http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Fabinie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Fabinie en-us Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:41:21 +0000 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:41:21 +0000 17.07. 18.07.2009 Semuc ChampeyWe had breakfast at 7am and then got back onto the bus to drive to Semuc Champey. The ride was only about 25 more hours. Approximately 10km before we arrived at the hotel we had to get off the bus and continue in pickup trucks because the road was really bad. Katrin and I squeezed on the back seat with two of the others whereas the rest of the group had to stand http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Semuc-Champey/blog-429149.html 16.07.2009 WitchAlthough I have five hours of private lessons every day and I was worried that they'd feel never ending with my teacher Vivi they don't. We are having so much fun. She teaches me a lot but there is still space for telling funny stories or just acting stupid. Some days ago she announced that she's a witch and if I don't study properly well I really don't have time. I don't even h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Coban/blog-429144.html 10.07.2009 Going out or notToday for the first time I didn't want to getting up. Not that I didn't feel like going to school. But I was just so so tired. Every single day here is so packed. I go to school I speak Spanish I meet new people I try new things... there are so many impressions to process and I never have time to myself to just sit down relax and think about the wonderful time I ha http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-428356.html 09.07.2009 Yoga and moreI spent another tough morning at school. One of todays activities consisted of a discussion about Pop Wuj which can sort of be considered the Mayan bible. The discussion took place in the morning during class time.Today I called my mom during the break. It was nice to talk to her although it was just for a few minutes. I told her how much I liked Guatemala and she reminded http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-427697.html 15.07.2009 Busy busy busyAfter another eight hour marathon of Spanish lessons Katrin and I had a very busy evening. After the lessons we had a few minutes left to use the Internet before the school closed. Then we ran about to have my phone which I bought in Australia and couldn't use since unlocked. At the phone store I got a new address for my adapter and was really excited to finally h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-423926.html 14.07.2009 It's going to be a tough weekBecause Katrin and I signed up for the weekend trip to Semuc Champey which is going to start on Thursday morning we have to take our lessons earlier. We are going to miss two hours on Thursday and another 5 on Friday. Therefore Vivi and I scheduled to study eight hours today and tomorrow.During the brake I had to go home get my dirty clothes and bring t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-423596.html 13.07.2009 A new week at schoolLast Friday I was a bit disappointed because I thought that I haven't progressed too much with my Spanish during the first week of studies. But what did I expect It's not possible ok I've seen an exception on TV but let's say for an average human being to learn a language within three weeks.Today I had a hard time to get into Spanish again after speaking English http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-423591.html 11.07. 12.07.2009 Lago AtitlnAfter a tough week of studies it was time for my first weekend to start. I joined a trip to Lago Atitln organized by the school.We left by a private bus and the journey only took about two hours. When we got there the rooms were distributed to the students. At first I was a bit worried that we could not choose ourselves who we wanted to share with but it turned ou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/San-Marcos/blog-418289.html 08.07.2009 Vamos a bailarI've only been here for a few days but it feels like two weeks or so. I'm learning a tremendous amount of Spanish every day and I'm having so much fun with my teacher. We laugh a lot and it doesn't feel like class at all. I like the people around here and I feel comfortable with my host family. I also enjoy the activities organized by the school. I'm so happy and content. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-417278.html 07.07.2009 Starting to settle downToday I woke up one hour early. I'm slowly adapting to the new time zone I had really good conversations with Vivi my teacher at school. I started to make jokes which is a good sign. I once read that once you can start joking around you start to master the language. I'd say I'm still far away from that. But I also managed to say a few thinks in the past. Actua http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-417276.html 06.07.2009 First day at schoolI woke up one and a half hours early and felt wide awake and fit. Damn wish that would ever happen to me back home. Because I didn't know what to do with myself I started to read my travel lecture and then exercised a bit in my room.At the school we got a quick introduction and then were picked up by our teachers. Each student has got it's own and we get five hours o http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-416943.html 05.07.2009 First day in Xela QuetzaltenangoWhile I had to wait for my family to pick me up I read all the rules and had a look at the map in order to get a first sense of orientation. Fortunately it's very easy. The streets are arranged in rectangles and the avenidas go from North to South wheras the calles go from East to West. Looks like I'll find my way in no time.Shortly after 3pm I was http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-416933.html 04.07.2009 05.07.2009 Neverending journeyAlthough I've got some experience in travelling now and although I know what I need to bring and what not I had a really hard time packing. After all the hazle and after a very busy week at home I could not wait to finally arrive at my new destination in Guatemala. If it weren't for the journey...Unfortunately there are no direct flights. I had to fly http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/Quetzaltenango-/blog-416602.html 31.03.2008 New day new luck Since I couldn't leave for the South of Thailand yesterday I had yet another day to kill. Fortunately Fabian offered to keep me company in the afternoon. We didn't really do much. We just went to Baan Sabai to have a drink and chat for a while before it was time for me to get my luggage and be on my way to the Southern Bus Terminal in the evening.I felt pretty confi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-404312.html 30.03.2008 Meeting Karl...or not I found out that the best way to get down to the island where I was supposed to meet Karl was by night bus. Yesterday while on tour with Fabian I kept calling all sorts of numbers I had in order to make a reservation but no luck. Fabian said that I can just go to the bus station in the evening and buy my ticket on site.Since I had not much to do I decided to go t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-399674.html 29.03.2008 China Town and Jim Thompson Museum Fabian and I met in Khao San Road at 10 a.m. The day was unbearably hot. I was glad that we could take the boat downtown and enjoy a nice breeze and be splashed by water every now and then rather than being stuck in traffic in a muggy bus.Our first target of the day was China Town. We walked up and down the narrow streets and due to the heat I really w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-399665.html 28.03.2008 KarlOk here's the story of Karl. Karl and I met at a hostel in Los Angeles in October 2007 where we happened to share a room. What an idiot I thought. After he had moved into our room I did not think much of him and certainly didn't mind that I was way too busy to see much of him anyway. It wasn't until my last day when his charm hit me. Oh and what a charmer he is... He talked me int http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-373906.html Khao Yai National Park We were woken up at 7 am. We jumped into the shower and had a tea for breakfast before getting onto the truck.We only drove a few minutes into the park before we stopped at the visitors centre where we got leech socks totally sexy notIn the centre we could have a look at stuffed crocodiles and maps of the park as well as read information boards. Most of us bought a rai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Khao-Yai-NP/blog-373870.html 26.03.2008 Khao Yai National ParkI hadn't planned to travel with Fabian. But since we had a really good time at our first meeting I had called him on Monday to find out if he was interested in joining me for the next trip. He was up for it and promised to call back as soon as he knew when he'd be off work. He returned my call last night and told me that he'd be off the following two days.Because I http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Khao-Yai-NP/blog-373693.html House blessingK's mom got up at 5 am. I decided to ignore it and go back to sleep until someone would ask me to get my ass out of bed which was unfortunately only one hour later I got up and had a shower. Compared to what I had experienced during the past three weeks this bathroom and shower were pure luxury. I enjoyed every second I spent underneath this warm water shower.I wanted to help w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Chonburi/blog-373682.html