Chad Is Everywhere

Now you may not know "Bas", or Barry as we know him. But Barry it seems was a busy man. If you ever make it to Ankgor Wat you'll know just how busy Barry was. Because all you'll find is evidence that 'Barry was here'. Bas is everywhere. I never met Bas but he must be important. In fact Bas must have his own charity, because everywhere you go around the side of the building at Angkor Wat you find signs for it, "Bas Relief Galleries". Seeing that there are so many walls with this artwork on them you can only assume he was a bit of a head case after completing them. Indeed Bas would be relieved. I'm just glad Bas had time time finsh the wall. It's just a shame it wasn't always well looked after since Bas left.

Ok. So I'm a week past my trip to Cambodia. But this has given me enough time to review the photos I just snapped in a frenzy. Now as you may recall I found evidence that the builders of Angkor Wat were insane. But just in case my advise didn't sink into the Cambodian Builder I'd like to show you the obvious design flaws and provide free advice. If you find yourself doing this: The steps are 'Too Big'. And when you look at the Computer Automate Design and see this: The steps are 'Too Steep'. And my final tip. If you find the decorative artist spends all his time just creating these on the wall: Send him home. He's been working too hard, and needs to spend less time dreaming, and more time chasing.

In my previous message regarding my blasting of Jetstar Asia I inferred Tuk-tuk drivers are thieves. I was wrong. Moto-riders are criminals. The tuk-tuk riders are not the problem. Well the news of my final night in Phnom Penh for those who did not hear. I was mugged. I'm not going to burden this blog with the evil that beset my trip. Instead I point you to a photo of where there are some spare cells for them. Not far from where they robbed me. The photo is of S21. The famous site of a makeshift prison for those who were persecuted by the Khmer Rouge and Pol-pot. Sadly the cells are of a not so fond time in Cambodian history. But time here would give the moto-riders time to reflect upon their crime. I hated Phnom Penh because of many things. These moto-riders were just another reason. But thanks to their team effort they are now my number one hate in the world at this very moment. Looking at the funny side of the incident. How was I to know that the Cambodian Moto-riders had bought...

Jet Asia... Stupid airline! They're a joke. And their public relations persons should be shot. This morning I checked in at the airport here in Phnom Penh for my flight to Singapore. I paid my departure tax or be it, Cambodian Party member enhancement fund contribution, and went to the boarding lounge. Heck I even managed to send off a postcard or two. Well after an hour of waiting for a start of boarding we get a message. '"Jet Asia wished to advise there will be a delay to the boarding of the flight" Then 15 mintues later, "Jet Asia apologises for the flight delay due to technical difficulties in Siem Reap. We expect to know more in about an hour." (Flight was doing a triangle between Singapore, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh.) We then start to see the first signs of bad news. Some airport guy talking to a tour group. I then overhear something suggesting the fight was being canceled. Finally we get confirmation. Flight canceled until tomorrow. Jet Asia will put...

This is how a guy says hello in Cambodian: "Hello Mister want a Tuk-Tuk" However that seems to be more Angkor Wat. If you're down south it's more: "Hey mister you want a Moto" If it's after dark then it's followed up with "Wanna a girl" Or "Want a smoke"... and I'm a guessing it ain't cigarettes they're offering. Females. Don't stress I've found out how you say hello too. And it's easier. It hardly changes: "Hello mister you want massage". But then again if you're at the beach it changes to: "Hey mister you wanna buy a bracelet". Sadly the comprehension courses in Engrish taught in Cambodian schools is in need of help. What part of "NO" they're not understanding is hard to fathom. And what really gets me is when I say no to mister tuk-tuk driver. Their mate not more than a metre away will repeat the hello script. Leaving thought that the number 2 guy is either deaf, or ...

Here I am in Siem Reap. I made the flight the other day. In the travels of Chad there is no time for resting like tomorrow. Hence I was straight off the flight, dropped off the bag, and straight off to Angkor Wat. Now for the uninitiated, or the culturally ignorant, like me, I won't try to bore you with the Which Po or the Wat Po is that tour. I've no idea. All I knew is I hired a tuk-tuk driver, for the day who cost me $10 that knew the ''small tour' route. Whenever Sarin (as in the gas), my driver, stopped and said get out I did. First port of call was of course Wat Po, the crowning jewel of the whole area. First impression. I'd get a second quote on the renovation job. Whoa! It's gonna take a while. The previously tenants left this place in ruins. Or perhaps that's how they liked it. Second impression going around the sights. When you're looking for a builder of your monument make sure they are clear on the instruction. No use building a monument ...

Just before I ove onto the next blog entry I thought I'd just share a bit more from Kuala Lumpur.

Oh. I forgot to mention. It took me less than 5 minutes to climb the 272 stairs to the top of the batu caves. That's according to the time stamp on my camera. Whoa that was a fair climb...

Yes I'm in Kuala Lumpur. Well the good news is they don't have Koalas here to lump, but needless to say their own discount airline doesn't trust them. Air Asia was tell us all not to steal the life jackets on the plane. Gees... I didn't realise how big an issue it was. It could also explain why you don't get anything on the flight unless you pay. I didn't see the nails in everything, but did notice they do microwave meals for everyone.. I'd say that's a new low in quality of airplane food. The first thing I've noticed about KL. The air quality is poor. Must be those big fans pushing the air out of Beijing for the Olympics. The second thing. Sometimes the owners of businesses chose badly when they pick an English name. That's just poor form. Although this one did get a giggle. Spent today on a half day tour. Out to the countryside. Or well the tour name suggested it was. I'd call it the stop at a major factory, then shops before making it to t...

Yes thats right. Chad is everywhere rides again. This times its a short trip to Malaysia and Cambodia. Thanks to those cheap flight providers. So check for updates after the 9th August 2008.

Open now. Chad's Holiday Fund 2008 To willing subscribers wishing to send me away on a trip. Act now!

There were a few days in between my returning to Bangkok and flying home which I haven't detailed. Thought now I'd share these photos. In summary we have a few photos from this little island day trip I took. It's not the easiest island to get to and hence not on the main tourist trail. Basically you take the ferry as far north as possible. Yes, we're not in Bangkok anymore Dorothy. Then from there you take a cab to this little ferry. And by little I mean tiny. You pay the 2 baht ferry ride across the 30 metre wide river/creek. Anyway this trek is worth the adventure. Basically you get to this island and ride around it. The island is renown for its pottery and other local crafts. We just thought it was cool cause we got to get active on a bike, and ride through water. Of special note was the Temple on the island. No big Budha here. Big Rosters out the front instead. The drinks sold around the island are served in thin clay cups. Silly me thought I could manage to get on...

I know this is the news everyone has been waiting for. I'm home. Arrived very late last night. Now I've go a lot of stuff to sort out.

Think of the most sexually repulsive conversation you've ever had with someone and then multiple it by a billion. That is exactly how I would explain the conversation I had with a Ladyboy as I passed by walking to my hotel in Chiang Mai. I can recall this conversation with upmost accuracy due to its horiffic nature. It went like this: Ladyboy: Excuse me, where you going? Me: To bed. Ladyboy: I come with you. Me: No. Ladyboy: Me suck you. Me: No Ladyboy: Me f^&* you Me: No Ladyboy: Me lick you Me: No Ladyboy: awe, come back mister. And there endth the conversation as I had gone out of range. Whew! Now put this in prospective. The dude, or used to be a dude, still looked and sounded like a dude. Big shoulders can't be hidden when wearing a black cocktail dress. And well make up can only do so much. This was not eye candy. And to my endearing friends, no just because 'beggars can't be choosers' is a theory you may hold with me in jest, there is no c...

Cooking School Goals Chiang Mai Cooking School. that was all I was thinking when I chose Bangkok as a destination on the Round the World ticket. Its a scary thought but I've been wanting to do a Thai Cooking Class for years. I've just never put Thailand at the top of the list of places to visit before. But with an around the world ticket and a city to stop in within Asia, Bangkok won out this time. So for the past few months I've been thinking of how do I complete this goal. Chiang Mai is just 1 hour away from Bangkok. And well things weren't looking too good for it as a destination considering a recent plane crash with a budget airline in Chiang Mai. But I persisted by going with Air Asia and not the 1-2-Go. Otherwise known as 1-2-Explode. Couldn't help but go, considering the flight ticket cost me only 1700 baht or 60 Australian dollars inclusive of taxes. Yeah, gotta love the purchasing power here. Anyway after arriving in Chiang Mai at 8pm the first goa...

Yes thats right I've been to Bangkok. But it was closed. Or well that's what the nice gentlemen on the street kept telling myself and the other hostel people everytime we arrived at the major tourist destinations. These nice gentlemen also seemed to have a great plan of action to take instead. It involved visits to several other 'free' temples, and a cheap tuk-tuk for the day. Unfortunately if you said anything along the lines of I'm thinking of traveling to Chiang Mai you were stopping off at a travel agent. And if you mentioned you wanted to find somewhere to eat, then off course it was off to the tailor for a suit for you. These guys are why there is the saying 'being taken for a ride'. Don't be thinking you can live with the extra stops at the shops for a cheap tuk-tuk. That you can just go in and out of the shop and on your way. The tuk-tuk driver needs his free fuel, so you always had to go back inside for 5 minutes more. It's a shame the ...

If you're in Paris thats exactly what you do. Eat like the French, drink like the French, and be like the French, unless they're rude. Paris we figured to be a great place to meet up again. So Steve (my brother), and friends Darren, and Jason all met here. traveling from different parts of the world. So this is now the 3rd time I've been able to catch up with Daz in Europe, and this time Steve was here too. In retrospect this is still a cool concept however many times I repeat it. Being able to send a message to a friend to say, 'so which country we meeting in this time'. Perhaps you should try it if you've not already. Paris may of been where the World Cup Rugby was being played but somehow we ended up timing the trip to the 4 days where there was no Rugby to be seen. Go figure. But there were people to see, places to do. By the fourth day we were masters of the Paris Metro. Here is just a taste of what we experienced.

I love the Greek Islands. Sure the beaches might not be upto the standard of the ones back home but hey it was more than just the sand there. The islands are a world to themselves. Perhaps this is why when you get there everyone working there seems to have arrived for 2 days and never left. I visited 2 islands. The first being Santorini. The second Ios. My choices were perfect. I had a great time at both. And each brought their own quality to the experience. Santorini was the sights, the food, and the architecture. Ios was my party it up fun nights with lazy beach days. I would go back to both in a heartbeat.

When you get stuck in Athens for an extra day due to high winds canceling ferries to the Greek Islands you do think that the weather is going to be much better the next day. Or well that must of been what I was thinking. Anyway I managed to book a ferry out of Athens on the Monday. First stop Santorini. I chose this island as the first port of call as I figured it was the furtherest island in the Cyclades which I would visit. What a bad call that was. The fast ferries are nice flash looking Catamarans larger than the Brisbane City ferries. You are assigned a seat on the boat, so after taking my seat I thought it would be plain sailing. After all it was only a 4 hour journey. My seat was towards the front, and in the middle. Near the snack bar. As I said it was to be a 4 hour journey. So I couldn't resist. After all nearly everyone else visited the snack bar too. And there in lies my mistake. I looked at the menu and thought, hmmm cheese pie, sounds good. For those uninitiate...