A-Z of New Zealand

A

Android - My travel companion. She is mostly human-shaped and to the unknowing eyes, just another regular girl in the world. But no! She is kerrr-razzy and comes unhinged in the heat. Also goes by the codename, 'Charm' or the 'Chazmeister'.
Aotearea - The Maori name for New Zealand; 'The Land of the White Cloud'. While I was there, New Zealand was having the best summer in a whole lotta years. Warm sun and little clouds meant perfect vacation weather!

B
BBH - Budget Backpackers Hostel is a network of backpackers and travelers accommodation that runs throughout both islands of New Zealand. The card costs NZ$45 and lasts for a year. What it gets you is a 20 minute phone card as well as NZ$3 off every BBH accommodation, and frankly, the ones we stayed at were really quite nice.
Bluff Hill @ Napier - A short hill climb that gives way to gorgeous views of the Port of Napier as well as the Napier city shoreline. According to the Droid, it would be a good place for 'parking'. I wholly agree.
Bus - is how we got around the island. Intercity bus lines, with routes to almost every city, offer a Flexipass option which allows you to buy blocks of travel time for discounted prices. Just ring up the hot line at least 24 hours before the bus ride and you're all set to go! The service is quite reliable, if stodgy at times. It's always a treat to get an awesome bus driver who offers commentary or smoke breaks.

C

Cape Reinga - where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meets. What ensues are huge waves of up to 3-5 meters tall.

Cathedral Cove @ Whitianga - is two gorgeous beaches joined through a hole in the mountain. The surf is great, the water is cold and the hole is massive. Smiles all around!

Central Plateau - is a mountainous region that includes 3 mountains that either were or still are active volcanoes - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. The latter (the middle in the picture) is most famous for playing host to the evil lairs of Sauron (Mt Doom) in the Lord of the Rings movie. (See T; Tongariro Crossing)
Child - see A; Android.
Contentment - is sitting on a hammock in Paihia with sunlight filtering through the leaves gently tickling your visual senses as a light cool breeze rustles leaves, creating the soundtrack to the perfect moment.

D
Dalmatians - is what the people who arrive off the Coast of Dalmatia - Yugoslavia, Croatia etc. are referred to by the Northlanders. Wow, that was one really awkward sentence.
Devonport - lovely town located a ferry ride away from Auckland. Round trip ticket will set you back by NZ$15.
Discrimination – see Z; Zorb.

Dolphins - we encountered a swarm/cod/school/wholebunchof (?) of dolphins while on the way to view the Hole in the Rock (see H). It was honestly quite a thrill. ‘So long and thanks for all the fish’ indeed!
Donor Kebab @ Horomotangi St, Taupo - best Middle Eastern food ever! Well, maybe that title might be challenged in Middle East itself, but in New Zealand, they've got the awards to back up that claim. The food is decently priced to boot.

E
Eczema cure ? - At Paihia, I bumped into a man from South Africa who shared his wisdom concerning curing eczema. Apparently the mixture of butter and sulphur makes for a wonderful healing ointment. So when I came across volcanic sulphur soap at White Island, I decided to give that dude a shot. As of now, I have yet to run out of my current soap, so the experimenting hasn't begun. I figured butter was optional in that equation.

Eden, Mt @ Auckland - a mere NZ$3.20 bus ride from the Auckland city centre, the extinct volcano provides lovely views of Auckland that Sky Tower cannot. From the top of Mangawhau (the Maori name), you will be able to look at the other two volcanic cones - One Tree Hill and Auckland Domain. Caution: Beware of cow poop!
Eugoogly #1 - 11/01/08; Sir Edmund Hillary, the explorer passes. New Zealand is in mourning.
Eugoogly #2 - 17/01/08; Brad Renfro, the child actor/addict passes. I go into mourning.
Eugoogly #3 - 18/01/08; While at Taupo, just 200 meters from where we were staying (Rainbow Lodge; see R), a 24 year old Scottish woman, Karen Aim, was mysteriously bludgeoned to death. When I left, the case was still pending.
Eugoogly #4 - 24/01/08; Heath Ledger, the actor passes. The world is shocked.

F
Fish & chips - Quite possibly New Zealand's most famous export behind the All Blacks, Kathmandu and sheep-related products.
Fry bread - a local treat bought at Kuirau Park Flea Market. The dough is a cross between a donut and banana bread. Add butter and/or golden syrup for a sugary treat and you've got yourself lunch!

G

German Angora rabbits @ Waitomo - aka Giant Fluffball of Itch-inducing Soft Angora Hair. Sheared daily at the The Shearing Shed at Waitomo. Also available there are, surprise, angora-related products - jumpers, beanies, whathaveyouse.

Gisborne - the first city in the world to see the sun. The town is surf happy and sun is a-plenty. Also the first place Captain Cook landed on when he discovered New Zealand.
Golden Compass, The - for all its awkward dialogue and exposition, the film delivered much more than I expected. Sufficient seeds were planted so that the following sequels will be fairly entertaining. Watched while waiting for the bus as Whakatane.
Government Gardens @ Rotorua - start at the historic Prince's Gate Arch and walk around the marked trail that leads to among other places, the Rotorua Museum, the historic Blue Baths as well as the perfectly manicured lawns of the Rotorua Croquet Club.

H
Hero - 18/01/08; the Chazmeister aka Android aka My Indentured Servant fetched me my watch that I had left behind in the showers.

Hole in the Rock - Quite literally. The King's Bay of Island tour will take you out there for $115. Along the way, you will most probably see dolphins and even swim with them if conditions are right.
Hot Water Beach @ Whitianga - Through the forces of Magic! (nature), the sand is warm. Dig a hole, settle in and you've got your own mini spa pool. Note: the water is cold. Hence, make-shift spa pool will turn cold upon contact with water.
Huka Falls @ Taupo - a 2.8 km walk (1 hr each way) from the city centre, the walk will take you across a thermal park (really just hot water gushing from a small falls) to the Huka Falls footbridge. You will be able to witness the force of the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river along the way.

I

Insanity - jumping off 12,000 ft from an airplane and paying $220 to do so! Skydive Taupo will pick you up in a fancy limousine as you head to partake in said insanity.
Islands - On my trip, I learned that New Zealand isn't just made up of a North and South. There are in fact a whole bunch of teeny little islands as well as the Strait Islands.
It by Stephen King - my trusty companion. I expected my favourite book to last the whole trip but I unfortunately finished it off in 8 days. As a result, there were blank gaps that Mills & Boon desperately wished to fill, but my sanity prevailed.

J
Juno Hall @ Waitomo - solid BBH backpackers that have extremely great staff service. Outside in the garden is a trampoline that I took full advantage of too!
Just the Duck Nuts @ Tauranga - Although located a little away from the city central, the awesome place is totally worth the distance. The complimentary pick up/drop off by Sandra, the lovely and generous host, is a total plus. Quaint atmosphere - straight out of a storybook!
. Seriously.

K
Kauri forest - long destroyed, the Kauri trees were once formidable native trees of the North Island. Seriously, they're massive for inexplicable reasons (I don't know why) the forests went extinct. However, scavengers have discovered the remains of the trees under a bog that are still in perfect condition.

Kiwibird - is nocturnal! And can sleep up to 16 hours! All that we found out when we entered a Kiwi enclosure on a clear, hot, sunny day.
Kiwifruit - were once named Chinese Gooseberries. That, I didn't know.
Kuirau Park @ Rotorua - a park located a couple of blocks from the city centre that should be visited by all. One, it offers a good free experience with underground thermal activity - mud pools and steaming lakes. No geysers unfortunately. Two, free warm water public baths for the desperate! On Saturdays, there is a flea market where you can eat to your heart's content fry bread (see F)

L
Language - in Maori, vowels are very pronounced and 'Wh-' is pronounced 'fa'. So Whakatane is not 'wa-ka-tane', but 'fa-ka-ta-ne', as the nice lady on the Intercity hotline explained, while trying hard not to laugh. Whatsthedamnurl..saving you from public embarrassment since 2004!
Llyod's Lodge @ Whakatane - a gorgeous house set a 10 m stroll from town with all the charm of a B&B. Pam, the host, is ever friendly and the chilled out vibe befits those who are looking for some down time. BBH hostel as well.

M

Manganui, Mt @ Tauranga - a 282 meter hill that offers awesome 360 panoramic views of Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. The walk up is slightly reminiscent to that scene in A Knight's Tale with Alan Tudyk, "Pain? Take the pain!" The surf is great there so after a hard walk up, jump right in the ocean and catch a wave!
Mid-summer murders - Strangely, it appears that come every summer, a spate of eerie murders happen in New Zealand. Ranging from dead babies to finding bodies in rivers, as of January 2008, there has been 9 such tragedies.

N
Naked Bus - No. Not that kind of bus. The company offers cheap direct transportation in between main city centres. Check online website to make bookings: nakedbus.com

Napier - the Art Deco town of New Zealand, according to Lonely Planet. What exactly is 'Art Deco'? Well, I gathered that it refers to the style and architecture from the 1930s. Napier, the town is highly likely to be haunted as a strong earthquake leveled the town in 1931.
Ninety Mile Beach - located at the north of the North Island. Note: The beach is really only 64 km in length.

O
One Tree Hill - the volcanic cone in Auckland, not the terribly teenage soap on CW. Should really be called One Obelisk Hill. The lone tree atop that hill got chopped down a couple years ago because of disease. All that stands now is an obelisk.

P
Pak & Save - super cheap, super great, supermarket. (Did that work?) Located at most central cities it is the cheapest of all supermarkets. We've done our research,
Pickled Parrot's Backpackers Lodge @ Paihia - comes highly recommended. [BBH hostel]

Pohutukawa tree - Commonly referred to as New Zealand's 'Christmas tree', these gorgeous flowers bloom in the summer months and brighten up the landscape with its cheery red flowers.

Q
Quaint - . Yeap. A cowboy in the empty store.

R
Rainbow Lodge Backpackers @ Taupo - New Zealand's first custom built backpackers. It is very efficiently managed and while the distance isn't the most convenient, the great facilities and custom built lodge makes for a perfect accommodation. Plus, free pick up! [BBH hostel]

Rotorua - Sulphur city! Due to underground thermal activity, the strong smell of sulphur permeates the air (and I strongly suspect, will cause the town to fall into itself). The town is also building up to be an action-packed town to rival the likes of Queenstown. Note: The Lonely Planet guide book suggests a walk that is very beneficial to the roving tourist! Rotorua embraces its Maori roots and it's one of the best places to view a cultural performance.

S
Sand Safari @ Kaitaia - highly recommended tour company that takes you out to 90 Mile Beach and the Cape Reinga light house (see C). For NZ$60, you buy yourself a friendly and super informative bus driver, lunch. the sights and a chance to go sand tobogganing.
Sand tobogganing - at Te Paki with Sand Safaris. It's all fun and games until you take a massive face plant and end up with a mouth full of sand.
Surfing with Frank @ Gisborne - NZ$45 will get you lessons, wetsuit and surfboard rental. Frank, who has the laidback airs of a surfer dude, is very friendly and helpful. While the lesson is easy enough to understand, standing up is a whole different thing. The next day, your arms will be hurting something bad, and that's a promise!

T
Taupo - True fact: the size of Lake Taupo is approximately the size of Singapore! Skydiving at Taupo is one of the cheapest and safest in the world with up to 35,000 jumps every year.

Te Puia @ Rotorua - Take the activity shuttle from iSite Rotorua for a small fee and enter the thermal underground with mud pools and a very reliant geyser, Pohutu, erupting regularly 2-3 times every hour. The entrance fee, NZ$50 includes a guided tour, entrance to the Kiwi Enclosure and a cultural performance.
Theme of the month - L for Love!
Tongariro Crossing - located at the National Village, 11/2 hours outside of Taupo, the crossing is often described as New Zealand's 'best one day hike'. It spans 18.5 km (roughly 7-8 hours) and covers the Central Plateau (see C). The hike gives you a chance to view the wild and varied flora of the mountains as well as observe the thermal activity that runs throughout the three mountains. The terrain is rocky and ill-advised for those with knee problems.

U
Unbelievable - the sensation of seeing Lake Taupo at a height of 12,000 ft.

Unfortunate - on the day we did the Tongariro Crossing, the weather was abysmal. Strong winds and mist meant no clear view from the top. Thankfully on our descent, the weather cleared up and we got pretty sweet views of the rest of the mountain.

V
Very NZ -

W

Wai-O-Tapu @ Rotorua - deemed a 'thermal wonderland' by the advertising branch of the company, it certainly lives up to the hype. The Champagne Pool should not be missed, doubly so for the strangely green waters of Devil's Path. NZ$27.50 entrance.
Wellington - New Zealand's capital! Highlights include Cuba Mall (Pegasus Books), the Te Papa National Museum, the $2 return Cable Car Ride that gives you panaromic views of Wellington and Old St Paul's - a grand old church that is so old it is made out of wood.

White Island - New Zealand's only marine volcano is located 49 km off Whakatane. A 6 hour eco-adventure tour with PeeJay may be pricey at $160 but the trip is pleasant, guides are experienced and lunch is provided. Come on. Where else can you say you've toured an active volcano? www.whiteisland.co.nz

X

X-treme! - Caving, also known as spleunking to you American English people. We begin by abseiling 100m down into the cave and from then on it’s an adrenaline packed adventure as we climbed rocks, jumped off cliffs, met the local fauna (glow worms, spiders, eels) and even saw a fossil of a whale! We went for the 7 hour epic adventure with Waitomo Adventures at Waitomo. It's quite hard to describe the majesty of the lush and untouched environment in the caves. I suppose it’s as close as I'll ever get to naturalness of our primitive forefathers.

Y

Young boarders - were riding their hearts out at the Wellington skate park. Bless their little fearless hearts!

Z
Zen – the state of mind as you float along down in a parachute from a height of 3,000 ft.

Zorb – The closest you’ll ever get to being a bubble boy/girl! Either roll down strapped down to the ball or in a water-filled ball. The Droid will attest that the water option is a barrelful of giggles. Note: To select the strapped down option, one needs to be at least 1.6 meters tall. Even if you’re a wee bit off by 0.5 and reeking of desperation, the kind operators at Zorb Rotorua will still politely tell you to piss off. Discrimination, I cry!

Falling. With Style.

Since everyone keeps asking, here's my take on skydiving:

---

@ Taupo: 18/01/08

Today I flew.

Not much like a bird, or a flying squirrel, or even Superman. No, not quite.

What I technically did was fall. Fall with style.

I fell from a height of 12,000 feet bound to Eric, the dive master, and all that kept me from inevitable death was a bunch of nylon straps and some cloth. Oh, humans and their nifty contraptions!

This morning I had psyched myself up so much to the point where I had filled my stomach with fear and nervousness. At 10.30 am, I was a bundle of nerves - trembling with energy and excitement that can only come from a mixture of adrenaline and panic.

"12,000 feet! That's mental," my gray matter up there screamed.

Every cell in my body said no. My bladder which had already been emptied three times by then was rejecting the notion that falling from 12,000 feet could possibly end well. The muffin bar I had for breakfast sat undigested in my stomach that was already overfilled with trepidation and the previously mentioned emotions. Every atom in my body said no. Yet the confirmation call that went through to Skydive Taupo affirmed my earlier booking. How did that happen?

11.00 am came and the courtesy limo came to pick us mentals up. Charm and I signed away our lives as we filled out the liability form. It was happening then. No turning back. The falling would be happening. And I, a girl, just shy of her 21st birthday would be partaking in said falling.

We got to the centre. Immediately we watched a DVD that briefly chronicled a standard jump. Alright then, that didn’t seem too scary at all, sarcastic quotes in full use. Let's put on our suits and our harness and have the 'safety talk'. My body should have been permeated with nausea by then, yet somehow a strange calm had settled. Everything that I had experienced at 10.30 am that morning was but a distant memory. I was the Zen Master. I was ready to rock and roll.

Having a fantastic dive master helped of course. Eric, from Zimbabwe, was the consummate professional. Cheeky, of course, as most people whose career involve insane amounts of adrenaline. When asked what I should do if the straps didn’t hold, he answered, “Can you flap your arms like a pair of wings?” Brilliant. We waited for our turn and watched as people jumped and completed their parachute ride down. My body was still in its strange Zen mode. The earlier freak outs remained gone.

Finally it was our turn. We climbed up a pink ‘airplane’ - if you’re feeling particularly generous. That flying contraption was honestly nothing but an engine, aluminum and ply glass melded together to resemble an airplane. Small quarters meant that us 9 (4 jumpers, 4 dive masters and 1 pilot) were cramped together. As we ascended, the temperature dropped. The plane got creakier. The ground became smaller. On my left, out the window, I saw clouds in the near distance. This day was beautiful and the jump was going to be awesome.

Now I was strapped on and had my full gear on. It was time. Charm went ahead first and her descent looked perfect. After going through the instructions again, I hopped on over to where the door opened out to blue sky. My feet dangled over the airplane and wind gushed around my it as Eric readied me for the jump.

"Right. No turning back now. Let's do this. And try not to crap my pants while doing it!"

One thumbs up later and we're off. Being in the 'smiling banana' position, sky became ground as we jumped from the plane. Awesomeness just happened. Sitting roller coasters my whole life had prepared me for the dizzying visual sensation but not the next. We're falling!! Wind streamed past my ears and my mind immediately went to that scene with the whale in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Ahhh! Woooh! What's happening? Who am I? Why am I here? What's my purpose in life? What do I mean by who am I? Okay okay, calm down calm down get a grip now. Ooh, this is an interesting sensation. What is it? Its a sort of tingling in my... well I suppose I better start finding names for things. Lets call it a... tail! Yeah! Tail! And hey, what's this roaring sound, whooshing past what I'm suddenly gonna call my head? Wind! Is that a good name? It'll do. Yeah, this is really exciting. I'm dizzy with anticipation! Or is it the wind? There's an awful lot of that now isn't it? And what's this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like 'Ow', 'Ownge', 'Round', 'Ground'! That's it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it'll be friends with me? Hello Ground!

There was lots of wind. I remember that. And gorgeous views of the land as we fell. We were traveling at speeds of up to 200 km/ph! We continued to fall till 5000 feet when the parachute was pulled. A quick jerk at the hips and we’re falling like a leaf as gravity worked its magic and the parachute glided down to where solid ground was.

I got unbelievable views of the Central Plateau, the town of Taupo and the airstrip. I chatted with Eric about solo jumps. The highest he's ever jumped off is 22,000 feet. Parachutes are deployed at 2000 feet with solo jumps. He did a twirl with the parachute and the ground went 360.

That was madness, yes it was and I am mad for doing it. As I walked across town later today, all I could think as I passed people on the streets was, "Well, I just jumped 12,000 feet today. What did you do?"

As I finish up this unbearable essay, I remain in my Zen Master mode. Strange how this calm endures as normalcy resumes.

And so we meet again.

Here I sit on the grey carpet of the Wellington Airport. The departure hall is quiet, one sole cafe/bar open catering to the other life forms that have the unfortunate luck of pulling the midnight flight. As my flight is an insanely early 6.50 am flight, I've decided to stay the night at the airport rather than fork out a night's worth of too-short-to-be-called-sleep at the downtown backpackers. "I've done this before in Sydney, why not again?", I figured. Thank goodness for the free Wi-Fi Internet at the airport. Double thank goodness-es for the fact that I have my laptop with me. My laptop may not be able to produce sounds or not lag or log onto the broadband Internet I have at Melbourne, but at least it's wireless card is working splendidly.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I've had to cut my trip short by 7 days. Instead of a round month, I will have spent 25 days in the North Island of New Zealand. Oh but don't worry, dear Aotearea, I will be back for you once again.

Note #1: I've had to delete 200 emails on top of 700 other piled up junk from my Gmail account. For reasons of keeping my sanity intact, I am choosing to ignore the fact that I have two other active e-mail accounts.

Note #2: My Facebook homepage depresses me. There are over a hundred worth of invites to games, applications and what-have-yous I will have to ignore. Can't there be a mass cull button installed please, Mr Zuckerberg?

A-Z of Cambodia

And in case you were wondering, YM and Christine, this is what I was frantically scribbling down during traveling periods in the van and bus.

-----
A
Airport - The Siam Reap International Airport looked more like a luxurious getaway resort than a bustling travel hub. Trust me when I say there were lots of pretty abound.
All-American Rejects - Thanks to heavy rotation on Channel [V] which, by the way, we received in Cambodia, I consider 'It Ends Tonight' as my theme song for the trip. Not that it had any relevance to the trip but you know, Tyson Ritter is very, very hot.


Angkor Wat - is everything and more I thought it would be. The pictures I saw did nothing to prepare me for the intense beauty of it all. (I may sound like a prat, but I'm totally serious!)

B
Baguette - I, along with YM, sampled a ham, tuna-filled baguette from a roadside vendor (You see them everywhere). It was yummy and no, we did not spend the rest of the day in the toilet groaning while the baguette violently came out from every orifice in our body.
Bayon Thom - It's depressing how thieves have made away with the heads of the statues. Says a lot about the level of poverty in Cambodia.
Buddhism - approximately 90% of the population are Buddhists.

C

Chilling - Our visit to Cheuong Ek Genocidal Centre on Day 4.
Corruption - rife in Cambodia. There is a marked divide between the rich and the poor - the rich often holding positions of state officials or government folk whereas the poor slum it up in dwellings along the Mekong River.


Crickets - which at point of writing I have full intentions of eating which I did not sample due to time constraints and the lack of cojones on my part.

D

D'Angkor Artisan - a carving center in Siam Reap which primarily houses the deaf. We were given a chance to tour the facilities and it's really interesting to note that handcrafted was meant on a literal level.
Dine & Dash - At Toule Bassae Restaurant, which is a fancy buffet restaurant, we left with a good meal in our stomachs and USD 2.00 more in our wallets because we forgot to pay for the drinks we ordered.
Dusty - Siam Reap as a whole was very, very dusty, mostly due to non-granite roads.

E
Emerald Buddha in the Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace - Conspiracy theorists say that the famed emerald Buddha statue in the Royal Palace had actually been long taken by the Thais during a joint preservation project. What is left is a replica that is either made in the inferior jade or plastic. We saw it and our verdict? Those smarmy Thais.

F
Food - is like a mix of Thai, without the spices, Chinese, without the MSG, and Vietnamese, without the beef noodles, which doesn't make it any less appetizing than it is.

G
Gems - Cambodia's specialty- rubies and sapphires. They still cost an arm and a leg.

H
History - The scars of the Khmer Rouge regime are still fresh in the minds and on the lands of the people. Depending on who you talk to, you get a different account of it all. What I think happened, put simply, is that during the Vietnam War, the Viet Kong in northern Vietnam pushed their way up to Cambodia for survival and taught the fringe-side locals the way of their life. What transpires next in the events of Cambodia is the result of learned hatred and discrimination towards the city and well-learned folk.

I
Idiot - Malaysia moves an hour faster than Cambodia. I set my alarm on my mobile phone for seven am, and end up wasting an hour that could have been spent on not-really-needed sleep. Mind you, this was on day 4 of our 5 days there.
Insects - Did you know that insects like crickets and beetles are sold as snacks in Cambodia? Spiders, on the other hand, have medicinal values, not like we put that to the test.

J
Jolly - as YM and Christine found out, I get a bit, ahem, 'jolly', come nightfall. Nothing I ever want strangers to find out, of course, in the event I am unfairly, but justly, labeled a psycho.

K
Khmer - is the main language spoken in Cambodia, followed by French, English and Mandarin. See N.

L

License - In Cambodia, driving a motorcycle does not require you to have a license. Cars, vans and trucks on the other hand, do need a official license. And with good reason, as evidenced by 'taxis' in Phnom Penh. Additionally, motorcycles in Cambodia are made to sit up to three people and that's legal (!?).

M
Marriage - When asking for a lady's hand in marriage, the guys need to prepare at least USD$5000 for the day-long ceremony alone. And that's just the average dude.
Massage - THE BEST EVER. It only costs like 7 bucks for a full body massage and it owns every other massage I've had.

N
'Nyer cekut' - which means 'you're stupid' in Khmer. Oh, the handy phrases I choose to remember.


Naga Casino and Resort - where my 15 bucks would end up recirculating to YM's 12 bucks+ and Christine's 10(?) bucks+ winnings for the night.

O
Ouch - the general feeling the day after our visit to Angkor Wat. My thighs were burning something bad.

P

Pan-handlers - not limited to your garden-size variety adults only. Be prepared for kids running up to you and begging for money while your head turns and your heart breaks. Beware: give one and more will come.
Passionate - Our tour guide for the Phnom Penh leg of our trip, Sau Phorn, was extremely passionate about Cambodia's history. Apparently his grandpa had been a victim of the Khmer Rouge regime. He was a teacher before, and something tells me I would have loved him as my history teacher.
Phnom Penh - the capital of Cambodia. A lot like Ipoh, with the slower pace of life, but with more footless monks and crazy tuk-tuk drivers hassling you for a ride.

Q

Quizzical - I was going for 'wildly amazed' but ended up with a, "Huh?" face in this self-portrait taken in front of the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh.

R
Rock - A popular and hip local discotheque which we went to after dinner on our third day. It was dark, cavernous and very empty- owing to the fact that it was only 8.30 pm.


Royal Palace - When the flag is flying high at the King's official residence, that means he's home. No, we did not meet him and neither did he or his guards unethically proposition anyone of us.

S
Siam Reap - the cultural province of Cambodia where the great temples and Tonle Sap can be found.


Sombre - the mood after visiting the Killing Fields.


Sombre X 100000000000 - the mood after vising Tuol Sleng.

T
Tuk-tuk - Much like Thailand, they're a cheap form of transportation, averaging from 2 to 4 bucks.

Tuol Sleng - for those not in the know, Tuol Sleng used to be a school but was converted into a torture/detention prison for those accused of crimes against the regime.

The Khmer Rouge, ruthless as they might have been, were also incredibly organized. They took a picture, along with personal details, of every single person who was condemned to the prison. That was just one room of pictures. The noticeboard with the pictures of kids absolutely slayed me.

U

Unnerving - The feeling within the walls of Tuol Sleng. Never have I experienced a more apt moment for the phrase, 'if these walls could talk'.

V

Very snazzy restaurant we dined at - Alright so I've got nothing for V.

W
Warm - the best times to travel to Cambodia is between the months of November and December, when the weather is generally cooler.


World of hurt - was the state I was in the second day after climbing the steep, STEEP steps of Angkor Wat. I want to go back to when this picture was taken and tell PastKaren that she's going to be in a total agony following the triumphant feelings of climbing the steps.

X

Xcellent (yeah yeah.. what a copout) - The view from above the pagoda at Angkor Wat.

Y
Yang - the name of this kid I promised to buy postcards from after lunch but had to turn down due to the lack of pretty in her postcards. I ended up postcards from her friend. The look she gave me following that made me feel very, very ashamed.

Z

Zoinks! - the bumpy ride on the 'roads' of Siam Reap on the one night we ventured out. This was before we knew about the fog of dust that settled in the night air thus scaring us from coming out after our showers ever again.

How do you rehash a month's worth of memories into a reader-friendly post?

Answer: You don't.

Hee.

Real answer: I don't know how to.

To say that it was 'really good' doesn't do my memories justice. Neither does saying it was 'mind-blowing, god-awesome, effing-brilliant stuff'. By the end of the one month, I've become so used to the travelling life that waking up in my bed the day after I got back evoked a momentary but pretty potent sense of disappointment, empty refridgerator not providing the least bit comfort.

I suppose the difference with Costa Rica compared to any other place I've travelled to so far, is the fact that it wasn't an English-speaking country, thus, providing me with very little choice but to actively immerse myself in the local language. And while I was practicing mis-pronounced Tico Spanish, whether consciously or not, a lot of the local culture became
ingrained into my life. Be it from adoring pinto (rice and beans basically, but don't let the blandness of the description fool you into thinking that the food was sister to cardboard) to setting my natural body clock to Tico time whilst on the Caribbean Coast (essentially a lot like Malaysian time - never punctual, constantly late) to understanding the basis behind the Nicaraguan jokes (like Malaysia and Indonesia, a lot of Ticos blame Nicaraguans for taking up local jobs although these are the jobs that the locals don't want), the hardest thing about leaving Costa Rica behind is having all these new ticks within me with no outlet to express it or any conceivable way to sustain it either.

Oh heck. But then I guess (in Southern Belle accent) "tomorrow is another da-ie", innit?

Here's my attempt at giving a run-through of my trip.

First two weeks
Were spent on the volunteer project. The head of our host family has been working with the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture for 25 years plus and he uses his house as an example of how organic farming works. Hence, he gets quite a bit of visitors, mostly local farmers who want to learn the techniques and he works with the government on advising local farmers on
how to apply an organic method to their farming lifestyle. What we did was help out around the farm, providing a hand to physical tasks, while personally learning why Costa Rica was pushing for organic farming around the country.

It wasn't all work and no play. We (there were 10 of us) travelled occasionally to the local town for Internet, headed out a couple of nights for dinner and clubbing, and even hit the tourist beach for a day of sun and souvenir shopping on our day off. Plus, the good camaderie between the ten of us made it so that work and life went by easier. What we all were
taken back by was the facilities provided on the farm. The TV on the farm, which had cable access provided us with entertainment. Eg. countless moments were spent debating whether MTV's Laguna Beach starred actors or real kids (my verdict: Like Arrested Development, I maintain it's scripted reality. But goddamn is that show an excuse to play today's latest hit
songs or what?). For those who were under the assumption that I was staying in this ulu-fied place, suffice to say that we actually caught the Golden Globes live on TV.

Last two weeks
Were spent on the adventure tour. We travelled along both the Pacific and Caribbean Coast, staying in some of the best resorts as well as some of the more dodgier ones (think cockroach on the mirror). Allow me to take a second and mock you by saying I have now swam in both the Pacific and Carribean waters. Ha! Among other things, we went kayaking in the rain, horse-riding in the mountains, zip-lining across the forests, white-water rafting down Class 2,3,4 rapids, bike-riding to the beach and snorkelling in the Pacific Ocean. I know. If I were you I'd be jealous too.

Last day before flying out
Were spent in LA. The night before, while flying from Costa Rica to LA, Yoong Mei, you won't believe who was on the same airline parked up in Business Class. As your friend I say you deserve every right to smack my head in when you see me for I failed to get you Sting's autograph. However, I do have something to atone for my mistake. How's a picture of
Sting's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame sound?

LA was pretty damn fantastic considering the short amount time we spent there (just one night and 3/4 of a day). Charm and I by foregoing a trip to Disneyland instead, flew home with a bunch of decent shopping in our hands. Of course, we did a tour of LA as well, and really, the only thing that put a slight dent into my memory of that day was the fact that I
didn't meet Seth Green. Or Ethan Embry. I did meet Elmo. But who the hell gives a damn about that retarded, annoying blob?

To sum up: you can't go wrong in life my making a trip down there someday.

And yes, I have your souvenirs, kids. Go crazy.

-[edit]-

February the 8th, today a perfect specimen turns 32. Whaaaaaaaaat?!? That's not TOO old.

Also, to the people who have been calling me and leaving me messages. My phone's kinda momentarily screwed right now. It's got, what phone doctors would consider, a mild case of 'overdue-billitis' which unfortunately led to a severe case of 'line-gets-barreditis'. Huh. So apparently I'm only a "worthy customer" so long as I keep my payments on time. Therefore to the lovely people who have contacted me, be patient. Why am I not calling you on my home phone? Ahhh. Sadly the above mentioned disease was pretty lethal and my home phone got afflicted with it too. Damn dirty technology! However, while my phone is unable to make outside calls, it has excellent receiving skills. Feel free to give me a call. And Sammy, sorry I didn't pick up; had a shift.

Brokeback Mountain, first movie of 2006. And hot damn, it's an excellent start. Sets a pretty high bar for this year. I was watching the first quarter of the movie wondering why the hell everyone was raving about Heath Ledger's performance, when it was pretty neat but not buzz-worthy material. Come the end, gee whiz, I am floored.

Finally, Crazy Woman Who is Obsessed With Rent. Breathe. It's coming out here on March 2 (or possibly 19).

Leg One of the Journey

In true Karen fashion, 50 minutes before it was time for me to leave to the bus terminal, I was folding my laundry and packing my backpack. While packing up my toiletries, I found that I didn't have spare moisturiser. *Fuck all*. See, with eczema, you just can't take a chance without moisturiser. After a couple of seconds, I realized that Sydney ain't no hick town (my bad)

So, the past 12 hours I've been on a Greyhound bus. While taking a flight would have been indeed a whole lot of hours shorter, I wouldn't have been able to pass the Australian National University in Canberra and find out that there is a Liverpool city in Southwest Sydney.

Next up is tomorrow's flight to New Zealand before we finally fly across the Pacific to Los Angeles, then Costa Rica. I think I've packed everything I need. And I think I've got all the documents I need. So, why exactly is there this nagging feeling in my gut? I shall put it down to paranoia.

Happy 2006 everyone. May your year be spent in good health and good times. Also, I realised that I'm turning nineteen this year. 19. Holy cow. Ka Faii reminded me that if I thought that was bad, the 1986-ers are turning 20. Holy freaking cow indeed.

See ya lot soon!

Vamos Costa Rica!

Yours truly is ready to travel to Costa Rica. One day-trip to Sydney and voila!, a stamp in my passport says I'm ready for travel. I was talking to the receptionist at the Consulate-General and apparently us Malaysians, if we intend to travel to Costa Rica, have to obtain a visa in person from the closest Consulate General. Closest being Japan or Melbourne. Brilliant really. Previously you could courier your passport and thus save yourself a plane ticket, but new regulations (that even the Consular General admit is completely bogus) state that we have to be at the office in person. It does not help that Malaysia is listed as a Muslim country. God forbid they admit prospective terrorists into a country that according to the Lonely Planet forum, is notorious for pickpockets and robbers.

And because no trip to Sydney is complete without it, here is the obligatory picture of the Sydney Opera House with guest, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.


Now, while the debate continues regarding which state is more superior, I have to admit that Sydney does one up Melbourne on a particular aspect. Krispy Kreme donuts. Holy mother of dough and glazed sugar, Donut King ain't got nothing on them. It's crazy really. No matter how much we try to deny it, American exports are truly essential to modern life. It doesn't have to be the central focus, but it certainly makes our life seem more rich knowing we have other options. Which is ironic cause for every Starbucks or McDonald's that is built on your local block, there goes a local establishment, thus actually limiting our options.

I can't go into an anti-capitalist tirade because besides the obvious fact that I get my spending money from the Golden Arches, I honestly think that I would start eating pork again should Denny's ever open a branch in Melbourne (bacoooonnn). Oh heck. I say countries shouldn't fear the spread of Western influences. Sure, enforce some sort of quota to ensure that the local industry will thrive and make sure that no conglomeration can get around the red tape (Here's looking at you, Murdoch). And yeah, encourage the locals to shop/eat/buy local. But it's crazy to impede the flow of Western media/establishments/brands. Just take a look at China. It's pretty obvious that things aren't quite working out the way the Communist leaders envisioned.

So what then for the future? Should we all just give up hope and wait for the inevitable Starbucks-McDonalds-MTV-Gap-Abercrombie&Fitch filled streets? Also impossible I say. As long as the doors are opened for the local industry, there will be hope. Chris Lilley's We Can Be Heroes is on par with Arrested Development and The Office. Alannah Hill's dresses are so so pretty (also very $$$). Boost Juice's annual profits is an exponential graph.

... Oh crud. I think this became a pro-globalization, whilst thinly-veiled pro-Americanisation tirade. What can I say? You can't hate the land that gave us Buffy afterall.

Right then. I've been thinking about Green Day's American Idiot. And I've come to the realization that it will do what Californication and Morning View did for RHCP and Incubus. Suddenly pimply-faced teens with newly broken voices all over the world will have ditched their Simple Plan t-shirts to don black American Idiot tees. I'm not being elitist and actually think this is a good thing. I mean, more power to good bands, yeah? It's just a little bit weird/creepy when kids start calling Billie Joe 'sexy'. Prior to him putting black eyeliner to good use, I don't recall anyone tagging him with that adjective. It's quite bizarre to think that some eye make-up makes you instant hot stuff.

But then again, after watching the Jesus of Suburbia video clip, I think I'm coming around to that concept. Lou Taylor Pucci, who I previously watched in the indie flick Thumbsucker, looked extremely effiminate with his big blue eyes and delicate features. Then suddenly in the JoS video clip, he's freaking Sid Vicious incarnate and looking totally hot. Strange, huh.

From this:

to this:

See? I'm not just being superficial.

One month, mates!

In a month, yours truly will be jetting off to Costa Rica. Lordy, am I excited! Well technically, bus to Sydney, flight to NZ, then stopover at LAX... but you know. Technical-schmenical. We got our travel manuals by mail and received an email telling us what projects we were assigned to yesterday. And boy, am I in love with my project.

ASOCUENCA Community Development Project
Basically, ASOCUENCA is a farmers' association comprising representatives of the Community Development Associations of five communities: Santa Elena, Quizarra, San Francisco, Santa Marta, and MonteCarlo. The mission statement: to protect the watershed of the Penas Blancas River and to aid in the development of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor. The corridor will help in the recuperation of the remaining tracts of evergreen tropical rain forest in the country, in specific, the Los Cusingos Sanctuary for Neotropical Birds and Las Nubes Biological Reserve.

What will I be doing?

• Reforestation of farmland located in the corridor
• Maintainence at the school (Teaching English!)
• Construction, maintenence, and painting of public facilities in cooperation with Santa Elena Community Association, the Health Committee, the Sports Committee and the Church Committee.
• Supporting the work at Los Cusingos Reserve, eg. trail construction, planting fruit trees and bushes as food sources for birds and other wildlife, and maintenence of the Historical Alexander F. Skutch Museum
  

It sounds exactly like what I hoped I would get. On my face was plastered a shit-eating grin until I came to a snag. In the daily timetable, it says 6 am: Breakfast. Good lord. That means I actually have to wake up before 6 am. Holy...

I'm still psyched though.

Then, I saw the departure date for the flight. I'll be leaving LAX on Feb 2nd and arriving at Sydney on Feb 4th. Blah. Birthday-Schmirthday. (You'd think this sch-thing business would get old, but it really doesn't).

Yeap.

Still pretty darn psyched.