Reet
Not all those who wander are lost.... Joined: June 23rd 2006
Logged in: February 8th 2012
Logged in: February 8th 2012
"What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds... When you're traveling, you are what you are, right there and then... People don't have your past to hold against you... There are no yesterdays on the road.."
Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it. - Cesare Pavese
"Trust me, it's paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven't tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It's probably worth it" - The Beach (2000)
Travel Blog Posts
Our snorkelling boat
So my blogs are behind by a couple of months but I am determined to get them done eventually... and here is finally another one down! The memory is getting tougher and with long breaks between blogs, I am sure the real funny stuff gets missed, but I will do my best. Day 8 in Cambodia saw us waking up bright and early to catch a bus to the beach resort area of Sihanoukville. Having researched it extensively before going, I was in two frames of mind as to whether I would like it or not, but decided to keep an open mind until I saw it for myself. It was going to have to be pretty special to beat Kampot! We were picked up in a small minibus and literally squeezed in on top of ... read more
Stunning Sunsets!
Kep is a coastal fishing village famed for its spectacular sunsets and fresh seafood (specifically crabs). It was founded as a colonial retreat for the French Elite in the early 1900's and Cambodian high-rollers have flocked here to continue the tradition ever since. The Khmer Rouge were known to harbour a particular hatred for this town and during their reign they destroyed the town. Today, Kep's luxurious pre-war villas are still just blackened shells with bullet holes riddled throughout the walls, poignant reminders of the Khmer Rouge. The remnants of the mansions left behind have a post-apocalyptic feel to them, showcasing the violent end each one met. Kep is now rising from the ruins and has become popular with the wealthy elite of Phnom Penh, expats and slowly but surely, Western tourists. Exploring the Countryside by ... read more
At the Waterfall
Ok, so the blogs stopped for awhile, and its taken me some time to get back into even being motivated. After believing I had found the love of my life in Ben, I came home to heartbreak, which doesn't need to be aired on here, but lets just say its knocked the wind out of me and knocked me off my feet, and while I am still healing, I am ready to start writing again... I apologise in advance that the blogs may not be as funny, exciting or detailed like normal.. but its been awhile since I experienced the adventure and with the wind knocked out of me the world doesnt seem so bright.. but lets give this a go! Bokor Hill Station Up bright and early, we were picked up for a tour of ... read more
Great photos at sunset
Up bright and early it was time for Danni and I to move on from Phnom Penh.. As sad as the place can be, I have to admit that over the past three visits to this city, it really has grown on me… there are some fabulous restaurants and during the day it can be quite a pretty city along the riverfront. Upon heading for our bus, all the tuktuk guys that sit out the front of Blue Lime started yelling to us ‘there’s Sambo there’s Sambo’ .. we turned around to see Sambo up the end of the alley… Teasing all the boys, we yelled out to Sambo “Bye Sambo… See you next time” in little girly voices… He would have blushed I am sure.. and the boys all got a good giggle out of ... read more
Chilling in the pool at Blue Lime
I woke up early on Monday morning ready to head off on the next leg of the adventure and meet up with Danni, a workmate. We were meeting in Phnom Penh at Blue Lime Guesthouse. After heading downstairs for New Siam's 'best banana pancakes in the world' and real coffee, I went upstairs to pack my bags. Tong phoned me while I was getting ready and said she would come pick me up and take me to the airport... I was thinking SWEEEET since I was down to my last 1000 baht! Tong arrived a bundle of energy, and we drove to the airport. After Tong dropped me off I nervously approached the Air Asia sales counter. I had been trying to pay for my luggage online without success and after a last minute desperate phone ... read more
The View from our Room
Hello Bangkok Friday morning we woke, had a final brekkie (with Ben still steering clear of anything cooked on the buffet) and off to the airport we set.. Once checked in, we went to the departure lounge. Upon boarding our Nok flight, Ben saw the front of the plane from the airport window... He was bemused to see the nose of the plane had a cartoon face drawn on it... and I think he doubted the validity of the airline at this point... I think he called it a Cartoon Airline! I assured him Nok is a subsidiary of Thai and perfectly safe (would I fly an unsafe airline seriously!?). Once in the air we were served a little snack which consisted of water and a 'pretzel'. I use the term pretzel very lightly based ... read more
Paradise Found on Koh Hong
Waking up bright and early ready for a day out with Captain Mark, we peeked out our curtains to see what weather the day had bought us.. Much to our delight it was sunny and looking great! We have had such luck with the weather so far! A private driver picked us up just before 8am. It was really nice to be picked up in a car and know that we didn't have to do the 'rounds' of the hotels again! The driver was a little late as he had gone to the wrong hotel... its funny, our hotel is great and such a bargain, yet no one has ever heard of it.. its not on the reviews on trip advisor... every time we told a local where we were staying they didn't have a clue.. ... read more
Ben just the size I need him to handle him!
Well its been a few days since the first blog and its been an action packed week. This is my first chance to sit down and get something down... and sadly, I am sitting in a hotel room alone, as Benny left to go home tonight... The tears have stopped and I am looking towards Cambodia and the next part of my adventure with optimism! Benny and I had an amazing week and did sooo much that it will probably take me more than one blog to get through it all... so lets go back to where I left things... ATV in the MUD Blessed with a gorgeous sunny day on our first day, we were dismayed to wake up to dark grey skies on the Tuesday morning. This was not the tropical paradise we had ... read more
Awwwww....
Well I have finally managed to find some time to sit down and get this blog (party) started... though not for the best reasons.. As I type, Benny is laying in bed next to me (and has been for the past 3 hours) sick with 'Thai Belly'. I am devastated, that after building up Thailand as the 'other love of my life' to him for so long, that day 2 of only 7 he winds up 'pooing through the eye of a needle' as he politely put it! I am not sure I have convinced him that Thailand is as amazing as I say it is! LOL By halfway through this blog, Benny graduated to vomiting as well as the pooing.. it could be a long night! Anyway, that is skipping ahead of myself.. we have ... read more
Excited to be taking Benny to Thailand
So 2011 has been an amazing year full of travel, new love, working towards goals and planning yet another holiday... The plans have changed several times over but its finally here... I dont have near enough money, but hey, thats part of the adventure.. expect to see some real budget travel along the way! Where to this time you may ask? We fly out (yes thats right WE... as in me and my wonderful gorgeous man Ben) on 9th October heading straight for 5 nights in Phuket, followed by a couple of nights in Bangkok... This is Benny's first trip to Thailand so I have lots of touristy stuff planned (some of which even I havent covered yet!) Unfortunately Benny can only stay a week due to work so he flies home and I have a ... read more
