Backpacking

Greetings ALL from Koh Phangan, or Panang, beautiful island south of Koh Tao, where we arrived a few days ago. Whts the day today? after a leisurely debate on the beach we decided it might be Thursday Most come to the iland for the legendary full moon parties where farang, foreigners come to drink copious amounts of whicky in buckets, do drugs and party all night. BUt nowadays its not just the Full moon, but Half moon, and the 30th is the black moon party! Anyways, were staying in the north of the island which is peaceful and stunningly beautiful. Our beach, Haad yao, jhas perfect white powder sand and clear blue waters. But very shallow in the morning, so were scooting to other beaches, and yesterday we went inland to the jungle where they have wild crocs, cobras, vipers, and other jungle animals, in search of elephants! We found them and went on an hrs ride on a HUGE female called Chao Po. At first we sat on a basket on her back bu8t then the man dismounted and let us take turns sitting on her head and nudging her ears and saying 'MA MA!" 'go, go!" and it was absolutely amazing g0t some gr8n photos wll post when home.
Hope everyones well and much love from us both
A&PXXX

SA WA DI KA everyone! Hello from Ko Tao, island near Panang off East coast of southern Thailand. Quite an everntful journey trying to find the bus in a real Monsoon and a long overnight journey where we were forced to watch 2 hoprrific films - The Kingdom and the Last King of Scotland, great films but not really appropriate late at night and on a coach full of children! We were dropped at a stop in the middle of nowhere at 3:30 am and then collected by a minubus and taken to the port, where we got a boat for a few hours and arrived on the Island in the morning - it was already very hot, but the views of the beahces were breathtaking, perfect turquoise and blue clear waters, as warm as a hot bath, and lots of coconut trees, rising green hills and little huts along the main beach. We are staying at a diving school, Paul is starting his PADI Openwater tonight and I may start in the day after, still enjoying relaxing a bit for the moment, and theres lots of cheap massage and yoga places tempting me! We went snorkelling yeserday and saw amazing beautiful different types of coral, brain coral, ones that looked like autumn leaves, schools of parrot fish, bigger red and black fish, all beautiful colours, lots of urchins and HUGE sea cucumbers! SO beautiful. There are also whale sharks and blacktipped reef shark you xcan see here apparently (NOT dangerous!) The food is cheap and delicious, green curries, pad thai, we have been eating from street vendors where we can see it cooked, very amusing when we have no idea whats been ordered! The fruit too is gorgeous, lots of fresh coconuts, mangoes, bananas, etc.
Oh I forgot Bangkok - we stayed there too days and managed to survive! Very busy, polluted, noisy, but wonderfully colourful, friendly people, gorgeous temples, etc. We stayed in a hostel a little out of the city and there was an amazing weekend market where you could literally have found anything in the world, and very easy to get lost! We visited the temples of Wat Arun and Wat Pho, and saw the largest reclining Buddha in the world, at 46 m long and 15m high. We also visisted a laesser known temple, and ended up in the prayer room for 'successful ' people as we were told so that bodes well Driving round Bangkok in a Tuk Tuk is quite an expoereince!
WELL we'll say ciao 4 now and update again soon, love to everyone and hope your Augusts are sweet and sunny
LAA KAWN KHA!
Anna & Paul XXX

Greetings ALL those still faithfully watching the blogathon! WE are in Hamilton, home of the newly arrived James Clarke who has already made his way into 'recommendations' in the Local city guide Last few days spent sadly leaving the South Island and making our way up north ready to get the plane to Thailand on Thursday. Ferry crossing was very rough and I just kept control luckily, despite the sick bags that were placed ALL around the boat which didnt help! Anyways, we made our way from the Glaciers, Franz Josef and also Fox, to Lake Matheson, known for its gorgeous reflections, and from there down South to Queenstown. The first day we went skiing at Treble Cone, where the snow was great, though the slopes challenging, many sneakily becoming black halfway down and not pisted in the main. A great day, with some lovely sunshine, and stunning views over the Southern Lakes. The weather got colder and icier as the day went on and we eventually stopped and hit the town for some 'apres-ski'. The next day was cloudy, so we headed south to the 'Milford Sound', inappropriately named as it is actually a Fjord, being carved from a glacier and incredibly deep. It was a long round trip, despite the short distance, as the mountains make the shortest route impassable except on foot as a 5 day walk, open in Summer. The drive was windy, icy, cloudy, but our Campervan did well and we made it by dusk. The Sound is beautiful, really still and silent, mist lurking up in the mountians, and the odd bird diving into its dark depths. We took a nature boat trip and within minutes spotted New zealand fur seals, a penguin, and many birds. The highlight was on the return when a pod of bottlenose dolphins joined us and swam alongside us, pulled along with the boat, and jumped up and around, clearly watching us and showing off, a truly magical moment
From there it was back to Queenstown, and another day skiing at Cardrona, where, depsite being sunny in the valley, it was snowing, and we had the fun expereince of putting snow chains on the Van to get up the hill! Great snow and good slopes, but bitterly cold esp. as we hadnt got the full gear (Paul in jeans and a hoodie as usual! njo gloves!) and on the lifts we literally froze. My hair iced over at the ends , and in the end mid afternoon the snostorm set in, visibility reduced severely, and we headed back for a Gluhwein, mmm Drove to a town called Omarama where we had the luxury of a holiday park and elecreticity and a shower (5 days with no shower at this point,ewww...) as normally we just pull the van up in some beauty spot. Its pretty freezing at night, minus 3 in the van the other night, I am SO ready for Thailand!
OK folks thats it for now hope everyone is great and enjoying August and We'll write from Thailandia!
Baci, A&P XXX

GDAY from Australia!

Arrived safely in OZ early Monday morning after many films, a llittle sleep and several air meals, Air New Z pretty good but still bit synthetic tasting. Cannot blieve ythis is Winter, its really hot and sunny by day, tho cold at night. Were staying in a great hostel, had first BBQ last night with kangaroo meat (YUM!) tho its not a real BBQ but gas!!! Paul is great and tanned and a real local and showed me all round Brissie yesterday, very cool place. Today were off to see his friends in the outback then off to work at a cattle station farmstay Glassford Creek cattle station (look it up!) where we will help out with farm and horses in exchange for full board. Have seen some cool, animals so far but no scary ones

Hope everyone back home is well will write again soon
Loads of Love and big GDAY from Paul!

Anna XXX