Devastating Drought

In parts of Australia, particularly the states of New South Wales and Queensland, the sheep are thin, so too are the cattle and farmers are incredibly worried about the survival of their stock. In many places no rain has fallen for over a year.

It’s shocking to see.

When I first arrived in New South Wales I travelled up the New England Highway and saw the parched land.  That was in early June and the general public (I guess I mean city folk) seemed oblivious to the plight. Some two and half months later the TV channels have reports on each news bulletin and public appeals are pulling in millions to buy food for farming families and hay for the stock.

My Passion

Aside from travelling, netball is my other big passion. When I'm able to combine two of my passions, you can probably imagine how excited I am to be going to the World Netball Cup which is on in Singapore in now.

The New Zealand Silver Ferns are ranked number one in the world with our arch rivals Australia number two. Whenever these two teams play one another it's an exciting but tight encounter. Of course, its not a foregone conclusion that they will both be in the finals as the teams from England and Jamaica could be strong enough to make it all the way through the draw.

I've had tickets to the last three days of play for many months now and I'll be in Singapore in a day or two.

Singapore is a great city with lots to do and quirky architecture. When I was there for a few days a month or so ago, I was lucky enough to see a show - The Lion King. It was held in the amazing Marina Bay Sands which is a complex that wouldn't look out of place in Las Vegas! What a treat it was to see this show again, the first time being in Sydney.

This time, my visit will be primarily for that wonderful sport of Netball with some shopping and dining out when the game schedule permits me to leave the stadium.

Oh, I am a lucky traveller.


I'm loving ........ all the travel I've been able to do from my base here in Vietnam. Laos for a second time, Singapore, The Mekong Delta and soon Kuala Lumpur and Bali.

I'm missing....... home! I've been away too long.

I'm reading....... Destination Saigon by Walter Mason. I've finished it but this man is a wonderful writer who writes perceptive comments about life in Vietnam.

A New Type of Beach Experience! Travel Vietnam

The beach looked inviting; very inviting and so we carefully selected our place in the shade.

White sand stretched out before us and we lay down to relax on the quiet beach. Although Hai Phong is a really pretty city and a nice place to be, it felt so good to be away from the pollution, noise and daily activity in Hai Phong.

The sea looked inviting and clean.

Swimming here was more like taking a tepid bath but nonetheless refreshing.

There were only two other people swimming at the time. The lounge chairs languished unused on the white sandy stretch of beach.

Tall limestone cliffs behind us created a unique snug feel to this beach with the uninspiring name of Number Two Beach.

We could see many islands off the coast of Cat Ba Island, on the perimeter of Halong Bay. It's a really idyllic spot.

Then, as if a switch had been turned on people arrived. First they came in twos, threes and fours but then they came in groups of twenty.

They came with equipment too. They came with games to play and staked out huge areas of the beach right beside our spot. They had baskets of supplies - balloons, ribbons (to mark out the area claimed), rope (for the tug o war) and this is truly shocking - megaphones! I saw at least three bright yellow megaphones!

The newcomers turned this peaceful haven into a fair ground! I was so shocked I didn't even get a photograph of the megaphones or the person in charge of it who shouted into it non-stop for about one hour before we escaped. It was like being at a fairground except noisier.

Suddenly anyone swimming (my friend braved it but I didn't) had to fight for elbow room in the sea. The sole man guarding the beach with a flag and a whistle walked up and down like a crazy man trying to marshal the swimmers into a narrow strip of the beach inside the marker buoys.

It's hard to believe the marked changes on the beaches depending upon the time of day you go there.

Here is Cat Ba Number 1 Beach before the crowds and after the crowds came rollicking in. It was taken at about 5p.m. Vietnam time. You get to Number 1 Beach before Number 2 beach.

This time last year....

It's amazing to think that this time last year I was in Mexico City after spending a month in Cuba.

This life on the road just seems to fly by and I'm often amazed at where this journey has, or is, taking me. As I indulge in a very short reflection.

I really enjoyed my time in Cuba. Its a country full of contrasts and I am constantly amazed at how happy they appear despite a lot of hardship in many instances. It really is worth going there before it changes.

Since this time last year, I've lived in Australia, Malaysia and now Vietnam. Phew! The thought of packing up and getting to a place, sorting out phones, where to buy supplies in multiple countries even exhausts me. If I let myself think of it!

I've also spent time in New Zealand (a couple of visits) and Singapore which I thoroughly enjoyed. I always enjoy getting back to New Zealand and the time there always seems so very short.

I'm enjoying Vietnam again even though its for work, I'm getting out and about again mixing with locals and eating in authentic cafes and restaurants.

Best coffee........Highland Coffee. It's locally grown and very very good.

I'm missing.....marmite. I had a goodie parcel posted from New Zealand over six weeks ago with a supply of marmite in it but unfortunately its gone missing!

I'm reading.......a very nice novel. The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes. It's the second novel I've read by her and this one is equally as good as the first which was The Ship of Brides.

I'm loving......being amongst all of things (well most anyway) foreign and just being out there doing it!

Friendly Hai Phong

Going to a city to live for a few months is always an interesting exercise as you ponder questions such as what will the food be like? Before you arrive you have no real idea of what to expect and so we all stocked up on a few basics in Hanoi! After all, I reasoned to myself as I carried overloaded supermarket bags back to my Hanoi Hotel, "I'm not sure if I'll be able to get muesli there"!

However, we (I'd roped the other two teachers into my supermarket frenzy) had no need to worry at all because Hai Phong has several excellent supermarkets selling local

goods. There is also a limited supply of western food so all is well!

Most of the teachers here stay at the one hotel - even those who are on one year contracts. It's a great life as I go to work and when I come back (home?), my bed has been made and I have fresh towels hanging on the bathroom rail. What more could a gal ask for?

The longer standing teachers have also given us many tips of where to eat which has been really great and I now have a few "favs". One restaurant is on the 12th floor of a bank building. You would never know its there as there is no sign outside and even when you get into the lift there is nothing to indicate which floor. It has a marvellous view of Hai Phong and excellent food - Western and Vietnamese.

Here are a few photos taken from my hotel balcony. It's an ever changing and most interesting view. I spend hours watching the street scene unfold before me. Notice my wonderful world map coffee mug (bought in Singapore) sitting on the rail.

I've also posted a couple of articles on

HubPages. This first one is on Vietnamese food.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Vietnam-Travel-Vietnamese-Food-Ideas-for-Travelers

The second one is a favourite of mine - The Old Quarter in Hanoi where the 1000 year old streets still have some of the ancient trades doing business there. Its a really fascinating wander through this area. I hope you enjoy it.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Old-Quarter-Hanoi

Frenetic Hanoi

Here's the latest wanderings from Hanoi. I'd quite forgotten just how frenetic the traffic is here in Hanoi. Going out onto the street, one is assailed by the "sounds" of this city - horns honking, motor scooters revving and construction!

The city seems to be in a rebuilding phase with workers crawling over building sites all over the city. Even the Old Quarter has been spruced up since my last visit here. I'll write about the Old Quarter in a separate article.

The scooters continue to amaze me. There are so many and they are often overloaded with people, and goods being delivered. Heck, I even saw a massive flat screen television being transported on the back of a scooter and it wasn't tied on. How they manage to weave through the congested traffic to safely deliver it is completely beyond me.

I'm loving......the vibrant city.

I'm missing....morning breakfast television. Oh and of course good coffee. It was excellent in Singapore but here I haven't found a really good one yet.

I'm reading....nothing at the moment. I'm too busy sightseeing!

It's Vietnam Time!

My last message said that I was on the move again and heading for Malaysia. Yet just two months after that - I am on the move yet again!

I had planned a one year stay in Malaysia but that wasn't to be. As I write this, I am in Singapore but I leave here for Vietnam tomorrow.

The experience in Malaysia was good but not what was promised so that's why I'm on the road again.

I have a three month contract to teach in Haiphong which is 100kms north of Hanoi. I haven't been to this city before but its on the doorstep of amazing Halong Bay which I visited last time I was in Vietnam. During the next month I'll try to secure a one year contract somewhere.

Kuala Lumpur was an interesting mix. In the area where I stayed, the locals used the street as one big rubbish tip. It was disgusting. I used to walk on the road because the footpath was littered with dropped rubbish or plastic bags of rubbish piled up. The photo of the rubbish is taken just outside of the condo. It didn't look any different any day of the week.

I stayed in a lovely condo with a really nice pool (photo) and I swam every day, sometimes twice. It was lovely to cool off in the evening before I went to bed.

The shopping malls were amazing and there are many of them. The Suria Mall, just below the Petronas Towers is glitzy and nice for browsing and shopping.

I'm missing...........coffee. I just couldn't find any good coffee aside from Starbucks and Gloria Jeans and you all know my snobbish reaction to these chains. However, I frequented them when I could!

I'm loving...........being in Singapore at the moment. This is one cool city!

I'm reading.........A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Actually I read it a few years ago. I love the detail and descriptive narrative. A fine work - excuse the pun.

I've enjoyed.......the swimming pool at my condo. I also enjoyed the Wednesday night markets. Its reputed to be the longest market in Malaysia. Great food and bargains to be had - but you take your chances!

Next time.....I'll write from Vietnam

On the Road Again

On the Road Again

I’m "on the road again"! This time a new career and a new country beckon this kiwi traveller.

I left Sydney in early February. My red suitcase had expanded quite a lot during my 18 months there and so it was time to cull my possessions. I always find culling quite difficult as I only buy the things I like but airline allowances are pitifully small when one wants to pack a yellow leather couch! However, this is one of those things I have to live with while I’m choosing to live this kind of transient lifestyle.

Before leaving Sydney I trained in the CELTA method of teaching English as a second language. This qualification will allow me to work in many countries otherwise unaccessible to me. It was hard, we had to work long hours and although very stressful the course was generally excellent and I learnt a lot. During the course we used the information our trainers crammed into our exhausted brains in the morning and then had to put it into practice in front of 20 willing students in the afternoon!

Before I'd completed the month long course, I had interviews with people from a few countries and opted for a contract with a University in Malaysia. I leave for Malaysia at the end of March and begin work a week later teaching adults which is my preference.

In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying relaxation in NZ and the wonderfully long hot summer which has been truly glorious. The photos of Taupo were taken last winter.

It’s incredibly exciting to be on the road again, living and working in a new country. I will keep you posted from Kuala Lumpur. Do drop me a line.

I'm loving......being back in New Zealand amongst family and friends. I'm also loving this fantastic weather.

I'm reading........I've just finished a Rohinton Mistry book called Family Matters. It's a really great yarn about daily life of an Indian family as they deal with illness, old age, family rifts and growing children. It is beautifully crafted and I recommend it.

I'm looking forward to........a new adventure - new country and new career.

I'm surprised.......by how dry the country is. As I've driven around the North Island of NZ I've been surprised by how brown the countryside is. We badly need rain.

Anniversaries

Hello All

I know that I've been in Sydney for awhile when the anniversaries come around again.

I have just been to see the Sculpture By the Sea exhibition along the walkway from Bondi Beach to Bronte. Once again it is stunning and quite different to the sculptures of last year. I love the way the artists are able to display their art by the sea in such a unique environment.

I have written an article on the hubpages so if you would like to see some more great photos and information go here: http://hubpages.com/_2ray4pba8aldg/hub/art-by-the-sea.

Of course Christmas is not that far away and all the decorations are up in the shops and malls. It's particularly exciting to see the massive tree in the Queen Victoria Building in the city centre.

I've been reading.....Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It's a massive book so great for a holiday read. Although it sags badly in the middle, it is well worth the effort. Thanks to my friends who recommended it to me.

I've been writing......a lot! I've been writing on Hubpages. Check me out there. Its really easy to leave comments if you are off a mind too http://hubpages.com/profile/travelespresso.

I've been loving.....recent visits from several friends. Over about a six week period, I've had visits from about eight friends! I feel blessed to be able to catch up with them.

I'm looking forward to.......a visit to Brisbane in a few days time to catch up with my sailing friends and then a visit back to NZ for Christmas.

November 09 Update

Hello all
A quick update on what's happening. I am still living in Sydney. I've been doing some sightseeing and lots of writing which I'm publishing on http://hubpages.com/profile/travelespresso.

You can see some of the articles I've published by clicking on the links below:

Best Sydney Beaches http://hubpages.com/_2ray4pba8aldg/hub/best-sydney-beaches

Intriguing Boat trips in Ninh Binh: http://hubpages.com/_2ray4pba8aldg/hub/Surprising-Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-and-Three-Intriguing-Boat-Trips

Best Sydney Markets http://hubpages.com/hub/Sydneys-Best-Flea-Markets


Learning to Weave with the locals in Vientiane: http://hubpages.com/_2ray4pba8aldg/hub/Weaving-Learning-to-Weave-in-Laos

Shopping at 5 Top Asian Markets: http://hubpages.com/_2ray4pba8aldg/hub/Gift-Shopping-at-5-Top-Markets-in-Asia

And more......

Take a look and if you like what you see (or not), leave me a comment.

Kiama - where the sea makes a noise

Kiama - where the sea makes a noise

Since arriving to live in Sydney, one year ago last month, I've wanted to visit Kiama. The name Kiama means "where the sea makes a noise".

With another friend in town time to explore and a gorgeous sunny 30 degree day promised we set off, in the excited fashion of kids on an day excursion.

The train from Central Station heads south through Sydney suburbs, chugs slowly uphill through quiet native bush and wends its way past idyllic looking seaside communities. Two hours later we reach the pretty harbour town of Kiama hugging a volcanic coastline; its lighthouse gleaming on the hilltop.

Having left early, we were rather hungry so our first stop was to find a cafe with lovely views over the road to the harbour. Lads in this town love their vintage cars and bikes so we were treated to a steady stream of carefully restored vehicles cruising by while we munched on breakfast.

One of the key attractions here are the two blow holes where water is pushed into an underground cave through an opening in the black rocks high up into the sky. There are two blow hole vents; one small and one large and the spurt of water reminds me of the Rotorua geysers.

Kiama also has a couple of those iconic Australian swimming pools beside the open sea which are filled with sea water. I continue to be captivated by them and spent some time trying to photograph them.

It's also famous for its pelican and has made a statue of one although this photo was not taken there.

The day delivered the promised temperature but the sea breeze kept its cooling vigil so it was a very pleasant day for tourists.

Sadly, we didn't see the blow holes playing so I will have to return another time to ensure its not a myth. I will also time my next visit so I can see one of the regular markets.

A Close Game

A Close Game:

If the Silver Ferns were daunted by walking into the Sydney Acer Arena it didn't show in their performance.

The NZ netballers walked out into the darkened stadium to see thousands of flashing "diamond" necklaces. I thought this was sheer marketing genius to link the Australian Diamond Netball Team and their supporters to these flashing lights. the necklaces flashed brilliantly in the dark and the spectacle must have boosted the Australian team. As I cheered on "my team" my necklace remained snug in my handbag.

The new look uniform of the Silver Ferns with sparkling silver strips looked stunning.

Captain, Casey Williams led and played outstandingly well the whole game, limiting the Australian shooter Catherine Cox's success rate. She was replaced at half time.

It was great to again be at a live netball match, even though I was surrounded by cheering supporters in green and gold. However, a few minutes after the whistle blew to start the game, the crowd was almost silenced as we reaced to a 5:0 lead. The crowd booed every time the referee called against the Australian team. I confess I really don't like this trend.

Approximately 11,000 watched NZ win 53:50 and I'm a very happy supporter. I'm also glad the two Cambridge ladies dressed in Waikato colours who flew over especially to see the game got to see "our team" win.

Photos: outside the Acer Arena - Diamond flags flying

Casey Williams in the old team uniform

Questions People Most Ask

Questions people most ask me:

1. Is it safe to travel to those countries? - meaning Cambodia, Laos, and Cuba etc - I found them safer than I thought. But I try not to take undue risks. Sometimes I’ve been caught out though, like my experience on Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and written about here. But that experience is, by far, in the minority.



2. Do you get lonely? Rarely. But, I hasten to add, I do like my own company. If I do feel like conversation, there’s always somebody close by for a chat. Other travelers love to chat and so too do the locals (language permitting). Sometimes the encounters with the locals are very special as in Cambodia (see the hatmaker article), and see the photo below where people in Ninh Binh (Vietnam) lined up for me to take photos of their children. And then there’s skype!



3. What place do you like the most? Phew! That’s almost impossible for me to answer – I could break it up into categories.

i. The best shopping – Mexico City or the markets in Vientiane;
ii. Memorable ruins – Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are a stand-out, particularly the isolated temples;
iii. Most memorable sunset – supping champagne on the after deck of friends yacht whilst anchored off a gorgeous deserted island in New Caledonia;
iv. Best meal – a Vietnamese hotpot shared with a Singaporean mother and adult daughter in the mountains of Sapa;
v. Best beer – a cold beerlao consumed while watching the sun go down over the Mekong River;
vi. Best coffee, but overall the divine taste of fair trade coffee supped in Laos is excellent;
vii. Best beach – so many.

So many great memories and, one hopes, more to come.

Photos - all Vietnam : Shopping for lanterns in Hoi An

My tailor in Hoi An (just before the accident)

Parents lined their kids up for me to take photos of them in Ninh Binh

Cuba – Top Tips

• Cuba – Top Tips
  
  To vacation in Cuba is like going no-where else because of the time warp the country has been in for the past half century.
  
  I thought the country was beguiling with interesting (and interested) people and I left the country with rich and warm memories.
  
  I’ve jotted down a few of my observations and experiences relating to money, safety, transport, accommodation, (food I’ve covered in earlier articles), what extras to take, the internet and good buys.
  
  Some tips for would be visitors to Cuba:
  
  Money:
  
  Cuba has two currencies: one for tourists and one for locals. Tourists have to use the CUC or Cuban Convertible Peso which can only be purchased in Cuba. The locals use pesos.
  
  Leave your home country with Euro or Canadian Dollars in cash and/or some in traveler’s cheques. Because I was going to be in Cuba for nearly a month, for the first time ever I traveled with several thousand (this time Euro) in cash. I travel with a Travelex card loaded with money http://www.cashpassport.com.au/ but I couldn’t find a machine to accept it.
  
  I was advised to take small denominations but I found that wasn’t necessary as the banks could change larger denominations.
  
  Credit cards work at a few machines (if you can find them). When I used my Australian issued credit card the amount in CUC was converted to US Dollars (which has a 10% commission), then into Australian dollars – ouch – it was an expensive exercise.
  
  Keep lots of small change for tips and to give away. Wages are incredibly low and a tip of 1CUC (approximately $1.30 AU) will help a lot. Bathroom ladies are prevalent and they have a saucer for small change too.
  
  Safety:
  
  As a solo female traveler I am often asked about the safety of a place. Thankfully, I have no horror stories to report, but locals warned me on numerous occasions to take care of my keys, money, hat, bag, camera etc. In old Habana, and to a lesser extent Trinidad, security is very obvious and this helps to keep the city safe.
  
  Local Transport:
  
  Road transportation between the main destinations is not difficult, but it is rather expensive, when compared to similar economies like Cambodia and Laos.
  
  Bus companies Transtur and Viazul operate air conditioned buses and they are reliable and comfortable. Transtur often operates door to door – usually hotel to hotel but when I stayed in a Vinales the bus driver took some trouble to find and drop me off at my casa! Reservations can be made through various tour agencies or directly with the companies.
  
  In Habana, Vinales and Varadero a hop on hop off bus operates. You pay when you get on the first time and its cheap (relative to other travel in Cuba) and an excellent way to see the country.
  
  Accommodation:
  
  Most of the time I stayed in Casa Particulares – (homes of the locals). I recommend looking around for one that suits. I paid between 25-30CUC per night for a very clean private room, air conditioning and attached bathroom with hot water.
  
  For meals at Casas I typically paid 3CUC for breakfasts and 6CUC for dinners. The food provided by my Casa hosts varied and the servings overly generous. Always, they tried to get food I wanted to eat.
  
  My Casa hosts didn’t speak English very well and so my Spanish/English dictionary was rather dog-eared by the end of my trip. It’s very helpful if you know some of the language.
  
  My Casa host would make a booking with their friends at my next destination. Although, in typical Cuban fashion, twice on arrival the promised room was not available, they always found another room for me somewhere else.
  
  Make Sure You Pack:
  
• Your sense of humour.


• Soap (to use as it’s not always offered), small packets of tissues, hand wash (but see my comments in my earlier article), plenty of reading material (books in English are attainable but the supply is very limited), a good conversion plug, a good Spanish/English dictionary and…


• Snacks, snacks and more snacks. I was very pleased I’d stocked up with lots of nuts, dried fruit, crackers, chocolate, biscuits etc. Food is rationed here and the supplies are limited.
  


• I also recommend you pack things to give away. I took supplies of chewing gum and pens and wished I’d taken a lot more as they were very gratefully received. I also took hair decorations and coloured felt pens. You will be asked for things e.g. adults asked me for reading books for their children, food, my tee shirts etc.
  

Internet:

The internet is available but it's slow and expensive and as there are few machines there's a wait – sometimes well over one hour.

In Habana the best places to access the internet is at the hotels where you buy a card, typically for half an hour or one hour. Although the card looks universal, I found that the cards were unique to each establishment meaning any remaining credit couldn’t be used elsewhere.

Sometimes the USB ports worked but many times not.

Good Buys:

Cigars, rum and in some places tee shirts.
Crochet work in Trinidad is excellent and inexpensive in the markets.
Art presented by the artists at the outdoor market off Plaza de Armas is excellent. Negotiation is possible. Great art is also available from Ofelia ORoberto, 19 The Malecon in Habana. Five artists share this space. There are many more small shops selling art. Ensure you have an export certificate for it. They are available from the shop or the agency.
Locally grown organic coffee is excellent and inexpensive.


If you are thinking about going to Cuba, I urge you to do it soon and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. If I can help further, please leave me a message and I will be sure to reply. If you have been there, and have a tip to share, feel free to send a message for others to read.

Photo: the art market close to Plaza de Armas

A Romantic Coffee Story

Some time ago I promised a story about coffee. It’s taken awhile but here it is. It’s a sweet tale from those incurable Cuban romantics.

To win the hand of the woman who had captured his heart, a besotted young man had to present an unusual gift to the father of his beloved.

For three years, he sought something truly special to gift his prospective father-in-law. By chance he came upon a magnificent gift; the aromatic black drink of coffee. His father in law was most impressed with the gift and plans were made for a lavish wedding with many influential guests…..(I guess…the story is silent on this point so I have taken writers license!)

From then on the world (and I) discovered the pleasures of savoring the aroma and taste of a cup of coffee.

The Habanan Escorial Café located on the edge of Plaza la Vieja (I’ve written about this world heritage site earlier) has 60 different types of coffee all made from beans grown in the Escambray Mountains in central Cuba. The beans are roasted on the premises. Some choices here include coffee laced with whiskey, cinnamon and cream; Miss Ochun (coffee with banana liqueur and cream); Cupido (coffee with tangerine liqueur) and so on.

This is THE spot for coffee connoisseurs without doubt. It’s excellent coffee and a good people watching spot in a superb location. As I sit I surprise myself by enjoying that all pervading smoke wafting around me from thick, hand rolled Cuban cigars. Where else but in Cuba? Aah the life of a traveler.

Photos: Coffee Escorial Café - note the cigar options available on the menu!
Cappuccino in Mexico. It looks pretty but I gave up after ordering two since they were very milky and had almost no coffee flavour.
A coffee (and a luscious buttery croissant!) from the New Caledonia market at the start of this trip.

Sundry Photos from Cuba

Hello all

Going back to Cuba for awhile just to post some more photos from this extremely photogenic country.

Photos:

Chandelier at yet another Habana casa

I was invited to sit in the chair next to this old man as I was out walking.

The "door" intrigued me, especially when it was open!!!

The entrance to my internet cafe in Vinales.....often places were extremely hard to find and no wonder with this kind of signage!

Vinales - message on school wall for students to be punctual!

Monuments to the liberators are all over Vinales

Trinidad is known for its lovely crochet work. I bought some from this lovely lady

A square in Habana

Mexico City – forget the stereotypes

Mexico City – forget the stereotypes

Mexico City has blown my stereotyped views sky high. Staying in the vibrant Zona Rosa area is quieter than the historic area around the cathedral. The streetscapes are packed with many fabulous sculptures.

Just outside the city (about 50kms north east) is the Teotihuacan pyramid complex which was conceived around 1st century AD and built about 100 years after that. After climbing to the top of the Sun (248 steps!) and Moon pyramids, I awoke the next morning to find that my leg muscles were very stiff and my legs had a mind of their own.

It’s an amazing site showing a glimpse of a former life and so close to the city. Next time I won’t go on a tour so that I have more freedom and time to wander.

In the city, the Museo Nacional de Antropologia is a wonder of information and displays of early history. It would be easy to loose oneself for a day in the excellent displays of early civilization and those depicting the evolution of mankind. Not being all that keen on museums I surprised myself by spending over half a day there and would be happy to return to see what I missed.

Swine flu has decimated tourism here. Several people have said that visitor levels are just 10% of this time last year.

I’m extremely keen to return to this city and to explore more of Mexico.

After a few days in NZ I’ll return to Sydney and must begin the (totally unexpected) search for another job.

Then I will repeat the cycle. Work, travel, work, travel. Aaah what a life this is!

I’m enjoying…….the food here. It’s fresh, tasty and delivered with efficiency and a smile. I’m also enjoying the cooler weather here.

I’m amazed……at just how different Mexico is from my expectations. This country is fascinating. I can’t wait to return.

I’m surprised….that my knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language has grown since I’ve been surrounded by it. It’s still very basic and it is still difficult to make myself understood. The waiters have no patience which is fair enough and they ask if I speak English which I find mildly insulting after my attempts!! Te he. They then converse in my language. However, others are patient and love me trying. I’ve taken to writing in my diary the full date in Spanish and I asked a waiter the other day if what I’d written was correct. He was really happy to tell me that it was! Nice.

I’m looking forward to…….getting back to NZ for a time. Actually by the time I get this published I will be back in the cold.

Photos: Ancient mural

The pyramid - I climbed all 248 steps to the top to see the centuries old sites laid out before me.

Mexico City – my hotel and my location

Mexico City – my hotel and my location

The staff at my hotel, Eurostar Zona Rosa (http://www.eurostarhotels.com/) are fantastic and so too is my hotel which I selected after researching and reading the good reports on http://www.tripadvisor.com/. I love tripadvisor.

It was really difficult to decide where to stay, in this sprawling city of 19 million people. However, I am happy I selected the Zona Rosa area which is in the gay friendly part of town. Despite (or perhaps because of) the massive number of police, armed with huge serious looking guns, and security guards it feels a safe area for a lone tourist.

It’s been lovely staying in this small very friendly hotel which is well located for relatively easy access to key attractions, shops, cafes and a market.

The hotel might be small but there is nothing small about my room, or should I say rooms.

I have a lounge room with a TV, a three seater and two seater couch, microwave, coffee maker etc and then my massive bed made up with pure white starched sheets and another TV etc. Internet is wireless and free which is always a bonus to this traveler.

After Cuba it was extremely exciting to see things in shops and, probably more importantly, things you might want to buy. Yet another reminder of how hard the Cubans have it with their rationing of all manner of things including food.

But in Mexico I was extremely impressed with the silver jewelry and spoiled myself by splurging on a few pieces. What’s more it was difficult to limit myself to just a few such is the creative artistry shown in the design and craftsmanship.

I’m loving….the shops….all glitter, light and lovely displays.

I’m enjoying….all the sculptures in the street. Along the Reforma (a wide tree lined avenue) the seats magnificently sculptured in bronze of many and varied designs. The Mexicans have taken such pride in these pieces of art.

I’m missing…..netball….netball and more netball. Thankfully a friend keeps giving me the competition updates.

I’m surprised…..just how cosmopolitan this city is and how much art’s on display for all to enjoy.

It was touching…...to have the bell hop stand on the side of the street and wave goodbye to me as I was driven to the airport in my taxi. How often has that happened to travelers? It's a first for me....what about you?

Photos: Some ice madam?

Mexican vendor

A Cautionary Tale

Hello all
I’d been traveling for a few months and part of my “stay healthy travel kit” was a bottle of hand sanitizer which I used regularly before eating. Some restaurants, notably in Mexico City, waiters routinely offered its guests a dollop of this lotion from a large bottle.

I’d been congratulating myself on my continued good health when suddenly my hands erupted in several ugly looking sores. The skin on my hands was red and raw in several places, mainly by the joints and down my index fingers.

Naturally I was concerned I'd picked up a skin disease somewhere in my travels. Thankfully, a quick visit to a medical specialist confirmed it was simply a case of washing my hands too often which had depleted the natural oils in my skin. Huh!!

I'd been using the hand sanitizer too often without a corresponding increase in applying hand cream. Using this and other alcohol based washing products had stripped the natural oils from my skin.

For the past three days I've been trying to nourish my hands to restore the balance but they are still a little raw.

The solution for future travels?......... I’ll continue using this hand gel but add in a regular and generous dose of intensive nourishing hand cream!

My first dining experience in Mexico city

My First Dining Experience in Mexico City
It’s always a minor miracle when, in non English speaking countries, the food delivered to my table is what I asked for, or even something close to that! With each success I grin to myself, just a little.

On my first morning here, I waived the easy option of breakfast at the hotel, where staff members speak my language extremely well. Instead I wandered close to my base along the open air mall lined with restaurants and shops.

I entered a restaurant and sat down. None of the staff spoke English. Undaunted, but too tired to make much effort, I ordered coffee and a tortilla (a type of Spanish omelette). My coffee arrived promptly. Then I waited and waited but no food arrived. The waiter hovered and I could tell he was concerned for my welfare but what he was saying was a complete mystery to me.

After some time he said “algo mas?” Ah ha, I know that one - it means “anything else?” I tried to explain that my egg order hadn’t materialized but in my tired state it was too hard.

He then had a brain wave and presented me with a massive basket of breads, croissants and other tasty goodies. I confess, that this time, I took the easy option and selected sugared croissant. So much for a protein based breakfast.

Thankfully it’s not always like that.

I'm loving....the vibe of this city which is completely unexpected.

I'm amazed....at how attentive, professional and caring the restaurant staff are.

I'm reading....ooh some fluff!!! It kept my mind occupied but I can't remember what it was.

I'm missing....all my favourite food. Before I left Cuba I was really missing the easy access to the internet and wireless connections. However, my hotel here in Mexico has free wireless internet. What a bonus! I love that!

sorry no photos to accompany this one. I will try in a day or two or three.