I have to tell you that at my age I should be heading more and more into hot flash territory but instead I seem to be having a hard time dealing with cold. This past winter in Quebec was very cold and here we are less than one month away from summer and it's still bloody cold, if you ask me. So what's my solution to all this? How about a two week vacation in South Africa as they are heading into winter. I can't actually believe that I'll be leaving the relative warmth of Quebec in summer to go to SA in winter. enough complaining, because I am going to SA after all.
I'm leaving on June 7th accompanied by my sister Jackie, my brother-in-law Gerry and my niece Melanie. We are flying through Amsterdam to Jo'burg and then taking a domestic flight from Jo'burg to Capetown. It should only take us a few days to get to our destination of choice which is Hermanus, SA.
What's the special occasion? My niece Melissa (Jackie and Gerry's daughter) is getting married to Barry in Hermanus.
I'm really looking forward to the trip as this will be my first time on the African continent.
I'll be back with more exciting news once I hit this new continent.
Later folks :)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Traipsing on the travertines
Having a wonderful time in Turkey! Internet access has been a challenge and tedious when found due to their different letters on the keyboard so apologies if these entries aren't perfectly proofread.
Our visit through Cannakale was very interesting and educational as it dealt with the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 during WWI. This is a very popular site to visit for Australians and New Zealanders as they lost many soldiers in this campaign. An Australian visitor was asked to read a one page summary of the last days/weeks in the life of John Simpson and his donkey and he choked up by the time he got to the end of his reading. He had many of us in tears, that's for sure.
From Canakkale we visited Troy and Pergamum on our way to Selcuk. We visited Troy in a full fledged thunderstorm all around us (I know someone called Mary who would have made her way back to the bus subito-presto). We arrived in Pergamum at 5 PM only to find out that the site closed at 5PM. Our tour guide negotıated an extra half hour for us so we did a quick run through, run being the operative word. The ruins of this Akropolis are quite nice to visit and the view of the city and valley below is quite spectacular. I'm glad I was able to see it even if only for 30 minutes.
Arrived in Selcuk at 10PM after a very very long day. Our first day in Selcuk was spent regrouping and booking most of our accomodations for the remainder of the trip. After a good day's rest we headed off early to visit the ruins of Ephesus. They are without a doubt the best we've seen so far in Turkey. The library entrance is spectacular and I was lucky enough to get some nice pictures void of thousands of tourists that were in from the cruiseships. In the afternoon we went to a haman for our first ever Turkish bath. It is certainly a very different experience that leaves you feeling very clean and well exfoliated. We were the only tourists there at the time we went so it was funny to exchange hand signals with the Turkish ladies who did their best to explain what we needed to do next and where to go.
I've fınally made it to the travertines part of the entry. If you want to find out more about this amazing natural wonder I suggest you do a search on Pamukkale travertines and read all about it. It's almost like seeing a glacier in the desert. Hot water rich in many minerals has left calcium deposits on the mountain terraces to create this permanent white winter wonderland. You can still walk on a small section of the terraces (the Turkish people are now more careful about futher damaging them by restricting public access).
Today we took a 5-hour bus ride to Fethyie where we are getting ready to set sail tomorrow for a 3-night cruise on the Mediterranean that will take us to Olympus. Crossing our fingers that we won't get seasick. I'll tell you all about it on the next post.
Our visit through Cannakale was very interesting and educational as it dealt with the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 during WWI. This is a very popular site to visit for Australians and New Zealanders as they lost many soldiers in this campaign. An Australian visitor was asked to read a one page summary of the last days/weeks in the life of John Simpson and his donkey and he choked up by the time he got to the end of his reading. He had many of us in tears, that's for sure.
From Canakkale we visited Troy and Pergamum on our way to Selcuk. We visited Troy in a full fledged thunderstorm all around us (I know someone called Mary who would have made her way back to the bus subito-presto). We arrived in Pergamum at 5 PM only to find out that the site closed at 5PM. Our tour guide negotıated an extra half hour for us so we did a quick run through, run being the operative word. The ruins of this Akropolis are quite nice to visit and the view of the city and valley below is quite spectacular. I'm glad I was able to see it even if only for 30 minutes.
Arrived in Selcuk at 10PM after a very very long day. Our first day in Selcuk was spent regrouping and booking most of our accomodations for the remainder of the trip. After a good day's rest we headed off early to visit the ruins of Ephesus. They are without a doubt the best we've seen so far in Turkey. The library entrance is spectacular and I was lucky enough to get some nice pictures void of thousands of tourists that were in from the cruiseships. In the afternoon we went to a haman for our first ever Turkish bath. It is certainly a very different experience that leaves you feeling very clean and well exfoliated. We were the only tourists there at the time we went so it was funny to exchange hand signals with the Turkish ladies who did their best to explain what we needed to do next and where to go.
I've fınally made it to the travertines part of the entry. If you want to find out more about this amazing natural wonder I suggest you do a search on Pamukkale travertines and read all about it. It's almost like seeing a glacier in the desert. Hot water rich in many minerals has left calcium deposits on the mountain terraces to create this permanent white winter wonderland. You can still walk on a small section of the terraces (the Turkish people are now more careful about futher damaging them by restricting public access).
Today we took a 5-hour bus ride to Fethyie where we are getting ready to set sail tomorrow for a 3-night cruise on the Mediterranean that will take us to Olympus. Crossing our fingers that we won't get seasick. I'll tell you all about it on the next post.
Monday, September 15, 2008
In Istanbul
Hi there
Just a quick word to let you know that I arrived safely in Istanbul Turkey and that I've been reunited wıth my sister Janie (woohoo).
I'ts been a busy few days visiting the main tourist attractions (Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, etc.). All of it quite nice. My feet and right leg is killıng me but I just have to suck it up.
I'ts very hot here (at least from where I come from and the summer wasn't hot or humid) so we have to take the occasional breaks.
We're moving down to Canakkale tomorrow to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields. I hope the weather cools down a bit but I doubt it sınce we're moving south.
Take care everyone and I'll post again soon.
Just a quick word to let you know that I arrived safely in Istanbul Turkey and that I've been reunited wıth my sister Janie (woohoo).
I'ts been a busy few days visiting the main tourist attractions (Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, etc.). All of it quite nice. My feet and right leg is killıng me but I just have to suck it up.
I'ts very hot here (at least from where I come from and the summer wasn't hot or humid) so we have to take the occasional breaks.
We're moving down to Canakkale tomorrow to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields. I hope the weather cools down a bit but I doubt it sınce we're moving south.
Take care everyone and I'll post again soon.
Monday, August 11, 2008
One month to go to Turkey and Janie - woohoo!
My next adventure begins on September 12th 2008 when I leave for a three week vacation in Turkey. I will be meeting up with my sister Janie who is in the final stages of her one-year travel around the world. To say that I am anxious is an understatement. After the awful weather we've had here in Quebec in the summer of 2008, I am definitely looking forward to a change in scenery and a change of pace. I am also very much looking forward to seeing Janie in person as it's been 7 months since I left her in Bangkok after our three-week trip through Thailand.
I am currently in the planning stages for this trip so all I can say for now is that my adventure begins when I arrive in Istanbul on September 13th and it will end when I return to Montreal on October 4th. I am looking forward to nice weather, great sights, great people and great food, not necessarily in that order...
So stay tuned for more exciting posts and pictures come September.
I am currently in the planning stages for this trip so all I can say for now is that my adventure begins when I arrive in Istanbul on September 13th and it will end when I return to Montreal on October 4th. I am looking forward to nice weather, great sights, great people and great food, not necessarily in that order...
So stay tuned for more exciting posts and pictures come September.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The final stretch - Krabi
I definitely have fewer days left than what I've already spent but for those who know me well, I'm not itching to get back home, as I usually am at this stage of a vacation. It may have something to do with the fact that at the end of this vacation I will be leaving Janie for another 7, 8 or 9 months or it may just very well have to do with Thailand. I think it's a combination of the two. All this to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying my vacation time and I hope to do so until the very last minute.
Janie and I bid farewell to Karon early this morning when we got into a mini-van with 10 other people to go to Krabi. I was very happy not to be sitting in the front seat because I couldn't exactly see all the close calls as our driver was quite fast and aggressive on the road. I spent most of my time listening to music on my iPod and looking at the amazing scenery around me. We are now in the area where they have limestone stacks (karsts) all around so it is quite impressive to see. It certainly doesn't resemble any of the mountains we have in Canada. I also spent a bit of time fending off the Italian guy who sat/slept on the seat beside mine because he wasn't just hungover, he was still drunk when he got into the van and he was sometimes trying to get touchy/feely to which I would simply answer "Don't touch". Another funny experience for the books!
We arrived in Krabi 3.5 hours after leaving Karon ad headed immediately to our low budget hotel called "The Greenery". It wasn't too far from where we were dropped off in Krabi Town so we decided to walk. Apparently I made quite the funny sight with me lugging my huge Ricardo of Beverly Hills suitcase (it really belongs to Janie and she asked me to bring it half empty to take some of her stuff back) plus two Roots small backpacks along the sometimes non-existent sidewalks of Krabi. I for one was very happy when I saw the sign for our hotel because I was getting pooped. Our room is OK and cheap (Janie is on a budget after all...) so after a few minutes to catch my breath we were off to find sustenance (food) and to book a tour for tomorrow. We are now booked on a one-day tour of Phi Phi Islands (pronounced PP) for tomorrow and we'll see about Friday when we get back. We had lunch at May & Mark's (recommended by Lonely Planet) and had a great time talking with a couple from France (husband from the UK, wife from South of France) and the owner Martee. Got a lot of info about the king and his heir and all of the holidays in Thailand. The UK man also had many stories about Canada that made us laugh. Had the best pizza I've had in Thailand (curry pizza) with pork satay and 2 diet cokes that Janie and I split for the low price of 240 baht ($8.00 Canadian). After lunch we sauntered across the street for a well deserved manicure and pedicure (after all that walking and carrying extra heavy suitcases) for 200 baht each ($6 something). I swear I could live here forever with my retirement savings...
Janie has decided to return to Bangkok with me on Saturday so I will get to spend one extra day with her and that means I won't have to book my last night's hotel on my own (I so suck at this and she is great at it so I let her do everything...).
That's it for now.
Janie and I bid farewell to Karon early this morning when we got into a mini-van with 10 other people to go to Krabi. I was very happy not to be sitting in the front seat because I couldn't exactly see all the close calls as our driver was quite fast and aggressive on the road. I spent most of my time listening to music on my iPod and looking at the amazing scenery around me. We are now in the area where they have limestone stacks (karsts) all around so it is quite impressive to see. It certainly doesn't resemble any of the mountains we have in Canada. I also spent a bit of time fending off the Italian guy who sat/slept on the seat beside mine because he wasn't just hungover, he was still drunk when he got into the van and he was sometimes trying to get touchy/feely to which I would simply answer "Don't touch". Another funny experience for the books!
We arrived in Krabi 3.5 hours after leaving Karon ad headed immediately to our low budget hotel called "The Greenery". It wasn't too far from where we were dropped off in Krabi Town so we decided to walk. Apparently I made quite the funny sight with me lugging my huge Ricardo of Beverly Hills suitcase (it really belongs to Janie and she asked me to bring it half empty to take some of her stuff back) plus two Roots small backpacks along the sometimes non-existent sidewalks of Krabi. I for one was very happy when I saw the sign for our hotel because I was getting pooped. Our room is OK and cheap (Janie is on a budget after all...) so after a few minutes to catch my breath we were off to find sustenance (food) and to book a tour for tomorrow. We are now booked on a one-day tour of Phi Phi Islands (pronounced PP) for tomorrow and we'll see about Friday when we get back. We had lunch at May & Mark's (recommended by Lonely Planet) and had a great time talking with a couple from France (husband from the UK, wife from South of France) and the owner Martee. Got a lot of info about the king and his heir and all of the holidays in Thailand. The UK man also had many stories about Canada that made us laugh. Had the best pizza I've had in Thailand (curry pizza) with pork satay and 2 diet cokes that Janie and I split for the low price of 240 baht ($8.00 Canadian). After lunch we sauntered across the street for a well deserved manicure and pedicure (after all that walking and carrying extra heavy suitcases) for 200 baht each ($6 something). I swear I could live here forever with my retirement savings...
Janie has decided to return to Bangkok with me on Saturday so I will get to spend one extra day with her and that means I won't have to book my last night's hotel on my own (I so suck at this and she is great at it so I let her do everything...).
That's it for now.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Jackie
This one's for my sister Jackie who is celebrating her birthday on January 29th. Less than two hours to your birthday here in Thailand so I wanted to send you a special message and perhaps be the first one to wish you a Happy Birthday.
Even though you are so very far in miles, you are always close in my heart. Have a wonderful day and I'll make it up to you when I get back home (soon enough!).
Happy Birthday sis,
Love Johanne.
Even though you are so very far in miles, you are always close in my heart. Have a wonderful day and I'll make it up to you when I get back home (soon enough!).
Happy Birthday sis,
Love Johanne.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Beach Bound
From Chiang Mai we took a flight to BKK and another one to Phuket. Arrived in the early morning hours to be greeted by the taxi ride we had booked with our hotel in Patong Beach. Everything was fine up until the time they stopped the car in an alley off one of the main streets in Patong and told us that there was no room at the Patong Inn Hotel (where we had booked)and that we would stay here at the Apartment Sawasdee for one night. Being unsure whether we were being scammed or not, Janie, our experienced traveler, asked to speak to the manager of the Patong Inn Hotel. He did confirm that the Inn was in fact overbooked and that it was OK to stay at this other location for one night. The place wasn't that great and and I don't think we got one full hour's sleep due to the noise coming from the pipes (a bit creepy if you ask me). Next morning at 9:30 AM almost sharp, our hosts from the Patong Inn were there to take us to the hotel. Accommodation mishap aside, we were ready to experience Patong Beach, the busiest beach on Phuket Island. Patong Beach is also home to much of the "special" tourism that goes on in Thailand so you often see beautiful Thai women in the company of western gentlemen.
We enjoyed Patong Beach for three days and then decided to move to Karon Beach (10 kms south of Patong) to see something else. Karon was pretty busy so all we could find for accommodations was 3 nights at the Phulin Resort. Obviously it is more expensive than our earlier rooms but it is worth it and hey, I'm on vacation... Karon is really more up my alley. It is family oriented and much more quiet than Patong Beach. The beach is beautiful with sand that looks and feels like brown sugar mixed with powdered sugar and the water is such a clear blue color. There is also some wave activity, which is more than Patong that didn't have any wave activity at all. It is hard to imagine that they are only 10 kilometers away from each other. Janie and I are both enjoying our time in the sun where we are reading, snoozing and swimming in very beautiful surroundings.
We still have a few days here and then we will be heading north of Phuket Island to eventually go to Krabi.
Hope winter is being good to you in Ontario and Quebec.
We enjoyed Patong Beach for three days and then decided to move to Karon Beach (10 kms south of Patong) to see something else. Karon was pretty busy so all we could find for accommodations was 3 nights at the Phulin Resort. Obviously it is more expensive than our earlier rooms but it is worth it and hey, I'm on vacation... Karon is really more up my alley. It is family oriented and much more quiet than Patong Beach. The beach is beautiful with sand that looks and feels like brown sugar mixed with powdered sugar and the water is such a clear blue color. There is also some wave activity, which is more than Patong that didn't have any wave activity at all. It is hard to imagine that they are only 10 kilometers away from each other. Janie and I are both enjoying our time in the sun where we are reading, snoozing and swimming in very beautiful surroundings.
We still have a few days here and then we will be heading north of Phuket Island to eventually go to Krabi.
Hope winter is being good to you in Ontario and Quebec.
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