Xi'an- Terracotta Warriors have nothing on me :)

I arrived in Xi'an late as the trains in China are not terribly reliable. Not to fret my hostel lady had waited at the train station for 4 extra hrs for me! How sweet. The driver had left to do a tour so we took the city bus which was crazy. Xi'an is home of the honking horn. Honking EVERYWHERE all the time. It gets them nowhere, but they honk anyway.

Having been delayed by the train I was not able to see the warriors on this day which was ok as I was really starting to come down with a cold. Headache and swore throat, perhaps the result of being spit on in Shanghai. I planned to take it easy in Xi'an. I met a lovely Chinese guy named Michael (he told me his real Chinese name but Michael is far easier for me to remember and say). We agreed to go to see the Big Goose Pagoda. This temple dates from 400 AD and is key in the story of the Monkey King that brought back scriptures from India and placed them in the Pagoda.


We saw the Pagoda which was lovely, but I really enjoyed his company. He is young at only 20 years old and very Chinese in his culture (okay big surprise). He explained to me how he wants to become rich by owning his own factory so he can find a good wife and have a big house for her, his kids and his parents. He explained the 1 child rule and how the rich can have more children if they pay fees and he was surprised to learn I was 29 and single. He told me "you look very young, but 29 is very old in China to not be married"... thanks... I explained to him Canada and how are families work and even touch on the freedom of information, but I think that concept was lost on him.


I saw Michael again the next morning in the hostel and he was heading back to southern China, he wished me luck finding a husband. With that I was out to see the warriors. After 2hrs on the bus (honking and all) I was at the warriors. In my lonely planet book I was guided to buying food outside the gates, so I purchased innocent looking noddles from a women with a cart. She used her bare hands to pick up the noodles and place them in my bowl. Hmmmm... figuring I had a stomach of steel by now I ate them anyway and they tasted okay.


I ventured inside the warriors and followed the line of people to the viewing pits. Well before we got to the pits a few Chinese people turn, stared at me and started excitedly yelling at their friends all pointing at me. Next thing I know they are taking my picture and then throwing their arms around me and taking more photos. Whatever. Shockingly this happened again with a couple later on.

The warriors were... okay. I did the opposite order (which I recommend) pit 3 is the smallest collection but the most important warriors. Pit 2 is still being excavated but the scale is impressive. The last pit, 1, is the home of the most warriors. There must have been 500 warriors. It was very impressive, but I think I was expecting even more. Oh well, very glad I saw it.

Perhaps the weirdest thing was the pelts of CAT you could purchase? Why? Oh well as I have learned TIC "this is china".

Shanghai- My first bout of culture shock

I have been very lucky on my trip. Having travelled a bit in my past I know to expect the unexpected and that the journey is more important than the destination. But little could have prepared me for Shanghai. When the longest train ride ever finally ended in Shanghai's central train station bedlam broke lose. Everyone was pushing, shoving no order or common sense. The customs lines where one big stampede it was overwhelming.

After 20hrs on the train I went to use the washroom. I have come to expect swat toilets. What I didn't expect was human excrement EVERYWHERE. literally piles on the floor everywhere as if a dog had been locked in there. I thought I was going to vomit. I chose to wait till I reached the safety of my hostel.

Finding the hostel was the next chore, no one could help me as no one spoke English. Plus traffic laws seem non existent here. A red light is merely a suggestion and in no way guarantees the cars will stop. I eventually gave up and hire a taxi even he couldn't really help me that much. After 1.5hrs looking for the hostel I finally found it. I was tempted to look myself in my room for the next 24hrs until I could leave Shanghai.

I bravely ventured out in the afternoon to the french concession. A historical part of shanghai. It was lovely and then I enjoyed dumplings at a restaurant I found. With no English anywhere I point at the menu having no idea what I was ordering and lucked out that I got a pork and shrimp dumpling basket. Yummy!

That night I venture to the Bund a famous view point to watch the skyline on Shanghai. However, the smog made the view almost impossible to see. It looked more like foggy London than the clear day it was.

The next morning I walked to People's Square. Until recently is was prohibited to dogs and Chinese people (in that order). No longer the case I was wish it was that way still. I had read about a scam in my Lonely planet guide of Chinese students practising their English inviting you to tea ceremony's where they later charge you hundreds of dollars and wont let you leave until you pay. Well it was my luck that I was propositioned to a tea party. I told them no thank you and they persisted until I left. I walked down a bit further to a children's playground. This Chinese family saw me and held out they child to be to hold asking for a picture. I looked at the child and his penis was sticking out from his snowsuit! What is up with Shanghai? I later found out that many Chinese do not use diapers on their children but have slits in their clothing so they can go on the street/sidewalk etc. I ventured back to the safety of my hostel for another break.

Braving the city one more time I went out to Old town, which was really special. I particularly liked Old Town as it was the Chinese experience I was expecting. The buildings date back hundreds of years and the trees are in some cases 400 years old. Afterward, I had lunch at a 200 year old dumpling resturant. Again I chose blindly off the menu and had a lovely prix fixed selection of dumplings and wonton soup. Having enjoyed a great meal I packed up a headed to the train station for an overnight 14hr trip to Xi'an, but not before a man spit on me. He turned his head to spit just as I passed by and got it on my sweater, lovely.

Hong Kong- The ultimate China Town

Hong Kong is another city I could live in. It is clean and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised to find free wifi in many places allowing me to update facebook and my blog. I arrived at my hotel late on the 24th. I have stayed in small accommodations but this takes the cake. The room was at best 3x3 meters. The bathroom (shared) was maybe 2x2 meters.


I ventured out the next morning with a list of things to see and do. (Travel tip, plan out your days if you have limited time or you will wonder around not seeing anything). My plan, get my Chinese Visa, go to the top of Victoria peak, have lunch in SoHo, take the star ferry across the harbour, and see the light show at night from the harbour.

I wondered around for 2hrs trying to find the Chinese Visa place but finally found it and was on my way to "the peak". I took the bus up to the top enjoying the views and the famous tram down. I was very lucky I chose this route as the line for the tram up was several hours long! While waiting for my bus to the star ferry I over heard an older Australian couple fighting about the wait. How she wanted to wait because she really wanted to see the peak, he didn't want to waste their whole day standing in line. I felt awkward about listening but they really were carrying on. Then the "you never let me do anything I want" and the "you always get you way" started. I bravely tapped the women on the shoulder and told them about the bus. How you could get to the top via the city but for a third the price, no waiting and take the tram down. They left still pissed off at each other but seeking the bus. Hopefully this saved their day. (Travel tip, pick your travel partner carefully).

The star ferry is a hidden gem of Hong Kong. For 50c you basically get a harbour cruise on a vessel step in HK history. Before the bridges and tunnel on the late 1980's the ferry was the only way across. It has been in service for 200 years only stopping service during WWII (when it was used to shuttle troops out of HK).


For dinner I had some company. At the lifts of the hotel I met a nice guy James originally from the UK living in HK for 20 years. I asked him a recommendation for a dumpling house and he joined me for dinner. Even when travelling alone you don't have to be alone.

That night I venture to the harbour to watch the skyline come alive and the symphony of lights show. Hong Kong is a truly beautiful city. However, I can only imagine the electricity usage. Not very environmentally friendly.


The next day I wondered the markets which was quite interesting, I bought some food for my long train trip to Shanghai (20hrs). Some delicious BBQ Pork buns and bananas. Finishing up in HK with a Starbucks coffee (a little taste of home), then off to the train station.

More from Bangkok

I forgot to add two really funny stories from Bangkok.



The first was on the morning after we visited the grand palace, Torsten and I stumbled across a Thai man laying in the street. We watched as several people stepped over him, no one stopping to see if the man was okay. He looked a bit disheveled but to be completely honest, many of the Thai's look a bit disheveled. We stopped a women to ask her is he was okay. She took a look at him and said, he's probably fine... a few times we find one dead and he'll be there for a while, but this one just looks drunk.


Next was shopping. My friend Ainsley asked a store clerk for her size in a top. Ainsley is not large but any stretch but the women looked her up and down and said "you... extra large". Even despite my losing weight before the trip found myself in sizes 3 times larger than back home. I also has to resort to buying a man's shirt in order to get sleeves long enough.

Goodbye South East Asia

Ah, after 25 glorious days in SEA it is time to say farewell, but not goodbye. I can’t wait to return and do northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.


Some of my favourite memories and experiences of SEA


1. Customs man in Indonesia asking me “why you not married?” as if I was a washed up old maid


2. Bali mopeds- the best, a family of 4 and the dog on one scooter


3. Chicken fired rice for breakfast

4. The sidewalks in Bali with massive open man holes


5. “Sexy massage???”


6. Getting off a scooter in Bali my friend Nick was asked if he would like a girl for the night if so the scooter driver would call his sister


7. “Miss… where you from?” every 2 seconds


8. Malaysia- driving on the motor way and seeing 6 kids in the backseat and 2 on the lap of the mother in the front seat


9. Thailand tuk tuks, the best was a converted tuk tuk into a pick-up truck with a whole homes worth of furniture on the back


10. Police check points in Thailand are proudly sponsored by Pepsi


11. The creative spelling of everything. Even very official government documents have spelling errors.

12. Restaurants serving Moo Pad Pet in Thailand

13. Street Pad Thai for $1

14. Work place safety (yes that is bamboo scaffolding and the workers aren’t even wearing shoes)

15. City buses that are basically a pick-up truck and you sit in the back


I will not miss

1. No toilet paper

 

2. Squat toilets

3. Having to brush my teeth with bottled water

4. Stray cats and dogs everywhere


5. MOSKITOS

6. Thai’s budding in line all the time

7. Having to take off your shoes every time you enter something


8. Always having people try to sell you something


9. Bargaining for taxi and insisting they do not stop at all their friends shops just to run up the fare

Bangkok, home of fake EVERYTHING.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in Bangkok. Having watched CNN and hearing about riots and such in Bangkok I knew I needed to be more aware here. I was pleasantly surprise to find that aspect of Bangkok over rated. Now there was a presence of police with machine guns with knives at the end (in case the 40 bullets don’t kill you, they can stab you I guess) and at all shopping centre and public places there are metal detectors and bag searches.

I spent my full day in Bangkok with Anslie, Thorsten and Jacco from the tour. We started off at the grand place a place steep in Thai history. The place was once the residence of the king of Thailand but is now used for special ceremonies and as a museum for Thai history and buddas culture. Is is home to the emerald budda which is simular to the Mona Lisa in my opinion, hyped up a great deal but much smaller in person that you expect.


Afterward we shopped! MKB is the ultimate mall, 7 floors of craziness. Everything in the world can be bought here (I’m sure you could even buy a kidney if you looked) and then the fake version to shop over. Even I hit shopping overload here. However, I managed to buy a new “winter” travel wardrobe for the next 4 weeks of my trip in northern Asia for 500 baht, or $18.

That night we checkout Koh San Road the whole street becomes a pedestrian road with bars and stalls moving into the street. If you couldn’t find that kidney at MKB you can find it hear. I particular like the stall offer fake degrees, passports, press passes and police badges. In case your wondering you can buy a Bachelor of Arts from MacQuarie University in Sydney for 3000 baht or $100.


Next for me, Hong Kong.

Koa Samui, Koa Toa and the Full Moon party

On the third morning of our tour of Thailand we boarded our ferry to Koh Samui. I had heard many great things about how beautiful Samui is. We got there for lunch and the island was rather deserted. There has been a major flood only a few days earlier and the island had been excavated, we were one of the first ferries back. The streets were littered with sand bags and shops were clearing out flooded stock. Unfortunately this did not represent Koh Samui in its best light. We only stayed in Koh Samui for one night. Just long enough to catch a famous Thai Lady Boy show. It’s a cross between cabaret and drag. It was really entertaining especially when our friend Jacco was kissed on the lips by a lady boy.

Very early the next morning we headed to Koa Toa. A beautiful island, one of the smallest on the east coast. Many of the tour members went snorkelling in Koh Toa (I had already gone in Koa Phi Phi) so I relaxed by the pool all afternoon and it was lovely!

The next morning, my birthday, I started the day with a thai oil massage, which was “interesting”. Let’s just say it was very intimate to say the least. Then a lovely breakfast by the sea and a drink to start the day (it was 11am somewhere in the world :D). We then got ready for the full moon party!!! Lots of water to hydrate for the rave style party that happens every 28 days. This month it fell on November 21st. At 3pm we boarded our ferry for Koh Penang. We didn’t have any accommodation on Penang so we knew we had to stay partying until our return ferry at 8:45am the next day. It was an amazing night full or buckets of drink (mine vodka, soda and red bull), amazing chicken on a stick and “shakes” (anyone that has done the full moon party will know about the shakes).

Well we party in the moon light until the sunrise. Now up for 24hrs we boarded our return ferry, having not once sat down. But no rest yet as we had a full day of travel before our over night train to Bangkok. Two more ferries (one of which broke down in the middle of the gulf of Thailand and had to have some mid-ocean repair work) a few buses and then the train. By now it was 9pm, 36.5hrs since sleep. The second we boarded the train my head hit the pillow and I was dead to the world until our tour guide, Mr. Yoo, woke me from my slumber at 5:30am the next morning for Bangkok.


Despite the sleep deprivation it was well worth it and the best way to celebrate a birthday. Best part… I outlasted all the 19 year-olds that have yet to learn how to pace themselves with alcohol :)

Khao Sok and my boo boo

Tuesday morning I left beautiful Phuket and boarded a bus bounds for Sura Thani on the East coast. The bus was rather basic at best and half way through our 6 hour journey some kid threw upon the bus and stank up the bus so badly. Despite the remaining 3 hrs with our heads out the window we made it to Sura Thani. Sura Thani is not a tourist town and I was only there for 1 night so I could meet my Gap tour the next morning at 6:45am at the train station.

The following morning I met my tour. Mr. Yoo and the other 9 members. We have an interesting group. Two German boys that are really lovely, a young Aussie couple from Melbourne, a girl from London, a guy from Finland, who is really nice and 2 strange girls from Austria. I have yet to see them smile or be at all friendly. Last but not least, Ansley and EMS from Toronto!!!! Her skills came in handy for me....

We boarded another bus and drove 2.5 hrs to Khao Sok National Park. Our bus arrived at the Park and we all got off. Except I slipped getting off the bus. I wasn't hurt and caught myself by grabbing onto a part of the door frame of the rusty, dirty bus. It was until I looked at my hand that I saw blood. Lots of blood. I realized I had cut my finger, deeply. Now those that know me well, know I am a WUSS around blood. So now in front of my new friends I just about to pass out. Ansley was great! She took a look at the cut and asked me when my last tentunus shot was. I thought back and realized it has been at least 20 years since my last shot. So now I'm off the hospital in Thailand for my cut and a shot. The clinic was rather basic, in front of the clinic there were chickens running about and children playing. It turns out the school children where there to get there boosters that day. So my guide asked me not to cry in front of the children when I got my shot.

The Dr or nurse (not quite sure what she was) examined me right away and clean out my cut with pure rubbing alcohol, it hurt so bad I must have passed out because next thing I remember I was laying down and they were giving me smelling salts. She then stitched my finger (never putting on any gloves herself) and gave me my shot (which was nothing compared to the alcohol). All this took 30 mins. The cost... 140 baht or just over $3. She even prepared a reciept for my insurance company (is if it even worth the effort to claim).

So that my boo boo.

Khao Sok was amazing, the rainforst was beautiful.

Sorry no pictures, I will add some to the post shortly.

Phuket and Koh Phi Phi

I arrived into Phuket late on Nov 10th. When I went to find transport to my hostel I was surprised to find that no one was going to Phuket they were all going to Patong? I waited and waited for more people to fill a minibus to Phuket but after an hour I gave up a found a really nice taxi driver to take my the 45 mins into town for 400 baht ($11.00). He was so excited that I was English speaking. He had bough some CD's but didn't know the artists. So the whole trip he kept putting in the CDs so I could tell him who they were. Guns and Roses, Areosmith, Nirvana (I felt a flashback to dances at Norwood Park). He seemed pleased. 


Once at the backpackers I settled into my 10 person dorm room (that I had all to myself :D) and hit the hay. The next morning I was pleased to see the sun shining and quickly threw on my bathing suit grab a book and caught the Phuket bus to Patong beach (since it sounded like the place to be). No sooner did the bus pull away did the monsoon rain start. I have never seen rain like this. The streets were flooded in only a few minutes. You couldn't see 1 foot in front of your face. I was drenched. I tried to hide in some shops but got really tried of them aggressively trying to sell me stuff so I caught the next bus back to the hostel and watch bootlegged thai movies all afternoon (yes the kind of movies that shake, have a big afro in the middle of the screen and really odd subtitles that are in no way related to what is being said).

I was hopeful the next day would bring better weather. Beautiful sunny morning, so I bused it to Karon beach. Beautiful beach however again it started raining the second I got off the bus. Then I remembered something Ant Dureau (my GM at Vodafone) said. "Don't wait for the rain to stop, learn to dance in the rain" So I did just that. I went swimming in the monsoon rain. If I was going to be soaked anyway might as well enjoy it. The water was so warm, it was great. 




The next day I was off to Koh Phi Phi island to do camping on Maya Beach, the beach made famous by the movie "the beach" with Leonardo Dicaprio. The beach was amazing, the camping was fun. But while we were snorkelling someone on the crew stole my money! 1000 baht ($33), now $33 bucks is nothing to cry over but that was all the money I had on Phi Phi. No credit cards etc as we were told only bring what you need. So I had NO MONEY to get the ferry off of Phi Phi back to Phuket. The other's on the tour each gave me some baht, but I was still short. I turned up at the ferry office and turned on the tears (travel tip number 4, cry!) they took what I had and gave me a ticket to Phuket :) Once on the mainland I now had to walk over an hour to get back to the hostel as I had no money for a taxi. I'm not sure the lesson here as I couldn't have taken the money snorkelling with me and if I had a credit card they would have taken that as well and that would have been worse. Phi Phi was still amazing and the weather has been glorious since!

Last night we were taken by the hostel to a real Thai night market. We sampled different thai foods, including crickets, grasshoppers, maggots and worms. Yummy! Okay not really but not as bad as you think.




Tomorrow I'm off to Koh Sok National Park and then Koh Samui. 


More pics from thailand here 

KL- Keep a Lookout

Kuala Lumpur and I got off to a rocky start.


First off, the night train was sooooo cold that I shivered all night and managed only a few moments of shut eye. So note to self for the 3 night trains in China, buy a blanket!

We rolled into Kuala Lumpur Sentral at 7:30am. I disembarked the train, moved along with the other passengers (travel tip... when in Rome do as the Romans) but couldn't help but notice something missing... Customs?! Now don't get me wrong, did I miss the queueing, the questions, the bag search? No, I missed the stamp!!!! :(



Okay so no Malaysia stamp for me and I may be in this country illegally, but must press on. Next stop ATM to get some Ringgits, now I couldn't help but notice this man standing kind of next to me pretending to look at some slips in his pocket. My Spidy Senses were on alert. When it was my turn, I offered my spot to him, to his surprise. He looked around and mumbled... no go ahead. I then insisted he go before me and then waited until he left before completing my transaction. (Travel tip 2... be overly kind, it throws them off).

Now onto the ticket counter for my train ticket to the hostel. I had noticed my fare should be 1 Ringgit. So when I got 8 Ringgits back from my 10 note, I spoke up! (travel tip 3... count your change) as my hostel tried to short change me as well.


Okay all this and it was only 8am!

I have to say KL did improve. The Petronas Towers and the shopping at Central Market have put a smile on my face and have redeemed KL. The new knock-off Burberry handbag I bought in China Town (I love to haggle) has saved me $1600 US over the real version I saw at the airport. :D

Tonight onto Thailand! I was supposed to take another night train; however, the borders are extremely volatile right now and have been advised against. So I bought a last minute flight to Phuket (poo-get, not f*ck-it) a much safe port of entry.

Singapore a FINE city

I loved Singapore!

From the moment I arrived I could tell I was going to really enjoy my short time here. The queue at customs was non-exisitant and I was out of the airport 15 mins after landing. Once at the SMRT (Singapore Metro and Rapid transit) station I purchased my travel card and enbarked on the NE line. I was so pleasantly surprised to see everything in English. It was a breeze to travel to my hostel. The only moment of confusion was the transfer I had to make, but before I could even ponder which side of the platform to wait on someone asked me if I needed help. What a friendly city!

The hostel was lovely and I met new people. A guy from Mumbai, three people from Germany and two girls from the Phillipines. 

That night I walked down into Chinatown for dinner, amid the signs for Frog soup, Pig liver Laksa, I found some tame dumplings. After wards I ventured to Clarke Quay along the Singapore River. 

The next morning, after one of the best sleeps, I headed to Harbour Station to pick up my train ticket to KL for the next night. Then I walked to Marina Bay to see the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Wow! It is three towers connected by a "boat" at the top... No I didn't get to go up. :(

I happened to be there on the last night of an international art exhibition in the area. Massive light displays from artist around the world, free to the public. Made for some really nice pictures of the area at dusk. 

On my last day in Singapore I went shopping!!! Orchard Rd is home to all the major labels, Dior, Prada, Channel to name a few. I stuck to Zara, the Gap (where I happened to be in the background of what I can only imagine is the Singapore version of Fashion Television) and Lucky Plaza mall. Picked up a few bargins. Waiting for Bangkok to really give the credit card a work out. 

Then onto Little India. Given I didn't get my visa for India and had to cancel that leg of the trip, I was excited about seeing Little India in Singapore. Well, it wasn't that great.... The smells were amazing, the air heavy with curry and different spices. But it was dirty and slummy. Maybe it is a good thing I'm not going to India after all.

As for the title of this post, Singapore is known as the "fine" city. Perhaps the reason I like it so much is that all the rules make it very easy to get along. There are fines for just about everything, littering carries a $1000 fine, spitting, having food on the metro and chewing gum are also illegal. Singapore goes as far as putting little foot outlines on the steps of the escalators so you know which side to stand and which side is for passing. On some sidewalks there is a line with arrows instructing you to walk to the left.

Well, here am I am about to embark on my train to KL. Good bye Singapore, I'm sure we'll met again.

Rice, volcanos and one big idiot

First off Lily and Eion’s birthday party was so lovely! Ku de Ta was amazing. We enjoyed cocktails while watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean, the evening progressed to rum and coke pool side at our hotel into the wee hours where we met the new batch of hostel guests.

Grant, a fireman from Southampton and Ryan from Ottawa. Yay another Canadian!!!… I thought.

The next day we bid fare well to Kevin and Nick (off to Thailand) while Grant, Ryan, a new guy Roberto (from Italy) and I hired a car for an 8hr drive to the second largest volcano in Indonesia. Well about 20 mins into the car ride I realized I was in hell. Ryan, my fellow Canadian turns out to be the biggest a**hole to grace this earth. First off, I don’t think he could go 4 words without using the f-word, next, his blatant arrogance and derogatory comments of Indonesian life and their impoverished country were not lost on our driver (who spoke enough English to get the gist of his rant), last, was the disgusting “self-pleasuring” hand gestures he made to all the passing by Indonesia women on their scooters. When we stopped for fuel I asked the driver if we could leave him at the petrol stop as a semi-joke.

Despite my growing hatred for the Canadian the rice fields and volcano where amazing. Plus it was really eye opening to venture inland into Bali and see the real way of life for these individuals.

Tomorrow I leave for Singapore (not a moment too soon or I may kill Ryan). Lesson learned that day, not everyone born in Canada should get to call themselves a Canadian.

Update on Ryan- Today by the pool he informs me that he had his boss “laid him off” during for this holiday so he can get unemployment from the Canadian Gov’t while he’s here. Lovely!

Beautiful Bali

Bintang beer, daily massages and new friends best describe my first few days in Bali.


After checking into my amazing “hostel” on Sunday morning I immediately met Alison a Barrister from London. It was her last full day in Bali after being here 3 weeks. She introduced me to her friend Al an aircraft engineer from Belgium. Here I was thinking I was going to spend my whole week in Bali as the oldie in a group of 21 gap year English kids. After enjoying beautiful Sumatran coffee at a shop near the beach we strolled down to see the sunset over the Indian ocean. To my disappointment it began to rain with all the fury a tropical storm could muster.


We headed back to the hostel for Bintang beers (19,000 Rp or 25c) and met new people, Nick and Kevin IT professionals from Germany that have been living in Vancouver for a few months. Next was another Nick an IT PM from Birmingham. Quite the professional crew we had, we joked we could start-up a consulting firm from Bali.

Since then the Nicks, Kevin, Al and I have been glued together exploring Bali. Yesterday after our daily massage we hired a driver for the day (400,000 Rp or $12.50 each) and drove to southern Bali we stopped at Incredible Beach and then went on to see a Balinese fire and dance show at sunset amid temples. You know you’re in Asia when part of the show is kicking burning hay into the crowd. Hello health and safety.

So far I’m loving Bali. Favourite moment so far would be when the police car, with lights and sirens, slowed down so they could stop at smile at me before speeding away. Scariest is when we told our driver to stop at a good place to eat and he took us down this dirt road in the middle of nowhere to a café that should have been condemned as chickens and cow casually wander past. Fortunately it was closed. Tonight Ku Di Ta for my friends Lily and Eion’s birthday, stay tuned.

The day after the night before

What an amazing last day of work and full day in Sydney.

It started off well with a free coffee from the cafe I visit everyday and big hugs from the staff there. Then off to work where I had nothing to do for the first time ever! No emails, phone calls, I was actually bored. But in good form for a beautiful lunch with my team. Back at work we all close up shop for the day and after a few lovely words from my boss Helen and Ant, our GM, we were off for drinks.




Oh and I did drink. The only thing worst than flying with a hangover the next day was moving in the morning, cleaning the flat then flying. It took all my energy but I got the apartment ready and dropped off my key. Meaghan and her mum drove me to the airport. We said our final "see you laters" amid tears and big hugs. I think I might be the only person ever in tears checking into a flight to Bali. The poor women at the Jetstar counter, she kept asking if I was okay, but every time I tried to tell her how I was leaving Australia for good I just started crying again.


But something did cheer me up, as I was walking to my gate I found a penny... Australia does not have pennies. This was a CANADIAN penny! I knew then I had good luck on my side and will keep my lucky penny close.


Not before long we were boarding our plane then taking off with one last spectacular view of Sydney. Six hrs later we touched down in Denpasar (Bali). The lucky penny is already working for me as I was approached by a taxi driver at the airport to take me to Kuta (where my hotel is), now I read about the fares so I knew it should only be 45,000 rupee. He gets me in the car then tells me that the fare is now 350,000 rupee! I tell him that is ridiculous and that I could get around Bali for that, grab my bags and hightail to another taxi, that charged me 45,000. So thank you Lonely Planet!


As if that wasn't enough excitement for the evening I show up at my hotel and they tell me in broken english, no room for you. Without panicking I pull out my online booking and find out that the hotel keeper can't read English, so I asked to see his hotel log and find Morrissey on it. He then smiles big and shows me to my room as if nothing had happened.


So Kate 2 Bali 0 and I've only just arrived.

Nameste India, Konnichiwa Japan

Well yesterday was not a good day for the travel planning.

It was a risk that I would not get my Indian Visa in time. After many phone calls and internet checking, I finally went down the to the consulate again to find out if I would get my visa in the promised 10 days.

Once there I was told they would need another 5 working days at least. What’s the deal? Why so much interest in India? So I was forced to withdraw my application for my Indian Visa as they hold your passport and I need it to leave Australia on Saturday.

After a few tears and calculating the $3000 I has spent on the India leg of the trip I was going to lose, I could only think “perhaps I’m not supposed to go to India”.

Once back in the office I started calling the airlines and tour group. To my surprise I got most of my money back, all but $700. Expensive lesson in 3^rd world politics.

Now the question remained, what will I do with my extra time? What country will I visit instead? Interesting enough I posed this question to my hairdresser that night and he told me about the 2 years he lived in Japan. He described it with so much passion I couldn’t turn down the chance to see it. Plus I LOVE sushi.

So I have now booked myself from Beijing to Tokyo and Tokyo home via San Francisco.

Best part! You do not need a visa for Japan. :D

My LAST weekend in Sydney :(

How best to start any weekend than drinks with best friends in the city suburb of Surrey Hills. For those that aren't from Sydney, Surry Hills could have been transplanted straight of of London.


We gathered at the Winery to celebrate Louise's big 30th B-day before her trip with Garry to Bali. Over a few glasses of wine, we all laughed and relaxed from our hectic week. We then meander down the road to Agrave, a renowned Mexican restaurant. Garry can vouch that they have the spiciest mole in all of Sydney, maybe even in the top 5!


You know it's a good night when you lose count of the "jugs" of sangria shared.


Fortunately for me I was in good form the next morning, because off I was going Skydiving.


Denise picked me up at 10:45 for our 1.5hr journey down south to Picton for our noon dive. Well sure enough notorious Sydney traffic got us there right as the rain starter and we were grounded for a few hours. There's not a lot to do at the jump base expect drink coffee. After 3 cups of coffee I didn't need the plane I could have just swung my arms and taken off! Fortunately Denise and I are not shy and never ran out of things to talk about. By the end Denise had even started to take on my accent, although she still sounded pretty Irish to me.


OKAY! ready to go, the rain has clear and we "skydive-suited-up". I was ready for my lesson, video, exam perhaps. Not quite... I got 3 instructions that took about 14 seconds for my instructor to share. 1. cross your arms 2. when I tap you stick your arms out 3. when we land raise your legs. Got it?!


I had refused to be nervous. Deep breathing, focus on other things etc. But in the plane I started to think... WHAT THE HELL I'M I DOING!!!!!! Especially when I looked out the window and realized we were only at 2,000 feet when we were jumping at 14,000 feet!


Yellow light on, goggles on, door open.... One by one the jumpers started dropping out the door. Fortunately I was 3rd to jump, not even eough time to scream out STOP or NO!!! Before I could blink I was falling out the plane. Hurdling at 240 KM/H it felt surreal, not like I was falling but more like hurdling forward like a roller coaster. Arm's out, legs back I could have fallen forever. Then the jolt, which feels a bit like being rear-ended, the shutte was open. The next 4 mins was the most amazing 4 mins. Floating down like a leaf it wasn't scary, it was incredible.


Not before long I was raising my legs and hitting the ground with a small thud. I ran over to Denise and we jumped and hug like we had hadn't seen each other in years.


What and amazing way to celebrate the last weekend of my big adventure in Sydney!

Packing!

I couldn't have been more excited when the slip arrived in the post that the backpack (that I bought online) was here waiting for me. Like a kid on Christmas morning and ran down to the post office to pick up my parcel. My new The North Face, red (for Canada) 50 Liter backpack.

Now 50L is considered a "weekend" backpack size, so I will be challenged to fit 7 weeks of stuff in it. The reason I choose a small backpack (considering most overseas travel packs are 80+ Liters) is that I had heard many stories of people regretting the large packs. They recalled saying that not only were they heavy and hot to carry but they stood out as backpackers even more! In addition, on bus and train trips in Asia you have to store larger packs in luggage holds, smaller packs however, you may get away with holding on your lap or empty seat next to you (valuable when your whole life is in that bag). SOOOO long story short I have decided to forgo the extra shoes, multiple changes of shorts and the small chemist of makeup and hair products in light of a lighter bag. 

So whoever said women can't pack light hasn't met me!

Itinerary

Oct 30- Bali

Nov 5- Singapore

Nov 8- Kuala Lumpur

Nov 17- Koah Sok National Park Thailand

Nov 18- Koh Samui

Nov 23- Bangkok

Nov 24- Hong Kong

Nov 26- Shanghai

Nov 28- Xi'an

Nov 30- Beijing

Dec 5- Tokyo
Dec 7- Kyoto
Dec 8- Mt Fuji San

Dec 9- San Fransisco HOME!!!!!

  

Planning begins

Well only 15 days left in Australia! I can't believe it. Some days it feels like I have been here for ages. 

My first week in Sydney in 2008

But as the days count down I must start really planning my monster trip home. The countries have been choose, the flights booked and tours organized but now are the more boring, tedious aspects such as applying for visa's.


I spent yesterday morning at the Indian consulate in Sydney waiting to hear if they can process my visa in under 10 days. Despite my offers of "donations" and shameless flirting with the government worker I was told I would have to wait out the full 10 working days. Now this is worrisome as I also need to apply for my Chinese visa before I leave in.... 15 days! Well fingers, toes and hairs crossed!!!!!


Stay tuned to see if I get my visas!