In England, finally

Well, it’s been a long journey to get here, but I’m writing this sitting on my own couch, in my own flat, with my suitcases packed away. I’m sorry this is only going to be very short, but I haven’t got internet access at home yet, and I don’t think I’ve been at work quite long enough to start spending hours on a blog yet!

I spent three very jet lagged days in London. I can sleep *anywhere*, but for some reason couldn’t sleep on the plane from Singapore, despite upgrading to business class (those Skybeds just aren’t as comfy as they look in the ads) and having got up in Phuket about 20 hours earlier.

But I did manage to do a few things I had to organise, and spend a whole day shopping. It was amazing though – I reckon I went into every shop on Oxford Street at least twice, and still couldn’t find the duffel coat I was looking for. Boots, though, well this place is boot heaven! Shame I wasn’t shopping for them.

Christmas lights are up, and this photo doesn’t do justice to sheer chaos in Debenhams, where the sales were on.

I’ve never been to the UK before, only to the continent. Some perhaps might consider that therefore it was a big leap of faith, to plunge into the move with no going back, and I was thinking that too when I first got to Heathrow. Changi airport in Singapore is large and clean, well ordered and convenient, with every conceivable mod con. So Heathrow was a bit of shock. It was dingy and rundown and I couldn’t find any useful information. But on the other hand, the people were all very friendly and helpful, which I hadn’t really expected, particularly in the airport. That friendliness has only got more pronounced.

When I asked him for advice, Nigel told me to never say no – take up all interesting sounding opportunities. I put this into action when a girl approached me on the street and asked if I wanted a free haircut. Turned out she was training with Tony&Guy, and needed a certain kind of cut to finish off. Just a trim really, she said. Down to my shoulder, she said. Hmmm. I’ll let you decide for yourself!

(I didn’t think to use the self portrait timer function, so the mirror had to do). It’s actually dark red now, like the photo on the main blog, so Bianca should be pleased with me.

Do people in London realise they live in a Monopoly board?? I was staying near Kings Cross Station (actually closer to Euston Station), shopping on Oxford Street (except when I turned the wrong way out of a shop and ended up on Regent Street), went past Mayfair in the taxi…Heh.

It was pretty amazing though when I looked up from chatting to the bus driver from the airport, and stared straight ahead at Big Ben and Westminster!

Between the jet lag and the shopping and the organising, I didn’t enter a single bookshop on Charing Cross Road. That will be a joy I will save for myself for next time in London.

I also didn’t go into the London Museum, free and supposed to be fantastic, which is a shame seeing my hotel was right next door. Still, I’m guessing I’ll be in London again.

With all my luggage, I caught the taxi to Kings Cross Station to catch the train to Newcastle. Now, there’s something wrong with this picture…..locked just doesn’t sound the same.



(that’s an Arctic Monkeys reference, so don’t worry if you didn’t get it)

Now, first class to Newcastle upon Tyne please....



More on my new life soon I hope.

Thai addendum

Quick quiz - who recognises this Beach?

Thailand

Ahhh, Thailand, wonderful warm Thailand, how do I miss thee. Although I can't complain, I was colder on Philip Island than I am in London. I'm told it's unseasonably warm here though, and that much worse is to come.

The replacement holiday went very nicely indeed. Car? What car? I had a fantastic time in Phuket, and look forward to going back someday. I didn't get to ride an elephant after all...

I met up with Andrew in Singapore, and we spent an interesting night camped out in the Budget Airport before getting our super cheap flights into Phuket.

The next night's accommodation was decidedly superior!

I spent a little while snapping photos of our resort. The pool was fantastic, brilliantly laid out so that even with quite a few other people around (all Swedish - go figure), you felt like you had a private bit of pool.

Look, waterslides.

We finally worked out that the hotel was affiliated with some Scandinavian travel company, and maybe a Korean one as well. For most of the week, the only English to be heard was that between two non-native english speakers (guests and staff). When we finally did hear another aussie and a pom talking, we ran a mile to avoid them.

Picture laying back in the comfy lounge chairs on a warm humid night with a faint cool breeze playing over you, listening to the gentle sound of the water lapping against the side of the pool, watching the magical lights twinkle in the ripples knowing that the toughest decision is whether to go for another swim or another $3 cocktail (the correct answer clearly being both!)

Every tree had beautiful orchids like this. They turned up in those cocktails.

The breakfast buffet catered for all tastes, but I normally stuck to noodles and rice. Who needs bacon and eggs when you can have kway tiao?

Like a lot of Asian places I've been to, Phuket was that fascinating mix of old and new, poor and rich, traditional and weird tourist cultural blend. Here's a photo of our neighbour over the way...

and here our more immediate neighbours.

There were plenty of wealthy people around building fancy houses and holiday villas, like these in the hills.

On Tuesday of course we went into Patong to find a bar showing the Melbourne Cup - I haven't missed one my whole life and I wasn't about to start now. And what a race! We were so lucky, I'd stuffed up the timing, and we thought we had plenty of time but only wandered in as the horses were parading.

Here's pub we found, and the race in replay.

After the cup, we wandered the town a bit, and got a bit of a feel for what it might be like later on in the evening, with long rows of tiny bars waiting to fill up (I didn't notice that they all had poles until later).

but we were too tired to stay, so headed back to our part of the island, Surin Beach, via tuk tuk (and after a day in Patong, we felt a lot in common with this guy).

Here's Surin beach itself, although we didn't find it for a few days, the pool being so good. Just a little stretch of sand, for someone used to Australian beaches, and weirdly full of umbrellas for hire, but a very pleasant place to have a late lunch that stretches into happy hour[s].

One night we went back into Patong, the somewhat more colourful area of Phuket, and the main attraction for some people I'm guessing.

The food everywhere was just deluxe. We stuck almost exclusively to Thai food, like the remains you see here, which is at one of the little beachside cafes we went to quite a bit. I don't know why people would pass up a great pad thai for a more expensive and very ordinary hamburger, but there you go, that's what lots of western tourists seemed to do. Although that coconut's sitting there because of my burning tongue :/.

I was really intrigued with the blend of cultures. Check out this sign for example. In Thailand, Japanese cuisine, in a Scandinavian style, advertised in English. People complain about the "commercialisation" of tourist traps like Phuket, but I think that in a way the tourists have turned the place into an altogether new sort of hybrid culture, worthy of a visit for its own sake.

The weather was great, although I got a bit burnt one day out on the boat touring the islands (including where the place where the movie 'The Beach' was filmed), but it was lovely really. Of course, it did get a bit humid. This is what happens to your camera if you walk out of an airconditioned room...



This has all taken me a while to post (photos uploaded in Singapore, written up in London, learn enough html to format better in Newcastle), but it's been great to relive the holiday. Tomorrow.....(gasp)....I start work for the first time since the 29th September.

Last days in oz

Well, here I am in London, nearly at the end of my journey that's so far seen me spend countless hours in the air and in airports, and regrettably countable dollars (and now pounds of course). More on that later, for now, here is the record of my last week or two in Austtralia.

Before leaving Victoria, we spent some more time with Colin and Margaret in Apollo Bay, then toured the Dandenongs and Phillip Island, all lovely places. In Tasmania, after a few days sorting books, I got to catch up with just a few of my relatives.

The view from the cabin in Apollo Bay. I've largely spared you from my endless tree shots (I realise not everyone finds them as endlessly photogenic and interesting as me), but this one's really an ocean view, honest.



In the Otway ranges (again, clearly not a tree photo) with Colin and Margaret.



Then, after the Dandenongs (sorry, they were all tree photos there), a night on Philip Island. Fish and pumpkin fritters, lovely. Bit cold and windy, just getting me ready for what was to come.



Here's a friendly chap on the path.



Wednesday was morning tea with cousin Yvonne and John,



lunch with Auntie Pip and Max,



a quick visit to Auntie Joan,



afternoon tea with Uncle Ron and Auntie Doff,



then dinner with cousin Janet and Rodney.



A big day, with plenty of nice food.

Thursday, it was great to catch up with Auntie Anne, cousins Jason, Anthony and Melanie and Auntie Pam for a bbq at Mum's place.




People have asked me how come I have so much family in the one small area. This is a good joke to those of my family who realise that here is the smallest percentage of the complete set of my relatives in Tasmania's north east! And I'll have you know we travelled about 250 km that day - hardly one small area (unless of course your perspective is a Western Australian one).