This tour wasn't my favorite but I got to sit back and relax, basically it was all about driving 1300 kms in 3 days!
Our tour guide was a little strange, he called himself Sauce and here is the reason way... his family name is De Soyres and it s to make Soy Sauce, yeah I know worst reason for nickname ever!
A few more ppl joined our tour while a few left (the Danish Boys, the Scottish Couple and the Canadian Guy) and we got on boards 2 more japanese, 5 more englishs: dani, dom, becka, linda and Mark and 1 more french from Quimper.
(La Bretagne en Force ahaha)
The first night we stopped at a kettle Station, it was pretty funky to be surrounded by cows, chickens, kangaouroos in the middle of the Outback..
Second night we reached Katherine Gorge, the highlight of this tour!
But during those 2 days we stopped at a few places such as the Devils Marbles (some more rock formation), Daly Waters Pub made of travellers junk but very funny ;)), Mataranka where we swam in some hot springs and everybody agreed with this heat it would have been nice to swim in cooler water.
The last day, 2 to 3 hours canoeing in the Katherine Gorge: Amazing! the first gorge was absolutely beautiful.. My arms ached for the next 2 days!!! lol
In the afternoon we took the road to Darwin stopped to see the Buffalo from Crocodile Dunde, I know so exciting and we finally got to Darwin at 6pm.
Darwin: sun, palm trees, pool in the hostel, feeling of holidays again lol
Anyway we all headed for our free meal at the Vic (Backpacked bar a must do in Darwin), anyway what was supposed to be an easy night to be on form for kakadu the next day turned out to be another of those crazy nights and on this I blame Mark and the danish Boys and also the free Drinks we won lol Damn you all I was in bits the next day!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Adelaide to Alice Springs - 6 days - 4th to 9th June 2008
On the road again, to start with the beginning, here are the people I am travelling with:
UK: Becka
OZ: Megan, Dan & Karen
Scotland: Zoe & Allie
NZ: Margaret
Japan: Hitshko
Honk Kong: Sharon
Ireland: Claire
Holland: Elia
Denmark: Heine, Hendrik, Soarsen
Our tour guide: James is an exentric Aussie, in love with his country and its culture.
We left Adelaide at 6.30am with as the last time 2 hours to nap on the bus before our first breakfast stop.
The first day was mainly driving.. to our destination: Parachilna, we stoped at a few sights to discover some aboriginal workart. This drive was pretty quiet, we got to discover a bit more about each of us with our guide asking the right questions when we had to present each others such as why we decided to come to OZ, what we would bring on a desert island and what we would like to change in the world.
We finally made it to Parachilna, a small village: 9 inhabitants (no no there is no mispelling here it was really nine) where every night of the week apart from Tuesdays they get travellers like us so it can become quite animated at night :D
The most exciting things happening there are the Sunset at 5.20Pm (known as one of the best in Australia) and a train passing by at 10.20pm with its 46 wagons. Oh and they also have a local pub: la prairie.
As we traveled to Wilpena Pound, the vegetation becomes a lot more dry with smaller trees, rocks and sands. The weather isn't great at all as it s actually raining, of course that happens once a year and it has to be when I am there! so we had to cancel our walk through the Flinders range for a shorter walk (so glad I took this raincoat someone left at the hostel in Sydney :))
We are back at our accomodation pretty early, great excuse for a nap and a bit of reading, after dinner we mainly played a few card games as the Danish Boys carried with them a set of Uno cards and a set of Porn Cards (no comment guys!)
The next morning we are up at 4am for our drive to Coober Peddy (600 kms) to be on time to do a Mine Tour and for Sunset.
Coober Peddy is more famous for being the Capital of Opal in Austrlia, during summer the temperature reaches 50 degrees. People live mainly underground.
Before a law came out to stop people digging in town for Opal, they could end up digging in someone's house!
I was really glad to see this city, it is wicked in a way it's so different from anything you would ever see.
The town is mainly populated with Aboriginals.
We did our mine tour, but didn't see any sunset as it was too cloudy.
The next morning we left Coober Peddy for... Uluru. The excitement was rising up (well for me) as in a few hours I will finally get to see Uluru, Ayers Rock, the Red Centre from my own eyes :D.
As usual a long drive (another 600 kms) animated with our tour guide with some quizzes or little games such as Bingo Plates to keep people a little more awake than usual (ah yeah I didn't mention yet but I fell asleep about 10 000 times on my tour bus... for sure from now I can fall asleep anywhere lol).
A quick stop by the campsite to collect Champagne and Crackers.
Sunset at Uluru: celebration time (we made it lol) and it is sunny just a few clouds here and there :D. It was quite impressive as you could see the color of the rock changing as the sun went down, same effect the next day as the sun went up (only a lot more impressive it went from dark orange/red to bright orange: unbelievable).
It is also our first night camping and it s freezing cold so we all went around the fire, James played a bit of didjireedoo (aboriginal music instrument) and we drank to celebrate this great day.. I decided to sleep outside to enjoy the beauty of the stars, a sky like you don't see so frequently.. It s cold but it's woth it and comfi in the swag :D
The next day we walked around the rock for 2 hours, not much to see appart from a few aboriginal paintings. Sorry Ian I didn't get that picture of me on the top of the rock as aboriginal don't really like when people climb up of and also because about 40 people have died since that climb is open...
We then headed to the Olgas: Kata Tjuta, this sight isn't as open to public and what is happening there is still kept very secret. It is as impressive as Uluru only instead of 1 big rock it looks like loads of smaller Ulurus stuck together.
We camped in Kings Canyon this time I decided to sleep in the tent oh yeah it felt even colder outside than the previous night...
We did a 3 hours walk in Kings Canyon which was absolutely amazing!
After this walk we went for lunch and took the road back to Alice Springs another 4 hours drive till we get there... We ended up breaking down due to a lack of fuel but got quickly sorted thanks to another Adventure Tour Bus :D
We got to Alice Springs around 6pm, 1 hour to get ready (well I had fuck all left to wear after those 6 days lol) then we headed to Annie's Place a very well known backpacker Bar and Hostel.
While my group was very laid back / chilled out over the last 6 days. That night was absolutely madness with some of them dancing on the tables (no no not me I was taking pictures instead as for look what you did last night ahahah) and everybody getting way too drunk (well $10 for a jug of beer, $4.50 for a shot that s a winner ;)) including our tour guide. I ended up staying longer than everybody for talking too much with other backpackers or simply not being tired lol and by the time I patiently waited for a taxi to take me home, a police car pulled over and offered me a free lift back to my hostel... Nice one :D
Alice Springs counts 25000 people with a lot of Aboriginals. I didn't feel too secure there walking by myself. The Off License don't open before 2Pm, you can't buy more than 2 litres of Alcohol a day. This law is due from the excess of Aboriginal ppl, apparently they used to receive their Welfare Money every Tuesday and would spend it all in booze so the government had to close all the Liquor Stores on Tuesdays... Not sure if that was in all Northern Territory or in Tenant Creek (we stop there on my next tour).
Anyway there wasn't much to do so I spent my 2 days by the pool as the temperature was reaching 25 degrees and I started preparing my tan :D.
UK: Becka
OZ: Megan, Dan & Karen
Scotland: Zoe & Allie
NZ: Margaret
Japan: Hitshko
Honk Kong: Sharon
Ireland: Claire
Holland: Elia
Denmark: Heine, Hendrik, Soarsen
Our tour guide: James is an exentric Aussie, in love with his country and its culture.
We left Adelaide at 6.30am with as the last time 2 hours to nap on the bus before our first breakfast stop.
The first day was mainly driving.. to our destination: Parachilna, we stoped at a few sights to discover some aboriginal workart. This drive was pretty quiet, we got to discover a bit more about each of us with our guide asking the right questions when we had to present each others such as why we decided to come to OZ, what we would bring on a desert island and what we would like to change in the world.
We finally made it to Parachilna, a small village: 9 inhabitants (no no there is no mispelling here it was really nine) where every night of the week apart from Tuesdays they get travellers like us so it can become quite animated at night :D
The most exciting things happening there are the Sunset at 5.20Pm (known as one of the best in Australia) and a train passing by at 10.20pm with its 46 wagons. Oh and they also have a local pub: la prairie.
As we traveled to Wilpena Pound, the vegetation becomes a lot more dry with smaller trees, rocks and sands. The weather isn't great at all as it s actually raining, of course that happens once a year and it has to be when I am there! so we had to cancel our walk through the Flinders range for a shorter walk (so glad I took this raincoat someone left at the hostel in Sydney :))
We are back at our accomodation pretty early, great excuse for a nap and a bit of reading, after dinner we mainly played a few card games as the Danish Boys carried with them a set of Uno cards and a set of Porn Cards (no comment guys!)
The next morning we are up at 4am for our drive to Coober Peddy (600 kms) to be on time to do a Mine Tour and for Sunset.
Coober Peddy is more famous for being the Capital of Opal in Austrlia, during summer the temperature reaches 50 degrees. People live mainly underground.
Before a law came out to stop people digging in town for Opal, they could end up digging in someone's house!
I was really glad to see this city, it is wicked in a way it's so different from anything you would ever see.
The town is mainly populated with Aboriginals.
We did our mine tour, but didn't see any sunset as it was too cloudy.
The next morning we left Coober Peddy for... Uluru. The excitement was rising up (well for me) as in a few hours I will finally get to see Uluru, Ayers Rock, the Red Centre from my own eyes :D.
As usual a long drive (another 600 kms) animated with our tour guide with some quizzes or little games such as Bingo Plates to keep people a little more awake than usual (ah yeah I didn't mention yet but I fell asleep about 10 000 times on my tour bus... for sure from now I can fall asleep anywhere lol).
A quick stop by the campsite to collect Champagne and Crackers.
Sunset at Uluru: celebration time (we made it lol) and it is sunny just a few clouds here and there :D. It was quite impressive as you could see the color of the rock changing as the sun went down, same effect the next day as the sun went up (only a lot more impressive it went from dark orange/red to bright orange: unbelievable).
It is also our first night camping and it s freezing cold so we all went around the fire, James played a bit of didjireedoo (aboriginal music instrument) and we drank to celebrate this great day.. I decided to sleep outside to enjoy the beauty of the stars, a sky like you don't see so frequently.. It s cold but it's woth it and comfi in the swag :D
The next day we walked around the rock for 2 hours, not much to see appart from a few aboriginal paintings. Sorry Ian I didn't get that picture of me on the top of the rock as aboriginal don't really like when people climb up of and also because about 40 people have died since that climb is open...
We then headed to the Olgas: Kata Tjuta, this sight isn't as open to public and what is happening there is still kept very secret. It is as impressive as Uluru only instead of 1 big rock it looks like loads of smaller Ulurus stuck together.
We camped in Kings Canyon this time I decided to sleep in the tent oh yeah it felt even colder outside than the previous night...
We did a 3 hours walk in Kings Canyon which was absolutely amazing!
After this walk we went for lunch and took the road back to Alice Springs another 4 hours drive till we get there... We ended up breaking down due to a lack of fuel but got quickly sorted thanks to another Adventure Tour Bus :D
We got to Alice Springs around 6pm, 1 hour to get ready (well I had fuck all left to wear after those 6 days lol) then we headed to Annie's Place a very well known backpacker Bar and Hostel.
While my group was very laid back / chilled out over the last 6 days. That night was absolutely madness with some of them dancing on the tables (no no not me I was taking pictures instead as for look what you did last night ahahah) and everybody getting way too drunk (well $10 for a jug of beer, $4.50 for a shot that s a winner ;)) including our tour guide. I ended up staying longer than everybody for talking too much with other backpackers or simply not being tired lol and by the time I patiently waited for a taxi to take me home, a police car pulled over and offered me a free lift back to my hostel... Nice one :D
Alice Springs counts 25000 people with a lot of Aboriginals. I didn't feel too secure there walking by myself. The Off License don't open before 2Pm, you can't buy more than 2 litres of Alcohol a day. This law is due from the excess of Aboriginal ppl, apparently they used to receive their Welfare Money every Tuesday and would spend it all in booze so the government had to close all the Liquor Stores on Tuesdays... Not sure if that was in all Northern Territory or in Tenant Creek (we stop there on my next tour).
Anyway there wasn't much to do so I spent my 2 days by the pool as the temperature was reaching 25 degrees and I started preparing my tan :D.
Melbourne to Alice Springs - 3 days - 31st of May to 2nd June 2008
After my 2 hours sleep, I wake up in a rush at 6.00 am instead of 5.30am forcing me to take a cab to my pick up point.
Starting my tour at 7am, I hope on the bus, make myself comfortable despite the bus being freezing cold and get a few minutes nap in the first 2 hours we drive outside of Melbourne towards Surf City. Located just a few minutes before the Great Ocean Road, it's a good spot to purchase any brand clothing (surf brands) such as Rip Curls, Quicksilver and so...
It's also the occasion to meet up with the rest of the people travelling with me on this tour... so we are 11: 1 NZ: Greame, 1 Switz: Daniel, 1 Honk Kong: Sharon, 1 Germany: Korina, 1 English: Alistaire, 2 Deutshe: Paul & Lilia, 1 Korea and 1 Japan, whom I forgot their names (sorry girls), 1 Japan Miji and meee :D.
We started our Great Ocean Road drive, stoped at a few picture spot such as a sign we are entering the Great Ocean Road, a few nice beaches with great waves... home of the surfers, a bit later on we also stoped to see some koalas.. Those little cute things don't give much of a show as they sleep all day long and the only reason they would move would be to change their position to sleep or eat a few leaves from the Gumtrees where they are sleeping. In the Afternoon we stopped in the rainforest of Otway National Park before heading for sunset over the 12 apostles, we were really lucky we get a real multicolored sunset: pink, orange and purple colors :D
The following day we did a few stop at some rock and cliffs formation such as London Bridge, Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs and the Lorch Ard Cave, a story involving a ferry sanking in the 19th century and only 2 survivors who staied for a few days in this cave. I also did a helicopter ride over the 12 apostles which was actualy very amazing, first helicopter ride hopefully not last, I got a great great view and some nice pics :D
In the afternoon, we climbed the Pinnacle for 1 and 1/2 hour to get a splendid view over the Grampians :D.
On our last day we woke up really early to get a good sunrise over the Grampians, walked down to have a better look on the Mackenzie walk and finally did a bit of exercise and climbed Hollow Mountain... another 5 hours drive was waiting for us in the afternoon till we could get to Adelaide, we stopped a few times on the way checked out some Emu and walabis and also some Albinos Kangooroos.
This tour was pretty cool, the Great Ocean Road is certainly a thing not to be missed when you get to Asutralia, it's really pretty I wish I had done it during summer time though. My group were really nice and I was lucky I had Paul my drinking buddy to help me finishing those 4 litres of goone on the second night :D
Once we arrived in Adelaide I volounteered to cook dinner for the rest of the bus, Chicken Curry and Mango which cost each of us only $2 and we all were very full after it :D
Adelaide was alright, unfortunately I was pretty tired from those 3 days so didn't get to see much I walked around for a while and ended up playing pool for the rest of the day.. We also experienced something pretty strange for a Tuesday night, apart from McDonalds there is almost noway you can get cheap food in this city after 10PM .. for some weird reason the supermarket would close at 9pm to reopen at midnight... strange strange :D
Anyway a day is never enough to get a good idea on a city and I was more focused on what was waiting for me next....
Starting my tour at 7am, I hope on the bus, make myself comfortable despite the bus being freezing cold and get a few minutes nap in the first 2 hours we drive outside of Melbourne towards Surf City. Located just a few minutes before the Great Ocean Road, it's a good spot to purchase any brand clothing (surf brands) such as Rip Curls, Quicksilver and so...
It's also the occasion to meet up with the rest of the people travelling with me on this tour... so we are 11: 1 NZ: Greame, 1 Switz: Daniel, 1 Honk Kong: Sharon, 1 Germany: Korina, 1 English: Alistaire, 2 Deutshe: Paul & Lilia, 1 Korea and 1 Japan, whom I forgot their names (sorry girls), 1 Japan Miji and meee :D.
We started our Great Ocean Road drive, stoped at a few picture spot such as a sign we are entering the Great Ocean Road, a few nice beaches with great waves... home of the surfers, a bit later on we also stoped to see some koalas.. Those little cute things don't give much of a show as they sleep all day long and the only reason they would move would be to change their position to sleep or eat a few leaves from the Gumtrees where they are sleeping. In the Afternoon we stopped in the rainforest of Otway National Park before heading for sunset over the 12 apostles, we were really lucky we get a real multicolored sunset: pink, orange and purple colors :D
The following day we did a few stop at some rock and cliffs formation such as London Bridge, Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs and the Lorch Ard Cave, a story involving a ferry sanking in the 19th century and only 2 survivors who staied for a few days in this cave. I also did a helicopter ride over the 12 apostles which was actualy very amazing, first helicopter ride hopefully not last, I got a great great view and some nice pics :D
In the afternoon, we climbed the Pinnacle for 1 and 1/2 hour to get a splendid view over the Grampians :D.
On our last day we woke up really early to get a good sunrise over the Grampians, walked down to have a better look on the Mackenzie walk and finally did a bit of exercise and climbed Hollow Mountain... another 5 hours drive was waiting for us in the afternoon till we could get to Adelaide, we stopped a few times on the way checked out some Emu and walabis and also some Albinos Kangooroos.
This tour was pretty cool, the Great Ocean Road is certainly a thing not to be missed when you get to Asutralia, it's really pretty I wish I had done it during summer time though. My group were really nice and I was lucky I had Paul my drinking buddy to help me finishing those 4 litres of goone on the second night :D
Once we arrived in Adelaide I volounteered to cook dinner for the rest of the bus, Chicken Curry and Mango which cost each of us only $2 and we all were very full after it :D
Adelaide was alright, unfortunately I was pretty tired from those 3 days so didn't get to see much I walked around for a while and ended up playing pool for the rest of the day.. We also experienced something pretty strange for a Tuesday night, apart from McDonalds there is almost noway you can get cheap food in this city after 10PM .. for some weird reason the supermarket would close at 9pm to reopen at midnight... strange strange :D
Anyway a day is never enough to get a good idea on a city and I was more focused on what was waiting for me next....
Friday, June 20, 2008
Mebourne in 3 Days - 28 to 31st of May 2008
After a 12 hours bus journey between Sydney and Melbourne I arrived at the bus station where I got offered a free lift from a travel agency:(Az Travels) to my hostel... I will be staying for 3 nights at the Ritz for Backpackers located on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda. When I first walked in the hostel the first feeling I got was very similar to when I first went to the Wood Duck a small and cosy hostel, which is what I was hoping for :)... a bit tired from my bus journey I decided to head straight to bed and have a little nap before starting walking around the city.
Lucky I was to find some free pancakes left over from the free Morning Breakfast and hmm they actualy realy were yummi :D. Today I take it as my first day of holiday so easy and I walk mainly around St Kilda which would be the equivalent of Bondi in Sydney only less crowdy! There was a nice promenade along the beach and Fitzroy Street was full of little shops, it was really quiet mainly due to the fact we were in Winter! Once I am finished discovering this quiet beach village I headed back to the hostel and started meeting a few people from the hostel. Well as I am travelling by myself it's part of my daily life to meet new people ;). The next couple of days I walked around Melbourne City used the free bus which goes all around the city, went to the very famous Victoria s market where I bought: Nothing ;) discovered the amazing streets recommended by my Lonely Planet: Desgraves Street and Brunswick Street. Went out at night with few friends from the hostel... well holidays :D
I did hear a lot of Melbourne: You will love it, very nice city, much more human size than Sydney.. and it's really what I felt there. It's a city where the Culture and Arts are a lot more present than in Sydney nobody feels like they need to be someone and therefore have to own such things or wear such clothes. So Yeah Melbourne is getting into my Top 5 cities :D
Anyway back to my 3 days.. I had a really good time there it was a nice rest before starting my trip and after working like crazy over the past 2 months in Sydney. I met some great people, very friendly partied a bit too much the last night which meant 1 hour sleep before starting my 18 days bus tour to Darwin... (It sounded like a fun idea at that time ;))
Lucky I was to find some free pancakes left over from the free Morning Breakfast and hmm they actualy realy were yummi :D. Today I take it as my first day of holiday so easy and I walk mainly around St Kilda which would be the equivalent of Bondi in Sydney only less crowdy! There was a nice promenade along the beach and Fitzroy Street was full of little shops, it was really quiet mainly due to the fact we were in Winter! Once I am finished discovering this quiet beach village I headed back to the hostel and started meeting a few people from the hostel. Well as I am travelling by myself it's part of my daily life to meet new people ;). The next couple of days I walked around Melbourne City used the free bus which goes all around the city, went to the very famous Victoria s market where I bought: Nothing ;) discovered the amazing streets recommended by my Lonely Planet: Desgraves Street and Brunswick Street. Went out at night with few friends from the hostel... well holidays :D
I did hear a lot of Melbourne: You will love it, very nice city, much more human size than Sydney.. and it's really what I felt there. It's a city where the Culture and Arts are a lot more present than in Sydney nobody feels like they need to be someone and therefore have to own such things or wear such clothes. So Yeah Melbourne is getting into my Top 5 cities :D
Anyway back to my 3 days.. I had a really good time there it was a nice rest before starting my trip and after working like crazy over the past 2 months in Sydney. I met some great people, very friendly partied a bit too much the last night which meant 1 hour sleep before starting my 18 days bus tour to Darwin... (It sounded like a fun idea at that time ;))
Leaving Sydney - 27th of May 2008
The big day finally arrived... and my journey continues through Australia. It wasn't a real goodbye as I will be returning to Sydney at east twice before leaving Australia.
No leaving parties, just goodbye to Cindy who helped me so much since I first arrived at the Wood Duck Inn...
No leaving parties, just goodbye to Cindy who helped me so much since I first arrived at the Wood Duck Inn...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Travelling
I have to say since I have started travelling 4 months ago, I probably have never felt so alive... I really live the present moment and don't worry as much about my future, my career, getting a house, car, or simply having a family... Most of yous will probably thing come on Lilie you are only 24 you have all your life ahead of you to worry about those things, well that s what I think too although I remember those 4 weeks I spent in France before I started this trip and the way it brought me back to reality well the french reality
I guess this isn't the way I have decided to live my life... I don't know what tomorrow is made off therefore I will enjoy today, and will enjoy tomorrow and look back at yesterday and smile...
My quote of the week:
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A weekend in Sydney
After all this time I have spent in Sydney I realised I never really told you what I was getting up to when I didn't have to work... Well first of all when staurday morning arrives... I don't mind staying in bed a bit longer and getting a little bit more than my weekly 6 hours sleep. I then go for breakfast without having to worry to wash everybody s dishes and only at that time I realise it is time to relax.
Last weekend I switched my friday night shift to sunday night and headed out with my workmates, after all those time I have turned their invitation down it was finally about time I showed them I am up for a bit of partying too. So we headed to Oxford steet (I also call it rainbow street) for a happy hour drink, the schooners (a tiny bit smaller than pints) for $2.5 and shots for $5. We spent a great night ending up in some random party in Surry Hills which was so different from the made in Dublin parties (maybe we were just at a wrong party) lol.
The following day I did what I love most since I started this trip and went to Paddington to discover the so heard about Paddington Market. This lovely market, full of home made clothes or handicrafts is the home to originality. From jewelery, to fairy lights passing by Palm Reading this boho style market would easily satisfy every woman in the world. Sometimes I wish I wasnt a backpacker and could afford all those beautiful things, well I can afford them but my backpack cant carry them around the world :D
Paddington is a neighborhood (I forgot how to spell this word woops) very near from where I am living now... it smells of nice food - I bought a strawberry covered with chocolate (iced) for $1.50, my 2 favorite things in the world reunited in 1: Heaven!, expensive and trendy clothes, fashion... It s the kind of place I would easily see myself living in, full of little eateries, cosie shops and so much vintage stuff... No high building only 3 storey houses around!
After my little tour around the market... I didnt buy anything but managed to get free seaweed for my sushis!
Finally back at the hostel I sat in The Tv Room for a while and went off to rent a few dvds for the night and ended up watching 3 movies in a row... Finally this hostel has such a big homy feeling, now it's winter we don't get as many 1 night people and most of the people here have been for more than a week so it s like a very big family...
Sunday comes and the sun is still shining :D My wisdom tooth (bottom right) is hurting today not so much of a good sign so I staied in the hostel read and took a sunbath until 3PM... Pizza time at Hugo's Bar Pizza.
That was a tip I got off Micheal when I first arrived in Sydney... Half price pizza from 3 to 5pm I have since been there hmmm too many times I guess lol
But for sure among the best pizza I have ever tried!
Followed with a few beers at O'Malleys it is time to return to the hostel and start my night shift...
So Here I am, Tuesday night, about get my wisdom tooth removed on Thursday and I am not feeling very comfortable about this, after a funky experience I have had younger when I had to get a top tooth removed and my beloved dentist had to give me anesthetic about 10 times and it ended up in numbing my tongue more than my tooth..
I have had to reschedule a little my travel plans as I have to be in Sydney on Monday to get my stitches out so I will be leaving for Melbourne on Tuesday night and start my trip un to Melbourne on Saturday morning...
Last weekend I switched my friday night shift to sunday night and headed out with my workmates, after all those time I have turned their invitation down it was finally about time I showed them I am up for a bit of partying too. So we headed to Oxford steet (I also call it rainbow street) for a happy hour drink, the schooners (a tiny bit smaller than pints) for $2.5 and shots for $5. We spent a great night ending up in some random party in Surry Hills which was so different from the made in Dublin parties (maybe we were just at a wrong party) lol.
The following day I did what I love most since I started this trip and went to Paddington to discover the so heard about Paddington Market. This lovely market, full of home made clothes or handicrafts is the home to originality. From jewelery, to fairy lights passing by Palm Reading this boho style market would easily satisfy every woman in the world. Sometimes I wish I wasnt a backpacker and could afford all those beautiful things, well I can afford them but my backpack cant carry them around the world :D
Paddington is a neighborhood (I forgot how to spell this word woops) very near from where I am living now... it smells of nice food - I bought a strawberry covered with chocolate (iced) for $1.50, my 2 favorite things in the world reunited in 1: Heaven!, expensive and trendy clothes, fashion... It s the kind of place I would easily see myself living in, full of little eateries, cosie shops and so much vintage stuff... No high building only 3 storey houses around!
After my little tour around the market... I didnt buy anything but managed to get free seaweed for my sushis!
Finally back at the hostel I sat in The Tv Room for a while and went off to rent a few dvds for the night and ended up watching 3 movies in a row... Finally this hostel has such a big homy feeling, now it's winter we don't get as many 1 night people and most of the people here have been for more than a week so it s like a very big family...
Sunday comes and the sun is still shining :D My wisdom tooth (bottom right) is hurting today not so much of a good sign so I staied in the hostel read and took a sunbath until 3PM... Pizza time at Hugo's Bar Pizza.
That was a tip I got off Micheal when I first arrived in Sydney... Half price pizza from 3 to 5pm I have since been there hmmm too many times I guess lol
But for sure among the best pizza I have ever tried!
Followed with a few beers at O'Malleys it is time to return to the hostel and start my night shift...
So Here I am, Tuesday night, about get my wisdom tooth removed on Thursday and I am not feeling very comfortable about this, after a funky experience I have had younger when I had to get a top tooth removed and my beloved dentist had to give me anesthetic about 10 times and it ended up in numbing my tongue more than my tooth..
I have had to reschedule a little my travel plans as I have to be in Sydney on Monday to get my stitches out so I will be leaving for Melbourne on Tuesday night and start my trip un to Melbourne on Saturday morning...
My Home away from home ... My bed at the hostel... You should recognise it especially for those who have been in my place before.. the african wall thingy and the fairy lights I wouldnt survive without fairy lights :D
Austrlian Fashion:
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Still in Sydney but not for so long...
Ah la la I am really not being very good at updating my blog... I am really sorry
I guess it's mainly due to the fact that my life here at the moment is spent working and saving up loads of money to travel more more more :)
Well I have now been in Sydney for more than 2 months and I still think it s an amazing city, it will come in my top 5 cities in the world I think.
But at the same time I am very looking forward to moving on and travelling again. Sometimes I realise how lazy I am to avoid working for 12 months... but guess what I don't care :) Those 12 months are certainly the only 12 consecutive months in my life I will ever be able to experience what I am experiencing now... an amazing journey :)
I am still working in Australia s biggest bank during the day... 8 to 4.30pm and now doing the Night Manager at my hostel which involves working from 8pm till 8am... Don't worry I don't have to stay up all night.. I can just go to bed but always keep my phone on. Basically I have to close and clean the kitchen at 11pm the next day wake up really early to clean up the mess from the night before wait till 8am and run to the bank to make my files...
So I don't get much time to enjoy my Sydney life anymore but I have enjoyed it quite a lot over the last 2 months so I don't really mind...
My main goal is to save up as much money and spoil myself with some wicked trips around OZ and even return to South East Asia....
Yeap here is my new plan as you all know I always change my mind lol so I am leaving Sydney in 2 weeks.. ouiiiiii :) heading down to Melbourne and from the 29th of May travel from Melbourne to Darwin by bus (18 days journey all included, food + accomodation) I will finally experience the real Australia.. Can't wait :D Once I get to Darwin I will then fly to Singapore and spend 1 month with Vicky around Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, maybe Cambodia, Bali??? we will see wherever the wind will bring us :D
I will return to ossieland end of July and only 1 month left till my sister arrives and we get on some crazy trip around the East Coast :D
Well this is it for my plans...
I will certainly update my blog this weekend with some more pictures... the partys at the hostel, my day trip at the blue mountains...
I guess it's mainly due to the fact that my life here at the moment is spent working and saving up loads of money to travel more more more :)
Well I have now been in Sydney for more than 2 months and I still think it s an amazing city, it will come in my top 5 cities in the world I think.
But at the same time I am very looking forward to moving on and travelling again. Sometimes I realise how lazy I am to avoid working for 12 months... but guess what I don't care :) Those 12 months are certainly the only 12 consecutive months in my life I will ever be able to experience what I am experiencing now... an amazing journey :)
I am still working in Australia s biggest bank during the day... 8 to 4.30pm and now doing the Night Manager at my hostel which involves working from 8pm till 8am... Don't worry I don't have to stay up all night.. I can just go to bed but always keep my phone on. Basically I have to close and clean the kitchen at 11pm the next day wake up really early to clean up the mess from the night before wait till 8am and run to the bank to make my files...
So I don't get much time to enjoy my Sydney life anymore but I have enjoyed it quite a lot over the last 2 months so I don't really mind...
My main goal is to save up as much money and spoil myself with some wicked trips around OZ and even return to South East Asia....
Yeap here is my new plan as you all know I always change my mind lol so I am leaving Sydney in 2 weeks.. ouiiiiii :) heading down to Melbourne and from the 29th of May travel from Melbourne to Darwin by bus (18 days journey all included, food + accomodation) I will finally experience the real Australia.. Can't wait :D Once I get to Darwin I will then fly to Singapore and spend 1 month with Vicky around Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, maybe Cambodia, Bali??? we will see wherever the wind will bring us :D
I will return to ossieland end of July and only 1 month left till my sister arrives and we get on some crazy trip around the East Coast :D
Well this is it for my plans...
I will certainly update my blog this weekend with some more pictures... the partys at the hostel, my day trip at the blue mountains...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
So long.... since my last update
Almost a month has passed by since I last updated my blog... can't believe how fast time goes.
Well first I really want to apologise to anybody who was wondering why I wasn't updating my blog lately, let's say I was slightly busy :)
So let's start with the beginning lol, now I have been working for Australia s biggest bank for 4 weeks ah no 5... hmmm I am not even sure anymore lol the job is pretty easy doesnt require much effort or even sleep at night + I get to listen to some music (my ipod) while working so from time to time I switch onto Michel Thomas Spanish lesson... I have to be ready for my trip in Mexico and Agentina ah oui!
That s the second thing you probably don't know yet I am booking an extra country to my trip: Agentina for 1 month from mid november to mid december and will be spending Xmas and New Years on a mexican beach drinking coronas for a dollar and eating nachos lol well that s the plan for now.
I am still sleeping in the same hostel, it's a bit like my new home, I finally didn't decide myself to move in anywhere in Sydney maybe I was a little afraid of that settling down feeling... or simply enjoying the hostel fun...
I should be sending you some pictures of my room soon but at the moment it's a huge mess from the 2 new guys who loved in last Tuesday... I am sharing my room with a canadian guy who will be staying the same lenght as me and we might travel together for a while down to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road in June (ok all my family I stop you here, he is the kind of guy who prefers men to women ;))
We had quite a number of ppl passing by our room, from the weirdest Taiwanese gay guy.. I can't describe him you have to meet him to understand!!!
I am stil cooking for my hostel mate like a crazy french cook... and organised last sunday a french evening with home made chocolate cakes... crepes and so and Amelie :D
It was good although they all rushed on the food pretty quick... (I took note: Backpackers are always starving no matter what time it is lol)
I have met some amazing ppl at the hostel, Marjolein, Vicky with whom we dressed up as school girls for a free drink at the gaff, Lara, Ben and Joel (the best english guys you can encounter!), the canadians... but they all come and go :) but definetely some good friends to visit once back @ home and for Marjolein see you in Mexico!!!!!
I would almost forget what is keeping me away from Internet... well as I finish at the bank everyday at 4.30pm... it only takes me 10 minutes to go home so I am once again cleaning the hostel in the afternoons.. every 2 weeks for 1 hour and a half or for 3 hours so then I pay half or no accomodation at all... which means more spending money.. or saving money to go on some crazy adventures around OZ.
As for what I spend my spare time on... well when Marjolein was still around we kept ourselves busy doing some drinking games with the canadians... since she left it's been a lot more quiet some relaxed evenings cooking for some friends or watching movies. During day time not much more sightseeing... went a few more time to Bondi Beach, shopping, going to some markets, eating a fish and chips at watson bay... or having a relaxed day with a book on the fooftop.
I hope you are all keeping well though and I send you all my love :)
Well first I really want to apologise to anybody who was wondering why I wasn't updating my blog lately, let's say I was slightly busy :)
So let's start with the beginning lol, now I have been working for Australia s biggest bank for 4 weeks ah no 5... hmmm I am not even sure anymore lol the job is pretty easy doesnt require much effort or even sleep at night + I get to listen to some music (my ipod) while working so from time to time I switch onto Michel Thomas Spanish lesson... I have to be ready for my trip in Mexico and Agentina ah oui!
That s the second thing you probably don't know yet I am booking an extra country to my trip: Agentina for 1 month from mid november to mid december and will be spending Xmas and New Years on a mexican beach drinking coronas for a dollar and eating nachos lol well that s the plan for now.
I am still sleeping in the same hostel, it's a bit like my new home, I finally didn't decide myself to move in anywhere in Sydney maybe I was a little afraid of that settling down feeling... or simply enjoying the hostel fun...
I should be sending you some pictures of my room soon but at the moment it's a huge mess from the 2 new guys who loved in last Tuesday... I am sharing my room with a canadian guy who will be staying the same lenght as me and we might travel together for a while down to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road in June (ok all my family I stop you here, he is the kind of guy who prefers men to women ;))
We had quite a number of ppl passing by our room, from the weirdest Taiwanese gay guy.. I can't describe him you have to meet him to understand!!!
I am stil cooking for my hostel mate like a crazy french cook... and organised last sunday a french evening with home made chocolate cakes... crepes and so and Amelie :D
It was good although they all rushed on the food pretty quick... (I took note: Backpackers are always starving no matter what time it is lol)
I have met some amazing ppl at the hostel, Marjolein, Vicky with whom we dressed up as school girls for a free drink at the gaff, Lara, Ben and Joel (the best english guys you can encounter!), the canadians... but they all come and go :) but definetely some good friends to visit once back @ home and for Marjolein see you in Mexico!!!!!
I would almost forget what is keeping me away from Internet... well as I finish at the bank everyday at 4.30pm... it only takes me 10 minutes to go home so I am once again cleaning the hostel in the afternoons.. every 2 weeks for 1 hour and a half or for 3 hours so then I pay half or no accomodation at all... which means more spending money.. or saving money to go on some crazy adventures around OZ.
As for what I spend my spare time on... well when Marjolein was still around we kept ourselves busy doing some drinking games with the canadians... since she left it's been a lot more quiet some relaxed evenings cooking for some friends or watching movies. During day time not much more sightseeing... went a few more time to Bondi Beach, shopping, going to some markets, eating a fish and chips at watson bay... or having a relaxed day with a book on the fooftop.
I hope you are all keeping well though and I send you all my love :)
School Night
Marjolein & Me
Free beers at the Ice Bar ;) Thumbs Up
Friday, March 21, 2008
1, 2, 3, 4, 5......25!!!!
I am not sure what went through my mind on Tuesday night when I decided to offer to cook Pad Thai for all the hostel.... and 26 people signed up to get Pad Thai on Wednesday night...
Fearing it would exceed 20 people I was far from thinking so many people would be interested in trying my cuisine...
So after work I went on to my Thai Supermarket, get 3 blocks of tofu, 5 packs of rice noodles, some chives, beansprouts, taramind juice, garlic... a wok.... and I started cooking at 7pm... Cooking 1 dish at a time (much nicer that way!) I had the best kitchen assistant Marjolein, who would crush, cut, mix while I would be cooking we finally stopped at 10pm, exhausted but I really had a lot of fun... I only charged 2 dollards per person which covered my grocery cost and everybody seemed fairly happy and full by the end of the night.
Mission accomplished I am now a Pad Thai master :D
Fearing it would exceed 20 people I was far from thinking so many people would be interested in trying my cuisine...
So after work I went on to my Thai Supermarket, get 3 blocks of tofu, 5 packs of rice noodles, some chives, beansprouts, taramind juice, garlic... a wok.... and I started cooking at 7pm... Cooking 1 dish at a time (much nicer that way!) I had the best kitchen assistant Marjolein, who would crush, cut, mix while I would be cooking we finally stopped at 10pm, exhausted but I really had a lot of fun... I only charged 2 dollards per person which covered my grocery cost and everybody seemed fairly happy and full by the end of the night.
Mission accomplished I am now a Pad Thai master :D
Monday, March 17, 2008
I sit in the office while my heart beats for more travels
Today was my first day in work and title of this post summarise pretty well how I felt today ....
HAPPY PADDYS DAY
We celebrated it yesterday, with a parade going through Sydney City Centre and a band playing U2 in Hyde Park.... and guess what.. It was full of drunk Irish People lolol
To all the Irish and the wannabe Irish: Happy St Patrick's Day !!!!!
What to do when you have a week off in Sydney?
Well chill out on the rooftop of the Wood Duck Inn, go to the beach, go for a walk, enjoy the sun, walk around the city centre.... so many options...
Finally I spent my monday and tuesday in Manly which I really enjoyed, nice quiet beach... on wednesday as I was forced to clean every step in the hostel part of my morning cleaning task I was late and a bit tired to make my way anywhere, so I just fell asleep in Hyde Park. Finally on Friday, I used all the strengths I had left to walk from Coggee to Bondi.. An amazing walk, the scenerey is just beautiful, on the way you go through 2 more beaches where ppl are either sunbathing, enjoying a bbq (yeah there are free public bbqs on all of sydney's beach!) or surfing... and I finally got to the most famous beach in all Australia (well I think as I heard this name so many times!) which wasn't so impressive but still the sand was really soft (pictures of the walk below). On Saturday I went to the cosiest neighborood: Glebe, surrounded with Library hiding a little cafe at the back, it felt like a place where I would see myself living. I headed to the market in the morning nothing compared to the markets in Thailand but there was still loads of interesting stuff to buy... I took this opportunity to get a new book, well not so new as I purchased The Alchemist, I read some years ago but it felt right to read it again now.
I finally spent my afternoon working on my tan on Coggee beach and went for my first swim in the Tasmanian Sea (well a bit colder than the sea in Thailand but you could still get in without shivering as you would obviously do if you were swimming in Brittany!!!)
That same night, I ended up going out with a few ppl from the hostel which was really good fun, we went out for a few drinks in the Gaff hmm sorry a few free drinks :D and ended up in a place called Candys... well the music wasnt so good, I think they need our european Djs, as I had already experienced 2 weeks ago the same feeling... a dj playing the same beat over and over again so it turned out to be an early night watching Scary Movie 4 in the TV Room :D
Apart from all that, I am doing really well, I have met up with loads of people here although I miss you all, I am quite happy to be where I am now :)
Finally I spent my monday and tuesday in Manly which I really enjoyed, nice quiet beach... on wednesday as I was forced to clean every step in the hostel part of my morning cleaning task I was late and a bit tired to make my way anywhere, so I just fell asleep in Hyde Park. Finally on Friday, I used all the strengths I had left to walk from Coggee to Bondi.. An amazing walk, the scenerey is just beautiful, on the way you go through 2 more beaches where ppl are either sunbathing, enjoying a bbq (yeah there are free public bbqs on all of sydney's beach!) or surfing... and I finally got to the most famous beach in all Australia (well I think as I heard this name so many times!) which wasn't so impressive but still the sand was really soft (pictures of the walk below). On Saturday I went to the cosiest neighborood: Glebe, surrounded with Library hiding a little cafe at the back, it felt like a place where I would see myself living. I headed to the market in the morning nothing compared to the markets in Thailand but there was still loads of interesting stuff to buy... I took this opportunity to get a new book, well not so new as I purchased The Alchemist, I read some years ago but it felt right to read it again now.
I finally spent my afternoon working on my tan on Coggee beach and went for my first swim in the Tasmanian Sea (well a bit colder than the sea in Thailand but you could still get in without shivering as you would obviously do if you were swimming in Brittany!!!)
That same night, I ended up going out with a few ppl from the hostel which was really good fun, we went out for a few drinks in the Gaff hmm sorry a few free drinks :D and ended up in a place called Candys... well the music wasnt so good, I think they need our european Djs, as I had already experienced 2 weeks ago the same feeling... a dj playing the same beat over and over again so it turned out to be an early night watching Scary Movie 4 in the TV Room :D
Apart from all that, I am doing really well, I have met up with loads of people here although I miss you all, I am quite happy to be where I am now :)
Monday, March 10, 2008
No longer jobless...
After a week searching for work I finally got offered a very easy position in Australia's biggest bank: Westpak... I spent a week my morning cleaning and my afternoon going to interviews and was very much happy to get offered this job (Admin) last Thursday... Now I can finally relax and enjoy Sydney. As I am starting on the 17th of March (St Partick's day) I am now still cleaning the hostel in the morning and in the afternoon I am heading to the sun... to the beach... simply having a good time ... Today I was in Manly... on shelly beach :) after a ferry ride (30 minutes approx), I walked for another 20 minutes to finally relax there.. a nap, a bit a reading... as th sun starting to go down I made my way back to the ferry to enjoy an amzing scenery on my way back ... Sunset.. and Sydney's city lights, really nice! Manly is a very nice place... if it wasnt that far from the city centre I would probably consider to move there... but for now I am enjoying a bit too much the backpacker life where I am so I am thinking to stay in the hostel till I get tired of it. I will give you more news very soon, my internet credit is running out now :(
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
As long as it keeps me going
Here we are, already 6 days in Sydney almost a week... It has been a month since I last staied that long in the same place the only thing is I don't feel bored at all!!! While a week ago I was feeling completely confused, in need of more travels... meeting new people seeing new things... I now can say that I really really like Sydney... Let's go back to when everything turned pink again lol.. Well I reckon it was Friday and even more Saturday... The SUN is here and it s so hot here when it s sunny and it s so much nicer I can just walk around the city, take a nap in one of their numerous parks and so...
On Friday night I met Michael (A made in Sydney Aussie I met at the down under exhibition last October in Dublin) who took me out, well invited me to join him in a Sydney standard night out with Australians... I am really grateful to him for taking me out... It was a great and fun night although I didn't feel too comfortable in my thai clothes lolol + as a backpacker you don't get the chance to go out so much with aussies, you obviously wander around the backpacker places instead. Anyway that night really opened my appetite to discover a lot more about Sydney's night life.
On Saturday: Mardi Gras! The 2nd biggest gay & lesbian pride in the world. Before that I met Laurent (qui passe par ailleurs le bonjour a Titi, Caro & Manue ;)) who has been living in Australia for already 2 years... It was good to see him and hear about his experience, I think he really likes it a lot here.. I wouldn't be surprised if he staied another 2 more years ;)
Anyway we headed together to the Mardi Gras, which was Crazy, Nuts!!! People dressed up everywhere, people drinking in the streets, parks....
The parade was good although a little disapointing I was expecting something a little bigger, unfortunately most of the parade was about people walking on the ground.. so being at the back we happened to miss a good bit :( After that we headed to Scruffy Murphys, full of backpackers, girls dressing up as the YMCA band and dancing on the bar lol.. I met a few people including an english with whom I talked about Thailand... aahhh Thailand!
Sunday, rest, I joined Emilie and her boyfriend (I met Emilie in Thailand) we wondered around the city, searched for a place where to eat and finally ended up in Hungry Jacks lol
Since Monday I have started my new cleaning jobs at the hostel... stairs up and down and up and down lol...clean, clean, clean lol and in the afternoon Interviews... I am fully interviews booked for the afternoons... on Monday a marketing company, today recruitment agencies... after 6 days in Sydney I already hear about Sponsorship ... Interesting ;) Next 2 days more interviews and hopefully Friday ... rest :D
The backpacker life here is amazing! there are organised nights all week long, free drinks, meals, cheap drinks, cheap movies... the choice is huge and I happen to stay in the best place in Sydney, 5 minutes walk from the business centre... 5 minutes walk from the night life centre lol
Last night I organised the first sushi night, everybody in the hostel was quite impressed with my skill lol
So to summarise a little: I really like it here, it's fun and full of opportunities + loads of ppl to meet and share experiences with...
I have to go there is a cockroach walking around the computer and this one is quite big.
PS: Ian, now I know what you meant and understand how you felt when you were talking to me about OZ... It's just as you said, amazing!
On Friday night I met Michael (A made in Sydney Aussie I met at the down under exhibition last October in Dublin) who took me out, well invited me to join him in a Sydney standard night out with Australians... I am really grateful to him for taking me out... It was a great and fun night although I didn't feel too comfortable in my thai clothes lolol + as a backpacker you don't get the chance to go out so much with aussies, you obviously wander around the backpacker places instead. Anyway that night really opened my appetite to discover a lot more about Sydney's night life.
On Saturday: Mardi Gras! The 2nd biggest gay & lesbian pride in the world. Before that I met Laurent (qui passe par ailleurs le bonjour a Titi, Caro & Manue ;)) who has been living in Australia for already 2 years... It was good to see him and hear about his experience, I think he really likes it a lot here.. I wouldn't be surprised if he staied another 2 more years ;)
Anyway we headed together to the Mardi Gras, which was Crazy, Nuts!!! People dressed up everywhere, people drinking in the streets, parks....
The parade was good although a little disapointing I was expecting something a little bigger, unfortunately most of the parade was about people walking on the ground.. so being at the back we happened to miss a good bit :( After that we headed to Scruffy Murphys, full of backpackers, girls dressing up as the YMCA band and dancing on the bar lol.. I met a few people including an english with whom I talked about Thailand... aahhh Thailand!
Sunday, rest, I joined Emilie and her boyfriend (I met Emilie in Thailand) we wondered around the city, searched for a place where to eat and finally ended up in Hungry Jacks lol
Since Monday I have started my new cleaning jobs at the hostel... stairs up and down and up and down lol...clean, clean, clean lol and in the afternoon Interviews... I am fully interviews booked for the afternoons... on Monday a marketing company, today recruitment agencies... after 6 days in Sydney I already hear about Sponsorship ... Interesting ;) Next 2 days more interviews and hopefully Friday ... rest :D
The backpacker life here is amazing! there are organised nights all week long, free drinks, meals, cheap drinks, cheap movies... the choice is huge and I happen to stay in the best place in Sydney, 5 minutes walk from the business centre... 5 minutes walk from the night life centre lol
Last night I organised the first sushi night, everybody in the hostel was quite impressed with my skill lol
So to summarise a little: I really like it here, it's fun and full of opportunities + loads of ppl to meet and share experiences with...
I have to go there is a cockroach walking around the computer and this one is quite big.
PS: Ian, now I know what you meant and understand how you felt when you were talking to me about OZ... It's just as you said, amazing!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
And the adventure continues - without Tuk-Tuk ;)
Well as I said on my post yesterday I finally arrived safely in Sydney. The Hostel I am staying in is called the Wood Duck Inn and located in Sydney City Centre which couldn't be any better for a first week! Once in the hostel I hurried to get a warm shower but no hot water left and get some breakfast. Instead of heading to bed I talked with a few people hanging around the hostel just to discover a bit further about Sydney and Australia. Most of the people I have met so far are only here for a week or 2 and then will continue on travelling. In my case I am fitting in the working case lol. In the afternoon I met a friend that I had met at the Down Under Exhibition it was nice to see a fimiliar face in this unfamiliar place :) the afternoon I went to check out the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.. It's great to see them with my own eyes and not only in pictures. Sydney seems like a very nice city, despite its huge size you can easily make your way around the centre without the feeling of being completely lost and the sea is there which is a Plus :D
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Koh Pha Ngan Follow up
My experience in Koh Pha Ngan will certainly remain my best time in Thailand. Even if I enjoyed the all of it, this place will be on my coming back list! Instead of heading to the crazy HadRin, I decided to make my way to Thong Nai Pan. Thong Nai Pan has beaches: Yai and Noi. As I found a cool accomodation on Yai my choice between the 2 was made. Each beach is 20 minutes walk from each other, that you can also replace by a boat or taxi ride. I staied in Thai Terrace Bungalow, not located on the beach but in the village there was a total of 8 bungalow surrounded by a tropical cosy garden. It really felf like home, we could sit down in the evening to enjoy a beer Chang and relax.
I arrived on Monday 18th of February and was followed a few hours later by Ivan. The main goal of this little vacation was = RELAXING. My day to day life was summerised with: breakfast, sunbathing, swimming, sunbathing, eating, reading (I finished The Witch of Portobello by Cohelo thx luce and have now started A million Little Pieces by James Frey) , sleeping... The weather was amazing until Sunday I experienced: no electricity, thunders and so...
In the evening we would warm up for the so famous full moon party... Wednesday night in the Funky Buddha: good music, cheap drinks ;), Following night the Hideaway on Thong Nai Pan Noi (that night I ended up losing everybody but without any problem got a taxi back to my beach... while the taxi driver invited me to lay down at the back of her truck and enjoy the stars and the moon lol) Following 2 nights rest.. well almost I first had to convince a Canadian living on Noi Beach that Yai was better lol Not sure it really worked lol! And to finalize all those warm up partys, Full Moon Party on Sunday night.. I started a night getting paint some crazy stuff on my body (Greg you gotta explain me why the "Hi Mom" on my back lololol), drunk way too much buckets and ended in hurting myself a little.. I don't know how but my eye looks now very blue and purple not so so good lol... Drinks Drinks...
As I lost my paint friends I ended up finding all the backpackersthai guys from Yai at the first bar and had a crazy, excellent time...
It's probably what I enjoyed the most in Yai, the fact that we werent so many tourists, the atmosphere was very chilled out and everybody got to meet everybody.. By the end we were all kind of friends...
But I had to leave this little paradise... very sad indeed but the adventure continues....
Another boat bus trip back to Bangkok where I got to meet some more ppl who for sure were interested to discover what happened to me with this black eye...lol
Ah Lilie!!!
I arrived on Monday 18th of February and was followed a few hours later by Ivan. The main goal of this little vacation was = RELAXING. My day to day life was summerised with: breakfast, sunbathing, swimming, sunbathing, eating, reading (I finished The Witch of Portobello by Cohelo thx luce and have now started A million Little Pieces by James Frey) , sleeping... The weather was amazing until Sunday I experienced: no electricity, thunders and so...
In the evening we would warm up for the so famous full moon party... Wednesday night in the Funky Buddha: good music, cheap drinks ;), Following night the Hideaway on Thong Nai Pan Noi (that night I ended up losing everybody but without any problem got a taxi back to my beach... while the taxi driver invited me to lay down at the back of her truck and enjoy the stars and the moon lol) Following 2 nights rest.. well almost I first had to convince a Canadian living on Noi Beach that Yai was better lol Not sure it really worked lol! And to finalize all those warm up partys, Full Moon Party on Sunday night.. I started a night getting paint some crazy stuff on my body (Greg you gotta explain me why the "Hi Mom" on my back lololol), drunk way too much buckets and ended in hurting myself a little.. I don't know how but my eye looks now very blue and purple not so so good lol... Drinks Drinks...
As I lost my paint friends I ended up finding all the backpackersthai guys from Yai at the first bar and had a crazy, excellent time...
It's probably what I enjoyed the most in Yai, the fact that we werent so many tourists, the atmosphere was very chilled out and everybody got to meet everybody.. By the end we were all kind of friends...
But I had to leave this little paradise... very sad indeed but the adventure continues....
Another boat bus trip back to Bangkok where I got to meet some more ppl who for sure were interested to discover what happened to me with this black eye...lol
Ah Lilie!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Ko Pha - Ngan 18 to 25 Feb
I arrived in Ko Phan Gan on the 18th, Ivan joined me a few hours later... I previously rented a bungalow on Thong Nai Pan Yai beach... This place is amazing, it's a paradise... I love it so much I don't feel like leaving it... Ivan left this morning, so was I supposed to until they changed the full Moon party to the 24th instead of 22nd.. So I am staying 2 more nights than I first planned and will be back in Bangkok on the 26th at 5am to take my plane 12 hours later...
I will write a lot more about this week in Ko phan gan later at the moment I really wanted to let you know where I was and showing you a few pictures :)
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