With the smell of noodle soop and 30p beers well and truly behind me I've settled into the Australian life. Slightly less on culture and perhaps more on beaches, beers and the surf, the Aussie's certainly know how to relax.
Touching down in Sydney a couple of weeks ago I naively stepped off the plane in flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt and was met with the last dregs of an Australian winter. Despite it still being relatively warm (17oC which is positively scorching back home) compared to the heat of Asia I felt the chill.
Anyway, feeling quite tired I did fairly little the first day with the next few days spent exploring the stunning sights of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanical gardens which at sunset gave me this view.
My impressions of Sydney were mixed. Brimming with people and lots of places to accomodate the Aussie desire to drink make for a potentially good time. However, like a lot of cities and like I found when I first moved to London, it can feel a little lonely at times and if you don't know the hidden gems of a city you end up going to the tourist traps which can leave you feeling slightly short changed.
Which is why I think I enjoyed Melbourne so much after I took the short flight from Sydney. I met up with an old friend who showed me the sights and sounds of this truly cosmopolitan city. I took in an AFL game (the sport unique to Melbourne which is a mix between football and rugby) at the famous MCG along with 80,000 other supporters, had some really beuatiful food in the St Kilda area and whilst I tried, didn't quite manage to get through the 250 or so beers at a bar where the barmem are more like chefs such is there knowledge of beers (they actually wear aprons as well).
So from there I went back to Sydney for an extra night and took the overnight bus to Byron Bay which in my opinion is a jewell in the Australian's East Coast crown. Lucious beaches mixed with an extremely relaxed attitude paved the way for a relaxing few days...though it did rain on my last day which was annoying.
Leaving there for where I am now, the ridiculously named "Surfers Paradise" and the contrast couldn't be greater. The lonely planet describes it as like Paris Hilton "Trashy, in your face and a lot of fun!". It feels like a mini Miami (not that I've been...just from what I've seen on the TV) such is the abundance of palm trees, roller skaters and surfers.
I only plan to stay a couple of days before moving slowly further north. I've got lots of things planned including a sky dive, a bungee jump (which I'm shitting myself about) and a couple of dives in the Great Barrier Reaf.
So while Australia thus far isn't offering the same experience as Asia did (I'd have to go to Western Australia I think for some variation) I'm just going with the flow and seeing where the wind takes me. Hopefully the next blog will be a bit more interesting as I plan to visit some stunning places such as Frazer Island and the Whitsunday Islands.
Until then....
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Cambodia to Melbourne...
So as the title of this post suggests, I've made my way to Melbourne. But before I fill you in I must let you know about the unbelievably good time I had in Cambodia.
Having left Vietnam with an overwhelmingly positive picture of the place and people, I thought Cambodia would have to do a lot to rival its close neighbour. After a straightforward bus journey from Saigon to Phnom Penh we settled down into Cambodian life.
The first couple of days in the new country were spent learning about the history of the troubled land. A visit to the S21 prison camp and the haunting Killing Fields told me all I needed to know about the vicious and sadistic reign of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Red) regime. It is easy in the West to make light of other countries problems but you can't pass over the fact that in a country of 7 million people, 2 million were murdered during his reign (1975-1979). It was a truly haunting couple of days and the sight of the skulls in the Killing Fields (I won't put a link up to these pictures) and the vivid account of a guide whose family were massacred during that period will remain with me for a long time.
After spending a couple of days in Phnom Penh we went to the beach side of Sihanoukeville. Which is rather modestly named after the late King Sihanouk! Whilst we didn't have the greatest of weather it was a relaxing few days spent in the bars and restaurants of the town.
From there I took a 10 hour ride to the capital of Cambodia, Siem Reap. Over the next 7 days I learnt about the wonderful culture of the Cambodian people, the spirit of the children and the awe inspiring Temples of Angkor. The temples truly are stunning. I became a bit trigger happy on the camera and took over a 100 pictures of which I will try and put a few up soon as the pictures are better than any words I could write.
After visiting the temples I spent 4 days teaching English at a remote school 45 minutes from Siem Reap. I managed to get in touch with the owner of the school, Mr Savong, and his story is remarkable. Not having enough money to live and study, he spent 3 years at a monestry studying and learning English. From there through a mixture of donations, a chance meeting and a slice of luck he opened the Savong School. From humble beginnings it now provides a free education to over 450 kids who before wouldn't have had this opportunity. The guy is absolutely selfless and an vivid example as to what can be achieved if you put your mind to it.
I had a great time teaching and the one thing that really struck me was the kids unbelievable thirst for knowledge. Whilst younger kids back home cannot be blamed totally for their attitude to school, I couldn't help but notice how the Cambodians desire to work, learn and study was completely different. Some of the kids were cycling 3 or 4 km a day to come into the school! Despite the countries troubled past the future certainly looks bright with these children who are intelligent, confident and ambitious. The hope is that they get the support from a government who up to now isn't giving them what they deserve.
Anyway, from there I made my way back to Bangkok and hopped on a flight to Sydney. This wasn't before I got the wrong time and date of my flight which I only checked the night before I was actually supposed to fly. A huge amount of luck!
Arriving in Sydney was a big shock having grown to love and be accustomed to S.E. Asian life over the last 2 and a half months. Sydney is great though. A cosmopolitan, energetic and youthful city where it appears people work (relatively) hard but play hard also. I'm currently in Melbourne where the weather is pretty cold but I'm assured the sun will shine soon.
From here I head back to Sydney on Monday before making my way to the sun of Cairns hopping on and off a bus along the way.
So there it is, South East Asia finished and Australia begining. Very exciting!
Till then......
Having left Vietnam with an overwhelmingly positive picture of the place and people, I thought Cambodia would have to do a lot to rival its close neighbour. After a straightforward bus journey from Saigon to Phnom Penh we settled down into Cambodian life.
The first couple of days in the new country were spent learning about the history of the troubled land. A visit to the S21 prison camp and the haunting Killing Fields told me all I needed to know about the vicious and sadistic reign of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Red) regime. It is easy in the West to make light of other countries problems but you can't pass over the fact that in a country of 7 million people, 2 million were murdered during his reign (1975-1979). It was a truly haunting couple of days and the sight of the skulls in the Killing Fields (I won't put a link up to these pictures) and the vivid account of a guide whose family were massacred during that period will remain with me for a long time.
After spending a couple of days in Phnom Penh we went to the beach side of Sihanoukeville. Which is rather modestly named after the late King Sihanouk! Whilst we didn't have the greatest of weather it was a relaxing few days spent in the bars and restaurants of the town.
From there I took a 10 hour ride to the capital of Cambodia, Siem Reap. Over the next 7 days I learnt about the wonderful culture of the Cambodian people, the spirit of the children and the awe inspiring Temples of Angkor. The temples truly are stunning. I became a bit trigger happy on the camera and took over a 100 pictures of which I will try and put a few up soon as the pictures are better than any words I could write.
After visiting the temples I spent 4 days teaching English at a remote school 45 minutes from Siem Reap. I managed to get in touch with the owner of the school, Mr Savong, and his story is remarkable. Not having enough money to live and study, he spent 3 years at a monestry studying and learning English. From there through a mixture of donations, a chance meeting and a slice of luck he opened the Savong School. From humble beginnings it now provides a free education to over 450 kids who before wouldn't have had this opportunity. The guy is absolutely selfless and an vivid example as to what can be achieved if you put your mind to it.
I had a great time teaching and the one thing that really struck me was the kids unbelievable thirst for knowledge. Whilst younger kids back home cannot be blamed totally for their attitude to school, I couldn't help but notice how the Cambodians desire to work, learn and study was completely different. Some of the kids were cycling 3 or 4 km a day to come into the school! Despite the countries troubled past the future certainly looks bright with these children who are intelligent, confident and ambitious. The hope is that they get the support from a government who up to now isn't giving them what they deserve.
Anyway, from there I made my way back to Bangkok and hopped on a flight to Sydney. This wasn't before I got the wrong time and date of my flight which I only checked the night before I was actually supposed to fly. A huge amount of luck!
Arriving in Sydney was a big shock having grown to love and be accustomed to S.E. Asian life over the last 2 and a half months. Sydney is great though. A cosmopolitan, energetic and youthful city where it appears people work (relatively) hard but play hard also. I'm currently in Melbourne where the weather is pretty cold but I'm assured the sun will shine soon.
From here I head back to Sydney on Monday before making my way to the sun of Cairns hopping on and off a bus along the way.
So there it is, South East Asia finished and Australia begining. Very exciting!
Till then......
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