From the February 2005 archive...
Many transports
Sunday, 27 February 2005
We arrived in Malaysia last nigt after an epic, 18 hour journey involving: 6 minibus's, 3 taxis, 1 ferry, 1 "normal" bus, 4 suspected cases of DVT, 2 unidentifiable foods and some whinging (not from me though cos I'm dead Zen).
THIS is the Life!*
Friday, 25 February 2005
Ahhh, we are having an excellent time on Pha Ngan playing around with Mr Daz and Ms Hucknal. There is much swimming and eating and lying in a hammok. We have also started a little self help corner with all of rachel's self help books. I have found out that one of my transferable skills is undermining people in authority - if we stayed here long enough, I could find out the optimum colour of my parachute. Dan is following his Tao where it leads him, so far it is mainly leading him to the hammock and the bar.
* This phrase is the intellectual property of my Dad, Bernard Traynor, cheers Dad.
Right then...
Monday, 21 February 2005
We are now installed in the cheesey party island of Koh Phangan and attempting to meet all the people who are supposedly here. We got Rachel so far, Bryony is on the island in an undisclosed reggae bar (which here, is like saying "I'm in a pub in London...come and find me" - sorry Bryony! We start the search shortly), Daz is due to turn up in a few days time and so far we don't know where Helen and Jez are (Where are you Helen and Jez?). So in the interests of practicality here's where we are at:
Phangan Great Bay which is just south of Hat Yao Beach on the west side of the island. We are number 18 on this map.
We rarely move away from the porch of our bungalow so we are easy to find.
What do you get if you cross Benidorm with Apocolypse Now?
Thursday, 17 February 2005
'Holiday in Cambodia' is a really good punk track by The Dead Kennedys that I've had in my head pretty much all the time I was in Cambodge. That, by the way, is of no relevence really. But after an extremely Cambodge-ish 15 hour journey we made back to the land of Thai and I thought I'd just tell you a bit about the beautiful resort of Sihanoukville that we spent the last couple of nights in.
Romance Cambodia Stylee
Tuesday, 15 February 2005
Ahh valentines day in Cambodge the utter romance of it all.
Me and Dan decided to go to Bokor Hill station, an abandoned French colonial hill station on top of a mountain surrounded by primary jungle. After only two hours wedged into the back of an overcrowded pick up truck, we arrived at the old hotel, which had been through a home/deployiety of interesting periods in history. It started as a casino and hotel for rich French types, but the king closed it down because the combo of gambling and a really high steep hill had resulted in too many suicides . Next it became a great place for the Khmer rouge to hang out in, y' know and like chill with a bit of torture equipment and heavy armoury. Lately it is used for mad New years eve parties and has an extremely spooky air about it. The jungle was proper jungly, with loads of tropical plants and constant sweating and stuff - like in the big green house at Kew. I saw a pitcher plant which I was very impressed by. Dan didn't see this as he was in the middle of an unfortunate bowel related episode, and had elected to remain in the truck. This was only the beginning of the Romance...
My First Nature Number 2
Tuesday, 15 February 2005
I'd just like to tell you about a new experience I had a few days ago while on a huge hill in Cambodia called Bokor Hill Station. Well, while up in the middle of nowhere I suddenly had some really bad stomach cramps and went over to our guide to try to find a toilet quick. I knew it would be a failed mission.
