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First day in Paradise 

/ brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

Our plane flight was short. An hour and half. The view on arrival was promising. Blue and calm  Let the Trek begin!

We were met by the Swim Trek guides, Kelly and Marlys, and settled into the airport outdoor seating area to await some fellow swimmers. The temperature is warm and slightly humid but less than we’ve been experiencing in Brisbane!  The ‘girlguides’ Kelly and Marlys filled us in on the plan for the day. Then we met Fernando – a local Marine Biologist who will be giving us all the naturalist details on the animal life. He’s a gem. And gorgeous to look at and listen to. Very expressive face.

Unfortunately some of the flights delivering fellow swimmers were late, but it gave us plenty of time to get to know some of the others. Alex, a sweet but whip-smart girl from London; followed by Bill, who happens to be Simon (Mr Swim Trek)’s father. Then sisters, funny friendly Lynn and Lois from New York;and Joe an Australian teacher working in Beijing. Then lovely Betty from California. By 12.30 we were more than ready to head of to meet the others, who sensibly had arrived a day early. It was lunch on the Giant tortoise farm followed by a walk through the tortoise habitat.  So over a delicious fish lunch we met Rebecca from London; Barry – smiling Canadian; Roly and Andrew – paediatrician friends from London;and Trish – a Colombian living in Atlanta. Our group is complete.

Our walk through the tortoise habitat was great. Fernando is a wealth of knowledge and after lots of questions from our group we felt we knew a little or a lot about tortoises.  Off to our hotel, we quickly checked in and headed off for our first swim.  The hotel is back from the water and has the usual number of stairs to climb to keep us fit. Our room is clean,  big and has a veranda for all our wet things. Only downside is the wifi is only down 2 flights of stairs in reception. So posting here is haphazard. We are so busy.

The first swim was at a beach nearby and we had to hurry as the beach is closed by 6pm. It’s a National Park so there is no concession given to those who want a late swim! I tried to impress with my swimming but I’m still slow! But I’m in good company. We seem to be similar speeds overall. So the trek will be great.  It’s not a competition. We are here to observe, we are told and you better believe it. There is much to see.   Dinner was great so  off to bed. Swim tomorrow. Bring it on.

Hopping around Santiago 

/ brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

Whoever thought of the Hop on Hop off bus had the ‘time challenged’ and foot weary traveller in mind. 
We started the day with a sleep in. We were so tired after our long flight the previous day. So around nine we went to the lovely breakfast room and had a great omelet. 
Then it was a wander though the quiet streets. A typical Spanish trait is to party late and not get going till noon. So we had the quiet cobbled streets to ourselves. There are a few interesting styles of architecture in this city but the area we are in , Bellavista, is old style, some timber, painted brick and lots of murals on walls.  

 
Our first stop was Pablo Neurda’s house La Gazetta. It’s his alternate house where he could take his mistress, away from the gaze of the cities eyes. It butts up again the hill we were going to visit later. It’s painted blue and has an interesting assortment of pictures. That’s as much as we saw as we decided we didn’t have time to wander around the house itself reading the translations. 
We headed along the narrow, shaded road and went to buy tickets to the funicular. An unusually tall Santiagoan ( is that what they are called?) helped us and we bought tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus for after our visit up the hill of San Cristobel. 

   
 
The funicular was old and a little rickety but zipped up the steep rise and delivered us to a large paved area overlooking the city. Great views. Considering we were on the first funicular the area had quite a number of people. Their clothes gave them away. Lycra, worn by the fit around the world, announced them as Santiagos cyclists and runners. The hill provides the challenge. 
There were more steps to climb to reach the large white statue of the Madonna as she looked out across the city. It was a quiet peaceful area with a large outdoor altar with terraced seating for outdoor masses and then a small pretty Chapel nearby. 
We returned down the hill and got the bus. It’s commentary was very good providing us with all the details you need when in a new city. It’s also a great way to see places you wouldn’t get to on your own in just one day. We got off only once as we had visited some of the more interesting buildings the day before on our walking tour. 
Lunch got us off and we struggled to find a restaurant with people in it. Lots of nice ones but we were a little ahead of the lunch crowd. It was 12.45 so I guess most people were only waking up. We didn’t like the idea of being the only people in a restaurant. We found one that filled the bill and the stomach.  

 
We hopped back on for a further look at the city including a stop at a very large shopping centre before heading back toBellavista feeling very pleased that the area we Jhansi stayed in. Thank you Fi from Mahjong for the suggestion. In fact all your suggestions were great. We just needed more time. 
I’m now writing this on the plane a five hour flight to Guayaquil the first stop on our way to Galapagos. We have a quick night there before an 8 am flight tomorrow. 
We’ll be very pleased to get there. 

Santiago 

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

Whoever thought of the Hop on Hop off bus had the ‘time challenged’ and foot weary traveller in mind.

We started the day with a sleep-in. We were so tired after our long flight the previous day. So around nine we went to the lovely breakfast room and had a great omelet.

Then it was a wander though the quiet streets. A typical Spanish trait is to party late and not get going till noon. So we had the quiet cobbled streets to ourselves. There are a few interesting styles of architecture in this city but the area we are in, Bellavista, is old style, some timber, painted brick and lots of murals on walls.

Our first stop was Pablo Neurda’s house La Chascona. It’s his alternate house where he could take his mistress,  away from the gaze of the cities eyes. It butts up against the hill we were going to visit later. It’s painted blue and has an interesting assortment of pictures. That’s as much as we saw as we decided we didn’t have time to wander around the house itself reading the translations.

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The Madonna on San Cristobal

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The llama at the gate to the funicular.

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The view from San Cristobal

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Amazing murals on the walls of Santiago.

We headed along the narrow, shaded road and went to buy tickets to the funicular. An unusually tall Santiagoan ( is that what they are called?) helped us and we bought tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus for after our visit up the hill of San Cristobal.

The funicular was old and a little rickety but zipped up the steep rise and delivered us to a large paved area overlooking the city. Great views. Considering we were on the first funicular the area had quite a number of people. Their clothes gave them away. Lycra, worn by the fit around the world, announced them as Santiagos cyclists and runners. The hill provides the challenge.

There were more steps to climb to reach the large white statue of the Madonna as she looked out across the city. It was a quiet peaceful area with a large outdoor altar with terraced seating for outdoor masses and then a small pretty Chapel nearby.

We returned down the hill and got the bus. It’s commentary was very good providing us with all the details you need when in a new city. It’s also a great way to see places you wouldn’t get to on your own in just one day. We got off only once as we had visited some of the more interesting buildings the day before on our walking tour.

Lunch got us off and we struggled to find a restaurant with people in it. Lots of nice ones but we were a little ahead of the Saturday lunch crowd. It was 12.45 so I guess most people were only waking up. We didn’t like the idea of being the only people in a restaurant. We found one that filled the bill and the stomach.

We hopped back on for a further look at the city including a stop at a very large shopping centre before heading back toBellavista feeling very pleased at the area we stayed in. Thank you Fi from Mahjong for the suggestion. In fact all your suggestions were great. We just needed more time.

I’m now writing this on the plane – a five hour flight to Guayaquil, the first stop on our way to Galapagos. We have a quick night there before an 8 am flight tomorrow.

We’ll be very pleased to get there.

More photos coming!!!!!

Hola from Santiago

/ brisbanefrannie / 8 Comments

A new country always brings anticipation and excitement. Would Santiago be what I imagine?

Our flight across was very good though an hour late getting away so an hour late arriving. Even so our driver booked online was waiting for us and chatted away on our way to the hotel.

First impressions of Santiago: Not as big as I thought it would be, grey & smokey sky, big roads with not too much traffic, dry grasses, big hills –  mountains by our standards, entertainment at the traffic lights, lots of street art, a little river running extremely fast, parks everywhere and a general feeling of laid back attitude.

We hit the ground running. I had booked a walking tour for 3pm and we only got to the hotel at 2 !

Our hotel the Il Tinto Boutique Hotel –  http://www.tintoboutiquehotel.com is well located in the Bellavista area,  a rather arty,  restaurant area opposite the main areas of Santiago. So we dropped our bags and  checked out the room – very nice black and white decor and overlooked the pool area. There was a commercial being shot around the pool so lucky we didn’t want a swim! We headed off to meet our walking tour guide.

Busking at the traffic lights – Santiago style

It’s the Free Walking Tours Co. Better known as Tips for Tours. You pay what you think they are worth at the end of the tour. There were about 15 in our group with a young local girl as our guide. About half the group were Australian including a couple from Newmarket (near us !) who also have a place at Caloundra.

We walked for about 2 1/2 hours and got a feel for the city and what it has to offer. I was surprised at how traffic-free the inner city area was – compared to other big cities. There are some lovely public buildings some of which were designed by Italian architects.

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This time of year is usually still hot and until today the weather had been over 33. Today with the cloud cover it was a comfortable 27 which was great for walking. And walk we did so that by 5.30 we were getting tired and hungry. We had missed lunch after getting in late and heading straight out, so we found one of the many bars and I had my first Pisco Sour. Delightful and refreshing and probably very alcoholic! So to help we shared a plate of cheeses and meats. Delicious.

I’ll include the description and recipe here so you can try one at home.

A pisco sour is an alcoholic cocktail of Peruvian origin that is typical of the cuisines from Chile and Peru, considered also a South American classic.

Ingredients: 1 oz Lemon Juice, 1 Egg white, 1 1/2 oz Pisco, 3/4 oz Simple syrup.

   Preparation: Vigorously shake and strain contents in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then pour into glass and garnish with bitters.

Happy New Year

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

The passing of one year and the beginning of another gives us the chance to look back, reflect and then begin again.

Would I change things?

Last year was wonderful in many ways but so hard in others.

We faced all kinds of challenges. A swim trek in Montenegro where I swam long distances so much more confidently and made a whole new group of friends.

The weekends away with my gorgeous friends  to Byron Bay and to Sunshine Beach –  the bonds of many years being reinforced.

Our family visits to Sydney to my beautiful sister and her fun loving  children and grandchildren. Two family weddings

Visits and a wedding with Steve’s sister and her children. So many laughs together.

Lots  of lovely weekends at the coast with Rob and Jordan.

Then the accident. A life changer.

But it made me realise how important family and friends are to our life. Without our family and friends it would have been so much harder.

Just to recall the messages- emails, texts, phone calls, received during those weeks in Cambodia and Bangkok. It makes us feel gratitude.

The hugs, the food, the offers of help – all so appreciated.

The way Peter’s friends, our friends, acquaintances and complete strangers donated money to try and make life a little easier for he and Elena. It was a little overwhelming.

The quickly organised Brisbane wedding where everyone rallied offering help  for the wedding party.

The trip to Cambodia for the wedding. It all turned out as they had planned. Such a happy momentous occasion.

So we move into 2017 recharged after our holiday at the beach: swimming , chatting on the beach and driving around in the new mini moke. This year has plenty on offer.

Travel, family occasions, fun things with friends, another family wedding in Sydney and a new leg and new life for Peter and Elena.

What do we want this year? We just want good health for all.

Where did a week go?

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Its now a week since the wonderful Cambodian wedding.

Such great memories of a great occasion.


The girls spa. Great fun.

Villa Vedici. A great place for a group to stay. A pool, air con, a bar! , restaurant. A bad road in but who cares!



The morning wedding. Special


Two beautiful strong girls in our boys lives. Elena with Steve and Jordan with me. Lucky us.  
Loved having some friends  and relatives from Peters childhood join us. We are all fans of a Cambodian wedding!



The trip down the river was a wonderful way to arrive at Greenhouse.


Rob and Jordan and cousin Clare came from Australia to celebrate. 
In the afternoon the bride arrived by boat. She was radiant. A friend played a ukulele. Peter beamed.  
It was wonderful having my sister and her daughter Clare join Svetlana, Elena’s mum at the wedding.

All the ladies had a ball.

The next day was recovery day at Kep. We indulged in Pepper crab a local speciality.

Yum!

So we welcome our new daughter in law and her mother Svetlana.

Now we are at the beach. Recovery time for us. Pete and Elena are still in Cambodia for a few weeks and Rob and Jordan are in Vietnam for another two weeks.

What a month.

The celebrations continue

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I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by people who help me celebrate. 

Though it would have been good to have Rob, Jordan sister Catherine and our other friends here. They all arrive tomorrow so perhaps the celebrations will continue. 

After my little cake party by the staff at Villa Savonna we headed off to Nicks place Che Culo for yet another Aperol Spritz. I wore a lovely dress loaned to me by a friend and topped it off with a beautiful necklace – a birthday gift from Steve. It’s a Cambodian sapphire drop. Really pretty. Note it in the picture with Elena and her beautiful mum. 

 
I’m also wearing a gift from Elena. A watch for sport! I just have to work out how to use it! 

After our drink we headed off in a convoy of tuk tuks to Lost Room. A very apt name as you can certainly get lost in the lane and narrow alley ways. It reminded me of the hutongs in Beijing. 

The food was great. So was the company. Along with us were Pete’s friend Neil and Charli Pollard. 

 
We ate and drank some fantastic food. The owner a woman from Brisbane was a great hostess and Elena Evan planned a small cake. So I got to blow out another candle. How lucky am I to get a second lot of wishes. 

  
I’ll bet most of you can guess what I wished for!!

Make a guess in the comments box at the end! 

Wedding Night

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It seems like the longest wedding ever. After a beautiful traditional morning ceremony we boarded the boat for the hour long trip up the river.

Women guests were dressed in floaty dress and the men – on the whole in shorts. It was warm. Too warm for the lovely jacket Elena had planned for Peter.

 


We arrived to cheering and Nick , Peter’s friend and MC ( or the ‘Party Planner ‘ as Rob called him) , pulled the boat to shore.


  

Elena was still circling in her boat waiting for the groom to arrive before we could start. Finally the groom was ready and she landed along with her mother and brother-  to loud cheers.


She looked beautiful in her third wedding outfit! Brisbane, Cambodian dress and today a lace dress. What a stunning Bride. She glowed.

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The ceremony began on the little beach. Rob, Pete’s younger brother was the celebrant. He made it clear he wasn’t qualified for the job but as they had already been officially married in Brisbane three weeks ago he was leading a symbolic ceremony.

He proved to be a  wonderful celebrant. I think he’s missed his calling. He was funny, sincere and had researched aspects of a Russian wedding we didn’t know existed. Elena certainly did though and it was lovely.


  
Vows were exchanged. Then the Russian tradition of biting into bread. The one who takes the biggest bit will be the one who wears the pants in the marriage.

 
I leave you to guess.

With the official part of the wedding over it was time for the party to begin.


So up to the deck, the champagne corks popped, the food appeared , the conversation flowed and we all relaxed and enjoyed the Cambodian wedding.


During the night MC Nick introduced the speakers. First up was Svetlana Elena’s beautiful mum. She speaks Russian and Italian but very little English. Yet she had prepared a speech in English! Wonderful. She is such a lovely lady and we are happy to welcome her to our family.



Steve followed later with a speech partly in Russian. What a feat!


Finally Pete who spoke from the heart. He was beaming but got quite emotional as he thanked everyone for their love and support.

 

Cambodian wedding

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Experiencing  a wedding in a different country is an special thing. Elina and Peter wanted to begin their wedding day in a traditional Cambodian way. 

  
We thought it was to be a dawn – but the monks said that was too early ! 

So at 7 am our party of 15, staying together at Villa Vedici, boarded a small boat for the hour long journey up river. By tuk tuk it’s about a half hour but by water it’s very beautiful. 

  
We passes simple wooded huts and fishing boats and sat in the early morning sun until Greenhouse came into view. They had set up and area under the deck by the river and a small Cambodian band were making music. 

We went to the top deck for coffee and then when the monks arrived made our way to the area set aside for us. 

  
Family  sat either side of The bride and groom. Svetlana and El’s brother Eugenie and Steve and myself. 

  
The monks began their chanting. It went on and on. We held our hands in prayer position and almost entered a meditative state. 

  
We were blessed with water then after about half and hour it appear to be ove but we needed the offering to the monks. Money in an envelope. One for each monk and one for the facilitator. 

It ended to loud claps from the friends and we headed back upstairs for the breakfast. 

  
Back to the hotel by tuk tuk for a swim, lunch and a little sleep. We need to regain our energy for the second wedding this afternoon. 

  
And so the celebrations continue. And why not! 

  

Friends Gather in Phnom Penh

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Excitement is mounting. 

Today I organised multiple pickups from the airport. Friends and relatives started to arrive from Siem Reap and Australia. 

Catherine and David, the Brannocks and the Chisholms. Later Steve’s sister Marg. 

We frocked up and headed off to Raffles Hotel with Mr Smiley in his tuk tuk, for a high tea to celebrate the start of Elena’s hen day. 

The men headed off for the bucks night. It started with a BBQ at the local AFL footy captains home. Then onto who know what. I just hope someone keeps an eye on Pete! 

Pete played for the local Cambodian Eagles until the accident so he’s missing being part of the action. 



Very civilised high tea along with the most expensive cocktail in PP! 

Friends of Elenas- all Nationalities – some living here,  some arrived from India, Australia the Phillipines. All gathered to celebrate with this beautiful bride 


‘The older members of the group didn’t continue on to the sunset cruise. We had others to meet at the hotel. Clare, my sisters daughter and Jan , a cousin were arriving for dinner. 


We experienced the local BBQ restaurant where we ate and ate , drank beer and wine and it cost us $12 head! 

I’m wondering how the bride and groom are holding up after their big night! 

Today Rob and Jordan and her parents Lisa and John arrive and head straight to the Killing Fields. They’ll probably run into the group from here going out for a visit to his very sad place. 

More excitement later today. 

These international weddings are a bit of a marathon! But so much fun. 


The tree at Raffles reminded us that it’s also very close to Christmas. Hope you are all ready ! Shopping done? Presents wrapped?