I sense your love of history, too... before you feel too bad for the Dutch having been cheated by the English over the discovery of Australia, I suggest you read "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" about how the Dutch fought the English East India Company over Banda Island, the only English colony in the Spice Islands, and the only place nutmeg grew at the time. In the end the English and Dutch agreed to a treaty...the Dutch got Banda Island and the English got Manhattan. Have a wonderful time being a pirate and tourist attraction!
Home on The Duyfken Having seen you in pirate mode on the Soren Larsen I can imagine you're right in your element on The Duyfken. Will have to watch out on other bloggers' entries from Freemantle for photos of the crew! Congrats on the mast climb :-)
A trip back in time How fabulous to spend time in another century before even crows' nests and helms were invented! Loved your description of 3 am scents and sensations and also of the hard life endured by those intrepid first Europeans to discover your land. Here's to climbing masts and sore muscles in the service of living your dream!
Tampons! Reminds me of when we went through security in Manila airport and the security guard decided he wanted to search my bag but got completely flustered and befuddled by the fact there were tampons in one of the pockets. He gave up searching and embarrassed just waved us through security. Unbelievable really! For tampons in the Philippines, they are as rare as hens teeth BUT sometimes you might strike lucky with the toiletries section of the big supermarkets...otherwise bring your own!
Who wants bland? I've been meaning to write....I'm glad that you wrote this. The thing I love about travelblog is that it's about honest, real, experiences, and as all travellers know, they're not always great. Sometimes I'm a bit cautious, but then again when I am researching I want to know what people really think. And I think you've written a really great and balanced view of your experience. Great read!
Manila Any time you visit a city as big as Manila you will find things you like and things you don't like. We have nothing but wonderful things to say about our time in Manila. We would go back in a heartbeat. We stayed in Makati and loved it. We toured the city with Lili and she was a tremendous hostess. We met Tynnie and JayEximo and had a fantastic time. It can be difficult to maneuver around the city because of traffic but that is true in all big cities. The foods were wonderful. When you go back I hope you will hook up with Lili and you'll see all kinds of wonderful things.
Flocking to Bali We enjoyed our time in Bali but you are right that the masses are flocking. I think this area started changing years ago, even before the movie but certainly has moved at warp speed since that time. We've got a friend that spent the last two or three years going over there to build a house. He has some interesting stories-- some of them really crazy. You'd love to hear some of them.
Verification... Nice write up Cindy, I stayed at the hotel about 2 weeks before you did and I can verify the issues at the hotel... well, um, not the crotch sniff.. I think the dog knows which crotches to sniff. The music was extremely loud and it was awful hard to sleep. At one point I went up to the pub.... I was asked what I wanted? I said "SMB" what I thought was the waitress yelled my order to the bar then said, "which girl?" I got the impression she was not a barmaid... and was used to serving a different menu. And yep... The airport is a bit difficult but better than many I have dealt with in my travels.... but then, I've done immigrations under a tree on occasion. TTFN Wander some and see the world!
Thank you Cindy As TBers, I think most of us put our heart and soul into our blogs, as well as considerable time and effort so, it is always gratifying to get feedback and to know that someone, somewhere, has enjoyed reading them and then taken the time to comment. I must admit tho'- have been a bit slack with our blogs of late - lots going on but, there will be more to follow over coming weeks (months ?). Hope you enjoy them ... :) J xx
A pity..... Hi Cindi. A pity I wasn't home when you visited. Not a good experience at all, and frankly, I'm disappointed about you not getting your change 2x! I'm also shocked abt the tampon episode, and surprised the lady used the word "slut" --- not an everyday word here. Sorry about those. I wouldn't have recommended staying in Manila city center. Instead, I would have recommended "quieter and friendlier" Makati near my place. Anyway, I hope your diving trip was a better experience. Cheers!
Wouldve loved to have caught up with you Lili! Yes the diving was fantastic and much better blog on the way - I too was surprised at her choice of word..seemed like she was having a bad day as her face was like thunder before I even asked. Interestingly the other guy who didn't get his change at the mall was Filipino, so all I can assume is like everyone else says, the Philippines is beautiful..except for Manila. Next time I hope we can be in the same place at the same time and I can feel as good as I felt NYE when I really felt that legendary Filipino hospitality :)
Manila ..... haven't had the pleasure Hi Cindy,
Great blog ..... travel broadens our horizons for a variety of reasons from the experiences we have in the destinations we choose. Whether they be pleasurable experiences or show it like it really is - warts and all. I always look back with great fondness to the TB get-together in Sydney. A not-quite-so-green TBer now, I am so glad that I got to meet all of you who made me feel so welcome and, with special thanks to The Travel Camel who made it all possible. And, you're right. TBers don't compete with each other - we share. Cheers, Jan
Thanks Jan Thank you - as I said this blog has me worried, i love filipino people and have many friends there and I know its a beautiful country..this is simply my observations of a layover in manila...I feel sad that this is what people first see of the PI. Loving your blogs btw :)
Sailing That day looks wonderful, it would have been great to have a Skype chat from onboard the ship all the way to Ethiopia! The positive and warm energy between everyone on the boat comes through in the photos - really wonderful.
Like-minded I'm so glad you came, it was great to meet you. I love it how travel has united so many people from such different places and experiences and how things that seem important to some people are completely irrelevant in travel-land. Loved your blog!
Warm Hearts, cold water - TB Get-together Hey Cindy,
Sitting here in our hotel room in Vienna after a day of playing tourist and have just caught up with your TB get-together blog. I would never have guessed that you didn't like people all that much - it certainly didn't come through on the day. I was so happy to be able to share in the Sunday at Dave and Denise's and to be so warmly welcomed by everyone. Really enjoyed our chats about PNG too. We are finally away on our long-awaited trip and enjoying every minute. Got to catch up with The Travel Camel when in Dubai a few days ago which was great. Only for him, I wouldn't have made it to the get-together. A lot to thank him for. Jan xx
Thank you all so much :) Indeed, wishes do come true. Dave, a mini series thanks :p and I have become suddenly conscious of the amount of times west Aussies say "Awesome". Bob, Tom, next get together now I am no longer scared of people. And how could I be with people so wonderful as you all - thanks again ;) Jo, for you, the song in my head on the Ferry - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIrUqsB-0vw
HOW DO YOU SAY? How do you say...what a delight it was to have you stay at our place, with Jo also, for our long weekend Sydney TB Get-together? Pretty easily Cindy. We miss you already. Excuse me if this comment takes a while...grooving to Led Zeppelin 1...hard to concentrate...where was I? Looking forward to seeing you at next years Get-together. Denise has come up with an idea that is so good we'll probably have to restrict numbers. Give us time to start that book about your life...or do you prefer a mini series? Until next time...
I'm glad you came, too. It was great to meet you in person as I had been lurking on your blogs for some time.
The lunch on Sunday was more than I had hoped for but I was really pissed that I missed the sail on the Soren Larson. However, it prompted me to finish the blog about the last leg of our freighter travel from Portugal to the US. Not quite tall ship but still an adventure.
Sylvia and I are looking forward to hosting another get-together later in the year at Budgewoi. Hope you can make it.
John
Get together Thanks for the blog Cindy. I was lucky to meet some of the TB crew in Sydney a few months back, and very much enjoyed the experience of sharing with like minded people passionate about travel.
What a wonderful event to find out... that you like people! Thanks for sharing that side of you. Of course, how could you not like Dave, Denise, Rachel, and Jo, all of whom I had an opportunity to visit with last October (and even talked to Shane by phone from Dave's home), so I know how special they all are...even a hug from Dave upon meeting for the first time. I have promised myself not to miss the next get together!
What a wonderful event to find out... that you like people! Thanks for sharing that side of you. Of course, how could you not like Dave, Denise, Rachel, and Jo, all of whom I had an opportunity to visit with last October (and even talked to Shane by phone from Dave's home), so I know how special they all are...even a hug from Dave upon meeting for the first time. I have promised myself not to miss the next get together!
Glad you came for the reunion Wouldn't have picked that you were nervous about coming, but so glad you did - really enjoyed your company. Loved the honesty and humour in your blog entry. Hmmm, might give that levitating thing a go for real, would be quite handy for getting those overhead shots :-)
Hiya :) I'm a 50 year old free spirited lady from Australia who just updated her profile because I realised i am no longer 46 and am also not Peter Pan. I like to spend life doing ridiculous things and have no intention of ever stopping. I've taken a year off to explore the planet and reward myself for well, years of work.. Im very much a seat of your pants traveller and totally irresponsible. Most of my travels are spur of the moment run away from home episodes and my teenage sons are cool with this. Im at peace with knowing riotous times dont have to stop when your supposed to have grown up... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
I sense your love of history, too...
before you feel too bad for the Dutch having been cheated by the English over the discovery of Australia, I suggest you read "Nathaniel's Nutmeg" about how the Dutch fought the English East India Company over Banda Island, the only English colony in the Spice Islands, and the only place nutmeg grew at the time. In the end the English and Dutch agreed to a treaty...the Dutch got Banda Island and the English got Manhattan. Have a wonderful time being a pirate and tourist attraction!