My travelling adventures...

Hi! Well i back in Australia - back at work and everything... :( .

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Hi!  Well we have been to Sihanoukville - not the idyllic beach getaway we were envisioning (however you spell it :) ) but it was still... well I'll tell you about it... the bus ride was ok there... but as we arrived a day earlier than planned we couldn't get into our first choice of accom but thatwas ok - still got a beachfront hotel room... we went diving the next day - Stella and I had a huge boat to ourselves it was amazing... It took a few hours to get out to the dive site and this time stella couldn't make it down as I had passed my cold onto her :(  But the diving was good - nice and relaxing -altho not entirely clear (from above tho it was absolutely beautiful blue water near lovely green island)... The next day we did an overnight trip - it was meant to be to Ko Tang - about 4 hours out... but they told us when we were already on our way out there that cos of bad weather we would be going near where we went yesterday and doing the overnight there - Stella and I weren't that impressed as the boat wasn't exactly catered for an overnight expedition and the diving wasn't overly brilliant to be doing 5 dives there (Stella was able to make it down diving)... so we had 2 dives during the day and I did a niht dive as well... was all ok but nothing brilliant... Then we spent the night in the howling wind on the top deck of the boat with tarps down along the side that flapped in the breeze sleeping on gym mats - not a good nights sleep.  We didnt bother diving the next day and waited for the open water student to finish his dives before we made our way back in the rough weather (wasnt that bad - was meant to be 5-6m swell - didnt feel like that at all tho).  And of course when we got back our accomodation hadnt saved our room at Coasters so we stayed where we spent our first night which was all ok.  We didnt remember that we hadnt paid Coasters for our night there - but dnt worry they somehow tracked us down 3 days later when we were on a bus back to Phnom Penh (he phoned the bus driver to get hold of us! - very bizarre!). 
From Sihanoukville we headed to what tur books describe as pretty Kampot... hmm - we stayed by the river in a really nice place so we just hung out there and had some amazing BBQ pork ribs at a place - the Rusty Keyhole - nearby for lunch - never eaten so much meat in my life!  The next day was a bus back to Phnom Penh - which did a loop to Kep (which did look beautiful and quiet) and back to P. Penh.  We did a bit of shopping and then today we caught the boat to Siem Reap.... It was a looooooong 5.5hr boat ride - but we made it eventually - the place we are staying is a bit out of town but really nice.  Have been dong a bit of market shopping this arvo (well I have  - silver jewellery is cheap!!!) We are getting up for the sunrise at Angkor Wat - hiring bicycles for the day and making our way round - should be good.
Then the day after I will be leaving :(  gone so quick - altho HCMC feels like ages ago now.
Anyway hope everyone is doing great...
Later gators!

Hi from Pnom Penh :)
I just did an entry and it got wiped so this one will be a lot shorter...

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This was Stella's comment when we saw this poor drenched nun getting out of a canoe ride that we missed out on being on - thanks to a number of boat and bus changes throughout the day... (was pretty funny but guess you had to be there). 
We started off at 7.30am lugging our baggage across the main square to a separate bus to the rest of the people that had been waiting... - only to swap over to the original bus about 2hrs later....  We went thru some local floating markets and round some villages and then we went on a canoe ride up to this island where we had lunch... After lunch we were told to join a different group and cycle across part of the island to join another boat (where it was promised our luggage would be)...  As we were waiting for the boat we could see a sheet of rain heading straight for us along the river... our group all managed to be tucked inside the boat before it hit... unfortunately the other group that was joining us didn't make it back from their canoe ride in time and got absolutely sodden... Ad also unfortunately my day pack didn't make it on the boat either (luckily it joined me at the fancy hotel where only Stella and I from the group are staying - but it is very lovely :) )
We then had to catch a bus to Can Tho (where we are staying tonight)... and as there was a major traffic jam (apparently takes over 2hrs to get on the ferry across the river) the guide told us we should walk the 10mins to the ferry (in the rain of course) - so we all bought plastic ponchos and did the walk... we ended up in this metal cage with all these scooters waiting for the enxt ferry (40mins apart) we were lucky as one was just pulling in - but we had to fight for space as obvsiouly no one wanted to be waiting for the next one - so our group of about 16 had to fight our way across the cage in bewteen scooters scootering along to get out and onto the ferry - rather scary excercise! wish i was coordiinated enough to have the video camera running for that one but i know that an accident would have been inevitable...
I can't remember the names of the actual villages we visited - but i do know we are in Can Tho tonight - and it is quite nice here - fairly pretty... went for a walk by the river after dinner (stopped by some mini markets along the way:) - nothing like a good bargain before bedtime! :) )
Today was a bit disorganised, with one of the guides being particualry disppaointing in just trying to make more money from us all (offering other 'upgrades' etc etc) and the delta was a bit... dirty in some places... but it was still a good day in the end and I do think we have gotten to the nicer part of the delta now... and the locals have generally been very friendly, smiley and helpful... off to see some more of the delta tomorrow... :)
Happy NY!

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well... stella and I managed to get across the road using frogger maneuveurs last nite (my heart was pounding - i was sure that minivan was going straight for us! - let alone all the scooters!)... there is a huge park across the road that had all these stalls so we finally decided on a clean looking one and had some pork rib thing...  listened to some vietnamese screeching (think they were singing) and ventured back to the hotel...  Today - we were meant to get picked up at 8.30 for Cu Chi tunnels... well we got picked up with 2 other girls at our hotel and delivered to this bus which had a couple too many people... and anyway about an hour later we got pushed off the bus - cos it was apparently the wrong one!! (going up to Nha Trang half way up the coast) so a taxi driver took us back into town... The hotel was really apologetic and gave us some flowers each which was nice...  The rest of the day we wandered around - went to the war remnants museum which was pretty interesting and had some gruesome photos of what happened...
Tonight we went for a meal across the road and the very top of this lop-sided restaurant... and it poured I mean POURED with rain - the roads got flooded people were crossing the road up to their knees in water... 2 hours later we thought we would venture back while there was a break in the weather - only half way up my shins... and ohh its is lovely shuffling along in flip flops through dirty water with bit of noodles etc floating past...  all part of the fun tho ;)
Well we have booked thru a different company for tomorrow's adventure to the Mekong Delta... the hotel where we are staying (superior class) looks pretty fancy so it should be good... not sure whether the village we are staying at will do many NY celebrations but am sure Stella and I will have fun.
Anyway nearly bed time...

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Howdy! Well I have started my 3week Vietnam/Cambodia adventure - yay!!! 

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Sorry - very slack!
Well France was great - we had brilliant weather the first 3 days, then a bit showery the 4th and on the 5th we were glad to be heading abck to the UK (altho the weather wasn't much better there either).
The fast ferry ride over from Dover was good - had beautiful weather across there and got to Montrueil-sur-mer around 4...  Apparently it where Les Mes was written and it is a gorgeous little town with nice old buildings and cobbled streets and an old city wall that you can walk along. Had the most delicious dinner that night at the restaurant across from the hotel - we were all completely full after the 3-course meal and amused ourselves (and the waiters) by playing some games at the table.  The next day we went to a nearby chocolate factory and then onto the seaside at Le Touquet where we sat on the beach a while, then strolled along the streets.  Only had a nibble for dinner as we were still digesting the previous night's meal! :)  On Saturday we did a little tourist drive thru the country-side and ended up at Le Berck for a beach picnic and a laze-about. Went back through Rue (Unesco listed).
On Sunday we took it easy as it was our last day in Montrueil... we did a long drive to Boulogne - going through a number of little villages including Hesdin and Fressin - at Fressin we did a tour of a 16th century chateau - owned by the Crequy family - it was all in ruins but it was a beautiful setting.  We also went to Avincourt - where a big battle between the french and english occurred 25 Oct 1415 (that date is stamped into my brain from the museum we went to) - spent about 2hrs at the museum giving details about the battle etc and that had cardboard cutouts of fighting men all through the village - was pretty funny.  We got to Bolougne about 5 - the hotel was nowhere near as nice as our previous one - but it was in the centre of the new town so it was easy enough to make our way around without having to drive. So monday we walked up to the old town, walked along the city wall and then shopped in the new town after a very yummy lunch.  On our departure day we went up the coast towards Calais... we got out for a bit of a walk at a lighthouse which had some old WWII bunkers nearby - and we all got compltely drenched by the rain - that then lasted the rest of the day.  After Uncle Guy had stocked up on his wine we managed to get an earlier ferry (3pm) to make our way back to Dover, then the 2hr drive back to Great Missenden.
I was going to try and catch a matinae on the Wednesday in London but not too much was on - so just went up for the evening to meet up with Carmel again - we had some more coconut mohitos! I stayed the night at her place in East Croydon, then met up with Kristin and Tom the following day for lunch at Las Iguanas (South American restaurant on the river bank).  After lunch Kristin and I went for a little boat ride down the Thames to Grenwich which was very nice.  The guy doing the commentary was pretty funny.  Then it was time to head back to Great Missenden for my last night in England.  Just had a pretty quiet evening with Auntie Christine and Uncle Greg and mum - played some cards, watched some tv, finished packing and went to bed. 
Our flight was 11.50am on Friday.  We got to fly on the upper deck of one of the new A380s - it was only 5 weeks old or something.  Apparently they have 2inches more leg room - width and length ways - can definitely tell (even a shorty like me)! Altho mum's TV didnt work most of the way - luckily she is a good sleeper!  They had problems with a few of the TVs - they gae mum $75 to spend on in-flight duty free which was good.  Only had 1.5hr stopover in Singapore which went very quickly, then back on the plane - normal old aircraft.  Seemed to take a long time but we both managed to sleep a fair bit.  Arrived ~8pm.  Dad decided he could record the football and pick us up (he got someone else to drop us off)... Now it is 1pm Sunday and I am ready for bed.  :)  Going over to my new house-sit place later on the afternoon and then work tomorrow - urgh!
Hope everyone is happy and well :)
Speak soon!
(Have put up more pictures on facebook - can use the link from my last post)

Hi. Well we went to Stratford on the Friday - it was pouring with rain.  The miserable weather didn't inspire us (altho the village is really pretty) so only stayed a couple of hours and went back home again.  Neil had arrived very early that morning from Sweden - so took it easy, caught up with him, watched a movie etc...

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Hi.  Well the first few days have passed in a blur... haven't been up to too much - just getting in the 'zone,' doing a bit of shopping, visiting some of the local villages, a few wanderings round the town etc etc. 
Went and saw Wicked yesterday with mum, Uncle Guy and Auntie Lynne - I had just finished reading the book a couple of days beforehand.  the book was great... and the show was fantastic - had brilliant singers in it - especially Ephalaba (the Wicked Witch of the West)... the costumes were really good and all of the effects etc. It was a bit different to the book but was still a really good story - would see it again!  It was as great as i was expecting!  Afterwards we met up with Auntie Christine and Uncle Greg (the ones we aren't staying with at the moment) and had a yummy Indian... then got back rather late... off to stratford tomorrow check out Shakespear's digs :) then the wedding the following day :)

Later!

Well first of all i should apologise for all of you not in Oz - so haven't had much of an update... Obviously I got back safe n sound... loved living with my old flatmate, and the 6 weeks just flew by until i left for the uk!

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