Horse Riding. Not something you would expect to be doing in this area of the world. I'd like to prove you wrong! My friend Tash and I took a trip over the Malaysian border this weekend to a resort called 'The Riders Lodge' where you can eat good food, get a massage...and of course ride horses! Unless you're in the monsoon season that is. Whilst a small break in the clouds allowed us to have a 1hr riding lesson, we had to cancel our trek as neither Tash nor I felt we knew how to deal with horses sprinting rapidly for the horizon due to a thunderstorm happening right overhead!
So perhaps you weren't so wrong after all...
Sunday 30 January 2011
I luv Phi Phi
Ever felt that perhaps you should have checked what the average age of holidymakers at your intended destination is before booking? Nope, us neither.
In total contrast from the snowy UK, we spent a few days with our friends Keith and Sara on the Thai island of Phi Phi. This is considered a backpackers holiday destination, but I think the definition of 'backpacker' may have changed since I last looked. Now it means anyone between 18 and 25 who wants to travel the world and 'find themselves' by consuming copious amounts of alcohol and getting half-body tattoos at 2am. Wearing T-shirts that say 'I luv Phi Phi' whilst oogling the amount of flesh on display on the beach is also recommended. Oh...and on no account should you be Thai!
All that aside, it was a brilliantly relaxed time that involved snorkelling, catching up with good friends, eating and drinking. Oh...and watching the antics of the lesser spotted backpacker...
In total contrast from the snowy UK, we spent a few days with our friends Keith and Sara on the Thai island of Phi Phi. This is considered a backpackers holiday destination, but I think the definition of 'backpacker' may have changed since I last looked. Now it means anyone between 18 and 25 who wants to travel the world and 'find themselves' by consuming copious amounts of alcohol and getting half-body tattoos at 2am. Wearing T-shirts that say 'I luv Phi Phi' whilst oogling the amount of flesh on display on the beach is also recommended. Oh...and on no account should you be Thai!
All that aside, it was a brilliantly relaxed time that involved snorkelling, catching up with good friends, eating and drinking. Oh...and watching the antics of the lesser spotted backpacker...
Santa Claus is coming to town!
This Christmas we headed back to the UK to catch up with friends and family and of course experience the snow! This was the coldest I have ever known the UK and there were several days where the temperature didn't even rise above zero. Snow lay thickly on the ground wherever we went. Although everyone else was getting quite tired of shovelling out their cars every day, it was still a novelty for us! My mum lent me the best sheepskin coat that I barely took off for 5 minutes.
After catching up with everyone's news over Christmas (and putting on lots of weight!) we headed back down to Matt's parents' house to help celebrate a 90th birthday: Matt's grandad's. The old boy has all his marbles and most of his own teeth and was the life and soul of the party. We can only hope that life treats us as well!
After catching up with everyone's news over Christmas (and putting on lots of weight!) we headed back down to Matt's parents' house to help celebrate a 90th birthday: Matt's grandad's. The old boy has all his marbles and most of his own teeth and was the life and soul of the party. We can only hope that life treats us as well!
Hong Kong and Kowloon
Now I must apologise for having been away from the Blog. It's amazing how life catches up with you and what starts as an adventure quickly becomes every day life...and doesn't get blogged! However, amazing trips have not been in short supply and I will do my best to still record them.
Although Singapore and Hong Kong are often dismissed as being a bit 'samey' we thought we would check the facts for ourselves. Therefore, October found us in the Grand Waterfront Hotel in Kowloon - the mainland area of Hong Kong. The first thing that struck us was the temperature difference. It was freezing! Well at least 23C and with no humidity. Hong Kong is a much older city than Singapore and you quickly feel the history seeping through your feet. It is seems more chaotic, but also more established. The Kowloon part feels very Chinese whereas Hong Kong island feels more Western. As we are lucky enough to have many Chinese things to experience here in Singapore, we thought we would take advantage of the parts of Hong Kong that are definitely different. There are many other small islands around Hong Kong and we took a day to walk around the island of Lamma finishing up with freshly caught seafood as the sun was going down. We also took advantage of some of the open spaces near to Hong Kong. It was hard to imagine that the city was so close when you were wandering through hillsides next to blue sea with a feeling that you were on an island in the Med. Of course, if that doesn't take your fancy you can remind yourself of who used to own the island and stop off at the town of Stanley where the seafront seems to have been modelled on Blackpool.
Although Singapore and Hong Kong are often dismissed as being a bit 'samey' we thought we would check the facts for ourselves. Therefore, October found us in the Grand Waterfront Hotel in Kowloon - the mainland area of Hong Kong. The first thing that struck us was the temperature difference. It was freezing! Well at least 23C and with no humidity. Hong Kong is a much older city than Singapore and you quickly feel the history seeping through your feet. It is seems more chaotic, but also more established. The Kowloon part feels very Chinese whereas Hong Kong island feels more Western. As we are lucky enough to have many Chinese things to experience here in Singapore, we thought we would take advantage of the parts of Hong Kong that are definitely different. There are many other small islands around Hong Kong and we took a day to walk around the island of Lamma finishing up with freshly caught seafood as the sun was going down. We also took advantage of some of the open spaces near to Hong Kong. It was hard to imagine that the city was so close when you were wandering through hillsides next to blue sea with a feeling that you were on an island in the Med. Of course, if that doesn't take your fancy you can remind yourself of who used to own the island and stop off at the town of Stanley where the seafront seems to have been modelled on Blackpool.
Sri Lanka part III
Our tour guide Kamal and our driver Sampath whisked us away from the cool atmosphere of the tea plantations down to the South of the island where the climate was more Singaporean. We stopped at the site of some enormous Buddha carvings cut into the side of the hill which was now maintained privately by a family so it would be preserved for devotees to visit. We then carried on down to the town of Tissamaharama...or Tissa for those with a short memory! This part of the country differed greatly from the area we had just been in. Before it had been all luscious greenery and misty mountains, now it was arid soil and coconut palms. We went on an evening bird safari and were eye-balled oddly by our guide who couldn't understand why his paying guests wanted to occasionally walk and stretch their legs rather than ride in his bumpy Landrover! We saw weaver birds and flying foxes as well as all manner of kingfishers, pelicans and maribou storks. The next day, our guide Kamal also took pains to slow down and point out peacocks (interesting to see them wild) and chickens (less interesting!).
Our tour of the South coast continued and we stopped at a Blow Hole and a moonstone factory. Our resolve to not spend any more money was once again put to the test... We were determined to spend some time on the beach and Kamal dropped us off to play in the sand on the West coast. We were soon defending England's cricket honour by playing 'catch' in the sea with some of the local lads. At first we thought they were admiring our graceful catches and throwing arms, until Ju pointed out that it was more likely they were looking at our bikinis!
That night Kamal took us home to his family. His first wife had been taken by the tsunami along with his business and livelyhood. Time moves on and he is now married to his second wife and they live with his 3 sons and her son and daughter in a small house where they freely offered us curry and a warm welcome. A happy ending to this tale.
After fond farewells, we took the 3 hour drive back to Colombo airport with Sampath to part company until the next time. Bye matey - see you at Christmas!
Our tour of the South coast continued and we stopped at a Blow Hole and a moonstone factory. Our resolve to not spend any more money was once again put to the test... We were determined to spend some time on the beach and Kamal dropped us off to play in the sand on the West coast. We were soon defending England's cricket honour by playing 'catch' in the sea with some of the local lads. At first we thought they were admiring our graceful catches and throwing arms, until Ju pointed out that it was more likely they were looking at our bikinis!
That night Kamal took us home to his family. His first wife had been taken by the tsunami along with his business and livelyhood. Time moves on and he is now married to his second wife and they live with his 3 sons and her son and daughter in a small house where they freely offered us curry and a warm welcome. A happy ending to this tale.
After fond farewells, we took the 3 hour drive back to Colombo airport with Sampath to part company until the next time. Bye matey - see you at Christmas!
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