Singapore- A brief insight!

Singapore Skyline

We touched down in Singapore the 21st of February. This really was a fleeting visit however we decided to make the most of it. On arrival one could not help but notice how modernised the airport is. It even has a swimming pool so you can go for a dip between flights if you fancy it! We jumped in a taxi outside the airport and as we gazed out the windows it was impossible not to appreciate the beautiful surroundings of this city. The roadsides were lined with magnificent flowers and the air had a really clean feel to it.
Singapore prides itself on its cleanliness. We had been warned that it can be really strict. There are very hefty fines for what we may call 'ridiculous' things. There is a ban on importing chewing gum into Singapore. The fine is 500 dollars so ensure to check your pockets before you enter this country or you will be spending a large amount of your savings on an avoidable fine!!

Hefty fines in Singapore

MRT map

Singapore is without a doubt the nicest city I visited in South East Asia and the cleanest city I have ever been in. It's easy to get around and its transport system is very similiar to London's underground. It is called the MRT system and instead of an oyster card they use an EZ-Link card. The same principles apply. You top up your card then tap in and tap out at each station.
There is more of a western vibe to Singapore in comparison with other south east Asian cities and we lapped this up like queens. Walking into the likes of Topshop, New Look, Forever 21 and H&M on the famous Orchard road, after weeks of haggling with shop assistants on the streets of Asia was a wonderful treat. Finally we got to see somewhat 'familiar' clothing that actually fit properly and of high caliber. The next country we were preparing to visit was New Zealand and we had heard that its weather could be very unpredictable. Therefore we tried to stock up on a few rain, snow or shine items while we were here.

Due to time constraints I did not get to spend as much time as I would have liked in this city but Singapore is definitely a place I would like to explore properly again.

For now it was time to say goodbye to this continent. Asia had shown us a different way of living and an alternative way of thinking. In many ways we left there richer than we arrived.

We boarded another emirates flight. Flight number EK0432. New Zealand was calling and we were more than happy to answer.

xoxo

Thailand- Que no pare la fiesta, don't stop the partaaayyyyy!!

Koh Tao flora, fauna and diving

Fire Show on the beach in Phi Phi

Backpackers attempting the flaming skipping ropes in Phi Phi

Full Moon Party in Ko Phangan 15th of February

Deja vu. There we were back in Bangkok airport for the third time. It's a bit like the Dublin of south east Asia in a way. You need to go there to get to anywhere else. We had to organise a way to Phuket and a fourteen hour overnight bus seemed like our best option. It cost no more than 20 euro. When organising buses in south east Asia it's very important to know what you're signing up for. Thailand is roasting most of the time. We ensured that there was air con and a toilet on all buses. You pay a little bit more but my God it's worth it. These lads aren't like the bus drivers at home. Those great men driving us from Claremorris to Westport for a night out that will happily stop the bus (usually around Castlebar) when nature calls. So for the sake of a few euro I would strongly advise getting the better buses.
We stayed in Kite Hostel along Patong beach in Phuket. I can't emphasise how important it is to use the right factor whilst in south east Asia. I know we all like to have a good colour and I'm no different. You are what you are and I think anyone over the age of 20 should know their skin type by now. If you are a milk bottle that wants a tan on the beach, get a spray tan before you end up getting scalded due to wearing too low a factor. We spent the day on the beach and rightly so some of the girls were making the most of it running in and out of the water. However they mustn't have been reapplying enough sun cream. When we got back to the hostel the damage from the day was plain to see. Bottom line. It's just not worth it. You don't want to ruin your holiday so be factor wise. None of us are invincible. We stayed in Patong beach for one night before catching the ferry to Koh Phi Phi.

Drinks in an Australian bar in Patong Beach

I loved Phi Phi. Such a unique little place. It is a tiny island located three hours (on the ferry) west of Phuket. It has an amazing atmosphere. There's no cars so you walk everywhere. It has beautiful food. Everyone's there to party. Every night on the beach there are fire shows. People jump through flaming hoops and attempt jumping skipping ropes which are on fire. Don't do this!! So many people get burned and have to seek medical attention. This can delay you going to other islands and you definitely don't want to miss the lead up to the full moon party!! In Phi Phi we stayed in Ibiza House. It was a real luxury to have your own tv, bathroom and big double bed. It was right beside the beach too so it was ideal for pre drinking. We stayed four nights in Phi Phi and that was probably enough. We got a few nights out in Slinky's too so we were delighted.

Enjoying our buckets in Slinky's in Phi Phi

We agreed to go to Koh Samui next. It's a bit of a long hawl to get there. You need to get the ferry back to Phuket and get the bus to Krabi. You then have to get another bus from Krabi to a port which takes the best part of the day. I wasn't a fan of this island. Here, we stayed in an Irish pub. I can't remember the name but what I will never forget is the noise of the place. It literally felt like you were sleeping on the dance floor. The music blared every night until 7am. We stayed three nights here. For me it was more than enough. Having said that lots of people do like Koh Samui. It depends on where you go so don't let me put you off.
We caught the ferry to Koh Phangan for the lead up to the Full Moon Party. This event takes place every month. We arrived on Wednesday 12th of February and stayed in Coral Bungalows. This is the home of the Full Moon Party. It started back in 1985.  Through word of mouth it has become world famous and now is a must do on anyone's South East Asia itinerary. The lead up to the Full Moon Party is just as good as the event itself in my opinion. There are pool party's every night in Coral Bungalows and music along the beach. On the Friday night there was a jungle party. This was in the middle of nowhere so it is advisable to bring mosquito spray as those little fellas like to bite. Buckets will become your new drinking glasses on these islands. I used to set myself a three bucket limit. It was more than enough for me but know your own limit.
The beach is in walking distance of Coral Bungalows and you buy your full moon wrist band when you get there. It is essential to arrange a meeting spot on the beach with your friends that everyone can go to if someone gets lost. There are literally thousands of people on the beach and it is very easy to get separated. The party goes on all night with dj's, fire shows and everyone glowing from their illuminous paint. It's a wonderful experience and I'd strongly recommend anyone doing it at least once in their life time. If you've any energy left why not go out again the next night?! We did. It was great!!

Crowds at the Full Moon Party

Fish Bowl Beach Bar Koh Tao

The final island we visited was Koh Tao. This island is a place to wind down and relax after the mayhem of Koh Phangan. It is renowned for its diving facilities and is one of the best places in the world to learn how to dive. Many people do a four day diving course here. As we were stuck for time myself and Tisha opted for the course which consisted of two dives. It cost about 30 euro and it was well worth it. One should know that you do not need to be able to swim in order to dive. I am a prime example of this. I will never forget standing at the back of the boat full of nerves with the oxygen tank on my back and thinking to myself "If I can't jump off the back of this boat, how the hell am I going to jump out of a plane?". Anyways, I survived the day and am absolutely delighted I did it. I have now seen some of the most beautiful flora and fauna the world has to offer and I would advise anyone who has an interest in diving to do this day course. There was five of us on our course. Myself, Tisha, an English girl and a Swedish couple. To celebrate our little achievement we all went out that night for dinner and drinks in Fish Bowl Beach Bar. A lovely, relaxing setting with an acoustic soloist playing in the background. The perfect way to recover from the chaos of the previous weeks.
Another day another ferry. Krabi airport our destination. It was time to bid farewell to Thailand. A place that has so much to offer and I will most certainly see again. Time to check out Singapore.


xoxo

Culture Shock!!!! Cambodia's Phnom Penh & Siem Reap

All aboard!!! The 29th of January we left a scorching Saigon and set out for Cambodia. I hadn't heard anything about Cambodia and didn't really know what to expect. On the bus we paid for our Cambodian visa which cost 25 usd. Cambodia uses a combination of USA dollars and their native riel as currency. As we had seven weeks planned for the South East Asia segment of our trip we decided we would stay five days in total in Cambodia. The first city we visited was Phnom Penh. Here we stayed in a place called Me Mates Place. (That really was it's name). It was a nice hostel with great storage space. It also had free wifi (like most hostels in South East Asia) and a bar which did have lovely food and drink.
In all honesty the hostel was one of the few things that impressed me in Phnom Penh. The first night we went out on the town and it was an experience to say the least.  The streets were full of older western men holding on to young Cambodian girls and women. We were horrified. We said we'd give the place a chance though and went to Pontoon night club. We are all serious dancers and it would be a woeful shame to deny the locals the honour of seeing us show off our moves on the dance floor. LOL. The seven of us stuck extra tight to each other that night. I must say it was one of the few times I felt a "tad" unsafe on the whole trip. I won't be socialising in Phnom Penh again. I'm afraid they'll have to forget about my dance moves!! Sorry guys.

A beautiful little coffee shop in Phnom Penh

We spent two nights in Phnom Penh before heading to Siem Reap. This was a 4 hour bus journey. As I have mentioned in my previous post we were travelling this part of the world during the Chinese New year celebrations. On arrival in Siem Reap we got a tuck tuck (a three wheeler 'baby' taxi) to our accommodation. They had double booked us. We were ripping!!!! Purely for the fact it was the Chinese New year and we had struggled finding this place in the first place. The people were very unhelpful and we were given the usual "I'm sorry this has happened but there's nothing we can do" speech. In other words tough luck go sort yourselves out.

Siem Reap river

We literally spent the best part of 3 hours driving around Siem Reap in two tuck tucks to with no joy. Genuinely there was a possibility that we would have had to stay on the streets for the night and considering our experience in Phnom Penh this didn't really appeal to us. Some how by the grace of God we stumbled on a place. Not just any place. A five star hotel. This was an unexpected surprise. It was 70 euro for the night and that's not usually in a backpackers budget but one must treat themselves from time to time. In this case we had to indulge and I didn't feel bad about it because none of us fancied a night on the streets!!! We made the most of the experience and had one of the nicest meals of the trip. Starter, main, dessert equals happy Maria. It was yum!! The next day was about relaxation. The girls spent most of the day in the pool while I was delighted to use the well air conditioned gym. It was a well needed work out after gaining a few holiday pounds!!

Siem Reap is famous for a place called Angkor Wat. It is a buddhist temple complex and is the largest religious monument in the world. Most backpackers will visit this historical location whilst in Siem Reap. It is famous for it's beautiful sunrises and large crowds gather each morning to witness this. We left our hotel at 5am. They charge 20usd to enter the park. Angkor Wat is also renowned for being one of the locations used in the 2001 hit movie Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft.There are wild monkeys roaming around this place so keep your wits about you if you decide to go. They looked pretty aggressive and one actually jumped on a lady when she made advances towards him. The monkey must have felt threatened. Monkey see monkey do!!

Angelina Jolie starring as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider

Many backpackers like to go to orphanages whilst travelling. I for one struggled with the ethics of it and decided not to go. Each to their own but I felt it wasn't right for me. We took a boat ride down the river one evening driven by a Cambodian native. Initially we thought he was a lovely fellow. We passed an orphanage and he tried to get us to agree to buy a bag of rice for the orphanage. We had heard through the grapevine that this was a scam and that the rice does not go to the orphans in fact it goes to the people selling it. He suddenly turned on us and launched a verbal attack on us. Basically saying that us westerners have 'loads' of money and you think we would be a bit more generous. HELLO!! We are backpackers on a budget. Jog on.

A bar in Pub Street Siem Reap

On our final day some of us went to the killing fields memorial site. The one we went to was a tribute. The most popular tourist one is in Phnom Penh but we were not aware of this until later on. Apparently there are over 200 killing fields scattered throughout Cambodia. Cambodia's history is very sad. 1.7 million people lost their lives during the communist Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. These people were tortured and butchered to death in the most horrendous ways possible. This figure rises to 3 million when you include those who died from starvation. That Sunday was a very heavy day.

After the killing fields we went into Siem Reap's pub street. It had some really nice restaurants and happening bars. We could have probably done with another night there to rate it's night life adequately. Having said that Cambodia taught me a few valuable lessons. I now cherish the western world we live in. The corruption in Cambodia is brutal and no human race should have to endure what these people have. Research where you're travelling before you go. Don't end up feeling ill at ease in a night club like we did if at all avoidable. Double, triple and quadruple check that your accommodation is securely booked before you land in to a Cambodian city right smack bang in the middle of the Chinese new year celebrations.

See ya later Cambodia. It's time to party and back to Thailand we go. Time for a Facebook check in: Bangkok bound!!! Travelling to Bangkok Thailand with Catherine Loughran and 5 others at departures lounge Siem Reap, Cambodia.

xoxo

Vietnam- Easy riders tour!

Another day another bus.  Our stay in Nha Trang had come to an end and we were headed 3 hours south bound to the beautiful town of Dalat. A stones throw in the scheme of things.  Suzanne had heard from her friend that the Dalat Easy Riders tour was a superb way to see south Vietnam and at the start of our trip she suggested that this could perhaps be our mode of transport when travelling this area. It is no secret to anybody that I have had car accidents in the past. As a result I have been left with this crippling fear of being a passenger. I can't bare speed. The other girls seemed really excited at the prospect of cruising for bitches around south Vietnam on the back of a motorbike. I on the other hand (although I think I hid it well) was shitting myself. However I was there I had agreed to do it and there was no turning back now. Even if I wanted to I couldn't.. I had no lift!!
We were greeted in Dalat by a lovely Vietnamese man called Mr. Young. He had organised our guest house for the night and accompanied us there. Just by chance the Dalat Easy Riders end of year party was that day (Vietnam uses the Chinese calendar) and Mr. Young invited the 7 of us to join them. What an unexpected treat this was. They really made us feel so welcome with unlimited food and drink. We were in our element. These guys liked to drink. It reminded me of a scene from Fr. Ted. They loved toasting and after most drinks they would get us to stand up with our drinks and say 1...2...3... SLAINTE!!!

Dalat easy riders staff party...nutters!!

The next day we embarked on what was to be a 4 day 3 night bike tour along the winding dirt track unmarked roads of southern Vietnam. We were each assigned a driver and the 7 motorbikes drove in a line one after another. Such a wonderful way to explore Vietnam's culture. We saw how silk was made and I will never forget the image of the factory girls hands. They were red raw from the work. I really felt for her. They brought us to a Saturday food market. Let's just say they wouldn't have anything remotely resembling a bord bia food hygiene approval cert on the wall. There was a bowl full of live frogs. Each one of them was tied with rope around their waist. My heart sank as I saw the poor little guys take their last breath while the shop worker sat beside them waiting for them to pop their clogs so she could sell them. A different world.

Vietnam Saturday market

Final day of the tour

Myself and my driver Ba

We were also taken to a coffee factory. Here we had the pleasure of tasting weasel coffee. What is weasel coffee? Coffee beans are fed to the weasel. The weasel ingests it and defecates it. It is then made into coffee and served. Of course we had to taste it and do you know what it was grand!! I wouldn't run out and buy it but I'm glad I tried it. After all variety is the spice of life. 

One of the highlights of the trip was getting the opportunity to see the way in which many families in southern Vietnam live. The houses were completely made of bamboo stick yet had big satellite dishes hanging off the side of them. This left us baffled. The Easy Rider guides told us that Vietnam was becoming overpopulated and this was a government intervention scheme. They had tried educating them on contraception. When their attempts failed they used a different approach. Believe it or not they introduced free televisions in the hope that the Vietnamese people would become distracted from their spouse and concentrate on something else. We howled laughing at the explanation but they assured us this was the governments rationale.

It was a humbling experience. These people have so little but yet are so content. It proves a valuable lesson. Possessions, as wonderful as they are don't really count for a lot in the end. It's the simple things that mean the most.

We had an amazing time with these guys. The price of the whole trip was 180 euro. This included all our food, accommodation and transport for 600+ km as well as brilliant company, once in a life time experiences and unforgettable memories.

Checking out a waterfall along the way

Meeting local boys in the rice fields

Our journey ended in Saigon also known as Ho Chi Minh. There we disembarked our bikes and bid a fond farewell to our buddies who had looked after us so well for 4 days and carried us safely through the twisting winding roads of southern Vietnam. Cambodia you're next.

xoxo

Airports- Our journey begins!

Airport. This word has a variety of meanings to each and everyone of us. For some it echos stress, delays, long queues, hustle and bustle, screaming kids, moody adults and not to mention the lugging around of heavy bags from a to b. For me on the other hand it screams travel, family, old friends, new friends, old places, old faces, new places, new faces, duty free, MAC foundation, excitement, meetings, hugs and kisses galore.

 One thing I like to do in an airport (when I have time) is stand back and take it all in. It really is amazing to see the diverse range of emotions experienced by us all in an airport. From the teenager in tears because she missed her flight from Dublin to London to see Beyonce, to the happy tears of a wife welcoming home her husband from the uk who because of lack of work in Ireland in the last few years has been commuting back and over to London to provide a secure life for her and their young family.
I have witnessed my fair share of these emotions in the last 7 months. It is a good thing that I love airports because since bidding a fond goodbye to the crew in Murneen and leaving Knock airport on 3rd January I have been in London Gatwick, Dubai, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hanoi, Siem Reap, Bangkok (I don't even like Bangkok but there you go!) Krabi, Singapore, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch, Auckland (again), Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Dubai, London Gatwick and finally safe and sound back to Knock.
As I am blessed with having such brilliant family and friends at home and around the globe I found it a little challenging keeping everyone up to date with my movements and experiences. I have always loved writing an interest I am sure I have inherited from a man who spins a few tunes on midwest!! Therefore I decided I would like to start writing to share my experiences with all those special people and anyone else interested in having an aul' gawk. As it would be impossible to sum up my travelling in one post initially I will give a general overview of my experiences with  Bangkok and North Thailand.
I had been living and working as a nurse in Tooting south west London for the last 2 years with those beautiful girls pictured with me above. On the 6th January myself, Catherine (Armagh), Suzanne (Mayo), Tisha (Kerry), Elaine (Mayo), Joanna (Kerry) and Ann (Tipperary) left the bright lights of London for a new adventure. Sinead (Dublin, pictured in the little box joined us later on in New Zealand). None of us could have predicted what lied ahead. After a quick stop over in Dubai we were Bangkok bound. Scenes from the hangover played over and over in my mind. The famous Kosan road was to be our hangout spot for the 4 days. Bangkok. What can I say? Pad thai noodles, thai massage (crazy people), ping pong show, TUCK TUCK, temples, the smell of dead animals, being extremely cheap and Roy Keane are probably what mostly sticks out in my mind about the place. When you say you are an Irish person in Bangkok the first thing that will be shouted at you is ROY KEANE!! I wonder if the man himself realises he is adored in Bangkok. After a few pad thai's and a ping pong show (not for the faint hearted) it was time to get out of the big city and fly to Chiang Mai a beautiful town in the north of Thailand.

First night in Bangkok

Here we stayed in a place called Libra guesthouse. A place I would highly reccomend to anyone planning on heading up that direction. It is a family run bed and breakfast and they went above and beyond to help us in anyway they could. They even collected us from the airport.
Whilst in Chiang Mai we did a 2 day trek. This included a 9k trek up a mountain where we stayed in bamboo huts for the night. It was a real case of back to basics. It was FREEZING!! If you are going to this popular trek I would strongly suggest bringing a good hoody. You will find this will be a travel essential as well as these bad boys.

These are the ultimate travel pants and I guarantee you you will need them. Regardless of what they look like they are unbelievably comfortable. It can get very cold on buses and over night trains therefore these come in really handy. You will get a pair of them anywhere in Thailand for 150 baht (about 3 euro). Don't forget to haggle because the shop owners will try charge up to 300 baht for them. You haggle in most shops in Thailand so don't be shy! 

 After riding an elephant and bamboo rafting down a a river we headed out for the night. If you are in Chiang Mai a visit to Zoe's is a must. It's a real lively spot and it's the main backpacker spot so get down there for a chang or a singh. 

After Chaing Mai we took a 3 hour bus to the uber chilled out town of Pai. This is an incredibly windy road and may not be suitable for those who suffer with travel sickness. In fact they actually distribute sick bags on the buses just in case. We stayed in Spiceys Hostel. 

Here's myself and Ann chillin out maxin relaxin all cool in Spicey's Hostel..

The hostel is made entirely out of bamboo stick and I can promise you it is definitely a place you will never forget. Anyone looking for an alternative place to stay this is your hostel. Just be aware that it is open planned and may not be the best place to stay for people afraid of animals. One night in particular I was dreaming that I could feel something moving on top of me and sure enough when I woke up to my horror there was a big black cat in my bed! Luckily my pal Elaine is a cat lover and agreed to switch beds! 

Spiceys is located about half a mile from the town of Pai and many people hire scooters to travel in and out. If you are a bit apprehensive about using scooters/motorbikes (like I am) don't fret it's definitely in walking distance. There is a little kiosk in the hostel where you can buy a few changs and singhs. Que the beer belly!! Every night there is an open fire and all the backpackers drink and sing around it before heading on into sunset bar in the town for a few chillaxing beers. One thing that amazed me about Pai is how I found myself drawn to people that on paper I had absolutely nothing in common with. People who spoke, dressed, looked and acted nothing like me. However I decided to step out of my comfort zone and make big efforts to engage with these people and to my surprise I loved being in their company. This is what I love about travelling. You meet so many new people. Share so many different experiences and honestly make life long friends.

After our 2 nights in Pai it was time to catch our domestic flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in order to catch our flight to Hanoi in Vietnam. New country, new language, new currency here we go again!!

xoxo

Vietnam baby- Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang!!!

Hoi An tailors

Crazy traffic in Hanoi

On the 17th of January (Suzanne's birthday) we landed in Hanoi in Vietnam. Hanoi airport was not a nice experience and I have absolutely no problem saying that. So for anyone going you have been warned!! For any prospective backpacker thinking about travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia be aware that not everyone speaks English and communication can prove difficult at times. Thailand is far more westernised. Having said that, change is good and we should try embrace all opportunities presented to us.. so yes I would say go for it! You will get by!
We were pissing ourselves laughing driving into Hanoi city centre. Honestly we had never seen anything like it. They literally drive anywhere. There is no traffic system whatsoever and very few cars. It is easily 80 percent motorbikes. We stayed in a hostel called Hanoi backpackers which I must say was one of the best hostels I stayed in travelling. It had a bar downstairs which served cheap food and drink and had a great atmosphere. One of its notable factors was a shot scoreboard. It was a daily competition to see which country could top the leader board and prove to be the best drinkers. Surprise, surprise the competition ended up being between the Irish and the English. It was close but we just pipped the English at the post. It was Suzanne's birthday after all!! :)

Scoreboard

Nerves kicking in for the Irish

To be honest apart from drinking and a great hostel I haven't much else to say about Hanoi. Two days was more than enough in the place. From there we embarked on a 17 hour overnight train down the east coast to De Nang station and got a taxi to our next destination which was Hoi An. Hoi An is an old trading port town famous for its tailors and many backpackers have suits and dresses made there as it is super cheap. We were told there are over a thousand tailors in the town so best to shop around. We stayed in a hostel called sunlight hotel. It was cheap and cheerful no complaints.
After one night in Hoi An we got an overnight bus to Nha Trang which is situated on the east coast of Vietnam overlooking the south China sea. This was definitely the worst bus trip I have ever endured. The driver literally did not stop beeping the horn for the duration of the journey. IT IS 14 HOURS FROM HOI AN TO NHA TRANG!!!! Later on I asked a local about why Vietnamese people feel the need to constantly beep the horn on road journeys. He told me that is their way of informing fellow road users that they are there. It sounds absolutely ridiculous but I swear that was the reason he gave me. He was amazed when I told him if that was in our country the guards would probably be doing you for noise pollution!!!! Needless to say I didn't sleep a wink on that journey. So.. what did this experience teach me?! Ear plugs and sleeping tablets are essential for overnight bus journeys in Vietnam. Got that?!! Don't say you haven't been warned!!
Nha Trang has really nice beaches and offers a little more as regards shops and restaurants. In essence it has more of a modern vibe. We stayed in a place called HQ cafe. Again no complaints. One of our highlights of Nha Trang was our visit to a water park called Vinpearl. To be honest I am not a water baby. I can't swim and you would not want to see me attempt a length of a pool however I did enjoy this park. Even if I was a little out of my comfort zone.
I believe that it's good to face your fears. It's very healthy to challenge yourself and I think that's what travelling is all about. Why not feel the fear and do it anyway?!

17 hour over night train. These are some Korean friends.

Let's see how I got on facing another fear of mine. Motorbikes!!! Next stop Delat...

xoxo