For those of you with a short attention span, here's a brief summary of what I've been up to in the last few weeks: Bangkok-Singapore-Philippines, head wound, creepy town, amazing resort, cave swimming, long bus ride, Philippines-Singapore, aborted take off at airport and a lengthy delay, Singapore-Bangkok, uni, trip to Burmese/Myanmar Embassy, a fish massage, "This Is It".
And here it is in detail.
I flew from Thailand to Singapore to meet up with little Jen and after a brief overnight stopover, we were off to Clark Airport, Philippines! No sooner had we landed, we went to get into a cab to head to Angeles for the night and I smacked my head getting in. Hard. With my sunglasses on my head. Somehow the sunglasses came off unscathed while I was left with a minor gushing head wound. Who knew a head could bleed like that?? I certainly didn't. But I was determined not to let it dampen my mood, (and was 100% sure I didn't want to go to a hospital in the Philippines!) and we headed into Angeles.
For those of you who have never heard of Angeles, there is a reason. Unless you're a middle-age to elderly American man, there is little need to know about the town, much less visit it. But we managed to find a hotel for the night, I washed the blood out of my hair (so gross right?) and were deciding what to do when welding sparks showered into our room from under the door. It was like fireworks. And was so, so funny. We thought our bed was going to catch alight! So after laughing uncontrollably for a good 20 minutes, we checked that the coast was clear and set off to explore. And soon discovered that there wasn't much to see. Except for the old American men with young Filipino girls. Yes, that's right. Girls, not women. It was awful. We walked around for a bit, standing out as the only white chicks around for miles and headed back to the restaurant next to our hotel to have dinner. Where we were again confronted with young Filipino females with older white men. I know that the sex trade is alive and well in Asia (you see it fairly often in some parts of Thailand) but this was something like I've never experienced. There was an American guy that I would've guessed was around 50 years old dining with a Filipino girl who would've been no more than 17 years old. Seriously. It made us feel physically ill. Or maybe that was the orange cheese on the taco salads.
Thinking we'd seen the absolute worst of Asia's prostitution, we headed to bed for an early night. At the same restaurant for breakfast the next morning, things somehow got worse. Not only were Mr 50 year old American and his teen girlfriend there, they were accompanied by another older American man and his heavily pregnant Filipino girlfriend who I would've guessed was 15. 15 years old. With an old man. It was sickening. And there was nothing we could do about. It made me so sad.
Feeling ashamed of being a Westerner like the dirty old men we had just seen, we headed off to the bus terminal for our journey to Bolinao. For those of you who may have been living under a rock recently, or are just plain ignorant, the Philippines has been battered by incredibly strong,deadly typhoons in the last few months. In a country where 45% of the population lives on less than US$2 a day, natural disasters can be catastrophic. Over 1100 people died and countless more were left homeless between September and December this year due to typhoons. Suffice to say, we were unsure of what to expect. I have to say, if you haven't yet been, go to the Philippines. Now. It is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen. We were too far north to see much of the damage from the storms and the countryside is lush and green and... amazing. The people we met at the bus station couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. What we did see however, was poverty. And a lot of it. The gap between rich and poor was even more prominent than it is here in Thailand. We arrived at Puerto Del Sol resort in Bolinao (after a trike ride that we were convinced would cut our lives tragically short), an amazing, luxurious resort with a huge pool and a beautiful private beach, while there were whole families living down the road in a tin shed or a bamboo hut. No electricity, no running water, no couch or tv or internet or fridge. Grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, dogs, pigs, chickens, you name it. All living in a one or two room hut. Suffice to say, I was feeling more than a little guilty.
We spent the next few days living it up in the resort. Relaxing by the pool, hunting in Bolinao and Alaminos for an ATM that would accept an international debit card and eating awesome food. We watched the sunset on the beach almost every night, drank wine and watched the moon rise over the pool. We also took a trip to the Enchanted Caves, where we swam in the tranquil, fresh water cave pools. Incredible. All the while, people around me were living an existence that I couldn't even imagine myself living. But at the same time, they were happy and friendly and helpful. Jen and I couldn't help but wonder if maybe they have it right. Ok, not the extreme poverty, lack of basic sanitation, health care and education stuff but perhaps it's a lack of greed and materialism. The more you have, the more you seem to want. And you don't really need that flat screen tv, or the latest mobile phone or ipod. But once you have one, you always seem to want more. Something for you all to ponder.
Eventually my time at Puerto Del Sol came to an end and I had to head back to Thailand on my own. It may not sound like such a big deal, but I'm proud of myself for surviving 1 day, 3 countries, 2 trike/tuk tuk rides, 2 bus rides, 2 taxi rides, 1train trip and 2 flights all by myself! Especially when the bus ride was meant to have taken 3 hours and been on an airconditioned bus but instead took almost 6 hours, with no airconditioning, just open windows that left me in a thin layer of grease and grime. I was also the only 'westerner' for miles, so I got plenty of stares, points and whispers! I managed to get back to Clark airport in the nick of time, flew to Singapore and had some hard earned Burger King! There were so many Aussies in Singapore airport and I'm not going to lie. I got a little homesick. It could've been so easy to jump on the Jetstar plane that was boarding next to mine and heading to Melbourne! But instead I boarded the plane I was supposed to, AirAsia to Bangkok. As we were heading down the runway, rapidly picking up speed, the pilot slams on the brakes. We all went flying forward, resulting in many jarred limbs and a case of two or whiplash no doubt. But after a brief mumbled message of "technical issues" and an hour and a half delay on the tarmac and a cold, miserable flight spend in pain after the aborted take off, I finally made it back home to Bangkok.
Last weekend was spent with a day in Bangkok, going to the Burmese/Myanmar embassy to get my visa (scary, scary place. Really. Like a prison.), hanging out at Starbucks, going to see "This Is It" again and getting a fish massage. Which creeped me out like I've never been creeped out before. It was hundreds of fish sucking on your feet and eating the dead skin. It was how I imagined leeches to be and I lasted about 35 seconds before flat out refusing to do it again.
So. In summary, the Philippines = beautiful, amazing but sad at the same time, recovered from injuries, even more scared of flying than I was before, fish massage = EW, NEVER AGAIN!
But now, it's back to the reality of uni work and the fun, if slightly stressful, Project TOTO blog!
Miss you all at home to the moon and back!
xoxo
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Hmmmm....
I’m sitting in the airport in Thailand, with 2 hours until I board my flight to Singapore, then it’s on to the Philippines tomorrow. I could’ve used this time to study, or work on my first challenge for Project TOTO however blogging seems more fun now. Although I can’t quite work out how to use the airport wi-fi so it’s more than likely that I’ll post this at a later date...
On the long cab ride here, I realised I’ve been living in Thailand for 2 months. Pretty impressive that I have survived this long, especially considering the number of times I’ve been in a cab. Those of you who have been in a taxi in Thailand will know what I mean. The radio in the taxi was playing the Thai version of cheesy 80’s or 90’s rock ballads and we all know those are the perfect soundtracks for a little reflection. I mean, who hasn’t listened to Bon Jovi crooning about life and reflected on their own?? So I came to realise a few things.
Thailand has made me infinitely more patient than I once was. Those of you who know me well know that I have the patience of a small child. I want what I want and I want it now. But here, things are never that easy. There are no bus timetables (well, apparently there are but schedules don’t seem to mean much here), people often walk slow (even though they drive like maniacs) and the language barrier means that buying anything, asking questions, even ordering lunch at school can turn into a lengthy process.
If you had asked me a month ago, I would’ve said I was ready to come home but in the cab ride to the airport, I also realised that I am actually going to miss Thailand. I will miss the hilarity that comes with the aforementioned language barrier. I will miss being able to utilise my miming skills that, after two months of practice, would now put Marcel Marceau to shame. Seriously. I can mime everything from drink, to lighter, chicken, no fish, and toilet. It’s quite a skill. I’ll miss cheap food. Really miss it. I’m going to be Adelaide’s biggest scrooge when I have to pay more than 50 cents for a Cornetto, or 25 cents for a bottle of water. And eating at Mayo Cafe and UBC at uni is going to be a real struggle. At MUIC’s canteen, I can get an amazing pad thai, or chicken curry with rice (although I have recently completed a week long boycott against rice), a fruit smoothie and some fresh pineapple for around $3. Going back to Mayo’s crappy chips and gravy is going to suck. I will miss Milo Nuggets, one of the world’s greatest inventions. I may even miss people constantly staring at me and taking my photos. When I step onto that plane to head home, I will no longer be a “celebrity”. Walking down the street without feeling like a movie star will be strange. As will be the ease of life in a country where you speak the language. I’ll be able to get into a taxi and tell them where I need to go, without using a map, or calling someone to tell them for me.
Most of all, I’m going to miss the people I live with. Sure, I’ll get to see everyone back home again, but I knew that you would all be there when I came back. When I leave here, it could be ages if I see these people again, if ever. Living in a dorm has its challenges **THIS MEANS YOU FRIDGE MONSTER** but I’m lucky enough that I when I need a break, I can retreat to my room. I also know that if I’m in a bad mood, someone will be there to yank me out of it. If I’m sad or feeling homesick, I can go downstairs to the common area and there will be any number of people there to cheer me up. Or even if I just get a case of the sillies, there is always someone around to be silly with. Yes, again, I have this at home, but here in Thailand, in the dorm, it’s right there. I don’t have to make a phone call, or travel far to see anyone. The thought of not seeing the awesome people I live with every day sucks. But there is a bright side. I will now have friends all over the world. And I love to travel (even if I hate to fly), so they can all expect an Aussie visitor eventually.
I’m going to find it strange to come home to Adelaide and no longer see greenery around. Or to walk down the street and not see a woman begging for money for her and her children. It will be odd to see Australian houses with their well kept yards, lined up street after street, without seeing mansions next to tin slums. To not see people bathing in the river. To walk down the street and not have my nostrils assaulted by the strange smells of street stalls, cooking fish and pork and god knows what else. There will no longer be stray cats and dogs everywhere that make me sad, no spirit houses and people will no longer “wai” me when they say hello.
Damn you Thai 80’s/90’s rock ballads!
Despite everything I’ve said that I will miss, I do miss you all back home, and can’t wait to see you again!!!
Hugs & love!!!
xoxo
PS - This was posted 2 days after it was written, while I was in the Philippines!
On the long cab ride here, I realised I’ve been living in Thailand for 2 months. Pretty impressive that I have survived this long, especially considering the number of times I’ve been in a cab. Those of you who have been in a taxi in Thailand will know what I mean. The radio in the taxi was playing the Thai version of cheesy 80’s or 90’s rock ballads and we all know those are the perfect soundtracks for a little reflection. I mean, who hasn’t listened to Bon Jovi crooning about life and reflected on their own?? So I came to realise a few things.
Thailand has made me infinitely more patient than I once was. Those of you who know me well know that I have the patience of a small child. I want what I want and I want it now. But here, things are never that easy. There are no bus timetables (well, apparently there are but schedules don’t seem to mean much here), people often walk slow (even though they drive like maniacs) and the language barrier means that buying anything, asking questions, even ordering lunch at school can turn into a lengthy process.
If you had asked me a month ago, I would’ve said I was ready to come home but in the cab ride to the airport, I also realised that I am actually going to miss Thailand. I will miss the hilarity that comes with the aforementioned language barrier. I will miss being able to utilise my miming skills that, after two months of practice, would now put Marcel Marceau to shame. Seriously. I can mime everything from drink, to lighter, chicken, no fish, and toilet. It’s quite a skill. I’ll miss cheap food. Really miss it. I’m going to be Adelaide’s biggest scrooge when I have to pay more than 50 cents for a Cornetto, or 25 cents for a bottle of water. And eating at Mayo Cafe and UBC at uni is going to be a real struggle. At MUIC’s canteen, I can get an amazing pad thai, or chicken curry with rice (although I have recently completed a week long boycott against rice), a fruit smoothie and some fresh pineapple for around $3. Going back to Mayo’s crappy chips and gravy is going to suck. I will miss Milo Nuggets, one of the world’s greatest inventions. I may even miss people constantly staring at me and taking my photos. When I step onto that plane to head home, I will no longer be a “celebrity”. Walking down the street without feeling like a movie star will be strange. As will be the ease of life in a country where you speak the language. I’ll be able to get into a taxi and tell them where I need to go, without using a map, or calling someone to tell them for me.
Most of all, I’m going to miss the people I live with. Sure, I’ll get to see everyone back home again, but I knew that you would all be there when I came back. When I leave here, it could be ages if I see these people again, if ever. Living in a dorm has its challenges **THIS MEANS YOU FRIDGE MONSTER** but I’m lucky enough that I when I need a break, I can retreat to my room. I also know that if I’m in a bad mood, someone will be there to yank me out of it. If I’m sad or feeling homesick, I can go downstairs to the common area and there will be any number of people there to cheer me up. Or even if I just get a case of the sillies, there is always someone around to be silly with. Yes, again, I have this at home, but here in Thailand, in the dorm, it’s right there. I don’t have to make a phone call, or travel far to see anyone. The thought of not seeing the awesome people I live with every day sucks. But there is a bright side. I will now have friends all over the world. And I love to travel (even if I hate to fly), so they can all expect an Aussie visitor eventually.
I’m going to find it strange to come home to Adelaide and no longer see greenery around. Or to walk down the street and not see a woman begging for money for her and her children. It will be odd to see Australian houses with their well kept yards, lined up street after street, without seeing mansions next to tin slums. To not see people bathing in the river. To walk down the street and not have my nostrils assaulted by the strange smells of street stalls, cooking fish and pork and god knows what else. There will no longer be stray cats and dogs everywhere that make me sad, no spirit houses and people will no longer “wai” me when they say hello.
Damn you Thai 80’s/90’s rock ballads!
Despite everything I’ve said that I will miss, I do miss you all back home, and can’t wait to see you again!!!
Hugs & love!!!
xoxo
PS - This was posted 2 days after it was written, while I was in the Philippines!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Better Late Than Never!
I realise my birthday was a couple of weeks ago however midterms have kept me from updating my blog for a while, so here goes...
My birthday in Thailand was awesome! Despite the fact I was less than impressed with being another year older, and trying in vain to convince everyone that since I'm in a different country, my birthday was non-existant or somehow didn't count, I had such a fun weekend. Since Amber's 21st was 2 days after my birthday (we won't mention how old I turned), we had decided to celebrate together with a dinner on the Monday night but what Amber didn't know was that Lisa, Annie and I had planned to suprise her with a weekend in a hotel in Bangkok. FYI, don't ever try to surprise someone like this. It's hard, it's stressful and since they don't actually know that you're going to be surprising them, they get kinda mad when they think nobody cares about their birthday! Yes, Amber, I'm talking to you!
So we headed into Bangkok on the Friday to have lunch at the Outback Steakhouse (not terribly Outback-ish really. Although I did have a crownie!), telling Amber that Lisa was headed to the beach for the weekend and I was meeting a friend and spending the night with her. Only the stories we came up with were much more detailed and elaborate than that. So as Lisa distracted Amber by taking her to a grocery store that sells American & Aussie food, Annie and I checked into the hotel (the same one I stayed at with Leah & Shaun the weekend before, scoring a free upgrade in the process) and when it was FINALLY ready, Lisa and Amber headed up. We took Amber to her room, telling her it was my room and I reckon it took her a good 3 minutes before she realised what was going on. It was so funny! It's a good thing she's pretty because clearly she's not too clever! (Just kidding Amber... Maybe....) And it turns out that those sneaky little minxes had in fact pulled off a double suprise, buying me wine, cheese, crackers, saladas, twisties and a bunch of other stuff while they were at the store! Cheeky much?!?
Saturday was spent shopping (of course) in a crowded mall, with my tolerance levels slowly but surely decreasing. Until we headed back to the hotel, stopping at a mexican restaurant for frozen margarita's. Amazing what a cocktail can do for my mood! After a dip in the pool, we headed back to the mexican restaurant for dinner which was sooo good. Seriously, just thinking about it makes me want to head into Bangkok for more of it. Like, I'm actually considering it right now. It's not that far. Only an hour or so by taxi... I got surprise number 2 at the restaurant when we were given cocktails and I was sung happy birthday to by all the staff! Nawwww!!! I will have fond memories of Coyote's Mexican restaurant in Sukhumvit. I will not have fond memories of the rats just outside. From there it was off to a London Pub for a few more drinks, a couple of games of pool, a cover band that just about had Annie and I wetting ourselves with excitement when they first song they played was Dancing Queen (we automatically turned into those girls that start screaming and saying things like "it's my song!") and yet another surprise when the band sang happy birthday to me! Loves it!!
We had to head back to our dorm on the Sunday, which was my actual birthday, but not before I bought more wine, cheese and snacks to enjoy with the rest of the people from Green Park! It was the perfect way to spend a birthday, until I got felt up later in the night by the lady from the Thai whiskey stand... Interesting.
The past week has been a little crazy with midterm exams and essay's due, Halloween fun and the Loy Krathong festival, which was amazing. (If you haven't heard of Loy Krathong, google it. It's pretty cool). Highlights of the week were: getting yelled at by a salesgirl in MBK **see below post**, getting proposed to by a tuk tuk driver "miss, miss, you so white, very beautiful, you give me your number, we get married!" and making it to the shortlist of nominees for ActionAid Australia's Project TOTO Outreach Blogger. This is something I'm pretty passionate about (I'd want to be passionate I suppose, considering I'm studying to get a bachelors degree in Development Studies) and is a great cause. I'm stoked to have made it on to the shortlist of 12 out of the amazing 52 original nominees. If you haven't heard about ActionAid and the fantastic work they do, I suggest you pop on over to their website at: www.actionaid.org.au, or you can find out more about Project TOTO here: http://blogs.actionaid.org.au/toto/2009/10/26/project-toto-shortlist/
I'm so so so excited, although a little nervous, about the challenges I now have to undertake to hopefully get the position! Not to mention the excitement of my impending holiday! Tomorrow I'm off to Singapore and then on to the Philippines on Thursday with Jen, who I have mentioned in other blogs. I think. If I haven't, she's ace!! That's really all you need to know! Keep your fingers crossed that they don't get hit by another typhoon, not only for us, but for the poor people who live there and have been battered by crazy weather for the past few weeks!
Missing you all loads!
xoxo
My birthday in Thailand was awesome! Despite the fact I was less than impressed with being another year older, and trying in vain to convince everyone that since I'm in a different country, my birthday was non-existant or somehow didn't count, I had such a fun weekend. Since Amber's 21st was 2 days after my birthday (we won't mention how old I turned), we had decided to celebrate together with a dinner on the Monday night but what Amber didn't know was that Lisa, Annie and I had planned to suprise her with a weekend in a hotel in Bangkok. FYI, don't ever try to surprise someone like this. It's hard, it's stressful and since they don't actually know that you're going to be surprising them, they get kinda mad when they think nobody cares about their birthday! Yes, Amber, I'm talking to you!
So we headed into Bangkok on the Friday to have lunch at the Outback Steakhouse (not terribly Outback-ish really. Although I did have a crownie!), telling Amber that Lisa was headed to the beach for the weekend and I was meeting a friend and spending the night with her. Only the stories we came up with were much more detailed and elaborate than that. So as Lisa distracted Amber by taking her to a grocery store that sells American & Aussie food, Annie and I checked into the hotel (the same one I stayed at with Leah & Shaun the weekend before, scoring a free upgrade in the process) and when it was FINALLY ready, Lisa and Amber headed up. We took Amber to her room, telling her it was my room and I reckon it took her a good 3 minutes before she realised what was going on. It was so funny! It's a good thing she's pretty because clearly she's not too clever! (Just kidding Amber... Maybe....) And it turns out that those sneaky little minxes had in fact pulled off a double suprise, buying me wine, cheese, crackers, saladas, twisties and a bunch of other stuff while they were at the store! Cheeky much?!?
Saturday was spent shopping (of course) in a crowded mall, with my tolerance levels slowly but surely decreasing. Until we headed back to the hotel, stopping at a mexican restaurant for frozen margarita's. Amazing what a cocktail can do for my mood! After a dip in the pool, we headed back to the mexican restaurant for dinner which was sooo good. Seriously, just thinking about it makes me want to head into Bangkok for more of it. Like, I'm actually considering it right now. It's not that far. Only an hour or so by taxi... I got surprise number 2 at the restaurant when we were given cocktails and I was sung happy birthday to by all the staff! Nawwww!!! I will have fond memories of Coyote's Mexican restaurant in Sukhumvit. I will not have fond memories of the rats just outside. From there it was off to a London Pub for a few more drinks, a couple of games of pool, a cover band that just about had Annie and I wetting ourselves with excitement when they first song they played was Dancing Queen (we automatically turned into those girls that start screaming and saying things like "it's my song!") and yet another surprise when the band sang happy birthday to me! Loves it!!
We had to head back to our dorm on the Sunday, which was my actual birthday, but not before I bought more wine, cheese and snacks to enjoy with the rest of the people from Green Park! It was the perfect way to spend a birthday, until I got felt up later in the night by the lady from the Thai whiskey stand... Interesting.
The past week has been a little crazy with midterm exams and essay's due, Halloween fun and the Loy Krathong festival, which was amazing. (If you haven't heard of Loy Krathong, google it. It's pretty cool). Highlights of the week were: getting yelled at by a salesgirl in MBK **see below post**, getting proposed to by a tuk tuk driver "miss, miss, you so white, very beautiful, you give me your number, we get married!" and making it to the shortlist of nominees for ActionAid Australia's Project TOTO Outreach Blogger. This is something I'm pretty passionate about (I'd want to be passionate I suppose, considering I'm studying to get a bachelors degree in Development Studies) and is a great cause. I'm stoked to have made it on to the shortlist of 12 out of the amazing 52 original nominees. If you haven't heard about ActionAid and the fantastic work they do, I suggest you pop on over to their website at: www.actionaid.org.au, or you can find out more about Project TOTO here: http://blogs.actionaid.org.au/toto/2009/10/26/project-toto-shortlist/
I'm so so so excited, although a little nervous, about the challenges I now have to undertake to hopefully get the position! Not to mention the excitement of my impending holiday! Tomorrow I'm off to Singapore and then on to the Philippines on Thursday with Jen, who I have mentioned in other blogs. I think. If I haven't, she's ace!! That's really all you need to know! Keep your fingers crossed that they don't get hit by another typhoon, not only for us, but for the poor people who live there and have been battered by crazy weather for the past few weeks!
Missing you all loads!
xoxo
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
