Life has been interesting in the last 24 hours or so. It is probably easier to put it in point form.
1. After posting yesterday Gwen and I were taken by her friend Julie to a day spa type place where we had a one hour massage for US$18. This is very expensive here. The massage was deep and when I say full body lets just say certain nether regions were gotten a little close to! My muscles were so sore and the girl went soooo deep. I felt like I had done a few rounds at the gym. I kept telling myself through clenched teeth that I would be thankful in the end. After the massage we went out for lunch. for US$7 I had a huge plate of different salads that were really yummy and some chicken. Oh we got to the spa by Tuk Tuk and went home that way. It was a great way to get around. I love it. The breeze blowing through it is better than the aircon in the car.
2. In the after the family and i headed off to the Russian markets. They have so much there and you can barely move in the place. It reminded me of the main markets I went to once in Seoul. It also reminded me of the tented tiny shops around areas of Egypt selling tourist gimmicks (of which I am well known of purchasing). It was so dark though but it was a great place. I have some photo's but until I get a card reader then I won't be able to show you until I get home. Oh and yes I did buy a couple of things yesterday.
3. This morning Gwen had to work so James took me to Healthlands where he works. They make the yummiest healthy food that I have ever tasted. Can't wait until they can export to Australia. Unfortunately I was not feeling my best this morning. I think the massage caused a lovely headache which, coupled with the potholes in the road that could swallow a car, caused me to feel a little ill. After Healthland we went to Phnom Watt which is one of the more popular temples here. There are a lot of trees and beautiful grass there so I was able to cool down and the walk did me good. We went into the temple and i was allowed to take photos. They have decked it out with neon type lights and looks nothing like what you would find in Korea. It looked very commercial actually and not a place of worship.
4. There are a lot of Monkeys around the Watt and we bought some lotus seeds for them to eat. They are fat little things and are cheeky. When one Khmer woman turned her back on the peanuts she was selling a little monkey went up and grabbed them. Also at the Watt is Sambo the last surviving royal elephant. Apparently when the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975 all the Royal Elephants were left to starve to death in the Palace grounds. Somehow Sambo survived and now takes tourists around on her back. She even wears I suppose the elephants version of flip flops. I didn't have a ride on her because I am going on one when we get to Siem Reip.
5. The rules of the road here is that there are no rules. They only need lessons for one month and then from there they are supposed to ride around (unassisted) for a short period of time before they sit an oral exam, which you can only pass if you pay, so consequently everyone is still driving around on L plates. Rear view is not used. You worry about what is in front, what is behind you is not your problem. Even walking across the road ... you can't wait for a break in the traffic you just have to step out and let your intentions known, they will just go around you and some polite ones will slow down. It is too hard to explain but driving on the wrong side of the road and going through red lights is apparently not against the law here, but more a survival skill.
4. This afternoon the rain came down so hard and flooded the back, or should I say front yard. When I have the capability to do so I will download some photos.
Well signing off now. Still have my headache, probably not drinking enough water, and Gwen is going to the supermarket so I will go with her. I have also promised her daughter I will help her make a paper doll after I finish typing and she is getting a little impatient. LOL
Monday, 19 October 2009
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Day one
I am here and I have arrived safe. Not sure if I will ever use Thai airways again and my travel agent neglected to tell me a few things such as the stop in Phuket and the fact that you needed a photograph of yourself for your visa when you arrived in Phnom Penh.
The flight from Perth to Phuket was delayed an hour and was freezing. In fact I started a blanket riot. As soon as I asked for one, everyone asked for one and they ran out in 5 minutes. Someone then had the bright idea to turn sown the aircon.
At Perth I had been given a pink transit sticker to wear. Given no other instruction I thought this was for when I was in Phuket. You see to go from Phuket to Bangkok I was on the same plane in the same seat (which explains why it did not show on the itinerary). Once back in the plane I took the sticker off and threw it away. Who would have thought I would need it in Bangkok!! It was kaos getting off the plane because there was another plane's passengers exiting at the same time into exactly the same tunnel and ground staff trying to direct people with various stickers. I got told off 3x for not having mine within a 10m distance. Suffice to say I got to where I was meant to be.
Gwen and her family are really lovely and I think I made Jame's day by bringing him his favourite magazine. I went to bed with a ceiling fan going and floor fan. In the middle of the night the floor fan decided it wanted to blow up. Luckily James heard the warning sounds so came out switched it off before the front went flying off it (as it has done in the past).
Not sure what today holds other than a luxurious massage. Can't wait for that.
Let you know more later.
The flight from Perth to Phuket was delayed an hour and was freezing. In fact I started a blanket riot. As soon as I asked for one, everyone asked for one and they ran out in 5 minutes. Someone then had the bright idea to turn sown the aircon.
At Perth I had been given a pink transit sticker to wear. Given no other instruction I thought this was for when I was in Phuket. You see to go from Phuket to Bangkok I was on the same plane in the same seat (which explains why it did not show on the itinerary). Once back in the plane I took the sticker off and threw it away. Who would have thought I would need it in Bangkok!! It was kaos getting off the plane because there was another plane's passengers exiting at the same time into exactly the same tunnel and ground staff trying to direct people with various stickers. I got told off 3x for not having mine within a 10m distance. Suffice to say I got to where I was meant to be.
Gwen and her family are really lovely and I think I made Jame's day by bringing him his favourite magazine. I went to bed with a ceiling fan going and floor fan. In the middle of the night the floor fan decided it wanted to blow up. Luckily James heard the warning sounds so came out switched it off before the front went flying off it (as it has done in the past).
Not sure what today holds other than a luxurious massage. Can't wait for that.
Let you know more later.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Skipping the Country
Yes that is right, I have my passport in hand (well nearby) and I will be making my way to the airport in the wee hours of tomorrow morning to catch a flight to Cambodia. I will be meeting up with an old friend (Gwen) whom I have not seen since we graduated in '95.
The dilemma lies in what to take. Firstly I have to take my Cpap Machine but do I risk packing it in my suitcase or do I take it on as cabin luggage (it has it's own bag). I normally take my camera equipment as cabin luggage but when I combined the 2 together in January I was told I had too much weight.
There is also the bum bag dilemma. From previous travels my camera bag has always given me a shoulder ache and has been a pain when climbing things. I don't want to take a back pack because Cambodia is so humid I will have enough sweat pouring off me without the added layer. So I bought myself a camera bag that wraps around your waist. My dilemma is purely vain. I am the size of a house already and add a chunky camera bum bag to the picture...! It does have shoulder straps but that is more awkward than the standard camera bag. Anyway I have bought it and I shall use it. Any photo's taken of me will not include the added baggage.
What else do I have in my suitcase? Well a seasoned traveller such as myself, knows to pack light so I have enough clothing to last me 3 days plus bathers and swimmers. I also have a lot of powder because I don't do so well in humid areas (and of course it happens to be their wet season right now - well timed). I should have 3 books in my luggage for Gwen but 2 of them have gone AWOL in the post and will arrive sometime next week. I also have treats for Gwen, Licorice allsorts and Minties. The licorice alone is adding a kilo to the mere 20kg that can go in my suitcase. Not complaining though. Means there is room for me to bring back goodies. Now do I take my own pillow ... I am so fussy with pillows.
I have to change planes in Bangkok. I am greatful I am not stopping there. Between my Doctor and my Naturopath I have 7 different tablets I am taking. I am contemplating taking one container with a mix of them but what happens if I get searched? :) Apparently Cambodia is not so strict going into the country but is very strict when leaving it. Stay tuned to the news, you might see me on there being interviewed from my prison cell. LOL
Well I am going to try and post while I am over there to keep you up to date with my trip.
The dilemma lies in what to take. Firstly I have to take my Cpap Machine but do I risk packing it in my suitcase or do I take it on as cabin luggage (it has it's own bag). I normally take my camera equipment as cabin luggage but when I combined the 2 together in January I was told I had too much weight.
There is also the bum bag dilemma. From previous travels my camera bag has always given me a shoulder ache and has been a pain when climbing things. I don't want to take a back pack because Cambodia is so humid I will have enough sweat pouring off me without the added layer. So I bought myself a camera bag that wraps around your waist. My dilemma is purely vain. I am the size of a house already and add a chunky camera bum bag to the picture...! It does have shoulder straps but that is more awkward than the standard camera bag. Anyway I have bought it and I shall use it. Any photo's taken of me will not include the added baggage.
What else do I have in my suitcase? Well a seasoned traveller such as myself, knows to pack light so I have enough clothing to last me 3 days plus bathers and swimmers. I also have a lot of powder because I don't do so well in humid areas (and of course it happens to be their wet season right now - well timed). I should have 3 books in my luggage for Gwen but 2 of them have gone AWOL in the post and will arrive sometime next week. I also have treats for Gwen, Licorice allsorts and Minties. The licorice alone is adding a kilo to the mere 20kg that can go in my suitcase. Not complaining though. Means there is room for me to bring back goodies. Now do I take my own pillow ... I am so fussy with pillows.
I have to change planes in Bangkok. I am greatful I am not stopping there. Between my Doctor and my Naturopath I have 7 different tablets I am taking. I am contemplating taking one container with a mix of them but what happens if I get searched? :) Apparently Cambodia is not so strict going into the country but is very strict when leaving it. Stay tuned to the news, you might see me on there being interviewed from my prison cell. LOL
Well I am going to try and post while I am over there to keep you up to date with my trip.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Finally
I have finally got down to work and created my Etsy store. I have to wait to
put any items up for sale until I can get an idea of postage. I tell you the guide on the Australia Post site is so confusing.
On another note it appears we have a fairy ring in our back yard. Is this good or bad luck? What happens when you step into it?
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