Monday 28 September 2009

Travel Diaries

These are my travel messages sent to family and friends whilst I was away.  Some are brief and mostly contain very bad grammar but it gives you an insight to all the adventures we got up to! images can be found on my facebook page:


http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=549040216&ref=name#/profile.php?id=549040216&v=photos&ref=name


10 November 2008 at 05:40

Hello everyone!!


OMG were having the most amazing time! only been here a week but jeez! right to some up its bullet point time!


Bangkok - Grand Palace/ FLoating market /


Tiger Temple - shell bitten on bum buy adorable baby tiger/


Snake Show - scary this guy 'snake man' actually caught a snake in his mouth! then was swinging a cobra round! 

Bangkok nights were nuts we will put photos up soon we were partying with a thai rock band! buckets are lethal! they but half bottles of vodka in 1!! 


Then got a 8hrs coach then 2hr boat to Ko Tao island! which has been party time!! Met 3 hilarious essex boys n an irish chick called jade who we have adopted. Nights resulting in late night swimming - painting our faces with black ink??? n trying to sing paint it black on a thai mans guitar!


Been deep sea diving n for those of u who know me well - WOAH!! yep I faced my fish fear! was amazing! but then I was sea sick! yep! 


Were heading to koh pagnan next for full moon party! don't know how were gonna cope! think we need a ban on the buckets! 


Hope all are well! love to u all n miss u


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Thailand


16 November 2008 at 14:33

Ok so last two weeks have been pretty much brits abroad esq..!! Amazing tho! Omg Koh Pagnan was nuts! Full moon amazing head to toe neon hippy'd up! Night before we sat on deck chairs in the sea waiting for sunrise! Playing Ching Chang Walla till we pass out. Dancing on podiums to beach soundtrack. Limboing under fire n fire skipping!


But we blame the weather for lack of being able to do much apart from get pissed so we moved to the west... detox time!


At Khao Sok its a national park n the most beautiful place ever seen!!!


Been Elephant trekking shel actually sat on its head!!up through rocks n streams feared for life!!


Tubing - think alton towers river rapids but for real!! All in own lil tyre tubes floating down stream trying unsuccessfully to dodge tress n bushes n snakes!! Yep actually saw 2!! Shel rickershaed of the bamboo trees. We stopped off for rope swing fun. Waterfalls n viewpoints along way...


Had most amazing day today! we went on a trip on a lake 60km gorgeous - to a raft houses, jumping off bamboo diving board- in 2 a lake!! Then I ate fish!! ME???!! then went trekking in jungle with crazy 'Jungle Man!' Actually real life ray mears!! pointing out the poisons n natural remedies! hes lived in jungle 4 all his life!

Then through caves full of bats had to swim through some parts!! HUGE SPiders!

Then saw bout 30 wild monkeys! Ahh its amazing!


Proper travelers now were hoping for tattoos in Phi Phi were we are headed next its were the Beach was filmed- 


Love 2 u all 

xxxxxxxxxx


30 November 2008 at 11:47

Were in Kuala Lumpur its amazing!! didnt expect it to be so huge/clean/busy, its great going to explore now! arrived last night met up with our essex friend jamie and toured the city a bit in the night time was ace all lit up. Went up the petronus towers then another tower to see the petronus from a distance! google them biggest twin towers in the world...


Before here was Cameron Highlands, had tea n scones at the tea plantation was spiffing darling!! Had a great day for shells birthday went jungle trekking/ blow pipe hunting/ swimming in waterfall- FREEZING!!/ tea plantation/ drinking from bamboo/ butterfly farm/ strawberry farm/ aboriginal village! ah was lovely. The strawberries were amazing n they made home made jam- yum!


Then before that it was langkawi, an island at the top of Malaysia on west aboriginal was, surrounded by 99 smaller islands- hired a car and drove round going to secluded beaches and waterfalls. only cost 3pound each to hire it for a day - cruising yo!


Er what else.... yeh just uploading some actual nice photos have a gander- and some party time ones too!!


Yeh we did the maya bay camping trip!! That was camping on 'the beach' was gorgeous! about 20 of us! made some ace mates guy from holland raving to his ipod had some hardcore trance. cliff jumping! monkey island!

snorkeling! rich saw a shark so no chance I was going in!!


Met a girl who went carmel n worked at ikea! small world!! on checkouts Katy anyone??? shes 28


its been nearly a month now gone so quick!! but don't want it to end!!

Accommodations been good so far.... apart from few cockroaches and HUGE lizard in the jungle but im coping pretty well!

Yeh done a lot of waterfalls rich has got an amazing waterproof camera so took some great snaps.


Melaka for a few days then of to singapore then fly to oz on 7th!


Love u all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


19 December 2008 at 00:26

Well hello.......


Yep its been a while apologies we seem to have got to Oz n well.........the goon (a box of wine) has taken our hearts and soul!


So cant remember were we left u


Singapore?? Loved it! such a mint city its true was cleanest in the world! So nice, Went to see an exhibition on Koren Art and then local artist had a show on. Had some amazing issy myake animations.

We met a guy in KL who s dad lives in Singapore so he took us out showed us the sights- a bar called Clinic! Best bar ever its all hospital based- sit around operating tables, under huge operating lights! Sit on hospital beds or in Wheelchairs! wrong but so right! Then if u get a cocktail it comes on a drip! Yep actual trip that they attach to u! Amazing!

Best skyline ive ever seen went up in millennium eye style wheel - shel shitting herself!



Then plane to OZ!!! 

Arrived in Cairns! 


*Lagoon chilling most days

*Party bus! -pub crawl frm bar to bar which was only 10metres apart! caused a bit of a rawkus. Was open top double decker blasting the party tunes! 


Down to Airlie Beach- 

*Foam party! o dear yet no one in there part frm me n rich- photos will have to explain, then ended up in the lagoon after! 


WHITSUNDAYS!!!!!

This has been the best time so far!!! We went on a sailing trip around the islands- 3days to nights - sleeping on the boat! 50 of us! the crew were ace had so much fun- The beaches were the most beautiful ever seen! Omg whitest sand! U had to wear stinger suits even just paddling in the sea! 

Back on boat had the healthiest meals wev had all cooked for us. Party games with the crew! nudity was common altho not us! We had such a good group, met some ace people a lot of who our all heading to byron for crimbo too!

Did a dive on the great barrier reef! Not that great visibility but stil the coral was gorgeous! Did my dive with some leeds met girls! small world!


Jumping of the top of the boat/ there was a slide! and even a spa on the boat - a small paddling pool really.

Got woken up by the crew banging pots and pans in our ears! The sailing was something else dosed up on sea sick tablets mind! 


Then we headed to Rainbow Beach with some of the sailing peeps. Two hilarious irish guys think flight of the concords meet it crowd! Love them!

Had a messy night on goon in the bus shelter - u can take the girls out liverpool.... ended up in the hostel pool! yep CANNONBALL!!!!~~ good times! 'O im definitely not going in the pool...' 'o im definitely not putting my shorts on...' 'o im definitely not diving in...'! Sorry the inside jokes have started!


So thats were we are now! Going to Fraser Island tomorrow! so excited get a 4x4 huge groups n explore island yourself- camp were u like. gonna b amazing! so thats for 3days 2nights.


Then its heading to byron for a bohemian crimbo!


O year n wev got piercing!!! Me with my ear cartilage and shelps the madonna! just call her lesley ash! They look ace tho kind of addictive tattoo will follow soon!!! sorry mum!


So thats us! 

Hope your all well! tell me some stories!


Love u all! Big love Em, Shel n Rich xxxxxxxxxxxx


28 December 2008 at 10:31

Merry belated Christmas wishes to u all!!


We celebrated true ozzie style with a barbie on the beach! And gooning it around bonfires on the beach till way in to boxing day!


Hope u all had a great crimbo and have a top New Year!! 


speak 2u all in 2009!


oz num is 0061 45829 9646


Big Love xxxxxxxx


14 January at 10:50

Ok no idea were we left of will update u soon but for an idea weve just had a mammoth photo upload sesh esp rich so have a gander - if anyone feels like a tagging session please feel free!


Wev just been traveling around for 8 days in a wicked camper van! Amazing had written on the back 'if u loved me you'd have swallowed that' amazing was best week wev had just pulling up at campsites near lakes! Amazing! Altho we had to sleep in a car park at surfers paradise- that was close to tears!


Just went back to byron 2meet some friends frm thailand, now were in coffs harbour - activities galore. We went canoeing up a creek today, then boogie boarding - shel got rescued by a lifeguard! hilar! it wasn't necessary but so worth it! then horse riding in rainforest and a booze cruise at sunset for richs bday! 


xxxxxx


27 January at 04:46

Gday!! 

well catch up time!!


wicked camper van around gold coast and sunshine coast

- amazing freedom 

*brisbane

*noosa - nearly drowned biggest surf ive ever seen!

*surfers paradise- very commercial and Americanized with skyscrapers on the beach

*wet n wild water park!! - Omg had a drive in movie style (dive in movie!) floating about in the wave pool whilst watching High School Musical 3!! yep hollie and mands! Zackery!

* Australia Zoo - Playing with Kangaroos and Koalas - check the photos!

* Camping around lakes - getting attacked by mossies but amazing! 


Byron Bay Again!

Met up with some friends frm thailand for another night of bohemian byron fun yet we ended up at the backpackers bar dancing on tables..... 


Then Coffs Harbour!

Was just gonna pass through but turned out it was adventure time here!! so went canoeing down the creek through the botanical gardens spotting koalas in the trees! spotted a water snake! Shit ourselves paddle paddle!!!

The boogie boarding where shel was rescued by the life guard!

Then was richs bday! Went horse riding through the rainforest! amazing my horse was called Penny shels the Real Deal and Richs Bambi!! haha! our backs killed for days after! was mint tho got to canter through the valley!


Then booze cruise in the eve with our hostel and a bbq for his bday! met some great peeps here. 


then blue mountains!!

Stunning! Mountains just east of Sydney Blue from the oil of the euclaptyse tress that line them! Actually look blue! was gorgeous! stayed in a little art deco style town. really small lil boutiques and kooky cafes.

Our hostel was an old nursing home conversion! was well nice but kept tripping us out thinking who had been in our room previous!


SYDNEY!!!!!!!!

Ahh love it! Think London but better!! yep! Amazing city layout around the harbour!

Opera house - yep in sydney when see that! Walked across harbour bridge! Darling harbour- drinks on the waterfront. To walk into centre we pass the botanical gardens everyday so have had a few days chilling in the rose gardens - mainly hungover days! doing a few sketches.


Then a trip to rozelle to see Parkers bro (miss ya Kate!) 

Bondi Beach! More hype for what it is but still pretty mint tried to feature on bondi rescue!


Galleries are ace really getting into the aboriginal work! Inspired! 


BIG DAY OUT FESTIVAL!!!! ahhh amazing!!


Top 5 - Hot Chip, Arctic Monkeys, Prodigy, Simian, Pendulum - hilare! TV on the Radio were ace 2! some ace djs was a fab day! sunstroke like! so hot! it was at the olympic showground. main stages was a stadium! ace!


Our friend Beeri from Israel came with us. we met him in byron at crimbo and been traveling around with us hes so funny we reckon wel all move in together at one point.


staying in Kings Cross in Sydney notorious for prossies! but cheap so alls good!

Mint nights out in the cross - world bar shots from teapots! met some people from widnes!! ha! Remember Grimsy and then a guy called Si (fairfield peeps he says he knows u?? Hayley Dawn and Annie??) look at photos..and then Ronnie 2! small world!


So thats us! were melbourne bound next for a few days! then were parting ways with shelpo while we head to ayres rock and go westside for a stint.


Excitement!!

How is everyone?? Tell us some stories! Miss u all loads! 


Check out all new photos on profiles -rich has put loads up!


Em, Shelps n Rich!


xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Australia


23 February at 07:32

WOW!! 

WIld dolphins swimming around feet! Wild kangaroos at roadside! dead and alive!! Emus! just casually strolling down the road! traveled 3000km in a week!! wozer! saw so much! the landscape of the west is something else! so secluded! we had a camper van and camped right on the beach! watching sunset over the ocean was beautiful whilst enjoying some stove cooking! Then the dolphins appeared! woke up to sound of waves!

travelled down to Margaret river then as far up to shark bay(!) and monkey Mia! so much fun did some millage that week! perth was spent relaxing in the park - recovering from melbourne! neighbors night meeting Dr. karl took it out of us!


Ayres rock - did I mention that! loved it very spiritual! hiking round the base for 3hrs! kings canyon was beautiful! we sleepy in swags which are glorified sleeping bags! surrounded by cockroachs/scorpians/black widows! yep! who am I!! loved it had a great group! the aboriginal artwork has inspired me visited some galleries in alice springs watching the artists at work!


West Coast Australia


In NZ now! not prepared! booked on to a bus for tomorrow to start the adventures inc canyoning, white water rafting skydiving! and meeting up with shelly again! 


xxxxxx


10 March at 06:13

Some up time so far......


Mon -arrived Auckland

Tues- Kayaked around cathedral Cove

Wed- Has a surf Lesson in Ragnan

Thurs- Tubing and Caving in Waitope Caves

Fri - White Water Rafting!!! 7m Grade 5 waterfall highest in world that u can raft down

- SKY DIVED!!!!!!!!!! 15,000 ft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!! 


New Zealand Adventures


Cross dressed in Barrytown!


GLACIER TREKKING!! stunning! cant describe! mesmerizing!

Karijokied!

Jet boat Shotover!


Hiked!

Whats next .... BUNGY!!!!



= GOOD TIMES!!!!!


To some up New Zealand - FUN FUN FUN!! 

was a highlight! such a beautiful country but more importantly it was the people that made it what it was! 

We were so adventures doing everything that was thrown to us!


New Zealand


23 March at 23:36

OMG! was sad to leave NZ -serious close to tears! made the best friends there....

seriously loved every minute and cant believe how much we did there! skydive, white water rafting, kayaking, shotover, tubing, caving, luging!!-the ultimate activity!! basically go karting down the mountain! wow! sheep shearing and quad bike razing! glacier trekking! memories for life and new life friends too! the scenery was un describable im waiting for a good computer to upload more photos but got a good selection up already!


Wozer in South America now n its bloody amazing! 


South America!!! as soon as got here its a second wind again!

Buenos Aires loved it! tangoed in LaBoca ! it was like the streets so vibrant with colour was fake! something from a film put on just for tourists but nope actually real life! street performers at every turn! amazing! chilled in park watching spiritual dancers and authentic spanish dancers cant describe! way of life here is something else!

been to loads of markets want to buy every bit of tat going!

Recollatte cemetery! 


In Lima now! bit dodge through main town feared for life from drive from airport but staying in nice area near the sea! few days chill-axing before we hit the amazon jungle this weekend! ahhh!


Inca Trail


05 April at 03:36

Inca Trail- Macchi Pichu!! google it if u dnt know what it is and see what wev just done! wish I had before I got myself in to it!! jeez!! 

hiked for 4days! pretty much non stop! 1st day 4hrs 2nd day 8hrs, 3rd day we hiked 10hrs non stop!!and today 4hrs before we reach machu picchu!! its constant up and down mountains! the Andes! 


it was stunning and breathtaking and kinda surreal! nearly cried was so tough! seriously! couldn't breath frm the altitude! was 4200m above sea level! the height our skydived! 

we were all very emotional wen finally reached the lost inca city! cant explain over email but it was a personal experience! the spirits of the mountains and the energy of those past before us still present!



Before that we went into the amazon jungle!! WOW!!

took us 4hrs to reach our lodge on canoe! did few treks in the night and longer day treks. tarantulas! killer ants!! cant believe we were actually in the Amazooooonnn!! was a moment!! 

Wildlife spotting from ox lakes! lots of bird-watching(!)


Were of to lake titicac next then on to Bolivia! 


big love to everyone


xxxxx


15 April at 22:47


Ola amigos!!


Lake titicaca was beautiful! we stayed in a mud house with a family who fed us n put us up in lil room.. then gave us traditional peruvian atiire to dress up in! they put on a show at the community centre just for our group then took us all back to our houses which we then pretended we went to bed - buenos notches!! but really all snuck back out to party in the square was like actually sneaking out frm papa!!

floating islands of the Uros people- they actually live on man made islands of reeds!!


then we stopped in COPA COPACABANA!!


then into bolivia! la Paz was quite scary but we stil managed to party till 7.30am here! good times here! wev been travelling with a 3girls frm london who we met in the jungle.


then night bus which was horrid in that couldn't see where we were going but probably for the best as it was cliff edges!! to uyuni. here we started one of my travelling highlights...


SALT FLATS!! stunning!! they were huge 12000sq km! had a 4x4 we did a big tour of them then went onto view lagoons at 5000m above sea level!! geysers! volcanos! saw nothing like it before in my life! breathtaking scenery - those who can look at photo links..was like we were on a different planet!! u know that part in Armageddon when there in their buggies driving accross - seriously like that! stayed in a lil hostel middle of nowhere!


Bolivia


Now were in Chile!! love it here! so chilled out! were in town called san pedro.. didnt plan on coming to chile but hey! another stamp in passport!!


and I have a coming home date u will be pleased to know... after brazil im going to usa with rich for 6weeks so back home 11th june! so birthday bbq will be arranged with plenty of photographs to bore u all with!

miss u all

love u 



16 May at 20:2


Iguazu Falls- Something from a fairy-tale! 

rainbows into waterfalls, stunning!


Rio - wow going to christ the redeemer statue and the sugar loaf was a travelling moment. stayed in copacabana, most days spent chilling on the beach watching all the beautiful people in there thongs and tighty pantys! just indulging in rio culture!

Brazil


USA!!!!!!!!


ok so I added on another 2months to my travels sorry guys but wasn't quite ready to come back and im so pleased I came here! never had that much of an opinion bout what id do here but now I don't wanna leave!


NYC!


I arrived few days before rich and went out in the upper east side gossip girl stylie with some peeps from hostel. I forgot how much the city takes over u! MOMA!! everytime! went up the rockafella, classic touristy things like statten island ferry/madam tusauds/ time sq/ ground zero seeing the developments stil looks like a building site but got 4 trade towers planned with memorial gardens

had a few wild nights inc a comedy night where I got pulled up onstage and sang to! tres embarrassing!


Washington


Main sightseeing of political capital buildings! knocked on the white house but Obama wasn't home to play! stayed in lil funky area called adams green. Ate falafel.. regretted eating falafel!


USA

TAYLOR TIME!!!!!!!

MEMPHIS!


now best part of it yet was meeting up with Richs family in Memphis! musical week of my life! and loved every minute!

We had such a laugh! obviously true taylor way smashed every night! Singing the blues with Dr. feelgood potts in memphis! graceland/sun studios - surreal same floor tiles as elvis/ jerry lee lewis/ johnny cash! so much musical history in Tennessee!

ate so much though we all seemed to morph into us waddlers.. ok no-one can get that bad but was so much luxury for us! and staying in hotels! 


we all then drove up to Nashville!


didnt spot any of the kings but we got down country n western style! all kitted out in cowboy hats we went line dancing! Seriously! fookin hilar! im bringing it home as well a s 'y'all' sang on the Ryman stage! found a traditional letterpress workshop and they shown us round theyve been printing all the ryman and memphis posters since forever. obviously me n rich stocked up!


back in memphis again we watch the famous peabody ducks... yep!

me n rich get called onstage to shake our grove thang to 'proud mary!' and we did! 

so thanx again to u tays my adopted family! for such an amazing time! were hitting the blues of london wen we return!


want to upload photos coz wev got some corkers! but computers in these towns aren't the best so hold that thought


next is Austin TEXAS (omg excitement more music coming our way!), then sante fe/ grand canyon/ las vegas....before meeting my florence friends which so excited to see in san fran to LA!


only 28days left now!!


see u lovelies all very soon! 

xxxxxxx


I seemed to have stopped after this blog probably down to too much fun much fun being had so the end of traveling consisted of


Austin Texas - carried on the musical culture with streets lined full of bars with live bands this time more contemporary rock. Would live to return for SXSW Festival. We spent the days floating in giant natural swimming holes in Austin's parks.


Sante Fe - Quaint artist town! stayed in a cowboy run motel that had Clint Eastwood as a past tenant! Beautiful town very Mexican full of galleries and artist studios practicing a range of art.


The Grand Canyon/Flagstaff Its hard not to take things for granted after everything we saw but then this is presented to you and your breathe is taken again for the millionth time on our trip.  We were led blindfolded to the edge of the south rim then opened our eyes to the canyon - stunning.


Las Vegas - Now how can this 'playground' be on the same planet as the previously visited floating islands of Lake Titicaca in Peru? Was so much fun everything you hear about Vegas NYc hotel.


California -

Now we lived it up with friends! 

Staying with the lovely Deems in San Francisco - I loved San Fran such a quirky city with so much buzz surrounding it! Mark flew us around the bay which was spectacular seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Napa Valley. Couldn't imagine being able to do that! We spent time in Laura's studio which was fantastic getting printing again.


Down to LA we stayed with Rick in his Hollywood Hills Mansion! was beautiful. I loved the LA lifestyle was a perfect end to perfect travel! sipping wine in private Malibu Mansion with its own private beach! Roller-skating in Venice Beach !and taking in a Dodger Game VIP style!


Traveling is never a bad decision I recommend everyone to do it!!

Life changing, inspiring, breath taking mind blowing! Loved every day wasn't a time when I wasn't blown away! Laughed ecstatically every day! Now wheres next........


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