Crossing the road

Good Morning Vietnam

Well this Chrissy Holidays brings me back to Vietnam. This is my third time in Saigon and although I don't get phased much, but the increase in traffic is unbelievable. There are motorbikes ontop of motorbikes here as this very patient and calm traffic system works its way out and the calmness of the riders and drivers leaves alot to be desired to us from Oz.

Crossing the road brings ona skill that involves guts, local knowledge and trust. The main roads have a constant flow of traffic and it can be up to eight bikes / cars deep. Ok here is the trick. You take a look at the other side o the place you want to go. You simply stary walking at a slow but constant pace and this is where the trust comes in. The bikes and to some extent the cars, simply go around you. It jsut seems to work. Now for the novice, or what I call "The hesitator" things may turn out a bit different. The bikes then have no idea what you are doing and then Kapow. You end up wearing a front handle bar.

Its New Years Eve about 4pm and I'm heading off to ge some photos and then out somewhere, not sure where, but will be back in 2008.

Ok Back and New Years was at a place called WAX on the beach. There were the usual suspects, like loads of westerners and a sprinkling of locals that all got into the spirit of things. Heaps of Booze and a beach bonfire which went down well in the 30 degree evening. There were a couple of western fire juglers and one girl in particular from Scandavia that could juggle a couple of hot balls with precision.

Then a few heroes decided to jump the fire towards the end of the night with at least one ending up in hospital.

Collecting your Bags

Picking up your bag at the Airport

What is it about airline passengers collecting bags?? I just don't get it! Yesterday I checked into Matteram Airport in Lombok for my flight back to Bali. Its a mainly domestic airport, although I did hear that a couple of International flights do go out of here. They have the normal x-ray machines, and you put your bag through and then they get out those little plastic trays to put your phone etc... Well as my main bag disappeared into the machine, there was a blackout in the entire airport. My bag was stuck in the middle of the x-ray machines. I had immediate thoughts of the control tower losing power while giving crucial instructions to a plane landing or taking off. After 30 seconds or so power was restored, out came my bag and no apparent damage had been done.
Arrived back in Bali and then proceeded to the one of two baggage carousels. Now here is my problem. I have yet to take a flight where this doesn't happen. As it turned out I was the first to walk in to the baggage area since I was on the transit bus last. I walked to the second carousel not knowing where the bags would come out. Everyone followed and proceeded to crowd around the carousel like vultures surrounding a wounded goat. I then backed right away and moved more over to the first carousel, yet stood at least 5 metres back. Within about five minutes carousel no 1 started to move. So everyone rushed over with trolleys and those without ran; yes ran, to get a prime position for their bag. Now, their bag has not come out yet, but they are standing there guarding their turf like the police taping off a crime scene. It absolutely astounds me. If everybody stood back 5 meteres or so, and when their bag came, move forward and pick it off. No, they have to hold their ground and take up space for the people whose bags are really coming out. This is where I always seem to get into trouble. I see my bag, and say excuse me and pull my bag off, hitting up to 3 people (on a good day) with it because they refuse to move. When the odd person objects I just mumble "well you didn't move when I said excuse me" and they don't chase you because , yes you guessed it. They will loose their hard earned sacred spot.

"The sweepers" and You are cutting my grass.

One thing that I have never come to grips is the fact that all the Indonesians who have the responsibility of cleaning either your hotel, bungalow, Pondok, hut or even the street start at an ungodly hour. I do see that it's a cool part of the day and the relentless heat and sun haven't started piercing the trees yet, but they seem to do it outside your door. I have enclosed a picture of one such sweeper so you can get my drift. They use long pieces of straw bundled together by twine and use a sweeping motion to get rid of ubiquitous leaves, papers and make a little pattern in the dirt so it looks well groomed, similar to our suburban beaches. Now that in itself is not the problem. Its the fact that most tourists go out and have a few drinks and sometimes get home late. So at 6.03 am this morning there was sweeping outside my room. Its not in a constant pattern like a clock ticking but it's intermittent and non rhythmical. Thats whats drives you nuts. So the Solution. I need some help here. We just have to ask the whole of Indonesia with their ingrained culture and heritage to simply change your cleaning duties from the morning to the afternoon. How do you think we'd go?
Closely related to the sweeper is who I affectionately term "The grasscutter". I actually have a conspiracy theory here and I'm going out on a limb, and that it's possible that they are one in the same person. Ok call me mad but these people use large old metal scissors or shears to chop at the grass blade by blade. They too work the early hours in the morning, usually just after you have gone back to sleep after "The sweeper" has stopped. Are you getting my drift? When the grasscutters have stopped. Its too hot to go back to sleep anyway, so you may as well get up and have breakfast. Now I have a solution to "The Grasscutter" as well. It's called Operation "Get a goat". I think its self explanatory.
Then all the tourists who come to holiday in this great country can get some fricking sleep.

Gili Islands Lombok, Indonesia

The Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok would have to be one of my favourite places to travel to. The warm water, and the fact that there is no cars, no motorbikes, just horses and carts.
Well I find myself back in the Gili Islands after spending a week in Bali and going to a whole bunch of Farewell parties. Its funny how many people remember you even though you have been away a week. I'm talking about the guys in the boats, the bars, the people in the street.




Click on the Video Below to see
How to drink Bingtang by Mel B

Gili Island Photos click Here

Bali Bagus, and Sit down on the chair please sir

Well Its been 9 months since my last blog entry which is a long time between drinks. I find myself back in Bali for the 21st trip. It's funny as the place is changing but as I walk down the street it still feels the same as my first visit. The smells are the same and the people always saying something to you whether it be selling a t-shirt, transport, massage or giving a card that when you open it, they exclaim "Oh my god! You have won a major prize". Then the idea is that you have to go with them to a hotel and to claim your prize, some other guy gives you a whole spiel about time share in Bali. Its not really new as its been going on for a few years now.

What is different is that there is a new supermarket called Carrefour. It has to be seen to be believed. Its so massive that many of the satff get around on Rollerblades. Yes you heard me. These dudes scoot around as without them it would simply take too long to get from one side to the other. They sell all your white goods, TV's (plasmas and LCD) clothes, garden supplies, hardware, and then in the same complex the next 10 isles would have food, fruit, veges, packet stuff and then they have food ready to go including stuff that looks like it died about 20 mins before you got there.
Just as I was leaving this monstrosity this guy who was selling this massage chair approached me. I had a bit of time so I listened to his broken english sales pitch. It was sort of like a jasn recline rocker but this one massaged your feet. Anyway I thought I'd test it out. You put your foot in and he pushed a button and Bingo the whole bottom half of the chair engulfed your lower leg and in particular, your feet. He then pushed another button and then blow me down the thing started to massage and caress your feet and calves. It was one of those things that I couldn't work out whether it was ticklish or it was hurting. There where these ball things the size of marbles on rubbing the bottom of your foot and at the same time the chair was squishing your feet. It was a really weird but pleasurable sensation. It was going great and at about 30 seconds into the demo - bang - the power went out. My feet and legs were trapped in this chair and the sales guy didn't know what to do. He had to get his boss and then by this time a crowd of Indonesians had gathered around. They look at it and talked about it for a while, then decided to get down on their hands and knees in their suits and try and unclaw me with their bare hands. I could feel tensions were high in the crowd and Finally they got one foot released after I also was pulling at my own leg to get it out., I finally got the other leg out much to the delight of the swelling crowd, who were all clapping. I felt like yelling out., "I'M OK, I'M OK". Needless to say that the guy understood that I was really interested in buying the chair.

Khao San Rd Bangkok

Khao San Rd Bangkok

Ok, I know this is not a new place to most of you as anyone who has been to Thailand, the chances are you have either stayed here or come through it. Well Nothing here has changed, except that I would say it's busier and especially now there is more police presence, and even the military are here with sub machine guns, due to the bombings that went on in Bangkok on New Years Eve. Freshly squeezes orange juice is the rave at the moment. For less than and aussie dollar you can get a ice cold orange juice that was squeezed about an hour ago. The usual stall are here, with clothes, shoes, DVD's CD's etc... But I have noticed at night that have these portable bars. Cocktails, and mixers are cheaper than inside the cafe's and you can sit out in the street and drink and basically talk dribble and travel stories to the person who is next to you or anyone else who will listen.
Some things don't change. I arrived here yesterday evening and I noticed these three guys outside the toilets repairing the very very small hot water system for the shower. Its the size of a shoe box. This morning I get up and there are the same three guys still working on this shower system. I left my guest house at about 11.30am and you guessed it, they were all still there working on it. (To my indo friends, does that sound familier?)
Take this guy here who is running the internet cafe. You put 10 baht (which is a coin) about 35 cents into the slot next to the computer and you get 15 mins of Internet time. The guys is playing some sort of online game and when he gives you change he doesn't even look up to see who you are, he just passes the coins and doesn't miss a beat with his game. - Hmm Kids.
Anyway, thats me done and dusted for another one of Titch's Tours. Catch you all soon, and I'm outa here,
Cheers Titch

Koh Chang - Thailand

Koh Chang - Thailand
Hey there thrillseeksers, well I managed to cross the Cambodian border the other day only to find that the last ferry to the Island of Koh Chang left 5 minutes ago. Is that Murphys Law? And by the way who is Murphy, the guy who makes up all these laws???
Stuck in a Thai town called Trat wasn't that bad as they have a nice night market with cheap good and fresh food along with cold local beer.

The Next day u early and head for the ferry terminal and about 20 clicks down the road. The 50 minute ferry ride drops us at Koh Chang, Thailands second biggest Island and I would have to say the most moutainest (is that a word?)

The seafood here is amazing and the views and sunsets are incredible to say the least. Did I mention this place has mountains? The roads are like a disney land roller coaster and no place if you have a fear of heights, steep hills, geckos, and of course the sun and heat which is relentless from 8am - 6pm. After that there is no wind, the place comes alive at night and it all cools down. And you now what? There is no Mozzies here! Yeah I have been lightning coils everynight thinking how good they are working untill I realise that they are just not around - Bonus

Sianoukville - South Cambodia

Sianoukville

Southern Cambodia Jan 9th 2007

Well you had better get to this place fast as I don't think it will be like this for Long. The Beaches are calm, warm and the white sand really squeaks on your feet. While sitting on a banana lounge, the beach sellers offer you lobstar, mangoes, pineapple, fish and a whole assortment of stuff. There are bars all along the beach and happy hours seem to go for 5 or 6 hours. Bers are al US$1 which makes it easy and to rent a motor bike is $5 per day.


Today I went on a snorkling trip and for the $10 price tag it included, a pick up from your guest house, breakfast, a boat trip, to two snorkle sites, Water, Coke, Lunch consisting of BBQ fish with salad and fruit salad for desert as well as a trip to a place called Bamboo Island. Th funny thing about it was that I walked around the island and didn't see any Bamboo.

Just getting back to the Motorbikes for a minute, this is the land that the police will pick you up for having your headlight on during the day, but won't do anything about it if you don't have it on at night. Go figure!!!

Today the weather was quite hot and the sky is clear so a bunch of us are going down to the beach for yet another happy hour to watch the sunset.
Last night I saw a bushfire here and the whole town came out to watch. The one and only fire truck cam to the rescue but quickly realised that they didn''t have any water in their truck. They had to go back to wherever to fill up. It was almost comical and it looed as if houses and other building were out of harms way.

There also looks as if there is a bit of development going on here so with the prices as low as they are and accomodation in the $5-$10 range, I don't think they can keep it a secret for too long


Photos are fro Top to bottom,
1. The Beach just up from My guest house
2. Bamboo Island
3.Serendipity Beach

Cambodia January 2007

Cambodia

January 2nd 2007
Well If Laos is the land of Beerlao, as everyone seems to drink the stuff, then Cambodia, is the land of Fresh fruit, cyclo and drivers, motor bikes and of course the grand temples of Ankor Wat, and the land of the Baguette. A legacy that the French left. The baguettes somehow retain their freshness even later in the day and they are everywhere.
Flew into to a town called Siem Riep, the home of Ankor Wat. Found a cool little room one block from this street called Pub Street. Yes as the name suggests, its a street full of bars, that brag happy hours, great food, and traditional Khemer dancing. At night this place comes alive as the street sort of closes, New Orleans style and people wander from Bar to Bar or sit on one of the many balconies in the steet and have gander at all the passes by below. Along with the tourists comes Mobile phone shops, cheap internet access, skype (so you can call home for bugger all), and did I mention cheap beer. So far I have been able to buy a ubiquitous can of the bmber fluid for 40 US cents. I don't get it.
Up early to see the Famous Ankor Wat and surrounding Temples. Fast Eddy, my tut tut driver says he can take me for $4 for the day. Sitting in the back of his tutu tut feeling like Lord Muck heading to the Largest of all temples had some sort of King and Servant feel about it, but all this is lost when you see the size of Ankor Wat and more to the point, how many people are there crawling and taking video and photos from every vantage point. There were heads on them like mice.
As you go to some of the lesser Temples, the crowds thin out and there is a heap of walking and climbing to do. In the end they all started loking the same, except of the last one called Ta Prohm. Thats the one with the tree roots that have started to overhang at the entrances to some of the doorways. This place was ver cool and spooky, as seen on Tom Raider with Lara (hubba Hubba) Croft.

Mobile Phones???

You have got to see this Mobile phone revolution in Cambodia and Laos. They have phone shops next to phone shops all selling the latest Nokia's and Motorolas along with a heap of brands that you have never heard of which I presume come from China and are alot cheaper. Yesterday I saw a girl selling beads on the beach txting an sms while trying to sell stuff. She must have been 13 years old. But the classic was when on a bus for 6 hours in Northern Cambodia and the bus driver was at first on the phone and then he sent an sms while passing a truck on a hill and going around a corner. I am in Sianoukville which is the beach area in Southern Cambodia and the bloke who picked me up from the bus station on his motor bike anawered a call while driving me to the beach. He drove with one hand while somehow holding my pack and was laughing over the phone. You've got to laugh.