hey guys sorry for the complete lack of contact for months, weve been a little busy and slack with the updates. also ive added hundreds of photos on my profile, but everytime i try to transfer them to this page the computer freaks out and shuts down the page so go to my profile to see more pics!
soooooo whats happened?! well i think probably for both of us Vang Vieng was the best experience possibly of our lives! we arrived, did a day of tubing and decided to get a job there for 2 and a half weeks. we went to the river everyday promoting our bar and restaurant ohlala then in the evening we would chat to people in the restaurant, give out free shots then go out to qbar and bucket bar with all our friends. we loved it so much we got VV 2010 tatooed to our feet along with about 11 other workers!
we then went to siem reap with our friends (VV on tour!) and spent a week or so visiting temples (the Incredible Angkor Wat) and going out on pub street. we also found a 5 star resort which let us use their pool for free so we spent a few days chilling there!
we next moved on to SihanoukVille in Cambodia where we again got jobs being the skint travellers that we are (our cards by this point have been cancelled and all transactions are via western union, cheers mum :)
Ally worked with the other guys at Utopia and i worked at JJ's. it was really fun although didnt have quite the same buzz as Van Vieng. although at least our cuts etc werent getting as infected. by the time we left vang vieng my motor bike burn had pretty much turned septic!
Next we went to Phnom Pehn the capital of Cambodia and went to the s21 museum and the killing fields. It was obviously a very sombre day looking at the pictures and reading facts about the Khmer Rouge army and the genocide commited. it was in some ways similar to the holocaust but happened in 1975-1979.
We then said goodbye to all our VV pals and me and ally headed to Bangkok travelling by ourselves for the first time! It wasnt long before we met new people to hang around with and we quickly moved on to Phuket then Phi Phi island which was absolutely beautiful. We were unfortunetly robbed on the bus from bangkok and they took all our cards, money, jewlery and a few elecronics. gutted although none of the stuff had much value.
In PhiPhi we decided to get jobs again and after trying a few places to see who would give us the best deal, we decided to work for Banana Bar, phi phi's only rooftop bar. we did it for a few days but our boss wasnt particularly nice about pay and kept asking us to do things without giving us anything extra for our time, so in the end we left, also we had to do a border run as our thai visa was running out.
Got up to do our 2hour boat trip and 11 hours on bus and a kilometere walk between borders; it was today that i finally got the stomach bug that was going around. gutted! i sat downstairs in the airconditioned area on the boat and tried to sleep but to no avail. luckily before ally went upstairs to sit in the sun i took her plastic bag! it obviously wasnt nice being sick infront of about 70 people, nor having to walk past them with my sick bag but looking back it was quite funny when i tried to appologise in advance to the poor woman sitting next to me; "im really sorry i think im going to be s...BEEEEUUUURRRRGGGGHHHHH!!"
luckily a chinese woman on the bus took pity on me after i pulled the bus over to be sick and she gave me some stuff to smell which relieves nausia so the rest of the journey wasnt so bad, and by the end of the day id got over the 24 hour bug.
anyway thats pretty much uptodate i think. obviously theres a lot ive missed off but perhaps next time ally can fill in some details, although knowing us it may be a while before we can afford the ridiculous internet fees in the south of thailand. maybe in australia we'll let you know! hehe
miss you guys, cant believe its nearly christmas. i am very jelous that im not at home this christmas, it still feels like august. we both send our love and hope everyone has an awesome MOvember
Tuesday 16 November 2010
Thursday 16 September 2010
Catch Up.
First of all, sorry guys, we ve been seriously behind on updating our blog. But it also mean that we are having way too much fun! (Oh and we were in the mountains so no internet)
I am writing to you from Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand where we spent a week so far. But let's get back to the beggining. Last time we gave you some news we were in Ayutthaya. We only stayed one night but it was one hell of the night. We met the hotel owner's brother that turned out to be an old Thai pop star (circa 2002) who took us to a local bar. We drank free Thai whiskey, met the mafia, and partied until the sun came up. The morning was very painful when we woke up 20min before check out and had to rush the packing. After a quick breakfast we were on our way to Sukothai, which means "Dawn of Happiness", the old Thai Empire capital.
First we decided to stop a Lop Bori, famous for the monkeys that run around the ruins of old temples. You know what? I love monkeys, well I thought I did. They are cute and furry. I was very excited to get to see wild monkeys. We got to the city, and started to walk around. Oh first monkey! So cute. Then two, and three. And thousands. And thousands. Not only confined to the temple, these little creatures invaded the city and were up to no good. They attacked Johnny befoore a local came to our rescue with a catapult. We quickly left the monkey area, and booked our tickets for a night train to Philok where we planned to get a bus to Sukothai. By the way, I don't like monkeys anymore.
That night train journey was one big mistake. No air con, a million mosquitos, and a very old train that kept violently stopping for no reason, meant that we could no sleep, were bloody sweaty and ended up covered in bites. We arrived in Philok at 5 in the morning before catching the bus to Sukothai, and finally being able to curl up in bed in the first hostel that we found.
The city was alright, we stayed in a cute little bungalow and visited more temples (we are totally templed out by the way.) After a couple of nights we left to make our way to Chiang Mai.
On the way we stopped by the Elephant Conservation Centre to play with a baby elephant. Very cute.
We were really glad to get to Chiang Mai, we are staying in a really nice place called...well, Nice Place. There is a pool and we met loads of people. We went for a 3day trek in the jungle, stayed with tribes, drank to much Chang, had a go at elephant riding, and trekked some more. Probably one of the best experience of my life.
Apart from trekking, Chiang Mai has a very good nightlife. We did not sleep much and had very long days of hungover. Gap year, innit.
Liz and Johnny are going to Laos today by bus to do the Gibbon Experience (you stay in a hut in the trees for three days) while my vertigo keep me in Chiang Mai for one more night, before taking a slow boat to Luamp Prabang and meeting them in a couple of days.
Sorry for the verryyyyy long post. next time, it will be short and up to date.
http://img444.imageshack.us/g/dsc0147r.jpg
A.
I am writing to you from Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand where we spent a week so far. But let's get back to the beggining. Last time we gave you some news we were in Ayutthaya. We only stayed one night but it was one hell of the night. We met the hotel owner's brother that turned out to be an old Thai pop star (circa 2002) who took us to a local bar. We drank free Thai whiskey, met the mafia, and partied until the sun came up. The morning was very painful when we woke up 20min before check out and had to rush the packing. After a quick breakfast we were on our way to Sukothai, which means "Dawn of Happiness", the old Thai Empire capital.
First we decided to stop a Lop Bori, famous for the monkeys that run around the ruins of old temples. You know what? I love monkeys, well I thought I did. They are cute and furry. I was very excited to get to see wild monkeys. We got to the city, and started to walk around. Oh first monkey! So cute. Then two, and three. And thousands. And thousands. Not only confined to the temple, these little creatures invaded the city and were up to no good. They attacked Johnny befoore a local came to our rescue with a catapult. We quickly left the monkey area, and booked our tickets for a night train to Philok where we planned to get a bus to Sukothai. By the way, I don't like monkeys anymore.
That night train journey was one big mistake. No air con, a million mosquitos, and a very old train that kept violently stopping for no reason, meant that we could no sleep, were bloody sweaty and ended up covered in bites. We arrived in Philok at 5 in the morning before catching the bus to Sukothai, and finally being able to curl up in bed in the first hostel that we found.
The city was alright, we stayed in a cute little bungalow and visited more temples (we are totally templed out by the way.) After a couple of nights we left to make our way to Chiang Mai.
On the way we stopped by the Elephant Conservation Centre to play with a baby elephant. Very cute.
We were really glad to get to Chiang Mai, we are staying in a really nice place called...well, Nice Place. There is a pool and we met loads of people. We went for a 3day trek in the jungle, stayed with tribes, drank to much Chang, had a go at elephant riding, and trekked some more. Probably one of the best experience of my life.
Apart from trekking, Chiang Mai has a very good nightlife. We did not sleep much and had very long days of hungover. Gap year, innit.
Liz and Johnny are going to Laos today by bus to do the Gibbon Experience (you stay in a hut in the trees for three days) while my vertigo keep me in Chiang Mai for one more night, before taking a slow boat to Luamp Prabang and meeting them in a couple of days.
Sorry for the verryyyyy long post. next time, it will be short and up to date.
http://img444.imageshack.us/g/dsc0147r.jpg
A.
Tuesday 7 September 2010
So far...
First impressions of Thailand, apart from being insanely hot is the vast differences in wages. Pricing is bizarre from place to place, drinks cost more than food, and taxis/tuk tuks can vary from 250Bhat (about a fiver) to 40Bhat (less than a quid for 3 people), with no regard for distance! We took two 'long boat' trips around the canals of Bangkok and Ayutthaya and amongst big expensive looking houses were shacks and little children playing in water I wouldnt touch with toilet brush! Everything seems to be focused around earning money by selling something; wether it's a street vendor selling food, a tourist guide selling almost anything or a bar girl selling herself to fat old western men.
Thailand so far has been a series of opposites, friendly strangers helping you to shady individuals and people harrassing you, internet cafes+ western luxuries to grimey squatting toilets and boiling hot to freezing cold airconditioned rooms. Theres so much more I could say but lets just say it's been a different, decorated and deathly hot experience and I'm loving every second!
Liz xx
Thailand so far has been a series of opposites, friendly strangers helping you to shady individuals and people harrassing you, internet cafes+ western luxuries to grimey squatting toilets and boiling hot to freezing cold airconditioned rooms. Theres so much more I could say but lets just say it's been a different, decorated and deathly hot experience and I'm loving every second!
Liz xx
Friday 3 September 2010
Bangkok.
We are finally here. After an easy going 11 hours-flight, we landed in hot and sticky Bangkok. It was so good to taste the humid heat as soon as we stepped out of the airport....before getting in an icy cold taxi.
The traffic here is worst than the M25 at rush hour and at every corner you come close to hit a speedy tuktuk.
We are staying in a beautiful hotel in one of Bangkok busiest street. The smells of the food vendors in the damp weather is overwhelming but oh-so tempting. 24 hours bars, old women selling cheap silver jewelery or kids with a bunch of roses, all try to get the attention of the "fa-rangs" (foreigners) that we are.
After a much needed shower, we decided to find a typical place to feed our very hungry stomachs.
"Ped-Ped" I ask. (very spicy)
I think they underestimated me. I empty half of a bottle of tabasco on my pad see ew. Now that's better.
We then sat down with a few cold beers in the bar,if you can call it a bar set up in front of our hotel, furnished with few plastic chairs and tables. A quid a bottle.
In a street that offers a wide choice of hostels, you never far from another bunch of backpackers. We meet some Irish fellow globe trotters, who just like us, are on their first night out in Bangkok.
Bar after bars we discover the real Thai nightlife. The local whiskey is pored way too many times, but the company is good. I'll remember forever our tuktuks race through the empty streets, the very cheesy guitar singers, the stray cats everywhere. We end up in a bar that only on a gap year I would dare to enter. Let say I'll never look at ping pong the same way. Classic.
Today, we fought the harassing heat (well, it is 38 degrees) with a long boat ride along the Royal palace and trough the boat market. After a first taste of the architecture, the wild life, the smells, I am starting to think that yes, it is going to be amazing.
Next stop, Pattaya. Famous for it's seafood, nightlife and prostitutes. We'll keep you updated.
Ally.
The traffic here is worst than the M25 at rush hour and at every corner you come close to hit a speedy tuktuk.
We are staying in a beautiful hotel in one of Bangkok busiest street. The smells of the food vendors in the damp weather is overwhelming but oh-so tempting. 24 hours bars, old women selling cheap silver jewelery or kids with a bunch of roses, all try to get the attention of the "fa-rangs" (foreigners) that we are.
After a much needed shower, we decided to find a typical place to feed our very hungry stomachs.
"Ped-Ped" I ask. (very spicy)
I think they underestimated me. I empty half of a bottle of tabasco on my pad see ew. Now that's better.
We then sat down with a few cold beers in the bar,if you can call it a bar set up in front of our hotel, furnished with few plastic chairs and tables. A quid a bottle.
In a street that offers a wide choice of hostels, you never far from another bunch of backpackers. We meet some Irish fellow globe trotters, who just like us, are on their first night out in Bangkok.
Bar after bars we discover the real Thai nightlife. The local whiskey is pored way too many times, but the company is good. I'll remember forever our tuktuks race through the empty streets, the very cheesy guitar singers, the stray cats everywhere. We end up in a bar that only on a gap year I would dare to enter. Let say I'll never look at ping pong the same way. Classic.
Today, we fought the harassing heat (well, it is 38 degrees) with a long boat ride along the Royal palace and trough the boat market. After a first taste of the architecture, the wild life, the smells, I am starting to think that yes, it is going to be amazing.
Next stop, Pattaya. Famous for it's seafood, nightlife and prostitutes. We'll keep you updated.
Ally.
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Tomorrow!
Hey guys and gals
So the big adventure starts tomorrow and to say that Im a little nervous would be an understatement! I’ve got about a million things to do, one of which is pack! I’ve written a list though so it’s all good...
The last few weeks have been incredible and I can’t begin to explain how much I will miss people. I’ve been on fast forward, picking up speed the closer the first of September gets until suddenly it’s here! I don’t think it will sink in until Ally and I are strapped in to our eleven hour flight watching the glinting lights of London disappear. I expect feel a combination of excitement and sorrow at having said goodbye to everyone for 6 months. Having said that Ally in typical organised fashion has informed me that we will have Shrek, kick ass and our extensive travelling playlist to entertain and distract us. Failing that, she found a good article on how to sleep on planes; I’m not sure about putting pyjamas on, but a mask, earplugs and a boring book (suggestions welcome) are sure to send me to sleep!
Anyway we shall keep you posted as much as possible, please post comments, facebook us, email etc and let us know how you are, what’s going on and how shit the weather is getting (hehe).
Love to you all
Liz
xxx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here we are I guess. It seems that it came a little bit too quick. Part of me is more than excited by the thought of this amazing adventure, but (because of course there is a but)the other part is also very scared. It seems a little bit silly to have blown away all serious plans just because I'm weak-minded on a hungover and Liz is really good at convincing me. Joke on the side, it seems to be the ultimate milestone into my Kingston University experience.
A year ago when I moved to Kingston from Camden, I thought it will be the end of my social life, did not know anyone and did not want to know anyone. I hated that "Team Uni" spirit and so on. Basically I thought I was too cool for school.
However, people showed me that I was wrong and I had probably one of the best year of my life, thanks to some incredibly amazing characters that I met here.
So that's it, uni is over, and I used to believe that right now, I would start my master, or get ready for the big world of corporate work. Instead, I am a cheerleader going on a gap year. Times have changed.
Bye for now. I will miss some people, but we'll be back in no time with a better tan than you.
x
Ally
So the big adventure starts tomorrow and to say that Im a little nervous would be an understatement! I’ve got about a million things to do, one of which is pack! I’ve written a list though so it’s all good...
The last few weeks have been incredible and I can’t begin to explain how much I will miss people. I’ve been on fast forward, picking up speed the closer the first of September gets until suddenly it’s here! I don’t think it will sink in until Ally and I are strapped in to our eleven hour flight watching the glinting lights of London disappear. I expect feel a combination of excitement and sorrow at having said goodbye to everyone for 6 months. Having said that Ally in typical organised fashion has informed me that we will have Shrek, kick ass and our extensive travelling playlist to entertain and distract us. Failing that, she found a good article on how to sleep on planes; I’m not sure about putting pyjamas on, but a mask, earplugs and a boring book (suggestions welcome) are sure to send me to sleep!
Anyway we shall keep you posted as much as possible, please post comments, facebook us, email etc and let us know how you are, what’s going on and how shit the weather is getting (hehe).
Love to you all
Liz
xxx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here we are I guess. It seems that it came a little bit too quick. Part of me is more than excited by the thought of this amazing adventure, but (because of course there is a but)the other part is also very scared. It seems a little bit silly to have blown away all serious plans just because I'm weak-minded on a hungover and Liz is really good at convincing me. Joke on the side, it seems to be the ultimate milestone into my Kingston University experience.
A year ago when I moved to Kingston from Camden, I thought it will be the end of my social life, did not know anyone and did not want to know anyone. I hated that "Team Uni" spirit and so on. Basically I thought I was too cool for school.
However, people showed me that I was wrong and I had probably one of the best year of my life, thanks to some incredibly amazing characters that I met here.
So that's it, uni is over, and I used to believe that right now, I would start my master, or get ready for the big world of corporate work. Instead, I am a cheerleader going on a gap year. Times have changed.
Bye for now. I will miss some people, but we'll be back in no time with a better tan than you.
x
Ally
Monday 23 August 2010
Playlist For Traveling
I'll set the scene for you.
Two girls, 3 continents, 5 months, 9 countries and countless cities and adventures. It deserved a decent travel play list. One to suit the long journeys whether it is on a plane, on a bus, a road trip through the Australian outback or an elephant ride in the deep Malaysian jungle.
Something to make us dance until we watch the sun rise behind those rocks in Ha long Bay, something to make that trek around the Angkor Wat temples a little bit more extraordinary, and something to gently put us to sleep while rocking in a hammock in Fiji.
So here is a quick taste of the soundtrack of what should be the best time ever.
Aphex Twin- Window Licker
Aphex Twin- Avril 14th
Badly Drawn Boy- The Shining
Band Of Horses-The End's Not Near
Bat for Lashes- Pearl's Dream
Battles- Atlas
Beenie Man- Dude (TLGB Remix)
Biffy Clyro- Puzzle
Bishop Allen- Eve of Destruction
Black Eyed Peas Ft Kid Cudi - Boom Boom Pow Remix
Blink 182 - Anything if it's while driving to the beach
The Bloody Beetroots- Detroit (Ghetto Edit)
Bluejuice- Vitriol
Born Ruffians - I need a life
Brand New- Sic Transit Gloria /Jude law or a semester abroad
Britney Spears- 3
Chet Baker- Time after Time, but anything really
Chiddy Bang- Truth (ft Passion Pit)
Cold War Kids - We used to vacation
Comeback Kid- Wake the dead
The Cool Kids- Basement Party
The Count & Sinden- Beeper (Fake Blood Mix)
Crookers - Royal T / Hold up your hand ft Roisin Murphy (Tons of Friends)
Cut Copy - Time Stands Still
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip- Thou Shalt Always Kill
Dashboard Confessional - As Lovers Go
Death Cab for Cutie - Tiny Vessels, but anything really
Diplo- Must be a Devil
The Drums - Don't be a Jerk Johnny
Example- Kickstarts / Hooligan / Girl you can't dance
The Faint - Glass Dance
Fionn Regan - Abacus
The Getaway Plan- Where the city meets the sea
Girl Talk- Night Ripper
Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
The Hush Sound- Lighthouse (Best memories on the train in Hong Kong watching the mountains in the dark)
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kele-Tenderoni
Local Natives- Shape Shifter
Louis XIV - Pledge of Allegiance
The Maccabees- Toothpaste Kisses / First Love
Man Like me - London Town
Marmaduke Duke - Kids Gloves / Skin the Mofo / Rubber Lover
Metric- Help, I'm Alive
Metronomy - A thing for me
MSTRKRFT - Bounce
Norma Jean - Blueprints for Future Home
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead / Sleepyhead (neo tokyo remix / Little secrets
Royksopp- Happy Up Here
Say Anything- I hate everyone / Wow, I can get sexual too
Senses Fails - Calling All Cars
Spankrock - Loose
Steve Aoki - Low life / New Noise (Erol Alkan Durr Remix)/ Shake and Pop ft Kid Sister
Surfer Blood - Swim / Twin Peaks
Taking Back Sunday- Make Damn Sure / Cut without a e
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - Dead Voices
Terry Poison- 24 hours
Test Icicles- Circle Square Triangle
Tubelord- I am azzerad
Twin Atlantic - A Guidance from colour
Wild Beast- When I'm Sleepy.
And probably a million more that I forgot. Long and maybe pointless post, but what do I care, I spent an hour listening to my favorite tracks, getting hyped about travelling. Stoked to go.
Ally.
Two girls, 3 continents, 5 months, 9 countries and countless cities and adventures. It deserved a decent travel play list. One to suit the long journeys whether it is on a plane, on a bus, a road trip through the Australian outback or an elephant ride in the deep Malaysian jungle.
Something to make us dance until we watch the sun rise behind those rocks in Ha long Bay, something to make that trek around the Angkor Wat temples a little bit more extraordinary, and something to gently put us to sleep while rocking in a hammock in Fiji.
So here is a quick taste of the soundtrack of what should be the best time ever.
Aphex Twin- Window Licker
Aphex Twin- Avril 14th
Badly Drawn Boy- The Shining
Band Of Horses-The End's Not Near
Bat for Lashes- Pearl's Dream
Battles- Atlas
Beenie Man- Dude (TLGB Remix)
Biffy Clyro- Puzzle
Bishop Allen- Eve of Destruction
Black Eyed Peas Ft Kid Cudi - Boom Boom Pow Remix
Blink 182 - Anything if it's while driving to the beach
The Bloody Beetroots- Detroit (Ghetto Edit)
Bluejuice- Vitriol
Born Ruffians - I need a life
Brand New- Sic Transit Gloria /Jude law or a semester abroad
Britney Spears- 3
Chet Baker- Time after Time, but anything really
Chiddy Bang- Truth (ft Passion Pit)
Cold War Kids - We used to vacation
Comeback Kid- Wake the dead
The Cool Kids- Basement Party
The Count & Sinden- Beeper (Fake Blood Mix)
Crookers - Royal T / Hold up your hand ft Roisin Murphy (Tons of Friends)
Cut Copy - Time Stands Still
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip- Thou Shalt Always Kill
Dashboard Confessional - As Lovers Go
Death Cab for Cutie - Tiny Vessels, but anything really
Diplo- Must be a Devil
The Drums - Don't be a Jerk Johnny
Example- Kickstarts / Hooligan / Girl you can't dance
The Faint - Glass Dance
Fionn Regan - Abacus
The Getaway Plan- Where the city meets the sea
Girl Talk- Night Ripper
Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
The Hush Sound- Lighthouse (Best memories on the train in Hong Kong watching the mountains in the dark)
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kele-Tenderoni
Local Natives- Shape Shifter
Louis XIV - Pledge of Allegiance
The Maccabees- Toothpaste Kisses / First Love
Man Like me - London Town
Marmaduke Duke - Kids Gloves / Skin the Mofo / Rubber Lover
Metric- Help, I'm Alive
Metronomy - A thing for me
MSTRKRFT - Bounce
Norma Jean - Blueprints for Future Home
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead / Sleepyhead (neo tokyo remix / Little secrets
Royksopp- Happy Up Here
Say Anything- I hate everyone / Wow, I can get sexual too
Senses Fails - Calling All Cars
Spankrock - Loose
Steve Aoki - Low life / New Noise (Erol Alkan Durr Remix)/ Shake and Pop ft Kid Sister
Surfer Blood - Swim / Twin Peaks
Taking Back Sunday- Make Damn Sure / Cut without a e
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - Dead Voices
Terry Poison- 24 hours
Test Icicles- Circle Square Triangle
Tubelord- I am azzerad
Twin Atlantic - A Guidance from colour
Wild Beast- When I'm Sleepy.
And probably a million more that I forgot. Long and maybe pointless post, but what do I care, I spent an hour listening to my favorite tracks, getting hyped about travelling. Stoked to go.
Ally.
Thursday 19 August 2010
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