http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Clare_OD/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Clare_OD en-us Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:29:36 +0000 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:29:36 +0000 After almost four months in South Asia I've now left Thailand to return to Mumbai for a brief stopover read shopping session before I jet back to the Emerald Isle tomorrow. My apologies for the lack of blog updates of late this is partly due to having been immersed in work uhhuh partly due to innate laziness more likely and partly so I'll have something to talk to you about next time I http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-86311.html Cambodia is a revelation. Pretty much all I previously knew about the place could be personified in two rather unsavoury men Pol Pot and Gary Glitter for the nonUKcelebfocused Glitter was a 70s glam popstar turned paedophile who relocated to Cambodia following his release from prison in the UK old bald failed evil. Yet this poor embattled country has a strongly beating heart and a w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-74014.html Howayiz. Only 2 weeks in Khao Lak and already itrsquos starting to feel like home. Itrsquos so nice simply to have somewhere to unpack your bag Irsquom realising how I really am getting too old and accustomed to my creature comforts for hardcore havenrsquotwashedinaweek backpacking. But itrsquos more than that. Khao Lak and the whole of Thailand so far exhibits a warmth and o http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Khao-Lak/blog-69727.html So last you heard we were sitting in the rain in India no job no home no prospects. So we decided sod it wersquod go to Thailand. Bit more sun bit more relaxed hopefully a few more job opportunities for me. A week later following a brief sojourn in Pondicherry where we consumed beautiful french food and wine and got groped by horrible indian men and here we are in the Land of Smiles http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Phuket/blog-66430.html Leaving Goa was difficult. Not only emotionally but physically also. As my teary eyes took one last look towards the sea over the rim of my cup of rumsoaked espresso there was a power cut. Palolem was pitch black. Our bags were in our coconut hut at the far end of the pitch black beach. To reach the road where our taxi was waiting we had to battle through pitch black forest emerging just a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Kerala/blog-64889.html Dreadful to say but true the wealthy Westerner guilt Irsquod felt in Mumbai began to fade away the moment we arrived in Goa together with all the stress anxiety and sweat wersquod accumulated in the previous few days. As the sea breeze blew gently through the many coconut palms we could feel immediately that life moves at a different pace in Goa people are happier more relaxed appreci http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Palolem/blog-62343.html Our introduction to Mumbai Bombay was probably quite suitable and apt though at the time it felt more like a stereotypical nightmare. Arriving into 41 degree heat at 7.30am jetlagged and hungry our taxi driver seemed no more acquainted with the city than we did. At 25mph he drove around in ever expanding loops once threatening to drop us at the wrong hotel several times refusing our gen http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-61279.html