It's 7.20am Sydney time, I've arrived.
I'm sleepy. Full of a cold.
Spent the flight from Bangkok to Sydney (upstairs - yah) throwing up and sitting on the toilet. Too much information. Lol - not a pleasant flight. Power chucking at 40,000 feet - it rocks!
They even wore rubber gloves when they collected my iced face towels (yah - they felt just wonderful) - feel isolation!
But the leg room was wonderful. And they gave me a electrolite drink to replace to the fluids. So, they do look after you!
And a couple of hours here, had a lovely shower, and about to tempt a cup of tea!
OMG - it's really coming to an end! Sent a txt to my sister and apparently my nephew Daniel still asks after Mike when he sees a plane - cause I went on one!
Fab.
:)
Mmm... Do I need to barf again?
Monday, 6 August 2007
And so it ends...
Well, almost...
I'm sitting at Bangkok Airport, with a cold, not particularly looking forward to spending 12 hours on planes but what can one do!!
So, it's hard to believe that it's been 7 weeks that I've not been at work!
What else did I do in Bangkok? Well, surprising not a lot - it's been rather blobby here really.
I did things like:
Go to the movies and see Harry Potter - it's ok and a lot darker than the first films;
Hung out a bit at the night markets (crap and later discovered that the better night markets at at some park - I can look up the name if you're interested);
Become more disinterested/disenchanted/dis-something/dis-everything in the sex industry (let's just say there were arguments, disagreements and sometimes people have to agree to disagree);
Chatuchuk Markets - which was just massive. Apparently there are in excess of 50,000 stalls - and it seems to just go on and on and on... It's pretty amazing really. Clothes, souvenirs, household items, food, animals, decorations (pictures etc) - it's all there. A lot is "fixed price" and who knows whether it's meant or not - but we arrived around midday and it was so hot and stuffy I don't think people were particularly interested. Didn't find the wet market, didn't see half of it really - but it was huge. They've pulled down a whole section of it and are building a big mall - so I guess it's being cleaned up. Although when that happens who knows where the thais will shop - apparently the average weekly income here is about 1500 baht - that's about $75 a week. So, we are incredibly incredibly wealthy by comparison. At Chatuchuk I saw an old woman who was selling tissues for 10 baht - that would've been her only source of income; it really is heartwrenching (and yes I did buy some for 20 baht - no change).
Shopping - did a bit of shopping but got kind've sick of it. The prices are impossible to work out (is it fixed price or not) and whether the good are originals or not (everything is an original!) is impossible too - I spend most of the "shopping time" in the MBK Centre - it should be real but it's hard to tell - impossible actually. There is just sooooo much - it really is consumption, consumption, consumption. The other difficult is that a Thai XL is different from a Cookie X, as is Thai 36 - I tried on a pair of jeans that should've fitted - but I couldn't even get them up my legs - go figure (pity too - they were quite nice!). The shopping is over the top though, clothes are pretty good (if you can get them to fit and you can get around that it's all hot weather gear and we live in a cold weather environment) but electronic stuff is way more expensive (get it in Germany - cheap cheap!). The night markets are not good - to the extent that there was one guy trying to sell me DVDs and I inquired about how much; he stold me, I said that I off to dinner first he then started yelling "f... you" as I walked away - it was quite aggressive here compared to Phuket.
The heat - it's really oppressive, maybe not helped by getting a cold. But seeing the size of the aircon ducts on the MBK Centre you can see how much heat is being pumped into an already hot atmosphere. And being over airconditioned is as bad.
Managed to go for my first swim in 7 weeks - lol! It was the pool at the hotel which is part of the Olympic Club which is apparently one of the best gyms in Bangkok - managed to swim 70 lengths. Funny! Thought I was going to sink though! Was told, too, that the showers in the Olympic Club have a sign that if more than one person is found in a shower cubicle they will cancel your membership. A sign of the Bangkok mentality. It's a nice pool though, nice hotel and really handy to the skytrain - which is great.
Met some German guy who ended up showing us a very cool restaurant down in Patpong (Bug and Bee) and we spoke for ages - he lives here and I think he was enjoying having some Europeans to talk to. As we read in a mag in Phuket, the Thai people are naturally reticent and shy; if they come up to you in the street it's for a reason (ie money) and it's really hard to actually meet Thai people on a friendship level. Having said that, generally people were really lovely, a smile goes a long long way - as does quietly quietly gently gently....
Ate far too much - I've put on disgusting amounts of weight and so the philosophy of "eat whatever" is going to have to stop! Although the food is very nice here - and you can eat very cheaply. One night we went to a great restaurant called Sphinx - took a bit of finding (which doesn't sound that much of a hassle until you're wandering down little alleys, it's stinking hot and if you ask directions people want a tip. But we found it and I can thoroughly recommend it!
I did suit shop. Enough said. Lol!
Looked around. Saw a different Bangkok this time I think.
Generally though I enjoyed Thailand - maybe though, and I never thought I'd say this, after 7 weeks, I think I'm ready to come home (and to sleep a little bit - I'm due back on Wednesday at work - if anyone is reading thing, I might either be late or not there for long! And my experience of Bangkok was different this time. Why? Many reasons - ask me about them.
So, my big holiday is now drawing to a close. I've been away and turned 40, discovered a few things (some things really shouldn't be discussed on a public blog now should they), certainly decided that lieflat beds on planes are really nice, completely miss my nephews, think that new things to see are great but it's even better catching up with friends whom I've not seen for like ever but it was like it was only yesterday that we last saw each other, eaten some wonderful wonderful food, kind've gotten over Haagen Daaz (it's nice but so expensive for what it is), found that one can burn by a pool even if it's cloudy, climbed mountains, saw ancient castles, roman ruins, palaces and towers, walls and torture chambers, went on trains and gondolas and sleds, played in snow, had barbecues, spoke different languages, didn't send nearly enough postcards and far too many txts and just enjoyed myself! Did I mention loved hanging out with my nephews? And friends? But all in all it has been a rather most excellent time. Have spent silly amounts of money, seen some amazing things and discovered that the world is a pretty magical place!
Well, I might go have a drink of water and think about meandering to the plane...
Home here I come...
I'm sitting at Bangkok Airport, with a cold, not particularly looking forward to spending 12 hours on planes but what can one do!!
So, it's hard to believe that it's been 7 weeks that I've not been at work!
What else did I do in Bangkok? Well, surprising not a lot - it's been rather blobby here really.
I did things like:
Go to the movies and see Harry Potter - it's ok and a lot darker than the first films;
Hung out a bit at the night markets (crap and later discovered that the better night markets at at some park - I can look up the name if you're interested);
Become more disinterested/disenchanted/dis-something/dis-everything in the sex industry (let's just say there were arguments, disagreements and sometimes people have to agree to disagree);
Chatuchuk Markets - which was just massive. Apparently there are in excess of 50,000 stalls - and it seems to just go on and on and on... It's pretty amazing really. Clothes, souvenirs, household items, food, animals, decorations (pictures etc) - it's all there. A lot is "fixed price" and who knows whether it's meant or not - but we arrived around midday and it was so hot and stuffy I don't think people were particularly interested. Didn't find the wet market, didn't see half of it really - but it was huge. They've pulled down a whole section of it and are building a big mall - so I guess it's being cleaned up. Although when that happens who knows where the thais will shop - apparently the average weekly income here is about 1500 baht - that's about $75 a week. So, we are incredibly incredibly wealthy by comparison. At Chatuchuk I saw an old woman who was selling tissues for 10 baht - that would've been her only source of income; it really is heartwrenching (and yes I did buy some for 20 baht - no change).
Shopping - did a bit of shopping but got kind've sick of it. The prices are impossible to work out (is it fixed price or not) and whether the good are originals or not (everything is an original!) is impossible too - I spend most of the "shopping time" in the MBK Centre - it should be real but it's hard to tell - impossible actually. There is just sooooo much - it really is consumption, consumption, consumption. The other difficult is that a Thai XL is different from a Cookie X, as is Thai 36 - I tried on a pair of jeans that should've fitted - but I couldn't even get them up my legs - go figure (pity too - they were quite nice!). The shopping is over the top though, clothes are pretty good (if you can get them to fit and you can get around that it's all hot weather gear and we live in a cold weather environment) but electronic stuff is way more expensive (get it in Germany - cheap cheap!). The night markets are not good - to the extent that there was one guy trying to sell me DVDs and I inquired about how much; he stold me, I said that I off to dinner first he then started yelling "f... you" as I walked away - it was quite aggressive here compared to Phuket.
The heat - it's really oppressive, maybe not helped by getting a cold. But seeing the size of the aircon ducts on the MBK Centre you can see how much heat is being pumped into an already hot atmosphere. And being over airconditioned is as bad.
Managed to go for my first swim in 7 weeks - lol! It was the pool at the hotel which is part of the Olympic Club which is apparently one of the best gyms in Bangkok - managed to swim 70 lengths. Funny! Thought I was going to sink though! Was told, too, that the showers in the Olympic Club have a sign that if more than one person is found in a shower cubicle they will cancel your membership. A sign of the Bangkok mentality. It's a nice pool though, nice hotel and really handy to the skytrain - which is great.
Met some German guy who ended up showing us a very cool restaurant down in Patpong (Bug and Bee) and we spoke for ages - he lives here and I think he was enjoying having some Europeans to talk to. As we read in a mag in Phuket, the Thai people are naturally reticent and shy; if they come up to you in the street it's for a reason (ie money) and it's really hard to actually meet Thai people on a friendship level. Having said that, generally people were really lovely, a smile goes a long long way - as does quietly quietly gently gently....
Ate far too much - I've put on disgusting amounts of weight and so the philosophy of "eat whatever" is going to have to stop! Although the food is very nice here - and you can eat very cheaply. One night we went to a great restaurant called Sphinx - took a bit of finding (which doesn't sound that much of a hassle until you're wandering down little alleys, it's stinking hot and if you ask directions people want a tip. But we found it and I can thoroughly recommend it!
I did suit shop. Enough said. Lol!
Looked around. Saw a different Bangkok this time I think.
Generally though I enjoyed Thailand - maybe though, and I never thought I'd say this, after 7 weeks, I think I'm ready to come home (and to sleep a little bit - I'm due back on Wednesday at work - if anyone is reading thing, I might either be late or not there for long! And my experience of Bangkok was different this time. Why? Many reasons - ask me about them.
So, my big holiday is now drawing to a close. I've been away and turned 40, discovered a few things (some things really shouldn't be discussed on a public blog now should they), certainly decided that lieflat beds on planes are really nice, completely miss my nephews, think that new things to see are great but it's even better catching up with friends whom I've not seen for like ever but it was like it was only yesterday that we last saw each other, eaten some wonderful wonderful food, kind've gotten over Haagen Daaz (it's nice but so expensive for what it is), found that one can burn by a pool even if it's cloudy, climbed mountains, saw ancient castles, roman ruins, palaces and towers, walls and torture chambers, went on trains and gondolas and sleds, played in snow, had barbecues, spoke different languages, didn't send nearly enough postcards and far too many txts and just enjoyed myself! Did I mention loved hanging out with my nephews? And friends? But all in all it has been a rather most excellent time. Have spent silly amounts of money, seen some amazing things and discovered that the world is a pretty magical place!
Well, I might go have a drink of water and think about meandering to the plane...
Home here I come...
Friday, 3 August 2007
It's sadness...
Kia ora all,
After a bit of a break - funny - ok after nearly 6 weeks away I'm getting really ready to come home.
I miss my little nephews in England like crazy - I've got some of the coolest photos of them and every time I look at them I think, wow - I really want to pop around for a cuppa and a play in the park...
So, a very quick snapshot of what's what.
Well, I'm in Bangkok.
Flew from London to Helsinki - BA. Stopped in Helsinki. Finland looks lovely - the thing that struck me the most was the trees - there are so many and everywhere - huge pine trees that you see in postcards!
So stopped at the airport for a bit - not that anything happened - you know, sitting in an airport, hanging around, la la la la. Then on to the Finnair flight to Bangkok.
I'm telling you - business class rocks - and it's the leg room! I fairly managed to sleep for nearly 6 hours - maybe tired and maybe just cause I could stretch out!
But it was nice, chatted with the wonderful Emma from Australia who was on the same flight (she flew from Italy, to Paris to Helsinki to Bangkok - go figure!) and then arrived in Bangkok!
:)
Went to the baggage claim. One bag came through. Hmm... Odd that the other one didn't. Still didn't come through. Why would one make it and not the other? Why would the one with the nappies (yes, I'm bringing a bag of nappies back - go figure) make it but the one with clothes wouldn't? Yes. There's the nice lady from luggage queries. Yes, I've only got one bag and the other isn't here. Yes, here's the tag. Oh, you're looking it up on the computer. Oh, it never left London. I see. So two bags checked in at the same time, one got on the plane to Helsinki and then to Bangkok. The other had a little rest in Bangkok? (I didn't actually say those last two sentences to her!). They were really nice, could tell me where my bag was, gave me a little pack (so I scored a free Finnair teeshirt) and said that it was on a plane from Heathrow and they'd courier it to my hotel - which they did and it arrived about 9pm that night. So all up a very good thing - apart from my not having any shorts or sandles with me - and it's hot here in Thailand!!
Hung at the airport, Peter turned up, on the Thai Airways plane to Phuket (they still feed you on Thai Airways), Phuket airport (which was great for me - no checked luggage - the nappies are in storage at Bangkok) and then a taxi to the hotel. Checked in. A lovely refreshing drink, a cold towel. Then taken to our room, overlooking the sea - just wonderful!
I can so recommend the Amari Coral Beach Resort - it was just stunning. Two amazing pools, wonderful views, great restaurants, fantastic cocktails, a private jetty with a bar on it for drinks to watch the sunset, over the top breakfasts, more pools, food, drinks - it was just magical. And it was about 10 minutes walk from Patong (more on that later) so it's really close but it's really quite.
It was the low season so although there were a lot of tourists around, it wasn't too busy. Having said that, the Amari was operating at 85-95% capacity! It employs 282 staff, of which 29 are gardeners! Go figure!
But, let's see, what did I do in Phuket. Ate thai food, drunk caiprihias (or however they're spelt - and I can't pronounce them!), went on a day boat trip up to Phanaga (something like that) national park where we stopped at James Bond Island (which is really small, and full of little tourist shops selling shells which you can't bring back to NZ without a CITES certificate which, of course, they don't have!), then to two more island where we got in little three person canoes (Peter and I and the guide who paddled) and went into the islands - it was just amazing. The first he took us into this cave that I though was impossible (trust me, lie flat on the boat), the second island he took us into the inside of the island (it was hollow) and the entrance was so narrow I had to twist onto my side as my shoulders were too wide to get through the gap - and I don't have any shoulders!!). It was just amazing!! (oh, and on the way back out the tide had dropped so no probs getting back out). The second island (hollow in the middle) was so quite and peaceful - until some noisy louts arrived - don't know which country they were from but what tossers. It was a mangrove forest on the inside - just stunning.
Then it was lunch on the boat, followed by an hour on a tropical island having a swim and a play in the canoe. Most very very excellent.
The next day sat around the pool - a whole day of doing nothing - just great, and sunburnt.... Yep - I'm kind've red (it's toning down a bit) and waiting for the peeling to start - at least it's not as sore as it was!! Even here, when it's cloudy, the sun can be a killer!! Lol!
Umm, another day we hired a car and driver and drove around the bottom part of Phuket, past Karon and Kata Beach (nicer beaches than Patong but I think our resort was the best place to stay easilty), to the look out where I had a photo taken with a sea eagle - what a magnificent bird, the pistol range (fired a .45 - wow! Useless though - 57%!!), saw snakes (obligatory photo with a python), monkeys (obligatory photo with a monkey), then a jewellery shop (of course) and yes, if you ask nicely I'll show you my emerald earing, the cashew nut factory (lots of cashews - and it was interesting to see how labour intensive it is to produce them - and thus why they are so expensive) and finally the butterfly park (with insects - huge spiders which were icky but the butterflys were just awesome!).
All that for a price of 600 baht - which is about $30. The guy (in a brand new aircon car) said that as it's the off season we were his first job in 3 days - whether it's true I don't know but as you walk down Patong Beach all these guys ask if you want a taxi - so that's what we did - just got him from the beach. At 600 baht (which is nothing) we didn't even bother bargaining and actually paid him 1000 baht (we took an hour longer than we originally said) - which was a whole $25NZ each for Peter and I for 5 plus hours of personal tours. Poverty sucks, it's really hard here, I figure that people are only trying to make a buck and far out - $25 dollars for so much is nothing from the wealth of a western nation.
The nightlife/sex industry - I might write another blog entry about that. Let's just say:
1. Yes, I did go to gogo bars. No, they were completely cras and sad. In so many ways.
2. Yes, it's completely exploitive and just gutting that young guys, who have nothing but their bodies, have no other options or ways of eating, than to wear virtually nothing and parade around like cattle hoping to be bought by foreigners.
3. Yes, the "old white men" and the "young thai boys/girls" are everywhere - maybe I didn't notice it as much last time. Or maybe, having gone to some gogo bars, I'm just more aware of how something it is - I'm not sure how to describe it.
4. I'm not sure what the answer is though - but it's actually pretty sick.
Enough on that at the moment.
Went to some bars (ordinary bars), a very very good club in Patong - but it was empty as it's the off season, saw an amazing drag show, ate more, lounged around lots and didn't really buy anything.
Then it was off to Bangkok. And I'm here.
Yep - last night went out with Peter to the gay boy district. The whole sex industry thing is offputting - it's exploitation of disempowered people by wealthy foreigners. I do not accept the argument, which has been given to me, that it's consensual and the only that these young guys or girls can earn a buck. There must be a better way. Full stop.
Maybe, having turned 40, I'm slowly growing up. OMG - I'm 40!! Sorry - little panic attack there!! Ha ha!!
Went to a club - DJ Station - not bad, average music and although I got in in shorts and sandels (go figure) and being in a bouncy club (a nightclug like anywhere else in the world!) in sandels with lots of bopping people - not good!! I need sneakers!
Yes, I've ordered some suits - yes you can buy them very cheaply here (although I paid a bit more and bought some lovely italian material - assuming it's true what he told me), it's possble to get 2 suits (2 trousers each suit) and 5 shirts for about $900 NZ. Like I said, I've paid a bit more, but also am getting another shirt and an argyll jacket (for my kilt - they've got the picture of the jacket so who knows what it will look like when it's made!!).
I'm now mucking about in the hotel room, about to go for a walk, see a bit more of Bangkok (which is a lot hotter and "stuffier" than Phuket - no sea breezes) and maybe do a bit of shopping - it never ends here!.
Be good and be excellent!
Yah!! :)
After a bit of a break - funny - ok after nearly 6 weeks away I'm getting really ready to come home.
I miss my little nephews in England like crazy - I've got some of the coolest photos of them and every time I look at them I think, wow - I really want to pop around for a cuppa and a play in the park...
So, a very quick snapshot of what's what.
Well, I'm in Bangkok.
Flew from London to Helsinki - BA. Stopped in Helsinki. Finland looks lovely - the thing that struck me the most was the trees - there are so many and everywhere - huge pine trees that you see in postcards!
So stopped at the airport for a bit - not that anything happened - you know, sitting in an airport, hanging around, la la la la. Then on to the Finnair flight to Bangkok.
I'm telling you - business class rocks - and it's the leg room! I fairly managed to sleep for nearly 6 hours - maybe tired and maybe just cause I could stretch out!
But it was nice, chatted with the wonderful Emma from Australia who was on the same flight (she flew from Italy, to Paris to Helsinki to Bangkok - go figure!) and then arrived in Bangkok!
:)
Went to the baggage claim. One bag came through. Hmm... Odd that the other one didn't. Still didn't come through. Why would one make it and not the other? Why would the one with the nappies (yes, I'm bringing a bag of nappies back - go figure) make it but the one with clothes wouldn't? Yes. There's the nice lady from luggage queries. Yes, I've only got one bag and the other isn't here. Yes, here's the tag. Oh, you're looking it up on the computer. Oh, it never left London. I see. So two bags checked in at the same time, one got on the plane to Helsinki and then to Bangkok. The other had a little rest in Bangkok? (I didn't actually say those last two sentences to her!). They were really nice, could tell me where my bag was, gave me a little pack (so I scored a free Finnair teeshirt) and said that it was on a plane from Heathrow and they'd courier it to my hotel - which they did and it arrived about 9pm that night. So all up a very good thing - apart from my not having any shorts or sandles with me - and it's hot here in Thailand!!
Hung at the airport, Peter turned up, on the Thai Airways plane to Phuket (they still feed you on Thai Airways), Phuket airport (which was great for me - no checked luggage - the nappies are in storage at Bangkok) and then a taxi to the hotel. Checked in. A lovely refreshing drink, a cold towel. Then taken to our room, overlooking the sea - just wonderful!
I can so recommend the Amari Coral Beach Resort - it was just stunning. Two amazing pools, wonderful views, great restaurants, fantastic cocktails, a private jetty with a bar on it for drinks to watch the sunset, over the top breakfasts, more pools, food, drinks - it was just magical. And it was about 10 minutes walk from Patong (more on that later) so it's really close but it's really quite.
It was the low season so although there were a lot of tourists around, it wasn't too busy. Having said that, the Amari was operating at 85-95% capacity! It employs 282 staff, of which 29 are gardeners! Go figure!
But, let's see, what did I do in Phuket. Ate thai food, drunk caiprihias (or however they're spelt - and I can't pronounce them!), went on a day boat trip up to Phanaga (something like that) national park where we stopped at James Bond Island (which is really small, and full of little tourist shops selling shells which you can't bring back to NZ without a CITES certificate which, of course, they don't have!), then to two more island where we got in little three person canoes (Peter and I and the guide who paddled) and went into the islands - it was just amazing. The first he took us into this cave that I though was impossible (trust me, lie flat on the boat), the second island he took us into the inside of the island (it was hollow) and the entrance was so narrow I had to twist onto my side as my shoulders were too wide to get through the gap - and I don't have any shoulders!!). It was just amazing!! (oh, and on the way back out the tide had dropped so no probs getting back out). The second island (hollow in the middle) was so quite and peaceful - until some noisy louts arrived - don't know which country they were from but what tossers. It was a mangrove forest on the inside - just stunning.
Then it was lunch on the boat, followed by an hour on a tropical island having a swim and a play in the canoe. Most very very excellent.
The next day sat around the pool - a whole day of doing nothing - just great, and sunburnt.... Yep - I'm kind've red (it's toning down a bit) and waiting for the peeling to start - at least it's not as sore as it was!! Even here, when it's cloudy, the sun can be a killer!! Lol!
Umm, another day we hired a car and driver and drove around the bottom part of Phuket, past Karon and Kata Beach (nicer beaches than Patong but I think our resort was the best place to stay easilty), to the look out where I had a photo taken with a sea eagle - what a magnificent bird, the pistol range (fired a .45 - wow! Useless though - 57%!!), saw snakes (obligatory photo with a python), monkeys (obligatory photo with a monkey), then a jewellery shop (of course) and yes, if you ask nicely I'll show you my emerald earing, the cashew nut factory (lots of cashews - and it was interesting to see how labour intensive it is to produce them - and thus why they are so expensive) and finally the butterfly park (with insects - huge spiders which were icky but the butterflys were just awesome!).
All that for a price of 600 baht - which is about $30. The guy (in a brand new aircon car) said that as it's the off season we were his first job in 3 days - whether it's true I don't know but as you walk down Patong Beach all these guys ask if you want a taxi - so that's what we did - just got him from the beach. At 600 baht (which is nothing) we didn't even bother bargaining and actually paid him 1000 baht (we took an hour longer than we originally said) - which was a whole $25NZ each for Peter and I for 5 plus hours of personal tours. Poverty sucks, it's really hard here, I figure that people are only trying to make a buck and far out - $25 dollars for so much is nothing from the wealth of a western nation.
The nightlife/sex industry - I might write another blog entry about that. Let's just say:
1. Yes, I did go to gogo bars. No, they were completely cras and sad. In so many ways.
2. Yes, it's completely exploitive and just gutting that young guys, who have nothing but their bodies, have no other options or ways of eating, than to wear virtually nothing and parade around like cattle hoping to be bought by foreigners.
3. Yes, the "old white men" and the "young thai boys/girls" are everywhere - maybe I didn't notice it as much last time. Or maybe, having gone to some gogo bars, I'm just more aware of how something it is - I'm not sure how to describe it.
4. I'm not sure what the answer is though - but it's actually pretty sick.
Enough on that at the moment.
Went to some bars (ordinary bars), a very very good club in Patong - but it was empty as it's the off season, saw an amazing drag show, ate more, lounged around lots and didn't really buy anything.
Then it was off to Bangkok. And I'm here.
Yep - last night went out with Peter to the gay boy district. The whole sex industry thing is offputting - it's exploitation of disempowered people by wealthy foreigners. I do not accept the argument, which has been given to me, that it's consensual and the only that these young guys or girls can earn a buck. There must be a better way. Full stop.
Maybe, having turned 40, I'm slowly growing up. OMG - I'm 40!! Sorry - little panic attack there!! Ha ha!!
Went to a club - DJ Station - not bad, average music and although I got in in shorts and sandels (go figure) and being in a bouncy club (a nightclug like anywhere else in the world!) in sandels with lots of bopping people - not good!! I need sneakers!
Yes, I've ordered some suits - yes you can buy them very cheaply here (although I paid a bit more and bought some lovely italian material - assuming it's true what he told me), it's possble to get 2 suits (2 trousers each suit) and 5 shirts for about $900 NZ. Like I said, I've paid a bit more, but also am getting another shirt and an argyll jacket (for my kilt - they've got the picture of the jacket so who knows what it will look like when it's made!!).
I'm now mucking about in the hotel room, about to go for a walk, see a bit more of Bangkok (which is a lot hotter and "stuffier" than Phuket - no sea breezes) and maybe do a bit of shopping - it never ends here!.
Be good and be excellent!
Yah!! :)
Friday, 27 July 2007
At Heathrow...
Well, here I am sitting at the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport - my time in Europe is basically over.
It was really really horrible to say bye to Daniel and Andrew (and Sarah) - my nephews. We had a coffee and Andrew was just lying in my arms yabbering away saying baby stuff and Daniel was being a 2 2/3 year old full of energy! They are most cool.
Actually, the worstest thing about holidays is the saying bye bye to people knowing that I won't be able to pop in for a cuppa next week, or to just do stuff like sitting on a bus and a train with my nephew. It was very cool yesterday when we went to Bluewater - a big shopping complex (like really big - it went on and on and on and on) and on the way back Daniel and I caught a bus, then a train - and it was just pretty cool. He's a very cool little kid.
What else did I get up to? Can't remember if I wrote about Scotland - and I guess I shouldn't be so lazy and should really go back and look at earlier entries of blogs but lets say:
Helen and Mark are really cool. Fantastic hosts - my friends really are the bestest. Their daughter Nicole is just an absolute honey!!
We did lots - like shopping, the Falkirk Wheel, Stirling Castle (which is much more important than Edinburgh Castle - Stirling was at a river - can't remember the name - that had one crossing right below the castle and it split the Scottish lowlands from the highlands - and whoever controlled the castle controled Scotland. Edinburgh just sits on a hill full of tourists, the Tussochs (national park), a cruise on Lake Katrine on a real steam boat - which is going to stop using coal next year so it's possibly the last time I will ever actually be able to go on a working coal fired steam boat, Loch Lomond, more food, Glasgow, kilt shops, very most excellent curry shops (NZ curry maybe isn't as good - but it's not that bad!), recipes for paneer and lots of coffees and hanging out with my friends.
Scottish people are very cool and very friendly! Not sure though if they understand my accent!! He he!
Then it was time to say bye - again - it's not fun - and on the train to Glasgow and then down to London. Virgin trains are ok, the service is great - but really the French and Swiss trains just rock - the French cause they're so fast as so smooth, the Swiss because the views are just out there!!
London was most excellent - playing with nephews, having dinner with Marcus (yah for the gin and the indian food carrier things - the name of which has slipped my mind) and Nick and Deb (Deb - come back home!! - and say hi to Caro!) in Brick Lane - good curry (well I thought so - although apparently it's difficult to know where in Brick Lane does good stuff) but a run down area, some drugged out guy giving me grief but fab fab. It's so cool how, having not seen people for years, we just fall back into a patter of catching up - yah, I'm telling you, my friends rock!
Then the last day here yesterday, getting slowly out of bed (Lee - ta so much for your hospitality - actually, ta to everyone for their hospitality!), getting picked up by Sarah and Daniel, then over to Bluewater - train rides both ways - and then dinner and packing - with a slight hiccup as I forgot I had domestic internal flights in Thailand so not sure what to do with the extra luggage I was going to bring back for my other new nephew due to be born in August. Something will work out.
Then this morning it was up and journeys to Heathrow - passing a smash up on the M25 - ouch. And then coffee, cuddles and bye byes to my nephews and sister.
And now here, waiting for my plane to Helsinki and then more waits and then another flight to Bangkok and then another flight to Phuket - it's actually, let me think - from check in to arrival at Phuket is about 24 hours to Phuket. From home London to hotel Patong Beach though adds another 3 hours - so about 27 hours in total. OMG - will I sleep at all!! Eeek!
Anyway, I think I'll go find the loo (too much info but there you go), a quick bite and then off to my flight.
Bye London. Bye Scotland. Bye Europe....
It was really really horrible to say bye to Daniel and Andrew (and Sarah) - my nephews. We had a coffee and Andrew was just lying in my arms yabbering away saying baby stuff and Daniel was being a 2 2/3 year old full of energy! They are most cool.
Actually, the worstest thing about holidays is the saying bye bye to people knowing that I won't be able to pop in for a cuppa next week, or to just do stuff like sitting on a bus and a train with my nephew. It was very cool yesterday when we went to Bluewater - a big shopping complex (like really big - it went on and on and on and on) and on the way back Daniel and I caught a bus, then a train - and it was just pretty cool. He's a very cool little kid.
What else did I get up to? Can't remember if I wrote about Scotland - and I guess I shouldn't be so lazy and should really go back and look at earlier entries of blogs but lets say:
Helen and Mark are really cool. Fantastic hosts - my friends really are the bestest. Their daughter Nicole is just an absolute honey!!
We did lots - like shopping, the Falkirk Wheel, Stirling Castle (which is much more important than Edinburgh Castle - Stirling was at a river - can't remember the name - that had one crossing right below the castle and it split the Scottish lowlands from the highlands - and whoever controlled the castle controled Scotland. Edinburgh just sits on a hill full of tourists, the Tussochs (national park), a cruise on Lake Katrine on a real steam boat - which is going to stop using coal next year so it's possibly the last time I will ever actually be able to go on a working coal fired steam boat, Loch Lomond, more food, Glasgow, kilt shops, very most excellent curry shops (NZ curry maybe isn't as good - but it's not that bad!), recipes for paneer and lots of coffees and hanging out with my friends.
Scottish people are very cool and very friendly! Not sure though if they understand my accent!! He he!
Then it was time to say bye - again - it's not fun - and on the train to Glasgow and then down to London. Virgin trains are ok, the service is great - but really the French and Swiss trains just rock - the French cause they're so fast as so smooth, the Swiss because the views are just out there!!
London was most excellent - playing with nephews, having dinner with Marcus (yah for the gin and the indian food carrier things - the name of which has slipped my mind) and Nick and Deb (Deb - come back home!! - and say hi to Caro!) in Brick Lane - good curry (well I thought so - although apparently it's difficult to know where in Brick Lane does good stuff) but a run down area, some drugged out guy giving me grief but fab fab. It's so cool how, having not seen people for years, we just fall back into a patter of catching up - yah, I'm telling you, my friends rock!
Then the last day here yesterday, getting slowly out of bed (Lee - ta so much for your hospitality - actually, ta to everyone for their hospitality!), getting picked up by Sarah and Daniel, then over to Bluewater - train rides both ways - and then dinner and packing - with a slight hiccup as I forgot I had domestic internal flights in Thailand so not sure what to do with the extra luggage I was going to bring back for my other new nephew due to be born in August. Something will work out.
Then this morning it was up and journeys to Heathrow - passing a smash up on the M25 - ouch. And then coffee, cuddles and bye byes to my nephews and sister.
And now here, waiting for my plane to Helsinki and then more waits and then another flight to Bangkok and then another flight to Phuket - it's actually, let me think - from check in to arrival at Phuket is about 24 hours to Phuket. From home London to hotel Patong Beach though adds another 3 hours - so about 27 hours in total. OMG - will I sleep at all!! Eeek!
Anyway, I think I'll go find the loo (too much info but there you go), a quick bite and then off to my flight.
Bye London. Bye Scotland. Bye Europe....
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Almost time to go...
A very quick update.
Yep, I forgot things in Berlin.
Yep, I had a stunning time in Glasgow - the weirdest thing is that I'm not going to be able to pop around to Helen and Mark's next week to say hi and have a cuppa.
London is great - food, friends, hanging with my nephews (who are just so so cool), baggage questions - don't ask.
Tomorrow though, it's over and Thailand here I come....
:) and :( - I'll miss my nephews - they are very very cool!!
Yep, I forgot things in Berlin.
Yep, I had a stunning time in Glasgow - the weirdest thing is that I'm not going to be able to pop around to Helen and Mark's next week to say hi and have a cuppa.
London is great - food, friends, hanging with my nephews (who are just so so cool), baggage questions - don't ask.
Tomorrow though, it's over and Thailand here I come....
:) and :( - I'll miss my nephews - they are very very cool!!
Saturday, 21 July 2007
The high road...
I've taken the high road and am now happily esconsced in Glasgow in Scotland - having sadly left Germany and Ji behind....
Berlin - what a fantastically brilliant city in so many ways.
One of the things I am discovering about this blog is that, after a couple of days have passed, it's hard to remember all the things which have happened - because so much happens. It's kind've amazing how much you can pack into a day!!
Berlin was hot - in so many many ways... But temperature wise it was hot. Yah - some serious heat at last (although there was some on earlier parts of the trip I guess!!) - and this seemed to make the days, the people and the place more relaxed and langued - except my sister who didn't like the heat at all...
I did all kinds of things in Berlin - and as a suggestion for anyone who is going there - do one of the walking tours first - it'll give you a brilliant overview and insight into the city and where things are. Also, stay in Mitte - the historical part seems to mostly be in the old East Berlin.
The walking tour showed me all kinds of interesting things: where Berlin started (did you know that in Germany they pick the starting date of a city by the oldest document/reference that has been found to the city - so in Berlin it's something like 1239 - even if it's been around longer than that), one of the last beach bars, how to tell old East Berlin from West Berlin (generally the trams, the pre-fab buildings and pedestrian crossing lights (although they are now been used in West Berlin), the museum island, the monument to war (with a very powerful sculpture in it of a mother holding her dead son), Humboldt University where Marx studied, Einstein taught and 29 Noble Prize winners have come from, the prettiest square in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie (where the guard post is not the original and a fence had to be put up to stop the woman who owns the Checkpoint Charlie museum from putting up crosses - she's been voted the most embarrassing Berliner for a few years running apparently), the SS torture prison - which I went back to, Hitler's bunker where he died (it's now marked by a sign which was totally unexpected when it went up), the Wall (there's not much left now), the Holocaust memorial (which is very very must go see), the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel where the gloved one dangled his baby, the Reichstag (the dome of which was closed for cleaning). Woven into the tour was a stunningly informative commentary - so very worth it.
One of the things that struck me about Berlin is that it's really easy to forget that not only is there the whole history of East/West Berlin but there was the Nazis before hand.
What else do I do in Berlin? Well, visited the gay museum (which was ok'ish - mostly gay history about Berlin, although it did have Maplethorpes's photo of William Burroughs standing in a William Tell pose (which is how Burroughs, out of it on LSD, had previously tried with his wife - unfortunately, he missed the apple). Had currywurst - I came, I currywursted, I left. More food. The DDR museum (on the history of East Berlin) - interesting but didn't really play up how the DDR was the most perfect police state to date, it did mention how things weren't available, but how there was employment, everyone had what they needed (do you really need a plasma screen?). It didn't, however, explore the psychology of what it must have been like to have been in East Berlin seeing the west and freedom but not being able to get there.
Which reminds me of the holocaust memorial - it is amazing - huge blocks on uneven ground that you walk through and it gives a sense of disorientation. But, controversial as it's only to the jews - what about the gays, the gypsies, the others murdered? So Berlin has agreed to two more memorials - one for the gays and the other for the gypsies. This has got Berliners asking - when is enough enough? The other controversy is that the anti-graffiti coating on the blocks is made by some company that has some connection to IG Farben - which made zyklon b which was the gas used to gas the victims of the holocaust. I also thought it ironic that the memorial is diagonally across the road from Hitler's bunker where he committed suicide.
Anyway, the history of East/West Berlin is fascinating - you've got to wonder at the psyche of people who have to wall in people so that they can't leave. You've also got to wonder about the wall in Berlin - and how that's what the jews are doing in Israel to the Palestinians. Yet the jews don't seem to get that they are creating a ghetto - which is what they were put in 60 years ago...
There was more food in Berlin, the Altes Museum seeing things which were thousands of years old (Greek and Roman), Nephretiti (or however that's spelt), amazing old papyrus, chocolate, cakes, meandering, wandering, looking, checking out, caiprihinias (which are great when it's hot - addicted to the brown sugar I think) and then it was leaving....
So on Friday it was a last wander around and then out to Berlin Tegel airport to catch the plane to Stansted and then to Glasgow. Sweet. Checked in sweet. Had a last chat to Ji. Sweet. Said goodbye to Ji. Sad. Passed through security. Searched. Again. But sweet. Then waited. And waited. And waited. And waited for Air Berlin to fly the spare part needed from Munich to Berlin to fix the plane. And waited. And three hours late left Berlin. Arrived in London. Told that we were booked on Easy Jet the next day and had a hotel for the night. Opps. Didn't they tell us in Berlin? Opps. No trains or other planes, Heathrow had been shut, the weather had been abysmal earlier in the day. No real problems for us (it was the Hilton) but meant I couldn't see Helen and Mark, and meet Nicole, until the next day (today) and for the people travelling to weddings in Glasgow it was a major bummer. The weather though in the UK has been abysmal and the mechanical fault in Berlin was just life...
So a hotel for the night where I got reminded how expensive things are in pounds. Sure, 7 dollars for a glass of wine in a restaurant in NZ is cheap - 7 pounds though convered to about $20 dollars is like ouch. Or 3 pounds for a cup of coffee (about $9NZ) in the restaurant.. Double ouch.
So be it though.
This morning is was EasyJet to Glagow - interesting, most cramped seats ever, a scramble to get on the plane (no allocated seating) - but we got here safely. To be met by Mark. Who told us how two weeks ago there was a terrorist attack at Glasgow airport! Go figure.
And finally I got to see my friend Helen and meet her beautiful daugher Nicole! Yah!
I've just been called for food - so better go!!
Yah!
ps. Just a thought - the pedestrian lights here in Glasgow have a seconds countdown so you know how long before they turn green and you can cross the road. Most excellent... :)
Berlin - what a fantastically brilliant city in so many ways.
One of the things I am discovering about this blog is that, after a couple of days have passed, it's hard to remember all the things which have happened - because so much happens. It's kind've amazing how much you can pack into a day!!
Berlin was hot - in so many many ways... But temperature wise it was hot. Yah - some serious heat at last (although there was some on earlier parts of the trip I guess!!) - and this seemed to make the days, the people and the place more relaxed and langued - except my sister who didn't like the heat at all...
I did all kinds of things in Berlin - and as a suggestion for anyone who is going there - do one of the walking tours first - it'll give you a brilliant overview and insight into the city and where things are. Also, stay in Mitte - the historical part seems to mostly be in the old East Berlin.
The walking tour showed me all kinds of interesting things: where Berlin started (did you know that in Germany they pick the starting date of a city by the oldest document/reference that has been found to the city - so in Berlin it's something like 1239 - even if it's been around longer than that), one of the last beach bars, how to tell old East Berlin from West Berlin (generally the trams, the pre-fab buildings and pedestrian crossing lights (although they are now been used in West Berlin), the museum island, the monument to war (with a very powerful sculpture in it of a mother holding her dead son), Humboldt University where Marx studied, Einstein taught and 29 Noble Prize winners have come from, the prettiest square in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie (where the guard post is not the original and a fence had to be put up to stop the woman who owns the Checkpoint Charlie museum from putting up crosses - she's been voted the most embarrassing Berliner for a few years running apparently), the SS torture prison - which I went back to, Hitler's bunker where he died (it's now marked by a sign which was totally unexpected when it went up), the Wall (there's not much left now), the Holocaust memorial (which is very very must go see), the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel where the gloved one dangled his baby, the Reichstag (the dome of which was closed for cleaning). Woven into the tour was a stunningly informative commentary - so very worth it.
One of the things that struck me about Berlin is that it's really easy to forget that not only is there the whole history of East/West Berlin but there was the Nazis before hand.
What else do I do in Berlin? Well, visited the gay museum (which was ok'ish - mostly gay history about Berlin, although it did have Maplethorpes's photo of William Burroughs standing in a William Tell pose (which is how Burroughs, out of it on LSD, had previously tried with his wife - unfortunately, he missed the apple). Had currywurst - I came, I currywursted, I left. More food. The DDR museum (on the history of East Berlin) - interesting but didn't really play up how the DDR was the most perfect police state to date, it did mention how things weren't available, but how there was employment, everyone had what they needed (do you really need a plasma screen?). It didn't, however, explore the psychology of what it must have been like to have been in East Berlin seeing the west and freedom but not being able to get there.
Which reminds me of the holocaust memorial - it is amazing - huge blocks on uneven ground that you walk through and it gives a sense of disorientation. But, controversial as it's only to the jews - what about the gays, the gypsies, the others murdered? So Berlin has agreed to two more memorials - one for the gays and the other for the gypsies. This has got Berliners asking - when is enough enough? The other controversy is that the anti-graffiti coating on the blocks is made by some company that has some connection to IG Farben - which made zyklon b which was the gas used to gas the victims of the holocaust. I also thought it ironic that the memorial is diagonally across the road from Hitler's bunker where he committed suicide.
Anyway, the history of East/West Berlin is fascinating - you've got to wonder at the psyche of people who have to wall in people so that they can't leave. You've also got to wonder about the wall in Berlin - and how that's what the jews are doing in Israel to the Palestinians. Yet the jews don't seem to get that they are creating a ghetto - which is what they were put in 60 years ago...
There was more food in Berlin, the Altes Museum seeing things which were thousands of years old (Greek and Roman), Nephretiti (or however that's spelt), amazing old papyrus, chocolate, cakes, meandering, wandering, looking, checking out, caiprihinias (which are great when it's hot - addicted to the brown sugar I think) and then it was leaving....
So on Friday it was a last wander around and then out to Berlin Tegel airport to catch the plane to Stansted and then to Glasgow. Sweet. Checked in sweet. Had a last chat to Ji. Sweet. Said goodbye to Ji. Sad. Passed through security. Searched. Again. But sweet. Then waited. And waited. And waited. And waited for Air Berlin to fly the spare part needed from Munich to Berlin to fix the plane. And waited. And three hours late left Berlin. Arrived in London. Told that we were booked on Easy Jet the next day and had a hotel for the night. Opps. Didn't they tell us in Berlin? Opps. No trains or other planes, Heathrow had been shut, the weather had been abysmal earlier in the day. No real problems for us (it was the Hilton) but meant I couldn't see Helen and Mark, and meet Nicole, until the next day (today) and for the people travelling to weddings in Glasgow it was a major bummer. The weather though in the UK has been abysmal and the mechanical fault in Berlin was just life...
So a hotel for the night where I got reminded how expensive things are in pounds. Sure, 7 dollars for a glass of wine in a restaurant in NZ is cheap - 7 pounds though convered to about $20 dollars is like ouch. Or 3 pounds for a cup of coffee (about $9NZ) in the restaurant.. Double ouch.
So be it though.
This morning is was EasyJet to Glagow - interesting, most cramped seats ever, a scramble to get on the plane (no allocated seating) - but we got here safely. To be met by Mark. Who told us how two weeks ago there was a terrorist attack at Glasgow airport! Go figure.
And finally I got to see my friend Helen and meet her beautiful daugher Nicole! Yah!
I've just been called for food - so better go!!
Yah!
ps. Just a thought - the pedestrian lights here in Glasgow have a seconds countdown so you know how long before they turn green and you can cross the road. Most excellent... :)
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