I just cannot tell you how much fun Pea and I have been having since we arrived in Laos. It has completley exceeded all our expectations and we have suprised ourselves at the amount of people weve been meeting and the hours we have danced on our worn out toots.
The tubing was magic in Vang Vien and far more than I expected it to be. It involves bars and bars aligned on a riverside raised on stilts and covered in young people dancing, singing and inebriating themselves a bit whilst watching those flying through the air on zip wires and off petrifyingly high platforms! Oh and you can hire a rubber ring to slowly drift you down the river however the entire tubing population recline at the first bar making this utterly pointless and relatively lonely. (NB Take note if you are heading there)
Emma, I and our three new soul mates arrived at the first bar unfashionably late, wearing far too many clothes for the blistering heat and looking far too ladylike for the occasion. I described the feeling as like when you arrive at a cocktail party scanning the room to find you are both wearing the wrong thing and realise you know not a soul in the room. Tragic I know, but only my style and thankfully Ive got used to laughing at it by now. However within a few mini seconds, we had been thrown into the water thrust a headband on and written over in endless permanent markers, feeling finally part of the heaving crowd.
We were positively tatooed from head to toe in expletives which arent fit for the midge's ears let alone mine and had to let all our inibitions go for the few hours we were there. One poor slightly drunken girl had been pinned down and had 'free squeeze' scrawled across her bare chest. This led to her being harassed incessantly for the next few hours, having her lady lumps played like bongo's and handled like playdo by queuing drooling males. Meanwhile we shook our booties like beyonce and grabbed every poor lingering soul for a cheeky dance. Luckily we had a fine technique of also rescuing eachother from the drunks, one who in order to chat our sexy Pea up claimed he hadnt been sober for the last 35 days! What a devil..
We then swang on the zip wires ressembling trapeze artists and jumped from petrifying heights trying our upmost not to appear even the tiniest bit shaky. Luckily my upper body strength just held up and I didnt proceed in belly flopping or the entirity of my bikini coming down in front of the frightening audience so I was ecstatic. Well worth a try I promise you.
The evenings also required our dancing shoes and a lot of stamina to last until the early hours of the morning. These nights we spent around a blazing bonfire boogying on raised bamboo made dance floors and reclining in the hammocks when our feet could tap no more. It was magic.
The only unfortunate aquaintance was a small Chilean boy who charmed me off my feet, it was all going swimmingly until I moronically told him I was longing to learn how to salsa. This was just a sly comment not meant for any direct repercussions, but the next minute I was being swung and thrown around knocking over spaced morons in the process, to music so inappropriate for this latino movement it positively infruriated me. I remained patient until I could take it no more, grabbing Pea we wandered back. However so too did this midget who persisted in poking various parts of my blubber on our return. Both puzzled, humiliated and turning an unattractive shade of ROUGE I was conjuring up a plan of shrugging him off. When we returned though he grabbed my wrist in a policeman arresting fashion and lunged to slobber on my forehead. I dodged, ran up the frightening steep steps to our room and fled leaving him to work out where he drastically messed up.
Apart from that though we met a group of cheeky chileans, two british nottingham lads,a columbian lunatic and a friendly newton faulkner double. Not to mention the verbal vomiting Canadian, two greasy long haired dishy dutchmen and one raving lesbian making it a most ecclectic entourage.
We left this mad surreal town, deflated but looking forward to Luang Probang. The beautiful city in which we are so luckily staying this moment. We have not picked the short straw this time and have currently become part of a Laotian family. The hotel owner we refer to as mama, an ADORABLE cross eyed lady who adorns us with endless free bananas and coffee. Her house a sweet french looking cottage is nestled quaintly next to even more stunning hotels and she hardly asks for a penny.
Today we went to experience the real Lao, renting bikes and exploring local villages ourselves. This including me plunging into a river in something similar to a Burqa (obviously not a personal choice, but to respect their moral code) to be surrounded by a hoard of young naked vietnamese chubby, smiling and splashing boys. It was heaven on earth and we sat skimming stones, playing poo sticks over a stunning wooden bridge and listening to music all afternoon. Elated, we hadnt fallen into the trap of booking an extortionate guide to tour us aroud the fields followed by a long line of elderly tourists and never wanting to leave.
So one more day here and then the following day we pack our bags and head for Thailand, believe it or not, with our three other sweet companions glued to the hip. As my gordie sis would say 'CANNY WAIT!'. Will write again as soon as I can. Love to each and everyone of you.
Biggus kissus xxx
Friday, March 12, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
I must apologise profusely for my lazy behaviour in regards to this blog. Its obviously a lifeline for a lot of you back home, and as I know you have nothing better to do with your free time it was unfairly selfish and unthoughtful of me. However, on the other hand you could look at it like this - the fact I have not been blogging on a weekly basis glued to the keyboard like a leech can only be a positive. This would only lead you to imagine I was having the most dreadful of gap year's and I am glad to report back that this could not be far from the reality of it.
I am currently in Sapa. The most breathtakingly beautiful place I have ever seen. It is a luscious green wilderness in the heart of the north vietnamese mountains. No ordinary setting I tell you, wherever you turn your head you cannot miss the flamboyantly dressed villagers bumbling down the streets. They are the most awesome of sights, the women in particular have the most extraordinarily tough skin. Irrelevant of the fact they have goods to sell hanging off every orophis of their ailing bodies, the eldery still seem to maintain their sagging skin. Their earlobes are loosely hanging on for dear life weakened by the copious amounts of jewellry strung through them. They wear embroidered garments from head to toe and look fit for a carnival every single day, although magically this is their normal gladrags and nobody seems to throw out an alternative and go against the flow. So at times it is impossible to differentiate between them!
I made a special friend moments into our arrival at 5 am this morning. As she embarked the long flight of stairs in order to bamboozle Pea and I with goods, I saw her puggish face, wrinkled to the core and her smile revealed the most haphazard alignment of gnashers I immediatley knew she was a beauty. I admired her memorabilia and conversed with her through scrunching my face in a similar manner and giggling along with her, with no other means of communicating. This is something I can quite confidently say I have mastered, the art of overcoming a potentially awkward situation by smiling, giggling or repeating back to them what they have just barked in my face in a relatively similar tone. This can suprisingly establish the most magical of relationships I promise.
Anyway, Pea and I were on form even at dusk and within an hour had arranged a moto trip for the day and a two day trek and homestay for tomorrow and the following day. I have learnt a quick decision is quintessential to maintain a calm and patient state of mind, dithering is infact abhorrent.
Now, our motorbike driver would have been the perfect companion if only he didnt ressemble Edward Scissorhands, as a result of the most repugnantly long fingernails he modelled on both hands. If truth be told, I have become aphobic to such behaviour and immediatley gives me the shivers. Something I have decided could be compared with the reaction of an aracnaphobic confronted with a daddy long legs, their disgustingly long limbs as frightening as these nails clawing in our every direction. The men here unfortunatley regard this as a fashion statement and something meant to lure the vietnamese ladies in, whilst making us British youths run a marathon in the opposite direction.
He began driving painfully slowly, refusing to even use petrol as we glided pathetically down the hills. Whilst booking this I had envisaged an adventure not far from that which is depicted in the Motorcycle Diaries, whizzed through the air, our hair blowing blissfully in the wind and the adrenaline pumping throughout the entirity of our bodies. Instead I was having to resort to nudging the poor man to put his blummin' foot down and fly us through the air. A regrettable move we learnt moments later as he turned into a raving lunatic, speeding whilst forgetting to contemplate all blind corners, gulfs in the road and the snorting pigs lining the paths. We were full of fear for our lives and I could hardly see the landscape (as I couldnt help furrowing in the back of his jumper to avoid recieving hefty chunks of the road or dust in my eyeballs) let alone appreciate it.
Luckily on the way down the mountains however we witnessed the stunning reality of Sapa. The never ending rice paddies, buffallo irrigating the ladn. The men and women bent low amongst the reads, some even supporting babies on their backs. This is the sweetest site imaginable, the midges wrap themselves around and around in material until they can successfully create a cocoon for their offspring to nest in whilst they work the land. Their babies seem never to touch the ground and blissfully they see the entirity of the world through a gap in the threading. An existence I would die for. Babies are everywhere, and our moto guide was on strict rules to stop the engine (if he bothered to run it) in order for us to snap as many pudgy, balls of baby blubber as humanly possible. I cannot wait to show you all the photo's, fit to make the most reluctant of mothers dangerously brooooooody.
Now, in order to assure I will not lose one of my three loyal blogging followers, I will end this entry here to avoid exruciating boredom. But if the main purpose of this travelling blog is to translate to those on the other end of this rotting computer that I am both safe and well. If ony this has been achieved that's enough, as I feel high spirited, well rested and positively humming with excitement for tomorrow and after the trekking our expedition to Laos.
Missing you all keep me posted on your news too xxxxxxxxxxx
I am currently in Sapa. The most breathtakingly beautiful place I have ever seen. It is a luscious green wilderness in the heart of the north vietnamese mountains. No ordinary setting I tell you, wherever you turn your head you cannot miss the flamboyantly dressed villagers bumbling down the streets. They are the most awesome of sights, the women in particular have the most extraordinarily tough skin. Irrelevant of the fact they have goods to sell hanging off every orophis of their ailing bodies, the eldery still seem to maintain their sagging skin. Their earlobes are loosely hanging on for dear life weakened by the copious amounts of jewellry strung through them. They wear embroidered garments from head to toe and look fit for a carnival every single day, although magically this is their normal gladrags and nobody seems to throw out an alternative and go against the flow. So at times it is impossible to differentiate between them!
I made a special friend moments into our arrival at 5 am this morning. As she embarked the long flight of stairs in order to bamboozle Pea and I with goods, I saw her puggish face, wrinkled to the core and her smile revealed the most haphazard alignment of gnashers I immediatley knew she was a beauty. I admired her memorabilia and conversed with her through scrunching my face in a similar manner and giggling along with her, with no other means of communicating. This is something I can quite confidently say I have mastered, the art of overcoming a potentially awkward situation by smiling, giggling or repeating back to them what they have just barked in my face in a relatively similar tone. This can suprisingly establish the most magical of relationships I promise.
Anyway, Pea and I were on form even at dusk and within an hour had arranged a moto trip for the day and a two day trek and homestay for tomorrow and the following day. I have learnt a quick decision is quintessential to maintain a calm and patient state of mind, dithering is infact abhorrent.
Now, our motorbike driver would have been the perfect companion if only he didnt ressemble Edward Scissorhands, as a result of the most repugnantly long fingernails he modelled on both hands. If truth be told, I have become aphobic to such behaviour and immediatley gives me the shivers. Something I have decided could be compared with the reaction of an aracnaphobic confronted with a daddy long legs, their disgustingly long limbs as frightening as these nails clawing in our every direction. The men here unfortunatley regard this as a fashion statement and something meant to lure the vietnamese ladies in, whilst making us British youths run a marathon in the opposite direction.
He began driving painfully slowly, refusing to even use petrol as we glided pathetically down the hills. Whilst booking this I had envisaged an adventure not far from that which is depicted in the Motorcycle Diaries, whizzed through the air, our hair blowing blissfully in the wind and the adrenaline pumping throughout the entirity of our bodies. Instead I was having to resort to nudging the poor man to put his blummin' foot down and fly us through the air. A regrettable move we learnt moments later as he turned into a raving lunatic, speeding whilst forgetting to contemplate all blind corners, gulfs in the road and the snorting pigs lining the paths. We were full of fear for our lives and I could hardly see the landscape (as I couldnt help furrowing in the back of his jumper to avoid recieving hefty chunks of the road or dust in my eyeballs) let alone appreciate it.
Luckily on the way down the mountains however we witnessed the stunning reality of Sapa. The never ending rice paddies, buffallo irrigating the ladn. The men and women bent low amongst the reads, some even supporting babies on their backs. This is the sweetest site imaginable, the midges wrap themselves around and around in material until they can successfully create a cocoon for their offspring to nest in whilst they work the land. Their babies seem never to touch the ground and blissfully they see the entirity of the world through a gap in the threading. An existence I would die for. Babies are everywhere, and our moto guide was on strict rules to stop the engine (if he bothered to run it) in order for us to snap as many pudgy, balls of baby blubber as humanly possible. I cannot wait to show you all the photo's, fit to make the most reluctant of mothers dangerously brooooooody.
Now, in order to assure I will not lose one of my three loyal blogging followers, I will end this entry here to avoid exruciating boredom. But if the main purpose of this travelling blog is to translate to those on the other end of this rotting computer that I am both safe and well. If ony this has been achieved that's enough, as I feel high spirited, well rested and positively humming with excitement for tomorrow and after the trekking our expedition to Laos.
Missing you all keep me posted on your news too xxxxxxxxxxx
Friday, February 5, 2010
A quite remarkable feeling.
Paradise No.2. Its too good to wait.
I can only imagine this kind of feeling is that which magic mushrooms and happy pizzas were established to induce their customers with. Its a high I am proud to have achieved without herbal influences and alternative veg and one I am determined to maintain for the rest of this whirlwind adventure.
It must be the combination of the soothing sounds of the tranquil waves gently folding over the scorched rocks and sands or perhaps it is the brimming fruit platter which I have just consumed? Or most likely the sheer beauty of the derilict beach inhabited by the two of us for the day, free from any other human activity, apart from the occassionally balding romantic french couple to keep us company. Sweet.
Now, I must tell you of something which caused me great concern this very morning. I think it is probably worth starting by describing the shrill, soprano screech I heard interrupting my gripping read. After shrugging it off as a rude galavanting tourist I quickly realised, It accompanied an obviously very distressed and dishevelled Pea, who was emerging in a most petrifying pace from the sea.
I had to think quickly on my feet.
I debated what on earth could have led to such drama. A gnashing brutal snapper of a fish perhaps. Do I run out clumsily like a baywatch lifeguard and save her? Fat chance. Instead I learnt as she puffed and collapsed on the sunbed that it had been the most peculiar chubby elongated worm-ish creature which persisted on sucking on my companions poor thighs as she bathed blissfully in the water. My little pea was exhausted and it took her a while to come around. Poor wee thing.
Obviously, I was overcome with relief that she emerged in one fine piece. The thought of completing this wild expedition without her infectious smile and unceasing banter constantly by my side is just too too awful to conceive of.
I must end this brief blogging by the latest triumph. The manager who unkindly interrupted my most delicious fruit salad at lunch, invited the two of us on a day tip tomorrow. Can you believe his kindness. Not just a quick whizz round the island but a magical seaside trip fulled with bbq seafood too. Not to mention the persuasive factor of delicious wines to drink at sunset and two charming men from the hotel to escort us. Mid mouthful I risked choking on my mango in fear he may withdraw this fine offer and accepted. I mean...is the pope Catholic?
I cannot wait to report back. For now, so long ......alfedersain(??!).
A high spirited buglet. x
p.s sorry if this is painfully dull and ive overloaded you with useless information. I will have to wait an extra while before the next one so as not to lose any one of you dear followers. Thank you so much for reading uptil now..I LOVE YOU TO PIECES. yes you!
I can only imagine this kind of feeling is that which magic mushrooms and happy pizzas were established to induce their customers with. Its a high I am proud to have achieved without herbal influences and alternative veg and one I am determined to maintain for the rest of this whirlwind adventure.
It must be the combination of the soothing sounds of the tranquil waves gently folding over the scorched rocks and sands or perhaps it is the brimming fruit platter which I have just consumed? Or most likely the sheer beauty of the derilict beach inhabited by the two of us for the day, free from any other human activity, apart from the occassionally balding romantic french couple to keep us company. Sweet.
Now, I must tell you of something which caused me great concern this very morning. I think it is probably worth starting by describing the shrill, soprano screech I heard interrupting my gripping read. After shrugging it off as a rude galavanting tourist I quickly realised, It accompanied an obviously very distressed and dishevelled Pea, who was emerging in a most petrifying pace from the sea.
I had to think quickly on my feet.
I debated what on earth could have led to such drama. A gnashing brutal snapper of a fish perhaps. Do I run out clumsily like a baywatch lifeguard and save her? Fat chance. Instead I learnt as she puffed and collapsed on the sunbed that it had been the most peculiar chubby elongated worm-ish creature which persisted on sucking on my companions poor thighs as she bathed blissfully in the water. My little pea was exhausted and it took her a while to come around. Poor wee thing.
Obviously, I was overcome with relief that she emerged in one fine piece. The thought of completing this wild expedition without her infectious smile and unceasing banter constantly by my side is just too too awful to conceive of.
I must end this brief blogging by the latest triumph. The manager who unkindly interrupted my most delicious fruit salad at lunch, invited the two of us on a day tip tomorrow. Can you believe his kindness. Not just a quick whizz round the island but a magical seaside trip fulled with bbq seafood too. Not to mention the persuasive factor of delicious wines to drink at sunset and two charming men from the hotel to escort us. Mid mouthful I risked choking on my mango in fear he may withdraw this fine offer and accepted. I mean...is the pope Catholic?
I cannot wait to report back. For now, so long ......alfedersain(??!).
A high spirited buglet. x
p.s sorry if this is painfully dull and ive overloaded you with useless information. I will have to wait an extra while before the next one so as not to lose any one of you dear followers. Thank you so much for reading uptil now..I LOVE YOU TO PIECES. yes you!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Paradise.
Its hard really to know where to start.
Pea and myself are currently at Mango bay on a stunning island called Phu Quoc. It seems to be a hidden secret to all goggling tourists and thank the heavens for that. As a result there are no tatooed, slimy english football shirt wearing youths and only the sweetest of honeymooning couples. These have been immensely appreciated by Pea and I as we have had the delights of nosying in on endless men and women inebriated by their undying love for one another. As the lonely planet quite rightly described, it is a romantic getaway. For there are endless amounts of adoring lovers dotted along the beaches and whispering sweet nothings into eachothers ears at sunset.
On arrival, the manager thankfully even told us that he had moved us from a double bed to two singles as in his words "we were not a couple". This was obviously a blessing, as he saved us having to awkwardly pipe up that we werent infact members of a civil partnership.
It is magic in every sense of the word and I am tempted to reserve a suite for my own honeymoon as it seems to suit the occasion too perfectly. Pea and I have of course, delved in the idea of coming back in years to come with two dashing young men on our arms, but we have both assured one another the chances are slim. The challenge for any man to choose us over all other ladies to spend the rest of their lives with seems to be a feat too big to ask any poor gentleman. So we have concluded a single ladies trip at the age of 40 will have to be a solution to our lonely depression instead.
But it is not our single days which our preoccupying our minds, but the breathtaking beauty of the resort we are staying in. The sea is a turquoise so divine and calm it seems too precious to swim in and the sand is white and silky smooth under our feet. Our bungalow is to die for, and we have never in our lives been more appreciative or gushing about our situation. We cant help asking ourselves why we deserve to spend four nights free of charge in absolute paradise, with a gourmet breakfast included and cocktails and seafood to make your mouth water with the succulence and aromas. I cant seem to even erase the guilt I have at the back of my mind that each and everyone of you is not lying on a beach bed surrendering to the sun by my side.
The tan I must admit is coming on. I can safely say my london doctor can be fired on the terms he warned me I might turn a yellow-ish colour or fully be sunproof as a result of my malaria tablets, as I am gradually (being the key word) adopting a st tropez tan.
Not only has this given me some inner confidence that I am no longer the stumpy hobbit I described in earlier atrocious photographs. But my bikinis even fit. Not just one but ALL four snazzy, flamboyant bikinis are holding up. I say this in utter disbelief, as my sheer determination to be the Delia festive goddess over the Christmas period meant my skinny jeans werent quite as slimlined as they were meant to be by New Year. Papa is 99% to blame for hiring me to take on Heston Blumentals potatoes and endless varities of chestnut and cranberry stuffings as perfecting these lead to excessive tastings and subsequent weight gain. But boy were they worth it.
Anyway, enough about my waistline and more about our paradise. It is currently 4.30 in the afternoon and I am about to scurry back over to my little pea currently lying in a hammock recovering from the intense bathing we endured this morning. In a few hours we may even treat ourselves to a smoothie before dining with a crisp glass of wine infront of the sunset.
I stress, there is no need to feel jealous.
Anna Craven Smith Milne who has made this all happen needs to be made a Saint and we are both indebted to her for her kindness in trusting us backpacking youths to stay in her heavenly resort. She is an utter goddess.
We love you all to pieces and you are on our minds every minute of the day. I am the happiest bean alive.
Love you all to eternity and earlier this morning I wrote an adoring message in the sand with my little toes to prove it.
Big tight suffocating squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze of a hug,
Your Buglet
x x x
Pea and myself are currently at Mango bay on a stunning island called Phu Quoc. It seems to be a hidden secret to all goggling tourists and thank the heavens for that. As a result there are no tatooed, slimy english football shirt wearing youths and only the sweetest of honeymooning couples. These have been immensely appreciated by Pea and I as we have had the delights of nosying in on endless men and women inebriated by their undying love for one another. As the lonely planet quite rightly described, it is a romantic getaway. For there are endless amounts of adoring lovers dotted along the beaches and whispering sweet nothings into eachothers ears at sunset.
On arrival, the manager thankfully even told us that he had moved us from a double bed to two singles as in his words "we were not a couple". This was obviously a blessing, as he saved us having to awkwardly pipe up that we werent infact members of a civil partnership.
It is magic in every sense of the word and I am tempted to reserve a suite for my own honeymoon as it seems to suit the occasion too perfectly. Pea and I have of course, delved in the idea of coming back in years to come with two dashing young men on our arms, but we have both assured one another the chances are slim. The challenge for any man to choose us over all other ladies to spend the rest of their lives with seems to be a feat too big to ask any poor gentleman. So we have concluded a single ladies trip at the age of 40 will have to be a solution to our lonely depression instead.
But it is not our single days which our preoccupying our minds, but the breathtaking beauty of the resort we are staying in. The sea is a turquoise so divine and calm it seems too precious to swim in and the sand is white and silky smooth under our feet. Our bungalow is to die for, and we have never in our lives been more appreciative or gushing about our situation. We cant help asking ourselves why we deserve to spend four nights free of charge in absolute paradise, with a gourmet breakfast included and cocktails and seafood to make your mouth water with the succulence and aromas. I cant seem to even erase the guilt I have at the back of my mind that each and everyone of you is not lying on a beach bed surrendering to the sun by my side.
The tan I must admit is coming on. I can safely say my london doctor can be fired on the terms he warned me I might turn a yellow-ish colour or fully be sunproof as a result of my malaria tablets, as I am gradually (being the key word) adopting a st tropez tan.
Not only has this given me some inner confidence that I am no longer the stumpy hobbit I described in earlier atrocious photographs. But my bikinis even fit. Not just one but ALL four snazzy, flamboyant bikinis are holding up. I say this in utter disbelief, as my sheer determination to be the Delia festive goddess over the Christmas period meant my skinny jeans werent quite as slimlined as they were meant to be by New Year. Papa is 99% to blame for hiring me to take on Heston Blumentals potatoes and endless varities of chestnut and cranberry stuffings as perfecting these lead to excessive tastings and subsequent weight gain. But boy were they worth it.
Anyway, enough about my waistline and more about our paradise. It is currently 4.30 in the afternoon and I am about to scurry back over to my little pea currently lying in a hammock recovering from the intense bathing we endured this morning. In a few hours we may even treat ourselves to a smoothie before dining with a crisp glass of wine infront of the sunset.
I stress, there is no need to feel jealous.
Anna Craven Smith Milne who has made this all happen needs to be made a Saint and we are both indebted to her for her kindness in trusting us backpacking youths to stay in her heavenly resort. She is an utter goddess.
We love you all to pieces and you are on our minds every minute of the day. I am the happiest bean alive.
Love you all to eternity and earlier this morning I wrote an adoring message in the sand with my little toes to prove it.
Big tight suffocating squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze of a hug,
Your Buglet
x x x
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Goodness me. It feels like I have been here months and seems like the last time I wrote on my blog was far far too long ago. I feel I havent properly updated you on the cambodian bambino's at school and the roasting sun which is turning our pasty skin a tiny bit less pasty. If truth be told I am loving every minute, and have even considered taking up permanent residence abandoning the lot of you. However, Anna awaiting our arrival in Vietnam would be less than amused and Pea and I are too polite natured, so my eager plans and a cambodian matrimony shall just have to wait.
We have had the best first week teaching and have met so many quirky and friendly people. The collection of staff we work with are to say the least a varied bunch. Leading the show is English born and bred Bridget. A rather stumpy and sweaty sight in the heat, she has proved to be v good with the children and appreciative of our work and lets us do more or less as we please. Alongside her is her toothless and incomprehensible husband Allan ressembling a flinstone, who occasionally is seen on site and due to his murmuring and lack of enthusiasm isnt quite a firm favourite. But fret not, we work with the sweetest most welcoming and warm smiley bunch of cambodian teachers. They range from 20 to 40 yrs old and could not be more fun. They have worked so so so hard to work there, earning a salary of $150 a month and therefore teach like troopers, enthusing their keen students daily and have so much time for Pea and I and have taken us immediatly under their wing. We couldnt be luckier.
Now a quick sum up of my daily schedule. I work for four hours a day. One hour with the kindergarten group, which includes endless sing songs and shaking our hips to me screeching versions of 'head shoulders knees and toes' and various arts and crafts. Teaching is bliss, instead of the enclosed basement at The Minors I am adoring the opportunity to work outdoors in the sunshine under something similar to a large bungalow beach hut. The resources are plentiful and we can do whatever we wish to abate the childrens quite wild characters. Its been heaven.
I then spend an hour with the most advanced students who are around our age. Their English is quite amazing and I am there to assist with pronounciation and certain concepts they are oblivious to. I have had to bite my lip at times listening to them discuss certain topics. One the other day was shopping and one boy said 'when Im rich I will go to the supermarket', they have nothing but food to survive and learning English is their only means of attempting to get out of the poverty. They all want to be doctors, nurses, tour guides etc and yearn to break the mold of their parents slaving working patterns. But not for a moment are they glum, the lessons are hilarious as they chat away in English and laugh at the smallest of things, proving they are still extremely content!I then do the same 2 hours again in the afternoon after a long lunch break sat lying in a hammock or chatting to the children who are always on site whether or not they need to be. This is because it is a space they can freely play in, something which their cluttered villages cannot accomodate for.We finish at 4 and then have routinely been biking back to shower, change and then head to town for cheap but exquisite mojitos and caprinias over a joyous game of cards.
One day however the day took an unusual turn, as a marquee popped up directly opposite a classroom, and endless people were rushing by, bizarrely carrying huge piles of furniture towards it. Following this, a large music speaker was installed and a painful shreek was heard for miles around us. Some huge birthday celebration we assumed. Until we were informed that a grandmother in the village had just passed away and this was the Cambodian way of mourning. The whole village congregates for music and food to wish them a joyously rich life in heaven. The only thing I thought though was, poor old woman. Who before her corpse has even been budged has the rest of the village jostling their hips and stuffing their faces around her. This may take some getting used to. However it is definitly more appealing than the black, depressing funerals we at home are accustomed to.
Yesterday we headed to the temples on tuk tuk and were just astounded by the beauty of Ankor Wat, Tomb Raider, and a most spectacular temple with heads carved into huge headstones. Only ruined at one point by a swarm of camera clad chinese tourists who yapped to one another in every direction forcing me to ask them to ssssssssh and shake my head in their direction. They are quite outrageous at times and Pea and I had to censor our emotions. But apart from them the day could not have gone better, we had a tour guide and ended sitting watching the sunset at another stunning temple. It was B E A utiful and I now completley understand why everybody raves about them.
Today however we surrendered ourselves to the sun and lay by the most glamorous of pools at a nearby hotel. Costing $5 for the day, it was a bargain and Pea and I were heard frequently saying 'This is the life!'. Fingers crossed I have built up a good bronzed base, as the photos portraying a rather stumpy white hobbit infront of the temples yesterday are humiliating.
I havent stopped thinking of you all and this trip could only be better if you were all here to share it with us.
BIGGUS KISSUS AND SO MUCH LOVE FROM SIEM REAP.
x x x
We have had the best first week teaching and have met so many quirky and friendly people. The collection of staff we work with are to say the least a varied bunch. Leading the show is English born and bred Bridget. A rather stumpy and sweaty sight in the heat, she has proved to be v good with the children and appreciative of our work and lets us do more or less as we please. Alongside her is her toothless and incomprehensible husband Allan ressembling a flinstone, who occasionally is seen on site and due to his murmuring and lack of enthusiasm isnt quite a firm favourite. But fret not, we work with the sweetest most welcoming and warm smiley bunch of cambodian teachers. They range from 20 to 40 yrs old and could not be more fun. They have worked so so so hard to work there, earning a salary of $150 a month and therefore teach like troopers, enthusing their keen students daily and have so much time for Pea and I and have taken us immediatly under their wing. We couldnt be luckier.
Now a quick sum up of my daily schedule. I work for four hours a day. One hour with the kindergarten group, which includes endless sing songs and shaking our hips to me screeching versions of 'head shoulders knees and toes' and various arts and crafts. Teaching is bliss, instead of the enclosed basement at The Minors I am adoring the opportunity to work outdoors in the sunshine under something similar to a large bungalow beach hut. The resources are plentiful and we can do whatever we wish to abate the childrens quite wild characters. Its been heaven.
I then spend an hour with the most advanced students who are around our age. Their English is quite amazing and I am there to assist with pronounciation and certain concepts they are oblivious to. I have had to bite my lip at times listening to them discuss certain topics. One the other day was shopping and one boy said 'when Im rich I will go to the supermarket', they have nothing but food to survive and learning English is their only means of attempting to get out of the poverty. They all want to be doctors, nurses, tour guides etc and yearn to break the mold of their parents slaving working patterns. But not for a moment are they glum, the lessons are hilarious as they chat away in English and laugh at the smallest of things, proving they are still extremely content!I then do the same 2 hours again in the afternoon after a long lunch break sat lying in a hammock or chatting to the children who are always on site whether or not they need to be. This is because it is a space they can freely play in, something which their cluttered villages cannot accomodate for.We finish at 4 and then have routinely been biking back to shower, change and then head to town for cheap but exquisite mojitos and caprinias over a joyous game of cards.
One day however the day took an unusual turn, as a marquee popped up directly opposite a classroom, and endless people were rushing by, bizarrely carrying huge piles of furniture towards it. Following this, a large music speaker was installed and a painful shreek was heard for miles around us. Some huge birthday celebration we assumed. Until we were informed that a grandmother in the village had just passed away and this was the Cambodian way of mourning. The whole village congregates for music and food to wish them a joyously rich life in heaven. The only thing I thought though was, poor old woman. Who before her corpse has even been budged has the rest of the village jostling their hips and stuffing their faces around her. This may take some getting used to. However it is definitly more appealing than the black, depressing funerals we at home are accustomed to.
Yesterday we headed to the temples on tuk tuk and were just astounded by the beauty of Ankor Wat, Tomb Raider, and a most spectacular temple with heads carved into huge headstones. Only ruined at one point by a swarm of camera clad chinese tourists who yapped to one another in every direction forcing me to ask them to ssssssssh and shake my head in their direction. They are quite outrageous at times and Pea and I had to censor our emotions. But apart from them the day could not have gone better, we had a tour guide and ended sitting watching the sunset at another stunning temple. It was B E A utiful and I now completley understand why everybody raves about them.
Today however we surrendered ourselves to the sun and lay by the most glamorous of pools at a nearby hotel. Costing $5 for the day, it was a bargain and Pea and I were heard frequently saying 'This is the life!'. Fingers crossed I have built up a good bronzed base, as the photos portraying a rather stumpy white hobbit infront of the temples yesterday are humiliating.
I havent stopped thinking of you all and this trip could only be better if you were all here to share it with us.
BIGGUS KISSUS AND SO MUCH LOVE FROM SIEM REAP.
x x x
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Just thought it would be an absolute necessity to write to assure you I am safe and sound and to confirm for Granny and Grampa's sake that our accomodation is not a filthy brothel and trixie is in fact a wild but responsable character as opposed to an old creepy man. REST ASSURED. However it has not be far from strange. Yesterday we felt like we were being trafficked as we made our way from Bangkok across the cambodia border. We were endlessly directed to streams of buses and our bags thrown in copious nooks and crannys. Slightly worryingly we handed our passports over initially to the strangest of men with a wadge of money for the visa and were left an hour without them along with a bunch of similarly terrified passengers. After we contemplated what we had just done he vanished in the dust and we had no other choice but to wait. A prawn won ton soup and plenty of terrors later he returned gleaming with a 3 month visa in tow. Quelle suprise! We thought we could then relax. We were so wrong.
Next, we were chartered to a long line of offices to fill in and sign endless forms followed by a 2 hour wait in a queue. Here I could have felt rather suicidal if it wasnt for a hairy spaniard who cracked up conversation and had me blabbering and laughing away until the top. Pea stood in awe as I befriended a man who looked like a criminal on the run but he was CHARMING. And invited me if I was ever ill to the hospital he works in in vietnam. How sweet!
Then after two other buses and a tuk tuk later we arrived to utter bliss. As usual Pea and I were conferring endlessly about how to greet Trixie on arrival and avoid the most awkward of moments, however thankfully she saved us by grabbing us both for a hug. She made us feel at ease instantly and showed us our luxurious rooms equipped with big shower, comfy beds, english tv etc and then shuffling us off to town to meet the other volunteers. She said they were all out partying to wish two guys who had been volunteering farewell. If truth be told, Pea and I felt a piercing pain at the thought that two of the three boys working at global teer were departing. We had ideas they were the chizzled, bronzed bohemian travellers we had dreamt of meeting and therefore felt a piercing pain. However on meeting them we learnt they were a hilarious gay couple. Sad but not as sad if it had been the alternative!
Now dont get me wrong the ladies are WILD. Trixie wears pig tails in her hair, combats and smokes like a chimney, last night even to our horror she took a cigarette out as if to stub it and then sumasaults it in the air, consequently catching it in her lips! Each to their own. She is however the kindest most responsable woman alive and we could not feel safer. She made sure we were safe all last evening and showed us around all the bars, restaurants etc which are sensational! Amazing music, dancing in the street cocktails and bars to match those in mustique.
But dont for a minute think we are just here to lap it up like the stereotypical brits. Instead we had a briefing this morning about our teaching, the etiquette and we learnt some quite horrifying truths about the culture. Its shocking but fascinating to learn about the abuse that these children endure on a daily basis and the lows the women have to go to survive. Prostituion for example is rife however kept low key and women as young as 12 are forced out onto the streets. Not only that but there are tiny children begging 24/7 and people carrying around children which they may have rented for the night to pull the heart strings of local tourists. Can you believe it - renting a baby! Cambodia, and I have only been here a day, but has moved me more than anywhere Ive ever been and the mix of the bustle of tourism and the real poverty is quite something to take in. My eyes have been opened to so much already and I feel on arriving here I could stay for months. I really feel the teaching which starts on Monday is going to be challenging but so so amazing and cannot wait to tell you about all the edible babs. AAAAA cannot wait. Seen too many ones I want to throw in the backpack already!
Now must go the wrist is going, but just want to tell you all I miss you every day but could not be happier. Global teer is magical and just what I have always envisaged the gap year to be. Please midge and pidge read this to Grin and Grimp and tell them I miss them to pieces. Ill forward the link to the M-Ps.
Big hugs and kisses from Cambodia xxx
Next, we were chartered to a long line of offices to fill in and sign endless forms followed by a 2 hour wait in a queue. Here I could have felt rather suicidal if it wasnt for a hairy spaniard who cracked up conversation and had me blabbering and laughing away until the top. Pea stood in awe as I befriended a man who looked like a criminal on the run but he was CHARMING. And invited me if I was ever ill to the hospital he works in in vietnam. How sweet!
Then after two other buses and a tuk tuk later we arrived to utter bliss. As usual Pea and I were conferring endlessly about how to greet Trixie on arrival and avoid the most awkward of moments, however thankfully she saved us by grabbing us both for a hug. She made us feel at ease instantly and showed us our luxurious rooms equipped with big shower, comfy beds, english tv etc and then shuffling us off to town to meet the other volunteers. She said they were all out partying to wish two guys who had been volunteering farewell. If truth be told, Pea and I felt a piercing pain at the thought that two of the three boys working at global teer were departing. We had ideas they were the chizzled, bronzed bohemian travellers we had dreamt of meeting and therefore felt a piercing pain. However on meeting them we learnt they were a hilarious gay couple. Sad but not as sad if it had been the alternative!
Now dont get me wrong the ladies are WILD. Trixie wears pig tails in her hair, combats and smokes like a chimney, last night even to our horror she took a cigarette out as if to stub it and then sumasaults it in the air, consequently catching it in her lips! Each to their own. She is however the kindest most responsable woman alive and we could not feel safer. She made sure we were safe all last evening and showed us around all the bars, restaurants etc which are sensational! Amazing music, dancing in the street cocktails and bars to match those in mustique.
But dont for a minute think we are just here to lap it up like the stereotypical brits. Instead we had a briefing this morning about our teaching, the etiquette and we learnt some quite horrifying truths about the culture. Its shocking but fascinating to learn about the abuse that these children endure on a daily basis and the lows the women have to go to survive. Prostituion for example is rife however kept low key and women as young as 12 are forced out onto the streets. Not only that but there are tiny children begging 24/7 and people carrying around children which they may have rented for the night to pull the heart strings of local tourists. Can you believe it - renting a baby! Cambodia, and I have only been here a day, but has moved me more than anywhere Ive ever been and the mix of the bustle of tourism and the real poverty is quite something to take in. My eyes have been opened to so much already and I feel on arriving here I could stay for months. I really feel the teaching which starts on Monday is going to be challenging but so so amazing and cannot wait to tell you about all the edible babs. AAAAA cannot wait. Seen too many ones I want to throw in the backpack already!
Now must go the wrist is going, but just want to tell you all I miss you every day but could not be happier. Global teer is magical and just what I have always envisaged the gap year to be. Please midge and pidge read this to Grin and Grimp and tell them I miss them to pieces. Ill forward the link to the M-Ps.
Big hugs and kisses from Cambodia xxx
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