Holiday 2009 is here....

The slackest...

2009-10-10T22:11:00.003+01:00

Well, I think I must be the slackest blogger ever...

Here I am, it's 8.11am, I'm sitting at Sydney Airport having flown over from Singapore, been here since 6am, waiting for my 9.50 flight to Wellington and then, officially, it will be all over.

Oh no!

I really should go back over my blog and see what I have written about - and then fill in the gaps.

I suspect it will be easier if anyone is reading this to just get hhold of me in a few hours and say - Hey Cookie, let's catch up, you can tell me all the goss about your trip, bore me with photos and we'll drink fantastic coffee (god, I miss great coffee - although McCafe has opened in Frankfurt, I was there last Monday, it had been open for 4 days and they served flat whites. I kid you not - probably the only place in all of Europe where you can actually get a flat white - and where it's on the coffee list! Why? I asked and they said that McCafe is Australian owned - hence the flat whites. I also have it on good authority - ie the manager, I was having a chat with her, that the Costas down in the waterfront shopping centre in Portsmouth is going to add flatwhites to it's menu next year. Hush hush though apparently!).

I have just spent 10 minutes pissing about trying to upload a photo - I'm sure there is an easy way; I just can't find it!

Anyway, so here I am sitting at Sydney Airport waiting for my flight and for the hols to be over - and in many ways, back to the real world.

So, what was Singapore like? I really liked it. It's very clean, the food is just fantastic (everything from super cheap to crazy expensive), the people really nice, really restrictive laws (OMG, if I had actually had sex....).

I stayed at the Intercontinental - totally totally OTT! Love it! The room was huge, the bathroom amazing, the bed big enough for 4! Although, I wonder if it's really worth it given that I was either asleep (or awake at 3am) or not there. But still....

Did quite a few of the touristy things - the merlion, the river trip on a bumboat, the Asian Civilisation Museum, saw Raffles (but didn't go in - I've never drunk alone, and figured I didn't really need to go and buy an incredibly expensive pink drink!). I subsequently found out that the Singapore Slings are $28 (or was it $27), they're pre-made and it's all about the tourists!

Hung out in Little India a bit - really liked it there. Bugis where the hotel is - great location - transpires that Singapore is really quite small. The MRT is really easy to use (although there is one station that has two levels of trains - and some escalators go between levels and some from the bottom level all the way to the exit level (ie the top - 3rd - level). Did I spend 5 minutes going up and down trying to get to the middle level - yes....

I did a pile of shopping - there isn't any fake stuff in Singapore really but shopping for Africa - so to speak. Checked out Sim Lam Square - hundreds of electronic stores. And yes, the IPhone 3G-s is available, the official supplied - SingTel - won't sell you one (either out of stock or, if in stock, they only sell it on a plane). The slightly more "dodgy" shops (although I'm not sure if there are any truly dodgy shops in Singapore) will sell you one for about $1000 Singapore - but god knows about whether they're real or not - the cab driver on the way to the airport showed me his "Chinese Official" mini-IPhone - dual sim even. Given the hassles I've had with chinese crap dual sim cellphones, I'm leaning towards spend the money, buy official...

You can also pick up a PS3 slim for about $500 - only draw back is that the warranty is local - anything goes wrong, you're poked in NZ.

I went to Gluttony Lane and sat outside and ate (OMG, have I eaten!).

I went to China Town and did the nightwalking tour - I can now tell you all about prostitution in Singapore and oral sex - it was a great little tour - one guy mysteriously asked for a taxi at the end of the tour, the tour guide said come with her back to the main part of China Town and he took off in the other direction back towards the brothels we'd just been shown.... Lol!

Met Megan and Daniel on the walking tour - Megan is a med student from Wales who was in Wellington (yah!) for 2 months working at A&E at Wgtn Hospital - and to make it an even smaller world, she was also staying at the Intercontinental! Daniel is an Aussie who went to the UK for his OE and had to leave cause his visa ran out. So, the three of us, after the tour had some kai, a little shopping and then a drink and dessert back at the hotel.

It's always the coolest when you randomly meet excellent people as you bop around the planet.

Quickly - the kai we had was in noodle house that the tour guide showed us - the chef made the noodles in front of us (the take the dough, pull, twist, pull twist etc until noodles type of noodles) and then cooked and served - all for a whole $4.50 a dish! The shopping was "odd" as we finished eating about 10/10.30 and all the stalls in ChinaTown were closing up - maybe it's the down season?

The last day, back to ChinaTown - it's very cool there, hung out at the hotel, packed (about 41 kilos - ouch!) and then out to the airport and off to Sydney.

The business class check in at Singapore Airport is really nice - you have a separate room, and you sit down like you're checking into a hotel rather than a plane! But the security is at the plane - not customs. So, you get through customs quickly but then stand with over 300 people trying to get through security into the holding pen for the plane - not very good at all!!

The entertainment system on the plane wasn't working - but it's very nice in the top deck, overate but figured might as well make the most of it, lots and lots of leg room, chatted with a really nice woman who'd just been to fashion week in Paris (she works for an APC mag here in Sydney - Madison or something), and generally just snoozed. Then they got the entertainment system going so I did the only sensible thing - watched Ice Age - the Dinasaurs! Lol - didn't sleep but had tea and biscuits, ordered everything on the breakfast menu and had a shower in Sydney (god, the shower - just divine!). It's not a bad flight - only about 8 hours - the long sector is Asia to the UK.

Was business class worth it - hard to say really. Was it expensive - hell yes. Was the leg room great - hell yes. Is the service nice, the food good etc - hell yes. With stop overs is it worth it - not sure.

Well, there is bound to be lots and lots more stories and thoughts and things - travel is always full of it - but it's not long until my plane so I'm going to pack up and maybe go for a stretch before it's all over.

Best thing - easily the nephews in London - they are just so cool!

Worst thing - spending a day barfing in London (sorry Lee!).

But there we go.....

Another day, another adventure!

Yah! :)

Bye Bye Europe...

2009-10-06T22:05:00.003+01:00

The quickest of entries - and yes I know I'm behind - and yes quite a bit has happened since I last updated (somewhere I've started the entry which I was typing on Eurostar - seems soooo long ago!).

But here I am, sitting at Frankfurt airport, it's 11.06pm, I'm in the Cathy Pacific lounge, it's nearly time to go through security and get ready for the plane - and so Europe will come to an end.

The best thing - easily my nephews, they are simply the coolest!

But it's been great seeing new things, eating so much and, especially, catching up with friends - it's the people who really make a place!

Yah!

But now it's looking like a 12 hour journey to Singapore - not that I'm complaining - it is business class - and I have been having a magical time (and yes, if you're interested, the visa bill is sitting at over $13,000 - ouchie!) - and it's just been sooooo cool!

See you all soon - next time I touch down it'll be another country and 6 time zones away - wow!

Byeeeee Europe and the UK!!!

:)

Paris - truly a city of love...

2009-09-30T09:39:00.002+01:00

No - not that I found love - but it really is a totally beautiful city.

Been here for 2 nights now - star!

Arrived on Monday, on the TGV - I love those trains - sooooo fast.

Then umming and ahhing, major indecision, and eventually we decided to get Paris Visit ticket - 5 days unlimited travel. I'm not sure that I'm going to use it - probably not even close; but there you go. At least all the travel is covered - and there's nothing like zapping the tourists!

Arrived at the hotel, our room wasn't ready so went for a walk. OMG - this really is like a blow by blow account of what we did - funny! Not.

I'll summarise - walk, lunch, hotel, Rue de Rivoli, looked at the Louvre (not in, outside), found the Information Centre, booked a trip for Tuesday, returned to the hotel, Ji went out for a walk, I had a snooze, Ji came back, she didn't want dinner, I went out and caught up with Carl - at the Cafe de Industrie.

Eating is so, umm, Parisian, here. The dessert I had was magnificient - it was this little chocolate cake, slight warm but the inside when you ate it turned to pure liquid chocolate in your mouth. It wasn't liquid, but turned liquid - just stunning.

Wandered back to the hotel and bed.

The next morning I was up very very early - eek; given that it's 10.45am and we're still mucking about in the hotel. But off to Cityrama, onto the bus and on the road to Reims (pronounced "Reince" - don't ask me why!). Just me; Ji didn't want to go. We stopped firstly at Mumm and had a tour of the House - wow - all that champagne, all those tunnels, all that history - and yes, we got to taste a bit. Having seen how they actually make it, I can see why it's soooo expensive.

All the grapes must be picked by hand. (Apparently at Moet et Chandon - which I went to later - they bring in 3000 pickers for 2 weeks to pick the grapes!). Then it's made into wine. Then it's blended (if an ordinary year) or a vintage made (if a special year). Then it's bottled. Then the bottles sit. For ordinary champagne, by law, 15 months, for both Mumm and Moet, it's 30 months. For vintage, by law 30 (or 36 - I can't remember!) months f0r Mumm and Moet, it's 5 years. Moet leaves Dom Perignon for 10 plus years! Then all the bottles are turned and eventually verticle so the sediment is in the neck. At Mumm, they said 90% of bottles are turned by machine, 10% vintage is still down by hand - 40,000 bottles turned a day! Not sure at Moet. Then the neck frozen, the sediment expelled (pressure, pressure, pressure), sugar and a top of of wine added (more sugar for the sweeter wines), and then finally you have champagne.

Voila - thus why so expensive! The rumour in the UK is that with global warming, eventually it'll be too hot in Champagne to make champagne - but we wait and see.

After Mumm (who were Germans), it was off to the centre of Reims (did you know the WWII ceasefire was signed there?), to the cathedral which is where every king of France was crowned - in a 7 hour ceremony. Go figure. A stunningly beautiful cathedral - but unfortunately the stone is slowly dissolving - they're trying to protect it (lastest is silicon) but no-one is sure whether it will work. It has more statutes on it than any other church in France!

A wander around Reims - a very pretty city - go go! Then on the bus to Moet et Chandon - founded in 1743. This house in in Epernay - which is really in the middle of the Champagne district - and it's a truly typical and beautiful area - hills, vines, vines, little villages in the middle of vines! The first Moet passed the House on to his son, his son was a friend of Napoleon (thus why imperial champagne!) - who bought the original church where Dom Perignon lived/prayed/did religious things and it's still privately owned by Moet et Chandon. We drove past the village. Then there was a third son and the fourth generation was a daughter - she married a Chandon - thus Moet et Chandon. The House is the home built by the second Moet - and it's beautiful. Across the road you could see 3 buildings and the formal french garden (public life), the House has an informal english garden (private life). One of the building is a private restaurant for "important clients" - far, wouldn't mind eating there! Then into the caves, there are 3 levels of tunnels at Moet - the bottom one was only completed in the early 1900's - took 90/100 years to build - it was all tunneled by hand - the entire complex. And bottles... And bottles... and bottles... of champagne. We saw lots of Dom Perignon - their premier label. Sigh - didn't managed to secret a bottle though! Lol! And then tasting (only a glass - and I think I liked Mumm more). A look around the shop (the Japanese were happily shopping!) and then back to Paris.

Yah!

A beauitful day (expensive - 106 euros - about $230NZ but there you go!).

Then moroccan for dinner - Carl joined us. A walk to his appartment - saw that. Then a walk back to the hotel - with some weird guys who "suddenly" came out of an alley and followed us across the road - don't know what was up there. But Paris at night is beautiful.

Today - breakfast first, then I be thinking the left bank, Tour Montparnesse, have a look at the Eiffle Tower and maybe head up to Montmatre!

See you soon!

Paris...

2009-09-28T22:36:00.000+01:00

What can I say?

It is beautiful here beyond words.

Simply.
Totally.
Completely.
Beautiful.

The last night in Avignon...

2009-09-27T20:28:00.003+01:00

27 August - 9.30pm, The Sentinal is playing on tv in french, I feel like a snooze and really should sort out getting some photos up.

Only prob is that they are a complete mess - ie I've taken so many I have no idea what is what! Lol!

Well, let's see.

The last full day in Nimes we did the only sensible thing - we dropped off that stupid Europcar car. They said they wouldn't charge us for the nat.sav and the first day (ie the day that we were driving on a dangerous car or not driving because we'd been told not to by the Gendarmarie!). That left only 3.30pm until 10am the next morning - it will be very interesting to see what the final bill is.

In any event, I've got the address for a complaint, got the head office address and will be complaining to the Gendarmie about Europcar, suggesting they should investigate the company for giving advice that, with 2 gendarmes standing there, we should just drive off.

Anyway, it was a different woman at the Europcar desk when we dropped the car off and she knew all about it - obviously news travels fast.

As they say in the sunscreen song, all my advice is based on my own meandering experience - and my experience is do not rent from Europcar!

So, having dropped the car off we wandered into town, looked into an old church - it's kind've true but still breathtaking what they say - you've seen one church, you've seen them all. But they still are spectacular, and I can see why they were built - to instill a sense of awe into the population and keep up the power of the church. They certainly are very cool, and peaceful, inside - no traffic noise!!

Then to the arena - the most perfectly preserved arena in the world. It was stunning. The commentary was rather disturbing - the putting to death of criminals etc. I discovered that it's a Hollywood myth that most gladitor fights resulted in the death of the loser. Not. Apparently the person paying for the games had the power to decide live (thumb in closed fist) or die (open hand - thumb out - not down!) and if he decided death, he had to reimburse the gladiator school from which the gladiator came - which was, of course, too expensive - so in 90% of cases both gladiators lived to fight another day.

However, the animal fights were full on, and apparently at midday was the execution of the condemned prisoners. Most people left the Arena for this (bar the true sadiest who got off on it and the poorest who didn't want to give up their seats!). The putting to death though consisted of condemned fighting condemned both to the death, being tied up to a post and letting the animals eat you alive etc.

Pretty gruesome really.

The Arena though is amazing and it's still used for concerts and bull fights. 2 bull fights a year - and in Nimes (ie France; they also have them in Arles and maybe other places), the bulls are put to death in the Arena. In Portugal, apparently, the bulls live after the fights but, according to the YHA manager, they're put to death afterwards anyway - so don't think the Portuguese are any better!

After that it was lunch - I love the outdoors dining here - it's soooo relaxed. Ji is a vegetarian (she'll eat fish but not eggs) so that's a bit of a challenge - but we get there! France is all about meat!

Then meandering around Nimes, to the Maison Carre (half covered in scaffolding) but we went in for the 3d film - very impressive. Then more meandering about, bought some dinner (from a wonderful delicatessan - not cheap but nice!) and me some glace fruit (basically fruit soaked in sugar for months until it's just pure decadence - only ever seen it in France but wow..... Walked back to the hostel via the gardens - very pretty, lots of statues and more roman ruins - they're kind've everywhere there.

Dinner at the hostel, chatting the Andy the deputy-manager; he's been there for 17 years, was there when I stayed 8 years ago and we were talking about how he's dealth with a few things on his list - but not all. So he's dealt with attempted suicide and a death in the town - but not a dead body at the hostel yet.

Sleep, then the van to the station (nice - door to door!), bought a ticket and off to Avignon. Soooo much less hassle on the train - and nice trains here.

Off the train, to the hotel, dumped our bags and off for a walk around Nimes. It was Saturday and a sale day - so all full on. One can certainly shop here - and the style - wow. But, spending kiwi dollars doesn't make it that cheap. Maybe if one was earning euro it would be - but nice to window shop all the same.

We went to Les Halles, watched a cooking demonstration - I've got the recipe - absolute yum! Looked around all the food halls, bought a tart (a pissadarie - or however that's spelt) - Ji bought a tart at a boulangarie outside - where I got a Paris Brest - nothing like calories for lunch! We then wandered to the Place de l'Horlage and munched out watching the world (mostly tourists) wander by.

I then went and slept for nearly four hours - this cold ain't going nowhere and is no blocking the old sinuses - probably a little infection but all good!

Then up, a shower, found Ji and we went wandering through the town having a look.

Then double triple and super yah but Antony and Nico from Marseille (or Marianne next to Marseille) turned up - I met them the last time I was here and they came up with a friend of theirs for dinner and a catch up - most stunning excellent. So there we were in our mix of english and french just chatting away under the sky eating dinner and drinking a nice rose. What more can a boy ask for really? :)

It was great to catch them and I'm now trying to convince them to come to kiwiland on a working holiday! I also told them to invite me to their PACS (the french civil union!) so who knows - if my friends in NZ won't be having them for me, I'll see if I can't swing one in France!

But the evening was over all to quickly and they wandered off.

Today, was really just walking around, having a look. It's been just beautiful here; for example, at 18.33 tonight it was still 30degrees! I have the phone somewhere to prove it!

I took the free boat across the Rhone and walked up the Isle de la Barthelasse taking lots of photos and enjoying the sun. There was a sports festivall on so lots of kinds trying out different things (including the coolest blow up climbing tower for little people!).

Back over the bridge to town, caught up with Ji, went to the Musee Louis Vouland were I couldn't take photos in the main museum - which was full of the most beautiful old furniture and things - including the most exquiste chinese bed - just amazing. There was also a special exhibition of mirrors - which I never really thought of as art - but there were some really really cool mirrors - andI was allowed to take photos!

Then some lunch (chinese - quite nice actually, outside, far too much but lots more vegetarian options! Then another nana=nap; not that I really slept more rested.

Then I wandered off to find the choir that wasn't - go figure. I've just worked out where it was - I was at the right place - but I needed to go into the church! Bugger! So instead I went for a wander - Ji was off having a rest by this stage - found another church (lots here) where vespers was being sung - rather nice - then found Ji, more chinese for dinner (it was nice and sitting outside is wonderful - it's soooo relaxing!).

Then back to the hotel, partly packed, cleaned the icecream off my pants (oh, did I forget to mention - yesterday I had melon and grapefruit icecreams - yum - so I had to repeat today - mango and coconut were today's flavours. We won't talk about the price (yep - 4 euros which is about $9 NZ for 2 scoops of ice cream - but it was really really good!).

Tomorrow though - c'est Paris! The city of love. Of romance. Of beauty. Sigh...

Hehe!

Lol - let's see if we miss our train! Hopefully not - TGV here we come! Yah!

24 September 2009. The day from hell...

2009-09-24T21:13:00.002+01:00

OMG, today (now yesterday - my battery died before I could finish!) was seriously a day from hell - it was so terrible that it's actually just bizarrely funny - although really not funny.

Got up and had breakfast at the YHA - all good; no worries at all.

Few hassles with the lock up - we have to keep changing room here - but all good really; no worries at all.

Then, Ji and I decided to leave and head to Orange.... And so it all started. Our plan was to go to Orange, have a look, see the theatre (which we did eventually, it's absolutely fantastic!), go to the Pont du Gard, have a look, then up to Uzes before returning to Nimes.

Life was sweet - the sat-nav got us a bit lost getting out of Nimes, but we go there eventually. One the autoroute (that's important), a pay one - heading happily towards Orange.

We then get to the toll booth at Orange. No probs. Drive up. There's a truck immediately to the left of us, it had to back out of it's lane as it was too tall. Next to that was a police car - The Gendarmaire de Autoroute - ok, that's the gendarmes - you know, the national police force - the big guys.

We pay, go through and the gendarmes pull us over - still in the exist space of the autoroute. Huh we go.

We get out. They get out. Two gendarmes. They realise we're tourists. That's cool. They were nice.

Oh, but did we know that the two front tires on the car were bald, that it was dangerous and that we could not drive it anymore? Oh, yes, you know - that blue piece of paper - an Immbolisation Notice. They also gave us a ticket. Oh, but they said it was Europcar's problem - could we give them the contract. Did we have the contract - no; it was back at the hostel. So, they say to ring Europcar. Do I have credit on my phone - nope. Can I go get credit - nope. Can we drive the car - nope.

Fuck.

So Ji gets her phone (my global roaming phone was back at the hostel). She rings the Europcar helpline.

Guess what the guy says - oh, can the car still drive? Yes. So then just drive off.

He didn't quite explain what we were supposed to say to the two Gendarmes who were standing there. I guess we could've just said - please don't shoot us, but you've said we can't drive but Europcar said we could so we're just taking off.

Ji asked the Europcar guy on the helpline if he could talk to the Gendarmes.

The Europcar guy did the only sensible thing (not really - I'm being sarcastic) - he hung up on Ji.

So there we are, stopped, two gendarmes, a rental car we can't drive, can't get hold of Nimes Europcar, I have no phone credit and Europcar's advice is to just drive away and then they hang up on us.

Like hello? Hello? Hello?

So Ji rings back Europcar helpline - what else could we do?

Yes - Ji got her german cellphone and rang Europcar back again. This time she got a different guy who, as welll as saying just drive away, at least agreed to talk to one of the gendarmes.

They had a chat (on Ji's cellphone) and then the gendarme said to us that we had to get hold of Nimes Europcar, get the contract number (it's still not clear why either of the Europcar guys on the phone could not simply look up the contract number in their computer!), get hold of Orange Europcar and they would swap the car for one which we could drive.

The gendarmes then left - although who knows if they were sitting around the corner to see if we also drove off. We didn't - although we did drive the 10 metres to the parking space which they said we could.

So, there we are in Orange. No car. Can't get hold of Nimes and not actually sure we were. So we walk into town. Find the tourist office. Get a map. Get directions to SFR shop (the cellphone shop from where I got my prepay sim). Walk to the SFR shop. It's closed. It's lunch time. Get lunch (horse burger - stronger than beef - not sure I like it!!). Back to the SFR shop. Can I buy a top-up. Nope, their machine isn't working. Great. The guy says that we can get it from a tabac around the corner (that was the limit of the directions). Find the tabac. Buy a top up. Ring Nimes Europcar. Ring Nimes Europcar. Ring Nimes Europcar - I think I rang 6 or 7 times during the day without getting someone.

Did I leave messages? Yes. Were they in French. Yes. Were they in English. Yes. Is the woman who works there english? Yes. Did I leave my telephone number? Yes. Did anyone ever ring back? Don't be silly - of course not.

So Ji and I decide that what else can we do but go find the Orange Europcar. So off we walk again. Along the walk I keep trying the Nimes Europcar and, wow, eventually, the phone is answered.

I explain what's happened. The woman is suitably appalled. She says that's terrible. She says to go to the Orange Europcar. They'll change the car. No, she doesn't need to ring them. No, she doesn't need us to ring her back. We did at least get the contract number out of her.

So, we arrive at Orange Europcar. We explain the situation. The guy there says that well, unless he has a car in reserve he can't give us another one.

What? And we're supposed to do what then?

He then misunderstands my bad french (yes, he spoke good english). He thinks the car is looked up in the Gendarmes garage. So he says the only sensible thing (remember that sarcasm thing) - oh, there is nothing he can do. If the car is locked up and can't be driven, how can he drive it from there.

What? Again. And we're supposed to do what then?

Yes, Europcar gives us a dangerous car. The cops say the car cannot be driven. Europcar say they can't do anything.

Like we're supposed to do what - oh, maybe just leave the car parked in the parking spot until it rusts and joins the great cosmos?

So, I get out my cellphone, I ring the woman in Nimes and ask her to talk to the guy in Orange to sort it out.

On my cellphone, of course.

By this stage, Ji and I are seriously off in lala land wondering what the hell is going on.

Whatever Europcar Nimes said to Europcar Orange, Europcar Orange say that they will swap the car - but the car they give us hasn't been cleaned, they're sorry about that.

Not sorry that they weren't going to do anything. Not sorry that nobody at Europcar wanted to get on the phone and sort things. Not sorry that they'd given us a car that the France Gendarmarie has said couldn't be driven on the road. Not sorry that the advice from Europcar car was to just drive away. But sorry that the replacement car wasn't clean.

So they drive us back to the car, get us to drive the car back to the Europcar depot and then bring out the other car.

The Orange Europcar guy didn't want any of the police paper work. We went back to the police (as they said to) - interestingly, they'd been watching the two gendarmes that morning stop us and knew all about the tourists and the tires. But they didn't want the blue piece of paper either. They said to take it to the Orange Europcar.

We gave up.

We left.

We just drove away (oh, well, walked away - you couldn't drive to the Gendarme office (you'd be back on the autoroute) so we had to walk - they said we could but needed to just be careful - walking along the entry to an autoroute.....

Ji and I then went to the Roman Theatre in Orange - fantastic!

Drove back to Nimes.

Did we get stopped by the cops again? Maybe the Municipal Police?

What do you think?

Yes, of course we did. Just as we left the autoroute at Nimes - flashing blue lights. Three cops. Identity cards. They were checking out the car. The contract (we got another copy in Orange). The tickets.

It transpires that all they were interested in is that Ji was driving with the lights on highbeam.

By this stage is really was tooooooo much.

We've decided that we're going to return the car today.

I'm going to make an official complaint.

I'm going to say that we don't want to pay for the car at all.

I'm contemplating complaining to the Gendarmie d'autoroute about Europcar's advice that we should just drive off. Maybe Europcar needs to be investigated by the police if that's their advice.

Who knows what will happen. Except that we will no longer have a Europcar car.

And my suggestion to you if you read this is really really simple - NEVER EVER EVER hire a car from Europcar. Full stop.

Lol!

Well, it's nearly 9.50am, time to go do something (like get rid of this headache I've still got).

:)

Yah though - Anthony and Nico from Marseille are coming up to Avignon on Sunday to say hi!

We have accommodation booked in Avignon.

I have my health.

I have gorgeous friends.

I ate cake yesterday.

It's sunny, and cool, and beautiful.

I have the most star nephews!

Can one ask for any more really?

Finally...

2009-09-23T21:42:00.003+01:00

Well, finally here I am sitting outside at the YHA in Nimes over two weeks since I wrote anything - and it's hard to imagine how much has happened - and also how little has happened! Lol!

It's pretty late so I'm not going to write too much here - and it'll take me a while to remember everything that has happened.

I also have dozens and dozens of photos which I guess I should at some stage sort and post.

But very quickly:

HK to London - HK was amazing. The trip to London was a trip to London - all very weird on the plane as they make you sleep; when it's daylight and you don't really want to sleep - odd!!

London - into London (Sarah my sister picked me up - yah) and hanging out there. Very cool as within a couple of hours arriving (on the Tuesday) I was outside my nephew Daniel's school picking him up! Very cool. Andrew was a bit slow to warm up - who is this strange man he is thinking - but after Daniel saw me, Andrew kind've realised that I was ok - and now we get on a like a house on fire.

In London some highlights were - my nephews - easy-peasy. Went bike shopping with them, dinners, hanging out, the aquarium (really good in London - go) and just generally being Uncle Mike. Priscilla - yes, saw the stage show - and Jason Donovan. What an amazing show - just absolutely stunning!! :) Buckingham Palace with Michael, Sue, Liz and Sharon - wow tour. The inside is really really impressive!!

In London some not highlights were getting a cold - which I still have the vestigives of over a week later - and spending a whole day in bed with a cold and throwing up (food poisoning I think) - and it was apparently the last of the perfect summer days - bummer!

London, especially the nephews, was very cool (and not literally - was quite warm really - touch wood but so far I've not had a single day with rain!).

After London it was Glasgow - catching the whisper jet (that's what they used to called) from London City Airport - sweet - and up to Glasgow.

Fantastic to see Helen again, meet her son (Aidan - he's got the sweetest little accent), Nicole (daughter), Mark (husband), Helen's parents, Helen's brother (Jules) and his wife (Kirsty) and their kids. She took them out of school for a day and we all hung out together - went to the Glasgow Museum - it was really impressive; a beautiful old building. And Glasgow, I reckon, is a beautiful city - although I didn't (and by all accounts won't) get to see Drumchappe!!

Also had a stunning lunch with Helen and Mark in Glasg0w (in a little village outside Glasgow) - yummy and the best coffee ever in the UK - courtesy of the Australian who made it! :)

Then in a plane (huge huge security queues - bar, touch wood, London City, security at UK airports is major suckee!) down to Gatwick, pissing about there trying to find the train (it's not very well laid out - where the ticket office is etc), then on the train and down to Portsmouth. Picked up by Sharon's son James, out to dinner that night (fantastic chinese meal!), the next day was over to the Isle of Wight (wow - a tip for the wise - garlic ice cream is really horrible!), then the Saturday to Liz's pub (I forget the name right now - duh) for fish and chips - Andrea (rather jet lagged!!) was there by that stage - yah - and then the party that night - yah! Not sure wha the poms thought of the hongi!).

Next day (Sunday) was a 5 pound bus trip to London - free wifi but I kind've slept - and felt gross. Caught up with Deb, thought I had a tooth absess, found Ji, went donkey riding with the nephews - well, they rode the donkey - most very very cool.

Then out to Gatwick - waited an hour for the bloody bus to the hotel.

Next morning up - the most horrific queue for Easyjet to check in - just horrible!). Finally checked in (I'm talking 1 1/2 hours!), then security, then plane, then Montpellier.

:)

France!

It was sunny and warm.

And the hotels were all full. I found out later because of a bee conference. Go figure.

Finally found somewhere (it's kind've stressful when you don't have somewhere to sleep) and then off exploring Montpellier - what a nice city! Did the walking tour, dinner, sleep (until after 10am!), breakfast, the cathedral, the old town, the Odyseum (odd but cool), a moroccan meal - yum - and then more sleep - well, broken sleep.

Then up this morning, more breakfast, a train to Nimes (god, the french train system - nice trains but trying to get a ticket - what a hassle - icky!).

Then, Nimes, picked up the car (Lol - I'm not driving, Ji is as she's from Germany); we have a sat nav system - very cool.

Then to the Tour Magna - very very cool, it's been much hotter here today - yah! Into the town, a bit of looking around and shopping, some food for dinner and then back to the YHA.

Which is where I am now, waiting for my laundry to dry - hehe

I'll have to fill in more details in due course - but how all very cool!

Very quickly and very early.... HK Airport

2009-09-07T23:50:00.002+01:00

Well, here I am at Hong Kong Airport. It's about 6.52am local time. I was up at 4am local time. Checked out, to the airport ($230 HK - not bad and no traffic at that time of the morning), checked in and it was so early that security hadn't even opened yet! Duh - doesn't open until 6am - and neither really does anything else.

Oh, well, there we go!

Hong Kong was amazing - it's hard to think that I was only here for 60 hours - the amount I packed in - amazing hotel, full on shopping, people, food (amazing amounts of stunning food), Victoria Peak (wowser amazing - make sure you pay to go up to the look out thing!), the convention centre, Stanley Bay, Causeway Bay, seafood so fresh I picked it from the tank!, noodles, thai, HK style breakfast, the light show (the city at night looking across the harbour is truly, truly stunning), Kwoloon Park and so on.

Just start!

They've just called my plane so better log off and get going!

Pictures and details (lol - so I don't forget!) to come!

A quickie before breakfast... HK

2009-09-06T01:30:00.002+01:00

Hong Kong Rocks.

Full stop.

The hotel I'm staying in is simply divine! You will absolutely love it. I absolutely love it.

A jetlagged Cookie who only slept for 4 hours last night is about to have a shower and get a bit to eat before hitting the day - so will update the blog later.

But wow... wow... wow....

5 September 2009

2009-09-05T00:34:00.004+01:00

After getting to bed after 11pm, and getting some sleep, I got up, showered, shaved, slapped my face and made it to Wellington Airport.

And so my holiday 2009 started....

Checked in - nice. Coffee with Moon (you may know him as Alex!!) and Aaron - nice. Mojo coffee is nice!

Then into the lounge - very civilised, very early and no 100mls Boss - please, there I was wanting to spend money and no go! It had to wait until Sydney.

Onto the plane - must admit, the bypassing the queue to get on the plane when I'm

half asleep and wondering what's up is kind've nice - nice!

And the flight was great. Sat next to Susu, a policy specialist from UNICEF who was in Wellington for a conference on child trafficing. What a stunning person - we spent a chunk of the 3 1/2 hours flight chatting (ok, about 2 1/2 hours of chatting is a chunk - but is it most of the time?). Anyway, what an interesting person. She's from Myanmar and has personally interviewed Ang Sang Sui Kyi. What was also interesting is that, from her perspective, it should be Myanmar and not Burma. As part of her doctoral thesis, she set out the name history of Myanmar - and basically when the British came in 1840 (something) they came up from the Indian Ocean and the first people they came across were the Burme (or however it's spelt). The Brits mispronounced it and called the country Burma - whereas it was Myanmar for centuries; basically there is no ethnic group of "Myanmars" so it's a name to cover all the groups who live in the country.

Bizarrely - the junta actually gave back the country it's historic name.

Anyway - after much food, much chatting, more food (and yes, champagne to start and feijoa smoothies throughout - I'm going to put on even more weight), into Sydney we arrived. Off the plane, through security, Boss 100mls acquired, into the lounge, a nice hot shower and I'm now sitting in the sun, watching planes land and drinking lots of water! Classic.

And yes, I did see 2 A380s - a Singapore Airlines one and an Emirites one. Big planes.

Onwards and upwards as they say!

A very special entry...

2008-04-22T12:47:00.007+01:00

I am now back home.

It's Tuesday, 22 April 2008.

My sister, my brother-in-law and my two nephews are on a plane back to London.

I'm writing this at 11.47pm and they will have been in the air for 17 minutes.

I was in AK saying goodbye. I took them to the airport; their last drive in NZ.

I can still see my two super-gorgeous special nephews waving goodbye; the youngest just giving me the biggest smile. I miss them. Very very much. Safe journeys my beautiful little men.

Safe journeys to Matt and Sarah too - come back safe! Soon!!

Not that I have anything particular to say...

2007-12-17T08:45:00.000Z

Well, it's not as though I have anything particularly exciting to say.

I rang TelstraClear today and got my epg sorted. Oh, so exciting.

I forgot where I met Conrad. OMG, how pathetic.

I missed going for a swim. OMG how fattening.

I can't work out why Helen is fucking it up so much - I mean please Helen - stop mooning about with .... and get focused. Mind you - the Greens have bit to answer for too...

I had pasta for dinner. With diet lemonade. Does one offset the other?

I've had my hit of Heroes and want more. I've got dishes to do, sleep to be had and shirts to iron. OMG - my life is so not a soap opera and so needs things to happen.

Mind you.... I do know some things... But, oh well, as David Hartnell says - my lips are sealed...

And yes, I realise that this isn't the way to get people to read my blog. I need to either write witty, insightful enteries or purely salacious gossipy terribly paparazzi articles.....

Yes, well - we shall see....

Instead my dishes call....

The First For a While...

2007-12-15T01:18:00.000Z

Although I'm not sure that I'm inspired to be a blog writer, nor am I particularly inspired to get out of the moshpit today and do anything - that may however be another story - I have this fine day in December been introduced to The Paul World. Maybe the closest thing to this is Tales of the City but kiwi'ised. But, as I felt the need to point out certain things in relation to The Paul World (including other things as references to not diddle, not wee wee, not wangdang etc) which may somehow end up with people linking back to this blog, it got me thinking that the last thing I really wanted people to read about on my blog was my barfing for hours on a plane from Bangkok to Sydney. Although, they too may not want to read this drivel; but too late I guess if they've got this far.

Anyway, without further ado - I bid you adieu - I really need to move my fat ass today....

Although, yes, I have had a shower, put on some laundry, hung out some laundry, drunk coffee (and this is a little test - but I guess that's the thing that must be done every morning in The Paul World).

Sydney Barfing....

2007-08-06T22:19:00.000+01:00

It's 7.20am Sydney time, I've arrived.

I'm sleepy. Full of a cold.

Spent the flight from Bangkok to Sydney (upstairs - yah) throwing up and sitting on the toilet. Too much information. Lol - not a pleasant flight. Power chucking at 40,000 feet - it rocks!

They even wore rubber gloves when they collected my iced face towels (yah - they felt just wonderful) - feel isolation!

But the leg room was wonderful. And they gave me a electrolite drink to replace to the fluids. So, they do look after you!

And a couple of hours here, had a lovely shower, and about to tempt a cup of tea!

OMG - it's really coming to an end! Sent a txt to my sister and apparently my nephew Daniel still asks after Mike when he sees a plane - cause I went on one!

Fab.

:)

Mmm... Do I need to barf again?

And so it ends...

2007-08-06T09:50:00.000+01:00

Well, almost...

I'm sitting at Bangkok Airport, with a cold, not particularly looking forward to spending 12 hours on planes but what can one do!!

So, it's hard to believe that it's been 7 weeks that I've not been at work!

What else did I do in Bangkok? Well, surprising not a lot - it's been rather blobby here really.

I did things like:

Go to the movies and see Harry Potter - it's ok and a lot darker than the first films;
Hung out a bit at the night markets (crap and later discovered that the better night markets at at some park - I can look up the name if you're interested);
Become more disinterested/disenchanted/dis-something/dis-everything in the sex industry (let's just say there were arguments, disagreements and sometimes people have to agree to disagree);
Chatuchuk Markets - which was just massive. Apparently there are in excess of 50,000 stalls - and it seems to just go on and on and on... It's pretty amazing really. Clothes, souvenirs, household items, food, animals, decorations (pictures etc) - it's all there. A lot is "fixed price" and who knows whether it's meant or not - but we arrived around midday and it was so hot and stuffy I don't think people were particularly interested. Didn't find the wet market, didn't see half of it really - but it was huge. They've pulled down a whole section of it and are building a big mall - so I guess it's being cleaned up. Although when that happens who knows where the thais will shop - apparently the average weekly income here is about 1500 baht - that's about $75 a week. So, we are incredibly incredibly wealthy by comparison. At Chatuchuk I saw an old woman who was selling tissues for 10 baht - that would've been her only source of income; it really is heartwrenching (and yes I did buy some for 20 baht - no change).
Shopping - did a bit of shopping but got kind've sick of it. The prices are impossible to work out (is it fixed price or not) and whether the good are originals or not (everything is an original!) is impossible too - I spend most of the "shopping time" in the MBK Centre - it should be real but it's hard to tell - impossible actually. There is just sooooo much - it really is consumption, consumption, consumption. The other difficult is that a Thai XL is different from a Cookie X, as is Thai 36 - I tried on a pair of jeans that should've fitted - but I couldn't even get them up my legs - go figure (pity too - they were quite nice!). The shopping is over the top though, clothes are pretty good (if you can get them to fit and you can get around that it's all hot weather gear and we live in a cold weather environment) but electronic stuff is way more expensive (get it in Germany - cheap cheap!). The night markets are not good - to the extent that there was one guy trying to sell me DVDs and I inquired about how much; he stold me, I said that I off to dinner first he then started yelling "f... you" as I walked away - it was quite aggressive here compared to Phuket.
The heat - it's really oppressive, maybe not helped by getting a cold. But seeing the size of the aircon ducts on the MBK Centre you can see how much heat is being pumped into an already hot atmosphere. And being over airconditioned is as bad.
Managed to go for my first swim in 7 weeks - lol! It was the pool at the hotel which is part of the Olympic Club which is apparently one of the best gyms in Bangkok - managed to swim 70 lengths. Funny! Thought I was going to sink though! Was told, too, that the showers in the Olympic Club have a sign that if more than one person is found in a shower cubicle they will cancel your membership. A sign of the Bangkok mentality. It's a nice pool though, nice hotel and really handy to the skytrain - which is great.
Met some German guy who ended up showing us a very cool restaurant down in Patpong (Bug and Bee) and we spoke for ages - he lives here and I think he was enjoying having some Europeans to talk to. As we read in a mag in Phuket, the Thai people are naturally reticent and shy; if they come up to you in the street it's for a reason (ie money) and it's really hard to actually meet Thai people on a friendship level. Having said that, generally people were really lovely, a smile goes a long long way - as does quietly quietly gently gently....
Ate far too much - I've put on disgusting amounts of weight and so the philosophy of "eat whatever" is going to have to stop! Although the food is very nice here - and you can eat very cheaply. One night we went to a great restaurant called Sphinx - took a bit of finding (which doesn't sound that much of a hassle until you're wandering down little alleys, it's stinking hot and if you ask directions people want a tip. But we found it and I can thoroughly recommend it!
I did suit shop. Enough said. Lol!
Looked around. Saw a different Bangkok this time I think.

Generally though I enjoyed Thailand - maybe though, and I never thought I'd say this, after 7 weeks, I think I'm ready to come home (and to sleep a little bit - I'm due back on Wednesday at work - if anyone is reading thing, I might either be late or not there for long! And my experience of Bangkok was different this time. Why? Many reasons - ask me about them.

So, my big holiday is now drawing to a close. I've been away and turned 40, discovered a few things (some things really shouldn't be discussed on a public blog now should they), certainly decided that lieflat beds on planes are really nice, completely miss my nephews, think that new things to see are great but it's even better catching up with friends whom I've not seen for like ever but it was like it was only yesterday that we last saw each other, eaten some wonderful wonderful food, kind've gotten over Haagen Daaz (it's nice but so expensive for what it is), found that one can burn by a pool even if it's cloudy, climbed mountains, saw ancient castles, roman ruins, palaces and towers, walls and torture chambers, went on trains and gondolas and sleds, played in snow, had barbecues, spoke different languages, didn't send nearly enough postcards and far too many txts and just enjoyed myself! Did I mention loved hanging out with my nephews? And friends? But all in all it has been a rather most excellent time. Have spent silly amounts of money, seen some amazing things and discovered that the world is a pretty magical place!

Well, I might go have a drink of water and think about meandering to the plane...

Home here I come...

It's sadness...

2007-08-03T05:37:00.000+01:00

Kia ora all,

After a bit of a break - funny - ok after nearly 6 weeks away I'm getting really ready to come home.

I miss my little nephews in England like crazy - I've got some of the coolest photos of them and every time I look at them I think, wow - I really want to pop around for a cuppa and a play in the park...

So, a very quick snapshot of what's what.

Well, I'm in Bangkok.

Flew from London to Helsinki - BA. Stopped in Helsinki. Finland looks lovely - the thing that struck me the most was the trees - there are so many and everywhere - huge pine trees that you see in postcards!

So stopped at the airport for a bit - not that anything happened - you know, sitting in an airport, hanging around, la la la la. Then on to the Finnair flight to Bangkok.

I'm telling you - business class rocks - and it's the leg room! I fairly managed to sleep for nearly 6 hours - maybe tired and maybe just cause I could stretch out!

But it was nice, chatted with the wonderful Emma from Australia who was on the same flight (she flew from Italy, to Paris to Helsinki to Bangkok - go figure!) and then arrived in Bangkok!

:)

Went to the baggage claim. One bag came through. Hmm... Odd that the other one didn't. Still didn't come through. Why would one make it and not the other? Why would the one with the nappies (yes, I'm bringing a bag of nappies back - go figure) make it but the one with clothes wouldn't? Yes. There's the nice lady from luggage queries. Yes, I've only got one bag and the other isn't here. Yes, here's the tag. Oh, you're looking it up on the computer. Oh, it never left London. I see. So two bags checked in at the same time, one got on the plane to Helsinki and then to Bangkok. The other had a little rest in Bangkok? (I didn't actually say those last two sentences to her!). They were really nice, could tell me where my bag was, gave me a little pack (so I scored a free Finnair teeshirt) and said that it was on a plane from Heathrow and they'd courier it to my hotel - which they did and it arrived about 9pm that night. So all up a very good thing - apart from my not having any shorts or sandles with me - and it's hot here in Thailand!!

Hung at the airport, Peter turned up, on the Thai Airways plane to Phuket (they still feed you on Thai Airways), Phuket airport (which was great for me - no checked luggage - the nappies are in storage at Bangkok) and then a taxi to the hotel. Checked in. A lovely refreshing drink, a cold towel. Then taken to our room, overlooking the sea - just wonderful!

I can so recommend the Amari Coral Beach Resort - it was just stunning. Two amazing pools, wonderful views, great restaurants, fantastic cocktails, a private jetty with a bar on it for drinks to watch the sunset, over the top breakfasts, more pools, food, drinks - it was just magical. And it was about 10 minutes walk from Patong (more on that later) so it's really close but it's really quite.

It was the low season so although there were a lot of tourists around, it wasn't too busy. Having said that, the Amari was operating at 85-95% capacity! It employs 282 staff, of which 29 are gardeners! Go figure!

But, let's see, what did I do in Phuket. Ate thai food, drunk caiprihias (or however they're spelt - and I can't pronounce them!), went on a day boat trip up to Phanaga (something like that) national park where we stopped at James Bond Island (which is really small, and full of little tourist shops selling shells which you can't bring back to NZ without a CITES certificate which, of course, they don't have!), then to two more island where we got in little three person canoes (Peter and I and the guide who paddled) and went into the islands - it was just amazing. The first he took us into this cave that I though was impossible (trust me, lie flat on the boat), the second island he took us into the inside of the island (it was hollow) and the entrance was so narrow I had to twist onto my side as my shoulders were too wide to get through the gap - and I don't have any shoulders!!). It was just amazing!! (oh, and on the way back out the tide had dropped so no probs getting back out). The second island (hollow in the middle) was so quite and peaceful - until some noisy louts arrived - don't know which country they were from but what tossers. It was a mangrove forest on the inside - just stunning.

Then it was lunch on the boat, followed by an hour on a tropical island having a swim and a play in the canoe. Most very very excellent.

The next day sat around the pool - a whole day of doing nothing - just great, and sunburnt.... Yep - I'm kind've red (it's toning down a bit) and waiting for the peeling to start - at least it's not as sore as it was!! Even here, when it's cloudy, the sun can be a killer!! Lol!

Umm, another day we hired a car and driver and drove around the bottom part of Phuket, past Karon and Kata Beach (nicer beaches than Patong but I think our resort was the best place to stay easilty), to the look out where I had a photo taken with a sea eagle - what a magnificent bird, the pistol range (fired a .45 - wow! Useless though - 57%!!), saw snakes (obligatory photo with a python), monkeys (obligatory photo with a monkey), then a jewellery shop (of course) and yes, if you ask nicely I'll show you my emerald earing, the cashew nut factory (lots of cashews - and it was interesting to see how labour intensive it is to produce them - and thus why they are so expensive) and finally the butterfly park (with insects - huge spiders which were icky but the butterflys were just awesome!).

All that for a price of 600 baht - which is about $30. The guy (in a brand new aircon car) said that as it's the off season we were his first job in 3 days - whether it's true I don't know but as you walk down Patong Beach all these guys ask if you want a taxi - so that's what we did - just got him from the beach. At 600 baht (which is nothing) we didn't even bother bargaining and actually paid him 1000 baht (we took an hour longer than we originally said) - which was a whole $25NZ each for Peter and I for 5 plus hours of personal tours. Poverty sucks, it's really hard here, I figure that people are only trying to make a buck and far out - $25 dollars for so much is nothing from the wealth of a western nation.

The nightlife/sex industry - I might write another blog entry about that. Let's just say:

1. Yes, I did go to gogo bars. No, they were completely cras and sad. In so many ways.
2. Yes, it's completely exploitive and just gutting that young guys, who have nothing but their bodies, have no other options or ways of eating, than to wear virtually nothing and parade around like cattle hoping to be bought by foreigners.
3. Yes, the "old white men" and the "young thai boys/girls" are everywhere - maybe I didn't notice it as much last time. Or maybe, having gone to some gogo bars, I'm just more aware of how something it is - I'm not sure how to describe it.
4. I'm not sure what the answer is though - but it's actually pretty sick.

Enough on that at the moment.

Went to some bars (ordinary bars), a very very good club in Patong - but it was empty as it's the off season, saw an amazing drag show, ate more, lounged around lots and didn't really buy anything.

Then it was off to Bangkok. And I'm here.

Yep - last night went out with Peter to the gay boy district. The whole sex industry thing is offputting - it's exploitation of disempowered people by wealthy foreigners. I do not accept the argument, which has been given to me, that it's consensual and the only that these young guys or girls can earn a buck. There must be a better way. Full stop.

Maybe, having turned 40, I'm slowly growing up. OMG - I'm 40!! Sorry - little panic attack there!! Ha ha!!

Went to a club - DJ Station - not bad, average music and although I got in in shorts and sandels (go figure) and being in a bouncy club (a nightclug like anywhere else in the world!) in sandels with lots of bopping people - not good!! I need sneakers!

Yes, I've ordered some suits - yes you can buy them very cheaply here (although I paid a bit more and bought some lovely italian material - assuming it's true what he told me), it's possble to get 2 suits (2 trousers each suit) and 5 shirts for about $900 NZ. Like I said, I've paid a bit more, but also am getting another shirt and an argyll jacket (for my kilt - they've got the picture of the jacket so who knows what it will look like when it's made!!).

I'm now mucking about in the hotel room, about to go for a walk, see a bit more of Bangkok (which is a lot hotter and "stuffier" than Phuket - no sea breezes) and maybe do a bit of shopping - it never ends here!.

Be good and be excellent!

Yah!! :)

At Heathrow...

2007-07-27T11:31:00.000+01:00

Well, here I am sitting at the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport - my time in Europe is basically over.

It was really really horrible to say bye to Daniel and Andrew (and Sarah) - my nephews. We had a coffee and Andrew was just lying in my arms yabbering away saying baby stuff and Daniel was being a 2 2/3 year old full of energy! They are most cool.

Actually, the worstest thing about holidays is the saying bye bye to people knowing that I won't be able to pop in for a cuppa next week, or to just do stuff like sitting on a bus and a train with my nephew. It was very cool yesterday when we went to Bluewater - a big shopping complex (like really big - it went on and on and on and on) and on the way back Daniel and I caught a bus, then a train - and it was just pretty cool. He's a very cool little kid.

What else did I get up to? Can't remember if I wrote about Scotland - and I guess I shouldn't be so lazy and should really go back and look at earlier entries of blogs but lets say:

Helen and Mark are really cool. Fantastic hosts - my friends really are the bestest. Their daughter Nicole is just an absolute honey!!

We did lots - like shopping, the Falkirk Wheel, Stirling Castle (which is much more important than Edinburgh Castle - Stirling was at a river - can't remember the name - that had one crossing right below the castle and it split the Scottish lowlands from the highlands - and whoever controlled the castle controled Scotland. Edinburgh just sits on a hill full of tourists, the Tussochs (national park), a cruise on Lake Katrine on a real steam boat - which is going to stop using coal next year so it's possibly the last time I will ever actually be able to go on a working coal fired steam boat, Loch Lomond, more food, Glasgow, kilt shops, very most excellent curry shops (NZ curry maybe isn't as good - but it's not that bad!), recipes for paneer and lots of coffees and hanging out with my friends.

Scottish people are very cool and very friendly! Not sure though if they understand my accent!! He he!

Then it was time to say bye - again - it's not fun - and on the train to Glasgow and then down to London. Virgin trains are ok, the service is great - but really the French and Swiss trains just rock - the French cause they're so fast as so smooth, the Swiss because the views are just out there!!

London was most excellent - playing with nephews, having dinner with Marcus (yah for the gin and the indian food carrier things - the name of which has slipped my mind) and Nick and Deb (Deb - come back home!! - and say hi to Caro!) in Brick Lane - good curry (well I thought so - although apparently it's difficult to know where in Brick Lane does good stuff) but a run down area, some drugged out guy giving me grief but fab fab. It's so cool how, having not seen people for years, we just fall back into a patter of catching up - yah, I'm telling you, my friends rock!

Then the last day here yesterday, getting slowly out of bed (Lee - ta so much for your hospitality - actually, ta to everyone for their hospitality!), getting picked up by Sarah and Daniel, then over to Bluewater - train rides both ways - and then dinner and packing - with a slight hiccup as I forgot I had domestic internal flights in Thailand so not sure what to do with the extra luggage I was going to bring back for my other new nephew due to be born in August. Something will work out.

Then this morning it was up and journeys to Heathrow - passing a smash up on the M25 - ouch. And then coffee, cuddles and bye byes to my nephews and sister.

And now here, waiting for my plane to Helsinki and then more waits and then another flight to Bangkok and then another flight to Phuket - it's actually, let me think - from check in to arrival at Phuket is about 24 hours to Phuket. From home London to hotel Patong Beach though adds another 3 hours - so about 27 hours in total. OMG - will I sleep at all!! Eeek!

Anyway, I think I'll go find the loo (too much info but there you go), a quick bite and then off to my flight.

Bye London. Bye Scotland. Bye Europe....

Almost time to go...

2007-07-26T20:19:00.000+01:00

A very quick update.

Yep, I forgot things in Berlin.

Yep, I had a stunning time in Glasgow - the weirdest thing is that I'm not going to be able to pop around to Helen and Mark's next week to say hi and have a cuppa.

London is great - food, friends, hanging with my nephews (who are just so so cool), baggage questions - don't ask.

Tomorrow though, it's over and Thailand here I come....

:) and :( - I'll miss my nephews - they are very very cool!!

The high road...

2007-07-21T18:56:00.000+01:00

I've taken the high road and am now happily esconsced in Glasgow in Scotland - having sadly left Germany and Ji behind....

Berlin - what a fantastically brilliant city in so many ways.

One of the things I am discovering about this blog is that, after a couple of days have passed, it's hard to remember all the things which have happened - because so much happens. It's kind've amazing how much you can pack into a day!!

Berlin was hot - in so many many ways... But temperature wise it was hot. Yah - some serious heat at last (although there was some on earlier parts of the trip I guess!!) - and this seemed to make the days, the people and the place more relaxed and langued - except my sister who didn't like the heat at all...

I did all kinds of things in Berlin - and as a suggestion for anyone who is going there - do one of the walking tours first - it'll give you a brilliant overview and insight into the city and where things are. Also, stay in Mitte - the historical part seems to mostly be in the old East Berlin.

The walking tour showed me all kinds of interesting things: where Berlin started (did you know that in Germany they pick the starting date of a city by the oldest document/reference that has been found to the city - so in Berlin it's something like 1239 - even if it's been around longer than that), one of the last beach bars, how to tell old East Berlin from West Berlin (generally the trams, the pre-fab buildings and pedestrian crossing lights (although they are now been used in West Berlin), the museum island, the monument to war (with a very powerful sculpture in it of a mother holding her dead son), Humboldt University where Marx studied, Einstein taught and 29 Noble Prize winners have come from, the prettiest square in Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie (where the guard post is not the original and a fence had to be put up to stop the woman who owns the Checkpoint Charlie museum from putting up crosses - she's been voted the most embarrassing Berliner for a few years running apparently), the SS torture prison - which I went back to, Hitler's bunker where he died (it's now marked by a sign which was totally unexpected when it went up), the Wall (there's not much left now), the Holocaust memorial (which is very very must go see), the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel where the gloved one dangled his baby, the Reichstag (the dome of which was closed for cleaning). Woven into the tour was a stunningly informative commentary - so very worth it.

One of the things that struck me about Berlin is that it's really easy to forget that not only is there the whole history of East/West Berlin but there was the Nazis before hand.

What else do I do in Berlin? Well, visited the gay museum (which was ok'ish - mostly gay history about Berlin, although it did have Maplethorpes's photo of William Burroughs standing in a William Tell pose (which is how Burroughs, out of it on LSD, had previously tried with his wife - unfortunately, he missed the apple). Had currywurst - I came, I currywursted, I left. More food. The DDR museum (on the history of East Berlin) - interesting but didn't really play up how the DDR was the most perfect police state to date, it did mention how things weren't available, but how there was employment, everyone had what they needed (do you really need a plasma screen?). It didn't, however, explore the psychology of what it must have been like to have been in East Berlin seeing the west and freedom but not being able to get there.

Which reminds me of the holocaust memorial - it is amazing - huge blocks on uneven ground that you walk through and it gives a sense of disorientation. But, controversial as it's only to the jews - what about the gays, the gypsies, the others murdered? So Berlin has agreed to two more memorials - one for the gays and the other for the gypsies. This has got Berliners asking - when is enough enough? The other controversy is that the anti-graffiti coating on the blocks is made by some company that has some connection to IG Farben - which made zyklon b which was the gas used to gas the victims of the holocaust. I also thought it ironic that the memorial is diagonally across the road from Hitler's bunker where he committed suicide.

Anyway, the history of East/West Berlin is fascinating - you've got to wonder at the psyche of people who have to wall in people so that they can't leave. You've also got to wonder about the wall in Berlin - and how that's what the jews are doing in Israel to the Palestinians. Yet the jews don't seem to get that they are creating a ghetto - which is what they were put in 60 years ago...

There was more food in Berlin, the Altes Museum seeing things which were thousands of years old (Greek and Roman), Nephretiti (or however that's spelt), amazing old papyrus, chocolate, cakes, meandering, wandering, looking, checking out, caiprihinias (which are great when it's hot - addicted to the brown sugar I think) and then it was leaving....

So on Friday it was a last wander around and then out to Berlin Tegel airport to catch the plane to Stansted and then to Glasgow. Sweet. Checked in sweet. Had a last chat to Ji. Sweet. Said goodbye to Ji. Sad. Passed through security. Searched. Again. But sweet. Then waited. And waited. And waited. And waited for Air Berlin to fly the spare part needed from Munich to Berlin to fix the plane. And waited. And three hours late left Berlin. Arrived in London. Told that we were booked on Easy Jet the next day and had a hotel for the night. Opps. Didn't they tell us in Berlin? Opps. No trains or other planes, Heathrow had been shut, the weather had been abysmal earlier in the day. No real problems for us (it was the Hilton) but meant I couldn't see Helen and Mark, and meet Nicole, until the next day (today) and for the people travelling to weddings in Glasgow it was a major bummer. The weather though in the UK has been abysmal and the mechanical fault in Berlin was just life...

So a hotel for the night where I got reminded how expensive things are in pounds. Sure, 7 dollars for a glass of wine in a restaurant in NZ is cheap - 7 pounds though convered to about $20 dollars is like ouch. Or 3 pounds for a cup of coffee (about $9NZ) in the restaurant.. Double ouch.

So be it though.

This morning is was EasyJet to Glagow - interesting, most cramped seats ever, a scramble to get on the plane (no allocated seating) - but we got here safely. To be met by Mark. Who told us how two weeks ago there was a terrorist attack at Glasgow airport! Go figure.

And finally I got to see my friend Helen and meet her beautiful daugher Nicole! Yah!

I've just been called for food - so better go!!

Yah!

ps. Just a thought - the pedestrian lights here in Glasgow have a seconds countdown so you know how long before they turn green and you can cross the road. Most excellent... :)

More photos...

2007-07-21T18:55:00.000+01:00

Working on it....

Berlin...

2007-07-18T00:27:00.001+01:00

A quick note as it's very late here, about 1.38am, I've just been to dinner, it's as hot as, the keyboard is a german keyboard but has been set to an english keyboard so it's hard to type on and yes....

With super sadness it was bye bye to Craig and Marcel in Switzerland - what amazing hosts, what an amazing country and what an amazing time.

Then, just to be quick and as much for my memory as anything:

Zurich airport is big, getting through security a major, got patted down by a very nice Swiss but had to remove my shoes.

Flight and then in Berlin. Yah.

Off the plane and on to a bus to drive us - and I kid you not - two bus lengths to the door to where we collected our bags. It was bizarre. Then into Berlin - with Ji waiting for us at the airport.

To the hotel - which doesn't like giving out towels and, unfortunately doesn't have airconditioning in 37 degree heat but it's a huge double room suite for a hotel which was an apartment for a family in an older East German style apartment block in the old East Berlin. It's true that the East architecture was very different from the West.

A walk around, found the info centre, the Brandenburg Gate, buses, trains, dinner at a fab restaurant (with the summer mossies which are out in force here), the trams, Hagen Daaz, sleep, a thunder/lightening storm, breakfast, trains, shopping (some stuff is really cheap - a 1gig SD memory card is 10 euro, about $19NZ - and that's a Panasonic branded one, coffee by the nude statutes (you have to see them - it seems to me that Germans are much more comfortable with their bodies, the Tiergarten (which was lovely, particularly the nude mens part), the Helmut Newtown museum (which was brilliant), the new Sony Centre and finding the lego exhibition (which at about $27 NZ entrance I passed on), my sister who took a major trip and is now blue with bruises, lunch at the same place as the day before but this time at 5.30pm (we lost our sense of time), dinner with Ji and her friends at an Austrian restaurant (which was great!!) and now home.

Oh, and Ji got me a prepay card so I could txt her (my NZ vodafone number wont txt her - go figure) but it wouldn't work, and then we took it back to get it working, but now I can't txt america and in Germany you need show your passport and sign a contract to get a prepay card (and I think Ji also said you need to be a resident) - none of this walking in, handing over cash and getting a card.

Berlin is a great city though, it's just amazing to see what's happening here and to see the difference between the old East and West. I was also lucky enough that one of Ji's friends was an Easter Berliner - he was about 11 when they pulled the wall down so he was really interesting to speak to. Particularly as his dad was a major in the East German army.

I've also learned to say a bottle of water in German - useless trivia but there you.

Later as sleep calls and more to do tomorrow. Yah!

ps I don't miss the bad weather there but I miss you all!!

Almost time to go...

2007-07-15T17:38:00.000+01:00

Maye I'm just getting a little lazy - funny, what's new - but it seems easier to direct you to a website than to carry on waxing lyrically about what I've been up to!!

Jungfraujoch from Friday - wow.

Yesterday was up Mt Pilatus. Wow. Have a look at:

http://www.pilatus.ch/default-n7-sE.html

It started with far too much food - again. Craig and Marcel are truly fantastic hosts.

Then a wander down to the jetty where we caught the boat to Alpnachstad, where we arrived with 10 minutes to spare but with uncharacteristic Swiss inefficiency thee was only one person selling tickets so all the trains left but they didn't tell us so herded us into a pen to wait for the next train in a half hour. They didn't tell us this, nor could we get out of the pen, nor buy any water. Not good. Then on the train up (which is the steepest clog railway in the world) they let some guy stand up at the front so block the view looking up. But it's an icredibly impressive ride up and the view from the top astounding. No snow like on Jungfraujoch but just wow.

Hung out there for a bit, wandered around and then caught the cablecar down (they put gondolas and cablecars here in places that you would've thought a mountain goat couldn't go, let alone human beings!!) to where we met Craig, Marcel, Pascal and Antoine for a barbee on the mountain side. Most very very cool. The birds on the adventure course gave a nice distraction, particularly the blackbird (an in joke - you had to be there) and the go-kart ride was just fantastic - a total hoot with very nice guys helping you in before you skeltered down the mountain (about 1.3km I think - trying not to kill yourself!!

Then it was more cablecars down the mountain until we reached the bottom, a bus back into town (Lucerne, Mt Pilatus sits above Lucerne) and a bus back into Lucerne. From there we jumped on a train, decided we weren't sure that the train went to Stansstad, jumped off the train, Nic went to the loo, I went to the Coop (to buy soap - being clean is a good thing!!) where I stood in the queue for ages and then the train back to Craig and Marcel's.

That evening (ie yesterday) Craig, Marcel and I went for a walk along Lake Lucerne, on a road cut into the hill, which was fake as it used to house a military base (the rock face looks real but it's actually fake) until we came to a very cool hotel which had a bar on the waterfront where we sat drinking beer (Craig was drinking milk serum - dodgy) and watched fireworks whilst having a fab goss.

Today it was another scrumptious brunch followed by the boys going into Lucerne, walking along the waterfront, completely bathed in sunlight with beautiful people just meandering around enjoying the day, surrounded of course by moutains and water.... We had an ice-coffee on a boat moored on the water's edge. There was an upstairs and a downstairs deck on the boat. Downstairs was the restaurant. Upstairs was the bar. We sat in the bar (open air) and I ordered a coffee with milk. Slight laugh from the waitress. Craig then spoke in German, a coffee with milk - a latté. Waitress then said sorry, couldn't do that, only in the restaurant. Go figure, so I ordered a diet coke (known as Coke Light) here. Then another waitress came over with the drinks. Craig asked her what was what. It transpires that I could have got a black coffee upstairs but not a white coffee, that had to be gotten downstairs. Apparently they couldn't take my order, get someone downstairs at the coffee machine to make the coffee and bring it upstairs. Go figure. And, remember, over here they have machines where you press a button and the coffee comes out - they don't espress it like in Wellington. So, all it meant was someone pressing a button on a machine and bringing the cup upstairs - but nope, couldn't be done. In fairness though to the bar, it was warm, it was sunny, the view was to die for and the iced-coffee really nice!!

Then a walk through the old town, a look at the lion monument (to commemorate the swiss who died and/or were guillotined in France with King Louise XVI during the revolution.

Coming back, Craig and Marcel drove me around the other way (ie completely around Lake Lucerne), through sweet little towns, past the Rigi, through the town where Willaim Tell killed the Austrian guy and then through a 9km tunnel back home. In Switzerland, when there is a moutain in the way, they either go up it in trains/gondolas or through it with tunnels. NZ is seriously an underresourced country.

A snooze, a muck about on the net, more food and my time in Switzerland is nearly over....

What a stunning country though - pick me for living here!!

ps. If anyone from the Glamazons is reading this, we've started talking about bringing a show over here and showing the Swiss what it's all about!!

You just wouldn't believe....

2007-07-14T07:51:00.000+01:00

It's very early in the morning in Switzerland, I'm trying to type quietly and I probably should be sleeping (lol - 9am early I mean).

Yesterday I went to one of the most incredible places on the planet - it is just amazing, surreal, astounding, every other adjective that you can think of.

http://www.jungfraubahn.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-8//183_read-808

Go have a look.

Jungfraujoch is simply just incredible.

8 1/2 hours on trains to get there and back though - although bizarrely enough it didn't seem that long - rail travel here is just great. I think though, due to the lack of sleep, there were tears last night - but not on my part.

The other fascinating thing I saw yesterday were the wood piles - you wouldn't believe how perfect they are - it's almost as those the wood is carefully selected, stacked and then chainsawed to be the same length. I also saw a guy, on a country road, not in a town, weedeating the edge of a paddock by the road - I presume to make it look good. So, everything can be picture postcard perfect but it just takes a lot of work.

There were houses on mountain sides that had no visible means of getting there, gondolas that just climbed moutains, railways that went places that seemed impossible, lakes that were still, people that were friendly, a guy in military service on the local commuter train with his gun going home for the weekend, fab food and just views for Africa. Or is that Switzerland???

And there is also Craig and Marcel who, apart from being stars, it's just great to catch up with!! Yah!!

At some stage, as well, I'll have a think about philosophy and deep and meaningful thoughts for the blog - but I have surprising little time to think. Or write postcards! I've bought a pile, just not sent them yet (or written them!!).

Duh!

A quickee...

2007-07-12T23:00:00.000+01:00

Switzerland weather wise is getting better. The first couple of days it rained but it's been clearing up and the forecast is for hot weather tomorrow and over the weekend. Today, I was supposed to go up Mt Pilatus but the top was covered in cloud so it wasn't worth it - went up Berkinstoch (or something like that) and then to Zurich - for shopping... Trust me, it's totally possible to shop here - some stuff is quite reasonably priced (sales!) and some stuff is of the "if I have to ask the price, I can't afford it" variety. But still wow - and food.

Then caught up with the hosts with the most, had a look around Luzern, a fantastic dinner right on the river and then chocolates on the way home on the train - followed by a stroll along the lake past a swan and her cignets (the swan honked and we looked but stayed away - no swan tango'ing here....

Tomorrow though is the Jungfrau which is supposed to be amazing... Yah...

ps. And yes, the eye candy is still totally eye candyish - today supplemented by uniforms (army guys who were on their compulsory military training).

OMG - what a country....

2007-07-11T22:13:00.000+01:00

So, here I am in what must trulzy be one of the most beautiful places on the planet - Switzerland is everything they say and more - including what most be the best looking guys I have seen anywhere - this place is just total eye-candy land!!

So we landed in Lausanne, no passport control and thought - what are we going to do. Well, actually, Craig had already txted me and suggested that we go to Bern and have a look there and then meander to Lucerne (or Luzern as it's called here). So that's what we did.

And this country just started it's whole trip of blowing me away.

The service has been amazing, the train system ontime and easy to follow, the people gorgeous, the food wonderful, it's fabulously expensive (well, some things are - like $1 to havea pee in a mcloo in a train station but then other things aren't - there are sales on here at the moment and clothes are reasonably priced - and so much choice like in France - or I saw a swatch which I quite liked for only $89 today) and the countryside just like a postcard.

We arrived in Bern and it was raining - but no worries. Dropped our bags off in the left luggage (which they don't have in France anymore - go Switzerland) and then to the Information Centre where I got directions to this statute that Craig suggested we go see - ask to see the picture but all very, umm, disturbing I guess. Bern though is just beautiful - if you can imagine the footpaths outside the shops is under the first floor so it's out of the rain and the shopping, the food, the buildings - it is all just beautiful. A magical wander around Bern and then on the train to Luzern - remember that's how it's spelt here.

The countryside is just stunning, stunning stunning!

And then arriving at Luzerne and there was Craig. Wow! He is looking fantastic, has been gyming a lot and this mountain air so agrees with him. It was just most excellent to see him though - it's hard to believe that it's been 5 1/2 years since he left NZ. And in many ways it was just like it was last week that I spoke with him.

On the train to Stansstad where he lives, catching up with all the news, and then just getting blown away again where he lives - it's really a mountain wonderland - think Queenstown.

Then it was Marcel - he is still really good looking and it was like it was only last week that we were last talking. And I met the cats - Paris and Caruso whom I'm sure didn't quite know what to do with all these people in their house. And a lovely house it is! So we got settled in, lots of talking and Craig and Marcel (Maesi) had planned a super surprise of champagne and fondue - their hospitality has been astounding and I'm not sure how I can ever repay it.

So, lot of talking and eating and it was just great - oh, did I mention the Swiss chocolate that Craig gave us when we met in Luzern - I'm telling you my waist is so growing....

Today it was up and on the train to St Gallen - and this one was up through mountain passes. It was like a postcard. The fields looked like they had been mowed, the houses were beautiful and pristine, the cows had bells on them - everything was just like you see in a postcard. I'm told that it's all very carefully created here - and partly driven by the wealth; we have no idea of money in NZ - apparently 1 in 25 people here are millionaires. Craig has seen people scrubbing the curbs - money is used to keep everything postcard like. Having said that, apparently taxes are low albeit very complicated but it's userpays for everything - no ringing up for a tax certificate, or a certificate from your local canton (kind've district) saying you've got no debts - you can get it but you need to pay for it. Oh, and why the certificate? Apparently when you shift you need permission of the canton you're moving in to - and each canton is responsible for it's own immigration (the politics and governance are "interesting" compared in NZ so thereotically if Craig moves the canton he moves too could refuse to give him residency/work permit which would mean he couldn't move. Apparently it's more thereotical than actual. Go figure. Of course, Craig needs to be here for 12 years to get citizenship and, although a permanent resident and a taxpayer, he can't vote. Again, go figure.

But, I digress. The views on the way to St. Gallen were topnotch. Sorry I can't post up photos but if they turn out, they should look great!!

St Gallen is, again, very pretty and we found the old town and the UNESCO World Heritage site - a church. Pah I thought - until I walked into it - talk about **** me with a giant barge pole - I have never seen anything like it - just so wow!! The photos will so not do it justice.

Oh, and I should mention that the guys here are so good looking - go to the cantonal bank in St. Gallen closest to the railway station - you'll know what I mean. :)

Then another train (all perfectly on time) on to Romanshorn which is on Lake Constance - and I've got those names horribly wrong - but the lake isn't really a lake, it's just a rather wide part of the Rhine and on the other side is Germany. It's a pretty town, a wonderful walk along the water (my sister went into the town having earlier asked about the sea - go figure; bad geography but does show how big the Rhine is). Then a train back to Zurich, a look around the station (with it's indoor market), a walk down bahnhofstrasse which Craig reckons is probably the best shopping street in the world (only saw a part of it and it's pretty fab), then a to-die for hot chocolate and back on the train to Luzern (Nic accidentally borrowing an umbrella off some guy - eek!!) with more cake things (yummy but can't remember what they're called!!). Then back to Craig and Marcel's (after an interesting discussion on economics and NZ, politics, the world etc) where I met Marcel's cousin who has an oral english test tomorrow so he was getting the rhythm of the language from us - he he with our kiwi accents - and tonight worst (I think - sausage) and rosti. We started with melon and parma ham - which is a common entree in this part of the world, melon to start - just yummy! Followed by good coffee and tiramasu. I'm telling you Craig and Marcel are just spoiling us to death - ideas please how to repay them!!

And tomorrow more adventures. Hopefully the weather will clear (today when we got up it was, outside, like being in Queenstown - crispy cold - and inside totally warm, they know how to make houses here - I can see why people complain about the houses in NZ. Although, having said that, it does get down to minus 20 degrees here in winter! No wind though, unlike Wellington. :) Yep, I've heard the weather is crap there.

So, tomorrow maybe up Mt Pilatus and dinner in Luzern. See, I'm telling you, totally spoilt.

And Switzerland really does rock. Find me a man here will you. Oh, ok, so I'm already here and should do my own finding!! But there is so much choice....

Love ya and later...

After 5 years....

2007-07-10T22:30:00.001+01:00

Well, after 5 years I have finally arrived at Craig and Marcel's place in Stasstad, Switzerland - it's about 20 mins by train from Lucerne (or Luzern as it's known here).

What stunning hosts they have been - and I've only been here for 6 hours!!

But to back track a bit first.

France - well, I've left there about 5 kilos heavier but with much improved language and somehow more luggage - although I have no idea as I didn't reallz buy anything apart from the aforementioned food.

I left the last blog in Provence - and it was the second to last day where we had a very groovy roadside diner lunch. We stopped at St. Cannat on the way back and the others went into a bar, I went to a chemist (any ideas what 'lipbalm' is in French?) and then found another bakery that had the most devine pastries - a full size don't mess about religeuse....

That night there were a few drinks around the pool - and thanks to Craig's heroic effort, which gave him the courage (is dutch courage the same as beer courage?) to go next door and rouse the neighbours - Anthony who was looking after the place and Nico - who yes, it transpired, were a couple and were really amazing and friendly to talk to. There was a mixture of french and english and we got there in the end. It appears that rents are horrifically expensive in France such that Nico was spending half his salary on rent. Maybe that explains why the French aren't all fat - we either didn't see them or they can't afford to eat all the cakes and pastries on offer!

I'm currently reading a reallzy interesting book - 60 million frenchmen can't be wrong - and it explains why there seems to be a 'culture shock' between the french and the americans (although I suspect it applies across the board). One of the tricks - and I guess it's what travel is all about - is exploring and experiencing different cultures and the way things are done. Often, it's really easy in France to get 'bad' service when, perhaps, it's more a different expectation of service or other such similar things. Having said that, I found the French to be really friendly and helpful - illustrated by Anthony and Nico who bought pizzas for us all on Friday night when it was us who invited them over. An example of different cultures - we ate each pizza (there were 4) one at a time; so that we could taste and experience each pizza - rather than the kiwi waz of dumping all the pizzas on the table and going for it!!

On Friday we went to Vaison La Romaine - beautiful, old, roman stuff, huge ice cream sundays and, unfortunately, the kitchen was closed so we couldn't have horse hamburgers for lunch.

After there it was into Carpentras for a look (beautiful, old, more drinks at an outside café) - I would recommend staying in the Valcluse part of Provence - it's just beautiful and old world!

That night as the last night in Provence - so just once I had a late night swim (in a lit pool watching fighter jets fly over) before pizza, packing and bed!

Saturday morning I dropped Peter off at the bus stop - having gotten lost again. Driving on the right is quite stressy (for me at least) and the road signs in France are not that helpful - maybe as you get used to them.... I would also suggest to anyone who was connections to the French roading department to tell them about cats eyes - there are none and the headlights all seem to be dipped which makes driving on a dark night all rather 'in the dark'.

After dropping Peter off, finding my way back to the house and finishing up it was off to Aix Gare TGV to wait for our train to Dijon. The TGVs are truly fantastic technology and Aix Gare TGV is an amazing building!!

Next was Dijon - I could wax lyrically about that city for ages - thanks to Craig for suggesting it. It's late here though - just turned midnight (well it was when I started typing this)and I need to get some sleep (and it looks like Paris the cat is going to keep me company).

So, Dijon - more amazing food (yep, I ate beef bourgignon in the city where it came from), patted the good luck owl, stayed in the centre of town, did the monuments by night tour (starting at 10pm - the tourist office in Dijon is well set up for visitors), a fantastic segway tour - I want a segway and I want one now; they are so much fun and just excellent, 5 minutes to get used to it and then you're away!! The Musee de beaux arts was just great, the getting soaked on Saturday night not so great. The shopping was amazing, the trip up the tour gave a fantastic view, the eidlweiss cake thing was to die for, the moroccan meal on the last night sublime (pastilla, tagine and pastries). There were lots of other things in Dijon like getting soaked when it poured on us (you try drying jeans in a hotel room), or sitting under umbrellas eating lunch in the rain, watching thunder storms, practicing my bad french, hanging out in beautiful parks - generally just having a truly fantastic time.

But, as with all good things, it was over too soon and on Monday morning it was my last french breakfast, check out of the hotel and then onto the TGV from Dijon to Lausanne, Switzerland.

I loved it in France, and could quite happily have stayed - and live there. But onwards and upwards as they say.

At some stage I'll have to be a bit more awake and have a bit more time and a proper keyboard and give you some thoughts, some philosophy on life, some insights maybe...

But, the last TGV trip - Dijon to Lausanne. There is no border control or even border that tells you you've passed into Switzerland - but the architecture changes and you start seeing Swiss flags everywhere. What a beautiful country though. As I was coming in, on the train, with some silly young girl who wanted to pull the blind down and not watch this amazing vista unfold in front of us....

And so started my time in Swizterland...

See my next post for that - but suffice to say I have been completely, utterly and totally blown away by this country, the people and especially Craig and Marcel... If there is ever such a thing as a medal for the host-with-the-most, these guys are at the top of the list.

Yah!!

The Quickest of Quick...

2007-07-05T23:42:00.000+01:00

This is the quickest of quick, it's nearly quarter to 1 in the morning, a drunk Craig went and dragged the two guys from next door over (they're kind've the caretakers) and, of course, they're partners and so voila as they say! We spoke for hours but they went home.

It's great here - but the Mistral has come, a Provencal wind, which has cooled things down.

We've done lots - like gone to Avignon, seen the Papal Palace, gone on the Pont d'Avignon (also known as the Pont Benzoit (or some saint like that), off to the Pont de Gard, then on to Uzes for dinner (which was great - but the drive home afterwards was appalling - the headlights were really dim, we got lost, and there are no cats eyes on the road here - we made it though). Then yesterday (as in the Wednesday, as technically yesterday was Thursday) we went to Arles, had a look around, lunch (which took 2 hours - lunch is big business here!!), the ancient theatre, the arena, Haagen Daaz, a photo exhibition (which was quite challenging!)and then we watched the running with the bulls - which was amazing; all the (we think) trainee matadors got into the ring (?) with the bull (there were 4 bulls - although each bull came out individually - a break and then another 4 bulls) and had to catch this pompom things tied between it's horns - crazy! The bulls, too, really do "scratch" with their hooves and then charge! It was fab.

Then home and into Aix for dinner - a wonderful restaurant, a little cool outside thanks to the Mistral and the service to start was great. Then it just got worse and by the end we'd asked for the bill, it didn't come, I went inside, the waitress handed it to me, then took it back, then disappeared with it. So I went and sat down again, then went to find her, then she said she'd bring it out, she bought it out and we eventually paid. Who knows what was going on - although (for France) it was really cheap and the food was fab!

Today was a slow start - mooching around can be nice - and then off just down the road where we foujnd a road side restaurant and had a wonderful lunch. It was very cool - and the little guy setting up the table etc for his grandmother (the chef) was really pleased to be practicing his english! Then a stop in St. Cannat (including for a to-die-for cake - une religuse (or something like that). Then home, off to buy some milk (slowly getting the hang of this driving thing) and then just hanging around.

Such is life...

France is stunning though and I love - gotta go though - we're not sure how much this is costing!

Bye.....

The Adventure continues...

2007-07-02T23:58:00.002+01:00

It's now really late - like 1am in the morning. I've been busily beavering away trying to get my blog up-to-date. Which I've mostly done, although it's probably as boring as hell, not full of wonderful insights or things like that but there you go....

So, I think, quickly, as I'm sleepy, off to Avignon tomorrow, or is it Arles - so much choice, I'll quickly cover off post-Paris.

Food. Let's start there. I have eaten so much, the food here is unbelievably stunning, there is so much of it. Yes. There we go I guess. :)

After Paris, it was off to Poitiers and Futuroscope. We had to catch a bus and after a bloody huge amount of walking, I had the tickets, we were at the hotel and we discovered that the bus stopped outside the hotel. Yes, the word fuck appeared a few times. So a lie down and then Futuroscope. What a cool place, the architecture if so funking, it's an audio-visual feast, they have little mushrooms everywhere playing music, we saw lots, did heaps of the shows, had a buffet dinner (where I made the women serving the food laugh - it was this weird kind've island theme thing with the addition of African and local options - fab but weird...), the 20th celebration show at the end of the night (10.45pm people - it gets dark late here!) was just stunning, lasers, films (they've worked out how to make water mist and then use that as a screen to project on to - it's so totally totally cool), sound, lights, fountains, fire, fireworks - it was seriously worth being there just for that. Really really cool!

Oh, and on the TGV - it took us 1.5 hours to go 400kms - pretty cool really! And first class all the way (which really only means bigger seats!).

Then the next day it was TGV from the Futuroscope station (it's a day trip now from Paris to the park!), to Marseille - train travel here is really a joy, out to the airport, picked up Craig and Louise (who have been feeling sick - not good), picked up the car - lets just say that driving on the right hand side of the road is all very weird, and rather stressful (it's been a little stressy here, getting used to driving and a few hassles with the house - but all sorted now!). I've managed to drive on the right hand side though and not kill myself, the other passengers or the other road users! The car is a Ford and it's great to drive (even if I keep looking the wrong way for the mirror and the gear stick being on the right is a bit odd!).

Found the house (fab navigating by Craig) and got settled in - with a few hassles, the guy next door doesn't speak english - I think my french has improved out of sight since I got here! Duh! - and the house is beautiful. It's sunny, it's warm, it's a gorgeous pool. A bit isolated but a lovely lovely house - it's on the road to Avignon from Aix-en-Provence if you're interested!). Found the hypermarche (Carrefour) - it's so huge, it's just crazy - a shoppers paradise!

Sunday was picking up Peter from the Aix TGV station (which is closer to Marseille airport than it is to Aix - go figure), back to the house, a swim, into Aix for a look around, Louise was sick so stayed behind, barbeeque that night (an electric one - no fires outside here, and we had to get the guy from next door to ring the owner of the house to find out where the switch was for the outside powerpoint for the barbee - it was in a bedroom - lol!) - but just a beautiful, sunny day!

Monday (today) Peter had a cold so the rest of us went into Aix for a look around. Nicola and I caught the little tourist train - fab fab, Louise and Craig sat in a cafe. We then wandered around, looked, shopped (without buying; it's possible to spend a fortune on food let alone clothes - which I can't carry but trust me, the clothes here are just fantastic - it's really style, fashion and looking good! Lunch, more looking around, walking, looking, buying little cakes, finding a church that we wanted to see that - duh - had just had a funeral so we wandered off until the hearse had gone; found Chez Gu (Gu et Fils) a restaurant from a Year In Provence - I've eaten there before but it is now, no more - it's some italian place... Oh well, things change... :)

Then it was off to the Carrefour hypermarche for a good shop - this thing is unbelievably huge! There is so much choice - of food, of groceries, of clothes, furniture, electrical, whitewear, household items etc etc etc. Imagine a supermarket, a briscoes, a warehouse (although the stuff is much better), a farmers, a noel leemings or a harvey normans, a bakery, a butchery (where you get to chose what meat and how much you want), a fromagerie (I think that's how it's spelt - as well as the cheese section in the fridge, there's the cheese part (it's bigger than just a counter) where you get to choose what cheese you want and they cut it to size - all this and more rolled into one - welcome to the French hypermarche - wow wow wow.... Hock - they didn't have any silk ties!!

And back to the house for snacky dinner, snoozing and reading... Ah, such is the life...

:)

I must admit though, I'm loving France - this country is just fantastic! :) Richard - marry me and give me your French passport!

Post 40....

2007-07-02T23:58:00.001+01:00

POST 40….

I should also say – yah all of you who sent me txts! Fantastic and just yummy! And yah all of you who sent emails – fantastic and just yummy! I’m so sorry if I haven’t replied to each individually – duh!! I’ll owe so many people big time! It was so cool thought to receive all of them on my birthday (or the emails later) – yah!

On the 28th of June, as a 40 year old – lol – I went wandering by myself around Bastille. I found markets (the street food markets here are just fantastic – how anyone in this country stays thin I have no idea!), shops, more markets (the second set included an indoor food hall where I had fun buying cheese, a goats cheese and a blue cheese – both cru – unpasteurised milk), a wonderful boulangarie where the shop assistant slipped me an extra loaf of bread as it was my birthday – the little things like that are just sparkles really, a shop where I bought some paté (which in French means pasta I think - pate is terrine here!) and found a park and had myself a little picnic. Spot on! Then back to the hotel, bye byes to Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and saw them off on the metro (to the train back to London to the rain – although Paris had been pretty grotty!), dinner with Peter and Ivo – huge pizzas, like massive, then to the restaurant below the hotel for crème brulee with a very good looking waiter (who, no, I did not get to know better!) and then bed!

And so ended my time in Paris! I started as a baby-pup (if that’s what one can call a 39 year old) and left a not-so-baby-baby-pup. Paris is truly an amazing city, it would be wonderful to spend longer and longer there. Maybe one day….

Paris and turning 40 - need I say more....

2007-07-02T23:57:00.000+01:00

PARIS

So, we’ve arrived. In the city of love, of dogs, of smoking everywhere, of expense, of another language, of beauty, culture, beautiful women, cars, people, food, chocolate, architecture, basically just pure amazingness! After my visa bounced (don’t go there – it’s turned out all cool and apparently the SCNF office, maybe at just Gare de Nord, has a low merchant limit so as to reduce fraud, so I had to use two different credit cards to get all our passes etc), stood in a queue to book some TGV trips only for the computers to crash and to be told to return later (a tip, allow heaps of time to book train travel – the queues can be huge, including at SCNF offices as I discovered later!), we were on our way to the hotel – metro style. Hotel de Nice – I liked it, the shower in Nic’s room was broken, Peter didn’t think much of his but to me it’s a hotel with charm, a wonderful location and, for Paris – not too expensive; watch the phones though – I managed to spend $150 NZ on calls whilst I was there!! Duh!

But, importantly, we arrived, we were checked in, my bad French was proving funny and after a little rest we wandered off for a look, to find the tourist office and ended up at the Arc de Triomphe (the tourist office on Champs Elysee is no longer there), we climbed up (Nic with her knee did too, not discovering there was a lift until it was time to come down), the view from the top was stunning, if a little wet – the Arc is huge and the roundabout mayhem that works - if that makes sense! Down the Champs Elysee we wandered when it really started to rain, we were all tired and ready for food – so back to the hotel and walking into the Marais did we go – and to The Gai Moulin (or something) did we go – which transpires means that the owner (Moulin or whatever his name was – I can’t remember know – duh, old age!) was Gai and this was his restaurant. He spoke really good English, the price was quick good for Paris and the women I were with were the only straight people there I think – he he! All good though and that’s where I learned that service is, by law, included in bills so you don’t have to tip! If you ask, the waiter will say it’s not included to get the tip – but the owner was super excellent and pointed out the reality to us (not that his waiter tried to rip us!). The other thing to remember about French waiters is that they are polite, but efficient and not chatty friendly like kiwi waiters.  To bed it was then. I think, at that stage, it hadn’t really sunk in that I was in Paris, on holiday and about to turn 40…. Here too is as good a place as any to mention, too, how when paying by visa in Paris, they bring the machine to your table – so you can see them swipe the card, no going up to the check out and they get you to sign – but there is no gap to leave a tip – not like in kiwi restaurants (which bugs me!). The other tip to watch for here with Visa, make sure you have your passport with you as they often ask for it as proof of identity; although Craig did manage to use his drivers licence today as id).

The next day, we got up and the others buggered off to Eurodisney. Me, I slowly came too, and got Peter and Ivo up – they having arrived at some ungodly hour the night before from Prague, arrived late due to the plane leaving late due to bad weather and then deciding, upon arrival, that the only sensible thing to do was to go out to a bar – go figure! Lol!! I’m trying to remember back to what we did – it was the 26th of June which, although not long ago, seems ages ago as so much has happened really since then. I might remember more later and come back to it – but the long and short is that we hung out, caught up, had coffee, had hagan daaz, bought some stuff for Aaron, we went to the Monet Museum (Marmont or something) and it was brilliant, quiet, not too many tourists as it’s a bit out of the way – but in a beautiful old building and most the collection was donated by Monet’s son – it was just brilliant! Peter and Ivo left, I carried on looking around the museum, I wandered off, caught a bus through Paris to have a look and found shops, shops and shops (the sales started the next day – my birthday!), a church and more shops – it’s so possible to shop, shop and shop some more in Paris! We went to dinner at the same place as the night before (the women were at Disneyland – I’ll say it once, having said it before – but why go to American Disneyland when you’re in Paris????), that was great, we got invited downstairs where there was cabaret style singing going on (although Ivo didn’t like it – not sure why), we wandered off to the Banana Bar – which was ok, full of smoke (you end up stinking over here when you’ve been out), drunk young French things who were happy to practice their English on us and throw up behind the couch (17 year olds can’t hold their liquour….), Peter almost getting ripped off – the bartender shortchanged him 10euro and when Peter pointed this out, he just handed over the 10euro with no apologies nothing. I guess, though, at least Peter got served – Ivo couldn’t get served!! But, then, OMG, it was midnight in Paris and I was 40. Just like that. Wow….

I went back to the hotel as a 40 year old, it was officially my birthday (at least in the place where I was, if not where I live or where I was born) and went to sleep… The next morning I got up, rang my mum, found the women, Peter and Ivo were asleep, went to Notre Dame, stood with the crowds and crowds of people but enjoyed the magnificence of the church – we were commenting how we had no idea how the thing was built given that it was hundreds of years ago, well before cranes and electricity for lighting etc – just amazing. Peter pointed out later that it’s buttressed and apparently Notre Dame was the first church where they used buttresses to hold the building in – effectively is that without the buttresses, the walls start to fall outwards and the roof collapses – this is what apparently happened to Notre Dame and, as a result, they developed the buttresses concept to hold the walls up. Cool eh? And the do look amazing! After Notre Dame, the women (Nicola, Tia, Lizzie and Amanda – I’m not including myself in there, or Peter, or Ivo – although he is known as the Grand Duchess) went to to Saint Chappelle and I wandered off to the Left Bank to find the restaurant for that night – glad that I did as it was tucked away in a little street but it looked absolutely gorgeous! I then wandered off to Saint Chappelle, spoke with some Americans as I couldn’t go in because it was closed for lunch or groups or something (although the women were already in there), caught up with Peter and then eventually we all wandered off to the Musee D’Orsay (except Peter who wandered off to find Ivo). We got there, went in and wow it’s just stunning! We somehow lost Nicola in the entrance so Me et the others went to the café under the clock and had lunch. We then started look at art – so much art, art for Africa, Asia and Europe combined – and this was only one museum. It was stunning though, found Nicola, found Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Whislter’s Mother (the original!), Van Gogh and too many others to remember! This doesn’t include the statutes, the furniture, the doors, the carvings and on and on – it was just stunning! There was a special exhibition of the artists who used the art dealer (Volland or something; if I remember all these names, I’ll fix up the blog, or actually get on the net and find them out, I’ll fix up the blog; I’m currently typing this offline) – Monet, Cezanne, Picasso etc – it was totally packed and so much art. With all of that though, the Musee was stunning and I was there on my birthday!

It was then back to the hotel, for Amanda, Tia and I (Nic and Lizzie caught the metro/RER) it was a walk via the Louvre – where Amanda and Tia went in – and I walked back along Rue de Rivoli just soaking up the atmosphere of Paris as a 40 year old! A snooze, a shower and then it was off to dinner. Some of us walked and some took a cab. Peter and I arrived (we’d walked) at Le Petit Prince – recommended by William in Wellington and I owe him; it was a great recommendation! It was also a restaurant I booked by writing a letter to them (they don’t have a website) – but it all worked perfectly! It was beautiful inside, the table set up wonderfully, the atmosphere great, the matron fab, out waiter fabber, the other waiter cuter, the cocktails to start (they didn’t put enough sugar in the majito!), the champagne to follow, the food peppered inbetween – stunning! I had goats cheese quinelles, fish for a main and for the dessert it was the made as we ate apple tart with a scoop of ice-cream which they put a candle in and again I turned red but blew it out making a wish (and for those of you who are wondering whether I got laid or not, you’ll have to ask….) It was a fantastic meal, we were treated well, the restaurant and the food great (if you’re interested, for 6 people it cost over $600NZ – and by Parisian standards it wasn’t expensive; although I guess champagne in any restaurant isn’t cheap… he he he….) and just a wonderfully wonderful birthday dinner. Afterward, the women and I (Peter going home…. ) zapped to the Eiffel Tower (having got stuck in the RER, me having to change my ticket as it was poked, getting told by a very helpful guy how to use the metro to get there as there were no more RER trains) – it was great. We just caught it as the lights were dancing up and down and then we just wandered around it – it was closed for the night but it is a truly amazing and beautiful thing – and really really big – like size queens go! Then lots of waiting for a cab – but who cares, so ended my birthday – and it was great!!

Why weren’t the rest of you here for it?? Huh? Huh???

More on London - and maybe more repetition...

2007-07-02T23:56:00.000+01:00

What else did I do in London – went shopping at Asda and bought some jeans, underwear and socks – ok, so I travelled with virtually nothing and decided that trying to do laundry – particularly when the weather was turning crap (you’ll have heard about all the floods – I luckily missed them but it was the start of the raining whilst I was there!). Yes, I sold out and bought the jeans when they were nuttily cheap (I think I paid $20 NZ for them – or to be more accurate, my sister paid and I have to pay her back!) and made in a sweatshop in China! I also caught up with my magical friend Marcus – yah! He took me for a beer, a hagen daaz and a goss/catch up (yes, you’ll have to have been there for that one – and, oh, shall we say that it was probably a juicy one – I tell Marcus stuff that I don’t even tell my priest – and I don’t have one of those!!)

Then there was the next birthday party – I’m telling you, it’s been completely overboard this 40 thing – and when I type that I go – fuck, have I really spent 4 decades alive! So, the next party – before the real birthday. We wandered in (my sisters, my brother in law, my nephews, met a couple of friends of Sarah and Matt) to the Thames, walked along and came to Ask. We were early (ie they stuffed up the booking) but had us seated (a lovely Polish waiter – the UK had an estimated influx of 500,000 Poles when Poland joined the EU – they thought they’d be a few thousand! Apparently though it’s done great things for the economy although you can sense the growing resentment. At it’s simpliest and as a generalisation, Polish immigrants are willing to work for the minimum wage (thus depressing wages) and are prepared to live in not so great accommodation (ie more like the stereotypical kiwi/aussie 15 people to a flat thing); this is helping to keep inflation down but “locals” are now having to compete with these highly skilled workers and the attendant disharmony from that. It does depend a little who you talk to.). Where was I? Oh, yes, we were seated, looking out over the Thames, had some wine, lots of chatting, Tia, Lizzie, Amanda (they were going to be coming to Paris) and Richard (he was going to a conference) turned up having just arrived that morning from NZ – jetlag is a funny thing!), I got given a flashing “It’s my birthday badge”, Daniel and Andrew were stars, there was massive amounts of food, a birthday balloon (prominently showing that I was turning 40 – ta Sarah and Matt!!) and then, lo and behold, no dessert. Any ideas why? Of course, my sister and brother-in-law had arranged for a cake, with candles, with singing, on the main tourist drag along the Thames at about 2pm on a Saturday afternoon – funny ha ha, I’m not sure that red is my colour!! But it was great! And super-big ta’s to my mum (who probably isn’t reading this as she doesn’t have the internet) for the wonderful gift towards lunch!! 

And, really, so endth my time in London (although I’m going back! Yah!). Obviously there was lots of other little bits and pieces, thoughts and ideas – when I get back – ask me for coffee and I’m sure I can bore you to tears (and show you hundreds of photos; although my camera is making slightly weird whirring noises; go figure). Just mentioning quickly that we went to Greenwich (which is lovely), had brunch, looked at the markets, caught up with Craig and Louise (who are asleep in their bedroom whilst I type this in Provence – he he!), walked through Greenwich Park, hung out with my nephews, had a beer (actually, I think I had a coffee!) with Matt, feed the squirrels – you know lots of stuff; nothing touristy but just really cool hanging around, being lazy and spending time with the world as it tripped on by.

I packed on Sunday night (having had curry at Sarah and Matt’s and goo-goo’d at Andrew and said bye bye to Daniel). On the subject of curries – I do not understand why my british friends reckon you can’t get a good curry in NZ – the ones over here aren’t any better; they seem the same to me – only more expensive. Oh well…..

Monday morning, it was up, showered, finished packing, bus, to train station, lots of txts about how Nicola had misplaced her mastercard, on to the train, Nicola happened to be on the same train, to Waterloo (poor Nic’s knee was really sore – but to give her absolute credit, she’s not complained at all whilst we’ve been away), found Tia, Lizzie and Amanda and then, voila, on to Eurostar. It’s a very very cool train…. Next stop, Paris…..

The day in Portsmouth.....

2007-07-02T23:55:00.000+01:00

THE DAY IN PORTSMOUTH

I finally got hold of Sharon, Liz’s sister, who lives in Portsmouth and she most wonderfully bent over backwards, really wanted me to come down to see her or for her to come up to London to see me and, as I’d planned a day out of London (I was going to pretend to be learned and go to Cambridge or Oxford) I thought – Portsmouth, why not. It turned out to be one of those things where, in hindsight, you realise you totally made the right decision. Up, to railway station, train to Waterloo, ticket office, chat chat with a Russian women, pushed through thousands of people (I seriously mean we have no idea in little ol’ Wellington about people, congestion and peak hour!) and then the train. It’s a 24pound return trip (23 I think one way – go figure) and the trains basically go every half hour – it’s a commuter thing really. So, on the train, clacky-te-clack and watching the English countryside (with some rain) go by. The very nice man with his cart came by and took some money off me (money – please, it’s like water over here, it just flows, flows, flows, through your fingers) and gave me coffee and a snack. The coffee was interesting as it consisted of a paper cup full of hot water – but no coffee. Hmmmm goes Cookie. Hmmm back goes the cup of hot water. Hmmm goes Cookie, that’s a cute boy (ok, that’s really just to see how’s actually reading this). Uhuh, this funny silver tag, if Cookie pulls it, then up from the bottom of the cup will bubble the liquid coffee which will make a cuppa coffee. All very good really.  So, into Portsmouth I arrived and it was raining, had a chat with a very nice police woman, found the Information Centre, got hold of Sharon who said she’d be in shortly, started looking around the old docks, the sun started shining, had a look through a museum and Sharon arrived. We went for a walk to the new shopping centre (oh, the shopping….), stopped for a coffee, lots of gossip (yes, just like Deborah, I think you had to be there), reconfirmed that it’s not possible to get a flatwhite in England and the people serving, whilst polite, aren’t particularly friendly and then we found the French market. By this stage the sun had come out, it had turned into a beautiful day and I discovered that French stall holders came over to Portsmouth; it was just wonderful. Wandering along, have a look. Then it was up the Spinnaker. You’ll have to ask to see the photos – and yes, Liz, your sister did stand on the glass. It’s this amazing tower that was supposed to be open for the millennium but it was a little late – ie it only opened about 18 months ago, it’s shaped like a spinnaker and it’s rather just stunning. The exterior lift unfortunately doesn’t work – apparently it never has – so up the internal one we went. The views from the 3 viewing decks are just amazing – and it was helped so much by being a stunningly sunny day. We stood on glass looking straightdown (no shoes please!), looked over the naval base, the Isle Of Wight, saw a channel ferry come in, got shown all the sites around and about. Just beautiful. Like I said (or is that wrote), there are three levels with the third one being open air – it’s so worth it and something that the people of Portsmouth can be really proud of. After the spinnaker, Sharon and I headed back to the docks so that we could do a boat trip around the harbour. I’ll just note that there were some people who had a kid in a wheelchair and they weren’t allowed to take her on the boat – not good people. The boat trip itself was really cool, it had started to cool off a bit but we sat outside and wandered past an aircraft carrier – it didn’t seem as big as I thought they would be but the people on it waved back (he he – guess who waved first!!) and one of them was in camouflage and touting a automatic rifle looking thing – yep, it was a working ship of war…. We carried on around the harbour and saw lots of frigates/things/whatever they were – all grey so I could imagine that at sea they just completely merge into the sea. More armed guards (soldiers? seamen?). We saw the ferry which we’d seen come in earlier – it looked bigger than the aircraft carrier! Then there was the ships ghostyard where naval ships go before it’s decided what to do with them – sold/scrapped or whatever. Past the old submarine base (it’s no longer based there) and to the entrance of the harbour – where some nutty yachtees who didn’t know what they were doing but were trying to tango with out bigger boat were being rather “OMG, are we going to crash” (which is kind’ve what our captain was saying!). We docked and got off in the shopping precent (rather than where we started) and Sharon most stunningly wonderfully took me to lunch at Café Rouge, which is a lovely French restaurant. I thought that it was an independent – but it transpires that they are everywhere. Apparently, most restaurants you see around the UK, particularly in the tourist areas are chains – rather than independents. Notwithstanding that, Sharon and I had a wonderful wonderful lunch and it was a great way to top off an excellent day. It seems that my fortieth was being celebrated over a rather long period! After that, it was on the train back to London. Yah!

In terms of Portsmouth, what a gem it turned out to be – go everyone go!! I had a magical time, perhaps especially because I had a local guide who so kindly, wonderfully and yummily showed me around and pointed out all the little bits and pieces!

OMG - Repetition maybe on London....

2007-07-02T23:54:00.000+01:00

So, finally I sit down to type up what I’ve been doing so that you can read it, be bored to tears and wonder why you ever logged on to my blog at all…. Don’t really blame you if you wander off to other things – although I will find out, I will track you down or is that I’ll just hang out in Provence a bit more and enjoy myself…..

Turning back to London (and I’m offline now typing this so I can’t quite remember what I’ve already typed – eek!), having gotten off the plane, had a facial, relaxed a little and met my new little nephew, it was off into London with my sister. Although, we didn’t get that far as I had left my cellphone in the carpark – which by turn of events was still there. The funniest part (apart from accidentally phoning my sister in London from Hong Kong airport; tip – always always always make sure your phone is on keylock..) was that we were on the motorway when I realised I’d left my phone so my sister took the next off-ramp which was still Heathrow airport – that place is rather huge!

We then drove to Blackheath where my sister lives – on the ring road – and stopped for MacDonalds – their banana milkshakes the bestest hangover cure and I figured that they might make me feel a bit better – although they’re really thick in England; hopefully no mad-cow-beef-based-non-diary stuff in it.

London then followed which was mainly hanging out with my nephews and sisters, walking to Blackheath one day (which was lovely and passed the most beautiful old folks home on the way). Blackheath itself it just a lot of grass. It’s pretty cool, and pretty big – but a lot of grass none-the-less!

Another night (which was before Blackheath but it’s very late, my timing is all mixed up, I’m trying to get as much typed as possible to bore you to tears and this laptop keeps doing weird things) I went into London Bridge – which apparently the Americans bought when they thought they were buying the Disneyland Tower Bridge - and caught up with Deborah Holyoake – whom I’m used to work with at MSD. Some of you may remember her but it was so cool to see her, and it was hard to think that it was over 3 years since I’d last seen her. We, of course, did the only sensible thing which was to have a major goss-catch up session over dinner. What we spoke about, looking out over the Thames, well, maybe that’s just private goss….

I should probably mention here that I was staying with Lee, nearly Lee (in Lewisham actually I think) which isn’t that far by walking, bus (which if I didn’t get off not knowing that it looped back I wouldn’t have walked so far, but it was nice) or train from my sister’s place (although you wouldn’t take the train, a bus is much easier – and you can use an oyster card but not on the trains – oyster being the “one card fits all public transport” card which is being rolled out across all public transport but hasn’t made all the trains yet). Lee’s place is great, the bathroom is fab and it’s just around the corner from a lovely little park which the local library is a wonderful old building!

It's been a while...

2007-07-01T22:27:00.000+01:00

OMG, it's been a while since I've managed to get to an internet café - why; well, maybe because I've been eating so much!

I'm now sitting in Provence, it's raining (still) but warm, we're ensconced in the most gorgeous house and, after a few initial hiccups, it's all looking good.

Driving in absolutely crazy - this driving on the left thing leaves a lot to be desired but I'm still alive, haven't crashed and the others are still here too!

Just quickly here:

Yah to everyone for the presents - you know who you are - ta heaps!! :)

Yah to everyone who has been sending me emails - I've not replied to them all and my biggest "I'm sorry" for that - the french keyboards are different, I've not been near an internet café and, umm, err, I'll owe you coffee!! Or hot chocolate!

It's also 11.40pm here, I want to get some sleep because tomorrow it's either Avignon or Arles - we'll decide in the morning depending on the weather!

I'll add posts shortly with what I've been up to - and I'm not sure about photos as I'm not sure when/how to get them from the memory card thing to the net - oh, well, there we go!

:)

Hope you're all just stunning. Yah!

Me - I'm just 40.....

Time To Go...

2007-06-24T20:45:00.000+01:00

Well, it's now time to say goodbye to London (or at least to pack so I can say goodbye to London) until I return. Tomorrow it's off on Eurostar to Paris (and the impending 40th....).

London has been wonderful and I'll fill in details soon - but I've been pissing about and have finally uploaded some photos to flickr - check them out.

Very quickly though London has been whanau, really enjoying my nephews, trains, eating, Blackheath, Thames, catching up with Deborah (whom I've not seen for over 3 years), Marcus (with whom, of course, I hung out in Soho and then ate Hagen Daaz ice-cream; belgium chocolate to be precise!), caught up with Louise and Craig today, hung out in Greenwich, booked train tickets and somewhere in there was a 40th birthday lunch on the banks of the Thames!!

Also, on Friday I cruised down to Portsmouth and caught up with Sharon. Portsmouth is great, a beautiful day, up the spinaker, on the water checking out aircraft carriers and destroyers (with their arm toting soldiers!), food and just meandering about.

Well, better go pack. :) See you all from Paris! Wahoo!

This time it's Heathrow....

2007-06-20T10:07:00.000+01:00

OMG - I'm here - although I can tell you that 7 hours ago I was ready to jump off the plane!

I'm still at Heathrow airport and my sister is downstairs with my nephew Andrew feeding him (ok, so I don't particularly want to watch my sister, nephew, breast... enough said!!) so I can't be long.

I'm actually sitting in the BA arrival lounge (business class has some perks) having had a shower, a cooked breakfast and the most wonderful facial in the spa. Magic.

The flight over was long - 40 hours from arriving at Wellington Airport to arriving at Heathrow. There was an hour delay (sitting on a plane not able to move is really boring) at Hong Kong (because "hot humid weather" cause a minor fault - who cares, fix it before we take off for 12 hours!).

What can I say about the trip over - firstly, I still can't quite believe that I'm actually in London. Business class is really nice - at least the leg room; although I still didn't sleep alot - planes are really noisy. I was the only one in business class from Wellington to Sydney - so that was nice; treated very well including being given a bottle of champagne for my 40th - can't complain really except that I had to give it to Paul in Sydney (who I caught up with) as you can't take more than 100mls through security - I kid you not, they took my hair gel off me as it was 150mls (I forgot!).

Had a great time in Syndey seeing Paul and Carl and Megal (banana bread is really nice), then on the plane to Hong Kong. Qantas rocks - it was really nice and even managed to sleep a bit. Video on Demand is really good too - you just watch what you want when you want!

Arriving in Hong Kong was amazing - there were so many boats on the water; it makes you realise how big the rest of the world is. And how big Hong Kong airport is - it's huge! Shower and blog - the free internet at Hong Kong was all in chinese characters - so I was taking a punt but I see it posted the blog - lol! Then the next plane; including all being seated and then waiting an hour before take off. What a view though when we left - we flew out over downtown Hong Kong and it was magnificient. I had a nice seat on BA, sitting backwards but it was private (ie my own little space) if that makes sense. Tip - do not have a glass of champagne on takeoff at Hong Kong - it makes you feel sick after so long in planes. But more food, no video on demand but still watched Breach (Ryan Phillipe...) and tried to sleep a bit but couldn't really. I felt nauseous on this leg and it only got worse (I mean, hello, I didn't even have breakfast on the plane) and about 4 hours out from London I was so ready to get off - but what are you to do.

The bags arrived, including Louise and Craig's, a thousands txts arrived (yes, having accidentally phoned my sister from Hong Kong and not realising it as I was getting my boarding pass - that's gotta hurt the wallet!) and enjoyed the spa here, with breakfast so am now feeling more alive and about to wander off to see the UK (the accents are so sweet!).

Hope whoever you are who is reading this is fabulous - and remember... 7 days and counting! Eeek!

So the adventure continues.....

2007-06-19T16:54:00.000+01:00

This is the quickest of quickest posts - but I couldn't resist.

I'm sitting in the lounge at Hong Kong Airport and about to board my plane!

Will fill in all the details soon!

OMG - I'm really here! Wow!

A link to the past....

2007-06-09T22:50:00.000+01:00

Well,

This is really just an excuse to try posting a picture up here - to see if I can make it work.

But, well, it'll be a picture from a previous holiday!

What you can't see are the flies - the 12 apostles were amazing, the drive down from Melbourne great and the flies were plentiful.

The First....

2007-06-05T12:10:00.000+01:00

This is my first posting; who knows if it will actually work but someone said to use this rather than sending group emails.

So I am.

It's only 10 days before my 7 weeks off - OMG, I can't believe how close it is - nor how much I have to do between now and then.

I guess, at the end of the day, I only need my credit card and passport! And maybe a clean pair of undies...

Let the adventure begin!

Cheers.

Cookie.