Backpacker Memoirs....Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Monday 28th December 2009.

Well today started off with a bang. After our official visit to Victoria Fall yesterday which was amazing....Today with got to see feel it's power, even when the river is low! A few of us decided to go to "The Devil's Pool" just above Victoria Falls.


Basically, being the stupid tourists that we are, we paid money to swim in a pool at the top of Vic Falls! It's funny really, they advertise it as "Livingstone Island" sounds pretty sedate, but when you get there they have you climbing over rocks in your bikini for hours with some African guy right behind you. Who somehow manages to "guide" you in the right direction with his hand right on your ass and a well timed wink....

Honestly though, it was an massive adrenaline rush. They had us swimming though water that was trying to push you over the edge with only two guys to grab hold of you before you tipped over the edge! They had us jump into the pool in a certain place right on the edge, the power of the water was unbelievable! I ended up with so many bruises and scratches, but we got our first slap up breakfast complete with knife and forks and proper towels to dry ourselves off with afterwards.....We got overly excited and got some funny looks, but none of the other tourists had been camping for 60 days.....Light weights! hehe!

All in all, an amazing day.

A year ago today....

"To love oneself is the beginning of a life long romance." Oscar Wilde.

A year ago today, I embarked on the trip of a lifetime.
16 countries in 6 months.

I was full of hope that I was taking stock of my life.
I wanted to take back control of a life I hated, instead of ambling along and letting the years past me unnoticed. I was full of excitement and hope that I was walking down a new path....One that would make me feel good about myself, one that would lead me to happiness. One that would change everything.

I took risks, jumped out of aeroplanes thousands of feet up, jumped off a bridge because I could, trekked the jungle in search of gorilla's, slept on the ground night after night, while ants climbed all over me and mozzies feasted on me...


One problem, I had to take myself along too, complete with all my demons.
The demons that stop me doing things at home. The demons that whisper in my ear that "You are not good enough! Why would anyone ever love you!"

I slept under the stars on the Serengeti and worried that "She is far prettier than me, he must like her."
I sat at the top of Table Mountain and worried that the Irish guy I met, who obviously fancied me, might try something later and I would freak out.
I watched a beautiful pink sunrise in New Zealand, while I worried that I was far to boring for the guy sleeping in the next tent.
I was so consumed with myself and my feelings that I could not see what was around me.........
I wasted the most amazing 6 months of my life so far.

Now I'm back at home.
What a waste....

Backpacker Memoirs....Uganda

Tuesday 24th November 2009

"I dream of an Africa that is at peace with itself" ~ Nelson Mandela.

Next Stop Uganda! Never thought I would get to say that! A whole days bus ride today though. The children still wave at our massive truck with excitement as we go though their villages...I wonder what they think of us? I can't help thinking what a shame it is when we get piled on and off the bus in the main cities as the locals stare, yet the places that look really interesting the "Real Africa" we get driven though at high speed.....Hmm.....

Sophie (my tent mate) and I have been talking about all the animals that are randomly tied up at the side of the road....Does no one steal them? No one seems to be watching them and you would think livestock would be worth something wouldn't you? Then suddenly we are in fits of laughter Sophie adds "You couldn't leave your cow at the side of the road in England! It would get kicked!" ....Hilarious!

So we have crossed the boarder my first impressions: Goats...lots of them, no more cows this time....They are tied to the side of the road as always, not a sole in sight for miles. Then people...Smiling people. The children still run and wave but this time some of the adults do too. Is that because they are that friendly or are they so poor they think they can sell us something?? Is that wrong to think that??? Maybe!

In Uganda so far the local houses are made of bricks not wood and some of their mud huts have parchment roofs....they appear a richer country. The roads are easier to travel, less pot holes = Better infrastructure. Still got 6hrs driving time and its hot, hot, hot!

I can't believe how resourceful and skilled people are here....My impressions of Africans are changing daily. Just in the space of a few minutes I have seen a basket maker, someone fixing their car, someone else fixing their bike and farmers working the land.

As I watch the people of Uganda fly past my window...smiling, waving and working so hard. It has got me thinking about Africa in general. The people here are independent, resourceful and appear to want to make things better for their families by sheer hard work alone. I think given half a chance they would work their our way out of poverty, they do not need handouts from the West...They need our respect, not our pity......

Je ne comprends pas, Excusez-moi.

So here I am in my new French retreat, Aix en Provence the home of Cezanne. I came here to visit my friend who is singing in the Aix Opera Festival....One problem, I can't speak French. Actually, I can tell you my name and where I am from, I could probably count for you, but apart from that I fail and considering I studied French in High School for 5 years, that is pitiful!

France is amazing the sun shines, the food is fresh and locally grown, their love of history and their apprecation for art is like no where else. I would just love to speak to someone in their language. So I want to learn. I have promised myself that I will add it to my to do list and one day return and be able to order the amazing food off the menu, ask about the art work and look around their historial buildings and talk to the guide. Just need to find a class.

Backpacker Memoirs....Do you REALLY need to go??

Wednesday 6th January 2010

So I have been in Africa now for two months, I have travelled through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zanzibar to name a few, and some things remain the same:

1. The children ALWAYS love you.
2. The Toilets are always TERRIBLE.
The latter I have noted comes in a few variations:

1. The Squat Toilet - If you are lucky you have toilet paper (unlikely) and a tap sticking out of the wall so you can wash your hands.

2. The Squat Toilet complete with a bucket of (dirty) water and a jug - So you can flush. Usually there is nowhere to wash your hands, so the alcohol gel is a must. (There is never any toilet paper.)


3. The Long Drop/Local Village Toilet: Usually a fly infested stinking hell hole of a thing.....No one ever sits down properly so "accidents" are and occupational hazard. If your Lucky its not actually a dug out hole in the ground but has some kind of tin can to hold up the sides...reducing the risk of actually falling in! Still a traumatic experience.


4. The Bush Toilet: This comes in two forms.
a) A hole dug in the ground in your camp for which you are then informed "The toilet is over there"


b) An Actual Bush - If you can find one! Yes people I have actually had the unpleasant experience of doing a number one (and a number two) at the side of the road (Watched by local villagers....I'm sorry if I relieved myself on your farm land!) Thank God I will never see them again!


5. The Western Toilet: My personal favourite and a great improvement on the rest. However, western toilets in Africa always come with some kind of design flaw. Usually the door, lock, sink or toilet are either absent of not fitted properly. You are lucky if the door doesn't close or lock, but you can actually sit on the toilet and hold the door closed at the same time. However, as I personally encountered there is a potential that you will actually fall off the toilet if you try to hold the door closed because it is not fixed to the floor!

6. The Shopping Centre Toilet: Sounds good doesn't it? If you are lucky the walls between each toilet are not see through!

7. The Hotel Toilet: A rare and very exciting normal toilet! Yes, they actually do exist in Africa (though usually in Hotels) They have clean usually white toilets, with toilet paper, a toilet that is fixed to the floor with a lock that fits (oh and a door with hinges that are fixed to the door itself.) No insects, a sink, a hand dryer or hand towels and a mirror! Very exciting!
This rare occurrence which requires happy discussion by everyone in your group resulting in smiling faces for the rest of the day! A real treat!


http://goafrica.about.com/od/healthandsafety/ht/squattoilet.htm

Backpacker Memoirs.... First Entry.

As I lie on my bed something familiar catches my eye. Thrown on the floor like a used piece of junk. I loved it once. Honest.

I carried it all around the world, shared my deepest thoughts with it. I even removed it from my backpack on every flight and kept it in my hand luggage for fear that it would be lost forever. I wrote in it religiously, wherever in the world I was. All 13 countries.

It took 14 flights, 9 boats, 3 buses, 6 jeeps, one bike, one balloon and one very scary tuktuk. It survived three months of living in a tent, an invasion on ants, the animals of the Serengeti and a group of Gorilla's.
It is my travel journal and my friend.

So due to my considerable slack blogging while I was away (mainly because of my lack of a good Internet connection) I have decided to post extracts of my beloved travel journal on here for the world to see.

What follows is my firsy entry. My Backpacker Memoirs.

New Beginnings...

So I have been back home for three weeks now and today decided it is probably time I update my blog.....I have been very slack lately because a) I have been crazy busy travelling b) When I got home I was crazy busy catching up with friends and finding a job.

Well to update you (whoever you are) After two months in Africa, I went to Asia. I loved Vietnam the people there were unbelievable and our boat trip around Halong Bay was amazing. It was so atmospheric the way the mist hugged the rocks, but when it cleared the water was turquoise blue.

Even though we had a month in Asia I still want to go back, there is just so much I didn't see and now I really want to teach English somewhere so I can actually be useful instead of some stupid tourist!



After Asia, I took the world's biggest plane to Oz....I met a friend there and stayed in her sister's flat overlooking Manley Beach in Sydney. Its just a different life there....all the outdoorsy activities seemed so alien to me being a girl from Manchester who spent 98% of the year being rained on! It was amazing to see that in Oz people get there sail boats out at the weekend and sail around the bay or picnic on the beach!

After Sydney (after failing to find a job and getting very stressed about it) I went to Melbourne where I spent a week riding the trams to various places until I decided to give up in the job hunting and spend the last few weeks and last bit of money enjoying myself but come home earlier than I planned....

So I flew to New Zealand (The best decision I made throughout the whole trip!) I loved it! I joined the Flying Kiwi tour bus and made some amazing friends while enjoying the amazing picture postcard scenery.

I was so proud of myself when I completed my first 20k hike.....Me, being a self confessed creature comforts type and surprisingly unfit! We swam with Dolphin's, went Whitewater Rafting, sang Bohemian Rhapsody badly, lived in tents (again) after I had already lived in a tent in Africa for 2 months! (Did I mention I'm not usually the outdoorsy type?!) and watched the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen......


What have I learnt during my travels?....That the world is an amazing place! That I have to make the most of my time while I'm here and that my passport should always be full of stamps from amazing places. That African people are ingenious and resourceful, that they want to provide for their families through hard work..not hand outs. That nature is marvelous and I should make more effort to see it and appreciate it.

That the people of Asia are some of the kindness people in the world and take great pleasure in making others happy. That I am far to hard on myself and care to much about what people think of me, that I spend far to much of my time doing things for others when they don't do things for me. That my family are the most amazing people in the world. That I should make positive changes to my life and that I should do what I love...I should sing more, learn a language, dance, be creative, be independent and be proactive. That I should take every opportunity that is available to me and that you make your own destiny.......

When I was in Auckland Airport on my last day I wondered around the shops trying to spend my last New Zealand dollars....I found a card that said "He who knows his destination and heads directly to it will get there quickly. He who knows his destination but takes the odd wrong turn along the way will still get there, but be wiser for the experience" So I spent my last dollars on that card. A New Beginning.

The Butterfly Meadow

Africa 2010 858, originally uploaded by Noonie28.

One day I will get married here....

Africa 2010 859, originally uploaded by Noonie28.

The White Masai

So in an attempt to be lazy and not actually read the book....the other day I watched "The White Masai".....Hmm, maybe it was a mistake as a friend recommended the book and now I feel like I have cheated and should still read the book...

The thing is I'm not sure its worth it now, I know what happens at the end....I bet I would have loved the read though....

Do I stay or do I go??

As nice as it has been staying in my friend's flat, today I am moving into a hostel on Pitt St..... Even though this will cost me money I don't have (I am actually on Zero now) This is for two reasons really 1) to meet more travellers and 2) to get some advice on the job situation....

I wondered up to George St the other day and found this Traveller advice place...It would have been useful if you didn't have to pay for the privilege of applying for the jobs they advise on there website...I think I may do it though....the jobs seem very short term.....perfect if I want to see the rest of Oz...

I was thinking of doing this RSA course...the one about being responsible when serving alcohol...it costs money though...but what is it that say "You have to spend money to make money!" There is one for gambling too and a "pub skills" course which would be perfect as I have never worked in a bar before.... All the courses come to about 170 pounds though but most of the employers expect it. The thing is you have to repeat it if you move out of state....so do I do it in a bigger state like Queensland????

There are lots of au pair jobs in Sydney but they expect you to stay for at least 6 months.....so no travelling and no social circle......It could get very lonely....

Call centres were the next option....I think that is exactly what it says on the tin....and still a possibly.....

I have seen some "retail" jobs some full time, some part time......I am going to apply but would you employ a traveller???

I have been thinking about leaving Sydney all together and going to Melbourne or Brisbane.......Melbourne was highly recommenced by a friend and Brisbane seems to have a lot of jobs...according to that website anyway....

I don't want to go home yet, I feel like I have only left home last week and I really want to do all though silly travellers jobs...I think it makes a person more interesting and I'm sick of being boring... Hmm....I could always do the naked cleaners job that was advertised on the website! hehe!.....They may get more than they bargained for.. but its a story to tell!!

Oh and another option was to leave Aus all together and teach English somewhere crazy.....I saw an advert for someone to teach Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka the other day......That could have been amazing and I got all excited about it!!.....Not felt like that for a while!

Well I have lots to think about....will see what the hostel people say later......

Better get packing my backpack...

Oh, oh....On the plus side I have ticked most things off my "To do list" so thats good! hehe!

See ya x

Day one of job hunt = FAIL

So in an attempt to be proactive I decided to catch the bus from Ryde into the City and try and check some things off my "To Do" list....

When I arrived in the city I decided to make my way to Lee St to the Immigration Department to check if my visa is ok to work as a carer instead of a nurse (because you need a million other expensive things to work as a nurse here!)

The guy behind the counter wasn't all that helpful, I think he wasn't really sure of the answer to my question....so he just said "As long as you don't work in a Hospital" and "Just ask your employer" Hmm.......not so sure......

So after that I made my way to Pitt St in an attempt to find 477 Pitt St......easy you would think.....expect it isn't actually on Pitt St and left me looking all tourist like and scratching my head in the middle of the street until I eventually found it..

After putting on the pretense of confidence by brushing my hair down with my hands and quickly sniffing my sweaty armpits....and deciding they weren't to bad...... I eventually found the nursing agency I was after.....Only to find out that they weren't recruiting health care assistants due to a "lack of work"

Job Hunt + Sweaty Traveller = FAIL

Disappointed, but still trying to be positive I decided to make my way to the bank to try and open a bank account instead....Only to find that they close a 4pm here!....Another fail! :-(

Oh well there is always tomorrow.......

Another "To do list"

Hmm.......Where to start????

As great as Sydney is I have a list as long as my arm of things to sort out so I can get a job out here....
I found a website for travellers with advice on getting a tax code, bank account, etc,etc...... Its stressing me out.....I just can't motivate myself (and I am nervous as hell about all this)

At the moment I am staying at my friends sister's flat overlooking Manley...The view over the bay is lovely and instead of job hunting today as I planned, I find myself catching up on home and away online and watching crappy Aussie morning TV and feeling depressed about the weather (rain).....Productive...NOT!

As I sit here I can see a big pile of books I need to read....Living and working in Australia, Sydney City Guide and East Coast Australia......the butterflies won't stop jumping in my stomach!....Or is this homesickness?

I figure I am a "To do list" girl, so here is my list:

• Sort out Working Holiday Visa.
• Organise taxfile number.
• Activate bank account.
• Get a travellers fixed mailing address.
• Need Aussie mobile phone.
• Go to the nursing agencies see if they can first track my application (If I want to nurse that is...)
• Sort out a job....any job....maybe do a training course for bar work etc.
• Find a job!
• Find a place to stay....
• HAVE SOME FUN!

My friend left me a note this morning when she left for Dubai, telling me I can "Do anything" maybe I should prove her right.....Better get started then hey....

Sydney......Did anyone know the Opera House is actually yellow??

So maybe I shouldn't still be up at 2am but I am......I just can't settle in Sydney yet (yes I have only been here 2 days) but it all seems so very normal now.....like I have come home but not.

When I arrived at the airport I found the nearby train station without any problem......when I queued for my ticket no one tried to push in front of me.....I spoke English (at a normal speed) to the lady in the ticket booth....and she understood me first time without the requirement for over dramatic hand signals and sightly louder (and possibly more arrogant) English.....

When I got on the train everyone ignored me.....I was just another backpacker......there was no one trying to sell me tourist crap whilst loudly declaring "I give you good price" and trying to drag me into their "shop".....When I got off the train no one tried to trample over me......and most of all now I am staying in a flat with:

A shower
A carpet......somewhat more important than I realised.
A telly
A toilet that is fixed to the ground.....has no buckets to act as the "flush" and I am now allowed to put used toilet paper down the toilet! Amazing! (and odd)

Admittedly suddenly I feel nervous and maybe for the first time homesick.....
I only know a hand full of people in Sydney......and I now need to get a job.....

Easy you would think......but I just keep avoiding it......Why can't I just get some confidence and ask the bar man/waitress/shop keeper if they need anyone?.......Is it because I actually miss Nursing and regret not registering in Aus???

Who knows.......Only time will tell........

Thai Cooking.....Would you trust me with a wok??

Well Asia was amazing! Even though we spent a lot less time there than I would of liked......by Asia I really mean Vietnam and Thailand. The people there are lovely....so polite to the point of unnecessarily backing out of the room you are in!

The food was amazing....So I planned to expand my culinary horizons and learn to cook something other than spag bol.....So while I was there my friend and I took a Thai cooking class. It so enjoyable and funny, the lady teaching the class was so likable.....giving us extra tips on Thai cooking while we made the most basic dishes on the menu....After about an hour she let us near the wok and all hell broke lose.....third degree burns, eye brows and eye lashes burnt off (yes I exaggerate) but it was almost true. hehe! As she spoke in Thai to her fellow chef to put different sauces on our chicken the smell floated around the room along with the ever increasing temperature and a seasoning of sweat from the tourists/students into our culinary creations.....

One day when I am a proper grown up I plan to have a dinner party where I will proudly serve my guests "Chicken with Cashew Nuts" (minus the sweat) while declaring "I learnt to cook this while in Asia" and then present everyone with chopsticks and be the only one who can actually use them.......but for now I'm still a knife and fork girl and I need a house with a kitchen first......But a girl can dream, even if they are only small one! hehe!

Sunset over Hanoi...

emma 600, originally uploaded by Noonie28.

Hanoi

emma 603, originally uploaded by Noonie28.

Taken from a floor top bar with my little camera.......

Koh Samui

So Rebecca and I have arrived in Koh Samui....an eventful trip considering we had to board the smallest plane in the world.....maybe it didn't help that I kept telling Rebecca we were "going to die" when she has a fear of flying! Oops....(It was funny)

We have arrived at our hostel...which has no other people staying and has to have a golf buggy take us to and from our room because its so far from reception... We think they may have actually filmed a slashed movie here...We are moving on very soon....

Yesterday we hit the beach.....Rebecca made a very sexy bikini entry into the water....Whereas I was hit by four freak waves, nearly drowning in the progess and exposing one breast to everyone on the beach.....Nice!
Last night we decided to go to a half moon party......We got a taxis there, paid our 100 Baht at the door and expected party central.....Wrong....The was no one else there....After shouting "ROCK ON" a bit to much.....we got a bucket of vodka and somehow everything seemed better....

Eventually people did arrive....and we watched in amazement as every ugly white guy in the place had a beautiful thai woman/man hanging off them on the dance floor....Interesting....

Bangkok....

So I have arrived in Bangkok, it all went surprisingly well considering I had three flights to catch just to get here from Cape Town.....All I can say is Hot, Hot, Hot.....

I have met up will my friend Rebecca and we are staying in a nice hostel with AIR CONDITIONING! We did make a pitiful attempt to visit the Grand Palace yesterday but instead ended up wandering around aimlessly, until we discovered there was a tube which took us to a SHOPPING CENTRE with AIR CONDITIONING!

Amusingly today we also tried to visit the Grand Palace but following the UK banks stopping every credit card we own we have been stuck my the phone all day ringing the UK to unblock them!

At least I got to watch a "Rebecca tantrum"......Yes people she threw her credit card across the room and then stamped on it......no wonder it doesn't work! ;-) Anyway, we now have tickets booked to Kosumi for tomorrow and hopefully we will be able to book tickets to Vietnam very soon......

Sleeping

ARTY EMMA 014, originally uploaded by Noonie28.

The most amazing day of my life!...