Ritchy Aerosmith Rocks
A last chance to have the whole world in front of you...instead of just passing you byRitchy
Travel Blog Posts
August 3rd 2009
There is nowhere in the world quite like India. At first, the chaos was overwhelming and we struggled with the congestion, cleanliness and cultural differences. But, once you accept that resistance is futile and you allow yourself to become consumed, endurance becomes enjoyment...and you fall in love with your former enemy. That said, there is still a catalogue of differences that confound and confuse in equal measure. I've already 'vexed lyrical' about the absence of hygeine, social etiquette and straight answers - but here are a few more examples of the anomalies of India... 1) The Hinglish Language The Indian verncular is peppered with post colonial English words and phrases - creating an Anglo-Hindi hybrid that sounds like a Bollywood Fast Show sketch. The low caste Indians have a selective command of the English language, although ... read more
July 22nd 2009
Had I not woken to her humming a tune that stayed in my head all day. Had the sun decided not to shine. Had we not taken a walk through memory lane on the beach where we first fell in love. Had we not had that third gin and tonic. Had that raggedy dog not made me smile. Had Michael Jackson not been singing ABC. Had she not looked so beautiful. Had the clouds not parted when she said, "What will be different when we get back home?" I might not have asked. And, she might not have said, "Yes!" I could feel fate conspiring against me towards a moment that was impossible to resist. I actually missed my cue when she first asked, "What will be different when we get back home?" That was when ... read more
July 20th 2009
No sooner had we arrived in the safe haven of Pushkar, when Flo fell ill with food poisoning. All of our meals have been served with a dressing of doubt and, despite being careful, it was probably only a matter of time. While Flo battled against bum wee, I spent days running errands and replacing toilet paper. In the absence my fair skinned friend, I can walk the streets without the usual clamour for attention - no more slick haired Romeos, smarmy salesmen or charlatan priests. However, there's no escaping the beggars! Whether you are walking the street or waiting in traffic, you can always expect an open palmed hand to be put your way - usually belonging to a smudged child with pleading eyes. Sometimes, a small gang of dirty faced angels will follow me, ... read more
June 24th 2009
They say, "In India...anything is possible!" ...although, this seems to exclude cleanliness, social etiquette, personal space, honesty, sexual equality, and a healthy stomach Wednesday 27th May We were relieved when the pilot informed us that the current local temperature in Delhi International Airport was 33C, until we realised that it was only 2am! By midday, the mercury would rise another ten degrees - that's Fahrenheit for fucking hot! We were amazed to find that our airport collection had actually arrived - although, we were less surprised to be taken to a different hotel to the one in the brochure, and charged for the priviledge. All I was concerned about was finding a room with cable to watch tonight's Champions League final. In hindsight, I should have given the bathroom a greater inspection. After a few hours ... read more
June 19th 2009
We arrive at Hong Kong airport. It's raining. It doesn't stop raining for the three days we are here:( The fair weather is provided by Sarah. And, her Little Miss Sunshine - Katie:) We take a train into the city. Ask a taxi driver to take us to 'Lobinson Do'. That's apparently Mandarin for Robinson Road. Arrive at Sarah's apartment. She's gone up in the world. She lives on the 19th floor. A blonde boy with a familiar face answers the door. It's Sarah! She has a new short haircut. Think Twiggy. With a silent T...Just joking. She is glowing in the way only new mothers can. We meet six-month old Katie. She is baby commercial beautiful. Big blue eyes and a whisp of blonde hair. I could eat her toes. Sarah bravely tells us of ... read more
June 16th 2009
"You climb now!" said the man, pointing upwards in the direction of an intimidating rock face. I had met my so-called instructor only minutes earlier. During our brief relationship, he had handed me some strange shoes, taught me how to tie a single knot and explained how he was still suffering from the night before. This, and the useful pointing of which direction to head, was all the guidance I had before my first rock climbing experience... I was wearing a testicle-hating harness, which was attached to a rope reeled through a pulley at the peak and, ultimately, held by my recovering new friend at the bottom. I wasn't certain to what extent this apparatus would save me should I fall. Nonetheless, I started to climb and scaled 20m before becoming stranded, gripping by my fingernails ... read more
June 4th 2009
Most of you will remember the infamous Mr. Paul Smyth from a youth largely misspent at a grand house in suburban Surrey. He’s since been living in Thailand for the past eight years and the opportunity to meet with an old friend in the southern island of Phuket is unmissable. Some things will never change; Paul can still be more flaky than a snowstorm, has the attention span of a senile goldfish and the nocturnal habits of an amphetamine addicted night owl. But, he is also now a caring family man and the doting father of two charismatic children, Billy (8) and Jasmine (6). Paul collects us with Snoop kickin’ it old school from his car’s customised speakers - like I say, some things will never change. We arrive at the crib and immediately take to ... read more
June 4th 2009
We held some reservations over Thailand. It may be the most popular destination in SE Asia - but that title usually carries inflated prices, crowds of tourists and cutthroat touts. However, arriving in low season presented a far more relaxing proposition that would come to exceed all expectations - although, there was an inauspicious beginning… New entry regulations ruled that travellers crossing by land would only be given a 14-day visa - meaning we would have to leave the country, renew our visas and return if we were to stay the month we wanted. Nonetheless, we arrive by boat in Chiang Khong and immediately board a bus to Chang Mai. As the road weaves through a mountainous wilderness of flourescent colours fading into pastel skies at dusk, it dawns on me that the last time I ... read more
May 24th 2009
The original talk was to head for the hills and trek through the mountainous north of Laos. Instead, we take a whistlestop tour of the region without actually walking the walk. This is down to unexpectedly high prices, Flo's enduring foot injury and some difficulty waking the locals from their opium induced stupor! From Luang Prabang we take a bone jarring bus to Nong Khiaw, which only breaks down twice. The small fishing village nestles in the shadows of a valley surrounded by looming mountains. We stay in a stilted bungalow that looks over the Nam Ou; the brown river carries more sediment here - Muddy Waters (and all that jazz). We stay one night and then take a longtail boat to Muang Ngoi Neua, which is steered through rapids by a ten-year-old boy learning his ... read more
May 10th 2009
We arrive in Luang Prabang and unexpectedly walk straight into a war zone. No street is safe and practically everyone is armed and dangerous! During the course of three days the picturesque town descends into absolute mayhem while the locals wage an unrelenting war on each other. And, it's impossible to escape the conflict. While sat outside a restaurant we are approached by a group of menacing teenagers who, without warning or provocation, draw their weapons and open fire...with oversized water pistols!! Welcome to Pii Mai, the Buddhist incarnation of New Year. Since we were warned that the annual celebration would involve a countrywide water fight, we expected to get wet - but we didn't realise to what extent... Drenchtown Rock When we first arrived, we dismissed the occasional sight of small children carrying massive water ... read more
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