28/01/2005 When they asked for volunteers Steve was no where to be seen!
Saturday, January 29, 2005
A real Mick Dundee (Steve) is not
I tell you what, crocodiles are brilliant! A tad 'jumpy', and very scarey, watched feeding time, the lovely aroma of rotting chicken filling the air as about 100 of 'em jossled for food, hissing and growling a bit too. I think I took way to many pictures but they are so impressive I thought it was worth it. After feeding the big buggers, we looked at the monkeys and snakes, Sian making me laugh when a cobra struck at her through the glass, making her jump a bit!!! Spot the understatement.
Later we had the crocodile show, where someone with very expensive life insurance does various silly things with the crocs, the pictures show a bit but he also had his entire arm in one of their mouths, to say it was a little nerve racking would not be too strong a description. At the end he invited us to touch 'Mr Johns' tail, which we did and it felt like leather. The man in yellow had many scars from his years of idiocy, his mate is lucky to have his left arm but thats another story.....
We then had lots of fun trying to find a hotel in Mae Nam, eventually settling with Lapaz Villas by the sea, we even got to go to Tesco to buy our dinner!!! What a novelty.
Going to spend a couple of days chilling a bit now, enjoying the sun and pondering what life will be like when we have to work again......
Later we had the crocodile show, where someone with very expensive life insurance does various silly things with the crocs, the pictures show a bit but he also had his entire arm in one of their mouths, to say it was a little nerve racking would not be too strong a description. At the end he invited us to touch 'Mr Johns' tail, which we did and it felt like leather. The man in yellow had many scars from his years of idiocy, his mate is lucky to have his left arm but thats another story.....
We then had lots of fun trying to find a hotel in Mae Nam, eventually settling with Lapaz Villas by the sea, we even got to go to Tesco to buy our dinner!!! What a novelty.
Going to spend a couple of days chilling a bit now, enjoying the sun and pondering what life will be like when we have to work again......
Suzuki Jeeps are rubbish (Steve)
Well, after our 4 hour minibus ride to Surat Thani, we were thinking about just staying put instead of getting straight on another boat. The decision was confirmed when we'd missed the last one anyway, cue hotel finding quest. Didnt take us long to find a stange little place where, if you ate there, it was free to use one of their mattress on the floor rooms. Doesnt get more basic than this but we think its cute so go with it. We meet two Irish guys (hereafter known as Morgan and John) that were also heading off to Ko Samui. They were about to get one of the dodgy 7 hours freighters that goes overnight, but we then heard news of a boat sinking the night before. They decided to stay overnight as well and we'd all get the proper ferry in the morning.
It turned out that the boat which sunk was an overloaded speedboat carrying full moon party-goers back to Samui from Ko Pha-Ngan, at 5am. People were on all sorts if you know what I mean, so considering there was 50 people on a boat designed to carry 30. There is very little news of this disaster here but we do know that it was only 3 miles away from Samui's Port.
The ferry was full of girl guides, after the obligatory giggling (them not us) they somehow mananged to persuade Sian to pose for as many pictures as she'd had to indure in India!!
Getting off the ferry we head to Bo Phut where we are booked in to a chalet for a night. ( The lady who let us stay at her place for free sold us an overpiced chalet for the following night.) The resort is nice enough. It has a pool and a bar and a little strip of sand by the beach. But its a resort at the end of the day so we arent really happy there because its full of old men in speedos, we decide one night is enough and we'll get a car tomorrow. The boys are staying to do a fishing trip but hopefully we will meet again in Ko Tah to do the diving course.
The next morning we hire a Suzuki jeep thing, thats rubbish, and pretty crap to drive, still it will get a thrashing for being crap. But, it does let us explore the island, including a slightly scarrey offroad drive to try and get to a viewpoint (we aborted that one). Later we drive to the Hin Lad waterfalls and see a spider the likes of which we should get used to......picture above.
The waterfalls are accesible by a 2km walk up some rough jungle track, with sweat pouring off us like a couple of boxers after 12 rounds we get there, bloody lovely it was too, really cold water to cool off in as well. Check the pictures out but they dont do it justice.
After our watery adventure we headed to the secluded south-west corner of the island, eventually finding the beech huts we wanted were closed for 'a while'. Still there was a better one round the corner (emeral cove), the tide was out -for miles!!- so we walked with the cockle pickers and watched the sun set (again, but it was one of the most beautiful we've seen).
The next day we decide to go to the wildlife sanctuary, which has, it seems, disappeared. Well, we couldnt find it so we drove around untill we found the 'Grandfather Rock', after another unglamourous walk through some woods we find the phalic rock, and a lot of gigling tourists. Check the picture but I dont think its that funny really, I've seen funnier vegetables in my time.......
After a great cliff-top lunch we head to the crocodile farm. I wasnt really thinking they'd have snakes but two minuetes after getting in I find myself with a python round my neck!! Feeling a little ill at ease when he wrapped himself round my thigh, I was relieved when the keeper removed his bulk from my torso. (see my false smile above).
It turned out that the boat which sunk was an overloaded speedboat carrying full moon party-goers back to Samui from Ko Pha-Ngan, at 5am. People were on all sorts if you know what I mean, so considering there was 50 people on a boat designed to carry 30. There is very little news of this disaster here but we do know that it was only 3 miles away from Samui's Port.
The ferry was full of girl guides, after the obligatory giggling (them not us) they somehow mananged to persuade Sian to pose for as many pictures as she'd had to indure in India!!
Getting off the ferry we head to Bo Phut where we are booked in to a chalet for a night. ( The lady who let us stay at her place for free sold us an overpiced chalet for the following night.) The resort is nice enough. It has a pool and a bar and a little strip of sand by the beach. But its a resort at the end of the day so we arent really happy there because its full of old men in speedos, we decide one night is enough and we'll get a car tomorrow. The boys are staying to do a fishing trip but hopefully we will meet again in Ko Tah to do the diving course.
The next morning we hire a Suzuki jeep thing, thats rubbish, and pretty crap to drive, still it will get a thrashing for being crap. But, it does let us explore the island, including a slightly scarrey offroad drive to try and get to a viewpoint (we aborted that one). Later we drive to the Hin Lad waterfalls and see a spider the likes of which we should get used to......picture above.
The waterfalls are accesible by a 2km walk up some rough jungle track, with sweat pouring off us like a couple of boxers after 12 rounds we get there, bloody lovely it was too, really cold water to cool off in as well. Check the pictures out but they dont do it justice.
After our watery adventure we headed to the secluded south-west corner of the island, eventually finding the beech huts we wanted were closed for 'a while'. Still there was a better one round the corner (emeral cove), the tide was out -for miles!!- so we walked with the cockle pickers and watched the sun set (again, but it was one of the most beautiful we've seen).
The next day we decide to go to the wildlife sanctuary, which has, it seems, disappeared. Well, we couldnt find it so we drove around untill we found the 'Grandfather Rock', after another unglamourous walk through some woods we find the phalic rock, and a lot of gigling tourists. Check the picture but I dont think its that funny really, I've seen funnier vegetables in my time.......
After a great cliff-top lunch we head to the crocodile farm. I wasnt really thinking they'd have snakes but two minuetes after getting in I find myself with a python round my neck!! Feeling a little ill at ease when he wrapped himself round my thigh, I was relieved when the keeper removed his bulk from my torso. (see my false smile above).
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
New stamps, new currency and a new time (Sian)
We have arrived in Thailand this morning. We are currently in a city called Hat Yai, which is 10 minutes across the boarder from Malaysia.
The night train was excellent all though a little slow! We were in standard class sleeper and were well impressed by the soft beds, pillows and sheets! The journey was uneventful. The boarder crossing this time was no where near as much fun as the Singapore/Malaysia crossing. We are getting a bus in 30 minutes which will take us to Surat Thani, then on to Ko Samui. We will spend a few days on Ko Samui then head to Ko Tao to catch up with Julia (hear about her meditation course) and jennifer, Susan and Rolf who we met in India.
We are now 7 hours ahead of the uk now so as I am writing this our friends will all be dreaming about another day at work... tee hee!
Will update a little more when we have done some stuff and have some stories to tell...
The night train was excellent all though a little slow! We were in standard class sleeper and were well impressed by the soft beds, pillows and sheets! The journey was uneventful. The boarder crossing this time was no where near as much fun as the Singapore/Malaysia crossing. We are getting a bus in 30 minutes which will take us to Surat Thani, then on to Ko Samui. We will spend a few days on Ko Samui then head to Ko Tao to catch up with Julia (hear about her meditation course) and jennifer, Susan and Rolf who we met in India.
We are now 7 hours ahead of the uk now so as I am writing this our friends will all be dreaming about another day at work... tee hee!
Will update a little more when we have done some stuff and have some stories to tell...
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Is this the hottest city yet? (both)
We arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The first thing we noticed after embarking from the bus was the heat! It is so hot here we are trying to stay in airconditioned places for most of the day.
Yesterday afternoon we strolled around China Town and Little India. To be honest we were both a little grumpy due to the heat, and also the stress of being in a big city after spending a week in quiet sleepy towns. Kuala Lumpa is ok but that's it really.
This morning we have been to the Petronas Towers which was cool! They are the tallest remaining twin towers in the world, at 88 stories and over 400 metres in height. They are the most impressive buildings that we have stood under, or had the chance to visit.
We waited for a good hour to get the tickets which take us a third of the way up (170 metres). The view from the sky bridge was amazing. We could see most of KL including the surronding suburbs. We can't imagine how great the view must be from the top. Not wanting to go outside in the mid day heat (mad dogs and all that...) we decided to stay in an air-conditioned paradise! Sadly to do this involved lots of high street shops. We could have been anywhere in the world, instead we were in Kuala Lumpur. There is a Zara here so we felt completley at home, especially Steve and his credit card!
Can't add photo's today, but the next computer should let us download the software to do so (fingers crossed).
Yesterday afternoon we strolled around China Town and Little India. To be honest we were both a little grumpy due to the heat, and also the stress of being in a big city after spending a week in quiet sleepy towns. Kuala Lumpa is ok but that's it really.
This morning we have been to the Petronas Towers which was cool! They are the tallest remaining twin towers in the world, at 88 stories and over 400 metres in height. They are the most impressive buildings that we have stood under, or had the chance to visit.
We waited for a good hour to get the tickets which take us a third of the way up (170 metres). The view from the sky bridge was amazing. We could see most of KL including the surronding suburbs. We can't imagine how great the view must be from the top. Not wanting to go outside in the mid day heat (mad dogs and all that...) we decided to stay in an air-conditioned paradise! Sadly to do this involved lots of high street shops. We could have been anywhere in the world, instead we were in Kuala Lumpur. There is a Zara here so we felt completley at home, especially Steve and his credit card!
Can't add photo's today, but the next computer should let us download the software to do so (fingers crossed).
Friday, January 21, 2005
Karaoke queens and flowery rickshaws. (Steve)
Arriving on the bus from Mersing, late, we're all suprised to find the man from the hostel we'd phoned to book a couple of rooms in was waiting to take us into town. Cant fault the people of this country, they really look after you. Yen takes us to the Eastern Heritgage hostel and its really cool, we have waterfalls in our room (not really but there were painted ones on the wall), and theres a cold dipping pool in the reception area, as well as the obligatory multitude of cats. It has already been decided that we are going to karaoke tomorrow night, Yen seems to feel we're all up for a bit of singing, little does he know that I'm a tone deaf, talantless noise polluter! Hopefully I wont consume enough beer to let stupididty get the better of me.
As with everywhere we go, the food is sooooo damm good, and cheap. So my idea of eating my way round the world is going well.
The next day (20th) we decide to explore the town, its not short on history in Malaka having been ruled by the Portugese, the Dutch and of course us Brits!! We hire two flowery rickshaws and go off to the maritime museum-very nice- then onto the independance memorial. Again its very nice, lots of reading to do and its bloody hot, still we enjoy our history lesson(s). Its incredible how quickly time flies past and we soon realise our two hours are running out, so its of to Chinatown (yes, another one) for some food (hooray) and a wander round. We try a Chinese desert which is shaved ice, with condensed milk and treacle over it, on a bed of soya beans and green beans!?! Sweet and savoury in one dish, who needs separate courses? Shame it wasnt that good really, so not everything is perfect in a culinary sense after all.
We then went to Villa Sentosa, which is a old Malay house that has been opened to the public, with the family still in it. The old lady there is so generous and gives us a tour of what is an imaculate house full of really old artifacts and pictures, her husband was an MBE,OBE and lots of other things I cant remember. We write in the visitors book and Sian and me have another mock wedding (picture below) Malay style.
Heading back out into the heat you realise the one thing that is not perfect about the setting is the amount of crap in the river, making it really honk bad on a hot afternoon. Cold beers required and Tiger beer does the trick.
Karaoke tonight, Helen from Oxford has magically appeared in the bar of the hostel so we get chatting and she is coming tonight as well. We dont go out till nearly midnight and we get to the bar and its pretty busy. They take their karaoke seriously in these parts it seems, and they all have a go!! The beer has kicked in for Helen and she is singing away, as Matt also tries his hand at Let it Be with Sian. When the bar has emptied at 2am we realise that because the owner is good friends with Yen, this had the hallamarks of a good session, which it duly became, we left to get food at 4.30!! Nice to then go and eat chickens feet and other delicacies, doner kebabs this isnt and with endless tea!! I think its better the way they do it in this part of the world.
Sleep is of course easy at 5am, shame that with the toilet by our room I dont to sleep in that much, as from 8am other guests are getting up and using the facilities!
Unsuprisingly the 21st isnt an eventful day, mostly in the internet cafe doing this sort of thing. We're a little sad that Matt has had to go back to Europe, but we may well meet up again in Oz sometime, we hope so anyway.
As with everywhere we go, the food is sooooo damm good, and cheap. So my idea of eating my way round the world is going well.
The next day (20th) we decide to explore the town, its not short on history in Malaka having been ruled by the Portugese, the Dutch and of course us Brits!! We hire two flowery rickshaws and go off to the maritime museum-very nice- then onto the independance memorial. Again its very nice, lots of reading to do and its bloody hot, still we enjoy our history lesson(s). Its incredible how quickly time flies past and we soon realise our two hours are running out, so its of to Chinatown (yes, another one) for some food (hooray) and a wander round. We try a Chinese desert which is shaved ice, with condensed milk and treacle over it, on a bed of soya beans and green beans!?! Sweet and savoury in one dish, who needs separate courses? Shame it wasnt that good really, so not everything is perfect in a culinary sense after all.
We then went to Villa Sentosa, which is a old Malay house that has been opened to the public, with the family still in it. The old lady there is so generous and gives us a tour of what is an imaculate house full of really old artifacts and pictures, her husband was an MBE,OBE and lots of other things I cant remember. We write in the visitors book and Sian and me have another mock wedding (picture below) Malay style.
Heading back out into the heat you realise the one thing that is not perfect about the setting is the amount of crap in the river, making it really honk bad on a hot afternoon. Cold beers required and Tiger beer does the trick.
Karaoke tonight, Helen from Oxford has magically appeared in the bar of the hostel so we get chatting and she is coming tonight as well. We dont go out till nearly midnight and we get to the bar and its pretty busy. They take their karaoke seriously in these parts it seems, and they all have a go!! The beer has kicked in for Helen and she is singing away, as Matt also tries his hand at Let it Be with Sian. When the bar has emptied at 2am we realise that because the owner is good friends with Yen, this had the hallamarks of a good session, which it duly became, we left to get food at 4.30!! Nice to then go and eat chickens feet and other delicacies, doner kebabs this isnt and with endless tea!! I think its better the way they do it in this part of the world.
Sleep is of course easy at 5am, shame that with the toilet by our room I dont to sleep in that much, as from 8am other guests are getting up and using the facilities!
Unsuprisingly the 21st isnt an eventful day, mostly in the internet cafe doing this sort of thing. We're a little sad that Matt has had to go back to Europe, but we may well meet up again in Oz sometime, we hope so anyway.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Paradise Island (Sian)
Have just got back in to Mersing after spending 4 days in the most beautiful Island I have ever seen!
After a late night at Karaoke we awoke to an extremely good breakfast, and met an Australian guy called Matt who was heading to the Island too. Matt has been hanging out with us for the last few days and enjoying the adventure Island.
The crossing over was extremely rough but well worth it, once the brown waters from Mersing changed in to grey, blue, and then an amazing aqua marine I knew it would all be worth it!
We arrived at ABC chalets top be greeted by a stream of meowing cats, they were so cute and we instantly adopted one which we called Molly, she looked after our chalets for the duration of our stay. She was so cute and would talk to us all the time. I miss her already!
The Island was so amazing! We spent most of our time there snorkeling, starting from the afternoon we arrived. The snorkeling was great, although the coral was a little spread out more like a coral garden than a reef. We saw the most amazing fish, it was like we were swimming in a tropical fish tank. I jumped a little when I saw Barracuda for the first time, a whole school(?), but realized that they were not interested in us at all. Steve and I enjoyed playing tag with the neons, although unfortunately they seemed to win every time. We also saw a huge Angel fish. It must have been really old because it was about 10 times bigger than all the other Angel fish we have seen. The cleaner fish were so cute, often when we saw bigger fish, they would have a smaller fish nibbling on it! The beaches on Tioman were so beautiful, white sandy beaches surrounded by dense rainforest.
On our last full day on the Island we chartered a boat with Matt and a Japanese man called Sukasa. We first went Snorkeling on this massive reef where I saw a Shark! (I was pretty scared) It kept on swimming off before I got a chance to show the boys though! We spent most of the day on Coral Island. Coral Island is uninhabited and very, very, very, very beautiful! The sea surrounding it was brilliant blue, the sand was as soft as talcum powder, and we could sit in the shade of the rainforest. Steve, Matt and I had a brilliant time playing with the tropical fish which were following us around. I think they liked Steve and Matt the most as they fed them biscuits! We were a little disappointed that Monkey Bay was completely empty of Monkeys but it was saved by the swim that Steve and I had with a turtle. It was amazing and kept on swimming in circles like it was showing off! I felt so priviledged to have seen a shark and swum with a turtle on the same day.
Just before we left the island Matt and I hiked through the rainforest trying to get down to Monkey Bay to hopefully see some Monkeys. We kept on loosing the path though! It got a bit trecherous in places! With the humidity and lack of path we walked for an hour then turned back, finding the path really easily on the way back. We did get to see some Monkeys though! They were having a fight in the path! Well, we thought it was a fight but really they were mating!!!
We headed back, checked out the chalet and sat on the jetty for 2 hours waiting for the boat. Luckily the crossing back to Mersing was much easier, but we were all really sad to say goodbye to Tioman where we had such a brilliant adventure.
After a late night at Karaoke we awoke to an extremely good breakfast, and met an Australian guy called Matt who was heading to the Island too. Matt has been hanging out with us for the last few days and enjoying the adventure Island.
The crossing over was extremely rough but well worth it, once the brown waters from Mersing changed in to grey, blue, and then an amazing aqua marine I knew it would all be worth it!
We arrived at ABC chalets top be greeted by a stream of meowing cats, they were so cute and we instantly adopted one which we called Molly, she looked after our chalets for the duration of our stay. She was so cute and would talk to us all the time. I miss her already!
The Island was so amazing! We spent most of our time there snorkeling, starting from the afternoon we arrived. The snorkeling was great, although the coral was a little spread out more like a coral garden than a reef. We saw the most amazing fish, it was like we were swimming in a tropical fish tank. I jumped a little when I saw Barracuda for the first time, a whole school(?), but realized that they were not interested in us at all. Steve and I enjoyed playing tag with the neons, although unfortunately they seemed to win every time. We also saw a huge Angel fish. It must have been really old because it was about 10 times bigger than all the other Angel fish we have seen. The cleaner fish were so cute, often when we saw bigger fish, they would have a smaller fish nibbling on it! The beaches on Tioman were so beautiful, white sandy beaches surrounded by dense rainforest.
On our last full day on the Island we chartered a boat with Matt and a Japanese man called Sukasa. We first went Snorkeling on this massive reef where I saw a Shark! (I was pretty scared) It kept on swimming off before I got a chance to show the boys though! We spent most of the day on Coral Island. Coral Island is uninhabited and very, very, very, very beautiful! The sea surrounding it was brilliant blue, the sand was as soft as talcum powder, and we could sit in the shade of the rainforest. Steve, Matt and I had a brilliant time playing with the tropical fish which were following us around. I think they liked Steve and Matt the most as they fed them biscuits! We were a little disappointed that Monkey Bay was completely empty of Monkeys but it was saved by the swim that Steve and I had with a turtle. It was amazing and kept on swimming in circles like it was showing off! I felt so priviledged to have seen a shark and swum with a turtle on the same day.
Just before we left the island Matt and I hiked through the rainforest trying to get down to Monkey Bay to hopefully see some Monkeys. We kept on loosing the path though! It got a bit trecherous in places! With the humidity and lack of path we walked for an hour then turned back, finding the path really easily on the way back. We did get to see some Monkeys though! They were having a fight in the path! Well, we thought it was a fight but really they were mating!!!
We headed back, checked out the chalet and sat on the jetty for 2 hours waiting for the boat. Luckily the crossing back to Mersing was much easier, but we were all really sad to say goodbye to Tioman where we had such a brilliant adventure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)