Lost In Translation
Nat Scott
On The Road!
So, here we are...after years of daydreaming, we are finally escaping!
Natalie (Me!) and Scott are taking 6+ months off to travel South East Asia and anywhere else time and funds permit.
As usual, due to our/my inability to make a decision we'll make a start in Malaysia and just go with the flow - to anywhere the sun is shining, the food is yummy and there's plenty to keep us both entertained and hopefully out of trouble!
I will do my best to keep the blog updated for anyone interested in keeping tabs on our little adventure along the way. I will also make an extra effort to regularly post paradise pictures for those 9-5 day dreamers...promise!
:-)
Nat & Scott x
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain"
Travel Blog Posts
December 2nd 2011
Sat on yet another rickety rust bucket coach with only the view outside for entertainment, the highway code or lack of it should I say en route to Phnom Penh certainly made for a giggle or three. Mobile phones do exist here however it's clear hand free kits obviously don't. Bluetooth pffft - whats that they say... no requirements for high-tec gadgets here. On first glance I was slightly confused when I spotted a local whizzing passed on his trusty scooter looking as if he was mummbling words to himself. That was, until I caught sight of a mobile phone squeezed inbetween the strap of the helmet and the crease of his ear, most likely discussing whats for tea with the wife all the while dodging crater sized pot holes and crazed lorry drivers , with ... read more
November 9th 2011
Suburbia sprawled for miles upon miles before reaching the epicentre of Ho Chi Minh. Street signs began with D for Duong or Dai Lo which is the shortened name for boulevard. It became fairly apparent on the journey into the city that we would easily be able to aptly rename streets for our own amusement based on the local shops contents. Usually when you require a particular item back home, lets just say for example; a new lawn-mower. I would expect to find this at the local home-improvement store some where within the gardening section or electrical power tool aisles (that's just a guess because I have never bought a lawn-mower before!). Here we've noticed that if you require a lawn-mower or anything else random such as a hotel safety deposit box, a fancy hand-carved wooden ... read more
Cable Car Wobbles, Deli Style Elbow Slices & A Giant Dib Dab
Published: November 6th 2011Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Nha Trang
November 5th 2011
Yet again we jumped on our new favourite mode of taxi transport and zipped off to hopefully check-in to our new hostel in Nha Trang. Luckily for us we were given a free room to catch up on some sleep till the afternoon and until our reserved room became available in the afternoon. Ruby hotel was cheap cheap, if I remember right it was about £4 each a night and even included air conditioning, Wifi and bonus satellite TV, blooming bargain I say! The staff were lovely and friendly and really helpful organising and booking travel arrangements and attractions. Nha Trang is located on the southern-central coast and is widely renowned for parties, sun junkies and offers plenty in the form of other touristy attractions. We'd heard mixed reviews about this place and were unsure weather ... read more
Vietnams Charming Crown Jewels
Published: November 5th 2011Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Hoi An
October 21st 2011
Gazing out the coach window, each meter of landscape was capable of producing a stunning picturesque postcard, each perfectly captured within the large window frames. Crusing along the central east coast highway towards Hoi An; the view to the right - The Marble Mountains soar high over fresh water lakes dotted with fishermen aboard humble wooden boats casting nets. To the left, bountiful harvest crop fields, countryside and stunning views out to the ocean. From the coach drop point off we each hopped on to our negotiated motorbike taxi's. Each backpack slotted nicely between the seat and handlebars and we reach our new home in record time. A new mode of transport to tick off the list; beats the usual rip-off taxi car ride...more dangerous for sure but so much more fun! We check into Southern ... read more
Rusty Bells, Wonky Pedals - And Parping All In Hue!
Published: October 15th 2011Asia » Vietnam » North Central Coast » Hué
October 15th 2011
The twelve hour journey from Hanoi to Hue turned into a long fifteen hour slog. It wasn't by any means the worst ride we'd taken so far but shards of broken glass behind my pillow, intermittent slams from the swinging carriage doors and the constant rocking from the rickety rail tracks didn't make for the most comfortable nights kip. We shared our 4 berth cabin with two other German ladies, both were friendly and polite but kept themselves to themselves. Scott slept well by the sounds of it up on top bunk. To my immature amusement he'd accidently let one slip whilst in the lad of nod, leaving me below slightly embarrassed but still sniggering and pinching my nose cocooned inside my silk liner reacting just as a teenage boy would. Our German neighbours peered inquisitively ... read more
Hanoi & Halong Bay = Marmite. A Love/Hate Relationship! Personally I'm A Bovril Fan!
Published: October 14th 2011Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Hải Phòng
September 21st 2011
So blog number thirteen coming up, unlucky for some they say, we disagree! Currently sat in our nice hotel on day number four out of seven on the coast of Cambodia hiding under the roof terrace under cover from the torrential monsoon downpours - It's been raining hard for the past four days. How can clouds possibly hold all this water and stay floating round way up high!? The local lads are playing a game of footy with a few backpackers across the way, minus shirts and shoes there totally drenched but by the sounds of it they all sound like there having a great time, pigs in mud springs to mind! Apart from watching too many episodes of Bear Grills, Myth Busters, Dog Whisperer, How Do They Do It and other interesting crap on TV ... read more
Two Bus Tickets To Possible Death Please Sir!
Published: September 18th 2011Asia » Laos » East » Muang Kwa
September 11th 2011
Armed ready with a mug of steaming Lipton tea hoping to get some creative juices flowing to explain part deux of our slightly less than comfortable journey into Vietnam! Although drinking hot tea in 30oC heat is far from ideal, but listening to a guy playing acoustic guitar is making it much more bearable. I'd much prefer to be curled in front of my dads open log fire in my fave hoody, slouchy jeans and my feet all snug in a pair of pink fluffy socks while tickling Baxter's tummy (the dog)! Grass always being greener and all that jazz, but I'm not complaining, were still enjoying every single second and wouldn't change it for the world! If I remember right, I cut the blog short last time as it turned out to be quite a ... read more
Do One Thing Everyday That Scares You!
Published: September 8th 2011Asia » Laos » North » Muang Ngoi Neua
September 7th 2011
It's 7.36pm on Tuesday 6th September- Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I'm currently sat upright in bed running two laptops, catching glimpses of Big Cat Diary in the background and listening to the snores and snorts from Scott as he probably dreams of snow or something cold! After typing the previous sentence I've realised I should probably reduce my carbon footprint immediately and turn off a few things, okay a sock in Scott's mouth it is!! We've already passed through Vietnam and spent three weeks travelling north to south so I have a lot to catch up on. Brace yourself - This could be a long one! This is where all the activity happened and to this day we still regularly talk about this section of the trip for many reasons as you'll come to understand. Where do ... read more
August 30th 2011
Right back to the grindstone! I'm having to consult my empty diary and scrappy lists to write this entry and I'm seriously digging deep into the few brain cells I have floating around up there to remember what the hell we've done since. Day's are flying past far too quickly and previous weeks feel like years ago! So I've adopted a new approach to this writing malarky and I'm now trying to list things in each place so I can revert back and jog my shocking memory! For an example of my forgetfulness I've left my handbag with the camera inside in 5 different restaurants so far! Luckily for me we've retrieved them or had ladies chasing us down the street like crazy maniacs with my bag in hand! Thankfully the people are proving to be ... read more
"We're All Going On A Bamboo Submarine!"
Published: August 13th 2011Asia » Thailand » North-West Thailand » Chiang Mai » San Kamphaeng
August 13th 2011
Evidently on this trip we are incapable of arriving anywhere with a moments time to spare, and as per usual were cutting it fine unable to even cram in a snack shop on the way. It took us ages to try and find a way into the station after we found the entrances at the front were locked with iron chains and bars and the homeless settling down for the night in each door-way. We did manage to sneak in through the back door in KFC and later realised there was a side entrance with no doors on at all! To top it off we then had to weave our way past all the doughnut and cake stands to board for departure with me tagging behind hoping Scott would turn round and notice me drooling, waiting ... read more
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