Lao adventures
So now you know...
I kiss you all on both cheeks, French style.
A piece of paradise
Jossan and myslef have really found a piece of paradise here in Sihanoukville! The beches are so pure and white; walking in the sand feels like walking in warm snow. The views are puifyng and the crowd is a nice, mixed bunch of people.
Today we took an island tour with a longboat, just cruising in the archipleago, stoping to snorkel at various places. I guess the coral reafs was nothing like the Aussi ones but they satisfied my imagination and hunger for adventures.
At noon we stoped on a beautiful, close to deserted island and enjoyed a rough game of volleyboll before eating some tasty barracuda that was bbqued right there on the beach. After a nice walk, we fell asleep in the sun; totally content with life.
For obvious reasons I think we will stick around here for a couple of days longer than we first planned. We have no rush to leave paradise.
This place is just waiting for the turist boom. I think we got here just in time to see the unspoilt Cambodian coast.
L'histoire du Cambodge
We started our exploration of Cambodia's 20th century history with a visit to the Toung Slen Genocide Museum. Used under the name S21 during Pol Pot's era, mainly for torturing and executing "enemies" of the Democratic Kambuchea. The enemies coiuld be anyone with an education, or a high rank or even someone whos only crime was wearing glasses.
The museum in itself is not a very agreable experience, but as stated; educating and important. It is horrible to see the state it is in, the governement having no funds for renovations and with no external fundings coming in, this historical monument is falling apart.
After seeing pictures of people imprisioned here, Jossan and I decided the next logical step was visiting the killing fields at Choung Ek situated some 12km outside the city. We hired a tuck tuck and were on our way. Though there was not much to see the visit was an awarding experience. We visited the stupa raised here for the people who died under Pol Pot's era and lighted incence for the 8 000 skulls collected here.
Yesterday we went to the National Museum and to the central market, selling everything from deep fried cricket to jewellry. In the evening we watched a movie about the Cambodian Genocide and by doing so compleating our education. At least for now.
This morning we took an early bus to Sianhoukville and that is were you find us at the moment.. It seems like quite a good place. White sand and turquise water, fruit juices for 50 cent. A bit of a change and we are basically the only ones here, it's a bit of a diamond in the rough. I think we may like it here...
Just to make things clear to everyone. Trinity Collage is a collage in Dublin and where I plan to spend my next four years... Jackson, try googeling it and you'll see.
Bissous!
Appropa Raul Wallenberg
De som vill kolla in my glory kan ga in pa www.lidingo.se eller http://www.gp.se/gp/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=361&a=322175 (GP) och lasa om det sjalva. jag kanner mig som en riktigt kandis! Sen far ni forstas lasa Lidingo Tidning nar den kommer.
Hoppas att ni som var pa ceremonin hade trevligt. Jag onskar med hela mitt hjarta att jag kunde varit dar, men det later ju lite cool nar det star att jag inte kunde narvara for att jag ar pa resa i Kambodja. Det ar ju en trost!
Wow, det har ar sa haftigt!
The Raul Wallenberg Scholarship
Officially I can't say anything for a couple of hours still, but I don't care I'm going to say it anyways: I got the scholarship! Linda and Inger (my old teacher) are going to accept it today, in my absens.
For those of you who haven't got a clue of what I am talking about, I'll fill you in.
Raul Wallenberg was a Swedish "war"hero in WWII. He rescued jews by giving them fake passports to Sweden and he is a national hero; since he was basically the only one doing anything worth mentioning during that war. This scholarship I got is an award for a deed or a project done in his spirit. And it is of course a really big honor to get it (also it involves quite a lot of money). I got it for a project I did last year, namely an inspiration day for everybody in my school concering global work, social work, volontary work and solidarity.
I can't believe I got it!
I know exactly what to do with the money. Trinity Collage here i come!
Woho!
And thank you Linda for fixing everything with the ceremony, I owe you one! And Happy Birthday to you aswell my wonderfull sister!
Hello teacher!
This also gave me the opportunity to go exploring a bit on my own, when I wasn't nursing her back to health that is. I had quite a good day, enjoying the khmer cuisin and catching a dance show with the legendary Apsara dancers. Interesting really.
When I got back to check on Jossan (sleeping like a baby) I got talking to our tuck tuck driver from the other day, Long. He asked me if I wanted to go to a Cambodian night club, and not wanting to face an evening sitting reading in the corridor (so not to disturb Jossan) I said yes.
Cambodian dance music rocks! I had a good time meeting up with a lot of people, interesting as I was; at least two and a half meters taller than the tallest Cambodian.
Well we decided to stay another day in Siem Reap so that Jossan could rest for a little longer and maybe bribe her stomach back to health with some whiskey. As we were walking along the road we were approached by two Cambodian guys in school uniforms. They told us about their school, the Siem Reap School for Children in Poverty, and asked us if we wanted to make a contribution. This all sounded very interesting so we asked if we could come with and see the school. Of course we could! So we went there and talked to Mr Director, a very sympathetic young monk, and made our contribution. He then asked us if we wanted to come back that evening, and look in when they held English classes.
This is why we found ourselves outside the small school, bulit entirely with sticks and banana leafs, yesterday evening. Along came Mr Monk and he pointed at one of the four classrooms and said: "There is you class. Teach!" A bit surprised we obeyed and entering the room we were greated by a chorous of voices shouting: "Good evening teacher! How do you do! Good luck to you!" The rest is history but we held two classes and got a wonderful respons. A bit of an experience!
Today we finally made our way to el capital, Phnom Pehn. Piece of cake busride, only seven hours.
Lihaii! Hakon tom tom.
Angkor Wat
It took about 20 min to load but here it is: Sunrise over Angkor Wat...
Dry throat and draught of words at Angkor
First day (yesterday) we rented bicykles and spent nine hours biking aroun the vast landskape and the amazingly structured temple remains. We began with Angkor Wat (of course), then went on to Angkor Thom and Bayon. Exploring, taking pictures and marvelling. I think we went around at least 50 km that day, in 35 degrees. We were quite content sitting down with a boittle of water and some pineapple watching the sunset over Angkor Wat.
When we came home there was a powercut. No running water. No fan. Mucho smell!
Today we had talked o a tuck tuck driver, Long, and he picked us up at 5 o'clock this morning to take us to see he sunrise over Angkor Wat. There are no words. I'll show you the pictures, that's all I can do. Then we went around a good few temples comfortably leaned back in the tuck tuck. Amongst others we saw the Tomb Raider temple; where Angelina Jolie kills some bad guys as Laura Croft. Wicked.
The downside to the temples are the kids. There are dussins and dussins of kids trying to vend you stuff, and you simply can't buy from everyone! It takes a bit of the fun out of the temples seing them strod around there yelling "Lady, lady, buy postcard!" The thing is, over here this is no humbug, they do need the money. I buy something from one of them everyday. One thing. I's better they sell than they begg I reason. Also I try to talk to them a lot, practising their English will take them further than selling 10 bracelets for one dollar. They are all charming when you get them talking!
Gotta go. Jossan is hungry.
Adios och pa aterseende!
Puss and kiss
The AC Minivan and a taste of Cambodia
Well it stared farely well, with four hours in an AC Minivan, through which Jossan and I slept most of the time. Then we got to a restaurant; "Short stop", we were told.
Three hours later the jerney recommenced, not in an AC Minivan. After that I think we changed buses five times and got off and on, showing visas, passports, leaving documents, entering documents, taking off bags, reloading bags, filling in forms etc. In short: A lesson in life. The last 8 hours we spent in an overcrowded magic bus. I mean it was magic it actually worked. The roads were not asphalt either I can tell you that.
Now; don't get me wrong, cause it might seem like I'm whining. Truth is: I love this! During those hours we acually saw Cambodia passing by through the dirty window. The real thing, dry and poor and absolutely wonderfull. We saw, we observed and atl east I will safeguard the images I saw.
Siem Reap is nohing like that. Allthough I must say I like this town anyways. Diversity; there you go; a word that tastes good. Despites it's constant powercuts this town has something.. extra.
Lighting incense the beaten track
Ok, so this is the deal. Me and my surrogat mother Jossan ( as Jackson so truly(?) put it, haha) have moved on from the colorful Siam to the culural Cambodia. One thing we have thoroughly discovered though is that Cambodia is not very good at electricity. Our guesthouse have been powerless for almost two days now, hoirrible nights without a fan (but we are survivors), therefor I intend to write a few short letters to avoid that really enoying feeling you get when suddenly you stare at a black screen, where two seconds ago were some 20min of hard work.
Thank you for all your sympaties concerning my very dramatic food poisining, by the way. It has been requested for me to tell you the villain in the drama, but it's no that exciting really. Water. Never trust a guesthouse keeper who shws you a very fancy water purifyer "Imported from Canada." "Everyone drinks." Blah!
So, to begin from the beginning. Our last day in Thailand we spent on the culural track. We took he train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. The former capital of Siam, situated only 1,5 hours north of Bangkok. We had a rather curious episode at the station when they tried to charge us 630 bath for a one-way ticket. No, no, no, we exclaimed, we want the cheap one. Ah, you want the 11.20 train not 10.50? 30 bath then please. We left the ticket salesman gloomy eyed, just tried to sell us tickets for x20 the prise.
In Ayutthaya we rented bicykles and went around sightsee the various old temples. Really nice. Very Thailand and a bit of the beaten track. We took the nicest little ferry/ raft and the people were charming. Warmly recomended if the opportunity ever crosses your path. We also visited a few Wats. I have taken as a habit to light incense for one of you in every wat I visit. Since there has been a few I guess a few oif you can count on a bit of good luck in the near future.
The night we spent at Thanon Koh San, that street, I can't tell you because it is different every night. We made quite a few friends there anyways. We went to bed at 4.30; and woke at 5.45 (both AM) well prepared for the jerney to Cambodia.
Humbleness begins at Koh San Road
I feel better now, but my miss inependent illusion is shaken. That's probably for the good of things. I meen; why be independent when you have such a wonderful family at home, caring, loving? And such wonderful friends too! Who was I to think I could do without them? Lucky they are just an e-mail away. I will never again think I'm doing this alone! Alskar er allihop!
By the way; Koh San Road is crazy. Bangkok is huge. Jossan is the best travel mate one could ask for. I guess thats that.. Oh and one more thing; we went to The Grand Palace yesterday and it was amazing. Now there's something to make you humble.. the Emerald Buddha made my knees weak.
Keep your head cool... I'm trying to.
Kayaking through Siam
To get to the point. I love this country! Having seen a little bit of it now. Well I guess I left you in Krabi, and I will take up the story there.
We went kayaking. If anyone reading this ever goes to Krabi I will say to thee: Go kayaking! Jossan and I instantly fell hard for our charming guide Mr. Eck and he showed us, and our small group of enthusiastic tourists, the best time and some very interesting Thai flora and fauna. Our first stop was on a little isolate sanbank which was as overcrowded as Bangkok with various different kinds of crabs and starfish. We played with them for some time. Jossan actually (accidentally?) torturing a small crab into loosing it's claw.. an event which inevitably lead to major teasing from myself, Mr Eck and everyone else in our very sympathetic group.
We went a few steps up the food chain and the next adventure was meeting some very "wild" makaks (monkeys), feeding them sappalot (pineapple) and sweet talking them like kittens. Very exiting, although Jossan managed to scare most of them away from our kayak (I guess her crab-torturing reputation had spread).
Next we saw mangrowe forrests galore and also the "Thai Grand Canyon", as Mr Eck expressed it, which left us amazed by it's majestic savoy (beauty).
Later that day we left for Koh Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two Phi Phi Island.
Verdict for Phi Phi Don:
- Beautiful
- Eventfull
- Totally overcrowded with tourists, espessially Swedish ones
But we had a great time! On the boat from Krabi to Phi Phi we met some very sympathetic Argentinians and Canadians and after chatting them up for the entire boatride we though we might aswell stick together. Good for us since it's pretty tricky getting accomodation on Phi Phi this time of year, and our new friends had all been there before and knew their way around. We took a longtail boat from the major port to Long Beach, a les crowded part of the island. And much more beautiful! Arriving there it turned out the lack of accomodation was rather vast but we got lucky and got the last two rooms. We crammed in twice as many people than they were ment for. Which was very budget minded I guess, for we only payed 100 bath (2euro, 20kr) for the night and Phi Phi is ranked one of the most expensive places in Thailand. But the rooms were really dodgy, and those who now me knows I'm not that picky. We decided to leave our stuff there and stay out as long as we could. Good plan. Phi Phi has some really nice party, I tell you! Bengan och Bea.. om ni har tid sa ak hit! Jag vet att ni skulle alska det.
Otherwise we spent our time on Phi Phi Don sunbathing, swimming, meeting new people and partying. So I guess we did the common thing. Enough is enough though and Jossan and I had enough after two days.
Yesterday we left for Bangkok and this is where you find us. After a 14 hour busride (thank you Conor for the travelling pillow!!!) we arrived here at 6 o'clock this morning.
Now we are off exploring.. hopefully we'll make it to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha today. We are also trying to get tickets for Thai boxing tonight.
Thanks for the comments by the way.. they are very much appriciated! Keep it up!
Hall nu ut i stormen Per darhemma! Alskar er!
Until next time; keep it cool...
The Ballad of Koh Pahn Ngang
It is a 45 minute boat trip from Koh Samui to Koh Pahn Ngang.. but it was some great 45 minutes! The feeling we had leaving that island and commencing the adventure at this new one was just pure joy! The sun was shining.. the wind was blowning.. the boat was rocking.. the small, illagaly imported puppies in the basket next to me were playing.. you get the picture. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. And then it passed to give away to an even better one.. well as you hear.. Im pure optimism at the time of writing.
Well, to actually write something of importance. Jossan and I got accomodation at Coral Bungalows. A back packer hang out about five minutes walk from Had Rihn (wich is where all the action is!). We share a bungalow, paying 500 bath wich is about 100 SEK, 10 euro.. seems pretty fair to me and then we have major location.
First night in town we hit the beach hard and shared our first bucket (what that is you who dont know will have to figure out by yourselves). We hung out with some nice Finns, Israelis and Aussis and managed to get hung with enough orkids to give us a neckpain the day after. Thats obviously the way they do it here and I dont mind!
Yesterday we took it easy, enjoyng the sun and exploring our immidiate surroundings as well as Had Rihn. As a very thourogh pisces I spent about half the day plunging around in the water. We had dinner with two friends from the night before, Andre and Andrew, and watched a movie in one of the bars. Babel, great film, a bit depressing though. Then we spent a god few our cahhting away before dancing the night a way in the waves at the beach.
Today was a lovely day. We rented a scooter (moped) and went exploring the island. Imaginge; to your right there is the ocean.. glistering in the sunlight.. to your left is the steep hill covered in jungle.. In front of you is Jossans bright pink helmet, bouncing up and down like a marshmellow in a west coast coffe hot chocolate. Well thats enoght to make me sing (ask Jossan, she will tell you).
Now we are heading out for dinner. Tonight is the night! Half moon festival and the island will be boiling.. we signed up for free fingerpaint. Thats all I know.
Over and out.
May the force be with you.
Saknar er redan!
Breaking and entering
Tt's been a smooth jerney, 10 hours Stockhom- Bankok.. 2,5 hours at the airport.. and then 1,5 hours to Koh Samui, and that's where you find me at the moment! I met up with Jossan at the airport.. bu i might be going ahead of myself now..
First things first: I left at 11 o'clock from Lidingo. and my hole family went with me to the airport. Very nice indeed. I noticed a bit of a change though from when I went to Dublin; last time we we're all crying and hugging and kissing and all of that. This time we we're all laughing, and hugging and kissing and all of that. My conclusion is: We are all getting used to me leaving. Now THAT is a bit sad, don't you think?
Well well, then we had the allready accounted for jerney. And I have to say, Thai Airways.. wow! The staff is so nice, the food is great.. and everything (and I meen everything) is bright purple. It would have been a very pleasent flight, if I hadn't tried to socalise with the people sitting next to me. Meaning two people from the Swedish custums, on a business trip. I tried not to be bored to death by their spech of underaged smuggling, and in an act of self defence my body went into a trans and I fell asleep. But only for an hour.. the rest was just pretend....
The plain to Koh Samui was a piece of art, a small propeller plain, painted with palm treas (real ones, not Irish ones), fish and even a gigantic jelly fish.
I read in my guide book, on the way to Koh Samui that in January they usually have two days of rain. Made me feel pretty safe. But as it happended, when I got there it was raining. And it has been, on and off, ever since. Well, I've only just been here 24 hours so I'm not troubled yet. I have five more months to get a tan.
Other than that I've mostly been sleeping off the jet lag. Besides eating of course; we wen't to a wonderful restaurant yesterday. But now true back packing life will commence.. We're heading to Koh Pha Ngang in two hours for a half moon festival!
Kolla in Jossans resedagbok for en svensk version av vart aventyr; www.resedagboken.se sok pa JosefinBergholtz, det ar enklast.
Kiss and goodbye!
Last night at home
| Time is ticking, currently 13 hours and 26 minutes til take off. I actually can´t wait. Nerveus but excited to the point where I´m close to bursting. One little bump still to overcome though. I´m not packed yet. Better go take care of that. Only 13 hours and 25 minutes to go... Vilken underbar tid det har varit här hemma! Jag är bara så lycklig att jag har så underbara vänner och en så härlig familj. Jag kan sannerligen skratta mig lycklig. Älskar er så mycket! |
Ice hockey
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New years
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New Years
New Year dinner at Bea´s. Me, lisabeth and tess are enjoying it loads!
A brand new year
I hope you all had a wonderful New Years, with lots of champagne, friends and fireworks! I´m pretty content with my share of all of those.
Had quite a nice weekend over all. The family went away to spend New Years in Båstad, so I found myself flying solo. Reluctant to face any time alone I invited myself over to Fia´s and she treated Naomi and me to a wonderful våffeldinner. Later on we went to the cinema to see the Black Dahlia, with Josh Heartnett, Scarlett Johanson and Hillary Swank. I give it four out of five, splendid! And, out of nowhere I just have to compliment on Josh Heartnett´s.. hm.. acting. Haha.
Sunday I spent with grandma, I helped her do her shopping and then she treated me to lunch at her place. We looked at photos and had a really nice time.
For the actuall New Years Eve I went to Bea´s and had a lovely dinner with Bea, Lisabeth and tess. Everything you could wish for, companywise, and lots of bubbely. Do I have to say anymore? We went to a party at Folkungagatan and watched the fireworks from Fjällgatan where you can basically see the whole of Stockholm. I could wish for nothing better!
Monday I didn´t feel very well. Still pussled why. Bea, Lisabeth and myself spent the day in front of the telly, comforted by the though that the whole country, and most of the world probably, felt as bad as we did.
Thuesday I got a lot of things done! Picked up my new passport, got the visa to Vietnam, went to the movies with grandma. We saw Marie- Antoinette. It sucked! Shame. Went ice skating. Hm.. think that´s it..
Wednesday was a lovely day. I set an amazing new record ice skating: 10k in 27 min and 27 sec! Then I took a long walk with Fia, went for tea with Naomi, had Bea and Lisabeth over and went out for a drink with Naomi and her sister Emilie. Better make the most of my time at home!
Yesterday I thought I would start packing, but then I got a phonecall that put my schedual on hold. Last spring I applied for a schoolarship which is given out in the end of January. I hadn´t heard anything from the committe so I thought I was out of the run, but yesterday they phoned and it turnes out I´m considered for it. They wanted me to hold a presentation for them at 1 o´clock. They called at 11. Panic, but I think I did an ok job. Now I have loads of stuff to do though, I have to have a videotaped speach and power point presentation ready, for the ceremony, IF I shuold in fact win. Puh.. put the packing on hold. But it´s worth it, if I win the hole thing (not very likely, but possible) I have my accomodation for a year of studies payed for. Nervous? Yes. We´ll se in the end of the month.
Yea right, I went to a hockey game to. Djurgården played Skellefteå and i went with Magnus, Gustav, Jacob and Nisse. We won 2-0 and the crowd was amazing! Heja DIF!
I´ll se if I can load up some pictures from New Years.
Bissous!