That is all there is to do here
1. Tubing
2. Watch Friends, Simpsons or Family Guy
3. Get absolutely off your face
Leaving tomorrow
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Tubing
What is this phenomenon?
Well apparently it's the THING to do in Vang Vieng (whatever)
Got an inflatable tube jumped in a tuk tuk and headed to the river
Turned up at what I can only describe as down the tubes (get it)
Now what you have to remember is I am sick, even though all I ate yesterday was a biscuit some nuts and a salad sandwich. The thought of drinking just makes me feel worse and want to throw up my salad sandwich which was delicious by the way (not really)
But that was it, getting in your tube and floating down the Nam song river to the various bars. Beautiful backdrop of the mountains and once we got away from Thai style beach party going on it was serene.
Swallowed some river water, nice!
Off to find some sort of dinner and watch reruns of Friends the other THING to do here. So far today I have some muesli and a snickers...great diet
Well apparently it's the THING to do in Vang Vieng (whatever)
Got an inflatable tube jumped in a tuk tuk and headed to the river
Turned up at what I can only describe as down the tubes (get it)
Now what you have to remember is I am sick, even though all I ate yesterday was a biscuit some nuts and a salad sandwich. The thought of drinking just makes me feel worse and want to throw up my salad sandwich which was delicious by the way (not really)
But that was it, getting in your tube and floating down the Nam song river to the various bars. Beautiful backdrop of the mountains and once we got away from Thai style beach party going on it was serene.
Swallowed some river water, nice!
Off to find some sort of dinner and watch reruns of Friends the other THING to do here. So far today I have some muesli and a snickers...great diet
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
72 hours
Where do I start?
Bowling was a hit I won! Really I did
Then I came home and spent the entire night vomiting my dinner and Lao Lao shots. Felt awful but managed to drag myself onto a bus to Phonsavan... 7 hours of HELL. The mountain roads are bad at the best of times! But I felt sick and had to visit many squat toilets on the way, not great in my situation!
Then we broke down!
Got on a local bus that was hot and smelly...finally at our destination the arse end of Lao not pretty at all and the hostel hmmm basic would be a nice way of putting it.
Mossies and spiders galore and sheets that were a little minging. Didn't eat all day.
Tuesday: Video about Lao and the secret war, did you know Laos is the most bombed country in the world ever! Took a tour to Mong tribal village where they use shrapnel for buildings, a quiet place with beautiful children. Trekked to waterfalls spent 2 hours trying to avoid leeches, got one attached to my leg! Walked around many bomb crater sites and even saw 2 cluster boms sitting in fields just waiting to be touched (living on the edge) Finally visited the plain of jars:
"The Plain of Jars remains one of the most dangerous archaeological sites in the world. Unexploded bombs, in particular cluster munitions, the results of massive US bombardment during the Secret War, still cause injuries every week. Visitors can safely visit only three sites, designated Jar Sites 1, 2 and 3, and they should follow signs still warning of unexploded bombs. Many ignore them"
Amazing site, frightening too, still felt sick. Back to hostel bed at 8pm
Up 6am this morning for another bus ride 6 hours, local bus but not feeling too sick anymore.
Suzi's adventure diet: crisps, biscuits and bread in packets.
In Vang Vieng nice hostel with amazing river view and a good toilet just in case. Planning on relaxing now...need it.
Missed home for the first time yesterday
Bowling was a hit I won! Really I did
Then I came home and spent the entire night vomiting my dinner and Lao Lao shots. Felt awful but managed to drag myself onto a bus to Phonsavan... 7 hours of HELL. The mountain roads are bad at the best of times! But I felt sick and had to visit many squat toilets on the way, not great in my situation!
Then we broke down!
Got on a local bus that was hot and smelly...finally at our destination the arse end of Lao not pretty at all and the hostel hmmm basic would be a nice way of putting it.
Mossies and spiders galore and sheets that were a little minging. Didn't eat all day.
Tuesday: Video about Lao and the secret war, did you know Laos is the most bombed country in the world ever! Took a tour to Mong tribal village where they use shrapnel for buildings, a quiet place with beautiful children. Trekked to waterfalls spent 2 hours trying to avoid leeches, got one attached to my leg! Walked around many bomb crater sites and even saw 2 cluster boms sitting in fields just waiting to be touched (living on the edge) Finally visited the plain of jars:
"The Plain of Jars remains one of the most dangerous archaeological sites in the world. Unexploded bombs, in particular cluster munitions, the results of massive US bombardment during the Secret War, still cause injuries every week. Visitors can safely visit only three sites, designated Jar Sites 1, 2 and 3, and they should follow signs still warning of unexploded bombs. Many ignore them"
Amazing site, frightening too, still felt sick. Back to hostel bed at 8pm
Up 6am this morning for another bus ride 6 hours, local bus but not feeling too sick anymore.
Suzi's adventure diet: crisps, biscuits and bread in packets.
In Vang Vieng nice hostel with amazing river view and a good toilet just in case. Planning on relaxing now...need it.
Missed home for the first time yesterday
Sunday, 26 April 2009
What shall I call my post today?
Not feeling very inspired as I'm a bit tired, had 3 very busy days in a very sleepy town. How? I hear you ask...well.
We got up at 8am had coffee in a bakery o yea a bakery yummy..then organised our onward trips and adventures for the next few days. Went back to hostel to change into temple cloths bumped into numerous pals from the boat (it's a great bonding experience) temples around town, night market. Kayaking the next day, all day on the river!
Trekking today another beautiful waterfall!
Have to go now spent too long on the phone to Tijen and mum and ran out of time.
Off to the plane of jars tomorrow hopefully won't be blown up by a landmine :)
Bowling tonight, the thing to do in Laung Prebang!
We got up at 8am had coffee in a bakery o yea a bakery yummy..then organised our onward trips and adventures for the next few days. Went back to hostel to change into temple cloths bumped into numerous pals from the boat (it's a great bonding experience) temples around town, night market. Kayaking the next day, all day on the river!
Trekking today another beautiful waterfall!
Have to go now spent too long on the phone to Tijen and mum and ran out of time.
Off to the plane of jars tomorrow hopefully won't be blown up by a landmine :)
Bowling tonight, the thing to do in Laung Prebang!
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Boat to Laos
Hell:a boat from Thailand to Laos
2 days of heat, bodies everywhere packed in. Sleeping, eating, playing cards and drinking.
Tested my patience to extremes and when it all couldn't get worse we booked into a crap hostel with no electricity: no fan!
4am woke by Josie a cockraoch had crept across her, had to catch a flying cockroach. Got even hotter!
Day 2 bit better no beer being spilt on me.
Practised the power of visualisation...me in my room smelling sweet, nice glass of wine. I went to all kinds of places in my head.
iPod is a saviour
so are my cards from ireland and the book I finished
In Laos now, got an ok hostel need to eat and have a drink
Most importantly need a shower!!!!
2 days of heat, bodies everywhere packed in. Sleeping, eating, playing cards and drinking.
Tested my patience to extremes and when it all couldn't get worse we booked into a crap hostel with no electricity: no fan!
4am woke by Josie a cockraoch had crept across her, had to catch a flying cockroach. Got even hotter!
Day 2 bit better no beer being spilt on me.
Practised the power of visualisation...me in my room smelling sweet, nice glass of wine. I went to all kinds of places in my head.
iPod is a saviour
so are my cards from ireland and the book I finished
In Laos now, got an ok hostel need to eat and have a drink
Most importantly need a shower!!!!
Sunday, 19 April 2009
A long weekend Thai style
My long weekend in Pai...a northern small hippy town on the river. We stayed in a hut by the river and had the constant background noise of frogs, dogs, cockerels and many other insects. This is the Thai jungle! and those animals really show no consideration for sleeping people.
So what can you do in a small town for 2 days we thought....
Rent Mopeds!
We all got one and loved it! I especially enjoyed speeding at 85km p/h down the highway. (yes I know very unsafe) We saw elephants and visited waterfalls on both daysand took a dip in each.
Have I mentioned how hot it is here!
So when it came to giving back the bike I was sad it had become my new friend.
So to sum up the tough weekend I just had:
We ate good, really good Thai food, slept, wizzed around on mopeds and lauhged a lot.
Then got on the bus back to Chang Mai and feared for our lives going down the mountains paths with a psycho driver! Staying here another night then off to the border and should be in Laos in a few days. Have 2 days on a slow boat on the Mekong river to look forward to and taking malaria tablets (o fun)
Today is washing, massage, post office and organising.
But mostly just pool and reading for me :)
Did I mention it's hot
So what can you do in a small town for 2 days we thought....
Rent Mopeds!
We all got one and loved it! I especially enjoyed speeding at 85km p/h down the highway. (yes I know very unsafe) We saw elephants and visited waterfalls on both daysand took a dip in each.
Have I mentioned how hot it is here!
So when it came to giving back the bike I was sad it had become my new friend.
So to sum up the tough weekend I just had:
We ate good, really good Thai food, slept, wizzed around on mopeds and lauhged a lot.
Then got on the bus back to Chang Mai and feared for our lives going down the mountains paths with a psycho driver! Staying here another night then off to the border and should be in Laos in a few days. Have 2 days on a slow boat on the Mekong river to look forward to and taking malaria tablets (o fun)
Today is washing, massage, post office and organising.
But mostly just pool and reading for me :)
Did I mention it's hot
Friday, 17 April 2009
1st day as a 30 year old!
Hungover...4 hours sleep!
Danced the night away to reggae and drank Thai whiskey.
Went on Skype drunk at 430am
Got up at 930 to get bus to Pai, a small hippy town north of Chaing Mai. Staying on the river in a hut...it's hot.
I'm going back to find a hammock, buy a book, drink some water and eat peanuts.
Danced the night away to reggae and drank Thai whiskey.
Went on Skype drunk at 430am
Got up at 930 to get bus to Pai, a small hippy town north of Chaing Mai. Staying on the river in a hut...it's hot.
I'm going back to find a hammock, buy a book, drink some water and eat peanuts.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
love and freedom
"Freedom only exists when love is present...the person who gives him or herself wholly, the person who loves most whole heatedly.
That is the true experience of freedom: having the most important thing in the world without owning it"
Paul Coelho
That is the true experience of freedom: having the most important thing in the world without owning it"
Paul Coelho
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
The Guardian quote:
At Bangkok's airport and train station last night, many tourists were trying to leave. "I've felt worried all day," said Suzanne Hall, 29, from London. "On the way to the airport, we saw smoke billowing from four buildings and a tank on the other side of the road. I was really scared. I suddenly felt very vulnerable."
The last 24 hours!
Where do I start...a text at 4am from the British embassy telling me about the 'state of emergency' in Bangkok! Contact embassy...planned on getting our train north at 7:30pm spent the day worrying what to do. Left the hostel at 4pm cab to subway couldn't get on our bags were too big! Back to hostel, cab to another railway station main one was closed.
On the way: smoke billowing from at least 4 buildings, crossing the flyover a woman is screaming and holding her head at whatever she saw below us, cab driver wanted to stop and thought we were funny telling him to keep driving. 1st time in my lefe I felt real fear.
The cab driver ripped us off and dropped us with our packs at the wrong station some random place on the side of a motorway! Another cab to Bang seu...train expected at 8pm waited until 12:30pm! Ganged together with other travellers in a what I can only describe as a third world train station. The toilets were a flee ridden pit hole in the floor, try squatting over one of those!
Left the station...cab to airport after getting out of another cab who refused to put the meter on! Airport 2am! Interviewed by the Guardian about experinces. Flight to Chaing Mai 6:45am bubked down for 2 hours on a mosaic bench!
Easy going although sunscreen was confiscated and all we had to eat was squashed raisin bread dipped in jam! Yum (not)
Chaing Mai a breath of fresh air, atmosphere calm air clear.
Water fights everywhere for Songram (buddist new year) SOAKED! Got in pool with all the Bangkok grime and sweat from the stress and station.
Staying with Hannah a New York gal and Josie a Brit...Great hostel.
Birthday in 2 days feeling old.
You were right Alan it is a good story!
I'm good though so no worrying I'll stay in touch and have my mobile if anyone wants to contact me...here's to my hour long Thai massage for 3 quid wahay :)
On the way: smoke billowing from at least 4 buildings, crossing the flyover a woman is screaming and holding her head at whatever she saw below us, cab driver wanted to stop and thought we were funny telling him to keep driving. 1st time in my lefe I felt real fear.
The cab driver ripped us off and dropped us with our packs at the wrong station some random place on the side of a motorway! Another cab to Bang seu...train expected at 8pm waited until 12:30pm! Ganged together with other travellers in a what I can only describe as a third world train station. The toilets were a flee ridden pit hole in the floor, try squatting over one of those!
Left the station...cab to airport after getting out of another cab who refused to put the meter on! Airport 2am! Interviewed by the Guardian about experinces. Flight to Chaing Mai 6:45am bubked down for 2 hours on a mosaic bench!
Easy going although sunscreen was confiscated and all we had to eat was squashed raisin bread dipped in jam! Yum (not)
Chaing Mai a breath of fresh air, atmosphere calm air clear.
Water fights everywhere for Songram (buddist new year) SOAKED! Got in pool with all the Bangkok grime and sweat from the stress and station.
Staying with Hannah a New York gal and Josie a Brit...Great hostel.
Birthday in 2 days feeling old.
You were right Alan it is a good story!
I'm good though so no worrying I'll stay in touch and have my mobile if anyone wants to contact me...here's to my hour long Thai massage for 3 quid wahay :)
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Bangkok
hmmmm...what can I say. It's all I expected and better/worse!
The air is hot and heavy, the traffic rattles around very fast and crossing the road is taking you life in your hands everytime!
Seen a reclining budda today and a standing budda, took a boat to wat Arun, a temple with very precarious stairs and then got absolutely, completely soaked on Khao san road.
It's buddist new year, Songram, a bit water celebration! It's tradition to pour water over people and rather than just a little, people haver pump action machine gun water pistols and squirt you! They also have clay and put it on your face and arms. I looked a picture returning to the hostel and needed a shower to get rid of the clay but also the sweat and dirt that your skin picks up in the city!
I've experienced rats, monks, tuk tuks, phad thai (yum) but have been taken back by the people, who are welcoming and helpful. Not tired of dealing with tourists they chat and smile at every opportunity.
I like it here...
tomorrow the sleeper train to the north
The air is hot and heavy, the traffic rattles around very fast and crossing the road is taking you life in your hands everytime!
Seen a reclining budda today and a standing budda, took a boat to wat Arun, a temple with very precarious stairs and then got absolutely, completely soaked on Khao san road.
It's buddist new year, Songram, a bit water celebration! It's tradition to pour water over people and rather than just a little, people haver pump action machine gun water pistols and squirt you! They also have clay and put it on your face and arms. I looked a picture returning to the hostel and needed a shower to get rid of the clay but also the sweat and dirt that your skin picks up in the city!
I've experienced rats, monks, tuk tuks, phad thai (yum) but have been taken back by the people, who are welcoming and helpful. Not tired of dealing with tourists they chat and smile at every opportunity.
I like it here...
tomorrow the sleeper train to the north
Thursday, 9 April 2009
top bunk Tokyo
So I'm on the top bunk in Tokyo...bit of a change. It was all going well until I sat up in the night and banged straight into a wooden beam on the celing! The hostel is ok, getting use to sleeping with people snoring and lights flicking on and off and on and off....
Tokyo is a BIG city and the subway brings new waves of anxiety I never knew exsisted, there are stampeads of people. Don't get in their way! It's terrifiying, really!
I've just taken hours putting my pictures on flickr and facebook..a labour of love so please check them out http://www.flickr.com/photos/suziadventure
Tokyo is a BIG city and the subway brings new waves of anxiety I never knew exsisted, there are stampeads of people. Don't get in their way! It's terrifiying, really!
I've just taken hours putting my pictures on flickr and facebook..a labour of love so please check them out http://www.flickr.com/photos/suziadventure
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
More observations!
1. Japanese people do not smoke, eat or drink on the street there are special places for that sort of behaviour!
2. You get on the bus at the back and then move down slowly and when you're at your stop you pay leaving the bus.
3. They all have the same mobile phones, big clunky flip phones.
Today, being prepared for my overnight bus to Tokyo I went in search of the bus stop. I found the building it was suppose to be in front of and there was nothing, no bus stop. I walked down the street and saw a mad man talking to himself. I came to the conclusion that he has been looking for the bus stop his whole life.
So apparently I have to wait on the street in front of this building and flag down the bus???
Fingers crossed...Tokyo here I come! (or not)
2. You get on the bus at the back and then move down slowly and when you're at your stop you pay leaving the bus.
3. They all have the same mobile phones, big clunky flip phones.
Today, being prepared for my overnight bus to Tokyo I went in search of the bus stop. I found the building it was suppose to be in front of and there was nothing, no bus stop. I walked down the street and saw a mad man talking to himself. I came to the conclusion that he has been looking for the bus stop his whole life.
So apparently I have to wait on the street in front of this building and flag down the bus???
Fingers crossed...Tokyo here I come! (or not)
Monday, 6 April 2009
Saturday, 4 April 2009
wasabi peas
Can you live on them?
Was the question running through my head today wondering around in the mountain forest, happy to be out of the sun and city. Then, can bears live on them, would a bear eat me? Why didn't I buy that bell from the 100yen shop! (apparently scares them off) here comes this huge bloody bear and all I have is a bell. So after a while not spotting any other humans I retreated back to the safety of the temple I had come from. No bear attacks...
Kyoto is truly amazing, beautiful shrines and temples, finally I see the beauty of Japan. Although it's all fenced off and very ordered. Zen gardens are just as you would imagine, just add a few hundred Japanese people!
My observations of Japanese people:
They have this amazing ability to fall asleep anywhere, especially on moving vehicles. You have to see it to believe it, today I saw a man waiting in the boiling hot sun outside a noodle place fast asleep, so much so he was snoring! But as soon as they called his order, awake!
They sing welcome every time you walk into a hop, restaurant anywhere that they can really!
The stare at 'giijin' (foreigners)
They have an amazing ability for cleanliness, no shoes indoors and even (as I discovered after a shop assistant put her head under the curtain) in shop changing rooms
They slurp their noodles: to coll them obviously
Somehow whatever they wear they look cool, funky sometimes a bit weird but generally great.
That's all the time I have now...of to the 7/11 for dinner gourmet style!
Was the question running through my head today wondering around in the mountain forest, happy to be out of the sun and city. Then, can bears live on them, would a bear eat me? Why didn't I buy that bell from the 100yen shop! (apparently scares them off) here comes this huge bloody bear and all I have is a bell. So after a while not spotting any other humans I retreated back to the safety of the temple I had come from. No bear attacks...
Kyoto is truly amazing, beautiful shrines and temples, finally I see the beauty of Japan. Although it's all fenced off and very ordered. Zen gardens are just as you would imagine, just add a few hundred Japanese people!
My observations of Japanese people:
They have this amazing ability to fall asleep anywhere, especially on moving vehicles. You have to see it to believe it, today I saw a man waiting in the boiling hot sun outside a noodle place fast asleep, so much so he was snoring! But as soon as they called his order, awake!
They sing welcome every time you walk into a hop, restaurant anywhere that they can really!
The stare at 'giijin' (foreigners)
They have an amazing ability for cleanliness, no shoes indoors and even (as I discovered after a shop assistant put her head under the curtain) in shop changing rooms
They slurp their noodles: to coll them obviously
Somehow whatever they wear they look cool, funky sometimes a bit weird but generally great.
That's all the time I have now...of to the 7/11 for dinner gourmet style!
Thursday, 2 April 2009
small yappy dogs with bunches
Shin is cooking bread, the smell is amazing! They don't want to eat the white stuff that passes for bread here so he bakes instead. The little one has just been doing his emails with me. Collette has got him a mini mouse and he sits on your lap pretending he's emailing by clicking away...I just endured 30 minutes of Fireman Sam online. (was I the only one unaware that Sam's Welsh, it's a bit weird) Tomorrow is my last day here with the family, then I'm off on my own.
I'm feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. The anxiety is mostly linked to a fear of Bangkok from all the stories I've heard: "hell on earth" all car fumes and people mixed up in boiling temperatures. hmmm fun??
I'm not worried about travelling in Japan, it seems safe and people are very respectful although they do dress their annoying, small, yappy dogs in jump suits and dresses, with bunches in their hair. They carry them around and I even saw a dog in a pushchair today (I kid you not)
The cherry blossom is beautiful though if you can look past the small dogs everywhere in the park and my new camera is a treat for macro pictures. I've already taken 100's of pictures and have over 2000 left so prepare yourself people for some boring photo viewing sessions :)
I'm feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. The anxiety is mostly linked to a fear of Bangkok from all the stories I've heard: "hell on earth" all car fumes and people mixed up in boiling temperatures. hmmm fun??
I'm not worried about travelling in Japan, it seems safe and people are very respectful although they do dress their annoying, small, yappy dogs in jump suits and dresses, with bunches in their hair. They carry them around and I even saw a dog in a pushchair today (I kid you not)
The cherry blossom is beautiful though if you can look past the small dogs everywhere in the park and my new camera is a treat for macro pictures. I've already taken 100's of pictures and have over 2000 left so prepare yourself people for some boring photo viewing sessions :)
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