi Island
Hi there readers (all two of you!)
I write this from a funky smelling internet cafe in the main town on Phi Phi island after a very hot walk here from our place on Long Beach (called Paradise Pearl Bungalows). Our room is lovely and clean and air conditioned, and only $40 or so a night so we're living in a lot more luxury than last time we were in Thailand! It's absolutely wonderful to come out of the turquoise sea, covered in salt, and walk to our room, undress, shower and wash that off. Then wonder "am i going to have a nap this afternoon?" The answer this afternoon will be yes!
Yesterday, we hired a long-tail boat for 3 hours and he took us over to koh phi phi leh, the smaller of the two Phi Phi's, to show us the sights. We saw the beach from the movie "The Beach" (a little disappointing as it was rife with pasty white german tourists and buoys and litter. It's a shame the Thai people can't understand that keeping their places of interest clean will help out with tourism!)
We've been eating wonderful food (my breakfast this morning was fried rice with chicken, chilli and basil, and a fried egg!) and drinking loads of chang beer. The weather has been better than we expected - all the weather reports have been telling us for weeks that it's cloudy and thunderstorms every night. And whilst last night we did have a thunderstorm, I doubt it rained for this morning dawned bright and sunny. It's actually nice to have some clouds every now and then to block this roasting sun. Our skin is red and turning brown slowly.
All in all, it's wonderful here. The best thing, though, about holidays like this is spending all this time with each other only. We connect more, talk more, relax more, and do other stuff ;-) more than we do in our every day lives. Which is what a break like this should be about. Travelling with Tom makes me fall in love with him every day again, and life should be like that, really, shouldn't it?
I write this from a funky smelling internet cafe in the main town on Phi Phi island after a very hot walk here from our place on Long Beach (called Paradise Pearl Bungalows). Our room is lovely and clean and air conditioned, and only $40 or so a night so we're living in a lot more luxury than last time we were in Thailand! It's absolutely wonderful to come out of the turquoise sea, covered in salt, and walk to our room, undress, shower and wash that off. Then wonder "am i going to have a nap this afternoon?" The answer this afternoon will be yes!
Yesterday, we hired a long-tail boat for 3 hours and he took us over to koh phi phi leh, the smaller of the two Phi Phi's, to show us the sights. We saw the beach from the movie "The Beach" (a little disappointing as it was rife with pasty white german tourists and buoys and litter. It's a shame the Thai people can't understand that keeping their places of interest clean will help out with tourism!)
We've been eating wonderful food (my breakfast this morning was fried rice with chicken, chilli and basil, and a fried egg!) and drinking loads of chang beer. The weather has been better than we expected - all the weather reports have been telling us for weeks that it's cloudy and thunderstorms every night. And whilst last night we did have a thunderstorm, I doubt it rained for this morning dawned bright and sunny. It's actually nice to have some clouds every now and then to block this roasting sun. Our skin is red and turning brown slowly.
All in all, it's wonderful here. The best thing, though, about holidays like this is spending all this time with each other only. We connect more, talk more, relax more, and do other stuff ;-) more than we do in our every day lives. Which is what a break like this should be about. Travelling with Tom makes me fall in love with him every day again, and life should be like that, really, shouldn't it?
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Shout Out....
....to David Cole, who (amazingly) commented on my last post after an absence of so many months. Thank you David for keeping an eye on it! I'm flattered! And I hope you and Ruth will make one when you're travelling - I promise I'll be watching! (And to answer your question, we're still not sure. Can i get back to you?)
I just thought I'd write a list of all the websites I follow, just because it's interesting to know what people look at every couple of days.
http://lifeinla.typepad.com/chicago/ - I've been reading this for going on 4 years. And she's just had a baby. I feel like I know Claire personally, even though she is a complete stranger to me. She writes wonderfully and from the heart.
http://palinstravels.co.uk/ - I love Michael Palin's travels.
www.bbc.co.uk - gotta check the news in the UK
www.couriermail.com.au - ditto for Australia
http://ulrica-foreignbabeinhk.blogspot.com/ - my brother, Kris's girlfriend in Hong Kong. It's interesting to see what she's up to, and I've gotten to know her a bit better through her blog.
www.perezhilton.com - I'm shameful but I love hollywood gossip. You didn't know that about me did you?
http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/ - more of the above. In bad dresses.
http://www.topphotos.net/ - dreaming that i'll one day take a photo this good.
I just thought I'd write a list of all the websites I follow, just because it's interesting to know what people look at every couple of days.
http://lifeinla.typepad.com/chicago/ - I've been reading this for going on 4 years. And she's just had a baby. I feel like I know Claire personally, even though she is a complete stranger to me. She writes wonderfully and from the heart.
http://palinstravels.co.uk/ - I love Michael Palin's travels.
www.bbc.co.uk - gotta check the news in the UK
www.couriermail.com.au - ditto for Australia
http://ulrica-foreignbabeinhk.blogspot.com/ - my brother, Kris's girlfriend in Hong Kong. It's interesting to see what she's up to, and I've gotten to know her a bit better through her blog.
www.perezhilton.com - I'm shameful but I love hollywood gossip. You didn't know that about me did you?
http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/ - more of the above. In bad dresses.
http://www.topphotos.net/ - dreaming that i'll one day take a photo this good.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A long absence
Hi Readers
I get the feeling that only Mum and Bev read my blog but I thought I'd get back into it, so that they can keep up with our lives in the UK when we get back over there.
Feels so good to have my visa now - i spent so many weeks (and months) worrying about it. There was the added stress of not knowing whether I would be approved, and what would happen if that occurred... but all the worry was for nothing. I've now got it and that's what matters.
The plan is to leave for the UK in 2 weeks, on the 5th July, go to Thailand for 2 weeks and get to the UK on the 21st July. We'll spend some time at the in-laws house whilst looking for jobs and a house to rent, and then we'll move to Devon and live there for a while.
Tom and I have just celebrated our first anniversary. It's hard to believe a year ago we were leaving for our honeymoon to Turkey. It's wonderful to have him in my life... we make a good team, and we're good for each other, and that's what's important.
So, shortly we'll pack things up again in Australia and move our lives back to the UK. It's exhausting this moving about all the time, and i'm quite excited about just getting back to the UK and sitting still for more than 3 months at a time. I have lovely plans for our home, when we find one. I want a bed with just white linen, and the blue blanket and cushions on the bed. I want a wall with all 72 of our favourite photos from our travels on it. I want to cook for my husband every evening and sit on the couch with a glass of wine dissecting our day at work. I want to have MY things in their spots, and know exactly where that spot is when i look for them!
You people who have this probably take it for granted but I look forward to it with such delight!
Anyway, enough for now. bye
I get the feeling that only Mum and Bev read my blog but I thought I'd get back into it, so that they can keep up with our lives in the UK when we get back over there.
Feels so good to have my visa now - i spent so many weeks (and months) worrying about it. There was the added stress of not knowing whether I would be approved, and what would happen if that occurred... but all the worry was for nothing. I've now got it and that's what matters.
The plan is to leave for the UK in 2 weeks, on the 5th July, go to Thailand for 2 weeks and get to the UK on the 21st July. We'll spend some time at the in-laws house whilst looking for jobs and a house to rent, and then we'll move to Devon and live there for a while.
Tom and I have just celebrated our first anniversary. It's hard to believe a year ago we were leaving for our honeymoon to Turkey. It's wonderful to have him in my life... we make a good team, and we're good for each other, and that's what's important.
So, shortly we'll pack things up again in Australia and move our lives back to the UK. It's exhausting this moving about all the time, and i'm quite excited about just getting back to the UK and sitting still for more than 3 months at a time. I have lovely plans for our home, when we find one. I want a bed with just white linen, and the blue blanket and cushions on the bed. I want a wall with all 72 of our favourite photos from our travels on it. I want to cook for my husband every evening and sit on the couch with a glass of wine dissecting our day at work. I want to have MY things in their spots, and know exactly where that spot is when i look for them!
You people who have this probably take it for granted but I look forward to it with such delight!
Anyway, enough for now. bye
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Aussie Wedding
Hi All
Here's some information about the wedding in Australia. We can't wait to see all of you on our Big Day!
Just thought I'd pop some details in here about the wedding here so that you all know how to get there, where to stay etc. So here goes:
Venue
We're having the wedding ceremony and the barbie afterward at my Mum and Dad's place - 271 Old Byron Bay Road, Newrybar, 2479. If you're heading from Brisbane, go south on the M1 past the Byron Bay turnoff, over the big hill at St Helena, past the Bangalow turnoff, then about 4 km along there you'll see Broken Head Road to your left, and very soon after that put your blinkers on to turn left into Watson's Lane. Go all the way along Watsons Lane and at the end turn right. Mum and Dad's house is the first right - look for a big gravel driveway.
Accommodation
Newrybar is a really small village about 10km from Byron Bay. However, if you want to stay really close by, Bangalow (5km) or Coopers Shoot (2km) are your best bets.
Bangalow - http://www.bangalow.com/bangalow/accommodation.htm
Coopers Shoot - if you do a google search, plenty of places are listed.
And then there's always the option of camping onsite - my folks have 5 acres and you're most welcome to put up a tent. We'll keep you fed and watered! By the way, if you have any fold up camping chairs, bring them along and let me know about it when you RSVP please!
Wedding Details
We're having a ceremony at 4pm, followed by hours of drinking and being merry. There aren't too many cab companies in the area but I will endeavour to warn the company of our need for perhaps one of their cars for the evening. Dress code is casual but if you love to dress up, go for it!
The gift thing is a bit difficult - we're doing so much travel at present, which is an expensive process, SO.... we were hoping you guys could help us out. It would be really helpful for us if you could lend a hand toward our travelling lifestyle. (cheeky!!!) Any contributions will be very happily received. However, if you'd like to get us a gift, we love to receive them. Really we just want your company though!
RSVP
You can RSVP to Kaz on 0449 060 880 or Tom on 0404 782 275 or on weregettinghitched@live.co.uk
Here's some information about the wedding in Australia. We can't wait to see all of you on our Big Day!
Just thought I'd pop some details in here about the wedding here so that you all know how to get there, where to stay etc. So here goes:
Venue
We're having the wedding ceremony and the barbie afterward at my Mum and Dad's place - 271 Old Byron Bay Road, Newrybar, 2479. If you're heading from Brisbane, go south on the M1 past the Byron Bay turnoff, over the big hill at St Helena, past the Bangalow turnoff, then about 4 km along there you'll see Broken Head Road to your left, and very soon after that put your blinkers on to turn left into Watson's Lane. Go all the way along Watsons Lane and at the end turn right. Mum and Dad's house is the first right - look for a big gravel driveway.
Accommodation
Newrybar is a really small village about 10km from Byron Bay. However, if you want to stay really close by, Bangalow (5km) or Coopers Shoot (2km) are your best bets.
Bangalow - http://www.bangalow.com/bangalow/accommodation.htm
Coopers Shoot - if you do a google search, plenty of places are listed.
And then there's always the option of camping onsite - my folks have 5 acres and you're most welcome to put up a tent. We'll keep you fed and watered! By the way, if you have any fold up camping chairs, bring them along and let me know about it when you RSVP please!
Wedding Details
We're having a ceremony at 4pm, followed by hours of drinking and being merry. There aren't too many cab companies in the area but I will endeavour to warn the company of our need for perhaps one of their cars for the evening. Dress code is casual but if you love to dress up, go for it!
The gift thing is a bit difficult - we're doing so much travel at present, which is an expensive process, SO.... we were hoping you guys could help us out. It would be really helpful for us if you could lend a hand toward our travelling lifestyle. (cheeky!!!) Any contributions will be very happily received. However, if you'd like to get us a gift, we love to receive them. Really we just want your company though!
RSVP
You can RSVP to Kaz on 0449 060 880 or Tom on 0404 782 275 or on weregettinghitched@live.co.uk
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Married - the info!
Hi all
It's been a long time but I haven't really known what to write recently. After all, this was a travel blog and that travel is now over. However, I guess i should continue to update for anyone that likes to keep up with what's going on.
So, the exciting news is that we've booked our UK wedding - it's on the 21st June at 3.30pm, followed directly by the reception in a small town called Ashburton in Devon. I'm pretty excited!!! The ceremony is taking place in this hotel on the edge of Dartmoor (near Haytor - the largest tor on top of a hill in the moor) and it is going to be absolutely lovely!
The plan is to come back to Australia probably in September and have another wedding in October, as the air is getting warmer and the nights are getting longer. What a joy it is to imagine that we get TWO weddings! Lucky us!
So there you have it, all the info for the wedding. If anyone from Oz wants to come over, I'd be more than happy to see you there! But given that we're coming over there to have another one, that party will rock also!
Hope you are all well and happy.
Love Tom and Karen x
It's been a long time but I haven't really known what to write recently. After all, this was a travel blog and that travel is now over. However, I guess i should continue to update for anyone that likes to keep up with what's going on.
So, the exciting news is that we've booked our UK wedding - it's on the 21st June at 3.30pm, followed directly by the reception in a small town called Ashburton in Devon. I'm pretty excited!!! The ceremony is taking place in this hotel on the edge of Dartmoor (near Haytor - the largest tor on top of a hill in the moor) and it is going to be absolutely lovely!
The plan is to come back to Australia probably in September and have another wedding in October, as the air is getting warmer and the nights are getting longer. What a joy it is to imagine that we get TWO weddings! Lucky us!
So there you have it, all the info for the wedding. If anyone from Oz wants to come over, I'd be more than happy to see you there! But given that we're coming over there to have another one, that party will rock also!
Hope you are all well and happy.
Love Tom and Karen x
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Finally as promised!
Hi all
I don't know whether you're all still checking this but I'll do it for my own benefit also.
On our last long train trip, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, we wrote up a list of our Best and Worst of everything. This site doesn't allow me to insert a table so I'll perservere without one. Each category has a response from Tom and a response from me. Here goes:
Best beach - Hat Khom on Ko Pha Ngan (Tom), our lovely private beach on Ko Chang (Kaz)
Best accommodation - Bellvue (T) in Darjeeling, Tiger Huts on Ko Chang (K)
Best cuisine - Indian (T), Indian (K)
Most anticipated beer - first night in Delhi (T), after 3 day train trip in India (K)
Best beer - Chang (T), Kingfisher (K)
Worst travel - we both agree that it was Panaji to Mumbai on the bus
Best meal - Glenary's in Darjeeling with Chicken Reshmi kebab (T), Tom Yum at Beach cafe in Ko Chang (K)
Best scenery - Ko Pha Ngan (T), Jaisalmer in Rajasthan (K)
Worst traffic - Delhi (T), Bangkok (K)
Worst place - we both agree that it was Varanasi (renamed Verynasty)
Best experience - Snorkelling (T) in Ko Pha Ngan, Bikaner with MC's family (K)
Friendliest country - Laos (T), India (K)
Best trains - we agree it was Thailand - brilliant!
Best non-alcoholic drink - Chai marsala tea from Chowrasta, Darjeeling (T), Coconut shake from Coral Bay in Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Best snack - north indian samosas (T), Cornflake mix from Panaji (K)
Best shower - Bangkokk to Nong Kai on-0board-train shower (T), Sam Nuea, Laos (K)
Worst rip-off - Halong bay tour (we both agree)
Funniest experience - the man who spoke hest for tom in Jaisalmer, shisha with Joe in Hanoi (K)
Most tanned - both in Ko Pha Ngan
Biggest disappointment - it was not seeing the Himalayas after 5 days of trekking - damn clouds!
Worst hangover - after the night with Ashok in Panaji (T), after Lao Lao in Ponsavanh (k)
Worst hotel - it was Varanasi - horrible! But at $3 a night, quite cheap!
Best fruit - Palolem (T), coconut on the backwaters tour in Kerala (K)
Best bargain - Beer Laos! (T), samosas for 5 cents (Karen)
Hottest place - the day in the Red Fort in Delhi (T & K)
Coldest place - Sandakphu (T), Kalipokhri (K) both in the Himalayas
Worst smell - smoke in Varanasi from the funeral pyres (T), sewer stench in asia (K)
Best smell - jasmine rice cooking (T), incence in India (K)
Coolest city - Mumbai (T), Bangkok (K)
Weirdest animal - puffer fish (T), bears in the zoo in darjeeling (K)
Best feel good experience - scooter in Ko Chang (T), thai massage on Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Most fun - fishing in palolem in india
Most impressive sight - Raj Ghat in Delhi (Ghandi's final resting place) - Tom, Taj Mahal (K)
Most authentic experience - the tiny bar near the ferry in Panaji (T), visiting the temple with an indian family (K)
I don't know whether you're all still checking this but I'll do it for my own benefit also.
On our last long train trip, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, we wrote up a list of our Best and Worst of everything. This site doesn't allow me to insert a table so I'll perservere without one. Each category has a response from Tom and a response from me. Here goes:
Best beach - Hat Khom on Ko Pha Ngan (Tom), our lovely private beach on Ko Chang (Kaz)
Best accommodation - Bellvue (T) in Darjeeling, Tiger Huts on Ko Chang (K)
Best cuisine - Indian (T), Indian (K)
Most anticipated beer - first night in Delhi (T), after 3 day train trip in India (K)
Best beer - Chang (T), Kingfisher (K)
Worst travel - we both agree that it was Panaji to Mumbai on the bus
Best meal - Glenary's in Darjeeling with Chicken Reshmi kebab (T), Tom Yum at Beach cafe in Ko Chang (K)
Best scenery - Ko Pha Ngan (T), Jaisalmer in Rajasthan (K)
Worst traffic - Delhi (T), Bangkok (K)
Worst place - we both agree that it was Varanasi (renamed Verynasty)
Best experience - Snorkelling (T) in Ko Pha Ngan, Bikaner with MC's family (K)
Friendliest country - Laos (T), India (K)
Best trains - we agree it was Thailand - brilliant!
Best non-alcoholic drink - Chai marsala tea from Chowrasta, Darjeeling (T), Coconut shake from Coral Bay in Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Best snack - north indian samosas (T), Cornflake mix from Panaji (K)
Best shower - Bangkokk to Nong Kai on-0board-train shower (T), Sam Nuea, Laos (K)
Worst rip-off - Halong bay tour (we both agree)
Funniest experience - the man who spoke hest for tom in Jaisalmer, shisha with Joe in Hanoi (K)
Most tanned - both in Ko Pha Ngan
Biggest disappointment - it was not seeing the Himalayas after 5 days of trekking - damn clouds!
Worst hangover - after the night with Ashok in Panaji (T), after Lao Lao in Ponsavanh (k)
Worst hotel - it was Varanasi - horrible! But at $3 a night, quite cheap!
Best fruit - Palolem (T), coconut on the backwaters tour in Kerala (K)
Best bargain - Beer Laos! (T), samosas for 5 cents (Karen)
Hottest place - the day in the Red Fort in Delhi (T & K)
Coldest place - Sandakphu (T), Kalipokhri (K) both in the Himalayas
Worst smell - smoke in Varanasi from the funeral pyres (T), sewer stench in asia (K)
Best smell - jasmine rice cooking (T), incence in India (K)
Coolest city - Mumbai (T), Bangkok (K)
Weirdest animal - puffer fish (T), bears in the zoo in darjeeling (K)
Best feel good experience - scooter in Ko Chang (T), thai massage on Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Most fun - fishing in palolem in india
Most impressive sight - Raj Ghat in Delhi (Ghandi's final resting place) - Tom, Taj Mahal (K)
Most authentic experience - the tiny bar near the ferry in Panaji (T), visiting the temple with an indian family (K)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The travelling stops here....
Hi All
Well, after 4 long months of travelling, we've decided to head back to the UK. We were going to leave on the 2nd February but we realised that we're not taking much in anymore, so have changed our flights to tomorrow night.
This has been an amazing experience for us. We've learned so much from this travel and feel so enriched from the experience, it's been incredible. We have so many amazing memories and hope to one day tell our kids about what a great time we had.
I will continue to post, however, so keep an eye on the site as I'll upload a heap of photos soon from the travel - we have some real crackers!
We made a "best of" and "worst of" list on the train on the way here to Ho Chi Minh city so i'll post that shortly also. An amazing time and i feel so pleased that we did it!
Love to you all
Kxxx
Well, after 4 long months of travelling, we've decided to head back to the UK. We were going to leave on the 2nd February but we realised that we're not taking much in anymore, so have changed our flights to tomorrow night.
This has been an amazing experience for us. We've learned so much from this travel and feel so enriched from the experience, it's been incredible. We have so many amazing memories and hope to one day tell our kids about what a great time we had.
I will continue to post, however, so keep an eye on the site as I'll upload a heap of photos soon from the travel - we have some real crackers!
We made a "best of" and "worst of" list on the train on the way here to Ho Chi Minh city so i'll post that shortly also. An amazing time and i feel so pleased that we did it!
Love to you all
Kxxx
Friday, January 11, 2008
Hanoi Vietnam
Hi Guys
Sorry it's been a while since posting but the internet connections have been so slow and frustrating over the past week that i was tearing my hair out. Still very slow here in Vietnam but I'll perservere!
So, we've been to some varied places since we posted last. I think we were in Luang Prabang last time....
We discovered that bus travel in Laos (and consequently in Vietnam) is ridiculously slow... the average speed we've achieved is 30 km/h!!!! Oh my god... my hair went grey with the boredom! But we got to Ponsavanh in Laos which is the local town to the Plain of Jars - eerie standing jars made from stone in the middle of nowhere. And even weirder is that noone knows what they're for!
Ponsavanh was weird - like a wild west ghost town! So we left rather than spend our last two days in Laos there. So we went to Sam Neua - a border town in Laos in the middle of nowhere - another 9 hour journey. Then yesterday we had the most epic journey ever. We started at 6am, caught a large tuk-tuk to the border (open to the very cold elements!), then crossed the border (a 1.5hr ordeal with bag checks), then had to recruit a quarantine officer to help us negotiate with the bus driver to Hanoi who wanted to charge us US$35 for the journey (we got it for US$25 in the end). Then followed the most death-defying bus journey yet - 10 hours of it!
We are so relieved to be here in Hanoi.... what a lovely, cosmopolitan city with beautiful shops, casual cafes, and lovely buildings. Just what the doctor ordered! And you know what's best? I'm getting my hair done tomorrow!!!! - i can't wait.... after 5 months without a colour or cut, it's high time i lose the "minging" look and head towards "somewhat attractive". As you can probably tell, I'm getting sick of looking like shit, wearing the same clothes and just feeling yuck.
Anyway, Vietnam seems really lovely - if a little money-hungry (everyone's trying to rip us off!). There's a great feeling here, and it seems like it'll be a much easier travel than in Laos.
Hope you're all well and happy. Missing you all.
Kxxxxx
Sorry it's been a while since posting but the internet connections have been so slow and frustrating over the past week that i was tearing my hair out. Still very slow here in Vietnam but I'll perservere!
So, we've been to some varied places since we posted last. I think we were in Luang Prabang last time....
We discovered that bus travel in Laos (and consequently in Vietnam) is ridiculously slow... the average speed we've achieved is 30 km/h!!!! Oh my god... my hair went grey with the boredom! But we got to Ponsavanh in Laos which is the local town to the Plain of Jars - eerie standing jars made from stone in the middle of nowhere. And even weirder is that noone knows what they're for!
Ponsavanh was weird - like a wild west ghost town! So we left rather than spend our last two days in Laos there. So we went to Sam Neua - a border town in Laos in the middle of nowhere - another 9 hour journey. Then yesterday we had the most epic journey ever. We started at 6am, caught a large tuk-tuk to the border (open to the very cold elements!), then crossed the border (a 1.5hr ordeal with bag checks), then had to recruit a quarantine officer to help us negotiate with the bus driver to Hanoi who wanted to charge us US$35 for the journey (we got it for US$25 in the end). Then followed the most death-defying bus journey yet - 10 hours of it!
We are so relieved to be here in Hanoi.... what a lovely, cosmopolitan city with beautiful shops, casual cafes, and lovely buildings. Just what the doctor ordered! And you know what's best? I'm getting my hair done tomorrow!!!! - i can't wait.... after 5 months without a colour or cut, it's high time i lose the "minging" look and head towards "somewhat attractive". As you can probably tell, I'm getting sick of looking like shit, wearing the same clothes and just feeling yuck.
Anyway, Vietnam seems really lovely - if a little money-hungry (everyone's trying to rip us off!). There's a great feeling here, and it seems like it'll be a much easier travel than in Laos.
Hope you're all well and happy. Missing you all.
Kxxxxx
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Hey Folks
Hope this is in order but:
1. Nasty spiders everywhere in Laos - horrible funnel nests sure to kill you!
2. The rickety bridge made from bamboo on our way to The Other Side - our bungalows
3. Tom squeezing through a crack in a rock, eerily smooth from some water that had obviously flowed through this tight cave sometime in it's past. NEVER GO CAVING PEOPLE!
4. Kaz in front of bars and the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng - note the soaring mountains in the background. Amazing spot.
5. Our bungalows and the view. Not very crap!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Vang Vieng
After a long day, we arrived in Vang Vieng to a beautiful sunset and a cold bottle of Beer Lao but not to the bungalow we wished to find. We spent perhaps an hour crossing and recrossing the Nam Song river to find a bungalow by the river but to no avail. BUT we have found a $3 a night guesthouse - with a bathroom (hot water included) and will move on tomorrow.
We had a wonderful christmas, but perhaps the weirdest one ever. We woke early to have our free breakfast in the hotel, and then returned to bed (a little hungover from xmas eve drinkies) until about 1pm. Hard to move when cable tv has such excellent movies non-stop!
We had booked into the novotel for xmas lunch and arrived at 2pm, only to be told that, at 2.30, they were closing! EAT EAT EAT! Turkey, roast pork, chicken, even steak and duck a la orange for our xmas feast! And yule logs and lots of handmade choccies for dessert. AND we even forked out for a bottle of their cheapest fizzy stuff so that it'd be a bit more special. Was great fun.
But, here's the interesting bit, we decided we hadn't had enough fun so at about 10pm, we found that our hotel had a karoake bar so we of course booked ourselves a private karoake room and sung until they chucked us out at midnight. Weird huh? HA HA HA! We have some great video of us singing all the great tunes... November Rain by GNR, Burning Love by Elvis, and of course The Power of Love by Huey Lewis! Was so much fun!
But here we are now in Vang Vieng by the river Nam Song, in a beautiful location and we're looking forward to getting on an inner tube and floating down the river for a few hours tomorrow.
To those of you who we didn't contact for christmas, hope you had an awesome time and got lots of great presents.
Lots of love from us both.
Kxxx
We had a wonderful christmas, but perhaps the weirdest one ever. We woke early to have our free breakfast in the hotel, and then returned to bed (a little hungover from xmas eve drinkies) until about 1pm. Hard to move when cable tv has such excellent movies non-stop!
We had booked into the novotel for xmas lunch and arrived at 2pm, only to be told that, at 2.30, they were closing! EAT EAT EAT! Turkey, roast pork, chicken, even steak and duck a la orange for our xmas feast! And yule logs and lots of handmade choccies for dessert. AND we even forked out for a bottle of their cheapest fizzy stuff so that it'd be a bit more special. Was great fun.
But, here's the interesting bit, we decided we hadn't had enough fun so at about 10pm, we found that our hotel had a karoake bar so we of course booked ourselves a private karoake room and sung until they chucked us out at midnight. Weird huh? HA HA HA! We have some great video of us singing all the great tunes... November Rain by GNR, Burning Love by Elvis, and of course The Power of Love by Huey Lewis! Was so much fun!
But here we are now in Vang Vieng by the river Nam Song, in a beautiful location and we're looking forward to getting on an inner tube and floating down the river for a few hours tomorrow.
To those of you who we didn't contact for christmas, hope you had an awesome time and got lots of great presents.
Lots of love from us both.
Kxxx
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Wedding news
Well. It's us (Tom the lazy non-blogger as well). We have exciting news. As you all know, we're engaged. And being engaged means at some stage, you get married. We'd always thought it would be 2009, however, the UK government are insisting that we get hitched within 6 months of us landing in England, so that I can become a citizen as Tom's wife.
So. June/July 2008 in England somewhere we will tie the knot, followed by an Aussie wedding soon thereafter (soon as possible depending on our financial situation - weddings are not cheap!)
However, everyone is invited to both weddings and if anyone in Oz wants to come over, start saving!
Bit of a bombshell, we know, but we really hope you can all make it to one or both. Lucky us - we get to have 2 weddings!
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. Love to you all.
PS - I'll be wearing more clothes than this.... Tom probably wont!
Friday, December 21, 2007
PHOTOS (finally!)
I've finally got myself together to post some photos... here's some labels for them:
1. A long tail boat in our beach in Hat Khom on the north end of Koh Pha Ngan
2. Tom, Christian (awesome new friend from Germany), Neal & Sian (Londonites), Ryan and Lisa (amazing Canadian couple) - lots of fun times with the crew and Chang beer
3. Coral in the water just outside our hut
4. Tom with python in Bangkok snake farm.... he is still sh!tthing himself
5. Best photo ever of fireworks over our beach
6. Fishies
Hope all our loved ones are gearing up for a safe, merry and boozy christmas. We are missing you all very much...
Love and hugs and mulled wine for you all
Kxxx
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Ko Pha Ngan
Hi All
We are currently in Koh Pha Ngan - a small island on the east coast of thailand and, whilst it's amazing, the weather has not been so great for us here. But that has not dampened our spirits!
We've been here since Tuesday and have really not done much at all. We're both nursing small hangovers today after we drank buckets (yes, the stories are true!) of whisky and coke and then passed out at 2 this morning with some lovely English people (Sian and Neal) and Canadian people (Lisa and Ryan). Bloody hell. But we've pulled up well and have hired a scooter to explore this amazing island. We've had a great day and this scooter is way better than the one we had on Ko CHang.
The place we are staying is incredible - we are right on the water over some rocks from which we launch ourselves for the most amazing snorkelling ever - we've seen sting rays, clown fish, massive schools of grey and yellow fish, a huge puffer fish and countless more. The water is so clear and warm and it's literally 10m from our house where we are swinmming amongst coral and tropical fish. Lush! We have pics (as we have an underwater camera) so we'll upload some soon.
Anyway all, hope you're all getting excited for xmas - we'll be in Vientiane in Laos for chrissy - splurging on a more expensive hotel and going to the Novotel for traditional lunch (if I can ever book the damn thing!) It will just be Tom and I but I figure we'll have a lovely time together!
Love to you all.
Kxxxxx
Saturday, December 8, 2007
I'm a lazy, no blogging, long haired traveler...
Hi guys!
It's me the silent non-blogger from the Tom and Karen team here!
A few people have recently said "when the hell are you going to do a post yourself, you lazy bastard", so here it is...
Right, so we're now in Bangkok and have just returned from a week of beaching it up on Ko Chang. For those of you who haven't been there GO RIGHT NOW! That is one amazing place. Ko Chang is a small island south-east of Bangkok by about 5.5 hours and lies in the gulf of Thailand. It has water that is a lovely light blue and really clear, with white sand etc. you know freakin' beautiful... There's a picture Karen took out of our window on here that shows how close we were to the beach!
We're going to be in Bangkok till Monday (to collect Karen's visa- very exciting), then heading south to Ko Pan ngan for more beaches and beer. Then after a couple of weeks of that we're heading north through Thailand to Vientiane, Loas (where we'll spend Christmas). From there the current plan is to go north to Luang Prabang, then east towards Vietnam and then south ending up in Ho Chi Minh city (formerly Saigon) and from there we'll fly back to the UK in Feb'.
Phew! All that guff now written, I can tell you that we're a little bit homesick (no damn white Christmas in Asia, at least not where we are), but still loving it! Thailand is absolutely amazing and we're really looking forward to seeing more of it! After India it seems like a country of much money and is a real culture shock, but great!
So there you go, finally a second blog from this half of the wondaring pair. Hope you are all very good and I'll try not to let another 47 years alapse before my next blog. Loads of love,
Tom.
P.s. My hair is now really long (hasn't been cut since before we left Oz!).
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Koh Chang
Hey all
We're still in Koh Chang soaking up the sun and working hard on our tans. It's a hard life. But we have done some adventuring around - we hired a scooter and explored the south of the island, and we also hired a kayak for two hours yesterday and paddled out 2km to a small island which we explored like Robinson Crusoe.
Today, we are going to read a book, intermittently disturbed by swims in the turquoise waters and a possible sleep this afternoon.
Bliss!
But, we have a problem. Because we will be on the road for christmas, we are still unsure of where to stay. We want somewhere a bit more fancy (than a hut on the beach with no bathroom!) but it looks like most hotels are booked. Eeek! Any ideas fellow travellers?
Anyway, love to you all.
Kxx
We're still in Koh Chang soaking up the sun and working hard on our tans. It's a hard life. But we have done some adventuring around - we hired a scooter and explored the south of the island, and we also hired a kayak for two hours yesterday and paddled out 2km to a small island which we explored like Robinson Crusoe.
Today, we are going to read a book, intermittently disturbed by swims in the turquoise waters and a possible sleep this afternoon.
Bliss!
But, we have a problem. Because we will be on the road for christmas, we are still unsure of where to stay. We want somewhere a bit more fancy (than a hut on the beach with no bathroom!) but it looks like most hotels are booked. Eeek! Any ideas fellow travellers?
Anyway, love to you all.
Kxx
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