ClaireL
Claire Joined: September 29th 2007
Logged in: December 15th 2010
Logged in: December 15th 2010
Travel Blog Posts
Ok- so its been a very long time since i sent out one of these...think it was last christmas to be precise but oh well, Steve B- you should be happy :)...no long waffling emails and pic's! Anyways- just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone; hope you have a fab one and have been partying heaps already Miss you all, see you soon xx... read more
very happy to finally make it over to Ko Samui from Krabbi
Finally made it over here......after trying to get some accommodation since Singapore- my own fault for leaving it so late to try and sort out partying at the same place tonnes of other people in Thailand are heading towards...managed to find Shambala bungalows, hiked up prices but all in the name of New Years and it was pretty nice! As couldn't get anywhere to stay on the island we stayed at Big Buddha Beach on Ko Samui which is basically a half hour ride on ferry (10min speed boat) over to the island for partying...meant there was no opportunity for going to bed at any point during the night (as ferrys didn't run again until 7.30 at earliest) but besides i've not exactly been sleeping anyways so no need for it on NYE!! It was a ... read more
Brekkie on Phi Phi
Time to move on from Phuket- theres only so much seedy men with young Thai girls/boys and hardcore partying the body can take...we headed towards Phi Phi. Phi Phi and the surrounding islands are beautiful, much more like i was expecting when i was coming to Thailand and more natural than Phuket...spent the day on PP and went canoeing over to Monkey Beach (where there are lots of monkeys surprise suprise!) for some swimming and chilling on the beach. Late afternoon we got a boat and did some snorkelling in the middle of nowhere which was amazing! Even more so because most tourists go out on a day trip, ie leaving in the morning so that there are loads of people in the water making it difficult to see anything. When we went, all the boats ... read more
Xmas eve on the beach
Having left the organisation side of me back in London when i left and therefore having made no preparations for xmas/new years etc.. I arrived in Phuket and not Ko Pangnan (or however you spell it) as originally planned for xmas eve... Spent xmas eve day on the beach which was bizarre to say the least when compared to the last 26 being probably wrapped up in scarves and gloves...as a result i keep having my eureka/hyper moments...basically just when i have a realisation that i'm not sitting at my desk and am on another continent in sun i have the need to laugh/giggle/shout...its amazing...plus think i'm pretty much delirious at the moment...as haven't really slept since i left Africa...at first i thought it was jet lag, now maybe its just the excitement, i don't know? ... read more
Happy New Year Everyone Hope you all had a fantastic time last night...and see you some time in 2008 clairey xx... read more
loving the xmas trees
After a long flight and some jet lag, arrived in Singapore and despite being completely knackered, the excitement and hyperactivity kicked in and as soon as I'd checked my luggage into my hostel was out again exploring. Despite hearing that Singapore is boring, clinical, too clean, I love it here! Not sure if its the contrast from going from Africa to here but everything is soooooooo easy and civilised plus after walking around for a few hours still in African attire (ie covered up) i had my first halleleuija moment - I could go back home and change into some little shorts and vest top...such a good feeling to not have to wander around in heat covered from head to toe :) Its brilliant here, so much christmassey stuff - trees and decorations...some would call it ... read more
Chipata
Ok really can't be ar$ed to write this blog so will just upload the photos as am sooooooooo far behind on my blogs/pictures now... Crossed over the border from Malawi into Zambia and got pick up to Chipata to "Deans HIll Lodge" Immediately, Zambia is completely different from E Africa...much more westernised feel to it, loads of focus on HIV/Aids (which is a good thing), extremely religious, and sooo many people speak English (due to the fact that there are over 80 different tribal languages here...apparently). Chipata is much more green and has lots of arable farm land unlike Malawi and Tanz...the town kinda looked like something out of the wild west. Also has a westernised kinda feel, aside from there being no electricity and also there was no water as there was a problem with ... read more
Mayoke Village
The journey continued and was somewhat relieved to leave Tanz after a couple of crap nights in Mbeya (don't ever go there!!) Made it to Malawi and have had a slight break from the hectic life of a traveller and pretty much just relaxed and partied with a load of other backpackers for a few weeks. Malawi is amazing though and definitely recommend it as a holiday for anyone. The beaches are amazing and the people are kind and generous. There are still street sellers and people generally trying to make money but they are less pushy and really friendly. Loved it sooooooooo much, although helped that i was so relieved to see some other western people after the last couple of days in Tanzania...funny how you come away because you want to absorb other cultures ... read more
Internet is way too slow here to entertain doing another blog just yet so thought i'd just send a quick note to everyone to say Merry Christmas. Weird as it doesn't feel like xmas here at all and sure its driving you all crazy that you can't get away from it at home. Anyways, hope you all have a fantastic one and see you sometime in the new year! xxx... read more
Usamburu Mountains
Finally finished with the volunteering and after 4 of my housemates contracting malaria (despite taking tablets) its definitely the right time to start moving on and travelling south on the good old bus network here...even on the coaches they manage to pack everyone in where there are clearly 2 seats together, we sit 6!!, then you also have to also get used to sitting still for hours not drinking anything so as not to risk the need of going to the loo (fine for the guys who just go at side of road but think a female taking a pee would have attracted enough attention let alone a mzungo/white girl!)- whilst in Africa... First stop Lushoto for the Usamburu mountains with some other volunteers from Moshi we made our way up to Irente for some amazing ... read more
