New Zealand
OK, I am here. It is night time here (add 12 hours from GMT), and I'm still recovering from jet-lag (though nearly there), so cannot say as much as I'd like. I safely arrived here on the 25th, after Malaysia (1 week) and Singapore, and was picked up from the airport (first time, what a luxury) by family friends, the Runcimans. They are looking after me in a lovely house near Auckland whilst I get my bearings and prepare for this, the next stage in my journey. So far, I'm planning on hitching down to Wellington, sniffing the air, then moving to South Island to Christchurch. I hope to get a city job there, at least covering my NZ travelling costs with work.
Some local sights:
Well, as you may be able to tell, things are far more peaceful here. It's great to chill-out with such a kind family. I've seen some of the local sights, including a beach with black sand. The locals complain of heat, but I'm finding it quite chilly compaired to Thailand. It's about 27-30 degrees most of the time. I'm really looking forward to living here for a while.
Here's what I was greeted with in Auckland:
And lastly, here are two friends I met in Thailand/Malaysia. I got chatting to the one on the right in the minibus, and he invited me to stay in his friend's house in Penang. They gave me some fantastic Thai food, and gave me one last day of Thai speak. We had a fun evening, and the next day I went with them on their business, which this day was purchasing thousands of chicken livers.
blurgh
I am not a happy bunny. My time in Thailand was amazing, really amazing. I think intensely beautiful is the word that best describes it. I don't have the energy to go into details at the moment.
I needed to head south from Bangkok, because of flying to NZ on 25th January. I went to a beautiful beach in Krabi. I then headed South, towards Singapore. I got a bus to Penang in Malaysia, which left at 9:30pm. We arrived in Hat Yai, South Thailand, at 4am. I was understandably a little tired. I asked to continue my journey, and they bundled me onto a motorbike, going I don't know where. A little later I'm dropped off by the side of a road and told (in Thai) to wait until 6 am for the next bus. A bus draws up, I ask for Penang, Malaysia, and fall asleep. I wake up at about 9:30, and I have not crossed a border. Why not? It's not far from Hat Yai to Malaysia. I look around, and it is definitely Thailand. Ahh. Ban Penang, Nakkon Si Tammarat. 200km North of Hat Yai. Great.
So I grab some food, and head 200km South, to Hat Yai. And then I ask for a bus to Penang, Malaysia. Mercifully, this one was the right one. I arrive a full, exhausting, 24 hours later, and stay with a Thai friend I made in the later parts of the journey. And needing to head further South, towards Singapore, I arrive in Kuala Lumpur.
And I am TIRED. Very tired. I have been sleeping on all of my coach trips, and a long time in the night, but nothing seems to be enough. I think my glandular fever is getting the upper hand.
And due to a mix-up I may have to pay again for a flight from Bali to Singapore I won't be making. I could try and make it to Bali in four days, but I think that would be stupid considering my state of reduced health. It's a long way.
So I will stay put tonight, and amble down to Singapore tomorrow, and on Monday try to sort out tickets. Even if I have to pay the charge, it's not the end of the world. But sometimes I think I need to put my feet a little more firmly on the ground, and remove my head a little from the clouds.
Wonderful Thailand
I'm still here, and still loving it. It's hard to blog when so much happens every day. Let me share some recent highlights.
I've just spent a few nights in Pattaya, staying in Pattana Sports Club, where Pii-Joy works. We stayed in a luxurious house, with huge, smart rooms with big flat-screen TVs. We've been going to posh restaurants, rubbing noses with managers of expensive resorts, enjoying the warm sea and eating good food. Two nights ago as Thanya and I crawled out of the sea after a beautiful sun-set, I just laughed and laughed because I was so happy.
I think I said I've been learning Thai since I got here a week ago. It's an easy language, and I've been doing it from the book. I felt that I had some skills waiting to be used, and last night it all happened. We met a guy called Martin, who speaks a bit of Thai himself, and sat on some steps overlooking Pattaya, chatting away. And after ten minutes or so, it suddenly hit me that we'd been speaking mainly in Thai. We'd been speaking mainly in Thai! I couldn't believe it.
We went down onto the shore to watch the sun set, which really was spectacular last night, and I was so happy I nearly cried.
This is good.
Leaving Laos
Well, I never thought it would happen, but I left Laos before my visa ran out. It is a spectacular place, the people are amazing, but by the end of two weeks I was intensely tired after a long coach trip, and had only $20 in cash, and was ready to chill-out for the new year. But when I found that all the banks were shut for 4 days, and of course no cash machines, and the hotel's visa machine was not working, I quit. I had very little money, and no access to any, and I was tired. And I thought of my two Thai friends Thanya and Apple, and decided to make a break for it in time for new year.
I was not dissapointed. Since a good fun night out on new year, Thanya has driven me to her house and to her family's house, looking after me all the way. I've been eating delicious Thai food again, sleeping in clean, comfortable beds, and have generally been pampered since arriving here. We've been to see the sights in this part of Thailand.
VERY BIG thank-you to Thanya, Pii-Joy and family for all your amazing kindness. I'm having a wondeful time here in Thailand thanks to you. What wonderful people.
Sadly the glandular fever is returning. I got very tired over new year, and now feel run-down and my glands are swelling-up. Since I told Thanya, I've had phone-calls from English speakers checking if I need a doctor, she has cooked me seriously good Thai food, and we're relaxedly teaching each other our native languages. Despite being ill, I'm happy.
I'll say the rest with pictures:
Apple and Thanya, Kon Kaen. Beautiful.
Thanya, Kon Kaen. Beautiful.
Sunset, Vang Vieng, Laos. Beautiful.
Sunrise, Luang Prabang, Laos. Beautiful.
Juan (a good friend for a week) and myself leaving Luang Prabang on the River Ou. Beautiful.
Waterfall in National Park, near Bangkok. Beautiful.
Pii-Joy by another waterfall in the National Park near Bangkok. Beautiful.
Exploring the Old City in Bangkok. Beautiful.
I could go-on, I could post more photos, but the sofa is calling to me. Yes, there is a sofa here. Luxury.
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