Bali is somewhere I had visited before aged 11 and remembered it as being this exotic almost paradise location. When I got there as a 23 year old I was going to remember it for something else – Aussies, nightlife and surfing. It was the first place on our trip that we'd actually encountered other tourists and the fist time we'd met Aussies on the tour. The capital on the south side of the island was a hedonistic array of surf shops, reflexologists, spas and bars. A place that I found on the first day though was an Eco Warehouse boasting the biggest array of sustainable DIY and building materials in this hemisphere called the Little Tree. It was newly opened and at the back they had an organic vegetarian cafe which me and Rob enjoyed lunch at. My diet had taken a battering of various McDonald's when I couldn't eat spicy stuff and other meat laden dishes when I could so I was keen to become more vegetarian to maintain a balance.
The evening of our first full day in Bali the whole of Ozbus11 had dinner in the hotel restaurant. Then a few of the youngens went out to experience the Bali nightlife. And what an experience it was. Suddenly in these more than recognizable I got a sense of returning to the Western world and in that, leaving some of the adventure behind. But I did enjoy the frugal sense of going out and spending time enjoying oneself.
Day 75 saw me get up at a reasonable hour and head to the beach enrolled at one of the many surf schools dotted along the coast. I had visited with Irish lass Lou and Germanic blondie Lara when they booked their lessons and decided a beginners morning session was in order. It had always been my plan to come to Australia pursuing Surfing after being introduced to it in the South West of England and I can tell you now – lessons in Bali are a far sight cheaper than in Australia. So the lesson in Bali went well – standing up on the board isn't the hard part for me and I've got the technique pretty much after a weekend session back in England 2005 and a morning in Bali refreshing it. What I find difficult though is having the stamina for catching the wave over and over again without getting super tired. Guess that's just my lack of fitness but at the time of writing – I've been in Australia for almost 5 months and the closest I've got to surfing is taking photos of those actually doing it on Manly Beach.
But it was all good fun in Bali and nice to do something challenging. That evening a few of us made our way to the beach to watch the sunset with a beer and I had dinner in a tiny off street eatery with just the right amount of cuteness. I used the morning of our last day in Bali doing boring administrative stuff like emailing, trying to get photos off my laptop for a OzBus11 souvenir book but my laptop had refused to get better since Mt Bromo. Then it was time to pack. For some reason, just because my bag knew that we were in Bali for a couple of days, it took the opportunity to expel all of its contents forming a volcano of clothing at the foot of my bed. I was sharing with Dru again and she must have been shocked at the mess. At 6.30pm a light dinner was laid on for us before we all loaded onto shuttle buses at 7pm to the airport. It was an agonizing wait in the lounge for a 10.45pm flight to Darwin. Once on board, a few of us got a little shuteye until we landed at Darwin Airport, NT, Australia.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Friday, 23 April 2010
Ozbus11 in Java and Sumatra, Indonesia
Our ferry over to the islands of Indonesia was fairly indescriptive. It was a different kind of ferry to the ones we had been on before. It was a sit down one, with no outer decks but also no windows so you couldn't see how you were positioned on the sea. It was fairly crammed inside with seats but this ferry company provided passengers with 80's music videos and a film for entertainment along with a snack lunch. We left Melaka, Malaysia at 8am and arrived in Bergalisk,on the island Java 12.40pm local just in time for some horrendous rain. At the port we jumped on our Indonesian bus and arrived at our hotel in Pekanbaru seven hours later.
It was a one nighter there and at 6.30am we were on our way again. Now I write this a long time after we were there and my memory of the country is mostly marred by long days, group politics and the impending sens that this amazing journey was soon going to be over. However one of the highlights for me and something not a lot of other people really got was an experience on day 66 of the OzBus London to Sydney tour. At 9.35am we arrived at the Equator in Tugu. This was an enormous symbolic event for me. Firstly it symbolized that I'd left one hemisphere behind – the north I'd known all my life and this new and exciting, opposite southern one. Secondly it's a point on the world map I have always wanted to step foot on. Ever since daydreaming in Geography class, flicking through my school atlas and pointing at all the weird and outlandish locations I hope one day to see with my own eyes. And when I though of this, at the time, all I had around me was four walls and an expectation from other people of how my life would turn out.
So there I was, finally having reached the Equator and loving it! A couple of snack stops later it was evening and we had come to Jambi in Sumatra. Another one nighter (and Indonesia was simply littered with these and severe daily drives) and we left at 8am to arrive in Palambang at 3.30pm. Which didn't seem so bad and obviously meant we had some decent time to spend exploring – only I don't recall there being anything in this town worth exploring. I think the most exploring we did was attempting to find somewhere decent to eat (for those who didn't automatically turn to Pizza Hut just because it happened to be available). At 6.30am on day 68 we left and at 4.30pm we arrived at Bandar Lumpung. This was our Sumatra/Java border and at 8.45am the next morning we arrived for the ferry.
Indonesian ferries are interesting. I don't think our roll on/roll off boat was particularly overloaded but we did notice other ferries coming in with their cargo doors already down! Alarm bells! I don't think our one did that and the only bad thing I remember of it is that the deck with the toilets on smelt really bad. At about 12pm we arrived in Java and continued on to Bandang. I probably enjoyed this island more than the last but I think mainly because we got a chance to rest up a little on this one. We left 7.30am the next day on the way to the Green Canyon. Here we were loaded into traditional boats and taken to a swimming hole with currents, and boulders to jump off. It was a little bit of paradise and I didn't even find out there were leaches in it until I was in Australia which is great.
Day 71 we were taken to a National Park and even though we weren't changing towns we were changing hotels which was more than slightly annoying because of all our one nighters. At 7.30am we left Pangadarran and headed for Yogyakarta the cultural capital of Indonesia. This was a delightful two night stop over and on our 'free day' we went on a cultural tour of the city which included: The Sultan's Palace where every artifact symbolized sex according to our guide, a batik demonstration studio, a Buddhists temple where Rob the Geography boy assured us that big mass of black cloud wasn't headed for us and then changed his mind when were all stranded at the top where a torrent of rain was deposited on us. Suddenly I was cold and wet with only summer clothes on. I am not a cold and wet person – I have no central heating. Basically I'm amphibious and cold blooded – I need the sun to live. When I am cold and wet I tend to go into hibernation. Getting back to the bus from the temple was a bit of an assault course but lucky for me there was a tall French/Canadian who rescued me from a few deep puddles. Back at the hotel the weather had taken it's toll on me and I decided to miss out the cultural dinner that had been laid on for us. Besides I wanted to get some precious sleep before a 5.30am departure the next day.
Day 74 we arrived at a small hotel complex besides a crater besides an active volcano called Mt Bromo – oh yeah! It smokes, it smells, it's majorly cool and I got to ride across the crater on horseback. It was here that I found my laptop had ceased to live throwing my already sporadic OzBus updates into disarray. Bromo was a fabulous three night rest for the Ozbus group. We all got to wind down a little and enjoy ourselves in a relatively isolated location. All the places in Indonesia before had simply been towns or cities. We left on day 75 already excited about our next ferry trip to Bali.
It was a one nighter there and at 6.30am we were on our way again. Now I write this a long time after we were there and my memory of the country is mostly marred by long days, group politics and the impending sens that this amazing journey was soon going to be over. However one of the highlights for me and something not a lot of other people really got was an experience on day 66 of the OzBus London to Sydney tour. At 9.35am we arrived at the Equator in Tugu. This was an enormous symbolic event for me. Firstly it symbolized that I'd left one hemisphere behind – the north I'd known all my life and this new and exciting, opposite southern one. Secondly it's a point on the world map I have always wanted to step foot on. Ever since daydreaming in Geography class, flicking through my school atlas and pointing at all the weird and outlandish locations I hope one day to see with my own eyes. And when I though of this, at the time, all I had around me was four walls and an expectation from other people of how my life would turn out.
So there I was, finally having reached the Equator and loving it! A couple of snack stops later it was evening and we had come to Jambi in Sumatra. Another one nighter (and Indonesia was simply littered with these and severe daily drives) and we left at 8am to arrive in Palambang at 3.30pm. Which didn't seem so bad and obviously meant we had some decent time to spend exploring – only I don't recall there being anything in this town worth exploring. I think the most exploring we did was attempting to find somewhere decent to eat (for those who didn't automatically turn to Pizza Hut just because it happened to be available). At 6.30am on day 68 we left and at 4.30pm we arrived at Bandar Lumpung. This was our Sumatra/Java border and at 8.45am the next morning we arrived for the ferry.
Indonesian ferries are interesting. I don't think our roll on/roll off boat was particularly overloaded but we did notice other ferries coming in with their cargo doors already down! Alarm bells! I don't think our one did that and the only bad thing I remember of it is that the deck with the toilets on smelt really bad. At about 12pm we arrived in Java and continued on to Bandang. I probably enjoyed this island more than the last but I think mainly because we got a chance to rest up a little on this one. We left 7.30am the next day on the way to the Green Canyon. Here we were loaded into traditional boats and taken to a swimming hole with currents, and boulders to jump off. It was a little bit of paradise and I didn't even find out there were leaches in it until I was in Australia which is great.
Day 71 we were taken to a National Park and even though we weren't changing towns we were changing hotels which was more than slightly annoying because of all our one nighters. At 7.30am we left Pangadarran and headed for Yogyakarta the cultural capital of Indonesia. This was a delightful two night stop over and on our 'free day' we went on a cultural tour of the city which included: The Sultan's Palace where every artifact symbolized sex according to our guide, a batik demonstration studio, a Buddhists temple where Rob the Geography boy assured us that big mass of black cloud wasn't headed for us and then changed his mind when were all stranded at the top where a torrent of rain was deposited on us. Suddenly I was cold and wet with only summer clothes on. I am not a cold and wet person – I have no central heating. Basically I'm amphibious and cold blooded – I need the sun to live. When I am cold and wet I tend to go into hibernation. Getting back to the bus from the temple was a bit of an assault course but lucky for me there was a tall French/Canadian who rescued me from a few deep puddles. Back at the hotel the weather had taken it's toll on me and I decided to miss out the cultural dinner that had been laid on for us. Besides I wanted to get some precious sleep before a 5.30am departure the next day.
Day 74 we arrived at a small hotel complex besides a crater besides an active volcano called Mt Bromo – oh yeah! It smokes, it smells, it's majorly cool and I got to ride across the crater on horseback. It was here that I found my laptop had ceased to live throwing my already sporadic OzBus updates into disarray. Bromo was a fabulous three night rest for the Ozbus group. We all got to wind down a little and enjoy ourselves in a relatively isolated location. All the places in Indonesia before had simply been towns or cities. We left on day 75 already excited about our next ferry trip to Bali.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Ozbus11 in South Thailand and Malaysia
Day 60 of Ozbus11's 92 day trip to Sydney saw me do absolutely nothing apart from enjoy my surroundings on Koh Samui Thailand, my beachside hut and the first resort we'd seen on our holiday. It was the next day I decided to do something constructive. By the amazingness of foreign law I was able to hire a scooter and go round the Island with it. I was incredibly excited as the last time I had been in control of anything motorised I was having driving lessons at the age of 17. I never achieved a full drivers license though.
It was a bit nerve-wracking, getting used to the sensitivity of the throttle and the vehicle was heavier than I thought making it surprisingly hard to manouver. So I thought I'd practice a little around the hotel. Something Charlie, our 'nice' Public School boy from Chester who had hired a massive 4x4 to tour with, found hilarious. Well after a few stops and starts, I thought I was ready to go. Luckily I hadn't crashed first time like a certain younf Irish interior designer on the bus did (she will remain nameless, she knows who she is). But mastering the scooter was just one part of motorised transport I had to deal with. It was becoming part of the Island traffic that proved the greatest challenge. My first task was to successfully ease out into moving traffic from the Hotel side road onto the main ring-road. I did not do this well. Unfortunately, too much throttle and not enough turning left hurtled me onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. In England I would have been hit for sure but luckily, we had noted that in countries with sligtly more irratic driving tendancies, drivers had amazing reflexes. And all I got was a couple of a beeps.
Cursing and heart racing I stuck to the left hand side of the road and headed off to my destination. I knew where I wanted to go, I just didnt know exactly how I was going to successfully arrive. Somehow I managed it and I parked down another side road where I had found previously a nice little fishing settlement with lovely restaurants and shops. I felt gorgeously independent - it was a strange and new experience. I had a nice stroll and purchased some nice things and then went off again. This time I headed off to the Golden Buddha. Though I had some more difficult manuvers; in terms of turning accross direction of traffic but again, I managed it.
The Golden Buddha was MASSIVE. And an impressive sight on a small island. It was beautiful situated high above the sea and for a few moments I felt complete calm and tranquil. But back on the bike I wanted to head off to the new Tesco Lotus as I needed some batteries for my torch. I couldn't find it however and nearing the end of the day, I somehow, found my way back to our sideroad, miraculously turned accross fast moving traffic and ended up back at the scooter hire place.
The next day we all reluctanctly (some more reluctantly than others with heavy sleeping in behaviour) left Koh Samui at 7am to catch a ferry back to the mainland. At 3.30pm we arrived at Hyati and cursed Phil for making us leave so early when there was absolutely nothing to do in the town. On day 63 we crossed the Hyati border a little after 7.30am having been reminded by the Thai tour guides to have our passports on us and arrived in Penang in Malaysia in time for an evening birthday celebration for Aussie Sam. The next day we were on the road again in time to arrive in Kuala Lumpur for lunch. What a sight that city was. If a Sci-fi film was ever real then it would have based itself in Kuala Lumpur. Silver skycrapers seemed to fly up from the groud and everything was so clean and knew and everything screamed MONEY. Suddenly the 26 Ozbusketeers in their tired travelling gear seemed a little out of place. A nice lunch was to be had in the first shopping mall we'd seen since leaving Europe and then back on the bus it was to arrive in Melaka at 5.30pm.
This was the end of Malaysia and the beginning of an arduous Indonesian leg before hitting the red country. It was exciting and deeply sad at the thought of ending this once in a lifetime trip.
It was a bit nerve-wracking, getting used to the sensitivity of the throttle and the vehicle was heavier than I thought making it surprisingly hard to manouver. So I thought I'd practice a little around the hotel. Something Charlie, our 'nice' Public School boy from Chester who had hired a massive 4x4 to tour with, found hilarious. Well after a few stops and starts, I thought I was ready to go. Luckily I hadn't crashed first time like a certain younf Irish interior designer on the bus did (she will remain nameless, she knows who she is). But mastering the scooter was just one part of motorised transport I had to deal with. It was becoming part of the Island traffic that proved the greatest challenge. My first task was to successfully ease out into moving traffic from the Hotel side road onto the main ring-road. I did not do this well. Unfortunately, too much throttle and not enough turning left hurtled me onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. In England I would have been hit for sure but luckily, we had noted that in countries with sligtly more irratic driving tendancies, drivers had amazing reflexes. And all I got was a couple of a beeps.
Cursing and heart racing I stuck to the left hand side of the road and headed off to my destination. I knew where I wanted to go, I just didnt know exactly how I was going to successfully arrive. Somehow I managed it and I parked down another side road where I had found previously a nice little fishing settlement with lovely restaurants and shops. I felt gorgeously independent - it was a strange and new experience. I had a nice stroll and purchased some nice things and then went off again. This time I headed off to the Golden Buddha. Though I had some more difficult manuvers; in terms of turning accross direction of traffic but again, I managed it.
The Golden Buddha was MASSIVE. And an impressive sight on a small island. It was beautiful situated high above the sea and for a few moments I felt complete calm and tranquil. But back on the bike I wanted to head off to the new Tesco Lotus as I needed some batteries for my torch. I couldn't find it however and nearing the end of the day, I somehow, found my way back to our sideroad, miraculously turned accross fast moving traffic and ended up back at the scooter hire place.
The next day we all reluctanctly (some more reluctantly than others with heavy sleeping in behaviour) left Koh Samui at 7am to catch a ferry back to the mainland. At 3.30pm we arrived at Hyati and cursed Phil for making us leave so early when there was absolutely nothing to do in the town. On day 63 we crossed the Hyati border a little after 7.30am having been reminded by the Thai tour guides to have our passports on us and arrived in Penang in Malaysia in time for an evening birthday celebration for Aussie Sam. The next day we were on the road again in time to arrive in Kuala Lumpur for lunch. What a sight that city was. If a Sci-fi film was ever real then it would have based itself in Kuala Lumpur. Silver skycrapers seemed to fly up from the groud and everything was so clean and knew and everything screamed MONEY. Suddenly the 26 Ozbusketeers in their tired travelling gear seemed a little out of place. A nice lunch was to be had in the first shopping mall we'd seen since leaving Europe and then back on the bus it was to arrive in Melaka at 5.30pm.
This was the end of Malaysia and the beginning of an arduous Indonesian leg before hitting the red country. It was exciting and deeply sad at the thought of ending this once in a lifetime trip.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Ozbus11 - Thai Part 4, the Effects of the Moon
A full moon meant that att the hotel on Koh Samui, a few youngens on the bus were picked up and whized off to a beach to board a boat to Koh Phangan. We were given rather official looking lanyards (official for Thailand consisting of a laminated card with company name and boat times back tied with a pink piece of string) and numbers corresponding with a boat out. The ride out to the island was fun, for those at the front at least. Those at the back were more than a bit wet by the time they disembarked. But at the front, everytime the speed boat went over a wave the bow would rise and wallop down so fast that bodies were moved from seat to seat. It was hilarious and really set the mood for a party.
On arrival we paid an entrance fee for a plastic wristband stating "Fullmoon Party 2009 Haad Rin Thailand". Who knows what Haad Rin is? I thought we were on Koh Phangan. Inside the gates we were immidiately confronted with the famous bucket stalls. This is where Thai Island dwellers sell children's buckets full of various spirits. Wonder what the focus of this party is? Also on offer were luminescent accesories such as hair bands and body paint. All very fun, all so very tempting to buy but where to put such purchases? All of us girls had come out with just the bear essential money as EVERYTHING and anything gets lost/stolen on this Island. It was a perilous journey of fun we were on. But to the beach we strove!
Once there and passed a few foodie pitt-stops the music was pumping hard from various bars. We all headed to one in particular which lovely Mr Phil had said he was going to and meet some friends of his. None of us now had the will to party without him, it had been so long in such close contact! There it was, all fun, fun, fun, but crowded. Luckily I had brought Henry the blow-up Girrafe along as party mascot so we were easy to find as a group - there was a wager to see if he could get home un-punctured. The music was loud, the drinks were full on but I couldn't quite get into the swing of things. Maybe it was because the music they were playing required pills for you to enjoy but I think it was mainly down to the fact that the DJ played some god awful mixes. I thought that my soul was saved when I heard the intro to a Nirvana track - but alas it was put to a thumping 'dance' beat and I died a little inside.
Groups dispersed, re-appeared, changed in dynamics. We found Jimmy the Aussie Ocker off his face on something after his drink was spiked. Then it was time for the traditional drunk dunk in the sea. You know - when it doesnt matter that you're fully clothed and several blokes are pissing up-current of you. I didn't go in however as by this time, I was not into it at all and considering going back. My requirements for a successful all nighter had not been met - company was good but now sain conversation was hard to come by. I had a good chat with Elli but that was about it that night. The music was terrible. And then the heavens opened - that was my cue to go. So off I toddled to the make-shift docks where I found more than a gaggle of people. It was about 3am now and I thought to myself - I am gonna be here at least an hour waiting. But there, amongst the crowd, I found Aussie Sam waiting also. Yey - someone to pass the arduous time with.
Then, without too much waitng, a boat came in and by our own pushing and other people dragging us, we made it through a barage of people without lanyards (haha in your face randomers!) and successfully onto a boat back to Koh Samui. I was intensely tired at this point and just wanted to roll into bed. Though I just had to get through the ride home. I made it, just, with a few saltwater injuries to my eyes. Sam and I waited at the drop off beach a while, everyone else was getting into mini-vans and being taken to various hotels. We told the person apparently directing the vans which hotel we were at but her face looked blankly at us. Ah-well we thought, this is Ozbus after all, not an all inclusive tour, as we keep on being reminded and didnt think a van would have been booked for us. So we got a nice expensive taxi back. It wasn't until the next morning that Phil told us an official transfer had been organised for us as part of ticket out there!
Back at the hotel I had the keys to Elli's hut as I was sharing with Drew the newly proud Grandmother with a cavehouse in Spain and didn't want to wake her. I immidiately jumped in the shower in an attempt to wash all the luminescent pink paint that the Ozbusketeers had happily smothered each other with, off. My efforts at 4am though made little to no impact. But I think it was partly due to the permancy of the paint as I was still finding traces in my hair on the Australian leg. Even now as I write this, almost 3 months after the event - a pink fleck of paint can be seen on the top left corner of my watch. I don't want to see it go though - a fond reminder of a miniscule part of an awesome trip.
I slept until 10.30am when with sand still all over me I headed off for breakfast. I spent the rest of the day reading. The sea was rather rough unfortunately and remained that way for the duration of our time on the island which so no swimming was done. Gradually, throughout the later parts of the day, people emerged from the recovery processes of the night/day earlier. They informed me that sadly Henry had not fullfiled his wager but had made it back, limp and a bit worse for wear. In the evening most of us gathered for cocktails at the beachside bar just down from the hotel. But it was a quiet affair with everyone enjoying the peacful sound of the ocean - a welcome first from what had been up until then a mostly city tour of countries.
On arrival we paid an entrance fee for a plastic wristband stating "Fullmoon Party 2009 Haad Rin Thailand". Who knows what Haad Rin is? I thought we were on Koh Phangan. Inside the gates we were immidiately confronted with the famous bucket stalls. This is where Thai Island dwellers sell children's buckets full of various spirits. Wonder what the focus of this party is? Also on offer were luminescent accesories such as hair bands and body paint. All very fun, all so very tempting to buy but where to put such purchases? All of us girls had come out with just the bear essential money as EVERYTHING and anything gets lost/stolen on this Island. It was a perilous journey of fun we were on. But to the beach we strove!
Once there and passed a few foodie pitt-stops the music was pumping hard from various bars. We all headed to one in particular which lovely Mr Phil had said he was going to and meet some friends of his. None of us now had the will to party without him, it had been so long in such close contact! There it was, all fun, fun, fun, but crowded. Luckily I had brought Henry the blow-up Girrafe along as party mascot so we were easy to find as a group - there was a wager to see if he could get home un-punctured. The music was loud, the drinks were full on but I couldn't quite get into the swing of things. Maybe it was because the music they were playing required pills for you to enjoy but I think it was mainly down to the fact that the DJ played some god awful mixes. I thought that my soul was saved when I heard the intro to a Nirvana track - but alas it was put to a thumping 'dance' beat and I died a little inside.
Groups dispersed, re-appeared, changed in dynamics. We found Jimmy the Aussie Ocker off his face on something after his drink was spiked. Then it was time for the traditional drunk dunk in the sea. You know - when it doesnt matter that you're fully clothed and several blokes are pissing up-current of you. I didn't go in however as by this time, I was not into it at all and considering going back. My requirements for a successful all nighter had not been met - company was good but now sain conversation was hard to come by. I had a good chat with Elli but that was about it that night. The music was terrible. And then the heavens opened - that was my cue to go. So off I toddled to the make-shift docks where I found more than a gaggle of people. It was about 3am now and I thought to myself - I am gonna be here at least an hour waiting. But there, amongst the crowd, I found Aussie Sam waiting also. Yey - someone to pass the arduous time with.
Then, without too much waitng, a boat came in and by our own pushing and other people dragging us, we made it through a barage of people without lanyards (haha in your face randomers!) and successfully onto a boat back to Koh Samui. I was intensely tired at this point and just wanted to roll into bed. Though I just had to get through the ride home. I made it, just, with a few saltwater injuries to my eyes. Sam and I waited at the drop off beach a while, everyone else was getting into mini-vans and being taken to various hotels. We told the person apparently directing the vans which hotel we were at but her face looked blankly at us. Ah-well we thought, this is Ozbus after all, not an all inclusive tour, as we keep on being reminded and didnt think a van would have been booked for us. So we got a nice expensive taxi back. It wasn't until the next morning that Phil told us an official transfer had been organised for us as part of ticket out there!
Back at the hotel I had the keys to Elli's hut as I was sharing with Drew the newly proud Grandmother with a cavehouse in Spain and didn't want to wake her. I immidiately jumped in the shower in an attempt to wash all the luminescent pink paint that the Ozbusketeers had happily smothered each other with, off. My efforts at 4am though made little to no impact. But I think it was partly due to the permancy of the paint as I was still finding traces in my hair on the Australian leg. Even now as I write this, almost 3 months after the event - a pink fleck of paint can be seen on the top left corner of my watch. I don't want to see it go though - a fond reminder of a miniscule part of an awesome trip.
I slept until 10.30am when with sand still all over me I headed off for breakfast. I spent the rest of the day reading. The sea was rather rough unfortunately and remained that way for the duration of our time on the island which so no swimming was done. Gradually, throughout the later parts of the day, people emerged from the recovery processes of the night/day earlier. They informed me that sadly Henry had not fullfiled his wager but had made it back, limp and a bit worse for wear. In the evening most of us gathered for cocktails at the beachside bar just down from the hotel. But it was a quiet affair with everyone enjoying the peacful sound of the ocean - a welcome first from what had been up until then a mostly city tour of countries.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Ozbus11, still in Thailand - Part 3
I never managed to get up for breakfast on day 57 on Ozbus11's 92 day trip to Sydney, the previous day had done me in. I wanted to catch up on sleep and prepare myself for the fact that I'd be gettting little of it in the coming days. The youngens on the bus were excited as we were going to a Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan Island the first evening after leaving Bangkok. It was going to be an all night affair with a boat taking us there in the eve from Koh Samui and not taking us back til morning the next day. I can do all nighters if there is the following available: GOOD music to dance to (I don't count traditional Dance music as good, it's usually the fastest way to send me to sleep), a decent crowd (not shitheads, timewasters or people off their heads on whatever, just intersting perhaps slightly crazy peeps you can have a chat with) and finally good weather. So I was a bit aprehensive about the party.
Unfortunately I sort of pre-empted the whole all nighter thing by one night, our last night in Bangkok. After missing breakfast and being annoyed because it was amazing, a few of us found a great little cafe just around the corner from hotel. It was a Sunday and surprisingly, nothing much was open. Ozbus had been living out of the working week system for sometime now and we had not a clue how the real world worked around us. But here we found continental breakfasts on offer, milkshakes, croissants which I jumped on and of course that quintessential coffee.
After breakfast I'm not sure what I did as this is the part in my diary marked 'faffed'. So I guess I faffed before Dee, I and Rob the photogrpaher and computer genius decided to visit the Royal Palace. This was a good cultural visit with LOTS of gold and sparkly things to bowl you over. A good attraction just cover up and don't let the taxi men rip you off when you come out. Then I suppose we came back and had dinner and then we went out and did a bit of shopping on the main strip.
I was having drinks with Dee and Elli, our proper Yorskshire lass, desperately trying to order a Martini and not getting anywhere with the waiter when suddenly I stopped. I made a grab for my waist where I wear my money belt and to my horrow - AHHHH, it wasn't there! Panic set in as I was horofied at losing not only money but Passport aswell. Luckily Dee and Sam were amazing. They got a plan of action going, Dee re-traced my steps with me, checking the market we had just been to and Sam went back to our hotel room to see if I had left it there.
I was adement I hadn't as I only ever took the money belt off to shower or swim and then would put it back on when dressing. I was in a right state. What if I had to miss the Full Moon Party by staying in Bangkok at the Embassy? We all really needed this party. What if I couldn't leave Thailand with Ozbus at all and my trip would be ruined? If only I had listened to Phil the bus god when he said this is the time in the trip when everyone starts to become more lax and lose things? I was thinking now - it had to be at the hotel - it just had to, I just didn't remember putting it down anywhere. I never left my passport in hotel rooms as per advice from Phil.
Dee and I were walking back when Elli phoned. She said she had found it on my bedside table. I thanked Elli and turned to Dee and we both breathed a sigh of relief then giggled a bit. What a scare? What an adrenaline rush? Back at the hotel Dee suddenly realised she had not seen her Passport for a while also. Consequently, she, Sam and I started to turn our hotel room inside out looking for it. Our room had allready been a state for sometime now - you remember, Dee and I had officially moved in and decorated.
A few of us had been in Phil's room earlier that evening and Dee thought it must be in there. So with Sam, a forever cheeri Surrey girl now hailing as a Northerner, and a few others joining in, broke into Phil's room and started searching it. Phil doesn't trust hotel staff so rarely gives in his room key when he goes out so we wondering just how we were going to get in but we did manage it. It wasn't there unfortunately so Dee texted one of the boys who were all on an official 'boys night out' in Bangkok (that only means going to see one thing *shiver shiver*) to see if they recall Dee having it somewhere. But we had no answer so we broke into Charlie and Rob's room instead to search there. Remember this was a leave or no leave Bangkok situation. As soon as we busted their door, Sam and I spied it, obviously "hidden" underneath Charlie's pillow.
I think Dee's exact words were "Charlie! You k**b-jockey!" As she was relieved at finally finding it. After that we waited for the boys to come back. Charlie was first coming to Dee's and my balcony where we were all hanging out. He said he was quite adement that the ping pong ladies had put him off sex for life. But what really put things into context for us girls was when Rob our Geography boy came back. He rushed onto the balcony all out of breath from running, clearly drunk and with the rememnents of sick down his front. What a night he had had as he went on to tell us. The show shocked him as much as it did Charlie but he had stayed out with Phil to go to a fish foot eating place with Tamara our amazingly intelligent Canadian.
Unfortunately this probably wasn't one of the best ideas as Rob has a thing about anything touching his feet. Phil cohearsed him into trying it when Rob I think threw up a little from the shock. Then he leapt up and ran all the way back to the hotel, throwing up again on the way. As Rob was relaying the events to us we all couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy but also, it was late, we did find it hilarious at the same time. What really made the story a treat was this quote from Rob: "Women - pulling razors out of their f****s now that's rude. But FISH!"
The night wore on and Phil came back and the party moved into his room. Their must have been about 10 of us in there or something. We were having the time of our life for some strange reason, dancing and acting like prats in a Bangkok hotel room - that's where the scene is obviously. Before I knew it, it was 2am and we had to leave that day to get down to Koh Samui. I said to myself I really must go to bed at some point and I still havent packed. I set my alarm for 5am to make me get up and be packed in time.
Then later on, all of a sudden, my alarm went off - and we were all still in Phil's room! How did this happen?! The all nighter was meant to be happening the next night. Oh well. Off I went to pack. Made it downstairs after boobie trapping Jim and Julie from Essex's room door with empty cans and bottles. Jim and Julie were the top couple on board and were the type of people who could appreciate a prank or two. Breakfast was nice and then I blanked out on the bus during the day. I only really woke up for half hour of lunch and then at 6pm for the ferry.
At 8.30pm we arrived at our hotel and what a paradise it seemed. But before we could enjoy it, we rushed some food down to be picked up for the party at 9.20pm. We had all been told that there were boats coming back every hour through the night which set my mind at rest at not being able to cope with another all nighter.
The Full Moon Party was......
Unfortunately I sort of pre-empted the whole all nighter thing by one night, our last night in Bangkok. After missing breakfast and being annoyed because it was amazing, a few of us found a great little cafe just around the corner from hotel. It was a Sunday and surprisingly, nothing much was open. Ozbus had been living out of the working week system for sometime now and we had not a clue how the real world worked around us. But here we found continental breakfasts on offer, milkshakes, croissants which I jumped on and of course that quintessential coffee.
After breakfast I'm not sure what I did as this is the part in my diary marked 'faffed'. So I guess I faffed before Dee, I and Rob the photogrpaher and computer genius decided to visit the Royal Palace. This was a good cultural visit with LOTS of gold and sparkly things to bowl you over. A good attraction just cover up and don't let the taxi men rip you off when you come out. Then I suppose we came back and had dinner and then we went out and did a bit of shopping on the main strip.
I was having drinks with Dee and Elli, our proper Yorskshire lass, desperately trying to order a Martini and not getting anywhere with the waiter when suddenly I stopped. I made a grab for my waist where I wear my money belt and to my horrow - AHHHH, it wasn't there! Panic set in as I was horofied at losing not only money but Passport aswell. Luckily Dee and Sam were amazing. They got a plan of action going, Dee re-traced my steps with me, checking the market we had just been to and Sam went back to our hotel room to see if I had left it there.
I was adement I hadn't as I only ever took the money belt off to shower or swim and then would put it back on when dressing. I was in a right state. What if I had to miss the Full Moon Party by staying in Bangkok at the Embassy? We all really needed this party. What if I couldn't leave Thailand with Ozbus at all and my trip would be ruined? If only I had listened to Phil the bus god when he said this is the time in the trip when everyone starts to become more lax and lose things? I was thinking now - it had to be at the hotel - it just had to, I just didn't remember putting it down anywhere. I never left my passport in hotel rooms as per advice from Phil.
Dee and I were walking back when Elli phoned. She said she had found it on my bedside table. I thanked Elli and turned to Dee and we both breathed a sigh of relief then giggled a bit. What a scare? What an adrenaline rush? Back at the hotel Dee suddenly realised she had not seen her Passport for a while also. Consequently, she, Sam and I started to turn our hotel room inside out looking for it. Our room had allready been a state for sometime now - you remember, Dee and I had officially moved in and decorated.
A few of us had been in Phil's room earlier that evening and Dee thought it must be in there. So with Sam, a forever cheeri Surrey girl now hailing as a Northerner, and a few others joining in, broke into Phil's room and started searching it. Phil doesn't trust hotel staff so rarely gives in his room key when he goes out so we wondering just how we were going to get in but we did manage it. It wasn't there unfortunately so Dee texted one of the boys who were all on an official 'boys night out' in Bangkok (that only means going to see one thing *shiver shiver*) to see if they recall Dee having it somewhere. But we had no answer so we broke into Charlie and Rob's room instead to search there. Remember this was a leave or no leave Bangkok situation. As soon as we busted their door, Sam and I spied it, obviously "hidden" underneath Charlie's pillow.
I think Dee's exact words were "Charlie! You k**b-jockey!" As she was relieved at finally finding it. After that we waited for the boys to come back. Charlie was first coming to Dee's and my balcony where we were all hanging out. He said he was quite adement that the ping pong ladies had put him off sex for life. But what really put things into context for us girls was when Rob our Geography boy came back. He rushed onto the balcony all out of breath from running, clearly drunk and with the rememnents of sick down his front. What a night he had had as he went on to tell us. The show shocked him as much as it did Charlie but he had stayed out with Phil to go to a fish foot eating place with Tamara our amazingly intelligent Canadian.
Unfortunately this probably wasn't one of the best ideas as Rob has a thing about anything touching his feet. Phil cohearsed him into trying it when Rob I think threw up a little from the shock. Then he leapt up and ran all the way back to the hotel, throwing up again on the way. As Rob was relaying the events to us we all couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy but also, it was late, we did find it hilarious at the same time. What really made the story a treat was this quote from Rob: "Women - pulling razors out of their f****s now that's rude. But FISH!"
The night wore on and Phil came back and the party moved into his room. Their must have been about 10 of us in there or something. We were having the time of our life for some strange reason, dancing and acting like prats in a Bangkok hotel room - that's where the scene is obviously. Before I knew it, it was 2am and we had to leave that day to get down to Koh Samui. I said to myself I really must go to bed at some point and I still havent packed. I set my alarm for 5am to make me get up and be packed in time.
Then later on, all of a sudden, my alarm went off - and we were all still in Phil's room! How did this happen?! The all nighter was meant to be happening the next night. Oh well. Off I went to pack. Made it downstairs after boobie trapping Jim and Julie from Essex's room door with empty cans and bottles. Jim and Julie were the top couple on board and were the type of people who could appreciate a prank or two. Breakfast was nice and then I blanked out on the bus during the day. I only really woke up for half hour of lunch and then at 6pm for the ferry.
At 8.30pm we arrived at our hotel and what a paradise it seemed. But before we could enjoy it, we rushed some food down to be picked up for the party at 9.20pm. We had all been told that there were boats coming back every hour through the night which set my mind at rest at not being able to cope with another all nighter.
The Full Moon Party was......
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Ozbus11 in Thailand - Part 2
Day 56 of Ozbus11's 92 day adventure to Sydney offered an invaluble, jam-packed day trip. Or so I thought. Now there are many extras offered as part of the Ozbus experience and day trips are one of them. This trip included a tour of the floating markets, a visit to a Tiger Sacntuary run by Monks and a visit to that bridge over the River Kwai. It was a pretty full on day and kicked off at 7am.
Only a few on the trip had decided they would use the time to recouperate in Bangkok and not be carted off on yet another Ozbus group activity. At the time I chose to go and pay the day trip fee, in fear of missing out on the Thailand experience but out of all the excursions - this was the one I would have gladly missed, in hindsight.
The floating markets were more than a disappointment. Apparently there are 2 sites tourists are taken to. I can only explain the one I saw. The coach dropped us off at a sort of embarkation station where we were put into groups of 8 and loaded into narrow, tradional boats, with ruddy great big motors on the back. Before we zoomed off on the canals, we were all stunned momentarily by someone taking each pairs' photo on a digital camera.
Off we went at varying speeds according to water trafic, halting at differnt yet surpsingly similar trinket stalls and I started to wonder when we would get to the actual markets. Well the more we stopped at these stalls selling rubbish and the more I saw other boats of tourists doing the same, it became apparent that this was actually it. Not impressed. A smooth operation of dumping us at a decent looking shop selling more rubbish, there for 15 mins or so before our boat number was called and we went off again was the best we were offered at the markets. We were taken back to where we had got on boats and were offered a souvenir picture of the pairs printed onto plastic plates. Not entirely what I'd call quality merchandise but it appealed to Dee who bought one. It was destined for our makeshift mantlepiece on top of the TV in our hotel room.
Well, the floating markets didn't get us off to a good start. Luckily we were going to the Tiger Sanctuary next which many were looking forward to. Looking forward to it not least because they would each get a chance to have their photo taken with a tiger which I guess some people dream about since childhood. When I learn't this I did ask myself the question - how does one pose with a tiger when they are in a sanctuary? To a westerner the idea of a sanctuary is something of a mimmicked natural habitat for creatures to frolic in, as free as possible from human interaction. Not so in Thailand.
First of all the fee to enter this supposed sanctuary was extorionate for the experience it offered. Secondly it was quite clearly not run by Monks, merely people dressed in coloured robes. A few of us did go on the hunt for the temple that was meant to be there, but we found all we found was a massive cattle shed. Thirdly to get the picture with a tiger, one must que up with other excitable tourists, be guided into a compound of about 10 chained up Tigers and sit behind one smiling like "this is a completely natural environment for both of us to be in", touch it gently if you like while a robed 'monk' takes your picture.
If you're questioning the safety aspect of this right now then don't worry. We were clearly briefed by many young westerners who seemed to be working there (I presume this is where some of our fee goes, they'd be fools to volunteer at the place) who told us not to wear bright colours, make sudden movements nor stray from the line. Well thank heavens for that, I felt so much safer after thata as you can imagine. (what's comp. shorthand for being sarcastic?)
After an hour of walking around coming across chained up Tigers here and there for crowds to gawp over I became depressed. I felt completely and utterly betrayed by the company I was travelling with for allowing their customers to take part in something obviously barbaric and an absolute violation of animal rights. Personally I would strongly advise against all visits to anything described as a Tiger Sanctuary by Ozbus.
Back on the bus again, it was now nearly lunchtime and took a while to arrive at where we would have it. But once there, a little place on the side of a main road, the Thai people came up trumps again with some glorious food. Back on the bus (it seemed most of the day was actually spent on the bus) we were ferryed for a long time to our next destination, the birdge over the River Kwai. On our way there though, the group were starting to wonder how necesary our 3 tour guide ladies were. Only one it seemed was able to communicate with us and the other 2 simply chatted on their mobile phone and hogged the front seat. After much gossiping it was decided that the English speaking girl must be the official guide and the other 2 were her friends who were in it for the ride.
We eventually arrived at the Bridge over the River Kawai, weary from a long day allready. It was a nice bridge. Small with a train track on it. We got to walk some of it and I wondered if trains still used the line. Then we had to get into the side on little waiting platforms as a train came up and answered my question. And then it was time to leave again. The bridge visit sort of turned into a glorified toilet stop but it's one to cross off the list I suppose.
At 7.30pm Ozbus11 rolled back into Bangkok and I had my dinner and went promptly to bed. Exhausted and annoyed at having wasted my day and my money, my only solace was that there might be another episode of Home and Away on television. There wasn't and I had to make do with something on National Geographic.
Only a few on the trip had decided they would use the time to recouperate in Bangkok and not be carted off on yet another Ozbus group activity. At the time I chose to go and pay the day trip fee, in fear of missing out on the Thailand experience but out of all the excursions - this was the one I would have gladly missed, in hindsight.
The floating markets were more than a disappointment. Apparently there are 2 sites tourists are taken to. I can only explain the one I saw. The coach dropped us off at a sort of embarkation station where we were put into groups of 8 and loaded into narrow, tradional boats, with ruddy great big motors on the back. Before we zoomed off on the canals, we were all stunned momentarily by someone taking each pairs' photo on a digital camera.
Off we went at varying speeds according to water trafic, halting at differnt yet surpsingly similar trinket stalls and I started to wonder when we would get to the actual markets. Well the more we stopped at these stalls selling rubbish and the more I saw other boats of tourists doing the same, it became apparent that this was actually it. Not impressed. A smooth operation of dumping us at a decent looking shop selling more rubbish, there for 15 mins or so before our boat number was called and we went off again was the best we were offered at the markets. We were taken back to where we had got on boats and were offered a souvenir picture of the pairs printed onto plastic plates. Not entirely what I'd call quality merchandise but it appealed to Dee who bought one. It was destined for our makeshift mantlepiece on top of the TV in our hotel room.
Well, the floating markets didn't get us off to a good start. Luckily we were going to the Tiger Sanctuary next which many were looking forward to. Looking forward to it not least because they would each get a chance to have their photo taken with a tiger which I guess some people dream about since childhood. When I learn't this I did ask myself the question - how does one pose with a tiger when they are in a sanctuary? To a westerner the idea of a sanctuary is something of a mimmicked natural habitat for creatures to frolic in, as free as possible from human interaction. Not so in Thailand.
First of all the fee to enter this supposed sanctuary was extorionate for the experience it offered. Secondly it was quite clearly not run by Monks, merely people dressed in coloured robes. A few of us did go on the hunt for the temple that was meant to be there, but we found all we found was a massive cattle shed. Thirdly to get the picture with a tiger, one must que up with other excitable tourists, be guided into a compound of about 10 chained up Tigers and sit behind one smiling like "this is a completely natural environment for both of us to be in", touch it gently if you like while a robed 'monk' takes your picture.
If you're questioning the safety aspect of this right now then don't worry. We were clearly briefed by many young westerners who seemed to be working there (I presume this is where some of our fee goes, they'd be fools to volunteer at the place) who told us not to wear bright colours, make sudden movements nor stray from the line. Well thank heavens for that, I felt so much safer after thata as you can imagine. (what's comp. shorthand for being sarcastic?)
After an hour of walking around coming across chained up Tigers here and there for crowds to gawp over I became depressed. I felt completely and utterly betrayed by the company I was travelling with for allowing their customers to take part in something obviously barbaric and an absolute violation of animal rights. Personally I would strongly advise against all visits to anything described as a Tiger Sanctuary by Ozbus.
Back on the bus again, it was now nearly lunchtime and took a while to arrive at where we would have it. But once there, a little place on the side of a main road, the Thai people came up trumps again with some glorious food. Back on the bus (it seemed most of the day was actually spent on the bus) we were ferryed for a long time to our next destination, the birdge over the River Kwai. On our way there though, the group were starting to wonder how necesary our 3 tour guide ladies were. Only one it seemed was able to communicate with us and the other 2 simply chatted on their mobile phone and hogged the front seat. After much gossiping it was decided that the English speaking girl must be the official guide and the other 2 were her friends who were in it for the ride.
We eventually arrived at the Bridge over the River Kawai, weary from a long day allready. It was a nice bridge. Small with a train track on it. We got to walk some of it and I wondered if trains still used the line. Then we had to get into the side on little waiting platforms as a train came up and answered my question. And then it was time to leave again. The bridge visit sort of turned into a glorified toilet stop but it's one to cross off the list I suppose.
At 7.30pm Ozbus11 rolled back into Bangkok and I had my dinner and went promptly to bed. Exhausted and annoyed at having wasted my day and my money, my only solace was that there might be another episode of Home and Away on television. There wasn't and I had to make do with something on National Geographic.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Ozbus11 in Thailand - Part 1
On Day 54, Ozbus11 left our Calcutta *cough* 'hotel' at 7am, with none of us wishing to hang around. We drove on our bus around the city until we arrived at what I can only describe as a colonial railway station. Surely this wasn't the right place to get off bus? thought I. Surprise surprise, this was India's idea of an international airport; a dirty, smelly, looking disused building with people inside.
We had arrived well before check-in, at 10am, and so most of us tried to find breakfast. Not before too long check-in arrived, tags were put on bags and we borded a plane for Bangkok. As soon as the wheels of the aircraft left the Indian tarmac, a sweet sense of Euphoria swept through the Ozbus group like an electric current. We spent the flight like excitable kids as, at last, (though the feeling wasn't 100% shared throughout the group) we had been rescued from the nightmare that was India.
At 4.30pm local time we touched down, dis-embarked and entered a space-age like airport. I walked around in dis-belief as I could smell something vaguely familiar but not immidately identifyable. There was a brightness to the airport and finally I identified what I was smelling as I walked into halogen lit toilets with a cheerie attendent. IT WAS CLEAN! I was smelling CLEAN! If cleanliness had a smell, Bangkok airport sure had it. I mingled through our group sharing my discovery as other shared their own delightful wonderments.
The wonders continued when we were met by not one guide but 3 Thai ladies. They waited with us for our bus and we hapened to witness a famous Thai personality sign autographs and be whisked away by a smart looking campervan. Our bus turned up and it was the most colourful bus we'd seen so far with lush seating and a big TV that we found out one day actually worked. We arrived at our hotel and OMG - the place had an actual foyer, with computers available, hooked up to the internet. It had comfortable chairs, with not one but 2 eateries but the best was still to come.
I was sharing a room with Dee from Londahn and when we opened the door to our rooms we were greeted with the luxury of space, clean rooms and the best surprise - clean showers with complimentary shampoo and body wash. It was amazing. My favourite perk of the room was that the TV picked up Australian "best of" network. And I settled down to a treat of a Home and Away episode. It's the little things in life.
Everyone made full use of the hygenically white bathrooms and those that wanted to, met up later to go out and PARTY, Thailand style. This means walking down a street choc-full of bars and Thai restaurants where you see loads of tourists. I hadn't seen this many since Europe and it was a shock to the system but a nice one. A few of us found a nice little bar with a guy playing acoustic guitar covers of all the tourists' favourite hits. (Yes, he did play Oasis 'Wonderwall'). Unfortunately, becuase all these guys were Thai, there were some interesting pronunciations of lyrics.
Thailand is cheap - we all know that -except for one aspect of life: Alcoholic drinks. And when you want to party after a long spate of not being allowed to drink for religous reasons - you want to participate in a bit of a drinking sesh. Wallets must be prepared for the blow. Anyhow I can't exactly remember when I went home that night but the next morning I did manage to get up for breakfast at 9.30am. What a beautiful sight the Thai breakfast was. It had EVERYTHING. If it was almost imposible to eat anything in India - then Thailand sure was making up for it.
So I eat a delightful array of things and then went back up to my room and slept until about 1pm. Now, as I mentioned, I was sharing with Dee and at this point in the trip she had developed a firm reputation of being a terrible faffer. A rep. I thought, was unfairly given at that point in time. What the rest of Ozbus11 didn't know about me was that I was a secret faffer and notoirious for it in my own circle of friends. And so, due to this pairing, old habits started to emerge and there are large chunks marked in my diary where the activity written was 'poter' and 'faffed'. However it was a good pairing as the two of us ended up with the ultimate and best hotel room to hang out in.
I'm pretty sure by the evening of Day 55 our room was decorated with fairylights round the mirror, a blow up Giraffe named Henry and trinkets set upon the Television. Luckily we were scheduled to stay in Bangkok for a grand total of four days which in Ozbus terms is like renting an apartment. So the interior decoration was justified.
We had arrived well before check-in, at 10am, and so most of us tried to find breakfast. Not before too long check-in arrived, tags were put on bags and we borded a plane for Bangkok. As soon as the wheels of the aircraft left the Indian tarmac, a sweet sense of Euphoria swept through the Ozbus group like an electric current. We spent the flight like excitable kids as, at last, (though the feeling wasn't 100% shared throughout the group) we had been rescued from the nightmare that was India.
At 4.30pm local time we touched down, dis-embarked and entered a space-age like airport. I walked around in dis-belief as I could smell something vaguely familiar but not immidately identifyable. There was a brightness to the airport and finally I identified what I was smelling as I walked into halogen lit toilets with a cheerie attendent. IT WAS CLEAN! I was smelling CLEAN! If cleanliness had a smell, Bangkok airport sure had it. I mingled through our group sharing my discovery as other shared their own delightful wonderments.
The wonders continued when we were met by not one guide but 3 Thai ladies. They waited with us for our bus and we hapened to witness a famous Thai personality sign autographs and be whisked away by a smart looking campervan. Our bus turned up and it was the most colourful bus we'd seen so far with lush seating and a big TV that we found out one day actually worked. We arrived at our hotel and OMG - the place had an actual foyer, with computers available, hooked up to the internet. It had comfortable chairs, with not one but 2 eateries but the best was still to come.
I was sharing a room with Dee from Londahn and when we opened the door to our rooms we were greeted with the luxury of space, clean rooms and the best surprise - clean showers with complimentary shampoo and body wash. It was amazing. My favourite perk of the room was that the TV picked up Australian "best of" network. And I settled down to a treat of a Home and Away episode. It's the little things in life.
Everyone made full use of the hygenically white bathrooms and those that wanted to, met up later to go out and PARTY, Thailand style. This means walking down a street choc-full of bars and Thai restaurants where you see loads of tourists. I hadn't seen this many since Europe and it was a shock to the system but a nice one. A few of us found a nice little bar with a guy playing acoustic guitar covers of all the tourists' favourite hits. (Yes, he did play Oasis 'Wonderwall'). Unfortunately, becuase all these guys were Thai, there were some interesting pronunciations of lyrics.
Thailand is cheap - we all know that -except for one aspect of life: Alcoholic drinks. And when you want to party after a long spate of not being allowed to drink for religous reasons - you want to participate in a bit of a drinking sesh. Wallets must be prepared for the blow. Anyhow I can't exactly remember when I went home that night but the next morning I did manage to get up for breakfast at 9.30am. What a beautiful sight the Thai breakfast was. It had EVERYTHING. If it was almost imposible to eat anything in India - then Thailand sure was making up for it.
So I eat a delightful array of things and then went back up to my room and slept until about 1pm. Now, as I mentioned, I was sharing with Dee and at this point in the trip she had developed a firm reputation of being a terrible faffer. A rep. I thought, was unfairly given at that point in time. What the rest of Ozbus11 didn't know about me was that I was a secret faffer and notoirious for it in my own circle of friends. And so, due to this pairing, old habits started to emerge and there are large chunks marked in my diary where the activity written was 'poter' and 'faffed'. However it was a good pairing as the two of us ended up with the ultimate and best hotel room to hang out in.
I'm pretty sure by the evening of Day 55 our room was decorated with fairylights round the mirror, a blow up Giraffe named Henry and trinkets set upon the Television. Luckily we were scheduled to stay in Bangkok for a grand total of four days which in Ozbus terms is like renting an apartment. So the interior decoration was justified.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
