Catpop

The Fijians quickly realised that while “Uncle” did not need any help getting in and out of boats “Auntie” was a disaster. At one point it was clear that I was never going to manage to get out of the sea where I had spent a happy hour snorkelling. The thought that perhaps they would throw me a rope and drag me the 20 minute journey back to the island was drifting through my water soaked head when the huge Fijian standing in the tiny rocking boat leant over and plucked me right out of the water and placed me gently in the boat. “Okay, Auntie?” he smiled “Yes thank you,” was my dignified response. I sat quietly for a minute and then giggled. Big Berri threw back his head and the South Pacific echoed with ... read more

BEAUTIFUL SOUTH - the final days Everyone has to see the glaciers - Fox and Franz. They are astonishing. The only glaciers that reach into sub tropical forests. We walked to the faces of the Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier- you can walk really close to them through desolate landscape and let your imagination enjoy watching them creep. They are beautiful. We would love to have added to the incessant noise pollution and taken a plane or helicopter ride but they are so expensive - they are for the budget traveller anyway and we couldn’t justify the price. Not even I could and I am pretty nifty at price justification. The sun shone brilliant in an ice blue sky. Bad weather was due to close in but for today all was perfection. All the other ... read more

With the softest of warm breezes just touching my cheek and the glow of the late afternoon sun warming my back I could be the only person in the world. I cannot hear anything of man about me. There is a small outburst from some distant birds and the hum of insects is a constant all around. I sit silently absorbed by the view. There is a soft plop, schluk, plop behind me. Foot falls quietly approach. I do not need to turn for I recognise the sound - it is the footfall of a duck crossing the gravel road. New Zealand - a place where you can hear ducks walk! Although less than a fortnight here my feelings are ambivalent. On the one hand I am totally in love with New Zealand - the beauty, ... read more

Thirty-three Singapore Dollars plus ten percent service charge plus government tax is how Raffles Hotel keeps backpacking scum like us out. Lovely white colonial building tinkling with gentle music. Quiet understated elegance. Cool courtyard and plush bars. Carefully modulated tones. All stricken to a standstill by... “How much for a gin sling? Timothy, this is ridiculous. We are not paying that.” Yes that is right, for once I am the penny pinching sand crab tightie. Tim’s face fell, but I stood firm against the blatant rapacious greed of the capitalistic imperialistic overpriced tourist trap-ist Raffles. Silently Tim, Hugh and Arlene followed me out and instead we went back to the hostel where the boys had beer and the girls shared a bottle of cold white wine. All for less than Thirty-three Singapore dollars plus ten percent ... read more

Roi, my new boyfriend turned around and waved his arm out of the bus window. "Are you looking at this?" he demanded "This is very beautiful. You must look!" "I am looking Roi," I responded mildly "It is lovely!" I was sitting squashed into the side of a government bus winding up through the tea plantations making my way to Thekaddy. The bus sddenly stopped and Roi dashed out and returned with some Satsumas. He handed me one. "For you! Eat it!" I thanked Roi while Liz, who was sitting next to me smirked. "I think that may be a betrothal present," she muttered. I made sure she shared it with me. So how did we get to the point where Tim and I are separated by a bus length and I am contending with the ... read more