Birthdays, Xmas & Peaches!!

On Christmas Eve, IP and I went to the Farmer's Markets, and stocked on all sorts of yummy bits including, fruit & salad items, fresh yoghurt, olives (and more olives) and lots of other crap!

Tonight I cooked the now sad looking nectarines & peaches. So I have strewed peaches (& nectarines) and a Peach, Nectarine & Kiwi Fruit Crumble.

Well Xmas was quiet in the new home, just a quiet BBQ on the deck, then we entered the dead zone (time between xmas & NYE) which conveniently contains my birthday! yay..... So yes I officially turned another year older..... hrmmm... We are having a few people over for NYE, lets hope it is a bit bigger than the birthday celebration! It has been very relaxing this year just fluffing around the house, chilling on the deck in the hammock, watching movies. I haven't even done that much shopping.

Anyhew, hope santa brought you what you wanted!

What an anti-climax...

Well I am back, almost a week now, can I go again? Nah just jokes, it's just that it's so weird, to be back after three weeks on the "road". The reality of normal life just seemed to have shrunk in the wash! Things have improved (thank gawd) as I have acclimatised back in the groove of work, loved ones and study... But it was a bit hairy for a few days there....

I went to my orientation meeting this morning for the university degree which I have enrolled myself in. It really was a waste of time, but am glad I went, cos it was good to see the study centre and start familiarise myself with uni ways!

This afternoon I looked at a unit, which I have kinda made an offer on. I doubt it will come through - there seems to be a bit of interest in it! But, watch this space!

Delayed-schmayed

Didn't think I would get this "opportunity". But here I am "stranded" in Brunei Airport! YAY! Lucky it's only for a couple of hours not over night or anything crazy!

It makes me think though, what did people do before the internet? Here I am blogging and msning away the time! Maybe I am an addict, but yeah it just makes ya think!

So now I will be arriving into Brisvegas at 5:00am. I guess it is for the best, cos it means the taxi boi can sleep in a bit... 5am sounds heaps better than 3am.

Watched "Shaggy Dog" on the plane from Bangkok. Was very funny, even though it's a Disney creation intended for kids. Has Tim Allen & the brunette chick our of "Sex & the City". We had screens in the back of the seat, which was pretty cool. So a movie and a meal did short work of that flight!

Very Grand!

This is probably my last "blog" before I return home. So yeah home ...home.... Yay ... I think....
Today I went on another solo expedition in Bangers. Destination was the Grand Palace!

Afters, I went to the MBK Shopping Centre to see if the rumours about it being HUGE were true.

Yep it's a big shopping centre - heaps of crap that I didn't buy - might I add (suitcase is already TOO chockas!). They also have a really good food court (5th Avenue??) which I had an old favourate - hainanese chicken rice. Have I mentioned that I am over Thai food? yeh, can't wait for some "normal" food.

Tonight the boys and I went to see a boxing match - but it was too expensive, 1500 baht is just too much money to spend on such an event. So I went "home" and the boys are out on the prowl. Bit depressing for last night on holiday but thems the breaks!!

Depart Banger tomorrow at 1:00pm and arrive into Brisvegas on Monday morning at 3:00am. Cya there? :)

Bayioke & Beyond

Yeah well I heard a rumor that the Thai's like their shopping, and you would believe it if you saw the size and number of shopping centres around Bangkok! I think that I am "almost" shopped out! Yesterday we went to Pantip Plaza which is an IT nerd's haven. Today I left the anchors (boys) behind and explored on my own, carefully following detailed instructions which I had kindly provided by a recent visitor. Lets just say I have enough socks, shirts and earrings to last a lifetime! I have just about everything that I need (want) except for some classy handbags, so watch this space.
Last night, we went up to the Observation Level of the Baiyoke Sky Tower (Tallest building in Thailand!), to see the view. The current population of Bangers is 7 million and I can believe it with the number of buildings which span to (past??) the horizon. During the day Bangkok is the smokiest and dirtiest city I have ever visited (ok, I haven't really been to that many places) but by night it is ... bewdiful! The photos don't really do it justice ....

miow?

Well, it's been three weeks away from my baby cat (hi miow) and I just might be getting withdrawal symptoms. I have been carefully avoiding patting or touching ALL animals whilst in Thailand as I know they are horribly dirty, disease ridden and yuck.

But, you must admit, this cat is/was very cute! yah even after she drooled on my lap......




I am glad to know that not all Siamese cats are snotty little misses! See Mischa .... You can come out from under your bed!

And yeah I do know that it is 2:40am thai time / 5:40am brisvegas time...

Tigers & War Memorials

The last 2 days have been spent on a tour, which can I say was a rip off? Of I did. That aside, we some pretty remarkable things.

The tour was focused around the Kanchanburi area (yes, where that Aussie got shot).

The main event was always going to be the tiger temple, which is a Buddhist temple which has adopted tiger cubs rescued by surrounding villagers from poachers and the like. Not the most photogenic, but proof that I DID TOUCH A TIGER! And didn't even slightly get mauled! The tigers were amazing. I kinda had the feeling like it's turning into a bit of a tourist trap, but yeah enjoyed it just the same. (If you want to know more about the Tiger Temple check out their website)

We also went to the bridge on River Kwai, walked the hellfire pass - this is a 4 km section of the train tracks built in WW2 by Prisoners captured by the Japanese. The walk was beautiful and wasn't really that hard. I was amazing to see what the POWs in WW2 had to experience and forced to do by their captors.

We also saw a really nice waterfall, which was not far from the side of the road. We also happened upon some crazy monkeys which were pretty cool to see. The tour bus Just pulled off the road to a small layby in which the public can feed the monkeys. They didn't bite - but grabbed the food out of our hands.

Traveling & Stuff

Yeah so, on the Sunday we basically just traveled from Chang Mai to Bangkok, our final holiday destination, before we return home. I am getting sick of living out of a suitcase, the novelty has WORN OFF. Especially now in Bangkok when the clothes are ALL dirty and a laundry that charges by the kilo in no where to be seen!

On Sunday night we decided to amble down the road in search of food. We were harassed by a tuk tuk driver who insisted on driving us to our destination to prove that the place we were heading to was not open - of course, the shops on the street were not open, but I am sure the restaurants in the square would have been doing a good trade. So instead he drove us to a restaurant of his choosing, which ended up costing us just under 1000 baht (meals have been costing us less than 300 baht for the 3 of us). RIP OFF!

On the way to the restaurant he kept going on about nice Thai girls, and ping-pong balls (need I say more), which we laughed off.

After dinner, we wanted him to drive us back to the general area of where he picked us off, we didn't want him to know where we were staying...! But he got pissed that we didn't want to see the ping-pong balls - and tried to bet with us that the pratunam markets (our destination) would be closed. Of course, I know they are 24 hours and that they don't appear from the street. So he walked off and we took the opportunity to "run away" and hail a REAL cab. So that is our tuk-tuk story....

It's a Chang-a-thon

While I was in Chang Mai, Sean and I went for a walk into an area called the old town, which is surrounded by a moat & the remanents of a wall. To the left is a pagoda which we happened to chance apon...

To the right is the place where we had lunch - quite tasty! And one of the less dodge places!

On last Saturday we went on a one day tour to the Golden Triangle, Massai border and surrounds.

Was pretty good. Saw some really lovely sites and learnt some interesting stuff about the history of Thailand. When we got to the golden triangle, we got in a long boat & went to the golden triangle point in the middle of the river between myanmar, Thailand & Laos.

This is where they used to trade opium for gold. And then went to Laos and looked at some markets. I bought a bottle of "snake whiskey" which actually has a cobra in it. Bit scary, I don't know (think) that I will get it back into the country, so we will see.

In the afternoon we also went to some hill-tribe villages, the difference between the two tribes was astonishing. One was dirty and poverty ridden and the second, tidy and orderly. They were literally 30 metres away from each other!!

It was a long and boring drive from Chang Mai (where we were staying) and Chang Rai, which is the main town from which the tour was close to.

On the way home we (the tour bus) hit a dog in the street. The care for animals here is terrible. There was no concern for the dog at all, but the driver reversed back to pick up a bit that snapped of the car's bullbar!

This is a picture of some of the wall which still surrounds the old part of Chang Mai.

A lot of Thai (food)

Today was one of the days on my trip that I was really looking forward to - the Thai cooking course (yay!)

Anyways, I want to start by saying that there was a lot of food, considering that I have been eating 1-2 small meals a day - I had 6 courses over the span of the day! I also picked up some little tricks and stuff, and am firing to get home and cook up a storm at home. I have to say also that it was some of the best Thai food that I have had, and I have had a lot of Thai food over the years, maybe it was because it was freshly cooked in front of us. Sean & I (the third party piked) had a lovely day learning how to cook a number of popular Thai meals, which were: pad thai, tom yum kung (my favourate), spring rolls, green curry, stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts and mango with sticky rice. Yui (the teacher) is so friendly and had lots of information to share with us, especially on the tour of the local markets (where there was no tourists) showing us the local foods. Sorry to sound like an infomercial, but if you want further information, or are planning to go to Chang Mai, I would really recommend that you check them it out at http://www.alotofthai.com/

Snorkels & Changers

I am in Chang Mai now (changers). The weather is a bit cooler than previously. But I have to tell you about my snorkeling experience. What a wonder! I was a bit reluctant to go, as I am not a strong swimmer, had tried snorkeling once before unsuccessfully and I was feeling a bit sick that morning, so didn't really know what to expect. It was also an over cast day and rough as guts on the boat out.The 1.5 hour catamaran took us to this tiny (and I mean tiny) little island just off Koh Tao (a slightly bigger island), where we snorkeled of the beach, I feel like I was going to chuck when I first put the mask on, but finally got the hang of it. It was BRILLIANT! I have never experienced any thing like it. Was like a whole different world! The coral was mostly dead, but the fish were bloody amazing (pictures to come). I made use of my new underwater camera - yay!

Yesterday was a long day, spent whole day traveling - boat from Koh Phanang to Samui and then flight to Bangkok and then another flight to Changers. Our flight was delayed out of Bangkok which meant we would have have had to leave at 10:45pm. So we got a refund and caught another flight which left at 8:15pm.

Chang Mai is not what I expected, much smaller and quieter. It is also much cleaner than I expected. Less people speak English though. Oh well better keep trucken@!

Another day in paradise ...

Yep, it's another day in warm weather, white beaches and clear skies.... Do you like the picture of my bungalow?

Who can complain? Not I! Well maybe a little bit... I do have this massive "scrape" up my leg, which aches when I walk and I have managed to sunburn my forehead!

I was stressing about my flights out of here, cos the times were too short, but now it's all good cos the helpful people on reception have fixed it all up for me, well at least I hope, the language barrier is a bit scary... I guess we just have to hope for the best! I just checked the online view flights thing and now I can't see our flights, hopefully it's just a temporary thing...

Yesterday on our bike ride, I bought the coolest (literally) pair of Thai pant yesterday, purple and very very comfy.

Last night we went down to the town - cos we are up over a hill on a seperate beach - and watched a movie and had some food, and then watched Germany flog Sweden in the football.

This is the beach where it all happens at night, the alcahol you can buy from the seven-11 and then just sit on the beach and soak up the entertainment...

Tomorrow is our last day on Koh Phangan. We are going on a snorkeling trip to a smaller island called Koh Tao. Last time I snorkeled it was a bit of a disaster, so we will wait and see what happens. It was one of the more expensive tours, which takes us to the island 1.5 hours away in a a/c catermaran, at a whopping 1300 baht (50 bucks). Things are very cheap here even though it sounds expensive... I almost balked at the cost, cos it's a lot of Thai money even though it really isn't much in comparison to what it might cost on the barrier reef in Australia.

Went for a walk to get some photos of phangers... to share with all - sorry for delay but internet is slow here! This is the same beach as above, the taxi boats waiting for a fare!

Koh Phanging..

Yeh, on Koh Phangan (think that's how it spelt) and I have to say I am having fun, but so so tired! The keyboards here are weird too... Anyways, last few days that we have been here have been low key, been not eating much and chilling lots...

Although today, the boys hired scooters and Sean doubled me. That was a bit scary, steep hills (up & down) were the least of it! The corkers was when we went on turn off to waterfall, which ended up as a a 4wd track... Very steep and very bumpy. IP you would have loved to take your shorty! But doubled on a scooter, maybe not. I finally chucked the girl spack, when we fell off the bike - can you blame me? And then looked at the steep hill ahead and just went "NAH"!

I didn't put the sunscreen on my face properly, so think I will have sun stroke tomorrow :(
Planning on a boat day trip to a smaller island Koh Tao... See how I feel. Tomorrow night is black moon festival also.

Anyways, gonna go back to air con comfort away from the mossies.... Don't have the rid on cos I Over dosed on it yesterday I think) and made myself sick! The joys of Thailand. Am having fun serious! Bit dizzy though... maybe sun or heat stroke?

I made it.... eeek!

Yeah we got into Koh Samui this morning at 7am. After 7 hour flight to Brunei, then 3 hour flight to bangkok, and a over night (6 hours) on the hardest most evil chairs in the world; and finally a 1 hour flight to Koh Samui.

About the Bangkok Airport, "sleeping arrangements" - there were all Limo drivers hanging out there as well, must be their haunt..... Bit scary when they turned up, but they just went to sleep.
Didn't get much sleep so it made for a very very long day!

After a refreshing shower, we decided to walk up the street to the street, OH MY GAWD! The awful smells, the heat, and the distance - so so so long of a road! Not a pleasant experience.... And the dogs.... ew!

Anyway I must sounds like a whinging gurl, but really I am not.... Happy to be here and on the big adventure! And it can ONLY go up at the moment! (Photo of the boys at dinner)

so long.... farewell .... auf wiedersehen..... GOOD BYE!

It's been a day of farwells today, as I went in to work, on a rec leave day even, to say good bye to my boss, who is leaving to go to NZ. After this I stumbled down to IPs haunt for his farwell, having finsihed up at VB today. Also, there were mini farewells and best wishes for my "mammoth" trip to Thailand (yay).

Get really excited now, so much to do and so so little time..... Ah well, can't wait for the flight at 1pm on "montag", might miss the boy (and the gurly-cat) tho.

Anyways, bed time for moi.... ciao bananas.

Five sleeps until....

Only 5 sleeps until you-know-what! Yay! Getting excited now.... except I don't have a suitcase! Well I tell a lie, I do have suitcases, 2 or 3 to be exact. But this is my woe. One is HUGE, now I mean mega huge... but I think this is too be to travel around with and I think it might have so much space that I am likely to go over the 20kg luggage weight limit. And then to the other suitcases, they are povo, made out of cardboard (almost) suitcases which would be ok, except that I wouldn't want to check them in, but they are too big to take on the plan (cabin luggage). So I think I need to buy something. I found something that I like at a luggage store in the city, antler brand, but it's $120 bucks! So I don't know.... there was also one at DJs which could be good as I do have $100 in DJs vouchers, but meh.... I don't know..... Anyways, that where my heads at.

schmired?

Meh, I am tired today... But I guess that's what happens when you try to sleep when you aren't really asleep. Andrew bought a steak & mushroom pie back from Yatala, which was pretty good, but now my tummy hurts...

We learnt that a work-mate is going to Europe soon, which is right after another work-mate who is now there - must be contagious! I wonder if I will catch it like the cold I seemed to have shared around?

Not long now until I am off on a (hopefully not a wicked doom balloon) flight to Bangkok (otherwise known as bangers). We overnight it at the airport before a early morning flight to Koh Samui. I am feeling a bit worried about the hanging out in the airport at bangers, but figure that the amazing race has been doing it (why is that they get to leave at inopportune times which get them to the airport in time to sit around for a early morning flight - wouldn't they rather be sleeping???). But anyway I digress... Once we get to Samui everything should be hunky-doory as there will be sun, beach and shopping... 2 days of that before a boat ride to Koh Phanang.

Anyways, Andrew is whinging.... we are going for a crooze! ciao bananas!

And that was the Queens' Birthday...

Pretty lazy day today, with a noon lay-in and a lazy late lunch at the Newmarket Hotel, which was pretty good. The Mezze Platter consisted of oyster shooters, salami, trio of dips, calamari, salad and toasted turkish bread. Was very good, especially in comparison to the one we had at Stones Corner Hotel last Sunday, which has skanky prawns on it.

Tonight, I cooked a fish curry which was pretty good... And a good mix of veges....

Oh well only 6 days until I flutter off to Thailand, yay, but three days of work this week to get through first... Don't know if I can make it (grin).

So soon... Too Soon?

Whoo hoo! Only 7 working days until Thailand (13 full days).. Can't wait, but there is so so much to do before then! I hope I get it all done....

Today I bought an i-river H10 5 gig MP3 player, very cool schmool! I actually bought an OMNI MF1100 1 gig yesterday but was very disappointed with it. So I took it back, the menus sucked and the sound quality was poor. To make matters worse, the headphone jack was not the normal size. I ended up getting the H10 for $30 more than the omni. What a bargain!

I am very happy (so far) with the H10, very easy to use and sounds brilliant! So I am nearly ALL sorted with the toys, I bought a Olympus Camera a few weeks ago. You know the one you can drop, take under water and stuff (the advert on tv shoes it in the dog's mouth with drool all over it).

Anyways, it's late so might log off.

Posted by mKitty at 10:36 PM

Sweet or Sour?

Yay, it's the weekend! How cool is that? Now it's not very long until T-day... Thailand is *just* around the corner.... Which is good, but it also means I have to get organised.... Stress!

Anyhew, IP is cooking sweet'n'sour pork. I just did a taste test, pretty good! Cept I burnt my tongue! d0pe!

Ahuh! Food is inbound... Catchyas Later!

Watchout it's a food review

So here goes....

Tonight, (IP having returned from a Levuka weekend) we were in no mood to do the cook and (heaven forbid) clean thing. So we decided to go to The Fish Grotto, but it was closed and then drove past a noisy and full Normanby, ending up at the newly renovated Newmarket Hotel.

I must admit, I was impressed by the decor and ambience of the restaurant. I though surprised at the limit of options (and of course there was steak) on the menu. In retrospect I think that this is probably not such a bad thing.

Food: I ended up resisting the steak, and ordering the Tasmanian Lamb Rump and IP had an eye fillet with garlic prawns. The Lamb was great (it came with a bean mash, an olive tapenade thing and beans). It was all the things lamb rump should be - moist, medium rare, yum. IP noted that his steak was good, although the prawns were very average. One thing we both noted was a "charcoal" flavour which was a tad unpleasant.

Service: Service started off well, but then resulted in being average. The chick managed to bring out the wrong beer for IP, so he ended up getting a full strength Cascade Lager (he asked for the light version) which was more $$$ than the prefered same strength Boags - which he would have ordered if he wanted to have a full strength. Lucky he wasn't driving, oh wait a minute he was.

Overall: I reckon that they are a 7 out of 10.

RATING GUIDE - 10: perfect; 9: excellent; 8: very good; 7: good; 6: passable; 5: disappointing; 1-4: woeful.

stuff

yo, this is a place to record my thoughts, fun & travels.

Seems to be thing to do... I thought I would jump on the bandwagon seeing as I am going to Thailand in less than 3 weeks. Now I can record & share stuff with y'all!??

yay

mk.