Snow Time!

It's been aaaaages since my last blog post, I think about 2months. Loads has happened between October and now, like travelling to home and back. Here is a piece of what I started writing about my first impressions when I arrived at my family in September:

"After my lovely greeting at the train station, we walked around the harbour and had an icecream on the water’s edge. We then strolled through the city centre before returning home and finally unpacking my bag for the last time! Greatest feeling when you know you can finally settle in somewhere and call it home for at least a year. We had a yummy braai outside that evening, where I realised Germany is a little colder than Italy in the evenings...haha. We toasted to my arrival and I practised memorising the kids’ names in my head. They are: Merle (8yrs old), Sinje (7yrs old), Arjen (5yrs old) and Lenjo (nearly 4yrs old)....not your typical German names! I was also quite nervous that my German was going to be hideous and that everyone might be super difficult to understand...complete opposite actually. I understood absolutely everything and it was a complete breeze with trying to talk, compared to the terrible Italian I’d been speaking the last 3months. On Sunday we went to Radolfzell, a town near to Konstanz and we chilled on the lake, canoeing, swimming, tanning etc. The first week I just spent sorting out admin and getting used to driving on the right side of the road. The area is really beautiful and safe, the children play outside in the road and most of their friends live a couple houses away from each other, there are many parks and pathways to go for runs in the mornings, the University is around the corner with loads of things to do there and sport to play, the bus stop is near my house and takes just 20mins to get to the centre of town."

All of that is still true, except that my town is a lot colder this time round, with it snowing nearly every day now. My kids are still wonderful and we built our first snow man together last week. I have to borrow all my host mom's snow gear since I have nothing of a sort to keep me from freezing to death. Driving is a bit more hazardous as I have to get used to driving on slippery snow and scraping it all off the car before starting. We can also go skiing on a hill round the corner from our house and may even go to a ski resort for a weekend soon. 

My frisbee group has gotten bigger since the University term started here and I've found a couple people who have been to Cape Town and some who recognise me from the Worlds tournament in Japan. I've been a bit less motivated to go out and see the town properly and make some new friends, since its seriously too darn cold for me to function outside...but I'm slowly getting over that. I've been knitting (like a typical granny) a couple headbands and scarves for myself this winter and planning mine and Felix's trip to Paris. He arrives in less than 3weeks, so that's kept me pretty busy and excited for the time being. I still miss home quite a bit, since it's Christmas month and I won't be home, but luckily my Christmas plans are pretty darn fun too...(more on that in a future post). 

Last 3 weeks in 'la dolce vita'

When I arrived at “Pieschera del Garda,” I was greeted with the biggest and most enthusiastic bunch of Italian mothers and children I have ever received in my whole 3years at ACLE. There was music, flags, loads of people and happy faces waiting for us tutors, as we all got off the train looking a bit confused and lost as to if we had arrived at the correct place. We all headed to a gelateria to get to know each other, since there were 10 of us all working together this week. I got placed in a room with an American girl called Jess, in a villa that overlooked a vineyard. We woke up to the most amazing view every morning and were waited on, hand and foot, by the Italian nonna who cleaned and washed and prepared absolutely everything for us. 

I had a class of 10 gorgeous kids, who were really easy and fun to teach, and we worked on tables outside in the garden all week. Italy was having a heat wave that week, so we had our camp meetings at the public pool every day after school. Our tutor dinner was at a restaurant that had a dance floor, so I hit the dance floor within seconds of hearing a song I liked. The camp show was at 9pm on the Friday night, with lights, cameras, important people and lots of hyper kids. It was a huge success and very sad to have such an amazing camp come to an end. I really enjoyed all the tutors, camp structure, kids, area and directors running the camp.

On Saturday morning, I then got transferred with Nick to a camp in Monza for 2weeks. The first week it was just us two with 28kids, but luckily the second week we got 2more tutors when the camp increased to 49kids! We made rockets, volcanoes, dances, egg drop and a recycling fashion show. My class was a bit bigger this time, with 17kids and some difficult characters, but I had really good helpers and directors who took most of the stress away. My host family took me to their holiday house in Balzio, where we slept the night because it was cooler.  

We also saw the famous Monza park and villa, which was really beautiful. The following weekend we went to “val bodengo” to go ‘canyoning,’ which was the craziest thing I have ever done in Italy so far. We rock climbed, then jumped off waterfalls 8m high, then tobogganed down rocks and swam under them etc for 3hours. Here is a video of what sorts of things you do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QB2g-M4Ngo

I visited Toni and Amy on the weekend in Treviglio to pick up my bags and see them one last time before we all changed countries. It was pretty hilarious cycling to the train station with my huge bag on the back, while the other two shared one bicycle...while it was raining pretty hard. I changed host families for the 2^nd week and had to buy a new trolley bag since all my clothes didn’t fit into my travel bag anymore. The directors, helpers and tutors all went out on Thursday night to Monza, where all the Grand Prix festivities were happening since the races were taking place that weekend. 

Friday we all went to a bar for our last drink together and then I bumped into a South African on the way home and we chatted for a bit about Rooibos, boerewors, where we lived in Cape Town and Table Mountain. Friday evening I went out for gelato and a beer with my host sister, which was to be my last Italian gelato for a while. I continued packing Saturday morning, with my bags weighing a final total of 44kgs...luckily I was being driven to Milano Centrale station so my only train change was in Zurich. The train took just under 4hrs to Zurich and then another hour to Konstanz. I eventually arrived at about 4pm and was greeted by my family with four lovely kids holding pieces of paper with my name on it :) 

Lugano, Switzerland

Side note: I apologise in advance if my writing is terrible, I’ve realised my English is deteriorating as I learn to speak other languages, simplifying and losing my own native language at the same time!!

After arriving in Rome and sleeping in the central station, I finally caught my train to Piacenza, near Milan, where I was picked up by one of my Italian families. I was taken home, cared for and looked after, for the first time since the beginning of July – I almost shed a tear that evening when I realised I didn’t have to worry where I left my belongings, where my next meal was coming from and if I had enough money to afford the next day. I was sad to have left Asia, but I was definitely enjoying this family time. I caught up on my sleep and then we all got in the car and headed to Lugano, Switzerland. Lugano is still very much Italian and all the shops and people still speak Italian there. We spent a week there just chilling, taking things easy and hanging out in the sun. 

 

We went into town, walked along the lake, had gelato, went out for dinner, walked round some old castles at night and went to a water park with epic slides. I also learnt a new game called “diabolo” and got given my very own one at the end of the week – it’s pretty crazy to try master the tricks...so far I can only get a good speed going and throw it in the air. Haha.  

We headed back on Friday evening, and then went for a final breakfast in front of the duomo on Saturday morning before I was transferred to my new ACLE camp in “Pieschera del Garda.” 

I also then realised that I had left my camera in Switzerland...such a pro thing for a traveller to do. Besides that, I was well rested and relaxed to start another 3weeks with ACLE :)

Thailand - North

By now we’re onto the 2^nd of August, where we did some more random exploring of Bangkok before packing our bags to catch a night bus to Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. It was just the same as the other buses, non-eventful and they played the film “Milk,” (with correct subtitles this time) which was pretty good. We arrived in Chiang Mai at 6am and checked into a hotel for 100baht a night (about R25 or 2.50euros), including private bathroom, fan and aircon, with free wifi in the lobby – lekker! Kristin, Jono and I hired some bikes to go to a temple on top of a hill, but decided to turn around when the rain and slippery roads going uphill weren’t the safest anymore. 

I was on the back of Jono’s bike and we nearly fell on a slippery patch, pretty much leaving me breathless the rest of the way. Charlotte, Kristin and I booked a 3day tour in the jungle, including an elephant trek, mountain climbing, waterfall swimming and river/bamboo rafting an hour away from Chiang Mai. We had some chicken panang for dinner and a foot massage before packing a very light bag to take with us on our adventures the next day.

We got picked up around 10am the next morning in a big sort of tuk-tuk with 12 other people and went on an hour long journey into the jungle. 

We stopped for lunch and then waited for the midday rain to finish before getting onto the elephants for our jungle trek. We sat in pairs on a sort-of seat which was tied to the elephant, while the Thai man sat on its neck in front of us. I was pretty much laughing most of the way beacuse it feels as if you’re going to fall out or slip off, since you slide onto each side as the elephant steps or goes downhill. 

We stopped in the river while the elephants drank and then they all followed each other into more foresty-type areas, pooping and eating along the way. Their skin is super rough and seems quite thick when you rub it. We then got off the elephants and hiked on some very muddy roads and steep paths, stopping at a waterfall, and then reaching the “Lahou” hilltop village where we were slept in huts for the night. 

Our shower consisted of cold water falling from a pipe inside the area where you also went to the toilet in the floor. You also don’t throw your toilet paper down the hole but into a bin beside it and then you scoop some water in a cup and flush your own toilet. Super basic, but pretty clever and served its purpose. 

We had chicken fried rice for dinner and sat on the floor on straw mats in our tour group, chatting and eating. We played some card games afterwards and our tour guide played his guitar and sang around our fire too. 

The beds were mattresses on the floor with mosquito nets hanging down and only candlelight to show the way. The next morning we woke up pretty late and got served coffee or tea with eggs and toast. I was wished happy birthday several times throughout the day and got given a kitkat chocolate from Kristin. Our day was pretty easygoing as we hiked a little, then had noodles for lunch in the village and then hiked to a stunning waterfall, where we swam and took scenic photos. 

Along the way, our guide would cut bamboo and leaves and skilfully make things along the way. He showed us how to shoot leaves, blow bubbles from long grass and make a toy from bamboo! 

We slept in a jungle camp, which had the same sleeping arrangements and toilet setup as the village and we chilled after dinner around the candlelight. I had a surprise birthday moment when everyone started singing to me in their respective languages and I got handed a little birthday gift from the Thai men. 

They gave me a banana cake in a bamboo leaf boat, with a bamboo carved knife and cup - It was pretty cute and special. On our last day of the tour we hiked to the river and rafted down until we got to a spot and changed to bamboo rafting. We had lunch and then got back in our big tuk-tuk and transported back to our hotel in Chiang Mai.  We chilled and caught up on sleep and civilisation for the evening.

On 7^th August we headed to Pai, which is more north of Chiang Mai and more hippy. The road there is very windy and made us feel so sick. We met Jono when we arrived and he took us to the rustic place he had been staying at, to get some cheap accommodation for the night. 

We made friends with a Canadian girl, Kathryn, travelling by herself so she joined our group. That night we had burgers at a restaurant and I was quite content with the deliciousness of the western food I had just devoured! Pai only has two main roads that are cool to see, so we walked round for a while and realised how hippy it truely was.

In the morning, we decided to change accommodation since the girls didn’t sleep very well and were eaten alive by mosquitoes, due to the bamboo made hut. Jono returned back to Chiang Mai with his bike, so along with Kathryn we found new, cheap accommodation, paid for washing and walked around more of Pai. 

We had an amazing, filling breakfast and then just chilled and got some street food for dinner. We met up with the Israelis from our jungle tour and had a drink or two with them. Sadly, we left Pai the next day and took the sickening bus ride back to Chiang Mai, where we climbed on a night train back to Bangkok. At about 8pm they came and folded out the seats into comfy beds, with blankets, pillows and curtains. I slept for most of the journey to Bangkok, as the train was alot more comfortable than the bus. We arrived around midday and sorted our accommodation and then I had a final bag packing session while the girls had massages. 

We decided to get all dressed up and pretty for our last night in Thailand and then we went for dinner and last minute market buys. I got two dresses, a shirt and a hair braid. 

We hung out until about 1.30am before I had to say goodbye and get some sleep before heading to the airport at 5am. I successfully made it all the way from Asia to Italy in one piece, pretty tired but more surprised at how quickly my time in Asia had gone. Definitely going back...next time with an empty backpack, a boyfriend and more weeks to spend travelling! 

Thailand - South

Thailand...oh my! I’ve divided my trip into south and north, the south being more beachy and islandy, with the north having more mountains and waterfalls. Thailand has a dip in its rainy season in June/July, so we decided to head south first and soak up as much sun before it got wetter. We arrived in Bangkok airport, quickly made friends with a German family and rode on our first local “tuk-tuk” – sort of like a Thai taxi on three wheels. 

They drive quite fast and dangerously, so we had to simultaneously hold our luggage while trying to keep ourselves inside the vehicle. We went to a Thai travel agent to sort out our first few days and booked a bus and three nights’ accommodation in Krabi, south of Thailand (near to Phuket but not as touristy.) We stayed a night in a Bangkok hotel near to the famous Khaosan Road and walked the market in the evening. The vibe was so cool, people so friendly, lots of bartering, cheap food, fresh fruit, clothes, bags, hair braids, massages etc. 

I bought a nice little leather bag for 400baht, having bartered it down from 750baht! 100baht is about R25, so to give you a feel as to how cheap it was:

Foot massage (1hr) = 200baht

Pad Thai (big Thai meal) = 30baht

Dresses = between 150-300baht

Leather slops = between 300-500baht

Coke = 20baht

Bag of mango/pineapple = 20-30baht

We met up with our German family again and had some Pad Thai for dinner, which is a traditional Thai meal consisting of noodles with cabbage, some veggies, spices, chicken/pork and nuts – very filling and delicious. 

I also paid for a manicure and for fish to eat the dead skin off my feet for 15mins...weird sensation! 

The next morning I got a haircut and bikini wax before we took our night bus down to Krabi for 14hrs. They played “21 Jump Street” on the television, but with seriously bad English subtitles, which made it hilarious to watch. Made some friends with Swiss, French and Poland travellers along the way as most of the people that use these buses are tourists.

We arrived, checked in to our hotel which was 1minute away from the beachfront and headed straight for the full-body massage tents on the beach. 

I also got a couple beaded braids in my hair and then got a lift with a local on her bike to a good place for lunch. Chicken fried rice was also fast becoming one of my favourite meals for only 50baht with a coke...still keeping it under 2euros! We had chicken panang for dinner (DELICIOUS) as suggested by a local and chilled on the street at “Mr Cock’s bar,” with a good mix of tourists, easy-going people and some friendly Thais. 

The next day we went on a “4 island tour” taking us to the four small islands just off Krabi, in a longtail boat. There were about 50 other tourists on the boat with us and we stopped at each island to swim, snorkel or eat and just relax. 

The water was so warm, clear, beautifully greeny-blue, fish swimming right up to you, white sand and scenery straight out of those Thailand advertisements that you think are fake. 

The next two days in Krabi we just spent lazing around, driving the bike, eating at a local market, swimming, lying on the beach, having drinks with our German, French and Polish friends etc, with the rain only drizzling down for about an hour in the afternoon, not affecting our trip much at all. 

The weather was still humid and warm, but much more bearable than South Korea or Japan. I tried some new fruit called “rambutan” which is very spiky looking on the outside, but very similar to a litchi on the inside. 

On the evening of the 31^st, we took a night bus back to Bangkok to meet up with my friends, Kristin and Charlotte. They had just flown in from Taiwan the night before and so I explored a bit more of Bangkok with Kristin the next day. We saw the famous “Reclining Buddha” statue in a place with lots of temples and then we decided to get lost and just walk wherever we wanted to, with no direction or plan in mind. 

She got her palm read by a fortune teller and then we found ourselves on a water taxi, luckily taking us closer to where we lived. We had a bit of a girl’s night and shared an ice-cream fondue and then got foot massages for half an hour. Pure bliss!