Filed under: Travel Quotes, Travel diary | Tags: Bitches&Cream, Midi sur l'Asie, Travel diary
Right now I’m feeling…
Excited
Scared
Melancholic
Emotional
Curious
Expectative
ALIVE!
A busy week is behind me. I got the Indonesian visa and the travellers cheques, the Malaron which cost me an arm and a leg (!), packed everything or almost, sorted out my stuff, my bedroom, my bank, my phone… I am now leaving in a riot of boxes, clothes, plastic bags and chocolate wrappers! (Thanks Molly for the wonderful, beautiful, best chocolate EVER!)
Last week-end was party week-end: leaving do at 1000Heads followed by a magnificent evening at Canal 125. Quite a few friends braved the cold weather to come and dance to the booty shaking tunes of Bitches&Cream, alias Alina and I. Emotional moments that will stay in history (and on my Flickr account)!
Someone said ‘If you don’t know where you are going, look where you come from’. I’d like to add onto that ‘and look where you’ve been’! Guys, I will be taking these souvenirs of you with me for the ride, thank you for being part of my life and making it so rich! (I’m not talking about the chocolate!)
… I told you I was getting emotional!
—–
La, maintenant, tout de suite, je me sens:
Excitée
Un peu angoissée
Mélancolique
Emue
Curieuse
Dans l’expectation
VIVANTE!
Une semaine bien occupée est derrière moi. J’ai enfin mon visa Indonésien, mes Traveller cheques, le Malaron qui m’a coûté les yeux de la tête (!) fait mon sac, vide ma chambre, fais mes papiers… Je vis maintenant dans un capharnaüm de boites, cartons, vêtements, sacs et papiers de chocolat (Merci Molly pour le fabuleux, merveilleux, magnifique, meilleur chocolat du monde!)
Le week-end dernier était ‘party week-end’: pot de départ de chez 1000Heads suivi d’une soirée d’exception au canal 125 ou plusieurs amis avaient brave le froid pour venir danser sur le son de Bitches&Cream, alias Alina et moi. Moments d’émotion qui resteront graves dans l’histoire (et aussi sur mon compte Flickr)!
Quelqu’un a dit ‘Si tu ne sais pas où tu vas regarde d’où tu viens’. J’aimerai ajouter a cela ‘regarde ou tu es allé’ J’emmènerai ces souvenirs – et vous avec – dans mes aventures. Merci de faire partie de ma vie et de la rendre si riche! (Et je ne parle pas du chocolat!)
… Je vous avais dit que je devenais un peu fleur bleue!
Filed under: Indonesia, Travel Tips | Tags: Bali, Midi sur l'Asie, travel guide
Bali is a small volcanic island located between the islands of Java and Lombok, one of the 17.000 islands that make up the Indonesian Archipelago. With a reputation as being one of the most beautiful and diverse tourist spots in Asia, Bali attracts almost 1,000,000 visitors a year, from all around the world although it appears that the recent tragic events have scared away many visitors.
Bali owe its success to its famed white-sand beaches, the surf, and stunning sunsets that you can watch from your deck chair with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other. The annual average temperature is 28°C. (he he! I’ll be coming from London where the average temperature a year is 2°C!)
I have been told that this may not be the best place to stay due to the high number of tourists but, since it’s my first stop in Asia and a key milestone in my trip, I thought I would tell you – and discover myself in the meantime – the must do in Bali.
According to TravellingSqueak on Trip advisor, the lake Badur is a must do. If you manage to find your way down to the lake, the view is astonishing and there aren’t many tourists to bother you. You can also do some canoe surrounded by mountains and feel like you are inside a giant volcanic crater. You can even climb the volcano at night. Stéphanie, another frenchi give her little advice: Avoid the big restaurant with view and go to eat in a little “warung”. It’s cheap and the view is the same. I’ve got no idea what a “warung” is…
Bali is also renowned for its beautiful Hindu and Chinese temples. The Bukit Sari, the Pura Tanah and the Pura Kehen with its little monk’s tree houses are three of the numerous temples I have noticed for their beautiful architecture and their location (The Pura Tanha has been built in the sea, see picture!). There is also the Tirta Empul temple with its legendary pond said to have magical healing powers.
You can also dive and surf in Bali. I am sure there are another 10 million things to do in Bali but frankly, I think my two first days will be all about chilling on a beach, applying sun cream every 10 minutes and drinking coconut cocktails in my deck chair…
From my flatmate Theo:
“Take Malaron, at least 2 of them. That’s the one thing I won’t get over there.”
According to Wikipedia, Malaria are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. The parasites multiply within the red blood cells, causing symptoms that include anemia (light headedness, shortness of breath, tachycardia etc.), as well as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and in severe cases, coma and death.
Right.
Memo for the future: Add Mosquito repellent to my packing list
Asian Tiger Mosquito by smccann – Scary!
Filed under: Travel diary | Tags: Midi sur l'Asie, South East Asia, Travel diary
So, this is it then. This where it all starts. I have made an attempt to write a blog before but I’ve got to say I haven’t been very good at keeping it alive for very long!
Last week I went to ask my boss if I could take a 3 months sabbatical and come back afterwards. He said yes, but only if I created an awful lot of WOM. Hum hum… An awful lot of WOM… Awful, for sure, a lot, not so sure…
I’m working for a Social Media agency. We work with our clients to help them promoting their brand and products within the Social Media sphere. My daily duties consist in reading blogs and forum threads and encouraging people to write about one thing or the other and improve their online presence. I know the theory, but advisers run no risks, and I’m not escaping the old adage. I dread the white page and I never know where to start. When I was 14, I wanted to write a book about my life and someone asked me why did I think someone would be interested, why would people read about my ventures and find them interesting? Well I don’t know, you tell me! Why do people read blogs every day? I could tell you all about the theory here but at the end of the day, that’s the story itself that keeps people returning to your blog. And I think I have the basics for a good story here so I’ll give it a try and if no-one but my family and colleagues read it well, fuck it! Excuse my French but, hey, it had to be said.
So yes, that’s where it all starts. Wish me luck and please, please come, comment, shout, share your ideas, your tips and opinions, this blog has been created for this very purpose.
