'KRABI'

Ok I ended my last blog by saying that I was not being scammed. The Grand Palace was definately closed! Well yes you have guessed it. I fell for the scam! Until someone reliably informed me that the Grand Palace and temples were OPEN. They only shut on the day of the king's birthday. SoI hailed a Tuk Tuk and it made its way at breakneck speed to the tourist attractions for me. I really had to hold on tight as he laughed the more he saw my fearful face in his rear view mirror. He weaved his way through traffic, through gaps that I was convinced were impossible for us to fit through. And it was touch and go at times. It was very exciting now that I am still in once piece. I would not have missed it for the world.
When I got inside they made me hire garments to cover myself up properly.I thought my trousers would be long enough. But seems they are an inch too short. Will have to take a sarong with me at all times in future to make an instant skirt.




The palace was getting its finishing touches for the king's birthday the next day.So I was lucky to see it at it's very best.




Amid all this there were ordinary people worshipping at the buddhist temples. I found it facinating to watch.
I spent the kings birthday lounghing by the pool after seeing the millions of people in a sea of yellow on the streets. There really was not an inch to spare. They love their king and it was a very special day for the whole country. He is the grand old age of 80 and he has not been too well recently.
Today got a cheap flight(27 pounds) to the island of Krabi. Have booked into a little room in a guest house for 8 pounds.





It is amazing how cheap the life is here. This is a step down form the Holiday Inn in Bangkok, but more the sort of experience I am looking for. I went for a walk down by the river earlier and I am going for a massage soon. I am ready for it after lugging the rucksac on and off buses. I had to pay excess luggage at the airport so that tells me it really does need trimming down. But I just cannot decide what to leave. I thought I had been pretty good with my packing. We will see.
Tomorrow I plan to get a local bus to one of the islands beautiful beaches and then the day after that I have booked a long boat trip to the smaller islands. I will keep you posted. Thanks for all the messages and emails. It is great to log into them.
I am not putting photo's on this entry again as the connection here keeps cutting out and it will take ages to upload the pictures. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it!! (EDIT..THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE VERY ASTUTE WILL SEE I HAVE FINALLY WORKED OUT HOW TO PUT PHOTOS ON SITE.)

BANGKOK

Arrived in Bangkok after a long but enjoyable flight. It was well worth upgrading to premium economy for the extra leg room. I managed to sleep ok on the flight and watch a couple of films. The chap sat next to me was originally from Sheffield but now living in Australia he was friendly and chatty so we passed the time of day which made the flight go quickly.
The hotel in Bangkok is nice,they have upgraded me to a De-Lux room, which was a nice surprise.




There is an open air swimming pool on the 6th floor.



I took a dip last night and it was an amazing feeling swimming along looking up at the night sky, surrounded by a lot of sky scrapers, with the noise of the Bangkok traffic in the background. I thought what a great way to start my adventure!



Slept well last night because I was so tired after the long journey and the time difference.
Today I have wandered along the busy streets just taking in my surroundings. It is chaotic but very captivating at the same time.
I have spent the last hour in a travel agent booking flights to go to the south islands. Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket and Ko samui. I am now going to book rooms via the internet.
Trust me to land in Bangkok when it is the kings birhtday tomorrow. Lots of the tourist attractions are closed for a couple of days. I know it is ususally a scam when they tell you they are closed, because they want to take you to their relatives shop! but this time it is genuine.
So I will have to see the temples and grand palace when I come back from the islands around 20th dec.

the journey begins....

Well, said my sad farewells to Fiona this morning. Thanked her for letting me use her flat and office space for the past week. Managed to check in onto the flight last night so it was easy at the airport today.

Phil and Denise dropped me at Tonbridge station to get the train to London. We all kept giggling at the fact i was actually setting off.
Managed to make my way to Heathrow airport. But have to say the rucksac is very heavy and a pain at times on the underground! I will have to have a rethink in Bangkok and see if there is anything I can leave behind.

Nicola came to see me off. It was only when she asked me when I would be back and I responded "15th of October next year" that the true enormity of what I am embarking on hit me. I am so excited and cannot wait to get on the plane.
Going for a well earned glass of champagne before I head for the boarding gates.
Thank you to everyone who has sent good wishes and all the pressies.
HERE GOES!!!! XXX

Sammie and Ryan farewells

Went into London today to spend some time with Sammie and Ryan before I head off at the weekend. We had a lovely meal in Covent Garden and Sammie demonstrated her napkin folding skills to make Ryan a lovely pair of rabbit ears!


We then did some window-shopping before heading off for a well-earned glass of champagne in Selfridges.
I wrote my blog and Ryan helped me to upload some photographs. I am going to have to get to grips with the technology as I make my way around the world. But I have to say I am hoping that there will be people around who will help me to upload my photographs.

Sammie and I then got the map of Australia out and decided where she was going to fly out to in March. It took me ages to explain that she could not just nip to places and things were much further apart in Australia than they may seem on the map.
She is going to fly into Melbourne and then we will travel up the coast to Sydney to see Carmie mustard then onto Brisbane via Byron Bay. Sammie will fly home from Brisbane and I will then head on up the coast to Cairns.
It is not easy leaving Sammie on this side of the world but I know she will be well looked after by Ryan and her father and Andrea.

ITINERARY

People have been messaging me wanting to know where I will be and when, so here is my main itinerary. I am booking internal flights seperately.

Sun Dec 2 dept Heathrow for Bangkok arrive Mon Dec 3 ..will be staying for three nights in the Holiday inn Silom Bangkok just to get my bearings.
I then plan to take three months to travel round Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Wed Feb 20 dept Bangkok arrive Sydney Thur Feb 21
I will take three months to travel around Australia.looking forward to catching up with Carmel. Hopefully Sammie will join me for a month in her Easter Holidays so we can travel around together.

Wed May 21 Sydney to Aukland..I will spend two months travelling around New Zealand

Thurs 31 July Aukland to Nadi in Fiji I plan to spend a month on Fiji and the Cook Islands chilling out!

Sun 31 August Fiji to Vancouver where I am really looking forward to spending time with Aunty Helen and Bronwen and catching up with Gareth and Bryn.

Sun 14th Sept Vancouver to Dallas to refuel, then onto Sao Paulo in Brazil to meet up with Maggie and Sinaid. We plan to travel for a month in South America before flying back to Heathrow on October 15th arriving thurs Oct 16th at 7.30 in the morning.

So this should help those of you who are hoping to meet up with me during my trip.

Two weeks to go

Well got up today and realised that in two weeks time I will be heading off to the other side of the world to start my adventure. My stomach is churning, partly with fear and partly with excitement. I have just got an email from my friend who is sailing around Malasia and she has told me that her banks have been playing up and stopping her from getting money out on her card. So first thing tomorrow morning I will be onto my bank so that they know exactly what parts of the world I will be in at any time. They will realise that I am the one spending on my card. It would be awful not to be able to get my money out.

I have to sort the flat out now because I only have one week before I have to move everything out. Luckily my friends Alison and Matt are buying a house and need funiture so they will use mine for the year. As well as storing lots more in their loft. I have been so lucky that lots of people have agreed to store things for me. So over the last few weeks everyone I have visited has been given a couple of big bags full of my possessions to store for me. I have written down who has what so that I will enjoy travelling round when I get home collecting all my things.

Fiona, my first ever landlady when I move to Tunbridge wells, has kindly agreed to put me up for the last week before I go, as she has now become a very dear friend to me.

Will have to sort the travel insurance and international driving licence tomorrow ,then I think things are pretty much sorted.

I will have most trouble trying to decide what to take in my rucksack...I know the Jimmy Choos will have to stay at home!!!

Hull and Leeds goodbyes

Have spent the last few days visiting friends and family in Hull and Leeds to say my goodbyes. There are lots of cautionary tales being exchanged. One even had me being eaten by a crocodile!! Going to Maggie's now to share a bottle of Champagne. Then the next time we will share one will be in Brazil next year when she comes to meet me for the final leg of my journey in South America.
Only just over two weeks to go before I head off to Bangkok!! feeling a bit nervous but hey ho!!