TravelStream™ news feed for member sheilamalone on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/sheilamalone en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:28:20 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197641820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197641820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197641820/tpod.html Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:28:20 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Bangkok, Thailand

Through out the last 4 months we go in and out of bangkok on many occasions. We've been in tuc-tuc races, fights, had 'Asian Schumacher drivers, drivers who frighten the s**t out of us, these trips are not for the faint hearted (as you often experience buses coming straight for you...the drivers always manage to swerve out of the way!). We've seen parts of this city that I am sure no tourist goes (mainly because we were lost), we have circled the Victory Monument at least 10 times (no one knew where we wanted to go - we only wanted to find the Fuji center), but Thais will never say no. We have met mad and mental people, who have made Asia brilliant. The food is great, especially the Curries (often brought a tear to our eye's...oh the chillies). The Asia sense of humour is excellent and normally found among the younger tuc tuc drivers - they love nothing better than flirting with Western girls!! This is the best city in the world for preening, but make sure you specify what you want otherwise you'll leave with absolutely no body hair whatsoever!! Our time here has come to an end and we are sad to leave... But we definitely intend on returning as there is soooo much more we want to see. We head for Oz, so there will be no diaries until the new year sometime as it is party time in Sydney for us ladies!!! Happy Christmas everyone!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197296100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197296100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197296100/tpod.html Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:17:32 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

We got here, we ate, we slept, we walked, we drank, we walked some more and then we left. Another night train to Bangkok!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1196868480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1196868480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1196868480/tpod.html Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:31:11 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

After a mental (only word that can accurately describe it) bus journey, which was completely uphill for 7.5 hrs (only nearly loosing the wheels once) we arrived in Luang Prubang. It turned into a nightmare as we stayed in the worst accommodation possible, it was so bad it didn't actually have a window - the hole was in the wall, it just didn't have glass. Oh I forgot to mention the temperature at night falls very, very low in Laos. We slept with all our clothes on, including our hoodies! Accommodation is really scarce here! Woke up in the morning stuck to Fiona... I was freezing. We quickly sorted this out and moved by 9am the next morning! Luang Prubang is situated high in the mountains and has the most amazing scenery. You can go to a buffet, all you can eat for 50 cent!!! We went to see the most magnificent waterfall called Krung Si....I ventured into the pools at the end of the waterfall and went swimming, it was sooooo cold!! We decided to climb the trek at the side of the waterfall. Fiona got half way and turned back, I continued on with four English lads and made it to the top... there was nothing there, it was like a meadow, bit strange for the top of a waterfall but I witnessed it myself. I couldn't walk for ages after wards as it was completely vertical!

We headed off to another waterfall and took in some elephant trekking. The elephants were calmer than the one's we went on in Chaing Mai. Fiona got on with Ad (Kiwi girl) and I shared with Garret and girl from Kent. Fiona's elephant was very excited at the prospect of having two girls on its back and had to walk the whole journey with a fifth leg (literally). We decided to meet up in an open air garden/restaurant with the others that night as it was out last one in Luang Prubang, a few hours later and way too many beer lao, we ended up in a tuc tuc with the driver assuring us we would get more drink at the bowling alley (curfew is 11pm).... sure to this word we ended up at a bowling alley and met loads of other backpackers who were also informed of the alcohol available at the alley. A great night was had, but not much success with the bowling!!!

We decided we couldn't do another 12 hr bus back to the capital, so we flew it with an non-reputable airline and made it safely....it was the smallest airplane I have ever been in, but it got us there!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197774420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197774420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1197774420/tpod.html Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:27:07 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Vang Vieng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

We took an over night sleeper train from Bangkok to Laos, Vientiane, and then another bus to Vang Vieng (22 hrs traveling), we were dead people standing! We got accommodation in a town that totally resembled a town in a wild west movie... we were waiting to get caught in a bar brawl or Clint Eastwood to walk down the street (Asia style of course), sadly none of it happened. As they say, appearances can be deceiving, this was so true, Vang Vieng tuned into Asia home to Ianapa!! It was a mental place. It is home to 'Tubing', which i, in its simplest form a rubber tube from a car tyre blown up, you sit in it and the current in the river will bring you to the end. Along the way are bars that throw out a long stick to pull you in for a beer (beer lao of course), by the time you reach the end, its a mess!!!! They also have long jumps where you jump off a high rope and drop yourself into the river....(they don't check your alcohol content before jumping, you simply just have to buy a drink first!) Fiona braved it and was delighted that her bikini managed to stayed on!!

One really noticeable thing in Lao is the amount of promotion there is for Beer Lao, in Thailand its all pictures of the King and the national flag, then you hit Lao and its beer, beer, beer, literally!!! Then, they have a curfew of 11pm (although we met a guy who knew a guy and brought us to a late night bar, on arrival all we could hear was the Irish National Anthem...we knew we were sure for a few more beers!!!! So its Ianapa Irish style, with warm weather! We ended up drinking with so many people and at one stage singing on a corner with two guitar players...MAD!

We did some caving with the tubes, its brilliant. Its scary in parts as you only have a torch on your head, you can see stalactites and stalagmites. The water was so cold as its freshwater and the guides got a great pleasure in drenching us!

You have to like 'Friends' here as its constant reruns in all the pubs here, but they don't have seats - its beds!!! Time to move on before we need new livers!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195785720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195785720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195785720/tpod.html Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:07:52 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Ko Chang, Thailand

We arrived on the island of Koh Chang after many hours of traveling and many modes of transport- some of which were breaking down. As it was late and we were really tired, we got dropped off at the first main town on the island called White Sands. Walking along the beach with our backpacks we were looking for a beach hut, the options here are all the same....crap! We eventually found a hut that was made out of concrete (safer option as rats can't normally get in), it was a kip...we had to walk across wooden planks to get to the place, as the tide rolls in it completely covers the access point to this part of the beach! Next day both Fiona and I were in agreement - 'lets get out of here'. Fiona had been talking to a dive dude the night before who recommended the most southern part of the island as a nice place to go. We packed out bags again (nearly for the millionth time) and headed back the treacherous path to the town once more, except today was a high tide due to the full moon (yes we do feel like we are in a movie!!!!) - this time we had to get into the water, backpacks and all and try to walk to the sand at the other side..there were people sitting in a restaurant that over looks all of this and they were shouting down at us trying to figure out how bad it was as they were going to have to do it too!!! We managed after some great balancing acts to get to the other side, get a taxi who thought he was Night Rider (roads here are seriously hilly and really narrow!!). We arrived in Bang Bao and settled into what can only be described as paradise!!

We spent our days here swimming, snorkeling, walking, going to Spanish Independence Parties, eating, diving, meeting new people and of course I found a local brew wine!!!! Mangosteen wine from Koh Chang.... I really thought I had died and gone to heaven...wine is a rare sight in this part of the world so we drank copious amounts of it and died a slow death the next day.

Our main excursion on the island was hiring a 4X4 and exploring the waterfalls and 'no access' parts of the island as roads don't exist. Fiona's driving skills were nothing short of excellence, she is now a qualified cross country, daredevil driver.... I cannot describe the hills here, only as ones that are more vertical than Patrick's Hill in Cork, actually Patrick's Hill is child's play in comparison... as we tackled these Fiona dropped a few beads of sweat, but fair play she got us there!!! The sunset views on the way home were amazing.... this whole island is nothing short of paradise. We found the hippie commune at the end of the island, what a laugh but it comprises of the most beautiful long white sand beach. I can't believe the guy rented us his 4X4, he is a sound guy who we got to know throughout our stay here, actually he is a mental case and great craic...as were leaving on the last day, he was saying his girlfriend had broke up with him and all we could hear was 'no woman no cry' blaring at the top of his lungs...what a nut case!!!

Koh Chang is heaven on earth!! Sadly we have to leave (lesser shades of pale!!! :)), once more another nutter taxi driver. As we are going along the road we pick up other people, this English woman gets on, she is in her 60's and is knocking talk out of us to beat the band, we're telling her where we are from etc..as it turns out she is living in West Cork....next thing she starts laughing and I realize I know her....18 years ago she was at the Willie Clancy Week selling jewelery and dough-nuts and Micheal, Joe and I were her best customers, I didn't even have to tell her who I was, she says 'your Sheila, you have a brother Joseph'.... how mad was that, 18 years later!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195468500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195468500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195468500/tpod.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:53:48 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Battambang, Cambodia

As recommended by the Lonely Planet (our travel bible), this is the most scenic boat routes in Cambodia - so we took it. This ended up being on a 7 hour boat journey on a wooden seat (and we were the lucky ones as others had to sit on plastic seats in the middle of the boat) our asses were broken by the time we reached Battambang. But as the book says 'this is the most scenic route', I am going to make a fire with the book and change religion! We landed in Battambang and got sorted with accommodation. We met an English family who are moving back to the UK from Singapore. We all ended up in the same hotel and got friendly. Next day we decided to get scooter together and visit the Bamboo Train. The scooter drivers were great craic and stopped here and there to show us the country side. As the scooters fly by small villages (maybe 2 shelters max), the children come running out shouting 'hello' at you and are waiting for your bike to come close enough to hit them a high five!! The Bamboo Train is basically bamboos tied together put on a base of two mental rods with wheels on the end. The train has to be assembled for you to travel on it, as we head up the tracks other trains come against you....its a toss for who has to get off their train, take it apart and let the other train pass.... It's mad!!! These trains are only in this area of Cambodia and are still in use to transport people and food stuffs. There is nothing much in Batamnbang so we are ready to organize ourselves to get to the east coast border with Thailand....these are the worst roads in Cambodia. Actually, roads is a huge exaggeration - they are dirt tracks with pot holes the size of creators. We were shook to pieces by the time we reached the border (3 hours later)...along the way we pass through a town called Pailin, this is an area know for its landmines as it has the highest recorded amount planted. We're driving along a road where parts are blocked off as they are still searching for and finding landmines. Eventually we arrive at the border. I felt sick for at least a half an hour as we were on solid land that wasn't shaking.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195121400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195121400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1195121400/tpod.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:34:21 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Another mental bus journey brought us to Siem Reap. Along the road we passed the "Cambodian Entrepreneur Research Centre" outside were two guys sitting on chairs with their legs up on a stool - this reflects Cambodian life to a T! We found ourselves getting off a bus in Siem Reap only to be bombarded by hopeful Tuc Tuc drivers - this has happened many times before but today was the worst we have ever experienced...you actually couldn't get of the bus as the drivers were almost getting on!!! One guy was standing away from the crowd just looking on, so I went to him and he says so coolly "u wanna tuc-tuc (Cambodian speaking in an American accent), I said 'your our man' and off we went hassle-free! We booked into a guesthouse and agree with the tuc tuc driver to collect us at 5am to see the sunrise behind the main temple in Angkor Wat. Few hours later it was 5am....we were like walking Zombies. Sure to his word, the tuc tuc driver's brother was outside to take us. Of course neither Fiona nor I were thinking at 5am to realize our torches would have been gold dust to navigate your way around the temple. So we tagged onto one of the 1000's of Japanese tourists and walked too close for their comfort to them (we thought we were discreet!!!) We got a seat opposite the Temple and watched in amazement and silence (except for the 1000 + Japanese tourists snapping like their life depended on it. This was a sight we will never forget, the sun rises over the 5 lotus towers on the temple, the sky lights up between creams and reds...we were loving it. As we were getting down off our perch this woman in front of us with a Kermit the Frog teddy bear sitting on her hand. It seemed like she was talking to Kermit, Fiona followed her, trying to be as discreet as possible to see if she was, and sure as god she was!!! She was telling Kermit all about Angkor Wat!

We spent two days visiting these temples. Our knees were ready to cave in! We even managed to fight our way through the other tourists to see the temple where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider; of course myself and Haugh stoke our own pose!! Angelina eat your heart out! We decided we deserved a massage after our temple ordeal and we hit one of the many parlors in the town - things were going good until I could hear Haugh's 'wow wow wow' - sure as god there was Fiona with the massage girl trying to put her into a citizens arrest position /hymenic maneuver - priceless. By the time we left, we were laughing so hard as both of us felt worse coming out than we had going in. Siem Reap is a lovely town, one of the nicest in Cambodia.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194256920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194256920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194256920/tpod.html Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:27:12 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Once again our faithful, but slightly mad friend Paris brought us to the next town to get our bus to Sihanoukville. He stops half way down the road to visit a 'happy tree'! I then realize that I forgot to pick up my passport from the guest house, at his stage Paris is practically crying!!! It turns out I had it in my bag....Paris tells us the bus is a bit mad and takes forever but he has a friend who will do taxi for us. We decided to take the taxi as chickens and hens are transported in the buses... We eventually arrive in Sihanoukville...paradise by the sea...it is so beautiful here. We ate dinner most evenings on the beach, red snapper and tuna. One evening Anna (Oz girl) is eating her tuna and this young girl who begs on the beach asks Anna for her tuna. Anna gives it to her and it becomes even more clear to us the divide in Cambodia between rich and poor. The young girl races off and gives half of it to her sister....this broke every heart string present. We decided that both girls were going to join us for dinner. We asked the waiter for two more chairs, at first he was reluctant but later was pleased with what we doing. It was great fun at the table with them as they ordered 2 fried rice with chicken and fanta- it went straight to their heads. The younger of the two seemed to be the boss and made the sister give us a bag of crisps as a thank you! It then appeared, after much conversing with her sister and giving her rice away to the other children passing that she didn't like the vegetables in the rice!!

Anna and I met a guy who is the administrator in a Goodwill School in the town which is run by a Swedish guy. He brought us along to see the English classes, this was mad....we got in and we had to tell them our names, then 30 children chorused back at the top of their voices 'hello Sheila, welcome to our school, where are you from'?. Of course no one knew where Ireland was so I had to point it out in a map only to receive 'wow' noises at the distance. Next thing the power went out (regular occurrence in Cambodia) so they wanted me to sing a song from Ireland......I got out of that one, saved by the lights coming back on!

Since arriving we have been in mind only to a wedding and a two day funeral (he died 5 years ago and they are still celebrating it)...this all took place in the building next to our room. On the beach the children swarm you wanting you to buy their bracelets and rings....we took really well to one girl selling fruit. Swararith...she is beautiful and made a packet out of us! Clyde, a friend of the Oz girls joined us for a few days. We hired scooters and drove to all the other beached in Sihanoukville passing houses where full families live...these houses are nothing more than a shed you would put your dog into....they wave frantically as you pass, shouting 'hello, hello', the children get a great kick out of it if you say hello back, they smile from ear to ear!

Fiona, Clyde and I hit the town after the Oz girls left. This was more by accident than on purpose. We were walking down towards the beach for dinner and passed a really lively place - a guy was outside so I asked him was this a wedding? He says no, come with me as my guests and come inside...curious we went with him (bear in mind he is a 60 year old Ozzie who thinks he is 21 and looks like pop-eye), we followed him to realize that we were at the grand opening of a new 'hostess' bar with free drink....we left blotto!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194078660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194078660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1194078660/tpod.html Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:01:05 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Kep, Cambodia

As we were heading down the road on our 4 hour journey the bus stops and pulls over on the side of the road....of course we have no idea what is going on until the bus driver comes down along the bus and orders us all off...we have to walk across the bridge. This was hilarious...next thing a pick up truck boots it across the bridge with at least Cambodians on it!!! The roads here are really bad and the buses make Michéal Lyons look like deluxe travel :)

We arrived in Kep where only Fiona and I got off plus two Ozzie girls. It was like a cattle mart as the tuc tuc drivers bombarded us. We decided with the girls that we would take ''Paris' the tuc tuc driver to the guesthouse... we also happened to pick up that the local orphanage loves visitors and a bag of rice is always appreciated! Paris doesn't come across as the sharpest knife in the drawer but is very nice all the same. One striking thing about Kep is how beautiful and quiet it is. We headed to the next main town to get money at the ATM, Paris of course, is our driver. As it turns out the ATM doesn't accept international cards and we have no money.... Paris says 'my brother, he know everything we go see him', off we head to find Paris no. 2. When we meet his brother he says to us 'hi, I am independent bad boy, how can I help you', Sarah, the Ozzie girl says, 'hi I am an independent good girl in need of money'! He wasn't long exchanging some Thai baht to US dollars!

We asked Paris to take us to a market (while we are in Kampot, the main town) to buy a 25kg bag of rice to take to the orphanage.... after about an hour searching, talking to people, discussing it, spelling R.I.C.E. and Paris eventually handing me a 1kg bag of Muesli we realised we had a lapse in communication....oh the frustration!! It turns out his father is the orphanage director and they don't need rice as it is donated by the Red Cross..... We settled for a football. The children loved it, the are so welcoming and have excellent English....one thing that I was greatly take back by was their glowing happiness...

Kep is famous for its crab fishing, so we took a wander to see the fishing going on... it's all women doing the fishing and smoking some funny stuff!!

We booked a tour to see Bokor Hill, this is as the name says on a hill. We were brought for 2 hours up hill (1080m above sea level) on the worst road ever known to man in a pick up truck. The road had been destroyed by landmines. The Khmer Rouge used to hide out up here, but once upon a time it was the King Sihanouk residence...the building are still present including the casino (believed to be haunted) which sits at the edge of a huge cliff face where many people committed suicide after gambling their life's value! The best part was we now had to go back down the creator holed road in the rain...wet but happy.

We ate amazing crab curry and drank a few Angkor beers. We also witnessed 9 adults fitting in one car (4 of them were in the front!!!!)...nothing is impossible to the Cambodians.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1193897820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1193897820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sheilamalone/worldtravel/1193897820/tpod.html Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:39:33 -0500 Sheila and Fiona's Road Trip

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After many boats (big ones, small ones, long ones, short ones, shipwrecked one and wooden seat for 5 hour ones), walks and ass-breaking buses...we arrived in Cambodian soil. The roads in this country have never seen concrete let alone tarmac! Potholes that make Ireland's potholes look like raindrops...there are literally creators! It is very common here for the buses to cut out and wait to start up again!

We arrived on the Kings 86th birthday so traffic was mental, not to talk of our stoned tuc-tuc driver...who I am sure had no idea where he was going. Our guest house was a mad experience for me as I had to race in and out of it because of all the cats lurking around..We hired the same tuc-tuc driver (amazingly his name was James!!) to the Killing Fields. Here there are approx 9000 exhumed skulls in a very tall glass case, it is to honour all the Cambodian people who were killed under the Khmer Rouge times. It is very eerie...there are many more graves still to be exhumed. Driving down along the road we pass this really young boy, maybe 10 years old in a puddle of water washing down his cow, just up from that are the rest of the cows lining up waiting to be washed as well....they are mad around here!

There isn't alto to do here, we saw most of the city in one day...the poverty is very prominent here and its really hard to see, its very upsetting. All the children are swimming in the water monument- the local swimming pool but amazingly they seem really happy! We met lots of other travelers, English, Irish, American, and feel obliged to have a few drinks with them...hangover in the heat is pure torture!!!...time to move on!
]]>