TravelStream™ news feed for member hvw88 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/hvw88 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 17 Jun 2007 23:16:46 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1182089100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1182089100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1182089100/tpod.html Sun, 17 Jun 2007 23:16:46 -0400 It took less than 30minutes of British drizzle and greyness for me to decide that I'm off again. Next stop, Thailand...

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Koh Tao, Thailand

I spent Saturday on a snorkelling trip, where for just 6pounds the group got a private longtail boat and equipment hire. I had the time of my life even just taxiiing from one place to the next, as the narrow boat got up quite a speed over the waves. I had to cling on up front to prevent myself from being catapulted out as we were buffeted by the waves. I was literally drenched by the time we pulled up in a secluded bay.

The clear, shallow ocean allowed an amazing view of the coral reef below, and it was easy to see why Koh Tao is renowned as Thailand's best diving spot. The little island is even more stunning than Samui, and my three nights here have been brilliant as ever.

Yesterday I had a sumptuous face massage on a balcony over the beach, which lasted a whole delicious hour. My masseuse laid me on a matress and arranged towels along my hair line, before applying and massaging in various products, including honmey, yogurt and aloe vera gel. The 'facial' also involved my arms, hands and backs and I sampled traditional Thai massage, which involved some very interesting postures and manipulations. At one point I found myself sitting cross legged, with my hands on my head and being twisted across my masseurs thighs until the necessary crunching was heard!

Tonight we take the night train back to Bangkok, so no sleep for me- the carriages are unbearably hot and sticky. I don't even get to make up for it the following night, since I fly out at 3am in the morning and won't bother checking in to a hotel. By my calculations that means spending the next 3days and 2nights in the clothes I'm now standing up (sitting down!) in...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181771280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181771280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181771280/tpod.html Wed, 13 Jun 2007 07:23:52 -0400 It took less than 30minutes of British drizzle and greyness for me to decide that I'm off again. Next stop, Thailand...

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Koh Samui, Thailand

Things are tough as ever here in Thailand. I've just arrived on the island of Koh Samui this afternoon, and I can tell it will only get harder! The Sandy Resort- where we're staying for2 nights- is on he quieter north of the island, but is still clearly very tourist-oriented. We passed endless restaurants and bars on the way here and of course the prices are higher but it's so worth it.

The pool and restaurant are literally on the beach, raised on a shady wooden balcony illuminated at night by fairy lights. Food, cocktails, massages and sunbeds are all on offer and the only decision is what order to do them in!

This morning the group left our jungle huts in the depths of Kaoh Sok national park, where gibbons in the bedroom are a common nuisance. At 'happy time' from 5ish, twenty or so monkeys scuttle down to the river directly below the restaurant, and I watched for over an hour as they played and swam. One mother had the tiniest scrawny baby clinging to her chest, and another more adventurous infant tried (and failed) to copy its relations' agile moves in the branches.

I had another chance to get close to nature when I did an elephant trek through the park. It was certainly not a comfortable experience as the strapped-on bench swayed around violently as the elephant picked its way up a narrow trail. Even less comfortable, I got to sit on the neckm where I could feel every movement and my thighs rubbed against the tough hide, which is pricked with wirey black hair.

I'm actually half- way into the trip now, and will return on the 21st as planned originally. It's been much more of a holiday than Ghana and I'm trying not to feel guilty about enjoying myself so much! A shopping spree in an upmarket area sets me back less than the price of a takeaway at home, so I'm enjoying it while I can.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181460900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181460900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/thailand/1181460900/tpod.html Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:52:16 -0400 It took less than 30minutes of British drizzle and greyness for me to decide that I'm off again. Next stop, Thailand...

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Bangkok, Thailand

Sticking with the trend of greeting in the native language, Sawat dii everyone! I arrived in Bangkok on Friday evening and managed to navigate my way to the taxi rank an negotiate my price all by myself. Even on the journey to the hotel I realised from the three lane motorways and high-rise buildings that the city's much more developed than I'd expected. It's quite reassuring to see McDonalds and Boots chemist, but it's Thai dishes and street vendors all the way for me.

Managing alone for the first couple of days hasn't been too much of a challenge at all- even the notorious 'tuk- tuks' aren't as hair-raising to ride as I'd expected. The area near the hotel is backpacker heaven, so streets of bars, clubs and shops have sprung up and extend for hundreds of metres in every direction.

At night foreigners and young Thais browse the collections of dirt cheap pirate DVDs; Topshop style dresses (for a tenth of the price!) and delicacies on offer. For 30 Baht- less than 50p- you can choose 3 dishes from those on offer, and fruit shakes are whizzed up in front of you for B10. I've so far resisted buying Shrek 3 on DVD, but can't say the same for clothes. Luckily, I packed light so I can squeeze in all my bargain buys.

On Saturday, my first full day I met up with 3 other travellers, inevitable as soon as you step onto the street. We took a river tour by longboat, which wound amongst the canal- side houses, from where residents waved cheerily. I also almost had a panic attack when a giant python was draped around my neck, but felt less brave when I watched a snake show. Crazy guys leapt around the stage, 'dancing' with spitting cobras and clutching vipers in their teeth!

In the evening I sampled Bangkok nightlife (resisting many invites to pingpong shows and 'massage' bars!), where cocktails cost as little as B80. One sign proudly announced 'VERY STRONG COCKTAILS, WE DON'T CHECK ID!' Despite spending most of the night clubbing, I still did the culture bit this morning and visited the National Museum. Oh, and then I went shopping- does that count as cultural?!

This afternoon I'm hopping on an overnight train (wish me luck), but am still about 10hours sleep in debt, so shouldn't be shaken even by sudden breaking/ station announcements/ derailment!...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178965080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178965080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178965080/tpod.html Fri, 18 May 2007 06:33:16 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Cape Coast, Ghana

This was a morning excursion to Kakum National Park, where we risked the very dodgy canopy walk- basically a few ladders strung between trees with planks laid end to end to walk on. Our guide assured us there hadn't been any fatalities, but you can see from our faces that information did little to reassure us!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178543880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178543880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1178543880/tpod.html Fri, 18 May 2007 06:17:36 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Cape Coast, Ghana

I'm now in my final week of work at St Anne's School in Cape Coast, where I've been living (and loving!) since I returned from my travels. My enormous and seemingly ever-expanding host family are just gorgeous- they've made me feel so settled and included. My 95year old 'grandma' announced proudly after just 2days that I am her grandaughter!

The placement is a real challenge, but one that I'm thoroughly enjoying. I've only got myself to blame for making it difficult- I could just copy the teacher and lie across the desks napping all day. I entirely agree with her statement that the 2year olds in the creche where I'm placed are too young to teach, they're just babies really and have no interest or need for ABCs. However, they're expected instead to sit in silence with their heads on the desk and are provided with no stimulation whatsoever.

I have to use all my creative skills to come up with activities to stimulate and entertain the 20-strong class on a limited budget. I did manage to find some poster paints, and was planning on doing a version of potato printing (using plantain!) with small groups at a time. Despite my requeast, the whole class was filed out into the yard and told to sit in regimented rows, waiting their turn to be called.

It was obvious that those not painting would not sit quietly with nothing to do and they were predictably disruptive, crowding in to watch the fun. The teachers didnt seem to understand the problem, but were under the impression that the only point of the exercise was to fill paper. Whereas I wanted to allow the children to experiment and encourage them to be creative, they were instead ordered to paint mechanically, as if they were on a production line. The teacher would grab their hand, choose the colour and bark 'there, there, hurry up!', indicating where to print.

I have had successes too however: the whole class can now 'E-I-E-I-O' to Old McDonald, and water play always goes down a treat. I've been scavenging plastic bottles and improvised boats all over Cape Coast!

The leg's looking much better, and hopefully it'll be cleared up by the time I'm home. Millicent (my host mother) is so sweet, asking how it is every morning and saying 'I dont want you to go home with that'- I think she's worried it'll reflect badly on her/Ghana! There's only one pretty dippy member of staff here, but other volunteers are really supportive and have offered to hold my hand at the hospital if need be. I was SO relieved not to go to A and E because they don't believe in anasthetics and would have literally cut the whole wound out apparently. Instead the dr next door gave me instructions and I did it myself (in sterile conditions!) so I could take a breather when it was too much rather than have some stranger scraping away.

I have finally started to get excited about my return now it's imminent, but I'd still stay longer if I could. I'm compiling a list of things to look forward to, although I've kind of forgotten things. The other day I was scrubbing my laundry and suddenly remembered about that invention called the washing machine! Hope my parents are ready to greet a big pile of dirty clothes as well as me.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1177707600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1177707600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1177707600/tpod.html Fri, 18 May 2007 06:15:20 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Cape Three Points, Ghana

Will and I met up with Amy and her friend Jack at 'The Hideout', a remote beach resort only accesible by 4x4. We weren't too gutted to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere with the sea, beach, huts bar and restaurant all within 5metres!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176827400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176827400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176827400/tpod.html Thu, 17 May 2007 09:51:33 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Ho, Ghana


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176514200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176514200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176514200/tpod.html Thu, 17 May 2007 09:34:36 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Akasombo, Ghana

I took an instant liking to the small town of Atimpoku, near Akosombo which lies at southern/most point of Lake Volta. It nestles on the banks of the impressive Volta river, whose dark expanse stretches between lushly vegetated mountains, and we had a fabulous meal out right at the Aylo bay restaurant.

The fairy lit tables are scattered among mango and palm trees, right at the waters edge and we could watch the occasional fishing boat meandering past as we ate our rice. We were also served very shitor sauce, a hot pepper paste thats normally not served to westeners on the assumption that its just too spicy but that i really like. When i requested it our waiter asked doubtfully Can you take it/! wanting to impress i ladled the sauce out of the serving dish and had tingling lips for days as a result!

We continued with the bead theme in Atimpoku, making an excursion to the local market, where sellers were happy to tell us about the manufacturing process, since most of them also make the beads themselves. We had the chance to see a factory in action, although a conventional factory it was not.

Workers sat threading glowing glass spheres onto rope under a corrugated tin roof, and yound boys sat around scorching kilns moulding the stringy glass. A friendly man gave us a very well rehearsed explanation of how the bead moulds and apparatus are made, then showed us the various materials used including variously coloured glass bottles, which are pound into a powder then melted down.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176300960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176300960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176300960/tpod.html Thu, 17 May 2007 08:50:48 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Mole National Park, Ghana

A bit of a random trio I know, but all key features of my 2night stay at Mole National Park, the largest in Ghana. The hotel- an incongruous long white building- perches on a cliff above the watering hole which attracts birds and large mammals including elephants.

We not only sat on the balcony by the pool watching the animals, but also got up close and personal on a safari walk. Donning highly attractive rubber boots (more about them later) we hiked for 1hour, starting and finishing at the water's edge. A herd of elephants were lolling lazily around, their giant heads and ears just visible above the water and we spotted several crocodiles soaking up the early morning sun.

That would have been enough for me, but we also had a heart-stopping moment when a dominant male appeared out of nowhere and marched across our path just feet away. Luckily, his sights were firmly set on his morning bath and we got to admire the animals awesome strength and size from (a bit too!) close up.

It's a shame but towards the end of the safari, I was willing it to finish due to the aformentionned footwear. When we rolled up for the walk in 'slippers' (translation: sandals) we were directed to a steaming pile of wellies and told to select a pair. With every step mine flapped around my ankles wildly and literally rubbed all the skin off my shins and ankles. With all the grime and dust around it's impossible to keep clean, so of course I now have several festering sores- how attractive!

The Sangria part probably sounds better than it actually was. I could tell you that we sat sipping away as the sun set over the plains, but in reality it was slightly different, though no less enjoyable. The warm fruit punch was a total magnet for the Tetse flies so common in the north, and when the writhing layer of bugs on the surface of our drinks had passed the 2cm mark we had to give up!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176122100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176122100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hvw88/ghanavolunteer/1176122100/tpod.html Thu, 17 May 2007 08:45:06 -0400 After slogging away on the checkouts for the past 8months, I'm finally escaping! Follow the ups and downs of my trip to Ghana, volunteering on a 'Care and Community' placement with Projects Abroad..

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Kumasi, Ghana

It was goodbye to Accra and last week as a began my 2 weeks backpacking with Amy. I had to physically peel the kids at New Life Orphanage off my legs in order to make a getaway, and I could only bring myself to leave by promising a return visit. Didn't really think that one through, but I'm already trying to figure out ways to extend my stay or return in the future.

Naomi and Cephus, the 'mum' and 'dad' at the orphanage are so incredibly devoted, and plan to expand the small institution to accomodate and educate the 80 or so children they support in the surrounding villages. The four story building, comprinsing both dormitaries and classrooms, will be completed by September 2007 and will depend on volunteers and donations to succeed. It takes some stretch of the imagination to envisage since it's currently a muddy building site, and in Ghana you can generally quadruple any time estimate someone gives you so I'm not going to book my flight just yet!

Despite mixed feelings about leaving right when I'm settled in nicely, I was so excited to get on the road. Even the four hour delays that are becoming routine as we move on don't do anything to dampen my spirits, and I'd underestimated the sheer sense of achievement in just navigating my way to the next destination.

We've moved inland to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region and nearly as big as Accra itself. The inland landscape is much lusher than at the coast, and we had some time to enjoy the scenery from the coach before the rainclouds moved in. Just to add to the complicatinos, we had to change coach (our driver kept stopping to check the engine, and there was a dubious sign by the driver 'Overhauled engine, do not exceed 80km/h'!) but we made it our lodgings in one piece. The room cost just 110000 cedis for two nights, just about 5pounds, which is expensive by Ghanaian standards. It was worth it though, if only for the large expanse of matress and running(!) water.

On Sunday we tro-troed our way to the scenic Lake Bosumtwi, a perfectly circular meteorite crater surrounded by dense rainforest. We were rewarded for following a remote lakeside path when we stumbled upon a tiny village, where we Obrunis gave the locals a bit of a shock. One young girl took one look at our white skin and burst out crying, overwhelmed. We were invited into a family home, a collection of mud buildings with rudimentary palm roofs and doors cut into the cracked clay. We were proudly shown a week old baby, who was nestled in a mosquito net and smothered in blankets. The bible by tiny her head served as a reminder of the appaling survival rate for infants born into such poverty here.

In the evening we experienced a different, equally typical- Ghanaian but more urban Kumasi. Amy and I were taken out by two brothers, and were probably the only Westerners to have ever set foot in the dimly lit chop bar, where the menu is traditional rice balls, fufu or banku with a soupy sauce. Low tables surrounded a central cooking area, where the food is ladled into large shallow dishes and eaten with fingers. The rate at which Ghanaians ball the doughy staple then throw it back is astuonding, and food is definately functional here rather than something to linger over. There's no chatting and we moved straight on to a 'spot bar' when we had finished.

By this point, the brothers had obviously decided who was going to pair with each of us, and obviously Michael, the older brother hung around me. He claimed to be 23, which is pretty clever given that his younger brother is 24! Towards the end of the evening he took my hand with a serious look and the command of 'Hannah, look into my eyes.' his chat-up line was somewhat forward as he moved straight in with a marriage proposal!

I think the declaration of undying love must have boosted my confidence, as when a young girl started to dance to some nearby music Amy and I shimmied up to join her.The locals clapped and cheered to see two crazy white women sticking their bums out in the middle of the street, but it felt great to be so uninhibited.

I'm getting used to being a bit of a circus act, and I'm evidently hilarious to all the Ghanaians. On sunday Amy and I drew crowds as we attempted to eat some small yellow-orange mangoes. The egg shaped fruit has very stringy flesh, and the roughage makes them impossible to eat. In theory, a small slit at the top allows the sweet puree to ooze out when sucked. To the amusement- and in one case disgust- of passers by, Amy and I hadn't quite mastered the technique and our sticky orange faces drew loud exclamations of 'MANGO,O,O!.'

On Sunday morning, we braved the labrynthine alleys of the famous Kejetia market, easily found by following the swarms of people and sellers spilling onto the street. Once inside the atmosphere was marginally calmer as the narrow walkways are enclosed by piles of goods on either side, reducing the scale of the market to the single tunnel extending in front of you. We initially found ourselves amongst the meats, but moved quickly away from the buzzing flies and sickly aroma surrounding the slabs of flesh, pig trotters and countless unidentifiables.
More appealling was the array of fresh fruit and veg, and the striking range of brightly coloured spices piled in straining sacks. Also aesthetically fantastic were the whipped mounds of groundnut paste (essentially peanut butter), a caramel coloured mousse being ladled between barrels like cake mix.

We were specifically looking for Kejetia's famous beads, and after some random wandering managed to locate the relevant area. The walls were dripping with hundreds of delicate strings, while chunkier beads were nestled in baskets. I was overwhelmed by choice, but managed to get a good selection of treasures for a very reasonable price, some of them intended as, er, gifts (I'm currently wearing them!) I'm hoping for plenty more oppotunties to spend my hard-earned cash, especially since 3days and nights has so far cost me less than 20 pounds.
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