Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure

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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Breaking bad
September 8, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
I've decided this morning that I'm going to get my foot looked at. It was really swollen again last night. James drops me off on the bike and comes in with me initially but he has a lesson later and it's obvious I'll be here for some time. I get taken to x-ray and have multiple x-ray taken before going back to the doctor who tells me I've broken my fibular bone and need to be put in plaster for the next 6 weeks. She asks me how I've coped with the pain and I tell her I haven't really used anything but ibuprofen, she writes me the referral and prescribes some strong painkillers and tells me I need to get crutches from the chemist and come back in the morning to get put in plaster. I ask her about flying and she advises that I shouldn't fly long haul as due to the situation there's a much heightened chance of dvt. I collect my prescription and crutches. Shortly after I get back to Quad my friend Lucky arrives. It's so good to to see her. We spend a few hours catching up before she has to leave. In the evening we get a cab down to the little square. I get to meet John the guy who owns the gyoza shop and eat here while sharing a few beers. Upstairs is a bar with pool table so after shutting up we go up for a few games of pool. It seems like forever since I played and apart from hobbling around the table I play pretty well. I literally fall into bed when I get back I'm exhausted.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Absolutely plastered
September 9, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
I wake today to the sad news the queen has passed away. Having served her in the military I feel an outstanding amount of sadness that she has passed. With being in Malaysia it's not as apparent as in the UK as having spoken to numerous people that said it's the only thing on the telly compared to here where I have no television. In the morning I get to meet Shakira a lady that works for James but with still not feeling well I head back to bed for an hour and let them crack on with the work. I actually sleep for 3 hours and after I wake up and grab a bite to eat and a shower it's pretty much time to go and get my leg put in plaster. When I arrive I'm seen straight away and the doctor advises that I've actually broken it in 2 places and I have the option of surgery or to try with plaster first. I'm psychologically not prepared for surgery and opt for the plaster. He places me in a half cast and James comes to pick me up. I'm really struggling with the crutches , honestly I consider myself really strong but I already have blisters on my hands and my underarms are extremely tender. In the evening James has a few friends coming over and to be honest I am glad of the distraction. Vivi has brought moon cake as today is the Chinese celebration of the Mid Autumn festival otherwise known as the moon festival. It is as important in the Chinese calendar as Chinese New year and it when the moon is at its fullest and brightest point in the year. In Chinese style we enjoy the evening singing karaoke. I stay up till just after 1am but am exhausted and somehow fall asleep with the singing continuing until the early hours.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Realisation
September 10, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
I wake today very tearful. The frustration and reality of how hindered I am with this broken ankle has really hit home, and even though the pain has eased a little my arms feel like I've been punching all night. I'm still unsure about my plans as I'm due to fly to Langkawi tomorrow and I can barely get round the apartment at this rate. I have a day of total relaxation today after dosing myself with tablets and James goes out to see if he can find me a suitable rucksack as its not viable to carry my huge rucksack on my back on crutches. He calls to say the cheapest one is £70 and that he can lend me his one instead. Nico has messaged me today and we arrange to meet in a place just round the corner from here called Souled out. After waiting forever for a cab one of the ladies from the coffee shop offers to drop us off. It's so good to meet Nico again. We enjoy dinner and a few cocktails and the whole time we're here I think every table in the house must have a birthday because we spend most of the evening singing along and just before we are about to leave all the staff start dancing. Apparently they are paid more money because they have practice sessions. Even just the effort to come here has exhausted me and I tell the guys I'll just head back but they won't hear of it so we all head back to Quad and finish the evening with karaoke again.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Langkawi inbound
September 11, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
I wake this morning and am still undecided about my flight to Langkawi. I've made enquiries about hiring a mobility scooter but with no joy. After a few hours of umming and ahing I make a decision that I'm going to go. I mean how hard can it be to board a plane with a broken ankle? Bloody hard . I get dropped at the airport and to be fair the taxi driver gets me a trolley and I use it to hop into the terminal but it proves a little more difficult than I imagined. Hopping in 1 flip-flop while holding the brake off on a slippery floor is not a good combination. I make my way back to the entrance and attract the attention of one of the security guards. Within minutes a wheelchair is on the scene and they drop me at the Air Asia counter where I moved to a different wheel chair. They check me in and put me in the queue and advise they will take me to the gate an hour before take off. I cruise through security apart from my scissors in my wash bag and I'm boarded on the plane with the captain who is nice enough to have a little chat with me. The flight is only 1 hour but when we arrive in Langkawi I'm asked to stay on the plane until everyone has left and get the special treatment of being taken down in the lift. There is the smallest wheelchair in there and I wonder how anyone bigger than me would fit in it. Once grounded I am put in another wheelchair and wheeled straight through to the exit door. Nanda and Rick are waiting for me and in 10 minutes I'm home. A few people I know stay at Nanda's on a long term basis so when I arrive there is a little welcome party and after dropping my bags we head to rainbow bar. I have a few beers with the local crowd who are very shocked to see me, before getting a grab back to my room.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
New set of wheels
September 12, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
This morning I feel exhausted. Getting around on crutches is one of the hardest things I've done, my underarm and psalms of my hands have blisters on and I struggle to wake with such a negative start. The couple who run the guesthouse are lovely and can't do enough to help me and It's really nice because I also know 4 other people here. My mood changes as all of them come over and offer if I need a lift anywhere or anything else I need picking up just call them. One of my reasons for coming back here was purely for the people, I have a wonderful friends community here. Nanda drops me at Raos where I enjoy a roti and brew coffee. It's nice to sit here and just to chat. A little later Rick and Tom turn up and offer to take me to Kuah to look at wheelchairs. I have hunted high and low for a mobility scooter but there are literally none on the island so my second option is a wheelchair. In the store I try all of them out and opt for the heaviest one as it's more sturdy and feels less flimsy. Its 8 pound a day to rent a chair and £60 to buy one so I purchase my new set of wheels and we head back to Pantai Chenang for me to give them a trial run. In my head I have visions of scooting round like super gran but the reality once again hits hard. After a couple of pushes and a slight incline I'm exhausted. As all who know me well I'm no quitter and I give myself a kick up the arse. The pavements here are not great and they use a lot of gravel to allow the rain to drain away. Twenty minutes in Sy is collecting his laundry and is so pleased to see me. He asks where I'm going and offers me a push. When I arrive at Rainbow Uncle Johnny, Helen and Ralph are there. I sit and have a couple of beers with them, but to be honest I'm not really feeling in the mood to drink. It's pretty busy in the bar, but I'm not really in the mood but I hang around to see Eunice and Michael. I'm ready to leave shortly after and call a cab. Alan insists that he will follow with his bike to lift the wheelchair out and makes sure I get to my room safely. I get out of my chair and onto my crutches and literally crash onto the bed exhausted. Let's hope I can recharge my batteries for tomorrow.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Gigolo stance
September 13, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
I'm really struggling with my positivity these past few days. I really just want to be home but my foot is still really swollen and until I get the go ahead from the doctor in 2.5 weeks I'm unable to fly long haul so I guess I should accept this and try and make the most of my final part of my trip. I get a shower and immediately feel better. The plan is to go out today independently but the rain starts at 9 and doesn't finish till 1. I order a pizza as the crew have gone to Kuah and won't be back till early afternoon. I need a few bits of shopping and Rick kindly pushes me to the main road on Pantai Chenang later in the afternoon. I honestly never realised how hard It was to push yourself in a wheelchair and as I travel down the cracked pavements have to take shelter behind the bushes out of the son every 100m or so. I hadn't planned to go all the way to the mall but The black pearl coffee shop on Google maps isn't open anymore so I make the additional effort and wheel myself on to Starbucks where I sit and enjoy coffee and cake. On the last part and hardest,as it's gravel, I'm helped by a total stranger called Alex who pushes me the last 5 minutes back to my room, although it would have taken me 30+ minutes if I was diy'ing it. Back at Ranch I share a few beers and I chat to Rick about something called Hashing. I've never heard of this before but the motto is 'a drinking club with a running problem'. Everyone is going to Cinnamon a little bar around the corner. Nanda drops me off in the car and I've opted for crutches this evening to make life a little easier. In cinnamon we get chatting to a lady called Jay who is not only a Doctor but a vet as well. We all really enjoy her company and make our way back to the guest house to enjoy a few beers in the garden. They all drink a lot although I move onto coffee. The time flies by and before I know it my alarm is going off at 245 to say the Liverpool game is due to kick off. I bid my goodbyes and leave them all to continue. I eventually drift off after the excitement of seeing the squad win our game and show more of our way.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Fed up
September 14, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Once again I wake deflated but I get myself up and into the shower. I have bruises on both arms from where I was pushing the wheelchair yesterday so the thought adventuring out today it's definitely not on the things to do list. The one positive is being able to take a shower and a hot one at that. Once I'm up and about I do feel better and after my regular coffee and cigarettes set to the task of sending off my insurance documents and receipts. I also received an invitation to do an online assessment with trailfinders. I'm really excited at an opportunity to work with them as I think it's something I would get a lot of job satisfaction from. Things are looking up. I order fajitas for lunch but there is loads left so I put it in the fridge as I've been invited for dinner with Nanda and Winnie tonight. We share curry and fish a little later they are going to wundabar but I've already set my alarm to watch the Queens procession. It's one of the first things I've actually watched since she's passed. I watch for a good few hours, sad that I'm missing this monumental moment before taking myself to bed.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Brick wall
September 15, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
I get up this morning trying my best to start the day as I mean to go on with a positive note. I need to get a grip, I've only broken my ankle, not lost a limb. Everyone here is so helpful that I really can't worry about anything but it's my stubbornness that gets in the way. I have plans this afternoon to have lunch with Nilo, and she kindly offers to pick me up. In advance I paint my nails as I'm grateful for every little thing that picks my mood up. Yvonne' mum is coming out with us today and it's nice to eventually meet her but I feel sorry for Nilo who has to take charge of 2 women on sticks. We enjoy dinner at our favourite fried chicken restaurant before she kindly drops me back with the offer that if I need anything to just call. I've gotten into a little habit of having a granny nap and it does seem to be helping as the littlest outing takes so much energy. I spend the rest of my evening touching base with home. It always helps. This past week has been the toughest of my 9+ month travel and although it's affecting me hugely I am still very blessed and proud in the fact I've gotten this far. It's been life changing but has definitely made me realise what makes me happy. Thanks to all the people I've met along the way that have joined parts of my travels and a huge shout to the people who are still drifting in and out. I have a beer but I'm really not in a drinking mood so take myself to bed to try and get a good sleep.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Hospital revisited
September 16, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
This morning I wake with terrible pain in my leg and I've barely slept. When I get out of my room Nanda comes over to see if I'm ok and I burst into tears saying I just want to go home. He asks me what the problem is and he says don't worry I take you to the hospital and let's get a second opinion. After taking a shower Nanda kindly drops me to the hospital which is highly recommended by a lot of my friends here on the island. It is a 25 minute drive but when we arrive there is literally noone in there and the buzzer goes off and it's my turn. I'm still very emotional and I ask the doctor about flying home he advises another 2 weeks but if I'm so miserable I can fly with exercise on the plane. In the afternoon I speak with my friend Jay where I've left my big rucksack and he suggests he may fly to Paris next week and could help me to fly home. I also have an offer to fly from Langkawi to kl with my other friend Nilo. In the afternoon Lucky visits and suggests she will go for a shower and massage and will return later. She returns with a bottle of wine and we order food. It's so nice to have some female company. As anyone that knows me , knows how I like my little sayings and Lucky tells me how her grandmother would say that most of the things that come out of a body aren't very nice, like urine,blood spit and shit and the only place where nice things can come out of is your mouth so always say nice things. I retire to bed and fall straight to sleep.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Grrrrrrrr
September 17, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
This morning I wake with a positive mood, my friend James is flying to Paris on the 22nd so he's offered to help me that far but when I try and book the flight it sends me round in circles but when I try and complete it says this flight is no longer available. After 2 hours of trying to book I decide to leave it and head to Raos for breakfast. I have my usual Tose and brew coffee and spend a few hours catching up with people that drift in and out for their breakfast and lunch. This morning I hear the sound of the hornbill but I'm not in the position to run round looking for it these days. I carry on with the flight hunt in here but someone tells me I might be better off looking on a laptop in a different location. The restaurant gets busy as today there's been a foldable bike race here. They all come in in there Spandex and Lycra When I get back to the room I borrow luckys laptop but even this proves impossible I even make a payment and it processes but it doesn't process the ticket and receive a page that's says there's been a problem processing. I get invited out for dinner this evening with Ijan and Othman. It's so nice catching up with these 2 guys. We head to lot 33 and enjoy food and a few drinks enjoying the live music before the boys drop me back.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Im coming home
September 18, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
After a good night sleep I wake fresh in the morning and determined that I will book my flight home. Once again Lucky lends me her laptop and within an hour I'm booked. It's not the easiest of flights as I have to get from Langkawi to Kl, Kl to Singapore, to Helsinki to Manchester. I also have to book my airport assistance for each flight as I'm flying with different airlines. I'm also helped out by my wonderful friend Nilo who offers to pick up my rucksack from James pad and meet me at the airport for lunch before I fly onwards. This saves me a massive amount of stress and I'm so grateful to have people that bend over backwards to help me out. When I come outside Lucky plays the song "I'm coming home" and I burst into tears. My emotions are all over the place and as I'm so happy to be going there is also a twinge of dissapointment that the journey has come to an end a lot earlier than expected. I have a few emails to send and a bit of paperwork to fill in but in the afternoon I just chill as all the emotions have zapped my energy. I once again have a little siesta and have learnt over the past few days I can't keep pushing myself like I'm used to and need to listen to my body a bit more. In the evening I head to rainbow and enjoy a few drinks with the locals before getting a grab back to the room. Lucky is at the room watching a film I'd mentioned in the afternoon to her. "Who will love my children "I start to watch but within minutes I'm out like a light.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Her Majesty
September 19, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
This morning I wake relieved. My flight is booked and it's a big weight off my shoulders. I book a grab to Raos for my morning fix of brew coffee. I stay till just after lunch, before coming back and resting up as this afternoon I want to watch the Queens funeral. I set my alarm for 3pm and although I don't manage to sleep but even just putting my leg up gives me a relief from the pain. I set myself up at my little table on my balcony. I watch the people filtering into the abbey and must admit I hardly recognise any of them. I love watching anything military but today is a very special day. I watch with respect and pride at the Royal Navy playing such a monumental part in the proceedings. I learn today that the gun carriage being pulled by The Navy has only been quite a recent thing when at Queen Victorias funeral the horses misbehaved and the Navy had to step in and since then it's been a norm. It takes me back to all the gun carriage practice that took place on HMS Collingwood's training grounds. I witness a small amount of tick tocking and could have dressed one of the horse guards a little better but apart from that it's quite a process to watch. As I'm watching the BBC shows footage of the Queen in her early years and I'm shocked at how on point with her fashion she was back then. In the evening Lucky and I go for dinner to lot33. I meet up with Othman Ej and his family and I'm also pleased to see Eunice and Michael here. Ej's daughter recognises me straight away and can't believe my foot but sits in my chair with me pretty much most of the night.Read more
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Back by the sea
September 20, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
Today would have been my mum and dad's wedding anniversary and when I wake I feel a moment of gratefulness, they gave me an opportunity to travel from a very young age and inspired me immensely and taught me what a marriage should be like. I have so much to be thankful in the way they brought me up to be independent and strong but the greatest gift my dad taught me was to have good manners and to be respectful. These lessons have served me well and I can honestly say have moulded my trip and allowed me to integrate with locals. Being unable to move unless someone pushes me has allowed me to really slow down and start to analyze my trip. As sad as it is I have had the most amazing 9 1/2months and I am now processing getting excited for all the things that I've missed. Firstly my daughter and Simon for enabling me to do this trip and spurring me on in my first few weeks when I was ready to come home. the rest of my family and friends who I've really missed, cheese it's always the cheeses I miss and can't wait for my first cheeseboard, roast dinner a bubble bath and my bed. It's Lucky's day off today and she's offered to take me out for a few hours in the wheelchair, as I've actually accepted the fact I'm not independently movable at the moment. She pushes me along the front and we grab coffee and cake and go and sit by the beach. I'm in my element just sitting here listening to the sea and it's such a nice change to have a different view. After a few hours we walk back slowly (well I roll) and when we get back I have my little afternoon siesta. In the evening Lucky has a few things she needs to do so I go to Rainbow cafe and share a beer with Uncle Johnny before ordering dinner to take away. Lucky and I sit on the balcony putting the world to rights before I crash into bed exhausted.Read more
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Karaoke queen
September 21, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
I wake this morning well rested and after a long shower get dressed and jump a grab to Raos. I ask the driver if he can stop at the launderette where I get him to pass my bag of washing through the window, which he kindly does and when I try to pay him with a little tip for his help, he won't take any money off me , comes around and opens my door and helps me out. There are perks of having a broken ankle after all. After breakfast I head back to the room and just before 1pm Othman picks me up to take me out for lunch. After 10 minutes of pushing he suggests we go to Sandy Beach and sits me with the perfect sea view. It's a pretty nice day but at this time of year random downpours are the norm. I wish I could go in the sea one last time before I leave and Othman offers to carry me but I remain sensible and stay in my chair. He drops me back and heads back to the dive shop. Lucky arrives back and with the weather being so nice offers to take me for the sunset to the beach front. I'd forgotten how beautiful the sunset was and how pretty when the beach lit up with an array of flashing toys.. We take a slow walk back and she surprises me with a karaoke machine. As we're sitting here a bloody big beetle is sat on the wall next to me. He keeps giving me the eye so I get Karl to move e him.We sing a few songs before having coffee and cake for supper and an early night.Read more
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
London bound
October 16, 2022 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure Fifi flipflop
Gay Paris
April 17, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
After a pretty easy travel experience and bumping into Ian Rush at the airport I safely land in Paris and board a bus then train then another bus and arrive on the outskirts of Paris. Nico has messaged he is still in the office and I realise I've come without a travel adaptor. I head out to try and purchase one but really struggle as they obviously only have European to English plugs. I give up for today as a lot of the shops have closed at 6 so head back to wait for Nico to finish work. He kindly brings me an adapter so at least I can charge my phone tonight. We share a beer and head to Chinatown for dinner. I love the way I've met similar people travelling that allows me to be able to meet back up in they're home countries and get shown the sights by the locals. Nico drops me home and we bod au revoit till tomorrow.Read more
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Take me to the top
April 18, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Nico has given me directions for the best way to get to the Eiffel tower which involves catching a tram and then a couple of metros but I still manage to get off 20 minutes walk away and it's pretty cold. When I arrive they're is a queue for the elevator probably a mile long but I decide the ascent by foot maybe a bit much for my dodgy ankle, so I join it. The cost is 29 euros but because it's so windy the summit is closed so they reduce the rate to 20euros. The view is amazing you can literally see the whole of Paris. I take an hour to walk around and enjoy the view and descend down the 6000 stairs. The tower is over 130 years old and was only meant to stay erected for 20 years but here it is still standing at 330ft tall. They paint the tower by hand with a special paint that preserves the iron that it's built with and as we are here we spot some of the workers taking on this monumental task.
I head down a back street on my walk to the Arc de triumph and stop in a beautiful cafe for lunch. In Paris it is much cheaper to eat big at lunch with a starter main and pudding offered at around £21 but that's too much for me on my own so I order the goats cheese and honey pizza. I've managed to purchase an adapter to charge my phone and ask the waiter to charge it for me, which he very kindly does. I walk a little bit further and when I approach the Arc de triumph there is some sort of ceremony going on. At the base of the Arch de Triomphe stands a torch. Every evening at 6:30 P.M. it is rekindled, and veterans lay wreaths decorated with red, white and blue near its flickering flame. It burns in the darkness to recall the sacrifice of an unknown French soldier who gave his life during World War I. The other lovely thing is different groups of cadets go to pay their respects and are chosen to lay flowers nice to see the young encouraged to respect history. I am supposed to meet Nico tonight but I'm exhausted and he has a headache so I take the tube home with the other half of my pizza and get an early-ish night.Read more
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A day at the Louvre
April 19, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
I start my morning with a coffee a pastry and a cigarette before boarding the tube. My first stop of the day is the Latin quarter with architecture like I've never seen. The whole place has such a laid back vibe I could literally walk the streets every day stopping for an occasional coffee to do some people watching. I follow the streets until in the distance I see the Notre Dame. Restoration work is still taking place since the fire in 2019 which is shocking to see how bad it was and the craziness it happened during the original restoration project. It is totally closed off to the public but above the panelling you still can see the amazing architecture. I believe it took over 200 years to build and around the outside street performers play . A I walk along the riverbank to pont neuf and cross over towards the Louvre but am distracted by a huge figure. It's a statue of Vivienne Westwood and I wonder why it's here until I turn round and see the shop. I don't go in as it's out of my price range so continue to the Louvre. When I arrive there are different queues and after speaking with the ticket guy he tells me they are for timed entrance. I soon realise a lot of people have pre-booked they're ticket and aren't able to go in till they're allocated time, so I hop on line and buy a 12pm entrance which gets me straight in the queue. Every touristy place in Paris has like airport security and when a isolated bag is not claimed they cordon off the area and bring in a robot which blows the bag up and I'm relieved when fragments of clothes fly up in the air. Once inside I'm in awe it's huge. There are multiple levels housing some of the most amazing relics of history. It's categorised into areas of the world and is set out so spaciously in rooms adorned with Michael Angelo style ceilings. It's said that if you look at each piece in the museum for only 30 seconds you would be here for 3 weeks. As I turn the corner at the end of the corridor I bump into the family that had helped me in the Eiffel tower queue...what are the chances? I finally arrive to the Pieçe de resistance, The mona Lisa. Again there is a queue and before I get to the front I'm astonished to see how small it is. I've walked through multiple rooms adorned with other masterpieces that have filled walls and yet one of the smallest pieces in here has people travelling from all of the world to get a selfie with. You can only get within 2metres of the painting but I'm amazed it's not encased, which is the case for a lot of the items here. I could literally spend a night at the museum. I've walked 6 mile in here and haven't even seen everything or stopped at most artwork just the pieces that have caught my eye. It's the best museum I've ever been in but I have blisters and need to rest my feet. It's a gorgeous day and I grab some lunch and walk over to a walk in the distance. The park has a fountain where relaxing chairs are placed and lots of people are sat here watching the world rotate. I sit here for over an hour then make my way back as I need a few things from the supermarket. I grab the few things I need and as I'm stood waiting to pay a security guard lunges in front of me and grabs a guy around the neck and trys to drag him out the door the guy puts up resistance and the guy behind the counter gets smashed as his perspex screen is broken. I'm glad to return to my room.Read more
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A day on the river
April 20, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
I wake this morning to the new my train is cancelled due to industrial action in Germany but when I look at a replacement flight it's nearly £250 so my other option is a 10 hour bus journey and even that will cost me £80 due to there only being a few seats left. I get it booked as 10 hrs on a bus for me is nothing out of the ordinary.Read more
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Border by Bus
April 21, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
It's an early rise today as I'm having to catch the bus instead of the train due to the industrial action in Germany, and here's me thinking we've got it rough in the UK. With the protests in Paris and the strikes in Germany were all in the same boat just on a different side of the channel. The taxi driver is really chatty and it's nice we can communicate even with the language difficulty. Nico meets me for breakfast and when we sit down I realise I've lost my phone. Nico calls it thinking I've left it in the cab but a lady answers and I'm relieved when she tells Nico she's outside the cafe we're in. Phone returned we finish breakfast and I once again bid my farewells to Nico and board my bus to Frankfurt. As we drive out through the suburbs we enter pastures of green. And after a couple of stops we enter Germany. The structure of the buildings changes and before too long we are at the border check where a policeman and policewoman board the bus and check everyones passport. It's not common for this to happen as the Schengen rules generally allow Europeans to cross borders with no fuss but I guess because there are people on board who aren't part of the rules they will check everyone. I t takes no time at allRead more
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Frankfurt festival
April 22, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
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Papaboo's
April 23, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
It's a pretty slow start to the day which is nice. I walked so far in Paris that I'm exhausted. We get up and take breakfast before heading out in the car. Hilmi has a friend who owns a pizzeria in another town so we're taking a drive here. As we drive on the Motorway I'm astonished at how fast cars are driving and I can't believe it when Hilmi tells me there is no speed limit. Literally no limits? He also finds it amazing that ours is 70mph. There motorways have also been set up for hgvs to be replaced by electric hybrid transporter to cut down on the carbon emission, I think this is a great idea although along both journeys I don't see one. They also have a law here that if the traffic slows down the traffic drives to the far left and right of the carriageway to allow the room for an emergency vehicle. As we're driving along the road I say omg there's flamingos in the field which Hilmi finds hilarious and explains they are only stork's. En route we stop at glauberg celtic museum a small museum focusing on Celtic history, set in a beautiful landscape but the highlight for me was the cherry crumble cake. We finally arrive in the town of Worms where after a short walk around we discover there is a wine festival, but it's quite common for people to pay a deposit on a glass and walk around with the filled vessel. Papabu's is not open till 5 so we join the crowd and indulge in ice-cream. A speciality here is ice cream spaghetti where they make vanilla ice cream with a strawberry sauce and grated coconut to represent the parmesan cheese. Just before 5pm papabu's opens and we receive the warmest of greetings. I order the gorgonzola Parma ham and pear which is absolutely delicious and although I can't eat it all I take the rest home for supper.Read more
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Valencia bound
April 24, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Awake this morning with a heavy heart once again it's time to say goodbye. I feel my time here is gone in the blink of an eye but have made some really amazing memories once again. Healmi takes me to the main bus station where as he tries to lead me from the car park he nearly gets me killed by the electronic barrier. Healmi is a plant lover so as a little farewell gift I buy two little lavender plants to put in his balcony area Spring is definitely on the way. We share a coffee and Starbucks before saying the sad farewell. The journey to Haan takes about 1 and 1/2 hours but the bus is pretty full and even though we're meant to make a stop we don't and I arrive with nearly 4 hours till my flight. There is literally nothing at the airport apart from a couple of food places so I spend the time just smoking and drinking coffee.Read more
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A Day In Brussels
June 24, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
After a terrible night's sleep I head out early to try and avoid the crowds. It's the weekend so there are loads of tourists to the point my hotel was only available for 1 night , so I've bitten the bullet and booked a late bus to Bruge. I dropped my bags off last night and experienced a couple of hours in the square and crazily ordered Thai food at Fanny Thai. It's confirmed Belgium Thai is nowhere like the real thing.
My first stop this morning is at the flea market. The oddments here of trinkets and antiques and junk is immense. It's held in Jeu de Balle square. After leaving here I walk up to the petit Sablon square which is surrounded by 48 bronze statuettes depicting ancient Brussels professions,a really pretty place to just sit down and take the weight of your feet. Directly opposite is the 15th-century Église Notre-Dame. The viewpoint of the City takes me to Mont de arts a garden overlooking the city. One of the things Belgium is famous for is the mannekin de pi's , which depicts a young boy weeing into a fountain. Everyday they dress him in a different outfit and with over 2000 outfits he even has his own museum It's become that popular they have followed suit with a dog. I always like to experience local food and here in Belgium it's frites and waffles. The famous place here is fritland where they offer multiple sauces to go with your chips. I continue ambling about the streets for another hour or so before collecting my suitcase and heading to the station. It's so hot that I get an Uber and the city is really walkable except with a pull along suitcase on the cobbled streets. I arrive at the station well in time but when I ask someone I am in the wrong place and have to walk ten minutes to get to the pick up point. There is very little directly around the station so I just sit it out till the bus arrives. It's only 90 minutes but as soon as we leave the guy next to me falls asleep and keeps slouching on me. After a few gentle nudges he gets the message. It's a short walk to the hostel and I'm pleasantly surprised, it's a beautiful old house which has been sectioned off into dorms. I've opted for the 4 berth girl dorm and with only the option of the top bunk I drop my bags and climb up to lay my head. Even though it's still quite noisy I drift off to sleep.Read more
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Beautiful Bruge
June 25, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
At breakfast I meet Jasmine who is traveling solo so we agree to join each other on a walking tour, when you are doing a short trip to places they are the best because they will take you to the places of interest but then you have the opportunity to go back to anything you find of interest later. Bruge is also a very walkable city and in my opinion is far nicer than Brussels. I often find the Capital cities disappointing but surrounding cities are a lot more relaxed. Our guide for the day is actually a historian called Eric and his knowledge and information about the city is immense. It's really hot today so as he takes us through the beautiful cobbled streets he keeps us in the shade. There is so much to see but as we stand In the market Square we are surrounded by multiple buildings all very different and with a huge neogothic influence. The white bear is the symbol of Bruge and according to history is from when the count of Flanders killed a white bear that was stopping people leaving the city. Between the hours of 12 and 1 the carillon keyboard of the Belfry plays the bells of songs ranging from queen to old classics and 366 steps up gives a full panoramic view of the city. The church of our lady is the church housing Michael Angelos Madonna and child. The house adjoining was owned by a wealthy man called Lodewijk van Gruuthuse, and rather than leave the house to go to church he had an entrance built and a private worship are where the priest would climb a hidden stairwell to give them communion. Gruut was also a beer that was made using herbs and in some areas in Belgium it's still sold.Read more
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