Backpacking

The New World Lodge, Bangkok. Our home after leaving the Viengtai for the last time (it's weird how we actually felt attached to it having stayed there so many times!) It was only 5mins down the road, but not knowing that we grabbed a taxi and agreed to a really low price of 20baht (about 30p). Got taken round the houses with a brochure of things to do in the city in or laps (the whole damn place seems to just run off commission from Tuk-Tuks & Taxis) for just over 25mins. He told us about the zoo, the palace, a water park, concerts, shopping, and allsorts. Even after trying desperately to tell him we had spent so much time in Bangkok and done so much there, and the brutal fact that we left at 0630 the following day so couldn't possibly go with him allover the city. He seemed very annoyed and tried to argue that we had to pay him more than we agreed. Pillock. Considering that their culture demonstrates honesty and honor so strongly, it is weird how they try and rip off tourists. I'm so used to it now though. Tanzania, SEA... if you're white - you're rich and stupid. I'm sure not rich, and not so stupid. But I was the one who got in the taxi... meh.

Right! So, in the hotel. Read the sign from our new tour leader: Bo. (*Selecta*) Sorry. He cracked the joke before I did and any other brit. The usual stuff, a few spelling mistakes and warnings of the scamming Tuk-tuks that are the supposed inherent evil in Bangkok. And the list of names on the trip. #1: Tom. Of course, why wouldn't I be number 1...
It continued...
Lou, Jess, Jess, Naomi, Rachel, Meredith, Carrie, Kelly, Anne, Annabel, Donna.

Shit.

As cool as girls are, guys are just better. (whack! Lou actually just hit me...) You know what I mean. Guys hang out with guys, girls with girls, or at least a good mix! If there had been at least one guy... (yes, Bo is a guy, but also our tour leader so busy quite a lot)

We met them, and they too were shocked at the lack of testosterone in 11 of us. Bo thought it was hilarious, but as an outrageously bad flirt (but weirdly good at it with Cambodian women) was not complaining! I feel like I'm giving a bad impression of him, which I really hope I'm not, because he's a legend!

Anyway...

0600 - that bloody annoying thing I call 'Alarm'. It wakes me up, screaming at me. Not my friend.

Up, dressed, and breakfast. I had rice and pork, with egg and potato. Come on: live with the locals, eat like the locals (and get the squits like the westerners) Then, after talking with the others to get to know the enemy... (whack). We got on the bus. (grrr).

In the 4 hours to the border at Poipet, everyone was asleep but me. I played my gameboy. He-he. I'm such a child. Then border control. Leave Thailand, and go into Cambodia. The first time that foreigners got the short queue! (There was a funky foreigner queue and a Cambodian one. Score!!!)
Neat stamps into the passport (it's looking really good now with the new Cambodian visa). And onwards.

It was incredible to see the obvious difference from Thailand immediately over the border! Casinos (a break from the illegal gambling laws), dirt road, peasants and beggars everywhere. It was quite a shock how different the two places really are!

But one thing that the journey showed, was how beautiful Cambodia really is. The miles of soaking rice paddies, the blue skies, the lack of pollution in the country.

And fond memories of what it is like to be in a 3rd world country where not all roads are, well, roads! Dancing road! Crazy for 3.5hrs! Bouncing, rocking, splashing, and just about every type of motion a vehicle can do. The lack of aircon, the lack of oxygen, the bruises, the sick girls. Paradise on Earth... I played game boy...

After the slog, we were there. Civilization in Cambodia. Siem Reap. The flg of the nation based on the local temples at Angkor. The constant images of Tomb Raider style of scenery (it was filmed here). The place was new. Yes!

I loved Thailand, but I needed a new adventure, a new place to get to know and to explore. And I was here. Cambodia. Bring it on.

The land of the Cambodians, The Khmer. A history most people don't know about - both ancient and modern. The most amazing, is how recent their modern history really is...

I have a lot to see, & I can't wait!!!

Ok, so the best place to start with I guess, is leaving Malaysia.
We left Penang pretty early in a minibus, in which we travelled in across the border into Thailand, which was pretty weird.

Have our visa checked, photos taken, watched over by men with rifles, and having to bribe the malaysians just to let us leave the country! Admittedly only 1 ringit each (which is about 18p) but still bizarre!

An hour into Thailand, we then changed onto the promised 1.5hour bus journey...

5 hours later we arrived in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Yes, I dd just say 5 hours. Thanks Dan! We stayed in China Town at the Thai Hotel and just had a look around the town. Not anything special, but noone here speaks English so quite a pleasant surprise! Means I can practice my Thai!

The next day we went to the Temple here - the largest Buddhist Temple in southern Thailand. Really impressive, and as it is the end of the water festival there were loads of ceremonies going on. I was a little upset to find that on the last 2 days of the festival (the time we were in Nakhon Si Thammarat) the water fights don't happen. And these water fights are crazy. People though buckets from cars, supersoakers on bikes, bottles in prams, and water just about anywhere!

Anyhoo, it was very cool, and a new expeience into Buddhist culture and Monks.

Then, onto Koh Samui. A bus journey and a ferry later we were there. In the baking 42C heat. And hot it is. Ouch! Not humid anymore, but really really hot!

We have been staying in the Sandy Resort, on Bo Phut beach. It's really nice. And the location is awesome. A peaceful beach, not really touristy, loads of fish etc, and great food. We arrived at about 4, so went into the sea pretty much straight away. The warm water is so nice to swim into, and the view is amazing. Imagine the pictures you see of far away and exotic places: I'm there!

We went for a really really good meal at The Happy Elephant, where I had freshly barbqueued red-snapper & rice. Wow. It was so nice - possibly the best meal since leaving England, and yes... it was fish! Me, the non fish eater, eating fish. A fresh red-snapper from the block of ice in the restaurant. Unfortuantely Dan took the eyes before I had a chance to... pity that...

The following morning was an early wakeup, and a power boat trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park for snorkelling. And snorkelling doesn't give it justice. It was the best sealife I've ever seen. Literally thousands of fish. If you put some bread into the water infront of you, you would have a frenzy of fish racing for it - all arounf you! They would eat from our hands and stroke against us as we swam. After that we went to the main Island in the park (of the 42 in it) for lunch and a hangout on the beach. The best beach I've been to - ever.

After splashing around in the sea, we went off to visit the Emerald Lake, an area where The Beach was filmed. Unfortunately we couldn't swim here because of the Reef Sharks etc in the water, but we all wanted to - it is so attractive and inviting!

Back on Koh Samui, after a really good day out, Lou & I went for a meal at the Hotel Restaurant, then out into Chewang.

We went to a Cabaret.

A Lady-boy cabaret.

He he...

It was, well, bizarre. But really really good at the same time. The show was really impressive - a properly done cabaret, with big costumes, music, dancing, singing, etc. Sometimes it was hard to believe that all of the people in the show were men. Obviously, some were really awful and scary (like the one that took a fancy for Noel!), but some weren't at all. And when one of them takes off their clothes (except briefs) and transforms from a woman into a man, you're left quite, well, I don't really know what. Confused, perhaps?

Today we are back in Chewang, the main tourist area of Samui, and it really isn't that nice. It's like a European holiday resort. Busy beach, loads of expensive beach activities, stalls and bars everywhere, and at holiday prices. I'm glad we are staying where we are.

Although the beach was pretty funny - the vendors walking the beach with clothes, ice-cream, etc all pester you at least 3 times each. Oh, and if someone walks up to you, shows you a hammock, makes you come closer to see it, and suddenly a small pack of weed is in his hand, with the subtle statement: "You want majurana?". Ok. First of all, if you're going to sell drugs, get the name right. But secondly, when someone refuses, don't go: " Oh, ok, so you want opium or coke instead?". Obviously turning down the weed meant that I'm into the more 'proper' drugs. Don't worry mum, I'm joking!

So, higher than a kite on helium, off I trotted across the beach. All I know now is that I'm in an internet cafe, wearing a dress, I have someone elses underwear on and a tag in a rather 'personal' area saying "snip me". Hang on, that was last week... oh whatever...

Advice to all those who read. Come to Koh Samui, but not the touristy bits! It's all expensive, hence the no Scuba diving here (that will have to wait until Koh Samet). The only thing that's reasonably cheap is the food. And accomodation. And a few other activities. That's about it really...

Oh, and the ladyboys are cheap too (I'm told).

Off now, back to our beach paradise.

Spank you later!

Asia.

A new continent, new cultures, and a new timezone.

13:00 - Wakeup.

I know we were out late at the Bugis Street Market (it's a very cool place - we've been another two times since the first night), but a lie-in certainly was not planned. A bit annoyed, we got up quickly, ready to explore. We'd planned to go to Orchard Road, and as we knew it all stayed open to at least 9pm, we were OK.

Orchard Road -
It's massive. Uber-massive. 10 Trafford Centres, 10 Bullrings, and a few other 6 story high shopping centres, hundreds of restaurants, shed-loads of stalls... oh, and one or two people along the way. If you want to shop - come here. It has everything. Mostly clothing, but every type. From the top designers, to cheap/fake T-shirt outlets. Restaurants vary from the ridiculously expensive, ridiculously shite, and just downright crazy. hey even have McDonalds (about 30 really, and Pizza Huts, and Burger Kings, and Subway... I can't escape them - they are literally every where! There's one outside the room I'm in now! Although I'm not on Orchard Road anymore...) I liked it, and it was a lot of fun, but if you just wanted to get a new shirt, you wouldn't know where to begin. My advice - shop here if you are crazy. Louise bought a few nice tops

The Thai Embassy -
It's a building full of Ties... I mean THAIs (*Whack* Stop it Tom! You're just not funny!)
A Thai Visa. Actually really easy to get. Take: 1xPassport, 1xPhoto, 1xSelf. Fill in the form, hand it in with $50 (Singapore Dollars). The problem arose when returning to get it: 100 people wanted visas - none had been done. All crammed into one room, it's Singapore, so it's frigging hot, and the AC is on the blink. A few hours later we got the visas, and left the embassy, back down Orchard Road. Bring on Thailand!

Exploring Singapore is cool. And easy. And cheap. It's huge, and all the buildings are too. A real difference from Arusha!

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) -
it's Singapore's version of the London Underground. Done properly.
It's super-wicked-ace. And cheap. You go to the station, go to the machine, pay the fare, take your card, scan it passed the electronic reader, got to the platform, get on, arrive, go out, get your dollar deposit for the card/ticket back, leave.
Actually that doesn't sound that cool at all. Just take it from me, its like the underground, but better. Clean, smart, modern, efficient, cheaper, calmer... just better... get it?

Sentosa Island - We got there by cable-car. Actually really cool, across a section if jungle and then sea. Off at the other side, at Singapore's paradise island. Home of the biggest Merlion in Singapore, the Skytower, the beaches... and the tourists. Lots of tourists, means tourist prices too. A bit annoying, but the island was a bit disappointing too. We had read the best reviews, asked loads of people, and seen adverts all over the place for this awesome getaway. To find it covered in people spending money left right and center doing the weirdest of activities. Yes, some bits were very cool, like the Luge (sit on a cart, and race down a hill track), only spoilt by the huge queue we had to go through at the start (why am I complaining, us Brits love queuing!) The beaches were nice, palm trees, soft sand, nice bars etc. but after Zanzibar, it just wasn't up to our new superior standard! The fact it was covered in people was probably what was most annoying. Swimming was good though. Got a few pictures. Left. Disappointed, but had some good times. Got on the LRT, over the sea, to Vivo City...

Vivo City -
Singapore's biggest shopping centre. Not a cool place. Busy, huge, and way too typical of a shopping centre, mega-mart, complex, thing! It was awful. The only thing I liked about it was the park on top where I could paddle. We escaped to the MRT pretty quickly, and went back to Dhoby Ghaut (the station nearest the Hangout).

We were a little disappointed with the day, and so decided to go out on a typical Singaporean night out...

The Cathay Cinema & Mr Bean's Holiday -
Alright, I know, very not your everyday traveling experience when on a budget, but it was worth it. Even just for the experience!
It's not that different from a western cinema really, the fish and chips, curry dishes, chicken salads and cakes all go well with popcorn. The guy next to you playing on his phone, texting people, online and anything/everything else you can to on a palmtop rather than watch the film he's just paid to see. The 2 different sets of subtitles along the bottom of the screen, people laughing at the wrong bits, and the mass amounts of people killing themselves laughing when the smallest slapstick gag happened (in a Mr Bean film, that's a lot of dead Asians). That and a damn good film - all in all makes a seriously good night out!

Singapore Zoo - The best zoo I have ever been to. It's naturally in the tropics which helps, but it's just ace! Really big, filled with amazing animals, and simply a really good day out. I did think it was interesting seeing how upset it made me to see all the animals in pens. After living in the African Savannah with the animals out in the wild it's quite a contrast. But it was good to see how much care they really had for the animals, and what they did in the way of rehabilitation, research, and conservation. Being in a jungle full of bats, sloths, marmosets, iguanas, turtles, giant butterflies and all sorts of other weird animals was great. And the free-ranging monkeys and orangutans, wow. A tiny monkey appears on a rock next to you, or an orangutan crosses your path, you just look on with a grin on your face.
The day actually really made me want to do an orangutan conservation project in a jungle somewhere. Who knows...

Our last night at the Hangout was uneventful really: ate out, packed our bags, went to sleep. We were tired after the busy day and weren't really up for doing anything weird.

Goodbye Hangout! Goodbye nice staff! Goodbye free internet! Goodbye big bedroom (apparently the reason it was so big and nice was because we were upgraded for free for being there for so long! I'm certainly not complaining!) Got a taxi from the Hangout, across to China Town, to our hotel for the night - The Royal Peacock. It's smart, but old, and so a little less appealing than the ultra modern/simple Hangout from where we had just come. Checked in, checked out the room, and left. Wow that sounds like we left as in, well, left. We didn't. We temporarily disembarked on a walk around China Town. Isn't that better?

China Town - I'm in it. Right now. Seems bizarre really - China Town in Singapore. Yes, I know Singapore isn't China, but... oh forget it.
It's really quiet. Although it is Sunday and half the places are closed, so I guess we should have planned our visit here a little better. It's not that special really, It's just filled with massage parlours, medicine shops, beauty & hair salons and mobile phone shops. Obviously there are a few other types of shop, but really not in comparison to the above. It's weird. Although I am tempted by the geomancer...

When done here, we'll be going back to the Royal PinCock (childish, I know) and sorting out our bags. Then going to meet our new group. Intrepid here we go.

Bunch of frigging tourists.

Glad I'm not one.

So an unexpected blog. Not meant to be this close to 'civilisation' for a while yet!

Basically, it is the dry season in Tanzania, ie. very hot and DRY. So the huge amount of rain and flash flooding was a bit of a surprise!

We scrambled round in the mud, packed a small bag and went for the jeeps. Wow. I think I want a jeep. It was awesome. Power sliding down hills, bouncing over holes, rattling (literally like a rattle! - I've got the bruises to prove it!) between the floor and ceiling in the back (no seatbelts) and thinking we might just die at the hands of the most insane and brilliant driver I've ever met.

So, we got back to Arusha, and found the Backpackers Hostel and pitched up for the night. Went for a chinese and a few drinks in the bar, and then back to bed.

The night was, well... interesting. Some Germans decided that 0130 was the perfect time to blare rasta music, and to be honest I didn't mind. But the screaming, moaning and manic laughing, and dubious flsh photography behind the door at 0400 was a little bit off-putting. Right, grumpy old Tom here decided he wanted sleep and opened the door to ask for them to be a little bit quieter. So, 3 naked Germans were there. Stark naked. In 'compromising' positions, taking photos of each other.

Enough said. I managed to sleep a bit, have just had breakfast and am about to got and have a bird lecture form our scientist, Jynx.

If youra a little confused, Dave is our expedition leader, Jynx our scientist, Isaya our Maasai instructor, and Lengamai & Ngufu our Escari (Maasai bodyguards).

Got to go now. Hopefully I'll update you soon.

I'm packed, and tired. It's 00:19 and I'm about to go for a quick hour of sleep as I leave in a few hours.

The flight is at 06:10 with 2 hour check-in so I've got to leave at about 03:00. Yay.

I've got everything I think I need, (including tyedye trousers) weighed it all and all seems good. Of course it won't be, I bet I've somehow managed to pack a baby gorilla in there, but I'll stay optimistic for now. Now where did I put that passport...

It's quite odd thinking that I'm about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. 5months away doing things that so many people dream of. I am excited, but as the last few hours go by, I do feel a bit aprehensive. Last person I know to have gone away for a bit didn't come home. God I sound depressing. Guess it's the tiredness.

I know I'll be fine, and as soon as I get to the airport I'll be happy and excited again, but for now I think I'm just looking at all the things I'm going to miss. The people, places and general bits and bobs around that you take for granted and get used to. Guess that's all part of the great adventure.

Right, it's been good doing my first proper 'travel blog', and hopefully there will be a lot more to come.

Living with the Maasai in mud bomas, trekking across the Serengeti, scuba diving on Zanzibar... Nah, I was wrong before, I'm ridiculously excited.

Have fun in the wind of England everyone!