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Nicole's travels
  • Nicole Hooper
  • Nicole Hooper

Nicole's travels

October 2019 Read more
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  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    1

    Phi Phi Islands

    January 7, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Today, I went on a boat trip to Phi Phi Islands (Phi Phi Lay and Phi Phi Don), it was beautiful. The more I travel, the more I can see how different yet similar the world is. Phi Phi Lay Island looks so much like the Pitons and very similar to Azucar de pão (sugar loaf) that it's quite humbling to know that nature likes to keep it simple. I also got a bomb tan, I look like a well roasted chicken. ☺️Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    2

    Patong beach

    January 8, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Today I took a bus ride to Patong to see if I wanted to go there as my next stop and boy oh boy is it different to where I am now. I've booked a party hostel, wish me luck. Also, I decided to put faith in God and a kind woman gave me a lift to the bus station and, I rode a motorcycle back. I thought sky diving was scary, so was this!Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    1

    Elephants!

    January 20, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    So today, the group left the jungle rafts and went to the Elephant Sanctuary called Elephant Heaven, one of the only Ecological ones in this part of Thailand. Another name for Elephant is Chang, the name of their beer.

    We played, bathed and fed the elephants. It was very mucky and after a while, as you can guess... I was over it lol    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    2

    Doi Suthep Temple

    January 22, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    So after our sleeping train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we dropped our bags and headed to. Temple. The rest of the group walked up some stairs, I told them, not a chance in hell and took the lift 👌🏿.

    We saw some beautiful work in the temple and we're all blesses by a monk, some were blessed by two (me!). Also read my fortune and it was great. Currently wearing the bracelet presented to is for good luck. Here's hoping that by day three, luck has reached and this damn rash has cleared!    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    Pak ou Cave

    January 25, 2020 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    After sleeping at the guest house for our first night in Laos, we were up at 6 am to make the rest of the journey to Luang Prabang.

    On route, we stopped off at Pak Out Cave.

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    Dara Market and Local dinner

    January 25, 2020 in Laos ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    During our free time, we visited the night market; Dara market. Fill of beautiful colours and smells we had coconut pancakes, bought beautiful items and I even purchased something big to bring home!

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    13

    Alms giving, Bike tour and night out

    January 26, 2020 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Today we were up at 5.30am for Alms giving to the monks. 60% of the Lao population are Buddhist. Lao people wake early to cook sticky rice and at about 5.45am they come to the street to wait for monks to give food. After offering they will pour water to trees for their ancestors and also leave three small mounds of rice, I did the same.

    There will be about 150 monks passing through. Lao people do this for good prosperity and respect. Monks can not cook their own food and all other food they give to homeless.

    Monks also only eat twice a day. 7 am and 11-12 pm. Females can not touch monks, or they will have to pray for two months, so we had to be careful when giving them the offering.

    Two hours later, we went on a bike ride and stopped off at a temple, a clothes weaving place and a school where people learn English. We spoke with a monk in training about what he wants to be and what he likes. Cassie and I also had lunch at Joma, I had a mango salad which was delicious, given me ideas for when I get home.

    Later on, we went to dinner at a place called Utopia which is on the river front and also went for unusual Tapas at 525 bar, giving Mayfair Jazz bar vibes.    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    Angkor Wat

    February 1, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Up at 4 am for the most spectacular sunrise.... And I'll never do it again. It was a wonderful way for the penultimate day of the trip!

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    When one journey ends, another begins

    February 2, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    So it's the absolute last day of the tour, with some teary goodbyes (not me, I'm a bad gyal innit). Lane and I met with George and the school's headteacher Sophach. Lane was brave enough to try BBQ crocodile, but I'm really not about that; adventurous food during a global virus outbreak, life 😂.

    So excited for the week to come! 🙈🙈    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    1
    2

    First official day teaching

    February 4, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    As there was so set curriculum, it can be hard to teach children, let alone children that don't fully understand and speak English. We taught them the animals and some songs to go with it.

    Lane and I worked at our strengths to get the most out of the kids. I started the day with high energy games and noises and Lane ended it with meditation. It was a success.Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    What a day, chef Nics back in biz!

    February 6, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today was picture day and I found out that I'm the only black person to visit the village. What a privilege. Lane and I wanted to say thank you to Sophach and his aunt Rob and Yaya, so we decided we were going to cook.

    Using similar ingredients (minus the sugar) we made steamed Catfish, barbecue chicken and sauteed vegetables, it was a big hit and the whole family sat down to eat.

    As they say in Asia, #samesamebutdifferent 💛    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    Last day at the school

    February 7, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Today is the last day at the school and it is very bitter sweet. These children are so happy and full of hope that I'm sad to not see their faces on Monday but very happy to say good bye to all those damn chickens waking me up!

    Today was different to other days. We didn't really teach but rather visited the fee paying school to handout leaflets around the area. The hope is, the fee paying school will generate enough money for us to support the free English school. We also had our fortune told. Apparently, I must never marry a man in the year of the 🐓 and I'm on the hunt for someone in the year of the 🐐. Wish me luck 😂.

    Hopefully I will be able to raise some money in UK to send back to My Happy Village because it's really touched my heart. Hopefully, I'll be back in a few years with some friends and some mula!    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler

    Last day in Siem Reap

    February 8, 2020 in Cambodia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Sadly, it's Lane and I's last day. We decided to lounge by the pool and top up our tans. We also went to a lovely healthy restaurant in the evening and had vegan and Mexican food in the day
    Honestly, Siem Reap is a perfect blend of Western styles mixed with food and produce from the East. This place definitely has a piece of my heart and I will be bringing the fam along in the future.

    One thing I never thought I'd miss is a squat toilet. May have to convince the parents to install one 😂    Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    2

    Botanical gardens

    February 13, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    I made a friend in the hostel called Natalia from Miami. We were both interested in seeing the Botanical gardens, I was especially interested as it was FREE and me bruk pocket 😂.

    We had a really fun day looking at the beautiful flowers, cracking jokes and trying to find the most inexpensive food we can eat.Read more

  • Nicole HooperNicole's travelsTraveler
    2

    Last night in Singapore

    February 13, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Liv, Dan, Em, Nat, Brendan and I went to Cé la vie for spectacular views of the city and then we hit up Bar Rouge which was free entry and free drinks for girls. Great night but perhaps I shouldn't party until the early hours when I have a flight the same day 🙃Read more

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