tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22200704524172751542024-03-13T11:27:59.756+11:00Matt and Dave's World TripMatt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-43977783582577886322008-03-10T15:35:00.003+11:002008-03-10T16:12:26.925+11:00Sydney UpdateThe reason there has been no bloggage for a while is because every day has been the same.<br /><br />To keep you up to date with what our lives are like at the moment, simply apply this to every weekday:<br /><br /><strong>7am -</strong> Wake Up (8.15 for Matt).<br /><strong>7.20am -</strong> Leave the flat (9am for Matt).<br /><strong>7.57am -</strong> Go past incredibly fit girl waiting at same bus stop every day (never for Matt... Ha ha!)<br /><strong>8.10am -</strong> Walk from bus stop to work (10.00am for Matt).<br /><strong>8.30am -</strong> Start work (10.15 for Matt).<br /><strong>11.15am -</strong> Have a break (ain't got a clue for Matt, don't care either).<br /><strong>12.30pm -</strong> Lunch (usually packed lunch, but Subway if it's payday).<br /><strong>3.15pm -</strong> Break.<br /><strong>5.30pm -</strong> Finish work, attempt to go to bus stop, but usually go via pub.<br /><strong>6.15pm -</strong> Matt finishes work and comes to pub, often in time to buy a round. Perfect.<br /><strong>7.30pm -</strong> Start watching TV. Programmes vary* (see below).<br /><strong>8.30pm -</strong> Make food** (see below).<br /><strong>9.30pm -</strong> Iron shirt for tomorrow / cut hair (as required).<br /><strong>9.45pm -</strong> Make sandwiches (unless payday - see above).<br /><strong>11.15pm -</strong> Watch David Letterman's late show. Hate it and slag it off.<br /><strong>11.30pm -</strong> Dave goes to bed.<br /><strong>Later -</strong> Matt goes to bed. Dave asleep so unaware of what time this occurs.<br /><br /><strong>* Programmes vary but include the following:<br /></strong><br />A Year With The Queen (she's famous over here too)<br />Bondi Rescue (idiot tourists, often English, almost drowning)<br />Dirty Sexy Money (involves scandal and fit girls in underwear)<br />Boston Legal (life after Star Trek for William Shatner)<br />CSI: Miami (main character is ginger - legend)<br />The Biggest Loser (Australian fatties trying to lose weight)<br /><br /><strong>** Meals vary but include the following</strong>:<br /><br />Pasta, baked beans, tuna & salad cream.<br />Beef and cheese pies, chips and gravy.<br />Beef and cheese pies, chips and beans.<br />Chicken and vegetable pies, chips and gravy.<br />Chicken and vegetable pies, chips and beans.<br />Sausage, chips and beans.<br />Noodles (various flavours).<br />Noodle sandwiches (white bread, noodles may vary).<br /><br />As for the weekends, they go something like this:<br /><br /><strong>Friday evening -</strong> Go to pub for 'a' drink. End up drinking more than one.<br /><strong>Saturday morning -</strong> Go to Coogee / Bondi beach.<br /><strong>Saturday evening -</strong> Go for 'a couple' of drinks. End up drinking 'a few' rather than 'a couple'.<br /><strong>Sunday morning -</strong> Regret Saturday evening's 'couple' of drinks.<br /><strong>Sunday afternoon -</strong> Go to K-Mart and look at mountain bikes / frisbees / dogs.<br /><strong>Sunday evening -</strong> Plan the week's TV viewing schedule / make sandwiches / iron.<br /><br />So there you have it!!<br /><br />Life in the bus lane.<br /><br />Matt's off to the Grand Prix next weekend, and we're going to the Blue Mountains for Easter weekend, so more blog action on the way......<br /><br />Bye bye Miss American Pie xMatt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-34762054826395607152008-01-03T18:01:00.001+11:002008-01-04T17:34:37.862+11:00Happy New Year!!We really need to start blogging more often.....<br /><br /><strong><u>Saturday 15th December</u></strong><br /><br />Bizarrely, there is nothing in the diary at all for this day, so I assume it never happened.<br /><br /><strong><u>Sunday 16th December</u></strong><br /><br />It's Elton John time...!!!<br /><br />We got up at 5am to get the bus to the airport. It never turned up, so we got a taxi instead. We flew to Melbourne Avalon airport (it's a bit like calling Stansted, 'Edinburgh Stansted' - it's nowhere near Melbourne!).<br /><br />By pure luck it was the correct side of Melbourne for us to get a short bus ride in to Werribee, where the Elton John concert was.<br /><br />We walked round the town centre to try and find somewhere to stay the night, and ended up at the 'Comfort Inn'. The manager kindly gave us some phone numbers to find somewhere cheaper, and we finally ended up in the 'Monte Villa' bungalows.<br /><br />It was a lovely place to stay, en-suite, air-con etc, and a pool we couldn't get in to.<br /><br />We went for a couple of beers in the local sports bar, then had a bit of a kip before getting the shuttle bus from the hotel to the concert. When we got there, we realised we didn't have the camera, so we got a taxi back to the bungalow, and back to the concert again. Lovely stuff.<br /><br />After two bottles of wine and a brilliant set from sausage fingers Elton, we decided it was time to try and blag our way backstage.<br /><br />We failed.<br /><br />It was an absolutely brilliant night though.<br /><br />Shuttle bus back, beer, bed.<br /><br /><strong><u>Monday 17th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We checked out of our bungalow at midday, and tried to work out what to do for nine hours until our flight back to Sydney.<br /><br />So, we went to McDonalds, then went to Werribee Plaza (a shopping centre), got a hair cut, and went to see 'Beowulf' in the cinema. Don't bother going to see it. It's rubbish.<br /><br />We got to the airport about 6pm, to be told that our flight was cancelled. So we were given three choices......<br /><br />1. Get a free bus to the other Melbourne airport and fly from there, thus arriving at the same time as planned.<br /><br />2. Stay in a hotel nearby and fly at 6am the next day.<br /><br />3. Can't remember the third option, but there was one. Oh well.<br /><br />The chance to get an extra night away from Cell Block H proved too tempting, so we checked in to a 5 star hotel, courtesy of Jetstar!! Had to be up at 4.30am though to fly back.....<br /><br /><strong><u>Tuesday 18th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We got picked up from the hotel (did I mention it's a 5 star??!!) at 4.30, and got the 6am flight back to Sydney, then got a train back to Central Station, and arrived back at the hostel.<br /><br />Dave went to the gym to enquire about joining, and was offered a day's free trial, much to Matt's delight.<br /><br />Had a couple of beers at Scruffy Murphy's (it was still early days... we had to check if it really is as rubbish as we thought), then went to sleep.<br /><br /><u><strong>Wednesday 19th December</strong></u><br /><br />We took advantage of our free trial at Livingwell Gym at the Sydney Hilton, and spent a couple of hours swimming, sauna-ing, and jacuzzi-ing.<br /><br />Then we got on the monorail and did the whole circuit. It only really covers the city centre and Darling Harbour, so it takes about 15 mins to go all the way round. You are charged per trip too, so it is no more expensive to stay on for the whole circuit.<br /><br />We eventually got off at Darling Harbour and went to the Maritime Museum. (Free entry!)<br /><br />We then walked back across the bridge from Darling Harbour, and went to check the prices of the Sydney Tower.<br /><br />Had a look round Woolworths, then both fell asleep at about 8pm.<br /><br /><strong><u>Thursday 20th December</u></strong><br /><br />Went to the Sydney Tower and had a beer at the top. It had been a while since our last 'altitude beer' so it was good to get back in the habit.<br /><br />The views are awesome from up there. You can see for miles in every direction. The best bit about it was the double-decker lift to go up! There's a little monitor in each lift so you can see what's going on in the other half of your lift!!<br /><br />After the tower, we walked back to Darling Harbour to go on the battleship and submarine which are parked up. We didn't do this yesterday because we didn't have the camera with us.<br /><br />We then walked MILES to King's Cross to try and find Jonny and Murphy who had arrived that day, but we coudn't find them, so we got the train back to Central Station, and slept.<br /><br /><strong><u>Friday 21st December</u></strong><br /><br />We had breakfast on George Street, and then went to the Post Office to buy some boxes to use as a makeshift wardrobe. We did some washing, then went to meet Corrie at Darling Harbour (we might as well move there).<br /><br />After a couple of drinks we all got the boat across to Manly, and Dave got turned away from a bar for wearing shorts and 'thongs'. Don't worry, it's the Aussie name for flip-flops.<br /><br />So we went to a different door of the same bar and got in fine. It's my party and I'll wear thongs if I want to.<br /><br />After a few too many drinks, we got the last ferry back from Manly and stumbled home to bed.<br /><br /><strong><u>Saturday 22nd December</u></strong><br /><br />We went to meet Marie and Michelle in 'Side Bar', which is in their hostel. Yes, their place has it's own bar.<br /><br />And nightclub.<br /><br />And restaurant.<br /><br />We got turned away from there because we look so damn youthful. While we were in the process of being turned away, we watched the doormen scare some English people away, cos they were being very silly and misbehaving.<br /><br />We went to a very quiet Irish bar before giving in and going to fetch our I.D's and went back to Side Bar.<br /><br />There was a bloke in there who looked like Boris Becker. And one that looked like Robbie Williams.<br /><br /><strong><u>Sunday 23rd December</u></strong><br /><br />Went to Scruffy Murphy's to meet Bryan (who we'd initially met in KL), and the girls. All us blokes went to a pub called 'Pub', then the girls came to meet us later. Then Jonny and Murphy arrived too. A right little reunion!<br /><br />We drank, drank and were merry.<br /><br /><u><strong>Monday 24th December</strong></u><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Today was affectionately known as 'Christmas Eve' in Australia.<br /><br />We went on a mission to prepare for Christmas Day by finding a barbecue to use on Bondi Beach. After hours of searching we came up with a foil tray, some charcoal, and a flat sieve-meshy-thing to use as the grill.<br /><br />Perfect.<br /><br />We went to Darling Harbour (surprise), and did a countdown to Christmas Day! After that excitement we got a taxi to 'The Gaff', which is a bar / club full of travellers. Most of which were the lovely people from our hostel. We can't get away from them!!<br /><br />We got rained on heavily outside, and got a taxi back.<br /><br />We had a sausage roll each too, seeing as it was now Christmas Day.<br /><br />Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day!!<br /><br />We got the bus from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach around midday, put our makeshift BBQ together (it worked rather well!), and after a Christmas dinner of Hash Browns, sausages and burgers, we played frisbee for a while.<br /><br />We'd bought tickets to go to an event called 'Sunburnt Christmas', which, it turned out, was just a building that had been turned in to a club for the day. Frankie Knuckles was DJ'ing, and it was the only place you could buy alcohol on Bondi Beach.<br /><br />After some of the people we were with went in and decided it was rubbish, we got the bus to Coogee beach instead.<br /><br />When we got there we were pleased to see lots of people with lots of alcohol. Trouble was, we didn't have any! We searched for a bottle shop with no success, and none of the restaurants open that day would let us buy any wine or beer to take out. This situation was not good.<br /><br />We got chatting to a girl outside a shop who knew of someone who might have a box of wine to sell..... Things were looking up! After a very short conversation with some very intoxicated Scottish blokes, we were given a box of white wine FOR FREE!! This was now the best Christmas ever.<br /><br />We met a legendary bloke on the beach too. His name is Sarge and he was visiting family for Christmas. He lives in a bush normally. We agreed to go and visit him in his bush in the new year, and he's letting us stay in his nephew's house.<br /><br />It is not clear at this stage whether his nephew will be there too.<br /><br />We finished off the wine, rang lots of people (Dave Kilner was the first person we rang, naturally), and got a bus back to the city centre. It was a very noisy bus, mainly due to us drunken lot singing at the tops of our voices.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 26th December</span><br /><br />We decided that the best cure for a hangover is to get on a 1000hp speedboat. Se we did.<br /><br />There are two main companies in Circular Quay running speedboat trips around the harbour, both boasting that theirs is the best, fastest and scariest. We decided to go for the one that claims to be the fastest speedboat in Australia. It was 1000hp compared to the other company's measly 700hp.<br /><br />We got completely drenched, but it was absolutely brilliant. The driver basically waited for boats to go past, then head straight in to the wake of the boat, jumping off the waves. The boat does 360 degree turns and 'power stops', whereby it somehow jumps off a wave then comes to an almost instant stop. Awesome.<br /><br />We had a couple of beers to fully cure the hangover with a girl who looks like Carly from Eastenders. Well I thought so anyway. No-one else did.<br /><br />We then made our way back to the hostel, made some pasta and went to bed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 27th December</span><br /><br />We had a pretty easy day, and got on the train to suss out some areas of Sydney that we'd be happy to live in. We just picked random stops and got off and had a look round. We came across a suburb called Summer Hill which was lovely, and popped in to an estate agent to pick up a list of rental properties.<br /><br />On the list was a place in Dulwich Hill (the next mini-town to Summer Hill), so we made an appointment to view it on Saturday.<br /><br />That's all that's in the diary for the 27th, so let's assume we had a few beers and made some pasta.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 28th December</span><br /><br />We got a train to Dulwich Hill to see what the area's like, and to find the property we would be viewing the next day. As we were walking (bloody miles) to find it, we walked past an apartment block called 'The Denison' apartments, Constitution Road, Dulwich Hill. Little did we know how lucky this discovery would turn out.....<br /><br />We went to Darling Harbour for drinks with Jonny and the girls, and went back to the hostel to sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 29th December</span><br /><br />We had two viewings in Dulwich Hill. Firstly was the Denison, then the other place we'd seen advertised in Summer Hill. The Denison was AMAZING!! They had the show apartment to rent out, fully furnished to a very high standard. With a pool too. Trouble was, it was way over our budget.<br /><br />So we headed off to the other property which was rubbish in comparison. Unfurnished, shabby and dirty. But it was in our price range!<br /><br />We went for a coke and a chocolate bar to have a think, and went back to the Denison. We were on a mission! We spoke to the landlordy type bloke and told him how much we liked it, but that it was too expensive. He then dropped the price, as long as we paid cash..... The plot thickens.....<br /><br />Then we had the issue of only being here for 4 months. We'd told him originally that we'd be here for a year, otherwise he wouldn't have even shown us round.<br /><br />With our new price to think about, we went back to the city.<br /><br />After a chat and some sums, we decided to go for it, so we rang matey and told him that we'd like to take the apartment, but that we'd spoken to some friends who were coming over in 4 months time, and they wanted to share a place so we would have to move out.<br /><br />He was fine with that, so we breathed a very happy sigh of relief. We had our new place sorted!<br /><br />Dave's friend Kags arrived in Sydney today, so he went to meet her and her friends she was staying with. They went up the Sydney Tower (again!) while Matt fell asleep in the hostel (!).<br /><br />A few drinks in Darling Harbour rounded off a very good day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 30th December</span><br /><br />We went to Circular Quay to work out the best place to see the fireworks on NYE. We got a water-taxi to McMahon's point to see what the view is like from the far side of the Harbour Bridge, but after our research we still weren't sure what to do for the best.<br /><br />Everyone we spoke to said we need to pick our spot and get there early. When they say early, they mean before midday!! The very best spots are gone by 9am - 15 hours before midnight!!<br /><br />In the evening we went to meet Matt's friends James and Sarah who had arrived that day on their honeymoon. We had a really nice evening, met Kags and co. for a bit too, then came back via 'C' Bar - our new local!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday 31st December - New Year's Eve 2007!!</span><br /><br />The plan was as follows...<br /><br />Meet James and Sarah about midday, pick our viewing point, have a picnic and sit there for 12 hours until firework time.<br /><br />Matt rang James and by this point James and Sarah had booked tickets to 'Bubble Bar' for the evening of NYE. The deal was free drinks all night, and free canapes all night.<br /><br />All for the tidy sum of $275. (About 120 quid)<br /><br />So we thought that rather than sit in the sun all day, we could buy tickets and just turn up about 7pm, have a relaxed evening in a very nice bar, and pop outside at midnight to see the fireworks.<br /><br />So we did!<br /><br />The ambulance service had over 1000 calls to the Harbour Bridge area on NYE, probably mainly due to sun-related problems.<br /><br />We arrived at Bubble Bar about 6.30pm, and had a really good night. The fireworks were amazing, and we walked home getting photos with lots of random people.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday 1st January 2008<br /><br /></span>It's time to get back in the real world, which means.... work!<br /><br />We both spent a while online perfecting our CV's (I never knew Matt was once a Telesales Executive....), then went to the pub called 'Pub' to watch Chelsea play Fulham.<br /><br />Fulham were 1-0 up for most of the game, but Chelsea eventually won 2-1. Or something like that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 2nd January</span><br /><br />We sorted out all the documents we need for our new apartment, then headed for 'Kelly Services' (nowhere near as fun as it sounds... it's a job agency!).<br /><br />They had vacancies in a call centre and the assessment was tomorrow! 11am sharp....<br /><br />We had a couple of beers in a rooftop bar (only 5th Floor, not to our usual 'high' standards...), then we went back to the hostel to make some food.<br /><br />After a power-nap we went out to Darling Harbour to meet James and Sarah as they were leaving the next day.<br /><br />Mr Owen Ryan turned up too (he used to be Deputy PD at Hallam just in case!!) and he made us drink lots of beer. It was all his fault.<br /><br />And he has an i-Phone.<br /><br />It's brilliant.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 3rd January</span><br /><br />After last night's perfect preparation, we arrived at Kelly Services at 10.55am for our call centre assessment. We had to make a series of calls to 'customers' (the office staff upstairs!) and try to sell them a new credit card.<br /><br />Some of them were very rude.<br /><br />Anyway, we both passed the test with flying colours and were offered jobs in the new 'American Express' campaign which starts on Monday! Apparently you have to be very good to get on that one, cos it's the most desired campaign. (Due to it being the only one that's 9-5).<br /><br />So basically, we're brilliant and you're rubbish.<br /><br />Apparently the place we're working has plasma screens, free internet, a pool table etc. and is full of backpackers. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet....<br /><br />Dave starts work on Monday, and Matt starts in February.<br /><br />In the evening we went to 'Side Bar' as it was most of the girls' last night in Sydney. We had a very good night and danced a lot. We were, once again, brilliant.<br /><br />Anyway, my fingers hurt so I'm going to rest them and have a coke.<br /><br />Love you! xxxMatt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-27629028004179643122007-12-15T12:33:00.001+11:002007-12-28T11:52:44.495+11:00Time's flying!Blimey, what a lot of blogging we have to do!<br /><div><br /><strong><u>Monday 3rd December</u></strong><br /><br />What a weird start to the day! Dave went to get his hair cut. Simple process you might think, just a shave all over. Not the case.<br /><br />After what seemed like the end of the haircut, the barber gave Dave a full back massage. And then proceeded to baby-wipe his whole torso. Not sure why, but that's what happened.<br /><br />After the camera problems we'd booked on another half-day trip to Maya Bay and then to watch the sunset from the boat. We went snorkelling and kayaking and got the pictures we were after. We watched the sunset from the boat after a hearty meal of rice and vegetables.<br /><br />When we got back on dry land we decided to splash out and book tickets to see a legend play in Australia. Not Dave Kilner, but someone almost as famous...... Elton John!<br /><br />It was something we'd both wanted to do and so we booked flights from Sydney to Melbourne, and tickets for the concert. The date was set... 16th December, in Werribee (near Melbourne).<br /><br />We had pizza for tea (a Thai speciality), then packed our bags (again!), then went to bed as we had to catch the 2pm boat across to Krabi on the Thai mainland.<br /><br /><strong><u>Tuesday 4th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got up and checked out of our home, and jumped on a taxi boat round the bay to catch the 2pm ferry. We got the 2pm crossing as planned, and arrived in Krabi around 3.30pm. We got a taxi to 'A Mansion' (that was the name of the hotel!) as recommended by the LP (that's Lonely Planet to those in the know).<br /><br />It was a lovely hotel, much to our delight. We went for a walk round Krabi, which is a really relaxed place and a lot less intense than the previous few weeks of chaos. We bought watches off a bloke who claimed they are genuine...<br /><br />We went out for some food and got chatting to an incredible Swiss bloke. He'd had an accident years before and was brain damaged from it. His English was better than ours! He was away travelling for a few weeks to give his wife a break from looking after him. Absolutely incredible guy.<br /><br />We ended up in an Italian restaurant to have a drink, and as is always the case, the unplanned nights are always the best. We sat there listening to a brilliant duo playing electric guitars, playing everything from Guns N Roses to Dire Straits. They were supposed to finsh at 1am but after several cries of 'One More' from us, they finally stopped banging out the hits around 1.45am.<br /><br />We got back to the hotel and watched Charlton vs Preston. What a rubbish match.<br /><br /><strong><u>Wednesday 5th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We got a taxi to Krabi airport (which had to turn round and go back to the hotel cos we'd left the CD of our photos there!), and strolled in.<br /><br />Security is not an issue in Krabi, it would appear. We got lost and after breaching about 5 security barriers / doors / lifts we found our way to international departures.<br /><br />We flew to Kuala Lumpur (KL from now on...) and got a bus to the city centre and found our new, amazing home. The Haven Guesthouse. When we arrived, Murphy and Jonny (two blokes we'd met in Ko Samui) were there! Out of all the hostels in KL, we'd all chosen that one.<br /><br />It's by far the best place we've stayed so far. Clean, fun, cheap, and full of brilliant people. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800390412864290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJC4bV4IN16MHY3V_pNUkvbPBWOc-MdQt2OV8p1_a9gfAXS8bB-hhBG_mOzOHeBH9RkTagUdUF0F3mrPdQyIqk4RCpQ9qfVKpU2GikF9v7-4GSWHJ20u6kFRFrATyv7wKVwf7frzpk88c/s320/PC070039.JPG" border="0" /><br />We had some food, bought a bottle of vodka and played some pool. Then bed.<br /><br /><strong><u>Thursday 6th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />With the vodka still present in our systems, we had a steady day, looking around Times Square shopping centre. A lot of KL has a New York look and feel to it.<br /><br />We then realised that none of our bank cards worked in KL, which meant we had no money!! Dave's Dad to the rescue, transferring money Western Union styleeee.<br /><br />We then went to a bar we'd heard about, called the Sky Bar. It's on the 33rd floor of the Traders' Hotel, and has no roof. And a swimming pool in the middle of it!<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800377527962354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIVhsGXP7-ZeTOSDuIS-55xzXW4DNu-kCRZms78pG8f18y45D8AoBUFYiiCwIE9qAaFpUKbEJwxVzmOzrcfE0Z8s4JNswb1mg1FEwCcIIVaUVwcWozlQTdc6nV4dBZcKDPG3xqlHym9k/s320/PC060010.JPG" border="0" /><br />Very expensive but lots of fun looking out over the Petronas Towers and the KL Tower.<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800381822929666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PCabcLKE-ENYfU-aBRbYPriMbPlBge2ZlcoZxKIzBySe3z1c8w_NBA0G0XXI_-yJhR_4QQ1s0LKYC8q8jh7iLi8x5VuL-hLx0Q1c4DIDETJGZWOMjM266MBRr1i_xc0aFh3vHOBn7pk/s320/PC060012.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Friday 7th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Went back to Times Square to go to their indoor theme park. It's on the 5th floor, naturally. We went on a few rides there, including a brilliant rollercoaster!<br /><br />Then we headed across town to the KL Tower. It a huge tower with 4 floors at the top of it. The lowest one is the observation deck (about 950 feet up!). Above that is a restaurant (by reservation only, 3 days in advance!), a function room for weddings etc, and the top floor is a broadcasting centre.<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800927283776306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTDvGkBUiyFj8JeWnRp5uBpQx1TWmtNo6N97EKoOI39vUeakIXVexQ9nneL0hRbeUJiRdcMxRfgn3TdOGzNH1NJZIU8aQVuUc5vZwt40wRGWLkwAMsO_czK8ajpOacvD8AxC4K2gRbCQ/s320/KLT+1.jpg" border="0" /><br />The view is incredible from there, and you're almost level with the top of the Petronas Towers.<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800927283776322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNYDsfqcYNspVfIpdMjoP4-j8b5uAlftKp4yv3ratEZ3LlIgEcMoYD7F2diLD-flxgrct0NQzozszB-4-SuqU89dGT3i-5VUPpnuCRfYYMFTrAxWWpb3OTdjsWfSC45ih3AUYu9rHfBQ/s320/KLT+2.jpg" border="0" /><br />When we returned to earth, we spotted a zip-slide. Dave got stuck in and got all harnessed up, and proceeded to fly along above the road, hanging from a piece of wire rope wearing a silly helmet.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148800386117896978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtXI3k6gmgYgS6Xk_RnpzkRiRaUpp2qIogydVzJtNQLKtfcEkKZScBXjwwnffSjS5R2L6nQpIpejlHT3R9Z7QiagsZlleAJ3Cg0Bu6cwVRDTqJKEofyWEB1UgbitguIliKWSTVZH0f-Q/s320/P1010041.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148801524284230482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYz_iCqRmNuGA-Biah3nI-GobfFWGgt0c2HgXTMEGxNpimtivxJazQWNcVvhHiylvuUMfHazLDLTASV6hr09pK6Zl8gqqvY25w0MPZxkBSysOKTxFaFnH6wXiKbbH3TOgZIlMhu_OSEU/s320/slide1.jpg" border="0" /><br />That evening we went to another bar-on-a-roof, this time called the Luna Bar. Our taxi driver believed we are Aussies and proceeded to slag John Howard off all the way there.<br /><br />The Luna Bar is even more swanky (and expensive!) than the Sky Bar. It was the 3rd birthday of the bar, so there was a big party going on with a DJ on a stage on legs in the swimming pool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148803547213826914" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4fMPA9wOiMqwc7rToIWV3AcZ7Tdo29LSI7jTsNJjeifkKB3iTNKPdU7b7CUqU-d3B-AMIJLBdqy288oBu_WplH8ibGWglSJ_HLDs_MAGMw2-EzQkYCisyYP1-bM0mDckuGzvtl__mUA/s320/PC070085.JPG" border="0" /><br />Dave did a bit of DJing (not quite sure how that happened...), and then went home. Via the Sky Bar. We don't do ground-level drinking any more. </p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148803551508794226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPv_obQbcHzFWL5t7vL2Ul3eVBX1nW2v2IjacQ60g3ZPhA806QOrLwyxXMtQznNex4EkGd-v4fXaTeF2SJCBJ73_4gKbXGrjuoRPOYbwpA7l0mXqa6rnTbj00Dr_Py6UPlCyVRpFUsLQ/s320/PC080170.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Saturday 8th December</u></strong><br /><br />Did nothing all day apart from eat 6 slices of free toast with Marmite.<br /><br /><strong><u>Sunday 9th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />After staying up all night, we went to the Petronas Towers at 7am. It's free to go up, but you have to queue early to get your tickets as only a limited number can go up each day. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148803555803761538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_fJNEka08C3hRp9k1erXx_KxJOD2wp1FNOHvJyCZdGlOKBtt6SqPd-krUvMi-qTAcd3_IlQ6_0mnFlugmJqWQJ_gDnBcmAqUZbH0JsV10XYa67wVEWgiG_z6NhzwLHd3WrbGr7_A_kk/s320/PC090188.JPG" border="0" /><br />We got the 9.15am slot, and after watching a 3D presentation about how wonderful Petronas PLC are, we headed up to the 41st floor.<br /><br />When the doors open, you walk round a corner and there it is. The Skywalk. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148803564393696146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34b-R1uG2VJMY9NBW9vTX_on_uquCCKPfRX9_hJLsuXZ4Le208YDmJ11MSwyMb0JGpC0XNsrCBhwEUSJ8Rg0xXgAMq6XR2XH8C8bufdShdWKO3os4zOxTX512NtcjG9mWDgTsGnkrpQU/s320/PC090203.JPG" border="0" /><br />It's a glass bridge joining the two towers together, and it feels a bit strange being suspended that high up! The views are amazing though, and it's something not to be missed. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148803564393696162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAJSCJo0dLMfEkhPhHu4M91nIyWqaj9mkFrqSXpNq6Nt8M2Rff9mSD-ZjItDXzNOXqHsgWKi1tMr_AxnYw-A9Zw8tiN7eTNFOtP3Y9BfsTjo4lllRZZdlpKAviK28dNuJ98_d8z9S96U/s320/PC090237.JPG" border="0" /><br />That evening we went to see 'One In A Million' being filmed. It's the Malaysian equivalent of 'X-Factor'. It's filmed 'as-live' but was due to be screened a week later. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148805394049764274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20CU0fJhSAsWX-JMR-4nAgkqKom4owL4qVBikJZRshRgnvbDFQCI2le3h2pc3N8fWUGbrIpWMHSf9alVEuR6lwIsA8LqN5cwsc7lJFrRDj4pBIE5kQeWP3zC1FC3jzjHOA2sZFXs2QQ8/s320/PC090254.JPG" border="0" /><br />We cheered, whistled and screamed for a bloke called 'Iz' (who we'd never met, but was a friend of the person who got us the tickets!). He won out of his pair, which means he's through to the last 12! The winner gets 1 million ringgit (about 115,000 quid.... still can't find the pound sign)<br /><br />We came back via our new local, the Luna Bar, and finally got to bed about 6am.<br /><br /><strong><u>Monday 10th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got up at 2pm and went to the KL Aquarium. Saw lots of fish (and cats and monkeys for some reason), and got a taxi back. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148805394049764290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWmrwZxS795u1zIWdGAL5lVdWi55FgF4l8U5EJ5Y1UWbBFJ4G3nb8mNK_yd2ltljKfLvaS9l6lihNzKqSwz1LpuY5bz_wKz0Ku66nnHDa4UdXoKOK0x76CQSVySTmtBKEA56YAQtT65I/s320/PC100299.JPG" border="0" /><br />You ain't seen rush hour til you've seen KL rush hour. Our 5 minute taxi ride (it was raining!) took an hour, and by that point we were cutting it fine to make our 7.30pm bus to Singapore.<br /><br />We made it about 7.15pm, and our bus turned up. At 8.45pm.<br /><br />2 hours in to our journey (on a luxury bus by the way), the bus stopped for no apparent reason. We both went to investigate (due to our extensive mechanical training) and it turned out the bus had a puncture. More delays. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148805398344731602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip40ghkGlvumZ2qBf-0_2eL9d3f8C1MPuNt1YEu8hOItF67HxGkdyXGJk73RUld1Lv-lL_BM1j9xJMb7AYNO-9PSPwjG1iJbUPjIbGkJqbH9SVqrqYWTpJjulhFDZp7BjCZrH2lmTZXcM/s320/PC110327.JPG" border="0" /><br />We finally got moving again, and reached the Malaysian border. Se we got off the bus and got stamped out of the country.<br /><br />50 yards down the road we stopped again, got off again, and officially entered Singapore. God knows what that bit in between is called. Malapore or Singyia I assume.<br /><br />We arrived in Singa'pore at 4.15am (should have been 1am), and found our new home, the 'Fragrance Hostel'. It was more like a 5 star hotel!! The showers were super-powerful, and we had a 6 bed dorm to ourselves for 3 nights! </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148805402639698914" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qAQ1F84r3DqIwEarzBjIhl5LeWMbQ6uhVS8GudbC7k8qCnorUJOQ5YGQ8X1qvKOex-sBRH92yVntXOER8Suq_QY7vwR6lLDBK6f6BXKdEXRY0poZ-XQrMlniKhIgdiJ7kz_VJLyoVhM/s320/PC110328.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Tuesday 11th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got up at 12pm, and walked to the MRT station (their tube) and headed for the Harbourfront. From here we got the (very high) cable car to the island of Sentosa. It was bit scary but we made it!! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148805406934666226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL-4kcxQDcjNdn4NK5nAfzN4r9de2CUICQSx8uzVwe7S65748KqFpoBXG_CAMLsHdCep0CiYXa9fr1u4L_YRVf5-62CmL_AOSUoX8aiQCedtq4-V2oBYrYzPeW87IkBpMK2pFqZWb9W0/s320/PC110339.JPG" border="0" /><br />Sentosa is Singapore's own 'Island Resort' (their words), and it had some good beaches and is, like the rest of Singapore, immaculately kept. You can't imagine how clean Singapore is!<br /><br />There's a big 'Merlion' standing tall on the island. It's Singapore's national symbol - half Lion, half Mermaid. We climbed up inside it, and you can look out from its mouth or stand on top of its head, so we did both!! </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148807571598183426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxMEjDsrMhkPwbPCl4r0ki-kvTuGzZxesnFa_MkVSZ8tfSMk1p6O0TWeWaGOoBZy3YoAP-XzsbUbmQCl4-DnVK6rw9blOGs3JSyBNuQPuWF97G4VjWmZ_xrJ9-y3lIp4vsXKxiIOZn0Y/s320/PC110354.JPG" border="0" /><br />Dave then went on a ski-lift thingy up a big hill, while Matt stayed safely on the ground, and came back down a the hill on a racetrack riding a luge. It's like a skateboard that you sit on, with handlebars (nothing like a skateboard then really). </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148807575893150738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsqclNlmzFPX1oi20zkU0WsT2E1p2QvKdz9CK_Zr5dm5eaGqpHhwkXMBapTMwKqqF1RElUOH8DcswaJQTsj38f-xdNh8SYt95B_S8o9HS7w4M2VLE5NIoCYk6WQsilvAJ6EnlKV1Sf64/s320/PC110388.JPG" border="0" /><br />We got the monorail back across to Singapore and looked round two, very clean, shopping centres. One called the Harbourfont (no idea why) and the other called Vivocity. Most prices are similar to English ones. Probably to pay all those cleaners.<br /><br />We strolled back to the hostel around 7.30pm, through the Little India area of Singapore. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148807575893150754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMeqcsxPqrCZBC_nNPGOJr-thP8GqN_C3YDZf_JX2YkHt41v3A_9v4lDQIfmILlUqePwl-a0nk2xX6CosXN_h14UNhmEZZGhM3b0R5ZYygEcfcNytuC4-ZhFBbkkHzHEep40KBBhBd8U/s320/PC110409.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Wednesday 12th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We went on a boat trip along the river today, and got a good view of the city skyline from the water. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148807580188118066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqVz96sFS-gAC0_zeb9c5Bbl0TxnfIHb7_UOCfQZelIolxC_y0gGRcKQBA6g_0nMxo1BuYTX5iv961Eobq_ntxsGCvbPYrID0zsYasQusyEcgcdbDJJTNztH8-JRmBSL93ffkBpuArhs/s320/PC120452.JPG" border="0" /><br />Matt's camerawork was once again tested as Dave decided to go on a very big swing thing.<br /><br />You're hoisted up backwards while sitting / hanging in a metal cage. When you reach the top, it's the rider's responsibility to pull a cord to release the ride, sending it swinging high over the river.<br /><br />The best feeling EVER!! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148807584483085378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS2lGUY6RI4IEtY7Zl5-XwyGl7hgIMA9M3-EnQzNbKoZyqVTDjtK1YVVbPFDuBOuP0DjzITT4uf6L0Fyk3-plF-HvAYO_D2bmdCimL895vS43tX3OWRoA6JODFEpPDHNMlMBormPyg2s/s320/PC120477.JPG" border="0" /><br />We headed back to the hostel and went for food a couple of doors down in the Countryside Cafe, and then headed out to the Raffles Hotel, to have a Singapore Sling (we're very posh 'n that) in the 'Long Bar'. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148809976779869266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bGyM3BGZC3of5aFUKAT6NFjD5LPUquX_cxx-EyXcXCdoB8iq6izXNLuv2ApP57x6MPSLDobce6_BdiWIbVxYw-N0uAOMEJr0BR7ax-NYyxMuUWyMtsql_xaM_ZPDW_Ov6HKwSZq5Cis/s320/PC120504.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148809985369803874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2eU6xHfqIOUZVbAVXjV6jjEBh3YTWiPZS-iEeE1Vc6wOlagetd6U-pXK6Eecukkag7th9r1LFjFtcW-WZRBGDY_J44GZH_jOhvkBFls42i4uH4k1cZskOPLJEuSrAa2Zaq5_i6W33Ms/s320/PC120510.JPG" border="0" /><br />Across the road from Raffles was another bar. A VERY high bar....<br /><br />71 storeys above 'The Stamford' hotel, is the New Asia bar. You can tell you're in a stylish bar, mixing with the rich and famous, when you walk in to the sound of Bon Jovi blaring out!! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148809989664771202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZkrgpdpKC7bSwrSeqmFKIniVtgqpZZwQFwK0xLYenDhfLh06y8CZWPH8OC4QgtLlJPPTr_269QJWRGNqq4wfDRnH6pYgVYKNbMcCXka2bZKIkiyul-VEi9Msxo3TbQ8FCbH59wHXPMM/s320/PC130540.JPG" border="0" /><br />So we lived on a prayer for a bit, and then called it a night. Off to Sydney tomorrow....<br /><br /><strong><u>Thursday 13th December</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got up at 5.45am, and got a taxi to Singapore airport. Tried some local cuisine in the form of a McDonalds breakfast, and got our flight. (It was on a Boeing 747, claimed Matt - Dave just knew it was far too big and heavy to be able to fly.) </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148809998254705810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlBV4HYrNi9qI5hF0TnwfyfxpoZmZ15P_TY_e9lMWdEV6-4imXb1om-3ZzZXyPfKr4em-oRz86c4-8KkjyaAHQInfeqsDUuQ0g_TouDoadMOg1CB53PtKU0DEmqukCEtDJeWUScNOGf8/s320/PC130556.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>After a fairly bumpy flight and some lovely in-flight food, we arrived at Sydney.<br /></p><p>We met a really cool bloke in Sydney Airport before we went through immigration. He had a hat and everything:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9NY35qQDN7mUahOVT1kwrp2feRsdv1DZxfLcp0f53qfzO1Acd2VWs_MIJZ07AZaJYK383ZnmDUQZWo6b7xrj9Ze9bsk95OJr8-Zdx6oZSODlf9U7wxJkX_oaExBiK56VENdO1a-eLco/s1600-h/PC130561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9NY35qQDN7mUahOVT1kwrp2feRsdv1DZxfLcp0f53qfzO1Acd2VWs_MIJZ07AZaJYK383ZnmDUQZWo6b7xrj9Ze9bsk95OJr8-Zdx6oZSODlf9U7wxJkX_oaExBiK56VENdO1a-eLco/s320/PC130561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148817716310936738" border="0" /></a></p><p>You're not going to believe this bit......<br /><br />The very first words that anyone said to us in Australia were... HOW ARE WE?<br /><br />The immigration guy really did say it!! What a welcome to the country!!<br /><br />Then we got a train to Central Station, which is on the same road as our hostel. When I say on the same road, it's a bit like saying that London is on the same road as Leeds, which it kind of is....<br /><br />Pitt Street is a very long road. After a bit of a walk we saw our hostel, beaming out dirty orange light, like a can of tango in a puddle. (What the hell am I talking about?!)<br /><br />The Maze Backpackers. Our new home for the next 28 nights. What a dump.<br /><br />To put it politely, it's like being in prison. A dirty one. With a load of people who just arrived back from Ibiza. There isn't even a power socket in our cell. But there is a filthy chair so that's ok. And we do have a fan, which is covered in crap and is too high to reach to clean it.<br /><br />Apart from that, it's perfect!! Complaint on the way to STA Travel......<br /><br />We headed out for a short walk, got some food and went to sleep.<br /><br /><strong><u>Friday 14th December</u></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />At 4.30am, it turned out we were both awake, so we got up and made some pasta!! By this point we'd had a grand total of 6 hours sleep in two nights.<br /><br />Dave did some washing, and we killed some time reading books (us... and books!!) til 9am came.<br /><br />We were both very tired but couldn't wait to see the sights, so we got a bus (eventually) to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Words can't describe how amazing it was to see them. After years of seeing pictures and seeing them on TV, it was incredible to actually be there.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsAfJ3SBtKzKY8rS4DWmI4PFFnLi9rRU0A2wKCKUZc_QBcXyDxV3lSAM1ruCKBWRR2c4MAGLeD8pXPXPRvN2gL2CyK1JJu09aVRcDWkac6POWhLH_B54bVWBfqbfILaCs3UwVX5JQoo/s1600-h/PC140567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsAfJ3SBtKzKY8rS4DWmI4PFFnLi9rRU0A2wKCKUZc_QBcXyDxV3lSAM1ruCKBWRR2c4MAGLeD8pXPXPRvN2gL2CyK1JJu09aVRcDWkac6POWhLH_B54bVWBfqbfILaCs3UwVX5JQoo/s320/PC140567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148817720605904050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYQ5gUSRQXrfh0vbV7zFZtEQpz2EeJXDOSwfdAKoSeErNvLhcXOUvFMESsOD-7piBT79XzbbqFlPhwMUXIOb2W7BOBFFQX94OLXfmSfPJCICmBboIjihsK5iZGROtzerz3LFvebJXqTE/s1600-h/PC140587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYQ5gUSRQXrfh0vbV7zFZtEQpz2EeJXDOSwfdAKoSeErNvLhcXOUvFMESsOD-7piBT79XzbbqFlPhwMUXIOb2W7BOBFFQX94OLXfmSfPJCICmBboIjihsK5iZGROtzerz3LFvebJXqTE/s320/PC140587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148817724900871362" border="0" /></a><br />To get a better view of the opera house, we caught a boat to Manly. We'd beeen told it's a lovely place, and it is. The boat takes you past the Opera House and then a half-hour journey gets you to Manly Wharf.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCVF-5EJ4fS0MwoAwDWqIf17eCJK9RSj9E_S0IhcWVSqQ7A7gKkSYqLMYYX7_cG52JjT6eTKKHNstE4eoSBJJXyy6w965hGaEq0hsf3YsUSDBIUq_qedYVAqDzWH3nHocxe_mTiCjpyc/s1600-h/PC140631.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCVF-5EJ4fS0MwoAwDWqIf17eCJK9RSj9E_S0IhcWVSqQ7A7gKkSYqLMYYX7_cG52JjT6eTKKHNstE4eoSBJJXyy6w965hGaEq0hsf3YsUSDBIUq_qedYVAqDzWH3nHocxe_mTiCjpyc/s320/PC140631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148819288268967122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdqqvcPuC0oaOsahmbKOsX9jsS6O6q13jCZQGjDnZbe733W5UdCbOfmpJawrQzank0BRTyOCODq6rrf3mJb-1gWLLdYt6pqD_Jy1I9jfguzNaraCOjSuREwA1-dLnj0JuRKCBxGpz0Tw/s1600-h/PC140594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdqqvcPuC0oaOsahmbKOsX9jsS6O6q13jCZQGjDnZbe733W5UdCbOfmpJawrQzank0BRTyOCODq6rrf3mJb-1gWLLdYt6pqD_Jy1I9jfguzNaraCOjSuREwA1-dLnj0JuRKCBxGpz0Tw/s320/PC140594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148820142967459042" border="0" /></a></p><p>We saw REAL surfers there and everything!! Very clean and laid back, somewhere we're thinking of moving to after we complete our jail term here.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAetKHSbXzFwrFUNnk78S9OPNaSeuKvZb_xlsGZpKnff2sA5Zs-XIUw-_C2XEZfO-GIyVCLT92H0BbV8oThjxEGqfPDLwzh5gWXWveU3MVxUmiTb7BeE0eXkUgaWv5bhXuakWFmOPqWoQ/s1600-h/PC140597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAetKHSbXzFwrFUNnk78S9OPNaSeuKvZb_xlsGZpKnff2sA5Zs-XIUw-_C2XEZfO-GIyVCLT92H0BbV8oThjxEGqfPDLwzh5gWXWveU3MVxUmiTb7BeE0eXkUgaWv5bhXuakWFmOPqWoQ/s320/PC140597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148820155852360946" border="0" /></a><br />When we got back to Sydney Harbour we opened a bank account each, which means we have to get jobs now to put money in them. Rubbish news.<br /><br />Because of our messy sleeping patterns, we both crashed out about 7pm and woke up at about 11.30pm. The only way to get back to sleep.... go for a beer!!<br /><br />In Sydney (and possibly all of Australia) you can only buy beer in a liquor store or in a bar. Not in shops like 7-Eleven or any convenience stores.<br /><br />Bizarrely you can buy beers in a bar to take out, which was our plan. Anyway, that didn't happen, and we ended up in Scruffy Murphy's bar, just around the corner from Cell Block H.<br /><br />It was interesting to say the least. We think we might be in a rubbish bit of town.<br /><br />We got to bed about 4am, and now it's Saturday. Elton John tomorrow night!!<br /><br />Speak soon, Dave and Matt xxx</p>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-64549825190505074032007-12-02T22:40:00.000+11:002007-12-21T12:57:05.092+11:00We're still alive!!<div>Hello!<br /><br />Sorry it's been so long since we blogged, but you know what it's like, beaches to sit on, beers to drink....<br /><br />So, first things first. Dave's toe. Definitely broken, but getting better every day. It's ok to walk with shoes on now, but still need to be a bit careful when barefoot.<br /><br />Anyway, enough about all that. Something else is broken...... THE CAMERA!!<br /><br />The 'waterproof' camera, it would appear, is not 'sea-proof'. We'll get to that bit later, but for now there's no pics. There will be in the next couple of days though.<br /></div><div><br /><strong><u>Wednesday 21st November</u></strong><br /><br />This was the night after the toe incident, and we had to do a runner from the hotel. Ideal timing. Long story short.... all the shenanigans in the sea the night before led to the unfortunate loss of our hotel room key. When we got back that night, we had no choice but to go to reception and claim that we'd handed our key in, and therefore they must have lost it.<br /><br />Eventually they agreed to let us in the hotel room with the spare key, but wouldn't leave it with us. No key = no electricity. So we slept with no air con and no lights and only 19 fully working tootsies between us.<br /><br />The following morning we decided it wasn't a good idea to go past reception and get told off, so we headed along the beach and checked in to the 'P & P Resort'.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146229053622290914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO5rN9-5uFQoaBmkIjZft3YiE8kcJGUBTvXh9Tr3NYyNh2z-5ZxAGyY6-aKsNaVBPVvE7vnL7A2ZbWpc13I5BewSJOkerH_zCqiOz0M_TxTxNQJ0nTpu7a76XjnzP05S9Oz6l0BYu748/s320/PB240012.JPG" border="0" /> We went to the beach for a while, and in the evening returned to the beach party and set off firey lantern things. They're kind of mini hot air balloons, and you set fire to the bottom bit, and it floats off in to the sky. For MILES!!<br /><br />Then we went to the Mango Tree club for a drink or three, and by 3am we were ready to watch England lose to Croatia. So we did. In an English pub called Black Jack.<br /><br />It was full of England fans, and three Croatia fans too!! After a quiet word from one of the rather large England fans, they left. Anyway, we lost and McLaren walked away with 2.5 million.<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>Thursday 22nd November</u></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><p>Really lazy day, played frisbee on the beach (Matt had to go and fetch it if it landed too far away!!)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146229375744838130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofBzFVAxZ0r-h1BDe3dV7mXDQBHmWp3mhPoZZGlUAievB56fcCQmpTWK5Wx01OgaO0m4L9ffzEHbWf9YE2fmTvFp8u0hMiGkyoEkDxM07b5dVwRuyCdEFerbrJdoTMQob07RJk6IH5-Q/s320/PB230006.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Also, we met an Irish lad in Speedos who had just recovered from Dysentry.<br /><br /></div><p>Had an early night after a couple of drinks in 'Solo' bar. Very refined.</p><p><strong><u></u></strong> </p><p><strong><u>Friday 23rd November</u></strong></p><p>Another lazy day, then in the evening we went out and played Jenga and Connect 4 with some locals. We lost.</p><p>We made the fatal mistake of dancing again, in a club full of locals, and looked very silly, but we're used to that now.</p><p>We ended up back in the Jenga / Connect 4 bar which was simply called 'Snatch'. Best bar name ever!!</p><p><strong><u>Saturday 24th November</u></strong></p><p>Tonight is full moon night!</p><p>Unsurprisingly we had a lazy day, and were due to be picked up between 10.00 and 10.30pm to get a boat across to Ko Phang An (everywhere you look it's spelt differently!). Our taxi finally turned up about 11.30pm and the rudest man in the world drove like a nutcase for half an hour to other hotels, wondering why people weren't still waiting to be picked up!</p><p>We eventually got to the seaside and had to wait for ages for a boat to turn up, so we had a beer on the beach.</p><p>Finally our speedboat turned up, and after a very exciting (and bumpy) ride over, we arrived on Ko Phang An about 1.30am.</p><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146229680687516162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflUkhc3Cv49UXwWXiDw7kCcBd6qbi5DDB8Fy4kuVqIURhO4_Y45MpfD01OSCJruTV5-ykXz4TsKhJuwPtb3i6YpFgtncf-sXFuQaGcffrfK1oktzHc-NPQpSeHvjoXK48pSUTBOsRDRw/s320/PB250054.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146230243328231970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkddNF6ByZNaYDgueO9zcpjUxmEfazfZre5j7r3HOzTLaPvaRSawemCEqxF0vHXNv_8QgZVi3bt5_RnR0MvLmoTsJX0IGMxT-bJNZXbIH9ZPX3bnO5GZhh6pDA-ZjEbxpiXoHT9ow_Ro/s320/PB250047.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>We got stuck in to the buckets of vodka (you buy a bucket, a small bottle of vodka and a can of coke, then chuck it all in with loads of ice, and hey presto!)......</div><div> </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146231115206593074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTt4XwIPJLv_qHFPYckiH86HcRFnCe9oVXbvfYWIBbIID2kYTP_FZqM2spkXT8n2Xi-VymdUPFcmTdlSsV_H6-cw5-1LoWbqzzPoxqk03f14_KWHjXnTbPisY-PXlbYLtWjHZJLsAVuA/s320/PB250056.JPG" border="0" /></p><div> </div><div>.......and then we discovered an official 'sleeping area' on the beach!!!</div><div> </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146231119501560386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y6vaYZAdyqfzjwQFJfqhXlxx7B0eam-tJw279z4ivN8zv5_ZTp0XUancbt4ygNZe9KE3sWmU3dZruqI7IciSEITD60WtICEwBjqaxOfxH7pTnuM-EqaBu_6odGw_rbIVwBnw4gRnaEc/s320/PB250063.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>So Matt went and got about 20 winks, while Dave laid by the sea pondering life's big decisions... Shall we get another bucket now or later....?!<br /><br /></div><p>The party was amazing, thousands of people in various states dancing on the beach and in all the bars. I think we've lost the pictures though on the damaged memory card. Gutted.</p><p>(NEWSFLASH...... We've got the pictures back!!)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146230239033264658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOo6JEgMY-Qq7Dttdh4HpdZvMhsAqWBYKo3866YbttOl0lyI_vPkEjr85q7nd1oVeTecpv1LmS5d9t2neagkJtBMXGyyWh3y50i4rFbIORkWE07IREVeagWw-clroYQGsvUPMsifk5BI/s320/PB250033.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>We waded (fully clothed) out to our return speedboat about 6.30am, and finally got to bed about 7.30am. Brilliant night.</div><div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146231707912079954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw1d4l9PzF-hNWljH7quY0IV0lW7vJynLZJdAUmWVp4Yzr22k7veg0E6xaB8k3N8YlUFYaKo9uyVRfUJLR4KfJvdtZD_9vbG_r7pc3ZK8AQlWHg6YdsEJM-2cVuc3C6A7cQQ65uJYJmg/s320/PB250066.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><u><strong>Sunday 25th November</strong></u></p><p>Got up about 1pm, feeling a little bit tender, and booked our bus/boat to Ko Phi Phi. Had some food, packed our bags and got to bed about 1.30am.</p><p><strong><u>Monday 26th November</u></strong></p><p>Got up at 5.40am (!) and got picked up by minibus to go to the pier. Got the 8am ferry across to the mainland.....</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146232446646454882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohrzrMoVp9-XhVOrgTg1wGemrhRVfVFiDImLzRF___41op35sNkw8-a8WOxESrkCPxWaP-GcNd45LUBkL46jx_xkuPvnFNvyCj2dTH5UchSguevobdcNREinf2wZ9YPCSCbNVfbxcqlA/s320/PB260084.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>......and got a bus from there across to Krabi on the West side of the mainland. It took about three hours so we both got some sleep.</p><p>When we got to Krabi we had to wait about 90 minutes for the boat, so we munched on some lunch.</p><p>Got the 3pm boat across to Ko Phi Phi Don, which is the inhabited of the two islands. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146232914797890162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewGgh1jhdA6a98o-SViq-0PVkZszTuq9h6uAr2Lw0dqeq3EhSAc5sryy_dad9koFxjVw01RpFSuq9vH7g87OKyagOFz-2bjaB2Qr3iS196xRQBMf9f_Myyms6TqENAttaRGulue2mmKE/s320/PB260095.JPG" border="0" /><br />When we arrived we walked around in sweltering heat with big rucksacks until we found the Andaman resort. About 20 quid per night for air con, private bathroom (with flushing toilet!) and our own pool!!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146233666417166978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAawhZZtU3tP88ZCu4BOXHxC8LdXSK406t6Ipge-Uz20YtRALuKw_PG3ZIrnYBBekWjD309DMWbHZf4hpdzrFkPX6ozZlUGXF1taPVboXYawBLNngUclTpZZQlJIZR7Xb8b9mPU3VNSE/s320/PB260101.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Life's tough out here.<br /><br /></div><p>Went for some food (everything's a lot more expensive here than on the mainland and Cambodia etc), and then went to an Irish bar for a drink, then Apache bar, then Hippies. Hippies is amazing... More on that later!</p><p><strong><u>Tuesday 27th November</u></strong></p><p>Got up late (can you believe it?), went for some food. We watched 'The Beach' in a bar, and then went to the Reggae Bar. This bar is crazy. There's two full size boxing rings in the bar, and every half hour or so, there's a proper thai boxing match. In between these fights, tourists are encouraged to get in the ring and beat each other up for a bucket of booze!!</p><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146234065849125538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaImWF7ketpGgN-iMEBnDV6x5YBk6uUP96OPlpTJK_gK7JXoV0pxMt4e-tsDhY81cTsrZI90JIa8C3-Lr-_4N4aYASDcqMtkfh9H5Y3W8gnkZZlDKzmp10TwH9S2nsLXsiiXjCPwsOQQ/s320/PB270120.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>So we watched some scores get settled, including some girl fights. The place is awesome!!<br /><br /></div><p>We ended up in 'Hippies' again for the end of the night. It's a brilliant place, and only really gets going about 2am. It's right on the beach, and there's fire shows to watch, and you can paddle / dance around in the sea while you drink. It's such a nice bar, so relaxed and a really good atmosphere.</p><p><strong><u>Wednesday 28th November</u></strong></p><p>Dave woke up and had a sandwich full of ants.</p><p>We both got a sandwich the night before, but Dave left a little bit on the bedside table. When he woke up he started munching on the remains, and when he looked down at where he'd left it, there were loads of ants running around. Tasted ok though.</p><p>Today was world record attempt day... Matt claimed he could hold his breath underwater for 1 minute and 35 seconds. Dave's first attempt was a whopping 1 min 45... thus battle commenced!</p><p>After lots of deep breaths and near-death experiences, Matt's lungs proved superior to Dave's, with a cracking time of 2 mins 15 secs!! Dave only managed 2.05. Livid.</p><p>Had some BBQ chicken and sweetcorn, and went to Reggae bar to watch more people fighting each other. Played pool with some Aussies (we won!). </p><p>When we got back to the bungalow there was an Aussie asleep on our front porch. Don't think it was pool-related though.</p><p>Security man got rid of him though, and we slept, safe in our beds.</p><p><strong><u>Thursday 29th November</u></strong></p><p>We got a boat at 9am to go and visit 'The Beach' from the film. We went kayaking and snorkelling, and saw some amazing fish swimming right next to us. We had to clamber through a cave to get there, but it was amazing. </p><div><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146235964224670386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3JphdCE95UbwKYhY-k_hMOqasN8QdireZETwYy7RUYeZvr-x1ph19ufljJn9ZvzsJxScQvjfWfrJcnkI41RweEcYZqE9JVrZ6266fY_iJNkSPuQBuk6Pk7Py14Hk2C3TIxJuXB-bAag/s320/PB290182.JPG" border="0" /></p><p></p><div><br /></div><p>Far too many tourists and speedboats but still pretty special.</p><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146235977109572290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIY9owXMKL9zhmq4BEwfvFISR7L2Yud0ob8OQHwRGT2Hyuy5A0v4b6jlBEBVMHavo5AgIGFq0ivYh4wRlsN0UqA6q3w_tsQS5PZCHfHV3OWY5r2NT47_nIu8lUHbcD99rsahSw6cPMvQc/s320/PB290186.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Then we were served lunch on the boat (rice and chicken, yum yum!), and moved on to 'Monkey Beach'. Here, there was a beach, and a monkey. See what they did there with the name?<br /><br /><p>After a bit more snorkelling and kayaking we got back on the boat and moved on to another beach. Simply paradise. Totally clear water and soft white sand.</p><p>We met Mr Universe (well, he thought he was), and headed back to Phi Phi Don. </p><p>Had a nap, some food, then an early night.</p><p><strong><u>Friday 30th November</u></strong></p><p>Really lazy day, played some frisbee in the pool, went to a bar called Carlito's for food, and ended up in Hippies bar chatting to a bloke called Andy. He's from Westminster and he's a Charlton fan.</p><p><strong><u>Saturday 1st December</u></strong></p><p>We've been away a whole month!!</p><p>More pool / frisbee action, and went to the BQ chicken place again. You get half a chicken, salad and chips (they're on the menu as 'Friend Fried', and that's not a typing error!). </p><p>Not sure how much it would cost to get Matt fried, but we're looking in to it.</p><p>Went back to Reggae Bar again, and saw a Swedish girl get beaten up, and then a drunk English bloke get beaten up. They wear head protection so it looks worse than it is!</p><p>You'll never guess where we ended up... Hippies! More beers and paddling, then bed.</p><p><strong><u>Sunday 2nd December</u></strong></p><p>We went for a walk to the viewpoint today. It's 1000 feet above sea level, and you have to start the walk at sea level. Matt decided the steps and height might not be such a good idea, so Dave ventured on alone.</p><p>After going up about 100 of the steepest steps in the world, and then a long walk on a steep winding path for what seems like an eternity, you reach the top.</p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146237428808518354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSPfsKLq_RgFGVq3TL8JuPjSvvTQGiFqtQ-M0zGFPSsDGPsatXDJgVA6yP0yQ91NWQOaQYRoBgvqtzmjUQWlJgvhVvNxA0eEtQy7IVCPHDRnWrNkRdRMz_X1gSwgN7EA4nFgDGXP-2rU/s320/CNV000001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>The view is incredible over the islands, and hopefully the pictures from our new disposable camera will come out ok.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146237437398452962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUR8p1-g1dY12K5f6vcTCT1qBiJbDZX-PbU4BSQY773-Jt96xqcI3RqTa4tCU7VO0EQTZfuew8aIIN57pfMPaBxogQtrF099YPwUvnFOu2vo40tzdBSjxvfb6Lk4AgYh-4uiti1jxIwg/s320/CNV000008.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>We've booked another boat trip tomorrow, so hopefully we can get some photos of the amazing places we saw a few days ago.</p><p>And now it's now, and we're going to get some food.</p><p>Speak soon!!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-5495564484808695052007-11-21T18:20:00.000+11:002007-11-21T19:42:54.823+11:00Broken toe in Ko Samui....Dave's broken his toe.<br /><br />Well, we're pretty sure he has. Here's a photo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4D_xxYAuyloxM8YvlG_XnBV7slc-uC3FXD4vVSjCrIryXtEOorrS1Dz3oacRUfY_PMNGGlCdzhyphenhyphenEufIbd4NymvDUG5HbsVYXRmXNRvb5bPcGSewGu6u_NcdKA9x9eWClfU_v6cNbe3U/s1600-h/PB211050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209739195639202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4D_xxYAuyloxM8YvlG_XnBV7slc-uC3FXD4vVSjCrIryXtEOorrS1Dz3oacRUfY_PMNGGlCdzhyphenhyphenEufIbd4NymvDUG5HbsVYXRmXNRvb5bPcGSewGu6u_NcdKA9x9eWClfU_v6cNbe3U/s320/PB211050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>(It's the second one from the left by the way. The other toes have always been a bit weird.)</div><div> </div><div>Right then, it was temples last time, and we've been all over the place since then!!<br /><br /><strong><u>Wednesday 14th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got up at 5.30, and got picked up. Literally.<br /><br />A pick-up truck turned up to take us to get the ferry to Phnom Penh, with 6 people (plus luggage) sat on the back already. There was definitely no room for us, so we got on. With our rather large rucksacks.<br /><br />6 people later, and enough was enough. 12 people crammed on to a pick-up truck. 4 in the cab with the driver, and a total of 10 people (plus luggage!) on the back.<br /><br />We got the speedboat for 6 hours down the river Mekong to Phnom Penh, making sure we got completely sunburnt on the way. </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135207948194276594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kV0Ers9CUhG59a-3mPH2QENdqQzs7VWR4gamXbIxQJf2k4fKju_Pw36ZAt6AD6RASXu6XXu0ZSxkx7LZy3uwJwdmTwHFydq3Yda_MtYW4cXg-62tsDX2ny8a3m8LlegF7p_jihPEDPI/s320/PB140703.JPG" border="0" /><br />Arrived in Phnom Penh to be greeted by scores of tuk-tuk drivers (all called Mr Tuk-Tuk we believe), all offering to take us to their choice of hotel. We bartered (and won!) and got a lift to the Spring Guesthouse.<br /><br />We went for some food at Mama's Restaurant and met an American war veteran. He actually said the famous line... ''When I was in 'Nam''. Best christmas ever.<br /><br />We saw a bloke that looked like Gordon Ramsay that night. And a massive insect thing jumped on Dave's face.<br /><br /><strong><u>Thursday 15th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We went to the Genocide museum via Del Gusto restaurant.<br /><br />The lady who showed us round had lost her whole family to the Poi Pot regime. Her husband, parents and children were all killed at the S-21 concentration camp. (Which is now the museum)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135207961079178498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0RCwIchksQ-7XlaWyWn-_ZXG3F7sdxfvg3_VldW0lnMmVZn2b_xnoUSX4z_8EHq84xIXYbekd1dzgjdWjH7phxa3DmD-OPGPPl2pB1XtFpavsc7PSKgQLrvQYwyfbjJM4OzzGWZdsiM/s320/PB150722.JPG" border="0" /><br />We looked round the cells that prisoners were kept in, and there were hundreds of skulls there of victims. You can even see where the bullet entered and left the victim's head.<br /><br />On a happier note, we went for a free swim at the Royal Palace hotel. Not up to our usual free swim standards, but it was better than having a shower.<br /><br />We went to the riverside area (where most of the bars and travellers were) on the back of a 'moto' (motorbike taxi), had a cheeseburger, then slept.<br /><br /><strong><u>Friday 16th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />After yesterday's cheer, we topped it today by going to the killing fields, where 8,000 bodies have so far been exhumed. It was here that many executions took place, and the bodies buried.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135207973964080418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-swC3im3CZaGG3bRKrKB6XTHfnnNuu6HQ3ed9cq7ee6F0OJ7kqziJRie1FAu8cDE2O8VaJRIIiBNcbs5Nj7cQa_cZVJBjeeidami7duDk12PBu4a_sHBOlBAd7hH-mJx5G9o3QGPCmds/s320/PB160752.JPG" border="0" /><br />People were executed in various ways, and some graves were full of headless bodies.<br /><br />There is a display of all the skulls that have been found here too. Scary to think it all happened less than 30 years ago. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135207965374145810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaureY0j5Au32Wds11Ccc_JrKYOh6iHcMP4z5tt1JX9mS0U1BSp2bLJmfu44Dwy6d9iW7RpX39fdw9C3jgpWkhrA5tAMkwieqGZbK46qLA3QxmbLEPhwEtEXvWpTbsGemyWhNnxf_FxnQ/s320/PB160746.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Saturday 17th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Got a tuk-tuk to Phnom Penh airport, had fish and chips (it's a local dish, you wouldn't have heard of it). Flew from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and on to Hanoi. We had to pay $25 each to LEAVE Cambodia!! Ridiculous.<br /><br />Got the airport bus in to Hanoi, and headed for the famous 'Old Quarter', where all the action is. We checked in to the Carmellia Hotel, and had some food and drinks.<br /><br /><strong><u>Sunday 18th November</u></strong><br /><br />Walked to the lake in the centre of Hanoi, and visited a small temple on an island.<br /><br />There is a beer brewed in Vietnam call 'Bia Hoi'. It's sold on virtually every street corner, and it costs 2ooo dong per glass. That's about 7p.<br /><br />So, a few Bia Hoi's later, and wallet still very much intact, we were loving every second.<br /><br />We ended up in a strange club called 'Funky Monkey', but left after one drink. (It cost nearly a pound. Far too expensive.)<br /><br />EVERYTHING closes at midnight in Hanoi. Bars, shops and restaurants all close down and the police come round to check. We managed to bribe the Bia Hoi lady for one last drink about 12.10. We're so naughty. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209009051198770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzz9jcB5nJeBNhE9sX2AfRK1iTGQzkhAmwi2EIRmAdiaSRsg6fogaNiO7031D_jom0Go78PM1ZwXTf_w9I-KcbkY51-y-NFwzDUwrrmDz0fiJA0iDcdrkW0FtQfO-EVbiAWPn-GvIruI/s320/PB180873.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><u>Monday 19th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />We'd booked a trip to Halong Bay for today, so we got up at 7.45 to be picked up at 8.<br /><br />It's a 3-4 hour bus ride, and there was a bloke on the bus who managed to talk for the whole journey. Non-stop. Without a break. He just talked, and talked, and talked. The guy was amazing.<br /><br />Unfortunately, when we got there, it turned out he was going on a different trip, so we parted company there. I bet he's still talking though.<br /><br />Got on our boat, and headed out to sea. We visited a fishing village on the way (a floating village, naturally), and then had lunch served on the boat. Squid and chips. Lovely stuff.<br /><br />Then we got on a smaller boat and sailed under a cave to some hidden lagoons. Absolutely stunning. One of the most memorable things we've done so far. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209034821002562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpOEZ0wAk1D8PSjVCfG7h7QN6eKI1d1NHBcbzDNrNQZAVRkWw2bceclVlNVhyphenhyphenLB7tf0GqxUGHGykOcfw4ASiQ5GOHSyf-f8w4io7_ERI_x8reik1J8dkjGr5OpIfDVXAzAShqBF2jJr0/s320/PB190955.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Then we landed, and walked up a steep hill to another, massive cave. It's all illuminated now, and looks incredible. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209060590806354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iknEpgJ9rimoyVs3dufExa3B6bTfW7eolHh7QmNrraveGePF5P4OFWR9JqwgBc2UNr1vfv67AYx1HeXoeIf4-UxLu7D5H493g9yN2S5QKKwoAHm2p_hnK0CUNf84V-lXnRSVHZSLxUA/s320/PB190977.JPG" border="0" /><br />Got back to Hanoi (still no sign of talking boy), and had some more Bia Hoi's. Then bed.<br /><br /><strong><u>Tuesday 20th November</u></strong><br /><strong><u></u></strong><br />Up at 6.30 to get a taxi to Hanoi airport. Our driver was having a row on the phone, in Vietnamese, all the way.<br /><br />Got the 9.20 flight to Bangkok, where there was something being filmed in the airport. Dave will definitely be on telly somewhere in the world fairly soon. (Accidentally walked in front of the camera!!)<br /><br />Finally got our flight on to Surat Thani, where we got a bus to the pier. It's about an hour and a half journey, so we both slept.<br /><br />We caught the 7pm ferry to Ko Samui which took about 2 hours, and shared a taxi with some people we'd met to the Chaweng Bay on the other side of the island. This is where it's all at. There's Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King etc. It is the most commercialised place you'll ever see! It's like Blackpool with good weather. But cheaper.<br /><br />While we were in Black Jack English Pub (!!!), a bloke came along with an Iguana and let us take photos with it.... </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209086360610146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O_7DXG6EUtscsCKJ6tK8GXAjfuXPUyC2EwkoX1Ik-roeWRDpF7toLWso7HkFLefwEGpwPPlZlyg-3inhHtxvu52TPseVtXVKLu2Jj3jfNhcXjmeh91AiHTyouybVNky89_ACHbXtVwc/s320/PB201018.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then another guy turned up with a monkey.... </p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209722015769970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH-sAKwI323mjcDKUV78ihPy75FLyc_D23XmwE2QrPTYqIP12NjfpwqrfAioZU1cPpMYFqrkpg-nTFwFQbGrMeqot711ctTBThb3UsXU2auljC5839mnuaCQT-fwNKWbUZTmL6uA4WOw/s320/PB211021.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then we went and danced the night away (we're rubbish), and ended up at a beach party at the hotel next door. The sea is warm even at 4am!! Brilliant night.<br /><br />As we were walking through the hotel grounds, Dave walked in to a piece of concrete sticking up from the ground, and we're fairly sure he's broken his toe. But a kind local man poured some red stuff on it, so it'll be fine.<br /><br />3 days to get it fixed before the full moon party. It ain't gonna happen. Gutted.<br /><br /><br />Not a bad beach though is it?<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209730605704594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR67lEXzWIOwVHLKiwXY-ijo0MelFuZW13iY18RtuHsc0S_Eof_5JRuHUAXp_r4zu7uuGnmDlD0aq9xhaoMCbZgV-MDsKfPf6lnmB38Nl7xJ0hA2xYYWNbxu_2ULLrr7k8Mp1UonXWaEQ/s320/PB211047.JPG" border="0" /><strong><u><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135209726310737282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmxK0aMeNSgzystIF6CBxoG4X57iTdcKbdr8inv61odqwD3GSO72L_RRDQ2IXtQ-YZIi0XpfiG4gJ-Ojp0aewN8PUSaNaE6MqYD7KSiCp3yFFCWgKBR_d0lVo_OUQK7EuFD6RDTpqspc/s320/PB211045.JPG" border="0" /></u></strong></p><p>Speak to you soon!! xxx</p>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-37281651341604522052007-11-13T23:06:00.000+11:002007-11-14T01:16:59.943+11:00Cambodia-tastic!So, the last time we blogged we'd been cuddling tigers.<br /><br />The following day (Saturday 10th) we got up at 4.30am (after an hour's sleep!), and got a taxi to Bangkok Hualamphong train station. Had 2 chicken curry pasties each for breakfast, some crisps and water. Our bodies are temples.<br /><br />Caught the 5.55am train (yes, we actually made it on time!) to Aranyaprathet, which is a couple of miles from the Cambodian border. 6 hours later, we arrived.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132313177235284178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWPzF4MqKe-O04SWOwoBXONLJVO3sq05Lz8RyJBQd6kIN-hR7J8jFDCV1-l2UyGRPX8rwZTScUO-YiX3sdm9UaC19jKWGm8n3u0Iiv3BaKQmn1c-IXi0_VvnI89xcmCtXo12EpjHDsM4/s320/PB100448.JPG" border="0" /><br />Matt + Dave + wooden train seats = rubbish news.<br /><br />Got a tuk-tuk to the border (well, that's what we asked for), and got dropped off about 500 yards short of the border. Got surrounded by pushy blokes (no uniforms, no ID badges) telling us to pay them 1000 baht, and fill in our immigration form. By the side of the road. Next to a shop.<br /><br />We smelled a rat.<br /><br />Turns out there was a dead rat on the floor. (Not really.)<br /><br />We put our heads together with some Germans, and decided to venture on to the border without handing over cash to strangers. Got to the border, filled in some (completely different) forms, and we were allowed through in to no-man's land.<br /><br />We were out of Thailand but not yet in Cambodia. We were hoping no-man's land would be full of fit girls in bikinis, but it wasn't. Just pickpockets.<br /><br />Had to fill in one more form and hand in a photo each. We tried giving them a photo of us with a tiger but they didn't want it.<br /><br />At this point we had to pay 20 US dollars, but we didn't have any. So Dave went to find an ATM. The nearest one was about a ten minute walk away, inside a casino. Except it wasn't. Had to go to the counter and swipe for the cash. (Dave was tempted to put it all on red, but decided not to.)<br /><br />Finally, after messing about in the casino for about 40 mins, made it back to Matt and the Germans.<br /><br />The Germans (they didn't have names) were heading to Siam Reap, and we were heading to Phnom Penh. In the end we all shared a taxi to Siam Reap, as we'd heard that 'all travellers go there'.<br /><br />The taxi took about 4 hours on the bumpiest road known to mankind. We heard that certain airlines pay bribes so that the road is not improved, thus encouraging more people to fly in. It really was so bad that we decided that we weren't ever going back on that road.<br /><br />On the way, we saw some real poverty, and when we stopped for petrol we were surrounded by kids asking for English, American or Thai money. We handed over 10 baht (about 13p) and one little boy couldn't believe his luck and ran off smiling!!<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132313185825218786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxm9AIdcn_WgFnFB2fvobMYS6YMO8yqKDHX9aYPrKP87MifcGvqGogay39-QVqYM2XXeZmWC1zUfpQGs25OyjTWwOVCeP1B2SHPp6VP8TY1HTV8IthyphenhyphenNFxPSVQ2T3Sr2qsqhSw25xLPg/s320/PB100470.JPG" border="0" /><br />Finally arrived in Siam Reap, and checked in to the Bequest Angkor Hotel. 13 US dollars per night for a very nice twin room with air-con, satellite TV, fridge and en-suite bathroom.<br /><br />Went out, got drunk.<br /><br />Next day we went to a very posh hotel to use their 'lagoon pool'. Only 12 dollars each for a swim. Used the old 'Marriott in Bangkok' trick...... Walked in, went straight past reception and went swimming for hours for free!!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132313194415153394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG7N0exWI0Ay8cpbguYZR0kcvhmlSYKNEJOtxUIslEX3gaN_z75tIwsCB2KNj3alg8R-E2fcdxnkhFPD9xO3ABRYLXAwK8n7hf14pD-DaYVSJ0sQ7mz0I-Whkaw94MGj-gdJqHf487Fo/s320/PB110487.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132313198710120706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-8SCMJIWaqY3rvKPTS739B82HjGTp1PfLUWGnkQQEI21jjDytPCfyrv_lEc7ROo465arLAMJcHlO8weDv8SMOMW8rgSKCVe_wTc3v3pxptE7UueuWsYc43eiox2PUuvXt3Z31mZ32-g/s320/PB110492.JPG" border="0" /><br />After a heavy downpour (first rain we've felt since we left the UK), and a sauna, steam room and power shower, we used their complimentary fluffy towels and thought we'd best leave.<br /><br />When we left the hotel there were lots of police outside, but they weren't there for us.<br /><br />Went for some very tasty food (Dave - Steak, Matt - Chicken Mexicana), and ended up clubbing in Cambodia with our tuk-tuk driver!! It was mental, a massive club with 6 lazers, about 1000 people, and us.<br /><br />We were two of only 5 non-Cambodians in there, and as we were showing off our moves on the dancefloor, a few clubbers made it clear they didn't want us there. Oh well. We run this town now.<br /><br />Went back to the hotel, slept.<br /><br />Next day (Monday) was a day we'd been waiting for.<br /><br />We knew we could fire big guns in Cambodia, so that's what we did. We got our new best friend Mr Tuk Tuk to take us to a shooting range. When we arrived, we couldn't believe our eyes.... We were faced with a wall with about 40 guns hanging up, ranging from AK-47s and M-16s to rocket launchers.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132313207300055314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMgK_pk_XEOiwhsZZ78WGDO8hpw6mGF6YX1wylPYfG3JVY6qjZdM-BD3C3Mg_slHan_zgiv0BipfY486ann7HpDkOLwQoAP8vc5LGQx5CnRkm7rHs-MZZ-tOIuj0jHphJ7RXQSA-U_Y0/s320/PB120525.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />There were about 5 blokes working there, all with their scary logo and slogan on their jackets. The slogan 'Mess With The Best, Die Like The Rest' made us realise we don't run this town.<br /><br />Our slogan 'We Love Dave Kilner' did little to intimidate them.<br /><br />If you don't know who Dave Kilner is, we'll explain when we get back. He's in Dave's phone as 'God'. Nuff said.<br /><br />So we got dressed up in army gear, (pointless but brilliant) and were told to choose our weapon. We never thought we'd be saying to each other... ''Can you hold my AK-47 for a second please?''.<br /><br />So there we were. Dave Henning and Matt Mackay with machine guns. Loaded. In our hands. With a trigger. You get the idea...</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132325250388353362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP9XHOptcivYTcQhSuHpzd48fihzeBCdX7LQWQtwX-HfPFTCmDp_pcPiPu5zfc5bxRW1yyfnvFuWOm1H_c5FyryWaDs9wviYxlPM2iNZ_jd5ZabxZzPFa_Q54F1t3Oi4QAFNEwwAOtC4/s320/PB120533.JPG" border="0" /><br />To start with, it was in semi-automatic mode, so each time you pull the trigger, one bullet is fired. Then we switched to automatic, and that's when the fun really started!! Pull the trigger, and the bullets fired just like in the movies.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132325267568222562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8b7Mx_mgncBL9k-iDlb71MntkUbCFvoIcwSVd0rRXTDlCmn14Yg-kAb6WA9gcMWhKNixF_4apsNNZCTKhPvJLeaErEZUzcDZwt1FCxcIeIpg3daGwJcTaIuIKkhuba8aokb2LKgojPo/s320/PB120543.JPG" border="0" /><br />30 bullets later (it didn't take long!), and we were done. We'd fired AK-47s and survived. After that we fired a 'Browning', which is an even more powerful machine gun, and decided to call it a day. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132326036367368562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q87pYEXTBkR8r1XC_rCo_t-r-E4-j9Oes3ZU-trWxXRxp7ja7-e1Ayo_CM0wgDkSs7g9TfL5-jfg7r1uGNK-ED3jOue_s0NdAD5jKLH5QQjgL2x7pK8UGoLUCgZoaG7zC_PlaYhAGZg/s320/PB120580.JPG" border="0" /><br />We were going to point out to the scary men that we'd 'Messed With The Best', and had quite clearly not 'Died Like The Rest'. We decided against it.<br /><br />Tuk-Tuk'd it back to town, with an agreement to be picked up again at 5am to go and visit the famous Angkor Temples at sunrise.<br /><br />On Tuesday, we woke up at midday. We couldn't believe Mr Tuk Tuk wasn't outside waiting for us. We were only 7 hours late. Some 'best friend' he turned out to be.<br /><br />Found a new best friend (his name was Mr Tuk Tuk too), and decided to go to the temples. The biggest one is called Angkor Wat, and is the biggest religious building in the world. Someone told us it is one of the 7 wonders of the world, but not sure if this is true. (Dave Kilner is one of them, we know that much).<br /><br />It was immense, and we soon realised why everyone had made such a fuss about visiting. The photos don't do it justice but will give you some idea at least. </p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132326075022074242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcmrr5-V5UAxGp3pgeO3n4zLyc8nD1milWlmnPUmwLTPYsFE0hRO9GgY7mtLVQ3zwpd1zRBPSX-Mc8xzOOuWAafRmHGzWTI1Hn-3OMA2KqXNyIVBdWlUCUinoe8ofi5ZZyr9IOwOqa78/s320/PB130623.JPG" border="0" /><br />After eating a pineapple-on-a-stick, we went to another temple called Angkor Thom and watched the sun set over the Bayon, which is the main section of this temple. An amazing day. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132328394304414114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhX6esBScNBxNdGTcNXl2BOEYg36xTWLlUmSnbmiY4jnSyCe1P2YP87XI42plDo-R0IlGY-H8c6gQdsAxrtyRRX-po0mzuelf7pC9BGhQpc5TPgHhf_8rgh_PTqQyKkrq8kQgJWksuRY/s320/PB130647.JPG" border="0" /><br />Tuk-tuk'd it back to town, had some food (Dave - Pork, Matt - Pasta) and now we're here writing this.<br /><br />But now we've finished.<br /><br />Bye.</p>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-33080665844256603342007-11-10T01:04:00.000+11:002007-11-10T03:00:13.066+11:00We've survived over a week so far......<div>Firstly, Dave's hair is growing REALLY slowly, and we can't work out why. Secondly, everyone keeps staring at his legs. This must be for one of two reasons....... Either he has fantastic, toned, tanned pins, or they're the palest two things ever to be spotted in Thailand. Still trying to work it out....<br /><div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Since our last post we've been really busy. On Monday we got up at 6.15am (after an hour's sleep!), and got on a bus for about an hour and a quarter to the floating market. It was amazing. You get on what is basically a long canoe-type-thing which holds 6 people (see picture!). </div><br /><div></div><div>As you're rowed up and down a maze of canals, there are shops floating past too. If you want to buy something then the two boats meet in the middle of the water. Job done. </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mh4mxeTklPMa73xNN2MS4Zv6r731AqMGFscJ3kkSNvd914ihn0sLiZ9aXOL5InUx5J6Bpx52dn3vFHCnefo-dLOlHAVCGUIzvl4i04QyoSqxkDVQoV78orA0pCjJnWZFI6lDqb2JFCk/s1600-h/PB050162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130865472608821330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mh4mxeTklPMa73xNN2MS4Zv6r731AqMGFscJ3kkSNvd914ihn0sLiZ9aXOL5InUx5J6Bpx52dn3vFHCnefo-dLOlHAVCGUIzvl4i04QyoSqxkDVQoV78orA0pCjJnWZFI6lDqb2JFCk/s320/PB050162.JPG" border="0" /></a> After the floating market we went to see a monkey show. It was pretty cool to get a photo with one, but also a bit worrying.<br /><br />It seemed really cruel seeing them chained up. They were only being allowed off the chain to play basketball or ride a bike. We could only imagine what punishment one particular monkey would be getting after we left. It dared to refuse to jump through a ring of fire.<br /><br />On a happier note, we met an elephant in the car park and fed it bananas. So there.<br /><br />Next on the agenda was a crocodile and elephant show. You can imagine it, elephants playing football and generally being big and heavy.<br /><br />The crocodiles were BRILLIANT!! There were two members of staff, each with a death wish, who would put things in the crocodile's mouth and try and get them out before the jaws snapped shut.<br /><br />When we say things, we mean their heads. They would prise open the croc's mouth, lay on the floor and put their whole head in between the jaws. There must be safer ways to make a few baht than that, surely?! </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130869127625990274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC97Ump1OwnBnpLwdB9O-k_bw2COFedoBfl7asoFMnEQSQDMi_PJsCiAvBxFXvsWRNPeXigtPRIOkqRQzhe2DaAo5o2aQmo5yLCkqq6wdRwOeNDBjyGXOz7BYd_LFuVn0P8BJ0Os6MVw/s320/PB050204.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div></div><div>Got home, drank beer, went to bed. (We'll not bother adding that bit in future, just presume it to be true.)<br /><br />Tuesday....<br /><br />Woke up late, jumped on the Skytrain to the river, and got on the boat to see the Grand Palace lit up at night. We decided the cheapest way to do this was to get on one of the free shuttle boats which served the major hotels.<br /><br />Us being us, we got on the wrong boat and went in the wrong direction down the river, and ended up at the Marriott hotel. It has a swimming pool. And we were in shorts.....<br /><br />So, we strolled over to the towel man, told him we were in room 417 (never fails) and went for a swim!! Free swimming is so much better than the old-fashioned paid-for type.<br /><br />Went to KFC (it's not the same taste as home!), back on the Skytrain (still with wet shorts. It looked like we'd both had a toilet accident by this point.), beers, bed.<br /><br />Typing is hard work.<br /><br />Wednesday was the day we were finally going to cuddle tigers. You'll never guess what happened... We missed our train.<br /><br />Yeah but, no but, yeah but it wasn't our fault yeah. Traffic chaos at 6.15am (it never, ever stops) meant it took ages to get to Bangkok Noi station, so we missed the first of only 3 trains a day to Kanchanaburi.<br /><br />We had about 6 hours to kill, so we thought it would be good idea to get a taxi to the Grand Palace. Got there in shorts, only to be told (1) you have to wear long trousers, and (2) it wasn't open til 11am.<br /><br />We are rubbish at stuff.<br /><br />Plan C kicked in (wish we'd made a plan 'A' and 'B'), and a very nice Tuk-Tuk driver took us to the Golden Mount and waited while we went in, the Big Buddah (and waited while we went in), then back to the Grand Palace. This cost us the grand total of 20 baht. That's 30p.<br /><br />Golden Mount is a big building with lots of steps and a great view over the city, and Big Buddah is..... a big Buddha.<br /><br />So, back to the Grand Palace, rented some long trousers (bet we looked good on their dancefloor) and had a look round. It's impressive, as the photo will show. Lots of tourists and lots of blokes with guns. Only small blokes though and we think they work there. </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130869101856186482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTumYLSkrbBFldgRqBLNiTr3JdVMqHsTKhgGA2sMux9trjCwiYhl6wannxTJTbP_50QvJbwpJDGF2gF5fSfVGwriZelvX1wGMiWtVmlYP98VaZnZzJGZBiJqB3D3BaN2DKCkPZlkb2go/s320/PB070285.JPG" border="0" /><br />Finally got the train just before 2pm to Kanchanaburi, 2 hours West of Bangkok. Really enjoyed our first Thai train journey, sat chilling with some monks in our carriage.<br /><br />Checked in to a wicked log cabin on stilts at the Blue Star Resort in Kanchanaburi, and had a bit of a kip. Went out for a beer about 11pm, and got chatting to two people from Holmfirth. That's in Yorkshire you know. One of them was Simon Hirst's old accountant back in his Hallam FM days!!<br /><br />Next day was definitely Tiger cuddling day. (Heard that before somewhere?!)<br /><br />So on Thursday we decided to go to the Erewan Waterfall in the morning, then the Tiger Temple in the afternoon. We hired a scooter after a Thai breakfast of beans on toast, and set off.<br /><br />After 48 miles of Matt's legs being wrapped round Dave on a scooter, we arrived at the waterfall. 7 tiers to climb up, each one absolutely stunning. We got as far as level 5 and had a swim. We'll let the photos do the talking about this one. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130869187755532434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWXcA45ysziksPiXIguPwpHTwvM0BmW9rx7yO_uewIbI4iaUMN0A9BxJLfJ6PigpVvn1ULzbIcHlPeCibR_Q1vglJPkTsumFF73wXHQQrfKmKDQbTsT6hN_8FxSYmdSzgNKUlXqdgOOo/s320/PB080362.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130869230705205410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rsnjvSeQIPPDsSMnxVSyjY3Hb5aCb3R1PUn5Acllc71xgWhWDaAxwlp0bm3JEy1W7_iBp4ebbbLtmDr_AljmYfng90mYlsDFfQdOlYmG7-kaNmdYu_oqw17LIFrCVXAhiW64xNO3R2w/s320/PB080354.JPG" border="0" />Came back via the Tiger Temple, took AGES to find it, and by that time it was closed. No tigers for us then.<br /><br />So, beers, food, and an extra night in Kanchanaburi (!) meant TODAY was the day we'd DEFINITELY see the tigers. Bloody sick of saying that.<br /><br />Friday 9th November 2007. The day Matt and Dave would finally get to cuddle tigers. Surely nothing could go wrong?<br /><br />It didn't, and we finally got to meet a monk and his cats. His cats are big. We paid 1000 baht (about 14 quid) to get a big tiger's head in our lap. The reason the tiger is happy to have it's head slung in people's laps all day is because it is asleep for the whole thing!!<br /><br />Apart from the big one, there were about 6 other tigers, some awake, some asleep, and we were led from one to another for photos. They sleep for up to 20 hours a day. Best job ever. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130870519195394242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLuyVGML1zudajFlV2idbS24b4aIGH9xMzIgPvxXqNqJQDjf_RSuoAkQYOxkKuwMJkDen97aSuPPR2S54O3vwsKEAoPPBsEJg6CA5BrvGKl3QsmM0XSVyMOACqaBEOY8DhTXjS2Vt358/s320/PB090410.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130869273654878386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1t8tf9g8f55__506pSS8yjG2VyLp8s5Lncq6YnsPn4aE0u0UdMfT3v9TQqSxZ0NlRY-Y4JY7bjx4HN5-D0zUytup7SzhQHUH_OACFrnuoPZSmBpkgl7aFdBYF24vcFPm8I1osbRy9eE/s320/PB090403.JPG" border="0" />Missed another train, so got a bus back to the wrong part of Bangkok, taxi back to prison, wrote this.<br /><br />Phew.</div></div></div>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-82139975927718540222007-11-04T19:08:00.001+11:002007-11-10T01:04:23.275+11:00We've arrived!!Firstly, how are we?<br /><br />Right then, we arrived on Friday after 21 hours travelling (including 3 hours to do the '40 minute journey' from the airport in to Bangkok centre!). Checked in to our prison cell (sorry, hostel) and realised that this room ain't big enough for two. But there's two of us so we're managing so far!<br /><br />Went out on Friday night to see what Bangkok has to offer, and had a drink in a bar which had a thai kick boxing match going off in the middle! A bit weird having a drink seeing two blokes beat the life out of each other. (Unless you go for a drink in Sheffield on a matchday...)<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129345420185588514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidVR_z_64mfl0gDK1zRdHX0uxrdOiM0MsjU5ld7aLBw53dXl9VR1a6omIeqhSMXpCKHQpRhkanSxdcFPLavt3t04Eaxzs3Or_Hq_KWvTpHnwDkUaeJ8vzWOm4nRJeQNdZEBPNMeVgF3Q/s320/PB020026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />We were thoroughly disgusted at the combination of beer and fighting. We're going back there tonight. Me vs Matt. Winner gets the prison cell to himself for the night. </p><p>At night the streets are full of market stalls selling everything from girls to tazer guns, and the odd elephant too. Everywhere you turn, the sound of 'tuk-tuk' rings out from local drivers wanting to take you 'anywhere for 30 baht' (about 50p!).<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwFp1BDjZ9QJ5luXb7FxxD47ZTTxZ6RgQGqCnCLNhWMowFvJB8wwiR6OKPaqqLL3scWATWhm_vNJvzp2ybI3ZhyphenhyphenekKyPYo1yAc3W9ZtspOMf4u-2yo-J2_Uy7jPjIKMn3rY5ZC-nyuNI/s1600-h/PB030059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129345428775523122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwFp1BDjZ9QJ5luXb7FxxD47ZTTxZ6RgQGqCnCLNhWMowFvJB8wwiR6OKPaqqLL3scWATWhm_vNJvzp2ybI3ZhyphenhyphenekKyPYo1yAc3W9ZtspOMf4u-2yo-J2_Uy7jPjIKMn3rY5ZC-nyuNI/s320/PB030059.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Today we've been on the skytrain, which is basically a big monorail through the city. Matt's been loving the heights and has now managed to walk up 4 steps. </p><p>There's a few dodgy characters around, and it's not uncommon to see a middle aged Western man with a young Thai boy. A bit disturbing to see at first, but it's obvious this city is run on the sex industry. </p><p>It's very warm, around 30 degrees at midnight, even hotter during the day. We're going to the Holiday Inn this afternoon to pretend we're staying there and to have a swim on the 6th floor outdoor pool!! There's even a tennis court up there too. </p><p>Tomorrow we're off to a floating market (we'll explain next time!), and then off to see tigers and elephants!! That's about it for now, speak to you soon x<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZIN2eAru5RMvC1X_0voh6j54II3hoxTLW3NnikNRXqrs89FAam2k9_aMKR6LdMJATjV14OdReth_cfASwVuFQlvi0DioXcqoC7J_8sXu4zelnTXQHZWddOQiahvEI_nTzdHxq4uDr0c/s1600-h/PB030062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129345437365457730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZIN2eAru5RMvC1X_0voh6j54II3hoxTLW3NnikNRXqrs89FAam2k9_aMKR6LdMJATjV14OdReth_cfASwVuFQlvi0DioXcqoC7J_8sXu4zelnTXQHZWddOQiahvEI_nTzdHxq4uDr0c/s320/PB030062.JPG" border="0" /></a>Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2220070452417275154.post-87282147415502944962007-10-26T03:09:00.000+11:002007-10-26T03:28:25.316+11:001 week until take-off!!The route we're taking is finalised, and it looks a bit like this....!!<br /><br />Here goes...<br /><br /><strong>Manchester to Bangkok</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Train from Bangkok to Cambodia</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Train from Cambodia to Vietnam</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Flying from Vietnam back to Bangkok</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Connecting flight to Surat Thani (From Surat Thani we can get a boat to Koh Samui and Koh Phang Nan)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Train to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly from Singapore to Sydney</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>5 months working in Sydney</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>1 month travelling up East Coast of Australia</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly from Cairns to Christchurch (NZ)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Bus from Christchurch up to Auckland</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly from Auckland to Fiji</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Lay on the beach for a bit.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly from Fiji to Los Angeles</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Buses and Trains from LA, via Las Vegas and Chicago to Orlando</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly Orlando to New York</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Fly home.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Try and get a job.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>And somewhere to live. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />So here's the latest:<br /><br />We've had all our injections, and we have to start taking Malaria tablets a couple of days before we go (they cost £103!). All visas are sorted too, which is happy days!!<br /><br />Got a busy few days coming up. Had leaving do part one last night, part two on Saturday, then the Irish boys are coming over on Sunday for a big one in Manchester!! My liver hurts already.<br /><br />Really need to start packing stuff up to move out next week. Got a van for Monday and Tuesday (thanks to Mick and Dougie). Wednesday we are taking Matt's car down to Colchester, with his very heavy TV inside, then back up to Sheffield via Dave's parents' to drop stuff off there too.<br /><br />1 week to go, and counting....Matt and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05413652067184196390noreply@blogger.com0