Hello everyone!!
Many greetings from smelly Bangkok! I love it here!!
It was quite a long journey to come, though. After Phi Phi Island we stopped in Phuket for the one night (only to go to the cinema to watch the new Harry Potter movie!!!) and from there to Koh Pha-Ngan Island, on the other side of the country. There we stopped for a few days because of the famous (or infamous) Half-Moon party! I was not too keen but, there you go, I can say now that I have been! it was music called "trans"?? not very exciting to be sure. But the party was in the jungle!!! that was quite cool. But what I enjoyed the most was the fact that in the Bungalows we were staying they treated us like family. We had a barbecue- dinner party before the actual party, with our hosts (a mixed couple: Beat-swiss and Koi-thai), who were really welcoming, and the rest of guests, all young people. And we had a delicious 5 kg Barracuda fish (a cousin from tuna), yummmm!!! and after we went to the party all together, even our hostess Koi, came with us, she liked dancing too!!
After the hangover we had to leave, again! (never stops...) and so we started our journey for Bangkok: taxi, ferry, bus, train... (the train was delayed about 4 hours, so we had quite a good look at the station in Surat Thani! and it was the night train, which took 12 hours to reach Bangkok! thank goodness we were on a sleeper train and we could rest in tiny fitted overhead cupboards that were actually quite confy. except for the fact that we had to get out of bed at 7 am to make them into seats again? bizarre...
But I am loving it here in Bangkok! I could stay, for sure! Now we are living in a smelly hostel in Khao San Road, the travellers' hub in this city, were you can buy nearly everything (there is even a branch of Boots!! I promise, its true, with the same logo and all!!!!). People here are not as friendly as in the south and they always try to trick you but they are harmless, I think. And they are in good spirits (most of the time...). Well, one thing I have to say: I am very surprised at how clean this city is! very well taken care of and very much loved. I am always impressed by how many fotos of the king they have around the town, when he was young, when he was riding a horse, taking a picture.... everything, and very ceremonious! they love him!
I have to leave now, we are checking out!!! oh no!! moving again. many kisses, folks! and please!!! keep posting comments! its always nice to know that you have not forgotten me...yet!
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Hello form Thailand!!
I am having a lot of trouble with my blogger account her in Thailand, because I can't get it in Englis so I will have to learn Thai!!! Anyway, here it goes!
I think last time I left it in Penang, Georgetown, on the west coast of Malaysia... it seems a long time ago, and it was probably only over a week! Penang was a very special place too, (I'm afraid most of the places I have been to seem special to me...) and not because of the sights but, as always, because of the people we met. It is a dirty town, with an echo of decadence. We stayed in Chinatown, were every house had a shrine as a fireplace, lit with candles and incense... very picturesque... walking around it, going to the night market that started at 8pm till late... (probably because it was too hot during the day) and then we met this curious australian man in his 60s, who took us out to dinner and drinks and introduced us to Leg and his band of cockerels (really, you had to see him, with his deep, lonesome voice and his guitar, and these three chicken falling asleep around him, on top of the speakers, anywhere... very unique!
Neville (that's the name of our australian friend) introduced us as well to the little girls in the orphanage where he was teaching English and we went to visit them the next day. What beautiful girls! Each from somewhere different and yet sisters, they enjoyed our company, one of them even wanted to come with us...
But we had to leave! always on the move!! the last few days I have been feeling a bit stressed out, too many buses, ferrys, trips and waking up early and packing my bag!!! I am glad we are staying here in Ko Pha-Ngan for a little while... First it was Krabi Town, which I liked very much too, for a change. there we met a couple of friends from my dearest Kecil Island, and they are such a sweet couple (they are also austrian, so somehow my "compadres"). But after I got a bit "Isled Out" with so many island trips and names and beaches and places and ferrys and long boats and.... anyway: I liked Pi Pi Island too, and again not for the sights (although there are gorgeous beaches, but crowded even in low season!!) I liked the relaxed atmosphere, the maze-like paths, the bicycles (no cars!!), everybody greeting you: "sawadikaa!" and everybody so smiley! there was a reggae bar in the beach,which helped a lot with the relaxing...
I think last time I left it in Penang, Georgetown, on the west coast of Malaysia... it seems a long time ago, and it was probably only over a week! Penang was a very special place too, (I'm afraid most of the places I have been to seem special to me...) and not because of the sights but, as always, because of the people we met. It is a dirty town, with an echo of decadence. We stayed in Chinatown, were every house had a shrine as a fireplace, lit with candles and incense... very picturesque... walking around it, going to the night market that started at 8pm till late... (probably because it was too hot during the day) and then we met this curious australian man in his 60s, who took us out to dinner and drinks and introduced us to Leg and his band of cockerels (really, you had to see him, with his deep, lonesome voice and his guitar, and these three chicken falling asleep around him, on top of the speakers, anywhere... very unique!
Neville (that's the name of our australian friend) introduced us as well to the little girls in the orphanage where he was teaching English and we went to visit them the next day. What beautiful girls! Each from somewhere different and yet sisters, they enjoyed our company, one of them even wanted to come with us...
But we had to leave! always on the move!! the last few days I have been feeling a bit stressed out, too many buses, ferrys, trips and waking up early and packing my bag!!! I am glad we are staying here in Ko Pha-Ngan for a little while... First it was Krabi Town, which I liked very much too, for a change. there we met a couple of friends from my dearest Kecil Island, and they are such a sweet couple (they are also austrian, so somehow my "compadres"). But after I got a bit "Isled Out" with so many island trips and names and beaches and places and ferrys and long boats and.... anyway: I liked Pi Pi Island too, and again not for the sights (although there are gorgeous beaches, but crowded even in low season!!) I liked the relaxed atmosphere, the maze-like paths, the bicycles (no cars!!), everybody greeting you: "sawadikaa!" and everybody so smiley! there was a reggae bar in the beach,which helped a lot with the relaxing...
Thursday, 12 July 2007
The Perhentian Islands
Hello everybody! sorry for not keeping in touch for so long but I have been uncommunicated in a paradise island... I really tried, but no connection to bloggers, sadly, and to even get to civilization we had to walk for an hour through the jungle in a very hot weather!!! so i hope you will excuse the delays.
I have to tell you that the little island of Kecil, in the Perhentian archipielago, on the northeast coast of Malaysia is one of my favourite places in the whole wide world... It is a natural park, full with wildlife, coral reefs, gorgeous beaches, jungle, and really beautiful people (in the real sense). These malays really know how to make you feel at home! we were in a tiny resort with its own private beach called D'Lagoon... the name says everything! well, the beach was not especially sandy (full of coral!!) but that was because all around the little bay there was coral reefs!!!it was amazing just to get your snorkelling gear and swim out... there was Nemos, in their little tiny anemones, all colours and sizes, stingray fish, turtles... and even reef sharks!! (these are the friendly ones, apparently, although I am not sure I would have enjoyed meeting one on my own...). We even had the luck to see a huge turtle (about 70 years old) lay eggs on the beach (on turtle beach). We had to wait for hours at night (12pm) in the dark and in silence until she had dug a huge hole in the sand and layed her eggs and then whenshe was covering them with sand we went to see her. She was gianormous!!! probably very scared of all the flashing lights and people around her, but we had Rais with us, our little jungle boy, who took care that nothing happened to her...
It was quite idyllic, I have to say. That place is a little haven that I would like to go back to (maybe to dive?) the last night we spent it in the "long beach" which is more the "party beach" and sandy, long beach, with a bit more of civilization... only a bit! it was a bit smelly and expensive but it was worth it (the girls needed some social life!! I would have rather stayed at the Lagoon) and we went to a Reggae concert, which was quite funny, the band was local so there was a lot of young malay people dancing (mainly boys, to be honest) and drinking alcohol (which I dont think they handle quite well...) but it was fun meeting some locals. they are short to be sure!!! but very friendly....
And now we are back to civilization. Last night we took the nightbus to Georgetown, at the other end of the paeninsula (I dont quite know how to write it, but you understand), on Penang Island, where we arrived at 4am, and were quite lucky to find accomodation at that time!! in Chinatown. So we slept half day and tomorrow we are heading to Tailand!! (i really want to stay, but I am glad Helen is a practical girl and has convinced me to keep going... too many places to see!!)
I think that is all for now, folks write to you fromo Phuket, I think! many kisses to all the followers and thank you for your comments!! I want more!
I have to tell you that the little island of Kecil, in the Perhentian archipielago, on the northeast coast of Malaysia is one of my favourite places in the whole wide world... It is a natural park, full with wildlife, coral reefs, gorgeous beaches, jungle, and really beautiful people (in the real sense). These malays really know how to make you feel at home! we were in a tiny resort with its own private beach called D'Lagoon... the name says everything! well, the beach was not especially sandy (full of coral!!) but that was because all around the little bay there was coral reefs!!!it was amazing just to get your snorkelling gear and swim out... there was Nemos, in their little tiny anemones, all colours and sizes, stingray fish, turtles... and even reef sharks!! (these are the friendly ones, apparently, although I am not sure I would have enjoyed meeting one on my own...). We even had the luck to see a huge turtle (about 70 years old) lay eggs on the beach (on turtle beach). We had to wait for hours at night (12pm) in the dark and in silence until she had dug a huge hole in the sand and layed her eggs and then whenshe was covering them with sand we went to see her. She was gianormous!!! probably very scared of all the flashing lights and people around her, but we had Rais with us, our little jungle boy, who took care that nothing happened to her...
It was quite idyllic, I have to say. That place is a little haven that I would like to go back to (maybe to dive?) the last night we spent it in the "long beach" which is more the "party beach" and sandy, long beach, with a bit more of civilization... only a bit! it was a bit smelly and expensive but it was worth it (the girls needed some social life!! I would have rather stayed at the Lagoon) and we went to a Reggae concert, which was quite funny, the band was local so there was a lot of young malay people dancing (mainly boys, to be honest) and drinking alcohol (which I dont think they handle quite well...) but it was fun meeting some locals. they are short to be sure!!! but very friendly....
And now we are back to civilization. Last night we took the nightbus to Georgetown, at the other end of the paeninsula (I dont quite know how to write it, but you understand), on Penang Island, where we arrived at 4am, and were quite lucky to find accomodation at that time!! in Chinatown. So we slept half day and tomorrow we are heading to Tailand!! (i really want to stay, but I am glad Helen is a practical girl and has convinced me to keep going... too many places to see!!)
I think that is all for now, folks write to you fromo Phuket, I think! many kisses to all the followers and thank you for your comments!! I want more!
Friday, 6 July 2007
Hello again from Taman Negara Natural Park!
Dear all!! we are livin so many adventures that I barely find the time to write them down in this blog. But I am trying!! this, my first week away has been an intensive one, from the hustle bustle of Kuala Lumpur (by the way, in case anyone is wondering, the houses have many colours, white being one of them...), to the calm atmosphere of the little village of Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands, where we went on an epic quest through the jungle to find the biggest flower in the world, the Rafflesia, that matures for nine months to bloom for 5 days!. a very special flower indeed. It was a very nice adventure made posible by the villagers that own that bit of jungle, who look for the flower and then take the "tourists" to see it. We also visited their little village afterwards, to try the blow pipe they use (or used, better said) for hunting, and it did work, I nearly hit the target!(with a little help). We also visited the Boh Tea Plantations, wich are pretty amazing as well!! (I promise to try and learn how to put photos in this, maybe tomorrow,...)
I have to say, though, that the part I enjoyed most about Tanah Rata was chilling out in the "Jungle Bar" in the evenings, with a bonfire and our host Eddie, who is a real character (he jokes that he looks like Ho-Chi Mihn) and made me feel at home, with a lot of wisedom and advice about all.
But sadly, we left the conforts of Daniel's Lodge in Tanah Rata yesterday morning, to embark on a day long journey through Malaysia (not more than 500 km, maybe, but very difficult roads? Guys, look in the maps: 7am we left Tanah Rata in a minibus to Gua Musang (3 hours) and there we waited for the 10:30am "jungle train" (very picturesque!) that took us to Jerantut (supposedly at 13:13, but time schedules are only approximate in this country). There there was another minibus waiting to take us to the jetty in Kuala Tembeling (about 45 min) where a boat was to take us to the Natural Park of Taman Negara head Quarters in Kuala Tahan (where we are at the moment!). The boat took 3 hours so we arrived in the village absolutely shattered and are still recovering.
Today was only a stroll to the longest canopy walk in the world and then a swim in the river and that is us relaxing, maybe thinking about dinner...?
I have to say, though, that the part I enjoyed most about Tanah Rata was chilling out in the "Jungle Bar" in the evenings, with a bonfire and our host Eddie, who is a real character (he jokes that he looks like Ho-Chi Mihn) and made me feel at home, with a lot of wisedom and advice about all.
But sadly, we left the conforts of Daniel's Lodge in Tanah Rata yesterday morning, to embark on a day long journey through Malaysia (not more than 500 km, maybe, but very difficult roads? Guys, look in the maps: 7am we left Tanah Rata in a minibus to Gua Musang (3 hours) and there we waited for the 10:30am "jungle train" (very picturesque!) that took us to Jerantut (supposedly at 13:13, but time schedules are only approximate in this country). There there was another minibus waiting to take us to the jetty in Kuala Tembeling (about 45 min) where a boat was to take us to the Natural Park of Taman Negara head Quarters in Kuala Tahan (where we are at the moment!). The boat took 3 hours so we arrived in the village absolutely shattered and are still recovering.
Today was only a stroll to the longest canopy walk in the world and then a swim in the river and that is us relaxing, maybe thinking about dinner...?
Sunday, 1 July 2007
A hot day in Kuala Lumpur
Hello children!
we've had a very hot day in Kuala lumpur today. It was great, though. I kept looking around in wonder and amazement. Everything is so different than back home. The streets: some paved, some unpaved, some with drains some with smells, some with traffic lights, some without pedestrian ways... even the birds sound different! not to say the little lizards that we saw. then the contrasts are more obvious when you go from the chinatown area to the over-developed trade centre in the Petronas Towers area. I was amazed at the monorail train! i have never seen one before! and we went on it! quite impressive, i must say. we are going for some beer tonite! quite exciting too! (i mean, i love fruit juice! and there is loads of cheap fruit juice everywhere!!) but in the evening there is nothing like a beer to cool down...
we've had a very hot day in Kuala lumpur today. It was great, though. I kept looking around in wonder and amazement. Everything is so different than back home. The streets: some paved, some unpaved, some with drains some with smells, some with traffic lights, some without pedestrian ways... even the birds sound different! not to say the little lizards that we saw. then the contrasts are more obvious when you go from the chinatown area to the over-developed trade centre in the Petronas Towers area. I was amazed at the monorail train! i have never seen one before! and we went on it! quite impressive, i must say. we are going for some beer tonite! quite exciting too! (i mean, i love fruit juice! and there is loads of cheap fruit juice everywhere!!) but in the evening there is nothing like a beer to cool down...
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