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Archive for February, 2007

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the end…for now

Saturday, February 10th, 2007

Wow…I’m home. In NZ, so mundane….everyone told me it would be the same and it really is, all the same. The most exciting new thing is that there is a new subway near my house, and thats not very exciting. I did make it home OK with all my luggage, but somehow managed to leave my tube of paintings in Auckland airport! Luckily they found them and I just need to get them sent down some time. So yeah…home. I will write some big thing about how last year changed my life or something later but right now I’m going to have a nap.

Last stop

Saturday, February 10th, 2007

Last place before home time…scary how things creep up on you. I was pretty much fine until getting on the bus to the airport this morning and since then have been feeling freaked out and shakey…..home…one place. Well actually I don’t have anywhere to live when I get back so it could be a couple more weeks of living out of my pack until I can afford to move to a flat. Anyway Hong Kong, a weird sort of middle country, not really ‘Asia’ but more intense commercialism than anywhere I’d been in the west. Tash had long ago booked us into a 5 star hotel, that’s right 5 star, flasher than any place I’d ever stayed in and it clearly showed as the staff didn’t seem super excited to see me when I stumbled in carrying my pack looking awful after a day in airports. I didn’t quite fit in with suits and suitcases with wheels. But once I’d actually showered and stopped dressing like a backpacking hippy I was treated the same, with extreame politeness and an almost scary attitude of helpfulness. It was great! After the whole year of staying in crusty guesthouses and dorm rooms it was amazing to have staff that wanted to help you. We even had the pool on our floor, a clean bathroom with hot water and cable TV. Of course we spent most of the 3 days sitting around in bed watching TV, which was awesome. Went for a few swims, went to a great market (with shoes!) and window shopped in high class designer shops. We met up with our friend Lisa and some girls with her who had been in the Philippines on a missions trip and we heading home, so cool to be able to see them in Hong Kong, even though we’ll catch up with them this weekend.
We were feeling nice and relaxed (and clean for once) and it was time to go to the airport one last time. One problem though….weight limit.
I’d always wondered how it was possible for people to take that much stuff that they’d actually go over the weight limit, but when looking at all my stuff I was a bit worried. I’d left a bag from India in Hong Kong and once I’d picked that up it was looking doubtful that it was going to happen. I managed to fit everything in my pack, as well as a massive carryon bag that while fit the dimensions, I knew would be over the limit but just hoped it would be OK. So my pack weight 25kgs and she didn’t say anything but then she asked to see my hand luggage…and weighed it. 15kgs. Too heavy she said, but incredibly she let me check it on with out paying any fees. So I checked in 40kgs of luggage, twice the normal limit. I just hope the extra bag survives as it’s a pretty shitty bag from India not made for being thrown around planes. The only problem now is getting on the flight from Auckland to home with all my stuff because we have to recheck our bags in. So on the plane now…will be in NZ in about 8 hours, very scary to think about but don’t think it will hit me until we land.
photos from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand are here:

Vietnam Laos Thailand

Backpacking ground zero

Saturday, February 10th, 2007
There was really only one reason for going to Bangkok and that was to spend whatever little money we had left. Heading straight for Khao San road the ultimate backpacking area in the world we found a cheap cell like ... [Continue reading this entry]

Where’s my passport?

Saturday, February 10th, 2007
So we arrived back in Vientiane with no money, since the only ATM in the country was here we were planning to head straight there. We just had enough money to get a tuk-tuk to a cheap nasty hotel. We ... [Continue reading this entry]

coming home

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
well Ive been getting a bit behind in blogs and actually having my last day of my trip in hong kong. Ill update the last week in thailand on the plane but we are all ready to come home just ... [Continue reading this entry]

Monk Stalking

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
Luang Prabang would have to be one of my favourite spots in Asia, its beautiful and clean, streets are actually paved, its Laos so everyone is friendly. Unfortunately its everyone elses favourite place and we had a tough time finding ... [Continue reading this entry]

Tubing with Friends

Saturday, February 3rd, 2007
After lugging our bags around the small town we settled in at a nice guest house over looking the river. Had a very long lunch break in the sun and walked down to check out some of the caves Van ... [Continue reading this entry]

Vientiane: Country town Capital.

Saturday, February 3rd, 2007
Laos is not a huge country, about 6 million people, but still you think the capital would be more than a few roads and some big banks. It does kind of seem like a small country town and the capital ... [Continue reading this entry]