Around the World Trip: East Coast Oz (part 1)

Wednesday 16th February

My last post left me flying to Australia with high hopes but not really knowing what to expect. What I have seen so far makes me love this country! For a start, being in a similar culture is a relief after failing to blend in to surroundings somewhat in Thailand due to the obvious physical limitations! Also the people have been friendly and the scenery stunning (not just on Bondi Beach!).

On arrival in Sydney I had just missed a rain shower (yes! – still no rain since early January) and guess what? My hostel was both well situated and a decent place to stay! At last. So after struggling to really meet people in Thailand, it was the other extreme and motormouth time as I repeated the same things to countless numbers of people whilst forgetting everything they said, before burning myself out and crashing out in my bunk! Continue reading →

A Singapore Sling cocktail

Around the World Trip: Singapore

Despite the many hassles, I was sad to leave Thailand, so as I went to the airport and paid the departure tax (work that one out – if you don’t pay you can’t leave?!), I left a little piece of my heart, and a layer of skin (post sunburn) in the land of smiling faces.

The short flight to Singapore was pretty empty, so I could stretch out and enjoy the spectacular views of the hundreds of ships passing through the straits as we came in to land. Hotel Orchid 81 was the place of residence for Stewie JT 29, a hotel that holds the world record for the smallest rooms… probably. Following the common theme of my stay in Asia, the hotel was not close to anything, although the public transport system is efficient and cheap so it was no big deal this time… except that my hotel was in Geylang (the red light district). Continue reading →

Tsunami damage in Krabi

Around the World Trip: Thailand (part 4)

Last post, I’d just spent my first night in Lamai. The second day and night passed quietly. The resort is mainly for older couples, plus it does seem to be affected by people cancelling their holiday to Thailand – a complete over-reaction seeing as the tsunami hit the other coast! On my final day I decided to try a Thai massage that, for those who don’t know, basically involves the masseur twisting, contorting and stretching the victim’s body (who at this point is trying to remember where he has put his insurance details), plus occasionally kneeing or elbowing at various strategic points and sometimes cupping the balls (not sure if she meant that!). Probably should have gone for the safe bet of oil massage instead. Continue reading →

The steps up to Doi Sethup temple

Around the World Trip: Thailand (part 3)

So after the trip to Chiang Rai etc. the day before (I forgot to mention, the guide’s name was Ping Pong!), I had one thing left to do in Chiang Mai – visit the Doi Suthep temple, halfway up a mountain 10km outside of town. So despite having a dodgy stomach (I’m surprised it took this long!) I haggled a reasonable price with a taxi driver and began the journey along the winding roads. I’d heard good things about this place, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered in the heat and with my ‘condition’.

Upon arrival I was met with the sight of 300+ steps to the top and wondered if I could make it. But being told that the toilet was at the top was like a carrot to a donkey Continue reading →

Around the World Trip: Thailand (part 1)

Wednesday 19th January

I am in an internet cafe in Bangkok. It is exactly as everyone says. Hot, humid, smelly, overcrowded and very polluted. My flight was a bit of a nightmare. When I landed in Singapore for my connecting flight I went to the departure lounge only to be told that I was on the next flight. So I had to sit and watch all the people from my earlier flight get on the plane while I twiddled my thumbs for a few hours.

Then I realised that they had taken my ticket and went to get it back but found the gate closed! Eventually it was sorted out when a woman at the helpdesk tracked down the woman who took it and reunited me with it. Apparently she wondered why she had an extra ticket! Continue reading →