Quick Update...

Just a quick update, I'm now in Hong Kong and was welcomed by the magnificent view below when I opened my window. I have heaps of photos of Phuket that I want to post so depending on the heat I will spend some time tommorow arvo on uploading them.



The reason I say depending on the weather is because I have come from the "Warm" temperatures in Phuket (Max 30, Min around 27 while I was there) to Hong Kong (Max 35, Min 24 with slightly lower humidity levels to Phuket).

I'm off for some much needed sleep... till next time... ciao

Charlie and Bella...

When going through my photos I took down at the beach I came across these ones of my two Cats, Charlie (Torti) and Bella (Blue Tabby). They are currently being looked after by a good friend and are well.

I wish they always got on this well... hehe

Thankyou Visa...

What a difference 10 hours sleep makes. After my horror day on Monday yesterday, Tuesday, was a much better day. I slept really well (which after having very little sleep in the previous 56 hours is understandable!) and woke up feeling a lot better. I made my way to the restaurant for breakfast then went for a nice long walk. When I got back I had found a message asking me to call Visa back.

I was helped out by Chris, who was based in Maryland, USA and he was able to get me the Emergency Cash I needed (thankfully no frustrating Indian call centre this time). I have to say that Visa did a great job, in just under 22 hours of me making the phone call I had the cash in my hand. I’m hoping this will keep me going until I get home when I will get a new card issued and then have to re-set all my internet banking accounts etc!

Late in the afternoon I went down to the beach to take some photos of the sunset. While I was there I was approached by a South African guy who asked me if I could get some AA batteries for him. Why couldn’t he get them himself? Well he and his friend did something that was stressed to me the last time I was in Phuket, do not hire/ride a bike! You have to see it to really understand how crazy it is here but the result of their effort was bandaged arms, legs and a big limp! The other problem with having an accident is that no matter who in reality was at fault, because you’re not a local you’re at fault and have to pay for repairs!

I did get some nice photos that I have placed below. I’ll try to post some more on my MySpace page. One thing that continues to amaze me are the “Monkeys” as I call them that jump on the back of the tourists that go Paragliding to help them guide the sail. The tourist is strapped in a full safety harness… the guys that jump on the back pretty much just hang there! I’ll try to get some video to show you but until then have a look at this:

From a distance you can see the parachute and also the two guys on it.

Up close it seems there is a "freeloader"

Below are a couple of the picures I took on the beach including one I took for an English Friend. There was an Australian flag on the beach as well but I didn't get any good photos of that one (it was a tatty flag as well so not a good one to use).

I'll leave it at that for now... I have had a lovely lazy day today including some shoping but I'll go through that another time.

Take care...

al

Crappy Day....

Are you allowed to say that you have had a crappy day when your on holidays? Well for me today was pretty crappy. Maybe I feel this way because I have had no more than 7 hours sleep since I woke up Sunday Morning (56 hours ago), it could be because its hot and sticky here and I’ve come from 15 degree weather or it could also be that I put the wrong pin number in and lost my credit card and had to spend 30min on my mobile talking to an Indian call centre to get some emergency cash from Visa (sorry for the long sentence!). Oh well…

Hopefully I will get the emergency cash soon so anyone that has placed an order should be ok! The day wasn’t a complete “loss”… I did get to do something I haven’t been able to do in years… Have a bath! I have a lovely large bath here so I was able to get in and relax while watching one of my favorites shows… “Air Crash Investigators” (hmm is it appropriate to watch such a show in the middle of a holiday where flying is involved?)

After checking in and trying to get some sleep I decided to go for a walk. The Burasari is just across the road from the “Holiday Inn” where I stayed last year so I’m familiar with this area. I went looking for a particular T-Shirt sell I bought a whole lot of T-Shirts from last year but I couldn’t find her. There are so many people that want to sell you their products but there is only so much I can buy (which is nothing at the moment!!)

I was looking forward to going to the Banana Leaf restaurant tonight to get my favorite dish, chicken with cashew nut but I’ve now decided to get room service… I think it will be for lunch tomorrow now ;-)

Sorry for the glum blog tonight… things will turn around I’m sure after a good nights sleep and a big breakfast.

Take Care,
Al


PS… I just realized one other reason why I may feel crappy…. Because I am drinking Pepsi (its complimentary at the hotel… I wonder why!). Now that’s two things I don’t normally do that I have done while on this holiday. 1) Bought a book 2) Drank one full can off Pepsi!

Still in Transit...

Just a quick update.. I'm currently eating breakfast (yes breakfast which is not normally something I do!) in Hong Kong International Airport. I have 2 hours to wait until my flight boards so what better way to spend it than on the internet!
I actually bought a book in Melbourne called "Who Killed Channel Nine". I was only able to read a small portion of it as my eye started to hurt... this morning my eye is as painful as ever so I'm hoping the antibiotics kick in soon or it won't be too good a holiday! Hopefully swimming in the beaches in Thailand will help ;-)
No pics this time... I'll upload more in the next couple of days.
I trust everyone is well.
Al

In Transit....

I'm now "in transit" in Hong Kong waiting for my flight to Phuket tommorow morning in 9 hours time. I was able to find a place called "The Travelers Lounge" which enables me to have a bed (well... sorta bed), snacks and breakfast. It was a lot cheaper than going accross the road to the 5 star place or into Hong Kong itself for a couple of hours sleep.

Above the Northern Territory

Above... umm... somewhere up there...

I soooo need the sleep at the moment. I wasn't able to sleep on the plane and my eye has been annoying me. Hopefully some sleep will help it.

I'd better be off... More to come.

Al

Off I go....

Well here I am, sitting in the Adelaide Airport terminal waiting to board my flight to Hong Kong. I will be going via Melbourne so its going to take 12 and a half hours to get there. It’s been a crazy weekend for me fitting in visits to friends, tidying up the house and also trying to catch up on sleep (which I was unsuccessful in doing!).

I have come down with an eye infection, the last thing I really wanted at the start of a holiday. I am on antibiotic’s so I’m hoping it will be gone within a day or two. Until then I will just have to put up looking as though I have been a few rounds in the boxing ring!

Well my plan has just arrived… B-HLS for those crazy airline fans out there like me ;-). Will report in tonight from Hong Kong airport.

Al

The plane I'm on... taken from Airliners.net