'For more information...'
Anyone that has enjoyed my blathering on here, I've switched to here:
http://jumpingisalifestyle.blogspot.com/
Published Date:
29/07/2009
Modified Date:
29/07/2009
Home is where the heart is. But where is my heart?
PONTEFRACT, UK
My last few days in Bali comprised one hedonistic night of ridiculous memory loss, of which I am less than proud, followed by several nursing a hangover in a bar showing films, accompanied with copious amounts of food. Once again I found myself an airport buddy and we hummed Balinese tunes whilst in wait for our flights.
And then to Singapore! Which might as well be an operating theatre it's so spick and span (providing we trust the cleanliness standards of the NHS. Which for libel's sake, we do). I flew in late and after traversing the excellent MRT - that's underground train to you and me - I arrived at my hostel in Little India and went to a market and picked up some food. I had no idea what it was. The woman, gesticulating wildly in Singlish, convinced me that I was purchasing some vegetarian delicacy, but on further inspection, the congealed rice parcel looked to contain cat. This said, if it was cat, cat is actually quite tasty. I then went to the Night Safari, Singapore's Number 1 attraction. I saw an otter do some recycling. 'Nuff said.
The next day I donned my walking shoes (I actually wore flip flops, but, ya know) and headed off to explore the city. I spent some spiritual time in a temple, once again ate dubious but tasty food, posed next to the Merlion statue and then rounded off my day with a $27 (about £13) Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel. My request of the bar staff to take a picture of me was met with resigned smiles - they clearly do this every minute of every day. Stupid tourists. My last day in the antiseptic city was spent on Orchard Road, depressing myself with the myriad of colourful clothes I could not afford to buy. I got stuck in a thunderstorm and treated myself to a Chai. Even that stretched the budget.
In a glorious conclusion to my travels, I bumped into three friends at the airport! Two German guys, who had been following me up the East Coast of Australia, exchanged eye rolls and big grins when they saw me standing by the cake counter (I was bored; I'd arrived waaaay too early). This is definitely my favourite thing about travelling - the further from home you go, the more you realise just how small our tiny planet is. After 14 hours of watching the plane take off from the tail cam (scary), sitting next to a family (noisy) and the bathroom (smelly), I landed in Heathrow, sleep deprived, grubby and excited. Make that delirious. I was home.
And so yes, I am home home home, and it is odd, odd odd. Two weeks of hibernation later and I'm a tad stressed but less befuddled than originally intended. I've been through the highs of seeing friends and family, and the lows of heart ache as I listen to my favourite Kiwi music. Do I want to be back there and not here?! I've almost answered that question. I'm looking for jobs in London anyway. But wherever I end up, I think I have itchy feet for life, a true firefly, afflicted by the travel bug.
I've taken solace from a poem I found by Ivan V. Lalic, which ends like this:
When you go, space closes over like water behind you,
Do not look back: there is nothing outside you,
Space is only time visible in a different way,
Places we love we can never leave.
And for now, I sign off. I need to go make some money so I can escape again...
NOTE: ALL MY ARTICLES HAVE BEEN 'EDITED.' NOTHING OF THE ORIGINAL CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED... APART FROM THE SPELLING, WHICH APPARENTLY WAS A BIT HISS AND MIT ON THE LOUSY FOREIGN COMPUTERS I HAD TO ENDURE.
Published Date:
23/04/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Surf's up...
KUTA, BALI
So I spent another week in the land of Oz, including two days of absolute boredom induced by Cape Tribulation. You can tell why Captain Cook wasn't too enamoured with the place, pretty as it is. I did get good at cards again though, I guess that was one bonus. And then I dragged myself out of bed for one last early morning to check out the Great Barrier Reef. Some would argue 'tis the only reason to be in Cairns, so off I went. "And which boat are you on madam, the big one or the small one?!" How the frick did I know?! Turns out I got to spend the day on a sail boat, doing actual sailing, as well as snorkelling, checking out Blue Staghorn Coral and some little fishies. On the way back, sunbathing on a 45 degree angle, we got brought free wine. Oh to have a cheeseboard to go with said wine. Did they? Oh yes they did! Complete bliss. After Fraser Island, definitely the best thing I did in Australia, (apart from Hugh Jackman. I jest of course).
And then to Bali! I know I was meant to traversing across the entirety of South East Asia, but there's a little known thing called money which might have induced me to come home slightly early. I've been away for eleven months and had a very lovely time, so what can I say?!
Anyway, I had some buddies for my flight to Darwin, one of whom almost didn't get on his plane because of a, shall we say, mix up by a certain travel agent. Having been away for almost a year I am as sick as a nun on her first bender over the way big companies deal with problems. Being a boy, my friend resigned himself to a night in Cairns airport, but after speaking to yet another person from the company flying the plane, we were away, and even sitting in adjacent seats. It's all about who you speak to, their mood, and their level of common sense. It sucks.
Bali has been far more of a surfer's paradise than the town of the same name in Oz, but knowing that she's on her way home, Dorothy has been clicking her red shoes for the entire two weeks. To stop myself going insane over my future life plans, which, by the way, have me in serious befuddlement, I took a very long ferry journey, then a bus, then another boat (12 hours later....) away from the party atmosphere and less than appetising beach of Kuta, to Gili Trawangan, an island off neighbouring Lombok. It turned out to be paradise, complete with billboards advertising substances which would take you to the moon and back. I never quite made it to the moon, but the stars were very pretty, as was the crystal clear water, perfect for snorkelling, and the pristine beach. Tearing myself away from my own personal Garden of Eden, I spent one night in Sengiggi, Lombok, before perusing the artsy fartsy town of Ubud back in Bali.
And now I'm back in sunny Kuta, lazing by a pool, awaiting my triumphant return to Blighty. I still need to run the gauntlet of Singapore first though! So give me a week; put the teapot on hold, and stock up on the biscuits. Get out the flags, I'm headed home.
In-Da-Knees-Ya?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211794&id=223701475&l=5bb53e80b5
Published Date:
06/04/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Gone with the wind. Typical.
CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA
And so I come to the end of my time in Kangarooooooo land. After Fraser Island, having found myself some long term travel buddies, we travelled en masse from 1770 to Airlie Beach, our jump off point for a three day cruise around the Whitsundays. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. On arrival we were greeted with worried faces and furrowed brows as cyclone warnings were whispered amongst the sailing crews. Before we knew it our trips had been cancelled and Team Double D were stranded in Airlie, surrounded by flypaper warnings, suggesting that, should the buildings start to break up, we were to protect ourselves with mattresses. Scary times. However, by the next morning we were splish-sploshing in the lagoon under bright sunshine. Cyclone Hamish, his kilt a-flapping, had jigged on by.
We did get out on a day cruise to see Whitehaven beach, Daydream Island (Blackpool-on-sea) and Long Island, but the water was murky and our snorkelling marred by my fear of jellyfish. Once again, I managed to look the height of sexy in my stinger suit. Oh yes.
Having finally managed to escape Airlie Beach, where the cyclone induced much spending of my non-existent moolah, we traversed to Townsville, jumped immediately onto a ferry to Magnetic Island, and camped out in huts for three days. Ok, I exaggerate, but the air conditioning was minimal. On the final night we adorned our bodies in multi-coloured paint and danced like monkeys in a circus under the light of the silvery full moon. 'Hangover' was the theme on the Greyhound to Mission Beach the next day, where a night of relaxation was necessary before we wisely inserted ourselves into yet another situation where possibilities of death were increased. I wore yet another flattering outfit. Yellow lifejacket, red helmet; just call me Heidi Klum. Despite falling into crocodile infested rapids and having to rescue oars whilst everyone else looked on in a bemused manner, I'm still breathing salty sea air.
And now I'm in Cairns! Tears flowed yesterday on St. Patrick's Day, our last night with all our Fraser buddies. I'm getting tired... the terrible greenback and yellow coin has caught up with me and my cash flow is inciting an early departure from SE Asia. Well, that and the fact that lugging my backpack around is starting to take its toll and, hard as it is to admit, I'm excited to see the rents! I'll be home 11th April....
Gone with the wind:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=207832&id=223701475&l=86c57916b4
Published Date:
18/03/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Super-4 Drivemaster flash. I'm the motherflippin..
1770/AGNES WATER, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
What a mouth full! I'm here for one night breaking up my looooooong-ass bus journey to Airlie Beach. But what of the time between here and Sydney?!
My first stop was Newcastle, a personal pilgrimage to the namesake of my uni-town. Newcastle Aussie style is just like the English version, complete with a Jesmond, a Wallsend, a seahorse crested university and oh, did I mention the torrential rain?! The downpour induced a girl-power cliche as I took myself off to the cinema alone on Valentine's Day to see 'He's just not that into you.' Nice. After a fairly pain free overnight bus I then arrived in Byron Bay, home of the hippy, frangipani cresting every head. Well, not quite, but you get my ganja-tinged drift. I spent five days chilling on a perfect beach, watching a spectacular sunrise at Australia's Most Easterly Point, and a day in Nimbin. The cookies there had, erm, special fairy properties. Yes. My wings were a-buzzing.
It was hard to tear myself away from the Arts Factory Hostel vibe, but tear away I did to Surfers Paradise, where I saw no surfers and no paradise. I did see the inside of a trendy nightclub but Blackpool on the barbie was not for me. And so onwards and upwards to Brisbane where I was treated to the ultimate traveller luxury - staying at a friend's house and checking out the nicer bars in town. Thanks to fellow Pontefract urchin Adam. Brisbane was pretty sweet, a city comparably cool to Manchester. From there I headed to Noosa to check out the Steve Urwin-a-thon that is Australia Zoo. Cuddly koalas and zany elephants. The crocs were pretty cool too. I also tried my hand - or should I say, legs, arms, entire body - at surfing. I was spectacular in my failure. Although, I did manage to stand up. I should rename myself Taylor or Chad, something suitably American surfer-esque, such was my prowess.
Whilst in Noosa, I attacked a random Swiss boy who had been following me on the Greyhound bus for the last few journys and demanded he be my friend. Here in lay the start of a beautiful adventure. Acquiring two more English boys, an American, an Israeli girl and five Irish ladies along the way, we headed from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island, home of amazing stars, ridiculous scenery and beautiful people, providing you find greasy hair and sandy bodies attractive, of course. It was the best three days of Oz so far, my crew were the best and good friends were made with whom I'm now heading up the coast with in time for some St. Patrick's Day fun in Cairns. I got to drive a four-wheel-drive truck along the beach which was as scary as a dingo attacking your baby! (Which actually happened a few years back, so maybe not that funny... eek!) I am the Drivemaster Flash.
Flying Doctors and Cityscapes:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=205606&id=223701475&l=6c52b
Super-4 Drivemaster Flash:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=205855&id=223701475&l=07a56
Published Date:
05/03/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oh...
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Sooooooo. I landed in Melbourne just over two weeks ago, and since then I've been happily traversing the land of the kangaroo. Did you know people have 'roo shoos' fitted to their cars to stop Skippy getting run over?! Hilarious.
I arrived into Melbourne amidst a heat wave, which considering I was staying by the beach in St. Kilda, was not useful. Thank god our hostel had aircon - everyone stayed in the room and slept! I decided not to waste too much time and got to work on a Neighbours tour. I went to Ramsey Street and met Janelle. The street is small and it's not even called Ramsey Street, I wasn't overly impressed. Checked out the galleries and Federation Square and then was lucky enough to have a friend drive me to Phillip Island to see the Little Penguins emerge from the sea at dusk to go to their burrows. Very cute, but I was more excited by the plethora of 'big things' en route - a 'big' worm and a 'big' wave. I jumped, of course.
I took a Ride Tour down the Great Ocean Road and saw lots of rocks, which were impressive to the naked eye but I doubt my camera skills do them justice; cue lots of bemused faces when I post enthusiastic responses to my pictorial genius. Or Jenius shall we say. We viewed the 12 Apostles, through a fog of course, just my luck, went to the home of Surf - Torquay, - and to the lighthouse from Round the Twist. I loved that programme as a nipper! What did I do?! Jumped...
Our fabulous tour guide Jude spent a lot of time talking about the tragedy of bushfires. Then just a few days after I left Melbourne, the Victoria Bushfires Tragedy happened. I've been staying in touch with my friends still in Melbourne - it sounds awful and my sympathies are with all those affected. Further up North in Queensland there are floods - you hear people jokingly saying if only we could merge the two together all would be well. If only. After the flooding in Fiji too, I swear natural disaster is following me.
So now I'm in Sydney, stuck somewhere between fire and ice. I'm not going to lie, I expected to hate Sydney, but I actually really like it! The Harbour Bridge and Opera House are awesome but not as majestic as you might expect. I've checked out many a beach, including Manly, Palm Beach (Summer Bay! Concluding my tour of great Aussie TV sets), and Bondi. Bondi was fabulously cliche ... and very hot, resulting in the worst sunburn I've ever had. Pain for three days, and now ridiculous itching!!! Darling Harbour had dragon boat races for Chinese New Year, and after staying in Kings Cross, I've sampled the cosmopolitan nightlife. I dragged myself off to the Blue Mountains for two days too, where I saw the Three Sisters (through fog, of course) and stayed in Katoomba, where a wonderful game of Pictionary was had. They don't have Zebra Crossings in Canada, so Deano the Canadian actually started to draw a Zebra, crossing the road...
Despite the almost English weather I'm thoroughly enjoying bumping into people from Queenstown. I've got many a friend to catch up with along the coast; although it does just make me miss NZ that little bit more. Next stop Byron.
End of New Zealand, Beginning of Oz:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=200892&id=223701475&l=ff378
Published Date:
12/02/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Road tripping with my two favourite allies....
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
{I just want to take two minutes to honour my Grandad, who died this week. I am so sad that I cannot be at home with my family, especially for the funeral, and it's the first time since I left England that I've been truly homesick. I shall be taking time on Friday to say a few words for my Grandad, even though I'm on the other side of the world. My thoughts are with him and my family, whom I love with all my heart.}
And so the end is near, and now I face the final curtain.... of New Zealand! The past month has been unbelievably hectic which is prompting a longer than usual blog entry!
New Year turned out much better than expected; we watched fireworks by the lake as we became some of the first people in the world to bring in the New Year and then went to our favourite bar, free of charge of course, on account of our excellent contacts. Here's hoping 2009 is a good one and I can fulfil my minimal resolutions: don't plan, drink less, and DON'T fall for unattainable men. That last one is never going to happen...
After much festivities in honour of my leaving beloved Queenstown, I, my friend Emma, and our car Volker Johnson, set off on our wondrous road trip up the West Coast of the South Island, but not before throwing ourselves 15000ft out of an aeroplane. Our car was so named after Ben Johnson as it was a Toyota Sprinter, only, it wasn't. It took us six hours over somewhat treacherous mountains before we reached Franz Josef, where I proceeded to hike a glacier. Clearly the sensible thing to do. From there we hit Punakaki, home of the Pancake Rocks, before more treacherous hill driving brought us to Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park. From there we rocked through Nelson whence I constructed my brother's birthday present (further explanation post 11th february), down to Kaikoura, where we boarded a boat for some Whale Watching. We saw one. Then we slept. Great.
The night before our ferry crossing to Wellington (cue more sleeping), we traversed to Blenheim where I had the pleasure of Hey Moonshaker, another Pontefract local, Andy Balcon's new band. "Changing the world with dirty blues and beatbox." I ain't going to lie, I thought they'd be rubbish. But they were bloody brilliant! Search them out on Facebook.
I then spent a week recuperating from the hard labour of driving, by drinking in Wellington. Free reggae in the park was a personal highlight; taking an overnight bus to Auckland was not. Once in Jaffa-town I had the pleasure of meeting up with a friend from uni for one night only of debauchery and madness... which meant I spent the next day on the road to Paihia, Bay of Islands fully zonked out. Goat island was beautiful though, and Cape Reinga was stunning as predicted. My cultural pilgrimage of New Zealand (back aboard the Stray bus), was completed with a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
And now here I sit in Auckland, awaiting my transfer across the Tasman sea to the land of the kangaroo. I'm excited. But I'm utterly convinced I shall be back here one day. The Mighty Boosh say that Yorkshire is a place; Yorkshire is a state of mind. And I agree. But New Zealand is also a place, New Zealand is also a state of mind. And it is one I am sorry to leave.
Jen jumps around New Zealand.... (and later, also around Oz and Indonesia)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198570&l=fd950&id=223701475
Published Date:
27/01/2009
Modified Date:
23/04/2009
Rocking around the wrong Christmas Tree
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
Meri Kirihimete me nga mihi o te tau hou kia koutou katoa! (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Maori).
Christmas in New Zealand is strange. In England, by the time December rolls around, the entire population is sick of all the Christmas adverts and want to destroy all copies of Slade's omnipresent festive choon. Over here, the hostel, populated as it is by so many English workers, made an effort with a Christmas Tree in reception, complete with faded tinsel, but until Christmas Eve that's about as festive as Queenstown got. We almost had a white Christmas, with snow falling on Coronet Peak and The Remarkables just a few days before, but there have been no tacky town decorations, and no Christmas carolling. Boo. We put on a free BBQ for guests and residents, which was certainly different to stuffing myself with roast veggies and apple sauce... but we did have the traditional cheese and crackers supper, and managed to search out some brandy cream for our pudding. It just wasn't the same though. I feel really Grinch-y.
New Year is never my favourite night, so I'm currently refusing to make plans. Which is proving difficult in a town of many attractions. There's a fair amount of free entertainment in the town centre, but this is all accompanied by an understandable but misery-inducing liquor ban. Having said that, anything will be an improvement on my efforts last year, which resulted in complete, albeit hilarious, disaster, so bring it on.
Apart from moaning about the distinct lack of Christmas spirit over here in Aoteroa, I made the trip to Dunedin, where I took in a Speights Brewery Tour and the Steepest Street in the World. I got a certificate and everything. It was the kind you get in school, complete with ticks and signatures. Hell yeah. We were there for less than 24 hours and I was itching to get back to Queenie. Alas, I have reconfirmed my flights and I'm heading off to pastures new 12th January. I fly Auckland to Fiji on 26th. I'm trying not to think about leaving; I'll start to cry, but at the moment I'm far too concerned about the economic crisis back in Blighty. First Woolworths, then MFI, Whittards... now Zavvi!!! What is England coming to?! It's enough to provoke inappropriate drunken messages to parents declaring your permanent removal to New Zealand (oops, sorry Mum).
Published Date:
27/12/2008
Modified Date:
23/04/2009