"How do you like them apples?"
"Bunkbeds"
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Packing: Part Deux
Well, the day has finally arrived. We're off on the second part of our Honeymoon adventure to the USA.
The packing process couldn't be more different, we're favouring fashionable finery over baggy board shorts which is a welcome change!
After my phone was nabbed in Thailand I wasn't able to continue my blog, however with my trusty Nexus at the ready I should be blogging the boroughs of Manhattan in no time!
We're off to Dublin this morning to see my Granny and to get some shut eye before the dreaded flight!
Our final bit of prep was giving Ellie her worming medication which, as you can see, she wasn't delighted with the taste!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Bustling Bangkok Pt 2
A day and a half in Bangkok was more than enough.
The city is a clamorous affair with congested traffic, high rise skyscrapers and a seedy underbelly and at first left a poor taste in my mouth (at times literally, the cacophony of smells and tastes is overwhelming).
The poverty is humbling, it is not uncommon to see men strewn about the streets sleeping on a piece of tarp with a plastic bag of belongings tucked neatly under their heads. Children root through bins for the discarded water or beer bottles deposited by unthinking tourists to help make a few baht on the recycling fee. Begging is frequent and upsetting, the cities most maimed and disfigured residents park themselves on busy corners feeding off sympathy and the sad eyes of young backpackers. It felt unhuman to walk by, but the alternative opened up too many unknown issues that it was the only practical way to get around.
It seems every person in the city is out to get you, walking down a street in Bangkok you will be asked to buy suits, to jump in a tuk tuk, to attend a pingpong show so often it all becomes white noise, frequently you'll have seemingly friendly thai men come speak to you to let you know that national monuments are closed for a holiday but for a few baht they'd take you elsewhere... often down to a silk or gem shop where you'll be expected to buy tacky crap for exorbitant prices.
Having spoken to fellow backpackers in the city and beyond it seems that the overwhelming assessment of Bangkok is that a few days there and you're 'burnt out'. It's fast pace is exhausting and the constant unease and worry of being pickpocketed, held up or scammed is also tiring.
While I'm focusing on the negative I must also say I've really enjoyed my time in the city. Everything, it appears, is conducted on the streets so I've never been so rewarded from exploring a new place. On our second day in Bangkok we went to visit the grand palace and afterward decided to walk along the Chao Phraya River to see if we could take a water tour.
On our amble we discovered a sprawling market that was a world apart from the souvenir strewn stalls in the tourist areas, this was where real Bangkok was happening. The stalls were varied, many sold trinkets and charms depicting the Bhudda in various stages of his life. I wish I knew more about what these were, we watched monks and lay people alike thoroughly inspect them under spy glass before making a purchase. They were then placed onto a necklace and worn around the neck.
Beyond the market was a street where blankets were laid out and wares were displayed, you could buy anything from live shellfish to a set of dentures. Upsettingly many of these street 'stalls' were manned by children, most no more than four or five years old, who were dressed in rags and covered in filth. I suspected much of what was for sale was taken from the pockets of unsuspecting tourists or businessmen in Bangkok's financial district.
Beyond this we found a more slumlike area, it was a world apart from the noisy, obnoxious tourist hive that was Khao San Road and yet it was a 10 minute walk away. Here men, women and children lazed about in the hazy sunshine, rubbish and filth littered the streets and the smell was overwhelming. It felt like a lawless land, where the residents had to live by their wits. As we walked through we crossed the road to avoid a man with no legs defecating on the street, we delayed lunch for a little while.
The food vendors in the city, while possessing questionable hygiene standards, are masters at work. Having recovered from our walk we decided to pick up egg Pad Thai from a nice gentleman pushing a cart. For 30baht (80c) you can get a full serving of delicious noodles, egg, cabbage, beansprouts all cooked and flavoured in a wok right before your eyes. A meat option was also available, but the cut was a little different to back home and to avoid uncomfortable toilet sessions we're gently acclimatiszing ourselves to the local cuisine.
Later that evening we visited the more touristy Patpong area of the city. With brash neon signs and lager swilling louts I found this zone to be far more unsettling that the packpacker hive that was Khao San. We walked through the streets being propositioned by bar owners to attend various shows, strips and the like. When I politely declined one gentleman he leant in and told Conor to come back later without me... I was clearly a kill joy. Another man advertising an S&M show and dressed in a manner I'd prefer not to repicture and describe almost clattered Conor with a whip, it was quite the event.
We eventually found a regular bar where we began to chat to those around us. Having spoken to a table of fresh out of college Dubliners we left them be when Amhrán na bhFiann erupted and ended off the night having harrowing and humbling chats with a pair of Royal Marines fresh off a tour to Afghanistan.
We awoke to a lightening storm and rushed to the airport to take a heart stopping flight in a flimsy plane through the flashes and clatter of thunder that has brought us to our current spot in Chiang Mai. While I know the city may not always be seen in the best light, and we saw many facets of it that would make you believe it to be a nasty place, I enjoyed every second there. Absorbing the atmosphere as we walked the streets, we discovered magnificent temples and palaces, beautiful canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that had something for everyone.
I'm sitting here writing this blog on our hostel's outdoor computer hub, nestled next to a frog pond while hens and roosters flit about my feet. It is all a little surreal.
I have to dash now, Conor's up and we're visiting a tiger sanctuary shortly! Will be back soon with more info on Northern Thailand!
Love Cliona
xxx
The city is a clamorous affair with congested traffic, high rise skyscrapers and a seedy underbelly and at first left a poor taste in my mouth (at times literally, the cacophony of smells and tastes is overwhelming).
The poverty is humbling, it is not uncommon to see men strewn about the streets sleeping on a piece of tarp with a plastic bag of belongings tucked neatly under their heads. Children root through bins for the discarded water or beer bottles deposited by unthinking tourists to help make a few baht on the recycling fee. Begging is frequent and upsetting, the cities most maimed and disfigured residents park themselves on busy corners feeding off sympathy and the sad eyes of young backpackers. It felt unhuman to walk by, but the alternative opened up too many unknown issues that it was the only practical way to get around.
It seems every person in the city is out to get you, walking down a street in Bangkok you will be asked to buy suits, to jump in a tuk tuk, to attend a pingpong show so often it all becomes white noise, frequently you'll have seemingly friendly thai men come speak to you to let you know that national monuments are closed for a holiday but for a few baht they'd take you elsewhere... often down to a silk or gem shop where you'll be expected to buy tacky crap for exorbitant prices.
Having spoken to fellow backpackers in the city and beyond it seems that the overwhelming assessment of Bangkok is that a few days there and you're 'burnt out'. It's fast pace is exhausting and the constant unease and worry of being pickpocketed, held up or scammed is also tiring.
While I'm focusing on the negative I must also say I've really enjoyed my time in the city. Everything, it appears, is conducted on the streets so I've never been so rewarded from exploring a new place. On our second day in Bangkok we went to visit the grand palace and afterward decided to walk along the Chao Phraya River to see if we could take a water tour.
On our amble we discovered a sprawling market that was a world apart from the souvenir strewn stalls in the tourist areas, this was where real Bangkok was happening. The stalls were varied, many sold trinkets and charms depicting the Bhudda in various stages of his life. I wish I knew more about what these were, we watched monks and lay people alike thoroughly inspect them under spy glass before making a purchase. They were then placed onto a necklace and worn around the neck.
Beyond the market was a street where blankets were laid out and wares were displayed, you could buy anything from live shellfish to a set of dentures. Upsettingly many of these street 'stalls' were manned by children, most no more than four or five years old, who were dressed in rags and covered in filth. I suspected much of what was for sale was taken from the pockets of unsuspecting tourists or businessmen in Bangkok's financial district.
Beyond this we found a more slumlike area, it was a world apart from the noisy, obnoxious tourist hive that was Khao San Road and yet it was a 10 minute walk away. Here men, women and children lazed about in the hazy sunshine, rubbish and filth littered the streets and the smell was overwhelming. It felt like a lawless land, where the residents had to live by their wits. As we walked through we crossed the road to avoid a man with no legs defecating on the street, we delayed lunch for a little while.
The food vendors in the city, while possessing questionable hygiene standards, are masters at work. Having recovered from our walk we decided to pick up egg Pad Thai from a nice gentleman pushing a cart. For 30baht (80c) you can get a full serving of delicious noodles, egg, cabbage, beansprouts all cooked and flavoured in a wok right before your eyes. A meat option was also available, but the cut was a little different to back home and to avoid uncomfortable toilet sessions we're gently acclimatiszing ourselves to the local cuisine.
Later that evening we visited the more touristy Patpong area of the city. With brash neon signs and lager swilling louts I found this zone to be far more unsettling that the packpacker hive that was Khao San. We walked through the streets being propositioned by bar owners to attend various shows, strips and the like. When I politely declined one gentleman he leant in and told Conor to come back later without me... I was clearly a kill joy. Another man advertising an S&M show and dressed in a manner I'd prefer not to repicture and describe almost clattered Conor with a whip, it was quite the event.
We eventually found a regular bar where we began to chat to those around us. Having spoken to a table of fresh out of college Dubliners we left them be when Amhrán na bhFiann erupted and ended off the night having harrowing and humbling chats with a pair of Royal Marines fresh off a tour to Afghanistan.
We awoke to a lightening storm and rushed to the airport to take a heart stopping flight in a flimsy plane through the flashes and clatter of thunder that has brought us to our current spot in Chiang Mai. While I know the city may not always be seen in the best light, and we saw many facets of it that would make you believe it to be a nasty place, I enjoyed every second there. Absorbing the atmosphere as we walked the streets, we discovered magnificent temples and palaces, beautiful canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that had something for everyone.
I'm sitting here writing this blog on our hostel's outdoor computer hub, nestled next to a frog pond while hens and roosters flit about my feet. It is all a little surreal.
I have to dash now, Conor's up and we're visiting a tiger sanctuary shortly! Will be back soon with more info on Northern Thailand!
Love Cliona
xxx
Tuk tuk took ages but we made our flight!
Just arrived in beautiful Chiang Mai! Wrecked after a white knuckle flight in a flimsy aircraft! Will try post later!
Love,
The Honeymooners!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Bustling Bangkok! Pt 1
Greetings from balmy Bangkok!!!
Yesterday we arrived as the sun set over this bustling metropolis. Weary, sweaty and smelly we disembarked the city train and headed out into the mayhem of the streets... with a new friend in tow.
Awaiting the train was a doe-eyed German boy with a Justin Bieber haircut and a sorrowful countenance. He told us he was meeting a friend in Bangkok for a month's travel but had been abandoned on the morning of his trip. With puppy dog eyes he asked to share a cab into town.
Having researched the best spots in the city we asked to be taken to the Thewes region, our cabbie wholly flustered swerved into the hard shoulder to examine our map. Eventually, furious that we weren't fluent Thai speakers he got out of the cab to ask some street workers. Finding this hilarious, myself and Conor kept a keen eye on our bags and laughed, Bieber looked ready to collapse into a fit of tears.
Once the cabbie returned we asked to be taken to the backpacker district (which we'd been forewarned was hell on earth) and figured we'd follow the map from there. The cab ride set us back a staggering 77B (Bieber didn't pitch in...) which works out at under €2.
We were unceremoniously dumped at the top of Khao San Road with nothing but our wits and a seeming tonne of luggage. Strapped in we walked along the bustling bars and heaving market stalls until we spotted a sign saying 'Rainbow Hostel'. Relieved we walked to the front desk and were given a key to view our room, our German friend followed suit. Once we got to the top if the stairs we were greeted by a sign "Guests, we ask you no working Thai women in rooms!" which was a worrying start. Walking the mildewed hallway we got as far as a smashed ceiling tile before we deemed it unsafe to venture any further, ashen faced Bieber told us he was going to follow us out (despite our best attempts to shake him).
We ambled along the busy streets for a while, holding hands and soaking it all in until eventually ze German realised we were giving him das boot and excused himself. To avoid the bustle we ducked into a Burger King to reassess our orientation skills and grab a cool drink.
Due to varying English translations we could not seem to pinpoint our location on any of our three maps. Feeling foolish I eventually asked the guy working the till if he could show us, he couldn't, then he asked his friend, he couldn't either, then the manager came out to show us where we were, no idea. Observing all this was a beautiful, slim, tanned and cool French couple who swaggered over, placed their fingers down and identified exactly where we were. Merci!
Conor, who had cleverly packed a compass, saw that we had to head north so we left the restaurant and followed the little green arrow. Realising when we hit a big interchange that the compass' RED arrow was in fact north we set off in the opposite direction.
Having walked for a further twenty minutes we re-examined the scale on our map and realised we had another 30 minutes of walking ahead of us with our rucksacks in the humidity. We abandoned our quest to leave the commercial Backbacker den of iniquity and went in search of the nearest guest house.
Walking door to door we were turned away as it was approaching 10pm and most spots were full. We eventually found a delightful, air-conditioned guesthouse with a smiling receptionist. She showed us their impeccable rooms and laid out the prices, we were gobsmacked! Rooms here cost a minimum of 1000B which was double what we'd been quoted elsewhere. We politely declined and headed back out into the heady night air.
Walking past an exceptionally fancy hotel we were approached by the security guard who asked us if we were staying, we explained that we weren't buy asked the rate. A basic room would set us back 1700B and we told him this was too much. He started to lead us away from the hotel to his friend's guesthouse, walking back alleys an unsettling feeling came over us both and we bailed once we saw the room.
As we walked back to the main streets I stopped for a second and worked out the conversion back to Euros on the original guest house and foolishly realised the room cost approximately €30 for the night. We went straight back with our tails between our legs, were shown to our comfy room and were given a discount as we obviously looked broke and miserable. Success!
After refreshing we went back out to talk the streets of Bangkok. We stumbled across an alley way with trendy bars and a nice mix of travellers and locals. Having walked the length of the street we nestled ourselves at a cool shisha bar based out of an old Honda.
After a few beers we hit the hay after what was a long day. More to come on the general vibe here in Bangkok shortly! Our view from this room ain't quite so fancy!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
We've arrived!!!
Hi all,
Just a quick update, after an emotional weekend and an exhausting flight we dragged our weary bodies into the hotel about 10 minutes ago.
It is the most luxurious and architecturally incredible building, and I'm gobsmacked by our view!
Gonna grab a quick shower and go explore!
Be back with more soon!
Love,
The Honeymooners!
xxx
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Packing!
Hello all,
I've just fired up my little netbook for the first time and felt it appropriate to make my first post to our new blog!
At the moment my husband is flitting about the kitchen gathering some last minute bits to stuff into his rucksack while I sit here listening to the lilting tones of Mumford & Sons imagining all the many adventures that lie ahead.
So far the packing process has been pretty fun, I'm certain that when I get out to Asia I'm going to hate every single item of clothing that I've brought... but that's future Cliona's problem!
I'm hoping to update this blog as often as wifi access allows while we're overseas, but we shall see.
I've just fired up my little netbook for the first time and felt it appropriate to make my first post to our new blog!
At the moment my husband is flitting about the kitchen gathering some last minute bits to stuff into his rucksack while I sit here listening to the lilting tones of Mumford & Sons imagining all the many adventures that lie ahead.
So far the packing process has been pretty fun, I'm certain that when I get out to Asia I'm going to hate every single item of clothing that I've brought... but that's future Cliona's problem!
I'm hoping to update this blog as often as wifi access allows while we're overseas, but we shall see.
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