Juene Voyageur

Yesterday was not forgotten

2008-07-28T22:59:00.000+10:00

7 years ago yesterday my dad died. Just over 7 years ago I started posting on TT. 7 years ago all I wanted to do move here, it consumed me and got me through. To be honest, I never thought that I would actually do it.

Once he died I couldn't imagine being away from my mum on his birthday or the day he died (8 days apart). I always made a big deal of making sure that we did something for him to be remembered.

Yesterday (thousands of kms from my mum) I slept in, I had breakfast with 3 fantastic new friends, one of whom is going travelling round Europe for a couple of months and who I'll see in Budapest in 2 weeks time. Then I went and spent the day lying in Hyde Park with a book, dozing on and off. To finish the day, I caught up with some more friends, back to the park and had long lazy conversations about nothing in the sun.

I'm here, I'm doing it. It blows me away how much I've grown in the last 7 years, let alone 5 months. I've lit a candle in every city I've been to for my father because he is the reason that I'm travelling, he instilled me with this curiosity about everything from a young age.

I always worry about whether or not he would be proud of what I'm doing and yesterday he would have been.

That is all.

Paris, Paris, Paris

2008-07-21T20:56:00.001+10:00

Two dear Julia’s and one dear Julie have had me curious about Paris for the longest time and being a celebratory weekend could think of no better place to go.

I jumped on the Eurostar at St Pancras after a busy day on Friday. Relaxing beforehand with a cocktail at the Champagne Bar (how stunning is the terminal?!) while chatting with a friend from Aus. Details of the conversation need not be revealed however I’m guessing that she is blushing furiously while reading this.

We arrived at Gare du Nord just after 11pm and then followed the masses out of the station having no idea where I was going but figured that surely I’d land behind someone who knew where they were going. Ended up catching a cab from the station which was a bit surreal – I think the last cab I caught was in NYC before I left, just so I could say I’d been in New York cab (for all of 3 blocks and 20 minutes).

I was very proud of myself when I arrived at the hotel – it had the whole Amelie thing going on, beautiful garden out the back, wonky stairs, quaint nooks in platforms leading off the staircase, shutter/windows that opened onto a tiny street but were also double glazed. Perfect, haphazard little place that I just seem to have a knack finding. Maybe not the kind of place I could recommend work sell in Paris but hey, it was very Meredith. I wandered the streets for awhile, getting those shuddery giggles I get when I’m too carried away and then off to bed.

My weekend starts with gloomy, grey, overcast Paris and finishes with Meredith wind/sunburnt (I manage this everywhere I go).

The Louvre was stunning but how could it possibly not be? I was in within 5 minutes and spent a couple of hours wandering the Denon wing (one of three wings) and saw a smidgen of it. How people go and “see the Louvre” in a day is beyond me. You’d need several breaks, especially from the crowds (we all know that I’m not a crowd person). The ceilings in this place are amazing and chatting with one of the guard dudes turns out he had work at the Vatican museum before moving to the Louvre. Imagine being surrounded by such beautiful things all day, I wonder if it would affect their perception of them.

The Notre Dame was a challenge. I’ve taken to lighting a candle for Geoff in a church in every city I go as it’s his fault that I’m off traipsing the world (well, Europe at the very least) and could think of no better place to do so in Paris. I couldn’t get out of the place fast enough, I got my candles, wandered around, found my perfect spot and just sat and watched and listened and talked. Then it just all became a little too much and had to get out – I blame it on the incense :P

My third major stop of the weekend was of course the Old Lady herself – the Eiffel Tower. Now, you guys will laugh hearing how damn determined I was to get to the top, I was not leaving Paris without going to the top. Well, I left Paris without going to the top. I’m sure I’ve shared the story of me on the rollercoaster’s before so I don’t need to go back there but I must apologise to the girlfriend of the guy I grabbed. I really, really didn’t mean it and I’m sure the fact that I was shaking like a leaf and pale as a ghost must have given you an indication that I wasn’t trying to lure him away. I made it to the second level and had to move around holding onto everything. I’m sure the words “please don’t collapse, I’d rather be in a snake pit than here” gives some indication as to how bloody terrified I was!

Jack had a wonderful time though, especially at the Eiffel Tower. There was a little boy ahead of me in the line who squealed with delight the first time he heard him, was the funniest little thing. A lady in the Louvre also recognised him as a Tasmanian Devil (my proudest moment) and he had his photo take with a man in uniform (and with a gun bigger than in any of the US airports I’ve been to).

I wasn’t disappointed with Paris, not by a long shot but I didn’t leave thinking “wow, I never want to leave”. For the most part I wanted to be home, surrounded by things that I know and my friends. And much more of a desire to be in London that Hobart as much as I miss my beautiful little city.

And finally, my apologies for terrible spelling. Catching up with a mate last night makes my brain a bit slow to work today and spelling errors are the last of my problems!

Miss you all, not homesick but wishing you were here and sharing this with me xx

*photos to come when I've found my cable which could be absolutley anywhere.

Such a Meredith thing to do...

2008-07-03T22:12:00.000+10:00

I’m going to the Sziget festival in Budapest in August. It’s being held on an island on the Danube in the middle of the city which I think rocks, plus I’ve made a friend promise to swim in the Danube with me. Mainly I want to see if I have limbs when I get out.

So I’ve been procrastinating (no, really?) about flights, I’ve had my festival ticket for awhile. But I booked my flights today!

I’m flying into Bratislava for a couple of days before the festival, to Budapest for Sziget and then to Vienna to catch a flight home (saving me around £120!). Apparently I’m brave for doing it that way, but hey, I get to see so, so much more and I get a day in Vienna on the way home although I may not be 100% sober.

Enough about flights, the festival. We have The Killers, Sex Pistols, Kaiser Chiefs, REM, Alanis Morrisette, The Presidents of the USA. 7 days of camping with new friends, middle of summer, I’m so looking forward to it.

I know I’m slack not updating this thing, I’m having too much fun I suppose :P

Last weekend I saw The Police in Hyde Park, along with Starsailor and KT Tuntstal. It was unreal, Sting is in stunning form and it was a great concert. This weekend is Fatboy Slim and Sam Sparro in Hyde Park again with a mate. London is the perfect place for a concert junkie!

It's me, again, somewhere.

2008-05-23T02:59:00.000+10:00

It seems as though I have been a bad daughter and friend :P With working and pub (which doesn’t totally seem like working until the following morning and I wake up knackered) I just haven’t been inclined with keeping this thing updated. Although I have been following a couple of friends blogs and thinking “Oh, I must do that” but I just don’t. And Jules gave me a kick in arse this morning so here I go.

Last night was the Champions League final in Moscow. I didn’t know this until about mid afternoon and was so glad that I wasn’t working in the pub. Football nights are usually nuts and the games that I’ve seen so far just haven’t been all the enthralling. Until last night.

I popped into the pub on the way home to get my payslip and some food. I could hardly make it through the door! Made my way to the bar and then behind the bar to help the girls clear away all the stuff and then ended up staying. Not that I did a lot of work last night, I ended up sitting with some guys I knew and having a few drinks. I jumped on the Chelsea bandwagon and you guys know what I’m like with bandwagons. There were football facts flying left right and centre and had me thinking “why can’t this be V8s, I know everything about that!”. That said I learnt a lot last night.

It was a good game but went into extra time and penalties which I just cannot handle. No matter what the game is, I cannot handle penalties and always end up panicking. It reminds me of the Mens Hockey gold medal match at the 2000 games and my heart breaking for Brett Livermore when he missed the stroke. Even now the memory of that is gut wrenching. Yes, I’m a pathetic Australian sports addict who just takes it all too seriously.

This weekend is the second May long weekend and I’m so looking forward to it. Not much planned, going out with some friends Friday night, probably gym on Saturday, spa on Sunday which I’m soooooooo looking forward to. Reminisce of my Sundays in Hobart going to the Savoy, with Floss on occasion, and then just chilling out for the rest of the day. I may partake in something touristy, I haven’t taken Jack out for a whirl for awhile however he is keeping Antoinette’s desk happy at the moment. Just wait until he’s let lose on the pigeons outside – actually, no. Going to jail for pigeon slaughter would revoke his visa and I kinda like having him around J

I’ve booked more of my 2p Ryanair flights – this time to Ireland (Shannon anyway) to go drinking with Pattie, a girl who I’ve been working at the pub with and has been entertaining me on my days off. She’s running away to Ireland, decided that London isn’t for her and I will miss her dearly.

Life here is still good. Am still in the hostel, but it’s getting harder as people move on. Not that I want to come home just yet, but it would be nice to go home for a weekend, have dinner with Tobe and Bob, wander around the markets, drinking with the girls, coffee with John and Greta. I have a touch of home next week when some friends arrive before their grand tour of Scandanavia. It will be lovely to see them again.

I’m off into London again, well actually Camden but hey, same difference right? Miss you guys, will talk to most of you soon. I have more photos I have to load, funny Camden folk, random dogs, my tree in Kensington Gardens (seriously, it’s a Meredith tree!!).

xx

Has it really only been 6 weeks?

2008-04-25T00:36:00.002+10:00

It feels like I've been here a lifetime.

Proper job is a blast and I feel bad that I don't have more work to do. The pub is fantastic

Today I booked trips for the May bank holiday weekends - a weekend in Oxford and one in Cardiff. £4.50 return. Yes, that's what I thought.

I have bought the cutest pair of black ballet flats with a green bow for £5.

Bit sad this weekend as first London friend is going home. I'm a little bit jealous, I'd love to have a weekend at home and then be back here but a tad far to fly for a weekend! Drinkies this weekend and then she's off early next week.

Not really that much gossip, haven't really been in the mood to write much. Still missing you guys and hope you're well xx

ANZAC Day from afar

2008-04-25T00:30:00.003+10:00

Tomorrow morning I'm up at 4am and heading to the pub. That's a good way to start ANZAC day right?!

Am going to the ANZAC Day dawn service at the NZ War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner. I'm guessing that it will be a lot bigger than my usual dawn service at Hobart's cenotaph with a couple hundred people and whalers. Maybe it will be smaller, who knows, I will report back.

Sorting out the "finer details" this afternoon I was asked "Will you have a couple of beers after?" ANZAC Day to my horror (:P) isn't a public holiday here so I can't curl up in bed for the rest of the day. So tomorrow early, early morning will be spent with walking through London in the dark, dawn service, couple of beers and then to work.

Oh, did I mention I'm working tomorrow night?! It's going to be a looooooooooong day!

Warning Ladies and Gents: I'm on a roll!

2008-03-26T07:21:00.002+11:00

Last week I was on the tube home when a guy jumped on who I knew. I told myself off because I'd been in London 4 days and didn't know anyone! So I watched him awhile and tried to figure out who he was.

He was an ex. He was exactly an ex. Same build, same height, same receding patches, same hands, same pot belly, same eye colour, same bloody freckle above his collar bone. It was very strange. My delightful mother suggested, when recounting this story a couple of days later, that I lean over and whisper "I know a whole lot about you" but agreed that it wouldn't have been a good idea when I mentioned he was wearing a wedding ring!

This has been happening a lot over here and I'm starting to find it strange. There have been 5 people that I've seen that have English twins. It is the strangest, strangest thing. It's not like you see someone and see a couple of similarities, these are a whole lot of similarities that make you stop and think hold on.

Like a conversation I got into with a couple because I stopped the lady because she was the spitting image of a friend. No, she'd never been to Australia but her husband had. Who went on the tell me that he'd been in Royal Hobart Hospital with a hernia in the late 70's. End of his hippie days he said!

The things you learn!

Grumble, grumble, grumble

2008-03-26T07:04:00.002+11:00

If you do not wish to read a ranty post, click the little X now.

I have a strange English friend who frequently rants about the NHS (and who is now recognising who I'm talking of and grinning!). I've always just put this down to the English pastime of complaining and didn't think much more of it, other than sympathise profusely (have I redeemed myself?).

Today, I agree with him wholeheartedly. Not about the NHS, but about Jobcentres and whichever bloody department runs them.

I had my appointment today for my National Insurance number. Getting the damn appointment was hard enough and this reminds me that I haven't written my complaint about that company yet. Must do that. I'll save ranting about that because you've all heard me bitch about them. But finally, 25th March rolls around and I had my appointment. I arranged the time off with work, not a problem and set off to battle the tube and track closures to get there.

To discover that they've sent me to a centrelink office in bloody Gagebrook. Usually I like getting out of the city centre for these things, it gives me a better idea about the layout of the city etc. But no, this was not fun. You read things about the LA teen gangs making their move to London and this is obviously where they're based. What a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I rock up for my appointment, early, fill out a form and wait. Am promptly taken with several others to another part of the building to wait some more. A guy comes through to do my interview and he loves Australians. All my paperwork was in order - thank god! I'd been worrying about it but it's not as big a deal as it sounded - and we make conversation about tassie devils (and I wish I'd taken Jack!), cane toads, rabbits (which were introduced into Australia by a guy who farmed in OUSE!! What are the chances!). I discover this because he'd seen Rabbit Proof Fence recently and wanted to talk about that. Mid-interview he jumps online, opens up wikipedia and shows me cane toads and about the rabbits, and then I got all excited about Thomas whoever farming near Ouse (I grew up near there and went to school there!!!) but he didn't seem to care, it wasn't part of his conversation! Finally it was all done and was told to sit on the couches again and wait for my passport. Any questions? How long will my passport be? 20mins. Good thinks I, as I have not having my passport either in my sight or with me.

1 hour and 30 mins later I get my passport.

I've come to the conclusion recently, after conversations and emails with my mother about certain things, that I get my rage levels from her, not my father as I'd previously thought. My folks had the odd row growing up as they all do and dad was always the vocal one, Tobe always quiet. In recent times I've seen her come home from school, the supermarket, friends houses where something has happened and she has raged internally about it. I do exactly the same thing (what do I say here? OMG I'm turning into my mother!). 30 mins past and I was getting kinda cranky, I wanted to get back to work. I asked the centre workers as they went backwards and forwards to be told that they were processing it, it wouldn't be long. People came and went. People who arrived AFTER I'd been waiting for said blue book for 30mins came and went. I had steam coming out of my ears.

I'm never, ever one for public confrontation, hell ANY kind of confrontation except when I'm bored (and I wasn't really in the mood), but I just wanted to strangle someone, anyone. My passport finally arrived, I snatched it and stormed off. In hindsight I feel kinda bad for not saying thank you but I'm sure I'll get over it. Didn't think until I was outside to check if it was actually MINE but it was, all good.

I left work at 12.40pm. I arrived back at work at 4.20pm. I honestly didn't think I'd make it back alive. People on the bus were pissing me off, tourists were pissing me off (a common rant these days, until reminded yesterday "Yes, but you're a tourist as well!" thanks!), the bus kept stopping at stops (the tube line I needed was too risky with closures) and I was just a cranky bum. I don't think I've ever felt so relieved to get into work, safe, cosy and familiar and to bag out English bureaucrats with proper English people.

So Toby, you'll be pleased to know that there is a Mini-Tobe toddling around London :P

Day in the life of...

2008-03-26T06:48:00.002+11:00

7-8am: Waking, shower, out the door. Walk to the tube past (sometimes through depending how much time I have) Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Onto the Central Line at Queensway and I'm 5 stops to Holborn where I'm working just off the Strand. Breakfast is either coffee or stopping at Tesco's for a banana at the moment. I'm still stuck in my ways of rushing around at the last minute in the mornings!

9.15am: Start work. Am working for the Housing Ombudsman (just til the end of this week, see below re cool job!) and assisting with archiving, filing and their office move. The people there are great, large office but it's been very cool.

5.15pm: Finish work, woohoo! Walk to tube and I've developed a habit of arriving on the platform about 5 seconds before the doors close. The best thing about this is that I can get right on the edge of the train at Holborn and then the platforms change to the otherside of the train once we hit Tottenham Court Road, so no people squeezing past and it's usually a comfortable trip. At Queensway, your options are either megalift or stairs (123 of them. No, I didn't count, there's a sign :P). At the end of the day, I always choose the megalift and you get more crammed in there than you do on the tube. This is the one thing I do not like. Pick up the free papers on the way out if I haven't already to get my daily gossip.

6-6.30pm: Am usually home by about now and I dump my stuff and head out again. Usually to Tesco's or M&S (I found one nearby!!!!) for a frozen meal of sorts. The kitchen here is revolting, no fridge (good move) and you guys know how much I spread out in kitchens. I have a craving for a lasagne and movie day, but I'll get myself sorted soon.

7-10pm: Once I'm home and fed, I potter round for the rest of the evening, chat with people round the hostel, respond to fan mail, read the freebies, whatever book I'm reading at the time (currently A Million Little Pieces, James Frey, highly recommended), have a shower and head to bed.

I'm still getting a kick of going past places like Tottenham Court Road, Fleet Street, the Strand, Oxford Circus. I feel bad sometimes that I'm not playing tourist to tell you guys all these awesome stories, but life is good at the moment.

Pottered around through the city yesterday, from Tower Bridge up through Aldwych - very strange being at work on the weekend, specially public holiday, it was a ghost town - and through the West End. Found Walkabout (chain of Aussie pubs) to see if they had Cascade - they didn't - and feel safe in knowing that there is somewhere for me to play bogan and watch the footy and cars. Watched a street performer in Covent Garden, missed the bloody pillow fight (some world record attempt that I found out about today!) and got caught in a snow "storm" down near Big Ben. Camera battery is dead so there is no proof that I was actually there so I could be making it all up!

I'm in dire need of a manicure again - who would think that you'd hear me say that?! - they're getting much longer and I've finally stopped knawing on my last thumb. Toby would be so proud of me! Will do that on Sunday to celebrate my new job (I've got to stop celebrating my new job!!!!).

2008-03-23T22:19:00.002+11:00

Ok, for the beginners I'll explain Mind the Gap Please. It is repeated over and over and over when the tube stops. I've said on many occassion that if I ever track down the person who recorded that, I'll be more popular than the Queen. It is so bloody annoying.

I've been in London for 2 weeks now (well, 2 weeks tomorrow).

The first couple of days competely sucked. The first time I'd checked my bag and it decided it wanted to stay in Germany. There were lovely storms in England, so I had my flight cancelled twice and delayed three times. And then I had a meeting with a recruiter the following day, so I got to spend my first day in London running around finding a suit, pretty shoes, getting my phone to work, trying to find a charger for my phone. It was a very hectic day.

Basically threw myself into finding work, I was hassling every recruiter I could find, sending my resume in 6 million directions. It was hectic, tiring but it paid off. I had temp work within 4 days and have just been offered a permanent gig with a luxury travel agency so I'm literally over the moon. In Camden of all places. Every know and then I'll remember and go back to being mega excited but calm myself down again. I haven't had the contract emailed yet so am not letting myself go crazy until I get that. You guys know how impatient I am, why does this have to happen over Easter!

I'm in love with Marks&Spencers. In love I tell you. I'd marry the joint if I could. You will understand why shortly. They have gooey easter eggs that shit all over Cadburys. I only discovered them yesterday which is a good thing, but if I can find any tomorrow keep an eye out in the post as you may be one of the lucky ones to receive one! Also sweet potato chips, yum. There isn't one near me which is good but there is one near work which is quite dangerous.

Easter has been quite, as expected. Easter eggs in Hyde Park, walks in Kensington Gardens, all the shops around here open Good Friday which was very strange. Went to see Horton Hears a Who! which was very, very funny. Jumped on the bus out to Camden yesterday to check out where the office is and have a wander around. Got caught in a snow/hail storm which was interesting and probably contributes to my lovely cold (not quite Man Flu yet!).

And the box FINALLY arrived! I now have clothes from home that I haven't worn for 2 months, I have vegemite (drool), my journal, my pretty shoes, a photo of a beautiful babby boy, another jolly stuffed toy(!!!), and some photos and bits and pieces. Although I'm accumulating stuff at an incredible rate, it's unreal.

Life is good here, I can't believe I put it off for so bloody long. Thank you for all your thoughts and wishes :)

M xx

London Still

2008-03-17T06:07:00.002+11:00

Or should the be 'Mind the Gap Please'. Grumble grumble.

So yes, I'm in London, finally. And yes, it's winter daily!

Spent today toddling around the Thames avoiding puddles with a girl from home which was good fun. We ended up at the Tower Bridge and had a wander around that.

It's been my first day playing tourist since Monday as I've really just been hassling recruitment agencies and trying to get as many appointments out of the way as possible. I have 3 days work Mon-Wed and some more interviews at the end of the week.

Will update more later xx

So much for a bag hiatus

2008-03-09T06:51:00.002+11:00

I now have 2 new ones. The obligatory Prada from Rome and a red and black canvas one from Barcelona. Some of you might know my favourite bag of all time, my pink and white striped bargain from Big W years ago. It turned into the best but was ruined when it rained and the pink bleed into the white. I´ve been looking for something like it for ages but could never find that perfect one.

I did tonight :) Went for a walk along La Rambla, ice cream in hand. Followed along on a protest\rally for world womens day and then starting wandering along alleys (with hundreds of other people, don´t worry Tobe!).

Came across a small market I'd found yesterday morning and just had another look through. There was a stall that hadn´t been there yesterday and of course this was where the delightful\offending bag was found. I was umming and ahhing as I do so well, I'm fast running out of room in my pack. Ducked round the corner to a bar for a mojito - because you really need a clear head for these kinds of decisions! - keeping in mind that I had 20 minutes for my decision. Even though it had been made before I'd handed it back and left.

Went back and now I have it!! Photos will follow (eventually) of new bag, the Senegalese Prada bag and the new gloves.

Hope you're all well xx

I kissed David Beckham yesterday.

2008-03-06T02:05:00.002+11:00

Yep, what a way to mark a holiday in Rome. I reckon I should sell my story to the tabloids once I get to London and make enough to come back here and live on tomatoes and mozarella.

Ok, so maybe David was looking a tad eastern European and I don't think his Italian is that great. Maybe it wasn't even David Beckham at all (I'll be truly shattered if it wasn't!)

Walking through Piazza Navona yesterday had a guy come up to me asking to put string round my finger. I'd had touts in my face all day (the downside of the lovely Fontana di Trevi and Spanish Steps) and I'd said no to all of them. By now, I was pissed off so kept doing my saying No firmly routine and kept moving. But he followed me didn't he, halfway down the piazza. I snapped, spung round and told him to bugger off. Which he gracefully did, lovely chap.

Later in day I got lost so to get my bearings headed back to Piazza Navona so I at least knew where I was. Spotted the annoying dude didn't I? As soon as I thought shit and ducked for covered in the middle of a tour group, he'd spotted me and came over, arms opening, apologising. From here on, it turned into a bit of a laugh. I started taking the piss out of him for being brave enough for annoying me again and didn't he realise that he'd ruined a precious day out of my holiday? So he laughed and wanted to show me the string thing for free, his way of making it up to me. So I know have a friendship style bracelet in Italian colours.

We chatted for a bit, and he asked again for a kiss on the cheek. I got one, he got one, well, he was supposed to get one until the bugger turned and caught my lips. Hey, even if he really wasn't Beckham, who can go to Rome and not feel bad about a kiss with a good looking Italian dude! He made me promise to go back down for dinner but funnily enough I didn't take him up on it.

Finished the day with getting my gloves! I'm the proud new owner of pink Italiand leather, cashmere lined gloves. They are divine and I keep trying them on and grinning like an idiot!

Today was spent at the Vatican which it just incredible. Started with the papal audience which was an experience. More like being at a football game than in a church (the church!). He did his thing for about 10 minutes and then took me an hour to get out. And I swore at a little kid. I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life.

Then the Vatican museum where they let me through as a student. And no, I didn't cheat the Vatican. I specifically told them that I wasn't a student, but they put me through as one. Score! It is massive, absolutely huge. Luckily because it's not high tourist season there weren't many people there. Yeah right, at any given time I had around 50 people around me. Once we hit the Sistene Chapel, I couldn't move. Unfortunately no photo's of Jack and Michelangelo, no photography allowed in there.

I have put some pics up, but every net place I find want to charge me around 10 euro to upload them. I'll sort them out eventually, but this is a start. They're up on facebook, links below if they work bcause I can never get links to work.

San Francisco - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28737&id=651260684

New York - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28735&id=651260684

Frankfurt - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28737&id=651260684

Off to Barcelona tomorrow and then London on Monday (should things all work out, if not thn Wednesday).

M xx

Crisis averted

2008-03-01T12:26:00.002+11:00

My humble apologies to the sweet little Japanese girl whom I've been calling horrible, horrible names. Also to God for calling him a bastard.

I found the sunnies.

In other news, I have an audience with the Pope on Wednesday. I'm already practising not swearing, must be wholesome on Wednesday.

A little overdue!

2008-02-29T02:55:00.002+11:00

Wow, I haven't done this in a while!

Am in Frankfurt now (with a bloody keyboard that doesn't like it's space bar being used) and it's so pretty.Flying out to Rome on Saturday, have found my bus and all- I'm so organised :P

Just briefly:
*Ran intoa girl from home whom I've always known but have never really had much to do with. Get back to the hostel one day and who is sitting on my bed?! Was very surreal, but lovely catching up. She has exciting things ahead of her and I can't wait to hear how they pan out.

*Flight out of JFK was delayed 2 hours, then we sat on the tarmac for an hour because we'd missed our take off spot(someone told me, I was fast asleep as soon as I got to my seat!)

* The Natural History Museum in New York is amazing. Granted, I kept waiting for the Indians to start fighting the cowboys but it was very cool. Go there if you can.

* Frankfurt is so, so, so pretty. And cute - stamp vending machines anyone?! My hostel is on the bank of the Main river,an easy walk to the main part of the city. Very surreal watching barges travelling under bridges hundreds of year sold.

* My sunnies have been stolen (she says 99% sure,I know exactly where I left them last and they aren't anywhere I would have put them but will look again). These are the sunnies bought in '00 with Toby when we went to the Olympics. They don't even make these kind of minutes anymore so I'm more than slightly pissed off(although hard to stay angry for long when this place is so gorgeous).

That's enough from me today, this has taken me 40 minutes to write and the space bar is driving me nuts!

Just quickly

2008-02-13T14:39:00.002+11:00

Lots and lots of snow today. Stepped out this morning and there were very light flakes which had me jumping around like a little girl. They got heavier and when I emerged from lunch heavy, heavy snow which was lots of fun. No jumping this time though otherwise I would have had a broken neck!

Also managed tickets to the Late Show which was lots of fun. Main guest was Evangeline Lilly from LOST and can't remember the others. Ended up having dinner with a flight attendant with Emirates so I now have free accommodation in Dubai! (Thanks Julz for the inside info!!)

Love to all of you xx

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

2008-02-12T15:56:00.000+11:00

I just saw the Spice Girls :) I feel like I'm back in high school and need to have the Clare's etc aroudn me! They were very, very cool. Huge range of ages there, lots of blokes (gay and straight) and screaming girls. No, of course I wasn't one of them!

When I was little and we lived on the farm, mum and I would get up early and go walk the dogs. During winter when it had snowed there was a cool (ok, bloody cold) chill to the air, it was still and you were chilled to the bone. When I got out of JFK it was like one of those mornings all over again, except without snow, mum, the dogs and my blue parachute jacket that I'd wear (remember that?). Ouch! Took me forever to find a shuttle into the city and finally found one which was the same company I'd used in SF. Except he was going to New Jersey. "But I can drop you of on the way back to the airport if you like". No problems. I left the airport just after 10.30, got to my hostel at 1am. I had visions of Law and Order SVU running through my head, regretting that I hadn't told the folks how I wanted my funeral to be. Who says I overreact?!?!

SF was great, I love that city. Have found the perfect house for me and you're all welcome to visit however I don't think my mother will ever leave it :P It's a Victorian (from what you can tell) covered with ivy that runs into the window sills. And it's on a cable car line. Perfect. Anyone like to lend me around 1.5 mil? Much appreciated.

The last couple of days were hectic and touristy. Me? Leave things to the last minute? Never!

Thursday I spent down around Fishermans Wharf as I had my Alcatraz tour that night so I'd planned to spend the arvo there, have a nice lunnier (opposite to brunch) and catch up on some writing. But not to be. I found a guy who ran fishing tours when the salmon were running but when they were did harbour tours to bring the money in. $10 for 1 hour out under the bridge and around Alcatraz. Why not, it looked stable, the guy was a b it of a larrikin but there were plenty of other people so thought it couldn't be too bad. It was the best $10 I spent in SF. It was freezing once we got away from the shore so everyone went inside which left the whole bay to me and 3 other people. Was amazing to go under that bridge, it's pretty impressive. Moreso I'd say that Sydney. The orange is actually a primer, they were going to paint it silver but the city liked it so it stayed. 30 people have full time jobs painting/priming it and takes 7 years to get from one end to the other.

Alcatraz was amazing but how could it not be. Ended up running into a family from Perth while waiting and kept bumping into them on the way around, nice to have a familiar face every now and then. Incredible views of the bridge and city at dusk onto sunset, so beautiful. The pictures don't look so great, but will eventually get round to putting some up, by the end of the week promise. They had an audio tour included in the price which I wasn't too keen on but they lined us all up and gave them to us. Wow. I have a short attention span, I don't like things like that. It was very, very, very cool. They had all the sound affects, made us stand in certain positions while describing what happened when, it was great. I would love to go back though, we were allowed 3 hours there and there is so much more to see and that lighthouse is so gorgeous.

Friday I did a super city tour, the morning taking me out to Muir Woods. Largest redwoods in the states and last grove like that. They make excellent building material so when they had to rebuild after the earthquake and fires, it was done with redwoods. Except a conservationist had bought 600 acres to save it. Legal action was taken so they could use it but Teddy Roosevelt ended up declaring the remaining part a National Monument so it couldn't be touched. And good on him. It is so serene and the air is so pure. They had trails through the rest of the park that I'd love to go back and do - but the coyotes worry me a bit.

The afternoon was spent running around the city, checking out landmarks and bits and pieces that I'd either missed or not had the inclination to get to by myself. It was good, walked part of the bridge, just out to the water but my heights thing and the rumble of the traffic sent me back. Ended the day back at fishermans wharf with the most incredible hot fudge sunday ever and watching the sun go down around Alcatraz.

Saturday night I went out with some of the TT girls which was good fun. I have connections for margaritas in DC should I make it that far and ended up with a hangover Sunday morning. Was a great night, excellent company, margarita's way way way better than Taco's would ever do and some very strange tasting midori. Oh, and I'm 29 btw.

Which puts my in New York today. Today I jumped on and off the Subway, just looking around but not really for anything in particular. Checked out another couple of youth hostels, some are as dodgy as this, others are slightly better but astronimical for a youth hostel and being so far out of the side (Upper upper west side, so yeah close, but compared to the others it's ridiculous!). Will stay here another couple of days till I head to Boston which I'm thinking will be Thursday.

Tomorrow I'm planning on going ice skating, hot dog through Time Square in the evening, might warm up in Borders for a bit. They had Westminster Dog Show today (SATC anyone?) so thought I might check that out. Bleacher seats right up the top $40. For someone who spent so much of her formative years in dog shows I couldn't even stomach repeating that! But I was very pleased to see that a Clumber won best in show in 96, more a Bruisyard than an Irving which I liked :P There were dogs trotting around Madison Square Gardens, in and out most of the day.

Pizza for breakfast today as well, they are HUGE! Sitting in the window watching the world go past, saw two people with what looked like a bunch of fox pelts, easily a hundred of them. Just seemed a tad strange to me.

Bed time for me, Aus to US I was fine with the time change, but I'm now 3 hours further ahead in NY and it's really thrown me.

Miss you guys, hope you're well, talk soon xxxxx

2008-02-06T15:24:00.000+11:00

Apologise in advance for spelling mistakes, fingers are freezing and can't be bothered correcting them should they appear!

Has been an interesting couple of days. Got food poisoning from hell Sunday night which was a lot of fun. Did I get sick in Thailand? No. San Francisco? Hell yeah. So not much has been done since then, finally got rid of my body aches so I can throw punches at the junkies around here (joking).

Spent Sunday at Fishermans Wharf, first glimpse of golden gate bridge and Alcatraz. Have been running wild on the cable cars, swinging from the sides is so Sleepless in Seattle and You Have Mail even though they have nothing to do with the movies!

Popped into Tiffany's today. OMG. Ok, I've never been the most girliest of girls but I defy anyone (man or woman) to go into Tiffany's and not be overwhelmed. Wow, wow, wow. Even the security guard was trying to talk me into buying something - while looking at a bracelet worth $15,425 - his reasoning was that I needed something to remember my holiday with! I think I can do it a tad cheaper than that buddy!

Dinner in Oakland with some friends last night which was lovely and am seeing them again on Saturday before I head off.

It's such an easy city to navigate, BART is awesome, I think I've covered the cable cars and MUNI will go anywhere the other 2 don't, it's great.

Sorry for the lack of detail, but my fingers are soooooooo cold I'm not that enthusiastic but didn't want you thinking I'd forgotten about you! Will put some photos up soon, am heading to the zoo tomorrow to meet the relatives xx

26 hours later...

2008-02-03T09:41:00.000+11:00

Well, I made it in one piece. Late, but that didn't matter seeing as though I wasn't getting on the connecting flight to Chicago unlike the 50 million people next to me! I do believe they ended up holding the plane, but like you care :P

So I'm in San Francisco and I'm not even tired. Granted I'm getting a little sleepy but it's one of those I know I'm going to sleep well tonight sleepy feelings (not a fan for travelling longer than 24 hours, might just stay in England that 18 hour flight to Bangkok is going to make me jump out of the plane). It's raining and cold, not icy cold but the cold that I wanted, to me this is perfect weather.

After chatting with a lady in my bus who was born and raised in SF but now lives in Sydney she gave me lots of good pointers - especially for Boston and Washington and a couple nice bars here which I must check out. Dropped off at the hostel which is lovely (I'll be digressing the entire way through this so bear with me but what is with $1 bills? Weird.) but in a dodgy area, think Redfern. The locals are most complimentary of my arse so maybe I picked well?

Thoughts so far because composing complete paragraphs is just too difficult at the moment:

I like what I see here so far, stopped on my wander for a chai latte and bagel and cream cheese (he he!) and they're massive. People really aren't joking when they say about portion sizes being huge here, I'm currently chugging my way through my "small" drink. Next time you wander past an Australian Starbucks check out their largest take away size and that is comparable.
I've had 5 "Hey giiiiiiiiirrrrrrl", "Hey sweetheart, how u doing" and "How u doing"s so far. I've been in downtown SF for 2 hours :P Must keep my ego under control or I won't fit on the flight to New York
I've found Bloomingdales, Armani, Fendi, Bally, Gap and others that my brain can't recall at the moment. Also fell in love with a Bally bag at Sydney duty free - $1296 and I still can't stop thinking about it. The really bloody scary thing is that I considered it for a full minute before slapping myself.
If you desperately want to be a flight attendant but have the personality of a wet tissue then you must apply with United. I don't think I got one smile out of them the whole time, even when I asked for vodka with breakfast (and I was joking!). Also they were old (old for flight attendants, plus 40 and mostly men looking like they've come from the marines).
US customs and immigration was a breeze. I got the whole "Welcome to America" which made me giggle and it hurt to not be able to take a picture in front of the "Welcome to San Francisco" sign. Why? Because just as I thought about doing it a young Asian couple were pulled up by the security dudes and given the third degree about it.
It frustrates me that I cannot put a gap between each dot point.
BOB: I should not have been joking about looking the wrong way for traffic. Have stepped out onto the road a couple of times before actually thinking about what I'm doing, thankfully no cars around but gees! Now I'm trying to get myself into a habit of only walking when the white (yes white man, no green man, and they flashing red man gives you a count down of how many seconds you have to cross!) man is up (preferable) or to look 4 directions before deciding to cross. Or just follow someone looking like a local (they're the ones wearing designer gumboots).

That's all I can remember at the moment. I'm off for more of a wander before settling into a food place somewhere and writing and writing and catching a cab back to the hostel for a hot, hot, hot shower and a snooze. NO sleep before 9pm!

I'm sorry, but I have to say it again - $1 bills?

Talk soon, hope you're all well xx

Last

2008-02-01T13:29:00.000+11:00

As I'm counting down my last minutes at work (yes, I really am that pathetic!) and sniffing the wonderful flowers that the people at uni gave me I'm starting to get butterflies. I've been boring people about this trip for months and it's finally around the corner.

I'm ordering the shampoo/laundry soap sheets that I've bored Celeste with so I will have a nice little Xmas present waiting for me in San Francisco. Am still tossing up whether the see the Foo Fighters on Saturday night! There are still tickets available but depends on how knackered I'll be.

Today is the last day of work, last friday in Hobart for a long time, last time I'll see John and Greta before October, last meal out, last night with my teddy (yes, I'm 23 and I still adore my teddy bear!), last walk home.

It's all beginning tomorrow! Thanks to you know who for your wonderful friendship over the last couple of months. I miss you guys like crazy already and am so looking forward to a new life with you guys (hell, maybe we should just get married!!!). Keep Irish warm for me, I will be back!

Singles

2008-01-24T13:06:00.000+11:00

Now I'm into single days, it's starting to feel really, really weird. Am thinking things like "This time in a fortnight I'll be in San Francisco" or "This time in 3 weeks I will have seen the Spice Girls".

What I'm looking forward to:
Sleeping in - although what's the bet that now I will actually be allowed to sleep in, I won't be able to and will be driving myself nuts at 6am!
Lazy days, just wandering and pottering and doing not much
Having myself organised daily and knowing where all my stuff is
American accents
Writing more, well actually writing full stop
Drinking even less
Meeting up with friends
Meeting new random people

I'm basically packed i.e not all in the bag yet, but know what I'm taking and it will be easy enough to throw everything together on Thursday and then spend Friday panicking about what I haven't taken with me. I've decided to stick with carry on only, and am shipping a box of interview clothes to meet me in London. 6 weeks of 2 bags will drive me mental and a mental Meredith is not a happy sight.

It's strange not having anything to do. Previous trips I've read up on everything I can find; packed and repacked til it's perfect; spent hours googling things; testing gadgets, toiletries, camera settings; comparing accommodation. This time I've hardly done any of this. I booked my domestic Aus and US flights earlier this week, I've got a couple of days of accommodation booked here and there. Am very relaxed about it and still not sure whether it's a good thing or not! Cracked the journal out a couple of days ago and wrote down addresses, phone numbers, websites I might need while I'm away and Toby finally seemed pleased that I was doing something towards the trip! I feel more content and ready to just go with the flow this time round.

5 days left of work and I'm jumping on a big bird again.

Here I go again

2008-01-23T16:57:00.000+11:00

F**king Expedia.

Tried booking with them yesterday, kept coming up saying that it wouldn't accept my card. So I tried again. Twice. Then called their customer service people, they wouldn't accept it.

No problems, I found someone who would.

Except today, f**cking Expedia have now gone and charged my credit card for the 4 times I tried to book it.

The lovely lady (grumble grumble) has now reversed it but I'm not a fan of getting a call from my bank saying that there have been a number of unauthorised transactions on your account.

11 days to go...

2008-01-22T11:27:00.000+11:00

What have I done so far:
Booked international flights
Booked some accommodation in San Fransisco and New York
Sent off my paperwork for bank account and insurance number
Booked domestic Aus flight
Booked domestic US flight (what a bloody drama that was!)
I've only repacked twice (Proud of me Trisha!?)

What I still need to do:
Work on Australia day public holiday so I get loads more cash
Train new person replacing me in one day
Get all excited about seeing the Spice Girls!
Rearrange my Good Morning America ticket
See if I can get tickets to the Late Show
Ditto Spamalot
Find my umbrella
Take pack to chemist and get it weighed
Get yummy corn things for my flight
Clean out my room so it's not a tip for Mum and Bob

Things I've learnt:
Book through Travelocity not Expedia!! Even the Australian arm of Expedia is hopeless.

The time is ticking away. As I woke up this morning (read: slept through alarm again) I had a slight moment of panic after thinking mid stretch "As of 2nd February, I can sleep in!". The moment of panic was "Shit, what if I miss my 7am flight!". I know I won't, I know from experience that if I have something that I'm looking forward to I sleep really lightly that night and am awake and ready to go about 10 mins before my alarm is due to go off. I'm more worried about getting Toby out the door at 5.45 (thank you for taking me to the airport!).

Everything will go smoothly. Even if it doesn't it just adds to the story. I'll be on holiday, I refuse to get pissed off when I should be enjoying myself. But fingers crossed that they over book the flight and I get bumped, preferably into first class on the next flight. See, it's in writing now, so that when I'm screaming blue murder about having had to sleep in a dingy room for 2 days because I volunteered to be bumped you can all say "I told you so"! I'm so generous to you all :P

Last weekend in Aus for awhile. Australia day weekend - how appropriate. Drinking, golfing, lasrer tagging, gossiping and a Sunday morning Maccas run with the girlywinks. I'm going to miss my girls dreadfully when I'm away, I know I'll meet awesome people along the way, although I doubt they will have the song writing abilities of my girls :P

Woohoo!

2007-12-13T14:50:00.000+11:00

I received an email yesterday with the following:

"Your application has been approved and the visa has been issued"

Very exciting! Am yet to receive my passport, but hopefully it will be back with me this week or early next. I'm not a fan of not having it with me.

So yesterday and today has been spent cruising about www.gumtree.com and www.easyroommate.com having a look at flats, areas, prices etc. There have been emails backwards and forwards with a couple of places/people who look promising so hopefully things will work out there.

Also received my paperwork today to start sorting out a bank account and national insurance number. Will have those off as soon as I get my little blue book back so hurry up Air Express!

It's all starting to feel real and I'm very, very excited!!

56 days to go...

2007-12-07T12:49:00.000+11:00

And what have I done? Not much.

Done:
Booked plane tickets

Still to do:
Get visa + passport back from consulate
Book domestic US flight
Book couple of nights in San Fran
Book domestic Aus flight
Book night in hotel prior to flying out
Arrange piss up in Sydney with awesome TTers
Figure out clothes

To be continued...

New Airfares

2007-10-18T13:04:00.000+11:00

Now I haven't completely finalised my flights for the trip next year, but it's about 99.99% done. In light of this I've been playing around on Ryanair, Easyjey, bmibaby etc looking for cheap fares.

I've picked up the following:
Frankfurt-Rome-Barcelona-Rome for AUD$68.

I'm a happy, happy girl. Frankfurt is the stopping point for my Lufthansa flight from New York to London and I was going to have a couple of days there anyhow so this is an awesome bonus.

The cheapies are with Ryanair and seeing as though they fly out of airports like Avalon transport to the good bits will cost a bit more. Have looked into it and it's not as bad as I thought. Sure, it takes a bit longer (up to 1 hour as opposed to 20 minutes or so) but I can handle that. More stuff to look at out the window, time to catch my breath in a new country.

Hey, here's a thought. I should probably look into visa's for Germany, Italy and Spain (yes, I'm going to SPAIN!) but I don't think that will be a problem. Pretty much all Australian passports get some visa free time.

So I start again...

2007-09-25T11:49:00.000+10:00

I'm off again, leaving in February. When? Not exactly sure yet, whenever the best suited flights are.

Where? New York (for a Simon and Garfunkle tour!), then a month or so in the Vermont/Maine area (lighthouses anyone?!). Then I'll be heading to the UK for 6-8 months working and playing. After that on to Asia somewhere for a month or so with the boyfriend.

And now I'm in a job where I can plan to my hearts content!

I want to document all of this as much as I can (obviously!), it always makes it seem so much closer.

2005-10-11T10:00:00.000+11:00

Worry more about monkeys than snakes if you go into the jungle!!

That's what she said. She knows who I'm talking about! I made that update, read that comment, walked out of the net cafe and into a temple, to find a snake 10cms away from my shoulder. I don't think they've seen anyone creep sooooooo slooooowly so damn fast! Granted it was tiny, smaller than a whipsnake and it was green, and in retrospect kinda cute (WHAT?! Did I just say a snake was cute? There's something wrong with me!). But still!

My first snake encounter was fairly painless (and heart attackless), and so was my next one. But I have heaps to tell you about before I get onto the second snake encounter!

My first day in Chiang Mai was spent wandering around the streets, looking through shops, having a look at tours available, and sitting in a gorgeous restaurant eating the best pad thai in the world! Was a great first day. I left the restaurant about 4 to check my email and Si was online so we chatted for a bit and then I ran off at to try and organise a day trip for the following day. Which I did - jungle trek, village visit, bamboo rafting and elephant riding all in one day. So I had that sorted.

Then I asked another travel agent about cooking courses. I'd decided to only do an evening one and asked if they had any for that night (5.10ish by this stage). And they did, it started at 5, so they came and picked me off and took me on a joyride around Chiang Mai with 2 Israeli chaps. By 5.45 we still weren't there and wondering where the hell we were (had decided that we were catching the food, then cooking). Was in fact about 15 minutes out of Chiang Mai, but the roads here are kinda illogical. Got there and started cooking by 6. Started with Pad Thai and I must say I was very impressed with my efforts! Have always said that I can't cook, but I think pad thai will be on the menu for a loooooooooong time now!! We cooked another couple of dishes, including flaming (or whatever it's called, can't really remember, where the flames go everywhere and looks impressive) morning glory. Was fun, bit scary but was over in 2 seconds! We finished there about 9pm, and a much quicker trip back into the city for our respective hotels. I think I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, hadn't realised how tired I was!!

Was up this morning at 7 to get ready for my day trip. They picked me up at 8 and we went round collecting the others for the tour (2 Japanese girls, and 4 French girls). First stop was a jungle trek which was awesome and hard work. Today was the first time I realised how much I had conned myself into believing that I hadn't put back on that much weight and that I was still fairly fit (yeah bloody right!!). So that is the first thing to be sorted out when I get home. Hassle me people and Bec and Trish, write it in your diary :) But the trek was still great fun, and included a bamboo bridge which I was convinced was going to break under the weight of 9 of us, but it didn't.

Back to the mini bus to head of to find elephants to ride, and we found some :) Because I was the only person there by themselves, I got an elephant to myself. Travelling by elephant is not something I could do full time! They are more uncomfortable than camels, and very headstrong. Mine kept squirting snot everywhere (and all over me!), so as soon as I was back at my guesthouse, the shirt went in to soak! It was a very weird experience, specially going downhill! Was convinced I would fall of screaming! But I didn't or this update would have started with "Guess who fell off a flipping elephant!". For the last bit, we crossed the river, much to the elephants delight as they all started squirting water everywhere!

Onto the minibus again for lunch and then onto the village visit. The village wasn't what I was expecting (and since I've thought about it since I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting - make sense of that!). It was a white karen village, with about 150 people living in it. Their weavings that they do are to stop them getting bored (first reason the guide gave us) and to give them some money (second reason, would have thought it would be the otehr awy around) during the off-rice season. Didn't have the exquisite colours, or the millions of little kids running around (there were 2, followed us for the whole hour saying "10 baht, 10 baht" over and over).

Then we went to a waterfall, not sure why though. It was decent sized, but not something I would have taken the trip to see.

Last but not least was the bamboo rafting, which I hadn't really been looking forward to. Was sleepy and didn't fancy getting wet thank you! But it was a hoot! I shared a raft with the 2 japanese girls, and our driver (can't think of the right word right now!) was crazy! He would have been 18 or so, and loved trying to get us wet, and drag the raft over rocks. It was also very long (an hour) and I thought it would have been about 10 mins or so.

So it has been one busy day! I'm off to get some dinner and to update my journal and am off to the night market after that. Tomorrow I want to go to Doi Suthep in the morning and I plan to be on a bus to Laos tomorrow night (not sure which way I'm going though which is handy!)

I know I still haven't put photo's up, but I haven't forgotten! I promise I will do it by the end of this week.

Take care all of you and speak with you soon
M

2005-10-10T09:58:00.000+11:00

Just a quick update, am in Chiang Mai, arrived this morning on the overnight train. Of course by the time I booked my ticket they only had upper bunks left, so I booked one of those. How bad could it be?

Everytime the damn train moved I was shitting myself think I was going to fall out! And that happened alot, being on a train and all! Was fun, even though I didn't get much sleep.

One thing I've been meaning to write but keep forgetting (and it's kinda creeping me out). Along my hairline, I have short, curly bits of annoying hair that never grow, just sit there. Well, they're growing! They're probably 4cms long at the moment, it's really bizarre!

Rural Thailand is beautiful, absolutley gorgeous. I really want to go on a trek, but I start freaking out everytime I think of it. The jungle around here is perfect snake territory, and there's no way I could enjoy it. But I might have a look into some and just do a day trip, maybe. I have to be brave!

Am heading off to explore now, talk to you soon :)

2005-10-09T09:53:00.000+11:00

This is a shock anouncement - I'm loving Bangkok! But you should know that this only occured in the last hour or so.

I spent the last day or two hanging around Sukhumvit, wandering side streets, ignoring vendors (I think I have it down to a fine art now - not sure if I should be proud of that or not though), reading, drinking heaps of water, and thinking that I've lost weight (my trousers are bigger on me than when I left home - I really am melting away!).

Yesterday I booked my ticket to Chaing Mai. Leaving Hua Lamphong station at 7.40 tonight.

I was slowly getting used to Bangkok but not too sure. Today I went to an Aussie pub to watch Bathurst - which was great fun. Sitting in a bar with 5 40+ Aussie men, 3 of whom had gorgeous Thai women hanging off their arms, and for most of the time I had my own gorgeous Thai woman hanging off my arm. I think because I was young, Australian and female, she just wanted to practice her English - which was fine by me during the ads (Si can tell you what I'm like when I'm watching the V8s, I show my bogan colours! I think 2 years at Ouse was way too much for me Mum!). I shocked the men by explaining to new comers what was happening, correcting people when they were talking about who drove with who last season, and random stuff that my mind remembers. For example, I was told once that Dick Johnson had a rock dropped on him during one Bathurst, and one of the guys was asking another who it was. So I pipped up "Oh that was Dick Johnson, not sure what year it was though" to which I received an incredulous look :) Si and Steve have trained me well!

I wandered around a bit more this arvo, then headed back to the hostel to read in the garden (which is bloody gorgeous, it's so relaxing I want a house just like it), part of my "ease myself in to Bangkok" program. Yeah right, more like hide from Bangkok! So I read, examined a map, then packed up my bags and headed off in search of Sukhumvit station. How easy is the Bangkok rail systems! After I got over the skyrail and subway differences, I was on my way!

So now I'm at the station, waiting for my train. My impressions of non-Sukhumvit Bangkok:
* The people are so friendly and helpful. I got to Hua Lamphong and asked at their help desk about where my platform would be and where I could wander while I waited. So I pottered off and have a look around, then it got dark so I headed back into the station, walking past the help desk one of the guys there stopped me asked if I found what I wanted ok and where my friends were, and a couple of other convo making comments. It was my first convo with a non-hostel, vendor, 7-11 person, so I walked away grinning thinking "I've arrived!"
* If you touch the emergency button on the train, you get one month in prison, or a 1000baht (about $32AUS) fine.
* I saw my first monks, 2 of them, would have been early 20's.
* In Singapore, I was blown away with the colour coded train system. Here, it's colour coded AND numerical :) Hows that for tourist friendly! And I thought it was some big scary place! I've been laughing at myself ever since I got off the train!!
* For those in the know, are nuns dressed like monks, but in white? I saw a lady dressed the same way as the monks I saw, but she was in white from head to toe (including a gorgeous white bag, can someone PLEASE make me stop noticing bags!!)

Anyway, I'm headed off to get some food and catch my train. Hope you are all well, miss you all, but I'm finally having a blast (reall, I am now, not just saying that I am!).

Mabs

2005-10-07T09:48:00.000+11:00

So I'm in Bangkok. Am not sure what to think yet, apart from the "What the hell am I thinking" type of thoughts. The trip from the taxi to where I was staying had me terrified. I feel so out of control and out of my league, it was unreal. If this was what Thailand was like, what the hell will Laos and Cambodia be like? Why the hell didn't I pick somewhere EASY! Wanted to tell the taxi driver to turn around and take me back to the airport, and I'd spend the next 30-odd days there. Aren't I melodramatic! Am feeling better now, but still a bit bewildered (Jules, I need your advice here, you always make things better!!)

The Night Safari was awesome. I was partially in the mood to go, so I made my self go anyway. I was planning on finding someone at the hostel who wanted to go, so I wouldn't be by myself, but the hostel had organised a trip on the Monday night, so no one wanted to go (or go again!). So I got on the train, peak hour rush so it was PACKED! Got on the bus and there was a british couple, whom I kinda tagged along behind. Theory was that if a monkey tried to get me again, they would recognise me and maybe rescue me! Before I left, I'd bought some mee goreng from the cafe next to the hostel to eat while I was there. I grabbed the back seat of the train, and starting eating (hadn't eating since 12 and it was 8ish). It was awesome! Was great to see some of the animals at night, the lions were walking around, and the elephants were really active as well. Only dissapointment was that I didn't get to see a Tarsier. Simon's parents had bought me back a postcard/picture of one and a toy one and I'd fallen in love with them, gorgeous freaky looking little creatures. So when I discovered they had them at the Night Safari I was wrapt! But I stood in front of their enclosure for about 30mins and couldn't find one. But I got to see otters, which I hadn't seen at the zoo, and weird bat things that were really cool, but I can't remember their name, handy huh!When the train ride around the park finished, everyone moved into the ampitheatre for the Creatures of the Night show. Which was awesome! During the 30 mins before it started they kept telling people to turn off the flashes on the camera's, and to NOT get up and walk around, or changes seats during the show, as there would be animals coming down the aisle and it could be dangerous. They were doing a thing with some night owls, when the guy hosting it stopped and asked a man to sit down, reminding him that he had to stay seated. This man was running around looking for someone called Maggie, who turned out to be his pet. The host started freaking out and they went to look for Maggie. Who turned out to be a python, in a box, 2 seats down from my seat! (For those who don't know, I'm terrified of snakes!). So that was an experience! It was a brilliant performance, and a great show!
Thursday I spent on the SIA hop-on hop off bus ($3 all day when you show a Singapore Air boarding pass). The whole route took 2 hours, so I did that and then got off in Chinatown to check into the hotel I'd booked for that night (www.hotel1929.com awesome hotel, small but gorgeous rooms). Then I wandered around Chinatown, bought some pressies, and then hopped on the bus again. Went back out to Orchard road for another look, and then back on the bus to Bugis, where I bought the bags I'd been looking at. Then onto the MRT to head down to see the Merlion (about 8pm at this stage). Took me ages to find it, but it was a gorgeous view of the river, and the city lights. And of course of the Merlion!

Yesterday I headed to the airport, wandered around there, then got my flight to Bangkok. This flight (at 1pm) was packed. Immigration at the airport took aaaaaaaaages (about 45mins), and of course the queue I was in was the slowest. But I got through there ok, and heading to find a train - was told that I couldn't catch the train, and was directed to a bus which I couldn't find. Was getting sick of it by this stage and got a cab. But you see I couldn't remember (or had I written down) the address of where I had booked. But I knew it was near Nana station, so I asked to be dropped near that. The taxi driver knew where the general area was, but not the station (how could you miss it? It's right on Sukhimvit Rd with signs everywhere, but oh well!) He stopped to ask directions at a hotel, and I just paid him and left. Found a net cafe where I got the address, got a map, and headed off.

Into torrential rain. Why I didn't just stop and wait for it to stop (would have rained for about 20 mins at the most) I have no idea. I was drenched in seconds, but it was good fun! Found my hostel, got a phone card and rang Si. And started bawling :) Was great to speak with him finally, after trying to get through so many times and missing. Then I headed off, got some food, and got some sleep.

Woke up this morning again thinking "Why on earth did I ever think this was a good idea?" I have no idea where to start. But I made it out the door of the hostel, and down the street 100 metres, so I must be doing ok! I'm planning on heading to Chiang Mai tomorrow (although how I'm getting there I have no idea off at the moment!) and then onto Laos by the end of next week.

But it is good, as scared as this may sound. I am glad that I am here, and I know that all I have to do is jump. I jumped from Hobart to Melbourne, from Melbourne to Singapore, and I made the jump to Thailand, now I just have to make the jump from internet cafe to Sukhimvit Rd!!

So I'm off to jump, and scare myself witless. I hope you're are all well, I miss you all like you wouldn't believe. Take care, update me on what going on at home, you know I like gossip!

Talk to you soon guys :)

2005-10-05T09:45:00.000+11:00

So I'm in Singapore. It's so humid, more so that I was expecting, but the I didn't really know what to expect.

I'd decided to go the the zoo when I got in, so that I could have my photo taken with a snake (I hate snakes!). So I got through immigration ok (cept the officer thought that I'd jumped the queue, luckily the lady behind me assured him that I'd been there the whole time!), headed to the hostel to dump my bag and head off.

I ended up going way past the hostel street, so I decided to find it through the back streets of Little India, which was awesome. People waking up, having breakfast in the streets, children waiting to go to school, heaps of cyclists. I found it, dumped my bag and headed off. Got on the train ok, went to find a bus and went to the wrong side of the station. Once I found where I was meant to be, a bus arrived within 5 minutes and off I went.

The route the bus was taking has so many trees along it, like rainforest (well, modified rainforest at least!) and a canal running along the other side. I started seeing signs about resevoirs and got all excited (I knew the zoo backed onto a resevoir). So at the first sign saying zoo I got off. (I'm sure by now you can see where this story is leading!)

I started walking, and taking photos. Crossed a bridge with "Danger: Keep Out Signs" (but didn't take a photo of THAT!!). Kept walking, walking. By this stage it was 10, so I'd missed the snake photo opportunity.

At one stage I spotted a black thing moving in front of me, which turned out to be a huge lizard, which of course scared the shit out of me when it ran towards me (anyone watching would have had a good laugh!).

So, I got past the lizard obstacle. Then came the monkeys. Yes, the monkeys. Walking past a bus stop (I'd walked past so many of the damn things, why didn't I stop and catch a bus??!?!), a monkey (about the size of a medium cat) jumped out of the tree and landed about 2 metres in front of me, and staring at me started to walk towards me. I subsequently jumped onto a traffic island and walked past it. It kept staring at me the whole way, then jumped into the rubbish bin. The about 1km down the road, I found another one in a tree! Kinda cool though seeing monkey's like that (but of course I had visions by this stage of the zoo animals escaping and there being snakes chasing me down this highway!)

I chucked the shits (sorry Toby!!), and stopped and waited at a bus stop. Caught a bus, the bus travelled 100 metres, turned left and there was the damn zoo!

After that debacle, I did enjoy the zoo, but didn't get my photo taken with a snake, they weren't doing them that day. But I did have my photo taken with an orangutan which was cool.

Headed back into the city for a shower and a sleep, and was procrastinating on my bunk as I do so well when I was asked if I was going on the pub run the hostel had organised, which left at 5.30. At this stage it was 5.15, so I panicked and ran around getting ready and put my name down for the "Pub Run" which was actually a trip to the highest bar in Singapore, New Asia for half price happy hour (cocktails were $9SD, they had a super martini for $83SD, but we didn't get a glimpse of the glass). I had a green space which had all the different kinds of alcohol you could think off, and a frappe berry which had nothing to do with berries! Was a great view though, and good fun talking with the people from the hostel.

Spent today just wandering with Lisa, an Aussie girl I'd met last night and who is going home today after 5 months away. We checked out Clarke Quay, parts of Orchard Road and then back to Bugis/Little India to check out a temple and to have a look at some markets/arcades we'd rushed through the night before.

Surprise, surprise I found some gorgeous bags, but didn't buy anything! That has got to be a first. I did find a gorgeous hot pink fake alligator skin like clutch, but I never really have occasion to use a clutch. Am thinking of getting it anyway and making an occasion to use it!

Tonight I'm heading to the Night Safari which should be good. Tomorrow I'm going to take advantage of the SIA stopover bus, $3 for on-and-off all day! It's route runs around all the touristy and interesting spots in the city so it will give me a good overview of the place. Also tomorrow I move into my funky hotel that I have booked, there will be lots of photo's taken!!

Language is not much of a problem, virtually everyone speaks English of some level. Have taken heaps of photo's, but haven't cleared a card yet, so when I get some photo's burnt, I'll put some up in here.

Am missing you guys, but having a blast. Hope you are well, let me know how you're doing.

Mabs

2005-09-28T17:09:00.000+10:00

And I'm not excited at all... Yeah right :)

Friday is my last day of work for 6 weeks, who wouldn't be excited by that alone, let alone 5 weeks travelling around Thailand, Cambodia and Laos!

Sorted out all my money today, got a Visa cash passport http://www.cashpassportcard.com/. Have loaded that, will have my regular bank atm card and a credit card as a back up. Also have some USD cash and Baht to see me over once I get to Thailand. It's all very exciting.

Am spending more and more time looking for info on the net, and pouring over my guidebook deciding whether to just copy the info out of it that I want, or to just take the damn book (kinda decided on taking the damn book, weigh 700g though, unreal!!).

And packing. I'm packing crazy (although I'm sure that wouldn't surprise some of you at all!!). I've packed, unpacked and repacked about 3 times since last Thursday (22nd). It's starting weight was 7kgs, but last night I got it down to just under 5kg, so I was impressed with that. Can't believe how much room I have in it though, oh well, I'll just HAVE to go shopping won't I :)
Also sorted out my leave and pay today with work, will get a nice little payment, much more than I worked out myself. Love our accountant, I think I had her a bit stressed out for a bit there :)

Now the only thing left to do (apart from printing of my postie labels, how anal is that!) is to relax and wait for Monday. And of course have fun at my b'day celebrations over the weekend!

And thanks to all of you who I have driven nuts with my questions and incessant planning, testing and talking non-stop. I'm sure you don't care that I found the coolest bungalow on some random island in Thailand where I could stay for $200AUS a month, but thank you for being patient with me and not ruining my fun (even if you were thinking inside "Shut UP!!!!").Roll on Monday!