TravelStream™ news feed for member valetroy on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/valetroy en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:06:28 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258814086/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258814086/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258814086/tpod.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:06:28 -0500 South East Asia 2009/10

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Hua Hin, Thailand

Poon Suk street got us thinking about Dr Prunesquallor. Was he a Mervyn Peake or a Kenneth Horne character? We think Peake.

Just back from the Thai boxing. The Brit guy won his bout. The best fight was between two 10 year olds - pure aggression, no dancing or politicking around. First time either of us have been to see Thai boxing in Thailand ( I saw an exhibition match at a Thai food festival in Battersea Park). The Bangkok venue is the size of Wembley arena and takes at least an hour to return from - a bit like seeing a west end show while living in Stoketonia. Hua Hin stadium was much more intimate. We shared a table with 3 guys from Calgary (Canada) under the red corner. All very jolly.

Loving Hua Hin - long, blonde beach (but not very wide at high tide), fantastic restaurants on piers/jetties over the sea, and an interesting view into the lives of the girlies (who work the girlie bars) from our balcon looking down into their private lives with their kids.


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Hua Hin, Thailand

As is only to be expected travelling with Jon and his bl**dy computer, which is too precious to leave unattended in Blighty, the aforementioned laptop fell from his bag onto the road as we were trying to negotiate a taxi to the bus station to come to Hua Hin. Thankfully the laptop survived (unlike the one which suffered a similar fate in a carpark in Coin. Spain - it's monitor died).
So after a retreat to the hotel and cancellation of all plans, we got a cab (initially in the opposite direct) then a bus 3 hours down the coast to Hua Hin, where the King has a holiday palace. It's very jolly, lovely beach. My 25p Lying Planet that I bought from Andover library remarks (in 2001) that girlie bars were starting to appear. The whole street are hotel is in is wall to wall girlie bars now.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258811732/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258811732/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/4/1258811732/tpod.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:12:59 -0500 South East Asia 2009/10

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Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand




The flight from Gatwick to Dubai was hot and from Dubai to Bangkok was freezing. Didn't get a wink of sleep but caught up on loads of movies and ate my way eastwards.
Managed to stay awake till midnight local time then slept like a dead person. Jon got his dentistry done at huge cost so tomorrow we head south to the seaside.
Took a stroll on Khao San Road earlier tis evening. When I first saw it in 1993 I stayed in the sort of flophouse Leo stays in "The Beach" - nothing else being available at 2am. They're cleaning it up now.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692980/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:40:24 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Málaga, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

This is from our very internet at home! It only took a month, which is rapid by Spanish standards.
We bought a monitor in the charity shop for 5 Euros, so now both lap tops are functioning again, which means we also have music once more. If Jon would stop his Robinson Crusoe impression and buy a razor all systems would be go. I, of course, am impersonating Person Friday.
More pix of Malaga.

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Málaga, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

Our house faces east (front) / west (back) at it doesnt really get light till about 7.30/8am. Sunset is about 9.30/10pm which makes for lovely evenings sitting on the balcony with wine and bearable sunshine after dinner in the backyard - now that I´ve found an old cane blind to drape over the frame of the (no longer present) awnings, so the table is in the shade. Unfortunately the sun shines straight in the back door and burns my ankles while I´m washing up. Yeah, yeah, I should be so lucky.

Our neighbour, Mandy, is an absolute gem. She is really a home counties matron of about my age who is essentially an Amanda. She is a helicopter pilot who runs a business in Germany and Venezuela when not next door. A mine of information and supplier of post prandial vino.

Last Friday night there was a massive storm - so much for "it wont rain now till October". We sat on the aforenmentioned balcony and watched the lightening circle the surrounding hills for a couple of hours before it rained on us. Having washed red dirt off chairs and loungers and bought a very fetching PVC table cloth (because I couldn´t get the dirt out of the table), and washed the yard and balcony, on Saturday morning everything was awash with red dust suspended in rain water.

On Monday I took myself into Malaga on the bus. When I eventually found the old town, with the help of a street map and guide book purchased at elephantine expense in a bookshop along the way, it was glorious. Of course I didn´t have my camera. On the long trudge back to the bus stop I tripped over a paving stone while gazing longingly at a shaded bar and fell flat on my face, broke a toe and grazed my knee. I was too embarrassed to proceed to the bar and hobbled off to get the bus. I know it's usually Jon's job to have mishaps and break bones.

Lost broken or destroyed along the way :- the cord to Jon´s razor, he now looks like a low rent Santa; Jon´s laptop, accidentally dropped on the marble floor and no longer lighting up; Jon´s ipod binned because it chose to play random selections, no matter what.

When we finally have internet at home (2 weeks hopefully) I´ll put all this and pix on my blog.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244692860/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:28:36 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Antequera, Andalusia, Spain

Yesterday I was able to walk into town without my toes strapped together for the first time in days. So later that afternoon Jon skidded down the mountain and twisted/sprained his ankle. It took him 3 hours to hobble back to the house with the aid of a large branch. I was going frantic and on the point of calling the Guardia Civil but I didn't know which walk Jon had gone on. Of course he hadn't taken a phone. But I had rehearsed Spanish for "my stupid partner is out on the mountain and probably hurt".
This may put off our trip to Seville until Tuesday - half the places are closed on Monday anyway so I don't mind toooooo much.
Have finally stopped doing chores and started exploring. Last week we did Antiquera (A hidden gem - Lying Planet) and the lake district, and took the bus into Malaga. Really like the historic centre of Malaga, when you finally get to it. Both Antiquera and Malaga have very fine alcazabas - huge islamic forts on fine hilltop positions. I had no idea there were so many. Not as impressive as Granada, but free/ 2euros, not crowded. and no need to book in advance.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327444/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327444/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327444/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:21:24 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Ronda, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

My Swiss buddy Chantal, with whom I travelled round Western
Australia, has been staying for a few days. Unfortunately for her
she's also had to share our navigational learning curve. Malaga airport
has opened a new terminal since I came through a month ago and of
course that's where Chantal's flight arrived. We were waiting at the
old terminal. We had several false starts and U turns finding the route
home from the airport too.
We all now know not to go to the beach on a Sunday and expect to
find anywhere to park. Weekdays are a breeze. Going into Malaga by bus
or train was successful, thankfully. And our trip to Ronda was
brilliant (except for the drive home by a different route!!). Very
spectacular scenery by either route.
Ronda old town is perched on a rocky crag linked to the more
recent town by a mindblowing bridge over a very deep gorge, ravine or
canyon with views of the aforementioned spectacular surrounding
countryside. The views of the town and bridge from the bottom of the
gorge, ravine or canyon also require a photo or 2 dozen. Ronda's the
home of bullfighting in it's current form and the town was used in
Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - it's the real place where
fascists were thrown off the cliff early in the civil war. It's also
got all the usual Moorish accoutrements. A stunningly beautiful place
with a great atmo. My favourite so far.
Jon found a cheapo razor so was clean shaven for Chantal's visit. We also found cheapo blender, kettle and toaster so we are really set up. Cocktails on the terrace is not only possible but mandatory.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244606400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244606400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1244606400/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:04 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Seville, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

Jon´s fall down the mountain didn´t interfere with our plans for a couple of days in Seville. Got really excited on the drive when I saw my first field of sunflowers, having only ever seen half a dozen in vase before. After several miles of sunflower fields I was starting to find them a bit spooky and in the end, quite frankly sinister. They ALL face the same way, sort of half turned from the sun with bowed heads, (I expected them to face the sun full on), and I could almost hear them intoning "we are not worthy".

Seville was fab. I did a great job and found us a really cheap (by Seville standards) double room with bathroom, free internet, breakfast and introductory drink at the bar for 46 Euros - it cost half that to park the car!!

I´ve never understood the point of tapas until now. It had always seemed an expensive way of eating not very much indifferent fare from tiny plates. The place we were recommended gave huge meal sized portions for a couple of Euros and everything was totally delicious.

Loved the Alcazar - you can keep the Alhambra and Top Kapi in Instanbul. Roamed the Jewish quarter, tried for a flamenco venue but failed to find it. Ate and drank too much and felt like tourists. It was great.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1242014400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1242014400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1242014400/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:37:58 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Alhaurin el Grande, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

Jon arrived ahead of schedule on Sunday evening, having set off in the car from Caddington, Bedford at 6am on Saturday morning and slept in the car Saturday night. Unfortunately he couldn´t gain possession of the house as Salvador our landlord was away for the weekend (and not expecting us till Monday).

When he picked me up at the airport on Monday afternoon all our goods and chattels were still in the car, but at least Jon had the keys. I was less than chuffed to discover that the promised house cleaning hadn´t happened.

During the all day cleaning on Tuesday I was appalled to discover a dead mouse in the Sangria jug I was washing up!!! I am not equipped to deal with such horrors. Jon meanwhile took himself off for a 4 hour walk, without taking any water, and returned in a state of collapse.

Wednesday we visited many outlets attempting to uncover the riddle of the internet access, since Jon has been in a constant rage because we were told by the agent that internet wouldn´t be a problem. Of course this rage is directed at me. At least we went to Ikea and I got many essentials, such as glasses, cups, sharp knives.

More cleaning today as I´ve just bought a yard brush. I expect I´ll have to degrease the BBQ as well as clean the oven, which interestingly is on top of the washing machine in the scullery rather than under the hob in the kitchen. There's also no hot water at the kitchen sink and washing up water is fetched from the scullery in bucket.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327933/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327933/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/valetroy/3/1245327933/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:28:15 -0400 Summer in Spain

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Benalmadena, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands

Jobs for either/both of us look extremely unlikely in the near future so we've come to Spain to have a look for somewhere to stay for the summer. Favourite is Alhaurin el Grande as it isn't a tourist town and doesn't have a huge expat community like some other places. Also, of the expats in the area, a couple of couples are old friends from Dorset, so we wont be totally cut off with only each other for company.
Benalmadena pueblo is very quaint; narrow, twisty streets of whitewashed houses with window boxes of red geraniums. Some good places to eat - Sopranos, Fredericks - and wifi available in bars. The Christopher Columbus monument is a gothic marvel (built in 1992) and worth coming to Benalmadena just to visit it.

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