Melbourne

I love this town. Everybody non Australian told me that they loved this town. There's a bit of a war between Sydney and Melbourne.. I have to say that I loved Sydney but my heart definitively belongs to Melbourne. It's such a great city!!
You have everything and it doesn't feel like a huge city like Paris or London. There're loads of shops, tiny streets with great boutiques, the best restaurants ever and great people. Yeah! That will be my best city 2008, for sure!
See the pictures and enjoy!!

Outside the Library

Gardens near the National Museum

The National Museum

One of the numerous arcade that Melbourne counts

Botanic Gardens

Strange thing but very cool

... and me holding it!

Loving it!

View from the Eureka Tower

View from the Eureka Tower - sunset

View from the Eureka Tower

Good time at Hanging Rock Winery

I landed in Melbourne where JC came to pick me up. I hadn't seen him since my A Level.. therefore for 7 years!! Even after all this time we had a great time together and through him I met some lovely and awesome people: Rob, Mark, Josh, Elysia, Ruth and John + Ann Ellis the winery's owners. They're all lovely people and I feel privileged everyday to be around them and have them as my friends.
See below the picture of one of our great night at El Rancho - the wine makers' house where we were all the time.

The Crew (Josh, Rob, JC, Mark, Lys and Caz)

I've been in Melbourne since July 14th... and I'm still here!! I love this town and its people. It's so great to go out and have a good meal with a nice glass of wine. The shopping is amazingly diverse and the atmosphere is relaxed at all time.
During this month or so I've worked a bit to help me to finance my traveling and enjoy myself more than what I already do ;-)
Every weekend we go out for a good meal and good wines.. See the pictures, they explain everything ;-)

Rob, me and Mark

The Crew again

Me at JC's farewell looking very tipsy!!

My first week in Oz

The flight to Sydney was fine and not too long, so that was all good.
I landed in early morning of July 7th, when the weather was humid and chilly. What a change from Thailand!!! But at the same time it was so nice to finally find a bit of fresh air.
I stopped in a good backpacker's place in the city. The first 2 days I haven't done much cause I was a bit tired from the flight and probably needed to adapt myself at my new environment.

Once rested, I started to visit around. Sydney is a lovely city, especially the Sydney Harbour and the beaches around. The weather was good, a bit chilly but most of the time I had the chance to have a blue sky - Mr Blue Sky ;-)
I was happily surprised to find out that Ossie people are lovely and very friendly. They're very laid back and it's great to be around them cause you start to be more lenient, cool, relaxed.

I had to go and see the Sydney Harbour Bridge at first because I used to see the same everyday in Newcastle-UK. It is indeed the same, massive and beautiful! It was strange to be there and brought up some good memories. I didn't climbed it cause it was a bit pricey but I went up to one of the column of the bridge and got a very nice view. I didn't stay very long though cause it was so cold that I couldn't stand outside. It was very nice though.

At night I met up with Anthony and Kate, friends of a friend of mine back in England; lovely couple. Thanks for the drink ;-)

After ringing my friend Jean Charles who was working in a winery not far away from Melbourne, I decided to stay in Sydney for a week and then go to Melbourne and visit him for a while.

The next day I went to the Botanic Gardens and enjoy the sun and walked, walked, walked.. all day long!! It was so nice, especially this freedom that traveling and being in an new environment gives you. I watched the sunset on the Sydney Bridge from the Botanic Gardens and got a good night sleep.

The following 2 days I went to the beach. The first one was Bondi Beach. I walked all day long again. The walk around the beach is beautiful. I didn't do the whole of it but managed to walk for about 3hours.. not too bad. I actually had to stop cause my foot was hurting me. I guess Converse are not the best shoes to walk around so much..
The second beach was Mandi beach. That was also nice but a bit more busy. I've actually preferred Bondi Beach for its wild character.

I was flying on Monday night to Melbourne. So I had plenty of time to visit Sydney and walk around. I've also had loads of time to enjoy myself with glasses of wine every night with my room mates.. hihihi good nights at the Wake Up place!! Also, thanks Paul for the free cocktails night at your work. Loved it, it was awesome!

Back to Bangkok

After the great experience from Chiang Mai, Kate and I took different routes. She went to Laos and I slowly made my way back to Bangkok. I had a few days left before flying to Oz, so before Bangkok I stopped in Sukhothai - another old city. That was beautiful, as it is anywhere in Thailand..
I stayed there for 2 nights and 3 days and took the over night bus to go back to Bangkok the 3rd night.

During my first stay in Bangkok I had met in a restaurant Toy, a Thai women. She seemed very nice and lovely and told me to contact her when I'll be back cause she would love me to stay at her house.. At the first place I thought, nah! I won't stay.. but after spending a month in Thailand I thought that she was nice without bad intentions.. so I gave it a go and I called her before arriving in Bangkok.
I have to say that it was a bit scary cause I didn't know her a lot and no one would know where I was going to stay.. Anyway, she remembered me and decided that I will stay for 2 nights at her house.
No without apprehension I stayed there and everything was very good and so nice. I've experienced living in a Thai family for 2 days and I loved it! She basically opened me her house and made me feel like a guest and I felt so lucky to have the privilege of experiencing this. Thank you so much Toy! You have been wonderful and you will always have this special place in my heart.

After 2 days, I had to go and fly to Australia where new experiences were waiting for me.. Oz here I come!!

Me and Toi

3 days - 2 nights trekking in Chiang Mai area

The day after the Elephants Camp and the Long Necked Women Village, Kate and I were off to a wonderful adventure: trekking for 3 days and 2 nights. That would include elephant riding, waterfalls, hot springs, bamboo rafting and 2 nights in 2 different tribes villages.

Our group was small: only 6 people. That was rather nice. From our hostel we were 3: Kate, Maryne and I and we were joined by 2 Spanish girls: Erika and Maribel and finally Patrick from Ireland.

Maryne, Kate, Maribel and Erika
Coi and Patrick

That was a good crew. We had fun and it was really nice. Our guide was Coi, a local Thai who was really funny!!

Coi and Maryne

The first day we firstly stopped at the local market and Coi did some shopping for our group. We then headed to the waterfalls. Once there we found other groups but it didn't bothered us. It was just nice.

Once we enjoyed enough this, the car took us to the hot springs and left us there. We would carry on by walk.

The hot springs were .. hot!! Not surprising you would say but we were expecting to be able to go in.. but as the temperature was about 45 degres, no way! We therefore went to what they call "the pool" and managed to have a swim. The temperature was about 30 degres so that was manageable. We stayed there for a while enjoying the nature around us.

After a while the rain started and therefore we had to get changed and hope the rain would go away as we had about 2hours walking before getting to our village where we would stop for the night.. It stopped raining for about 1hour and then started to pissed down!!! We were soaked!!! but I thought it was funny and good fun as we should expect it knowing we're in Thailand during the raining season.

The hot springs (temperature 45 degres)

The hot springs (temperature 90-10 degres)

Once arrived at the village and after a nice cold shower (lol), we had dinner.. Actually only Maryne cause the food was way too spicy for us. Seeing that nobody was eating, Coi kindly cooked some plain rice for us. Thank you Coi!! We were so happy. Sometimes you don't need more to make your dinner :-) At night, Coi lighted a fire and we talked all together around. That was a nice, quiet and nice evening.

The following morning we were all awake by 4 o'clock by the chickens singing.. I think we managed to stay in bed until 8am for the breakfast to be served :-)

On the second day we walked 3hours. It wasn't so hard even if some peolpe might disagree with me.. The landscape were beautiful and it all worthed it! Once arrived at another tribe village, we had lunch and then we were off for the elephant riding! The best fun ever :D We were paired and we actually had a French team (Maryne & I), a Spanish team and a English team (ish cause Patrick's Irish..).

Landscape

The ride was soooo nice and we were very privileged cause we were alone, no other group. We walked manly in the river and saw loads of buffalos lying in the river. That last for 1 hour and we managed to sit each in turns on the elephant head. We really had a wonderful time and were sad to leave the elephants..

Me on the elephant head and Maryne on the background

After a few minutes walking we arrived at the village we would stay for the night. We had a good night that we shared with another group staying nearby. In their group they had only 1 girl for about 10 guys, the other way round than our group.

The night was better than the previous one even if this time we had frogs singing in the morning!! But we didn't care cause the bamboo rafting was ready for us!! We all packed our bag properly making sure to put our camera and anything else important in plastic bags as our bags will be on board with us.

We trusted Coi and started the 2hours rafting on a bamboo!!!! That was an experience! More than once the rafting nearly went in the water but each time Coi managed alright. That was really good fun. The weather wasn't great on that day therefore we were a bit cold but it all went fine and we enjoyed ourselves witch was the most important thing.

On the way to Chiang Mai and its beautiful surroundings

Hi,

After Ayuthaya we took the overnight train to go to Chiang Mai. We got tickets on the 2nd class with beds. It was actually all good and we managed to get some sleep. Once awake we enjoyed the view. That was so beautiful, a bit wild and so green!!

The train and its beds

View from the train

A train staion on the way to Chiang Mai

We were expecting to arrive in Chiang Mai with at least 1hour late.. cause the train kept stopping but we actually arrived on time! This guy on the train who took it already twice said that we were very lucky :-) Yes that's us!

We managed to find a good hostel even if the one we wanted was full. Trying to find another one we met Maryne, French girl who was traveling on her own. We therefore decided to go all to the same hostel.


The day after, undecided on the program for the day, we talked to the owner of the hostel who arranged our afternoon. We would go to the Elephants Camp and the Long Necked Women Village.. I was so excited about the Elephants Camp cause I knew I would see them painting. It saw it before on UTube and that was amazing!

Once we got there (just on time) we saw the elephants having a bath in the river and then they produced for us a show. That was so nice. They played music with an armonica, played football, one of them did a Thai Massage to a of the team personn and finally they all painted.. My favorite moment. I let you have a look at the picture and admire.

Nice bath in the river before the show

Elephant playing football

This painting was made by the elephant on the picture: AMAZING!!!

Fianlly after this we went to the Long Necked Women Village. That was interesting as the lady in the picture with me below could speak English so she told us more about their culture. That was an afternoon full of emotions.

Long necked woman

From 4 year old they were those necklace

Making my way up North .. slowly

Hi there,

After Kanchanaburi Kate and I decided to go up North. Before Chiang Mai we stopped 1 night in Ayuthaya - the Sacred City, Siamese royal capital from 1350 to 1767.

That was nice and it's amazing how many old temples were there!

Lying Buddha