tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231944900136662692023-12-12T14:07:00.261+00:00ILP - TravelsRikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-51852136333482697742014-10-20T00:46:00.002+01:002014-10-20T00:47:42.072+01:00I had it ALL!<div style="text-align: left;">
What an absolutely amazing day that was! 225 miles in 8 and a half hours, 7 of which in the saddle, lovely places and a lot of ... well, everything, really.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8AM is not looking promising</td></tr>
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Mud guards have the purpose in the name! Bang on time, 9AM, as predicted by the BBC, the rain stopped and I hit the road towards Great Yarmouth.<br />
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My Gear - Don't hit me!</div>
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Bike checked, fuelled and set,</div>
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she really behaves badly if the tyre pressure drops just a tad bit.<br />
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Given the 1 1/2 hour delay induced by the weather gods, I had decided to skip the first part of the scenic route via Framlingham and to hit Great Yarmouth on a known route with good roads, A14/A143, to get to the coastal route quickly and reliably. <br />
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I could have gone across to the A140 but this is as much as a nuisance as the A12. Thanks to missing front mudguard I was still riding in rain despite the clear sky above me. If you can't see a lot it's nice to be on a big wide road that you know. Little tip: avoid running over road kill, very messy!<br />
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Whichever way, I managed to find my way to and through Great Yarmouth without electronic helpers and ... really needed a loo! And see what I found in Horsey! Just at the roadside the loveliest little spot for a rest. Parking, loo, tea room, what else to ask for?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big parking lot and toilets behind the boats!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that blue, or what?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! I am a bit greedy :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yet well deserved after 85 miles!</td></tr>
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Refreshed and well fed I set off to Happisburg. I love lighthouses and this one is pretty. There I had the first glimpse of the see, but somehow couldn't be tickled to have a walk and a closer look. So I just took a few pictures and moved on.Roads had dried up, the ride started to be fun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost threw my bike over, uneven ground and all of a sudden really strong wind - scary!</td></tr>
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And off I went to Cromer via Bacton along the coast road. I did not expect Cromer to be so pretty and grand.One comes from the top of the hill and all of a sudden there is the most magnificent view, and nowhere to stop to take a picture, argh! I definitely will go back to Cromer some time to explore a bit more. So I just rode on towards Wells-next-the-Sea.<br />
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This entire stretch along the Norfolk coastline is absolutely beautiful but a huge challenge for me, really strong winds, tight bends, bad road surface and a lot of farm dirt. It is a really odd feeling if one nicely leans into a bend and then feels displaced by a good few inches due to a gust of wind.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just had to stop for this idyll</td></tr>
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Rather stiff and cold I arrived at my destination and gladly recognised it from this year's trip to a bike show. It is a lively place and having fish and chips is mandatory. Of course I obliged!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There you go!</td></tr>
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Last leg along the coast line goes to Hunstanton.Goodness me that was breezy. Loads of bikers there, and yes there is a cliff, just being on it one doesn't really realise. So a quick coffee and a muffin as antidote to the savoury food earlier and then off home for another of couple of hours ride.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there are loads of kite servers out there, mad mad people</td></tr>
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Hit Kings Lynn on the way home which is not really the prettiest of towns, bit confusing to ride around, too, but from there everything was plain sailing except the low sun, silly me forgot the shades. On that leg it came from the side through the trees creating strobe light. Got lucky with the cars, all driving well so I could just nicely swim home in the bulk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is proof of mileage...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and dirt. Goodness me we both were filthy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And my bounty... feeling a bit queasy now</td></tr>
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Fantastic day, absolutely proud and happy, and glad that I massively enjoyed riding solo. With that insight the sky is the limit.YaY!Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-76576991903981552592014-10-18T21:52:00.000+01:002014-10-18T21:52:17.726+01:00Naughty Weather Gods!Great! The rain is shifting into tomorrow morning apparently, including weather warning and all.<br />
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<br />I do not intend to falter, but thought it might be a good idea to put my front mudguard on only to find that the bolts are a few mill too long, so hey ho, again, let's get dirty then!<br />
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So there you go, still will have to fuel the bike and check the tyres, but for the rest of it ready to go.<br />
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Have a lovely Sunday and wish me luck!<br />
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<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-34592007437964140062014-10-17T19:22:00.000+01:002014-10-17T19:22:28.518+01:00Charging Up!Ohhhh... getting excited now! It's the weekend and as <a href="http://historyofilp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/freedom.html" target="_blank">promised yesterday</a> I am preparing for a trip. Thus I shall dutifully report here what I am up to. You may have noticed that it is October and that I am talking about motorcycle trips, so you might be in for a lot of moaning.<br />
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For now the weather looks lovely, though, a bit breezy, yet with hope for some sunny spells. The thought that we might not have many more of those days made me decide to go out this Sunday.<br />
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Now! One might want to take into consideration that I only have my license since two years, that I changed bike twice, and that I don't have as many miles under my belt as I would wish, let alone country road miles and going solo. My baby is a customised, 1998, Yamaha Dragstar Custom, 650cc. I got her made by <a href="http://solowchoppersuk.co.uk/" target="_blank">So-Low Choppers</a> and got her in April this year. Her lifetime clicks stand on 21,113 of which only about 1.5k are my own. So, I might not present you with the <a href="http://www.travelchannel.co.uk/shows/worlds-greatest-motorcycyle-rides" target="_blank">World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides</a> but hey ho, one has to start somewhere!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0sXBOwVFhZEVYto7xv0H9yIXjEq3GXsOPwq4jmBruQak55zxq7R2_jXKlhT3GVIyRYYFDQXGnSYWRmrI0MFNCg-sA2Xxgt_TCko-bsoEGNA4ksuAX6IYf3CfEkuBT87uhyQlRNbSNaM2/s1600/photo-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0sXBOwVFhZEVYto7xv0H9yIXjEq3GXsOPwq4jmBruQak55zxq7R2_jXKlhT3GVIyRYYFDQXGnSYWRmrI0MFNCg-sA2Xxgt_TCko-bsoEGNA4ksuAX6IYf3CfEkuBT87uhyQlRNbSNaM2/s1600/photo-21.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you hear something quite loud, looking like this, it might just be me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have planned my route, and it will be tough. Google tells me that continuous driving in a car will need 6 hours and 26 minutes. Assume, that me riding a choppery kind of thing and getting lost a couple of times will rather need longer then less time. And of course one wants to enjoy the odd cappuccino, ice cream or whatever else the local culinary joy might be. I have a good 10 hours of proper daylight, the neighbours promised to attend to the cat should I for some reason not make it home, all I need to do now is to get my gear ready.<br />
<br />
Well... I will have to come back to that one. Some of it is not really thought through yet, especially not for the cold season. So, on future rides I will try a few things and let you know how it goes. For now I am trying two things as accessories:<br />
<br />
Firstly, a <a href="http://www.mophie.com/" target="_blank">mophie</a>, which is an extra battery pack for my iPhone. I recon if the phone has to get me out of trouble, to help me find my way on GoogleMaps, to track my route and to take photos, this is a smart thing to have.<br />
<br />
Secondly, I will take my camcorder. I will look into the purchase of a proper bike-cam but for now the clunky thing has to do. Any suggestions on little mobile cameras and how to fix them to a bike without scratching the paintwork are very welcome!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsNClz54H80/VEFAzjB380I/AAAAAAAAFM0/Xjh43w3BJFI/s1600/001.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsNClz54H80/VEFAzjB380I/AAAAAAAAFM0/Xjh43w3BJFI/s1600/001.gif" height="282" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Additionally I am very tempted to use an App that will track my route via
GPS. I shall not use a SatNav. Navies are a big NoNo! You can't strip a
bike to the minimum and then put weird stuff on. But for the sake of reporting, and a bit of smugness in case the trip goes well against all odds, it would be nice to know where I was. I am going to give <a href="http://www.easytrailsgps.com/" target="_blank">EasyTrails GPS Lite</a> a shot. No idea how it works and how quickly it will drain my juice pack, though. <br />
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<br />
I recon it makes sense to pack waterproofs, so a backpack it will have to be. Shame actually, there is nothing nicer than to ride really light. However, given that I have to carry that thing anyway, I might just pack a bit of luncheon to keep the cost down. And who knows I might stumble across something nice to buy on my way :)<br />
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So that's it for now, tomorrow I shall reveal my route before I will attend to a good night sleep! <br />
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<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-1660294737912185472013-01-08T00:09:00.000+00:002013-01-08T00:09:13.501+00:00Holidays in Tangkahan - Part 5: Creepy Crawlies<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hmmm... I don't like them, don't like them at all!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Snakes are
still OK, but everything with more than four legs is just horrible. At
home I scream for help, I can't even get close to spiders. So, what was I
thinking when I booked a trip to Tangkahan, you might think. Would it all go
away just because there are nice elephants?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Honestly? I
don't know, I really wanted to see elephants and possibly Orangutans;
one takes a lot to make a dream come true. The truth that I found was, that
elephants and Orangutans are every single bit as amazing as I expected,
and that creepy crawlies are actually quite bearable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
See,
if they are coming into my house I consider them intruders, if I meet them in the wilderness and even in the lodge, I respect that we are sharing
the same environment.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ9X-SJKb_M/UOtdPIvUvPI/AAAAAAAADLU/t8epZme1XD8/s1600/P1020279-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ9X-SJKb_M/UOtdPIvUvPI/AAAAAAAADLU/t8epZme1XD8/s400/P1020279-s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leeches, those small ones are more a messy nuisance rather than painful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My mum had a frog falling off the ceiling just the very moment when she wanted to go to the toilet, the little guy got lucky she hadn't opened the lid yet. At home she might have got a heart attack, now she just got the camera, took a picture and then ran over to my lodge to call me so I could have a look as well... how considerate!</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bdu7ExT-2o/UOtdpVm2bLI/AAAAAAAADLo/X_g63ojNKYU/s1600/P1010958-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Bdu7ExT-2o/UOtdpVm2bLI/AAAAAAAADLo/X_g63ojNKYU/s400/P1010958-s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite cute even with his big eyes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nb2MEKJ7nY/UOtdosYUXzI/AAAAAAAADLc/vAGOxpKbs6k/s1600/DSCF0011+3-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nb2MEKJ7nY/UOtdosYUXzI/AAAAAAAADLc/vAGOxpKbs6k/s320/DSCF0011+3-s.jpg" width="138" /></a>There is a bush in front of my lodge that seems to be a happy place for all sorts of snakes and lizards. Every time I visit, somebody finds another one in this shrub. Again, first thing is to get the camera out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koqj6x5t4Y0/UOte3e2hpVI/AAAAAAAADMQ/IJKOx0qDplA/s1600/IMG_2358-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koqj6x5t4Y0/UOte3e2hpVI/AAAAAAAADMQ/IJKOx0qDplA/s320/IMG_2358-s.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well and spiders are just that tad bit bigger than at home. I guess the encounter that halfway cured my fear was a toilet visit at a camp in the middle of the jungle. As usual the door was hanging halfway open, there was no wall to hold on to - well the palm leaf panels separating the two cabins were already broken when mum tried to lean against it earlier, her fist went straight through... we never told anybody... - and I was not wearing glasses that early in the morning. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZeySrJ3SLg/UOtd6H1J70I/AAAAAAAADME/1wL3oRx7Y7I/s1600/P1020309-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZeySrJ3SLg/UOtd6H1J70I/AAAAAAAADME/1wL3oRx7Y7I/s320/P1020309-s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I was busily minding my business when I realised that some of the bamboo or palm leaf fixings looked funny, kinda more fuzzy than the rest. I decided that the 'open door feature' was actually very re-assuring should a quick exit become necessary, finished quickly, squeezed myself past it, got the camera and there it was revealed: the biggest spider I had ever seen in my life.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgRetACk29Y/UOtdp5EkvbI/AAAAAAAADLw/lNBDYJi7Kq0/s1600/P1020211-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgRetACk29Y/UOtdp5EkvbI/AAAAAAAADLw/lNBDYJi7Kq0/s320/P1020211-s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I admit that I still get goose-bumps as I write, but I am much better with spiders ever since. On my last trip I even through one out of my lodge all by myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since I am half blind without glasses, and my vision adjusts quite slowly even with glasses on, I really despise of everything fast moving like cockroaches. I don't mind them as long as they are sitting still, but I had one running in my bed and from there into the suitcase and initially I wasn't sure if it were a spider... ah, what a hassle. I decided to get me a bit of help.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2KwyQF4HN4/UOtgkKf9QxI/AAAAAAAADMs/Ln4T0L_watE/s1600/IMG_2361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2KwyQF4HN4/UOtgkKf9QxI/AAAAAAAADMs/Ln4T0L_watE/s320/IMG_2361.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got so used to her sleeping on my legs, I didn't even noticed anymore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A friendly little cat who had been sneaking through the open window and sleeping between my clothes initially ran from me, but got very tame and cuddly. So, I made sure she was around when I went to bed and invited her to join me under the mosquito net - one never knows if creepies might not find a way into and underneath the net, but this little cat was always hungry and I could be sure everything moving would be hunted down by her. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I have my trusted torch. It is not very big and not very suitable for nightly hikes, but it has a wrist tie and I always have it attached during sleep. When I have to get up I always check the floor first and if I don't wear flipflops then the shoes as well. There is nothing worse than to hear the crunchy noise of a flattened cockroach during a nightly bathroom trip, or to find a scorpion in your shoe. And I don't like frogs and geckos falling on me either, so I check the ceilings, very much helped by my little friend who is hoping for prey. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Geckos are the creepies I actually really like. I watched them once trying to catch a moth. They really keep other crawlies at bay. They make funny cackling noises, though. I needed a couple of nights until I realised that such a tiny thing can create such a commotion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The conclusion of the matter? I still don't really like them, but as soon as I arrive in my lodge I am starting to take things with a grain of salt. I see elephants, I eat wonderful food and I meet great people, it is warm, I hear the river, I see monkeys jumping off the roof while I have my breakfast sitting underneath, and at night, when I have a little rest in my hammock before turning in, the noise of the jungle makes me sleepy and a gazillion fireflies add their light to the stars, and all is good!</div>
Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-6427638446623494922013-01-05T23:16:00.000+00:002013-01-05T23:19:25.880+00:00Holidays in Tangkahan - Part 4: Bathroom Business<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Understanding each other's culture is key </b></span></h4>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJHiXalPrpQ/UOf01_q210I/AAAAAAAADIY/zf9GPtqeNu0/s1600/IMG_1814%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJHiXalPrpQ/UOf01_q210I/AAAAAAAADIY/zf9GPtqeNu0/s400/IMG_1814%5B1%5D.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I found this on FB, and I have no idea who owns it! Please get in touch if it is yours, I really would love to keep it here :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This bathroom business is only a problem because nobody talks about it. Only in recent years some TV shows became outrageously open about colon therapy and those sorts of things, but there are still a lot of taboos. I even wrote a blog about <a href="http://ilp-healthandbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/going-to-bathroom.html" target="_blank">'How to go to the bathroom</a>' some years back, but to follow those tips you need a seating toilet. When you travel, you will be faced with a rather different set of issues. Travelling to developing countries can be daunting, and information usually comes in horror stories from the ones who had learnt the hard way. So let's put some perspective to the subject.</div>
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Which one is mine?</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So embarrassing to run into a guy with his pants down. This even happened to me in London, but for other reasons than language barriers. Even if you are not planning to learn the language: you may want to look up the words for 'toilet/bathroom', 'male' and 'female'.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bathroom = Kamar mandi (Indonesian)</b></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7torcws_N0/UOf7zjjLtJI/AAAAAAAADIs/b9JX80fHBzw/s1600/IMG_2857%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7torcws_N0/UOf7zjjLtJI/AAAAAAAADIs/b9JX80fHBzw/s200/IMG_2857%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indonesian for 'man'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKQyQmIEa3A/UOf98_AYAKI/AAAAAAAADJU/BLoKPm4Ipag/s1600/IMG_2856-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKQyQmIEa3A/UOf98_AYAKI/AAAAAAAADJU/BLoKPm4Ipag/s200/IMG_2856-s.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indonesian for 'woman'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Seating VS Squatting</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really didn't trust my eyes!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPNk1uu0CS0/UOf9ILq1hXI/AAAAAAAADJE/evokYFdqExU/s1600/IMG_2762-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPNk1uu0CS0/UOf9ILq1hXI/AAAAAAAADJE/evokYFdqExU/s320/IMG_2762-s.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKUqsur6utM/UOgFlyT0kSI/AAAAAAAADJw/V7rrXnxCWp8/s1600/IMG_2694-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oKUqsur6utM/UOgFlyT0kSI/AAAAAAAADJw/V7rrXnxCWp8/s320/IMG_2694-s.jpg" width="178" /></a>While the locals get quite visually educated, nobody ever told me how to use a squatting toilet. At times I am still confused which way round I have to stand. I guess all boils down to me being a really stiff Westerner and the right way round sometimes does not allow for enough space or has no wall to hold on to, but I am getting better. On my last trip I used the airport squatting toilet in Medan wearing a big back pack, a heavy belt bag - very inconvenient when letting your trousers down - while my computer bag was hanging from my neck. Sometimes I think this would make good material for a comedy movie.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, in the meantime I prefer a clean squatting toilet to a dirty seating one. All it needs is a bit more preparation. In squatting toilets the floor usually is wet, so I roll up my trouser legs before descending to business - don't forget to roll them down again... - don't laugh, happened to me several times, it is hot, one is used to shorts, one has enough to do getting sticky trousers up on sticky skin... one forgets a few things...</div>
<br />
<b>Rule number 1:</b> Develop a routine!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Door locks - Get over yourself!</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pTVR_3edJmE/UOhTuBRwwVI/AAAAAAAADKE/DqRvkMIAtB0/s1600/IMG_2385-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pTVR_3edJmE/UOhTuBRwwVI/AAAAAAAADKE/DqRvkMIAtB0/s320/IMG_2385-s.jpg" width="175" /></a>Really - it's the only thing you can do! Ever so often they don't exist, if they exist they may be from the outside - beats me! Probably a re-used door the wrong way round - or locks are funny contraptions made out of household items. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
General rule seems to be: if the door is open, then it's free; if it somewhat ajar there might be somebody in. Usually the rooms are small so I can reach if somebody pushes against it, or I might need the door to hold on to anyway, if the room is big then all I can do is to sing or whistle, or to create some sort of commotion.</div>
<br />
<b>Rule number 2: </b>Be noisy!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Paper VS Water</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know... if you have very modern toilets then you have 'paper & water'. I had a chat with a friend and although she lives in South East Asia since a while, she has no clue either on how the toilet routine is meant to happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, we have established the first bits of the process: you find the right one, you go in, you decide on how to deal with the door and which way round to use the basin, you do what you need to do...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
... and then there you are... what next?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All there is is in the best of cases is a bucket or basin with or without water, a ladle kind of pot thingy and a water tap which usually is already running/trickling - no paper, though!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This leads to the assumption that Indonesian people wash, something which comes close to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet" target="_blank">French bidet</a> solution, just with the difference that there is no PAPER for crying out loud... Maybe things are easier when you are flexible in your legs and actually can operate things like ladles for such purpose rather then needing your hands for balance and grabbing hold. And maybe things are easier when wearing sarongs and light, calf length cotton trousers which look a bit like sleepers. I however never saw anybody look like having wet themselves just from pulling up trousers over a wet buttocks... I have no idea how it works... maybe there is somebody out there who can enlighten us.</div>
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I for my part am always prepared now; I never go without my trusted belt bag which I modified with two hooks so it actually goes into the loops of the trousers, otherwise the belt has a tendency to slip as soon as it is opened, and I can use it without wearing a belt. This little bag contains wet wipes and tissues. Initial worries of blocking the drain have left me. I am very resourceful in my paper use, as it is hard to get hold of, and a big scoop of water will flush it away. Additionally this ugly little thing allows for plasters, deet, money, teatree oil, small torch, all the stuff appropriate for the respective day trip. The front pockets are always equipped the same way and I find stuff in my sleep, the big part gets tailored for the day. I hope it never breaks!</div>
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<b>Rule number 3:</b> be prepared!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>How2... Deep Clean!</b></span><br />
Oh well, I just don't! I do things to get refreshed, but as soon as I sit in the car to Tangkahan I throw my Western standards in the bin. Jess, the director of <a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">RAW</a>, always looks like a lady, well groomed, fresh and radiant even in the middle of the jungle. Like the majority of people however, I have given up and it works fine for me. I so far only stayed for two weeks at a time and that is just OK for survival in clothes which are always a bit damp and without a shower. See, this is not a complaint, not even a challenge, for me this reflects what this kind of trip is all about.<br />
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Don't get me wrong: I love going to a long spa weekend as well. Here however, I am going back to my roots. When I was a child we had one bath every week, and for the rest of it it was a wash cloth and cold water. I got lucky when my grandma prepared a kettle of warm water in the evening before she scrubbed me down. And my skin was less itchy and allergic back then. Our culture of having a shower every day might make us appear very cultured and clean, but actually it is harmful: for the environment and ourselves.<br />
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At my lodge I have a tap, a big bucket and a sitting down toilet. A little shelf allows for storing some soap, toothbrush and paste, and I have a nail to hang a towel. This is perfectly fine. I only need half of the big bucket for washing my hair and scrubbing myself down - I am a wash cloth girl, I just can't get myself to pour cold water over my back - and this water I then use to flush the toilet. I feel fresh and I actually am clean, just that it feels differently.</div>
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The only concessions to the Western lifestyle I do is using my own shampoo - not really good as it is not bio degradable, but my hair became really bad last time when I used the bio stuff - and I use stay in conditioner spray, which I only use if needed, rather than the wash out stuff. I let my hair dry as it is, no power for blow dry anyway; body lotion I skip, the humidity puffs up my skin nicely, and a few minutes after washing I will be sweaty again, which together with cream would make things extra sticky. </div>
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In summer when the river is nice and clean we used to bath in there. This is fun, but one has to keep clothes on while washing and I find that a hassle. I rather do everything soapy in the privacy of my little bathroom and use the river only for refreshment. </div>
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<b>Rule number 4:</b> Less is more!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>What if there is Nothing?</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06-0Z7hD-LE/UOh9KvLG6PI/AAAAAAAADLA/e791Q_7-1Mk/s1600/IMG_2920-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06-0Z7hD-LE/UOh9KvLG6PI/AAAAAAAADLA/e791Q_7-1Mk/s320/IMG_2920-s.jpg" width="155" /></a>Using a bush in the cultivated Western world already is a bit of an ordeal, in the jungle it is even more challenging. This is the only occasion which induces penis envy in me. Don't despair though, there is a thing called 'Shewee' and you get it in outdoor shops. I haven't used it yet, but I diligently put it into my suitcase just in case. The idea is to use it in conjunction with a bottle, preferably a wide neck one, so other stuff can go there as well, and nature is safe from human stink and wildlife will be undisturbed. I guess this is more for hard core trackers, on our tracks we did use bushes. </div>
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It is more a matter of timing rather than availability of shrubberies. After lunch for example everybody all of a sudden is strolling off, which somewhat compromises privacy. I tend to try and get ahead of the game, especially if the travel group is only newly formed. It is amazing how toilet issues tie a group together over time. Things one is quite squeamish about initially get freely shared for the benefit of the group a bit later on. </div>
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One tip I have right now is: Use Deet (insect repellent) all over before you put on your clothes, be careful not to get it on soft tissue. It is rather nerve wrecking to see leeches reaching up while you are not in a position to run. Whatever you leave, cover up and mark with a little stick or so, then others will be able to avoid the spot.</div>
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<b>Rule number 5:</b> Take things with a grain of salt!<br />
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<b>Coming up:</b> Befriending creepie crawliesRikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-53112583107741172572013-01-04T14:16:00.000+00:002013-01-04T14:50:34.001+00:00Holidays in Tangkahan – Part 3: The Elephants<br />
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Oh, Elephants!</div>
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Tangkahan is all about the elephants. They are wonderful, and although I still can’t really tell them apart one can see that each of them is a very special character. Augustin is my favourite. On my first trip my mum and I did the four day jungle track on her back and she just sticks. Apart from Theo, the bull, she is one of the biggest and she is an ol’ cuddle; one can just hug her trunk, lean the heads together and have a little chat eye to eye. I like to imagine that she remembers me, but so does everybody else...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Hug on my arrival! Augustin and Ame</td></tr>
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Then there is Juni; she is a bit naughty and always after food. During the track she would be bathing in the river and sneakily move closer to the place where the dishes were washed in the hope to get the trunk into the leftovers of the rice pot. She had a baby called Namo last year, and then during my April visit disaster struck. A herpes virus which is infecting the heart killed Namo and Tanga, Olives baby.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those pinapple skins look really, really tempting!</td></tr>
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Olive is the smallest of the Elephants, she was always struggling a bit and rocking back and forth and nobody really knew why. So when she was the first one to get a baby, everybody had great hopes that she would become more confident, and then she lost the baby. I was so pleased to see now, that she is really well and rather spirited. Whenever she is in the river the mahouts have to be very vigilant because she tends to just stroll off.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theo is having a bit of fun with Olive. He likes the petit ones!</td></tr>
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Sari is the oldest one, and is easily recognisable from the slash in her left ear. She got a baby just before my last trip and everybody was so worried when the virus hit. But little Ame(lia) is fit and growing. It is amazing how strong these little things are. When I went into the paddock to say ‘Hello’ she came running and gave me a good push. She is only as high as my hips, but you really don’t want to engage in a wrestling game with her, she just doesn’t know how strong she is.</div>
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Ardana and Eva are the two I am struggling most to tell apart. They are same size and very similar looking to Augustin, and they are all very protective about Ame. The little one however seems to have adopted Augustin as auntie and always hangs around between her legs.</div>
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<b>CRU – Conservation Response Unit</b></div>
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CRU is basically the elephant’s employer. Yes, they are hard working individuals. Well, they need to be kept on their toes and interested anyway, so the mahouts teach them all sorts of tricks. They are too smart animals and their brains need stimulation. The CRU was founded to look after elephants and mahouts. There are many CRU units and a lot of them are located in the Aceh province up North of Tangkahan. This is where the elephants originally came from; they were wild animals and were driven out of the forest by logging. Like African elephants they follow their age old trails, they know where and when the best food is growing and ever so often they stumble over newly built settlements or palm or rubber plantations. For the elephants those encounters mean either death or captivity. The ones who now live in CRU camps are well looked after and their main job is to patrol the rainforest. They even are successful in driving wild elephants back into the forest and teaching them new trails, thus helping to maintain the wild population.</div>
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Elephants cost a lot of money however, so the rest of their time they are working for the eco-tourism business to top up the CRU budgets. Last year the Tangkahan unit was hit quite hard financially: The three mums with their babies couldn’t go on elephant tracking, and when the virus hit the elephant camp became an intensive care unit and no business was undertaken. Since a few month funding from NGOs broke away as well, so right now things are looking really rather grim. About £4000 per month need to be raised to keep the elephants in Tangkahan.</div>
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<b>Conservation Funding</b></div>
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Just a little detour and definitely not comprehensive information, but bits and pieces I picked up. Finding funding for projects is such a difficult yet profitable business. Apparently there are websites out there listing the organisations, which grant funding. However, I was told that the focus of those organisations has changed. In the past it was ‘species protection’. So, you could apply for elephants, bears, tigers and so on and if your cause was found worthwhile you could do your stuff. Now the focus is on community driven conservation projects, you have to show that what you do fits a greater scheme. The Tangkahan elephants are perfectly positioned for that as they are a big part of the community eco-tourism scheme which has as its main focus to enable the locals to do rainforest conservation. They have a well trained group of rangers who patrol the forest and work as guides as well; the elephants patrol the forest, so all should be fine and well, just that there is this funding gap. The organisation, which sustained the unit basically since the beginnings, has pulled out and new funding is only applied for now. So, soon you might see some blog posts under ‘<a href="http://rikas-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bloody Hell... what did I do now?</a>’ because I will be killing myself in some sort of charity challenge to help close the gap.</div>
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<b>The fun part!</b><br />
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Well, just seeing them when you arrive, already is quite something. It is a short drive along a bumpy road of mud and pebbles from the visitor centre to Green Lodge. Their paddock is right at the corner where the road bends into the access to the lodge. Tall palm trees give shade – elephants can get sun burn and overheat easily – and there are palm leaves on the ground to munch on.</div>
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Then you may go off for a wash – buy a voucher at CTO and give it to the mahouts, first. The elephants line up, get a bit of food, you can take pictures and then they take trunk to tail, marching like little school children down to the river. Once they arrive it’s toilet time. Firstly, you don’t want to have that in the water, and secondly, due to their camp lifestyle digestion is rather slow, so they need a bit of help to keep the guts healthy – it is a bit gross, though. As soon as the business is sorted and they got over their initial boisterous joy of being in the water, they settle down and you can wash them and later feed them some bananas, and they may even show you a few of their tricks.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my girl, Augustin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jony with Augustine and Abdullah with Olive, showing off some circus skills</td></tr>
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On arrival back at the lodge they each collect a pile of palm leaves and to take back to the paddock for a much and a rest before the elephant riding tours start.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2011, I think it is Tanga and Olive</td></tr>
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I found that either long trousers or shorts with a soft rim are best for a ride. Otherwise the seam might be rubbing on the saddle. Strong shoes are a good choice as well, and use Deet (insect repellent) and sun block – Deet reacts with sunlight badly and can cause burns if you don’t use sun block or good clothing – and off you go into one of the best adventures a person can have.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2011, wearing the shorts which taught me the hard way</td></tr>
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<b>Coming up</b>: A bit of hygiene<br />
<b>More pictures</b> of the <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111997792937998780285/RAWElephantOdysseyJuly2011" target="_blank">RAW June 2011 Elephant Odyssey </a>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-19402551232973063342013-01-03T07:30:00.001+00:002013-01-03T07:30:44.625+00:00Holidays in Tangkahan - Part 2: Money, money, ...<div style="text-align: justify;">
I wish to think that it was my wonderful writing style of the <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/holidays-in-tangkahan-part1-setting.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> that made you decide to come back and wanting to know more about visiting Tangkahan. So, what's next? I guess the most important thing to know about is the money: Which cost would this trip run up?</div>
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<b>Here is what I found out</b>: You need a <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=IDR;to=EUR;amt=1" target="_blank">currency converter</a> and a list of the cost as they occur!</div>
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- Flight</div>
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- Visa on arrival for European countries and Australia, all others please check Visa regulations </div>
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- Taxi from airport to hotel </div>
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- Hotel in Medan</div>
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- Food in Medan </div>
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- Tips (taxi)</div>
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- In RAW package </div>
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<li>Transfer from Medan to Tangkahan</li>
<li>Lunch on the way</li>
<li>Accommodation in Tangkahan</li>
<li>Food full board </li>
<li>Activities</li>
<li>Transfer from Tangkahan to Medan (possibly lunch) </li>
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- Tips staff at Tangkahan</div>
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- Hotel in Medan on way home<br />
- The odd lunch or dinner </div>
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- Transfer from Hotel to airport </div>
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However, the most important thing to know is that are <b>no ATMs in the jungle</b>, so Medan is the last time you can draw money. For my last trip I travelled with a big pile of banknotes in my bag, because I had to pay for my entire stay in Tangkahan in cash. </div>
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<b>Flight</b></div>
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If you are travelling to Tangkahan from abroad, then Medan Polonia airport will be your entry point. Medan is the capital of Sumatra, a sticky, dusty place, stuffed with motorcycles and noise, and I love it! On my first trip it scared the hell out of me, but since I dare leaving the hotel it really grows on me. To get there, you will have to book your own flight even if you book the tour with <a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">RAW Wildlife Encounters</a>. They however are always happy to help and they are expanding their services all the time, so just check with them.</div>
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<b>Visa on Arrival</b></div>
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Guests from European countries and Australia buy a visa on arrival, all the others please check the visa regulations. In the air plane already, or even at the gate before boarding for the flight to Medan, you will get a customs declaration and an entry card. Best fill it in straight away, it would be a hassle wanting to do it on arrival, although Medan airport is amazingly organised. Staff sometimes looks a little bit 'important' but they are actually quite friendly. In a far corner of the arrival hall are two counters for Visa. On one you pay, on the other you get it stamped into your passport. Visa cost US$ 25, but I saw somebody pay in Indonesian Rupia (IDR) - yet, better check that information if you want to do that, the dollars definitely work! </div>
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After that you go through Immigration. I never know what sort of paperwork they want, so I drop passport, custom declaration, Visa stuff and sometimes even the boarding pass on the counter and put a silly smile on. So they patiently select what they need and send me off to collect my suitcase.</div>
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There is only one conveyor belt from which everything plonks on the ground. Before you leave the building to enter the steamy heat of Medan you give the customs form to somebody in front of the door, you will know to whom as they already have piles of those in their hands; nobody seems to be really bothered what is written on it as long as they get it. </div>
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<b>Taxi and Hotel </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Taxi from the airport:</b> If you are travelling with RAW then the tour officially starts with the transfer from Medan to Tangkahan, but usually somebody from the team will be in Medan to pick you up from the airport. The way forward is to stay a night in a hotel. Tangkahan is a four hour drive away and rain usually kicks in in the afternoon making the road a bit of an adventure ride, so starting fresh the next morning makes sense.You will have to pay for taxi and hotel, though. </div>
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</div>
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<b>Hotel</b>: I usually stay in <a href="http://www.swiss-belhotel.com/indonesia/medan/medan#hotel+information" target="_blank">Swiss Belhotel Medan,</a> a 5-star hotel, which is very nice. It can be booked online and you can book airport pick-up and drop-off with them, too. Those are 5 stars of European standard.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZT7jVp0Mx8/UOUrdYoRE1I/AAAAAAAADFU/xIBn0Bcc06k/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZT7jVp0Mx8/UOUrdYoRE1I/AAAAAAAADFU/xIBn0Bcc06k/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boys Ika and Bimbim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The breakfast buffet is amazing, and a mall can be reached through a side entrance of the hotel, so ATM, a store for Indonesian SIM cards and so on are easily accessible.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk-Slbt5lBk/UOUr7JCtqMI/AAAAAAAADFc/imHycM26fgc/s1600/IMG_2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk-Slbt5lBk/UOUr7JCtqMI/AAAAAAAADFc/imHycM26fgc/s320/IMG_2307.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas decoration, Swiss Belhotel lobby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The transfer between the Swiss Belhotel and the airport lasts about 20 minutes and cost approximately <b>IDR 50,000 if you use a bluebird taxi</b>, they are the safest, a choice I nevertheless only take when I get picked up by RAW tour guides. If I travel alone I arrange pick-up by the <b>hotel taxi, which then cost IDR 70,000.</b> In any case I <b>tip something like IDR 10,000</b>, which is about 50p. I have been tipping in US$ as well because I did not have small IDR bills. All this will change in the future as they are building a new airport outside Medan, so cost and travel time will rise.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
A cheaper hotel option is the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g297725-d1380528-i52657603-Pardede_International_Hotel-Medan_North_Sumatra_Sumatra.html" target="_blank">Pardede International Hotel</a>, Medan. Less then half the price of the Swiss Belhotel, it has wifi as well, the breakfast is decent, sockets for charging appliances are a bit scarce but it is doable if you take a multi-socket extension lead with you, something I highly recommend anyway. This way you only need one power adapter - Indonesia has the European style sockets - and you can charge everything in one go.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31xXQRvamFU/UOUtAN3oWgI/AAAAAAAADF0/22An8oC3zl4/s1600/IMG_2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31xXQRvamFU/UOUtAN3oWgI/AAAAAAAADF0/22An8oC3zl4/s320/IMG_2758.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
The hotel is just around the corner of the current airport. So yes, it is a good hotel, but nothing like the standard of the Swiss Belhotel.</div>
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For dinner you either can eat in the mall, which is still very affordable and tasty, or if you are with the team, go out to one of the street restaurants. The food is amazing, but I am still not 'street smart' enough to dare going out on my own. </div>
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<b>The Adventure Package</b></div>
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If you are travelling with RAW, then the transfer to Tangkahan, accommodation, food, fees, and activities are included as stated in your bookings and itineraries. If you are travelling individually you will have to consider the individual costs.</div>
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<b>Transfer to Medan</b>: I tested the different ways to get from Medan to Tangkahan. When I booked with RAW it was included anyway, the team usually would meet the guests at the Swiss Belhotel the evening before and then share cars to go to Tangkahan as convoy the next day, very safe and organised - and fun, travelling in a group.</div>
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For my second trip I book a car via a young lady who usually did the bookings locally for RAW. Everything went well and the car was on time, yet the driver did not speak English. In an emergency we would have had no means to communicate, so I was glad that coincidentally a guide was in Medan who was about to use the bus. So it was a win-win, I had my translator and he had a comfortable ride.</div>
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For trip number three I used the hotel to book the transfer and that went horribly wrong. The car just didn't show up. So I got double lucky again that my Tangkahan friends had come to pick me up and they called their own car. This saved me quite some money as well - via the hotel the car would have cost IDR 700,000 and booked directly by the boys I only paid IDR 500,000. Depending on the bills I have I tip IDR 50-100k.</div>
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The solution for travelling alone: Get in touch with CTO (Community Tourist Operator) or the RAW office in Medan (they are only just establishing now, but check the RAW website for details), and ask them to arrange pick-up and drop-off for you. Now, this 'getting in touch with CTO' thing is again showing how remote Tangkahan is: Internet is weak, so email usually is not working well. Facebook turned out to be a fantastic tool to communicate as the mobile application usually works. So either:</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>send SMS or call the CTO mobile on +62 85275605865 (Rilly), or +62 813 61423245 (Darwin), or</li>
<li>befriend them on FB and send messages to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rillyasiska.brsitepu?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Rilly</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/darwinta.sembiring?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Darwin</a> </li>
</ul>
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Rilly is the lady in charge at CTO, Darwin was running the CTO office and is now taking on the new RAW-Indonesia office in Medan. </div>
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<b>Fees, Accommodation, Food, and Activities:</b> On arrival in Tangkahan you have to stop at the visitor centre to register and pay the entrance fee. In the end all the cost will be paid to visitor centre, except purchases and services arranged with the respective lodge like washing clothes. The picture below gives some guidelines what cost to expect for fees, accommodation, food and activities. I however will not be able to update with the latest version, so please check with Rilly about the actual price. This is really just meant to give you an idea. All the lodges are beautiful, I however can't help but stay in Green Lodge. The elephant camp is right next to it, and it is a bit more remote than the others, I just love it there and it has become my second home.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dji9tRGLy_s/UOSQFzttnpI/AAAAAAAADE0/2LD3NAzfwJc/s1600/Back+Map+Eng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dji9tRGLy_s/UOSQFzttnpI/AAAAAAAADE0/2LD3NAzfwJc/s640/Back+Map+Eng.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">prices as of April 2011, please check with CTO for current prices.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Tipping Guide - North Sumatra</b></div>
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I took this from the RAW material which I recieved during my first trip. There it says that tipping is not compulsory yet it is generally recommended if you believe the service warrants a show of appreciation. They gave their recommendation in A$ I am using a converter to give you a rough idea:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odgrYo5cfQ0/UOSab51hiLI/AAAAAAAADFE/POFUj26V9lw/s1600/tipping+guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odgrYo5cfQ0/UOSab51hiLI/AAAAAAAADFE/POFUj26V9lw/s640/tipping+guide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
I hope all of this didn't put you off! Things are quite cheap; going for lunch with seven people to the local open restaurant usually set us back 120 - 200k which is something around £10-15. Those restaurants usually don't look like much but the food is just amazing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiuyzpNfxGM/UOUu_udTskI/AAAAAAAADGE/OHJwn1WrdRo/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiuyzpNfxGM/UOUu_udTskI/AAAAAAAADGE/OHJwn1WrdRo/s320/IMG_2703.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last lunch in the Lake Toba area before heading home to Tangkahan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Coming up: </b>The Elephants</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-88949784686765893452012-12-30T16:17:00.000+00:002012-12-30T16:18:02.721+00:00Holidays in Tangkahan – Part1: Setting the scene<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tangkahan is a beautiful jungle area in Sumatra, Indonesia, offering a wonderful eco-holiday experience including elephants, wildlife, hiking, tubing, caves, waterfalls, great food and wonderful people.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i0PZybycCI/Ti6Puzgn7dI/AAAAAAAABxk/oTpZulXZj7A/s1600/P1010370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i0PZybycCI/Ti6Puzgn7dI/AAAAAAAABxk/oTpZulXZj7A/s400/P1010370.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAW Elephant Odyssey, July 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now: South East Asia might sound a little bit scary for the rather inexperienced traveller, I however am sure that almost everybody feels a little bit of a tingle going down the spine, thinking: I wish would just dare going there…</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am one of those people. Up until summer 2011 I only had travelled to the USA, safely accompanied by my husband. Yet, travelling alone to the jungle, facing heat and humidity, creepy-crawlies, and uncertain food and bathroom situations was not really my idea of holidays.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
There however was that tingle when I stumbled across that website advertising a 14 day Elephant Odyssey with a prospect of seeing wild Orangutans. One and a half years on, I not only did this beautiful guided tour - and I did see a wild Orangutan mum with her baby in the jungle, and a hornbill, and an eagle flying high up above my lodge why I was lying in my hammock - I went back twice, travelling on my own account. Thus I now feel enabled to give sound information and during the next few posts I will hopefully be able to rope you in. Who knows? One day we may even meet in Tangkahan.</div>
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Travel always bears the question: What will it cost me? And the answer is: There is always a trade-off between ease and price.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The easiest way is to book a tour with <a href="http://rawildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">RAW Wildlife Encounters</a>. On their website you find different <a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/tours" target="_blank">tours</a> and they are always happy to tailor a tour for your needs (please note that the prices on the RAW website are Australian Dollars). As far as I know they are now able to help with flight bookings when you are Australian, if you are travelling from Europe or America you will have to book your own flight, but just ask to see with what they can assist. They expand and tailor their services all the time. </div>
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Tours booked with RAW of course have to be more expensive than travelling on your own account. Firstly, you will be paying for their service – and what a service that is – and secondly, the company has a strong corporate responsibility scheme, running sustainability and conservation projects in the area. However, if you are organising everything yourself you might find that prices are not as cheap as one might expect from basic South East Asian jungle lodge living. ... and rightly so, they aren't! Tangkahan is special in many ways.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The History</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A good decade ago the villagers were illegal loggers and the area was about to lose the rainforest for good. Bamboo River lodge was the first in the area and the owners raised awareness to convince the villagers to rather find their business in eco-tourism and preserve the rainforest rather than destroying it. The paper company fought back, wrecking the place forcing the couple, an English lady with her Indonesian husband, to go back to England. Their message however had been received, the villagers drove the paper company out, Bamboo River lodge was rebuilt and still exists and others followed. The rainforest has recovered and the tourist business is the tool to give people a living without palm oil, rubber and logging. Travelling to Tangkahan is active conservation.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Accommodation is simple, usually a room with a bed with mosquito net,
small table and a chair. Bathrooms have sitting down toilet, some lodges
have sinks but at my favourite - Green Lodge - you only will find a tap
with a bucket from which you will take the used water with a ladle to
flush the toilet. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nE9i3Cc66G4/UOBjA7RA9fI/AAAAAAAADEE/hGoh9VSfDhM/s1600/DSCF0120-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nE9i3Cc66G4/UOBjA7RA9fI/AAAAAAAADEE/hGoh9VSfDhM/s400/DSCF0120-s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my bathroom 2011 - in the meantime I got a proper toilet seat, amazing with how little water one can survive quite comfortably</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Electricity is still provided through generators
during evening until bedtime. Bamboo River lodge was the first to be
connected to the power grid just now – we had a big party to celebrate –
so there is hope that the others will get power as well during the next
year or so. Mobile access is available but not strong enough to load
some websites, or to send big emails, so communication is slow. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Apart from the conservation aspect you might ask: 'Why would I want to pay for something so basic at all, why should I visit a place like this?' And I would answer: because you would be sitting on a beautiful restaurant terrace in the middle of amazing foliage, overlooking the river. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCmvgFXneBA/UOBk1wbxvvI/AAAAAAAADEU/oMhu7h1Ajuw/s1600/DSCF0074-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCmvgFXneBA/UOBk1wbxvvI/AAAAAAAADEU/oMhu7h1Ajuw/s320/DSCF0074-s.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walk to the restaurant</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
You would be drinking strong Sumatran coffee and if you would get lucky it would be from the area of Aceh, you would eat fantastic food cooked and served by lovely people, you would be faced with challenges just big enough to make you proud when accomplished and after only a short while you would feel like family. I in the meantime have a daughter and two brothers and I am proud that they chose me as their mother and sister.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I am asking back: Why would one want to not pay a decent salary for all of this? If we travel in Europe, North America or Australia we expect service cost to be high, we accept that people have to make a living and that tipping 12% is the norm. Why would we think that only because the houses in East Asia are basic and chickens are running between them, the common rule has to be that labour is cheap? The season for business only lasts three quarters of a year at its best and ever so often staff does not even earn enough to make a living during this period. Tangkahan is different. The prices are appropriate to give people a decent living and to support community projects like rubbish collection and the rainforest conservation.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
A lot needs still to be done! Like in Europe, fees are added to certain services and activities to sustain community projects. The people of Tangkahan are working hard to develop a sustainability concept for the villages and the rainforest, and they need the help and support of their guests. You however will get your moneys worth of holiday: If you allow it to happen, then visiting Tangkahan will be a life changing experience.</div>
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<b>Coming up</b>: Some more info about money</div>
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Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-50255311744485151342012-12-21T03:39:00.002+00:002012-12-21T14:49:01.461+00:00Location Scouting in Sumatra – Samosir round trip<style>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Eventually! I am travelling
again!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is my third trip to
Indonesia and you may remember that I got completely hooked to Tangkahan on my
first trip in July 2011. I then went back in April 2012 to help drive forward
the ‘English Club’ into ‘Tangkahan Education Centre’ and now I am back to see
how the projects evolve during the wet season. I however never got round to
write a comprehensive travel diary, so lets see if I will manage to that this
time.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After my first trip I
decided to compile the diary into an eBook to sell for charity in support of
the ‘English Club’, then things at home got busy and it didn’t happen. For the
April trip the plan was to use Tangkahan as writer’s retreat, but the mood took
a bit on a downturn when two of the elephant baby died. I at least met Jess
again, who had some troubles of her own, needing to take some tough decisions
for RAW. All this didn’t really help to lift the writing spirits. Although I
felt that the community quite appreciated my support I could not do a lot more
than inspire during this short period of time. I knew needed to be on location
to turn the ‘English Club’ into the Tangkahan Education Centre’, so I booked
the next flight for December 2012, an here I am.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv-XH9xuuLM/UNPXZ1Dz_OI/AAAAAAAADDM/4kOoGGuGXHI/s1600/PC160092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv-XH9xuuLM/UNPXZ1Dz_OI/AAAAAAAADDM/4kOoGGuGXHI/s400/PC160092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tangkahan - Augustines wet kiss!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh, and what a change I see!
The mood has completely changed. The elephants are healthy and happy, and RAW
has taken initiative again: Jess brought her friend Sonya into the game who has
a strong background in sustainability. She drives things with ease and
encourages people to see and take opportunities. Due to employing more of the
guides with RAW they have grown from a group of friends into a real team, with
each member taking full responsibility in their role. They are strong role
models for the younger guides and thus the future is looking safe and
prosperous for Tangkahan. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That does not mean that
things are easy, though. There is still a lot of work to be done to be
sustainable. One of the actions which RAW is taking in this respect is to find
alliances. They are extending their tours to sustain the RAW profits to
maintain the company healthy, and to be able to run and extend their corporate
responsibility schemes of giving grants, paying fair wages, rubbish management
and many more. And that is were my current trip comes in: I am travelling with
the team to scout for new locations.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7hjg3lDXkI/UNPYeGhYzqI/AAAAAAAADDc/pdrlr4AIZr4/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7hjg3lDXkI/UNPYeGhYzqI/AAAAAAAADDc/pdrlr4AIZr4/s400/IMG_2641.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samosir Island, Lake Toba - West coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">They already had made
initial contact within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Toba" target="_blank">Lake Toba</a> region, a volcanic lake, which was created by one of the biggest eruption that
ever happened. We now are travelling around and finding out more details so
that at the end we can plan a tour from Medan, to Lake Toba moving on to
Tangkahan. The Lake is about a day drive from Medan and has the absolutely
beautiful island Samosir in the middle. As I type we are driving along the North
coast towards the West side of the island where there is a to reach the
mainland without the ferry, we however want to go further South down the West
coast. We were told that at one point the road gets bad and 4-wheel drive is
needed, which we don’t have. So we feel like explorers. The road we are on does
not look like being able to take two cars, at least it does not have a white
line, yet we are dashing along with 80km an hour at times not really knowing
what is around the next corner, people walking, animals crossing, potholes
usually a bit deeper than expected - ok, now we are crossing a little bridge of
wood I would be careful to walk on…</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RV0WDHu-vWU/UNPZFuZEAqI/AAAAAAAADDo/m8yBvKtyS8s/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RV0WDHu-vWU/UNPZFuZEAqI/AAAAAAAADDo/m8yBvKtyS8s/s400/IMG_2649.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samosir Island, Lake Toba - Water buffalo at the South coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">One gets quite used to this
sort of driving, though. In the UK I would have an adrenalin shock by now,
clinging to something to hold on to. Oh, and the music is howling louder than
in a disco. I feel more relaxed than ever in my life, and I am learning again
to type without looking at the keyboard so that I don’t miss too much of the
scenery. So many traditional Batak houses, each different, water buffalos
everywhere, flora changing from fruit trees, to rice terraces – no palm oil nor
rubber plantations, beautiful churches and the island seems to be mainly
Christian, and graveyards with mausoleums taking the prime spots of land to
honour the spirits of the ancestors and make them watch over their children. I
quite like that idea to have the graveyard so close to the community – the Western
view point of strict separation between life and death and the denial that we
all have to go one day, does not seem to exist here. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3tw_Tea1Us/UNPZv8c8E1I/AAAAAAAADDw/L8oQF_g8UP8/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3tw_Tea1Us/UNPZv8c8E1I/AAAAAAAADDw/L8oQF_g8UP8/s400/IMG_2674.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samosir Island, Lake Toba - Sunset in the mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The task for today is to
find out where the ferries go, how the streets are, how much time one needs to
get round and if there are attractions we don’t know of yet. The coastline of
the mainland is absolutely beautiful here on the West side, very close to the
island, with a shimmering strip of water in-between.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had to interrupt my
writing for taking as much pictures as possible; we a had coffee break at the
ferry, followed by a strip of bumpy road in the south of the island and then
turned up North into the mountains which truly are a secret treasure. After
every turn we were surprised by an even more beautiful view to then find at the
perfect spot for a beautiful sunset.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now however we are in
another adventure; we need to get off this mountain in rain and fog. Weather is
changing quickly. We could see the big cloud closing in on us, almost sitting
on the surface of the lake. We could see it from above and all of a sudden this
wall of grey had overtaken us and we became like blindfolded. As I write the
driver is negotiating a small road with a sight of not more than 50m. We
already have passed a small slippery bridge made from strips of wood, which had
just the with of the car with the mountain on one and a steep fall on the other.
Basically: If you are reading this then we made it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I will close my story now,
we are going downhill and the sight is starting to clear at least a little bit.
I guess we will have at least another half hour to go and I suppose a toilet
brake is out of question. Some focus from my side is required!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">PS: The music seems to be on
‘shuffle’ – it did not stop for a single moment</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-25162064003505635212012-06-05T18:15:00.000+01:002012-06-05T18:15:13.088+01:00I did it...<div style="text-align: justify;">
... eventually tried <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis" target="_blank">Haggis</a>! ... and it doesn't taste too bad at all! I felt like being thrown into a time warp back to when I was a student thriving on cheap liver sausage. The haggis at <a href="http://www.linkshoteledinburgh.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Links Hotel Edinburgh</a> was spicy and had a quite good consistency. Thus now I am not just on a Whisky quest but on a Haggis quest, too. I decided that I should try <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porridge" target="_blank">porridge</a> as well - nope, even after 12 years in the country I never had porridge and now feel the urge to remedy that!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It appears that this trip is becoming a quest for all sorts of things. On our last day in Edinburgh we brought the Whisky challenge into full gear. A tour at <a href="http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Scotch Whisky Experience</a> helped setting the scene for the entire trip. There was a very charming ghost accompanied by a cat describing the process of Whisky creation, and a very much alive guide explaining the specialties of each of the four main Scottish regions for single malt: Lowland, Highland, Islay and Speyside - 'single malt' meaning one distillery and one type of cereal, usually barley, in one bottle. Of course we did some tasting and then, quite unexpectedly, found ourselves in the largest Whisky collection of the world. It was AMAZING!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glxi3VYPnyc/T84yUEj7bXI/AAAAAAAACcw/JvBcj_rg37g/s1600/photo13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Glxi3VYPnyc/T84yUEj7bXI/AAAAAAAACcw/JvBcj_rg37g/s400/photo13.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">only one shelf of the world's largest Whisky collection. There were about 4 of those.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E73-l85-IwE/T84yzMfDItI/AAAAAAAACc4/Bo62osrj_64/s1600/photo12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E73-l85-IwE/T84yzMfDItI/AAAAAAAACc4/Bo62osrj_64/s400/photo12.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and very special bottle - limited edition only given to Royals and presidents</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of course it is very exhausting to go to school like this; one needs a break! Coffee and cake it is, and if the cake is an <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ecclefechan-Tart-109500" target="_blank">Ecclefechan</a> Tart the day is a really good one. This is a very buttery rich fruit cake local to the Edinburgh area and it determined the ultimate purpose of this trip... not a holiday, No! I am now determined to not just find the best haggis and the best Whisky, but the best cake/sweet as well. Who would have thought that Scotland would be the one of all places wanting to do that?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Quest aside: We needed to comply to our sightseeing duties as well and hopped on the bus to see the <a href="http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/plan-your-visit/britannia-experience/" target="_blank">Royal Yacht Britannia</a>. We should have booked the tickets; the wait however was bearable, due to queuing in a mall while enjoying an ice-cream. Although big, it was not as impressive as I thought. One has to take into account that parts are still under restoration, the rest is very nicely displayed, though. It just appears to me as rather modest - well, or old fashioned, given that a queen was traveling on it. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj4l94IWuj0/T840YxzEkOI/AAAAAAAACdA/iO3aLxw435s/s1600/photo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj4l94IWuj0/T840YxzEkOI/AAAAAAAACdA/iO3aLxw435s/s320/photo4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bed of the Queen - I know I would feel like falling out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The tiny bed impressed me most, how did she not fall out of it, it's a wonky environment after all! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxM7oIBK76I/T841Fx3XtSI/AAAAAAAACdI/20TRTVDXc0k/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxM7oIBK76I/T841Fx3XtSI/AAAAAAAACdI/20TRTVDXc0k/s320/photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Communication Queen Style!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Altogether a nice experience. And off we whizzed off to the Balmoral hotel, where the booked <a href="http://www.thebalmoralhotel.com/dining/bollinger-bar-at-palm-court/afternoon-tea" target="_blank">Afternoon tea</a> was waiting for us. Those never look a lot, but we were stuffed by the end of it and due to the late hour we were aiming for a break.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pb8tdSC2iXc/T841xpJ_MsI/AAAAAAAACdU/apbO9WruGWI/s400/317953_449196478443512_176979315_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="298" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandwiches, scones, and cakes at Balmoral hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFCDm4Gnotw/T842uBV2FII/AAAAAAAACdc/oxdt8UpQ4wo/s1600/551717_449196261776867_975923298_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFCDm4Gnotw/T842uBV2FII/AAAAAAAACdc/oxdt8UpQ4wo/s320/551717_449196261776867_975923298_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very sparkly drink for hubby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIO-k9qGj9s/T842xuOUDdI/AAAAAAAACdk/eh20VqVbcFw/s1600/photo10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EIO-k9qGj9s/T842xuOUDdI/AAAAAAAACdk/eh20VqVbcFw/s320/photo10.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a yummy less sparkly version for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bus chauffeured us close to the hotel and after a rest we couldn't help but going for a little pub crawl. It turns out that we are much too inexperienced, we only managed two pubs and a cocktail bar; the first pub was very pretty and had good whiskys, the second one fell into the category interesting and was chosen as the only place still offering a grub, while the latter had an impressive cocktail list, a little bit confusing decor and was named <a href="http://www.dragonflycocktailbar.com/" target="_blank">The Dragonfly</a>. If you like cocktails, definitely a place to visit in Edinburgh. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what did I take home from the Edinburgh leg of the trip?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Edinburgh is definitely worth a visit, most of the things can be done walking, for the rest of it, like the Britannia, take a bus or a taxi; having a car is not worth the money. And for the airport there is a bus anyway. Hotels, bars and pubs are plentiful and of all kinds; they can be found everywhere and in good density around the inner town (Princess street, Grassmarket), <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tripadvisor</a> gives rankings which are rather trustworthy, and I would use The Links Hotel again anytime, trying to get hold of room 110, or 120 as very calm twin rooms.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So off we go now to Islay to explore the Whisky situation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tata! </div>
<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-10716258235036841122012-06-03T08:56:00.000+01:002012-06-03T08:58:51.387+01:00I still haven't ......had haggis, but I got my dose of bagpipes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m28vb8qJeTA/T8sJevqm2CI/AAAAAAAACcQ/bFwDeg8uP-0/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m28vb8qJeTA/T8sJevqm2CI/AAAAAAAACcQ/bFwDeg8uP-0/s320/photo2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
7:50, and it's a perfect Sunday morning. Again, I slept like a log at the <a href="http://www.linkshoteledinburgh.co.uk/" target="_blank">Links Hotel</a> and woke refreshed. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I decided to take the first coffee of the day in the library. Yesterday's Spanish guitar music, which played in the breakfast room, I found a bit disturbing, and it is not entirely calm here either. The library is located close to the pub bar and the music there is some 80s style rock pop stuff, but at least it is not directly in the room. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Life is good!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday was the day of abandoned plans. We intended to visit the <a href="http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Edinburgh Castle</a>, but when we arrived we skipped it. We just couldn't get ourselves to pay 16 quid to then walk for a couple of hours between cold stone walls. Neither the crown jewels nor the National War Museum of Scotland could tickle our fancy. The castle is very impressive, though. It's a proper castle and we keep wondering what effort it must have been to build such a huge thing on top of that rock. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9u2fT5yjmA/T8p_ikpSyaI/AAAAAAAACbw/Xyqty0c54nM/s1600/DSC_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9u2fT5yjmA/T8p_ikpSyaI/AAAAAAAACbw/Xyqty0c54nM/s400/DSC_0753.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="jS">
<div class="Dja">
<div class="dS">
<span class="fO">Edinburgh Castle seen from Princes Street Gardens</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We strolled down <a href="http://www.edinburgh-rosestreet.com/" target="_blank">Rose Street</a>, starting at the side close to the castle and stumbled over <a href="http://www.thedomeedinburgh.com/" target="_blank">The Dome</a>, a super posh restaurant and bar. All mirrors and chandeliers, beautiful ceilings and floors... We had heard about it before; it was said that it is a glamorous place for dinner with cocktails at the bar after, and a glamorous place it is, indeed! We discovered it late morning, were peckish and cold - it was only 13 degrees C - and so we skipped plans to go there at night and used it to replenish our resources with coffee and danish in the club room. I really am glad that we did not abandon this plan entirely, and I could very well imagine a dressed-up night out, should I ever come back to Edinburgh. </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OF1tKZhnZc/T8qAHv6ZxnI/AAAAAAAACb4/Lu18_KPPQuQ/s1600/DSC_0742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OF1tKZhnZc/T8qAHv6ZxnI/AAAAAAAACb4/Lu18_KPPQuQ/s320/DSC_0742.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thus refueled and warmed we kept ambling along Rose Street, turned right at the end and found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenners" target="_blank">Jenners</a> an old style department store, which actually is a House of Fraser, but one wouldn't know from the beautiful banisters and doors. It is a quirky building, which is addictive; it has corners and corridors, staircases up here and down there, leading the customer deeper and higher, until the 3rd floor with the food section is reached. Not quite Harrods, but loads of Short breads, cakes and chocolates, wine and whisky. The view of the food bar goes to the castle on one side, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Monument" target="_blank">Scott Monument</a> and the old part of the city to the other, and the park in-between. So we treated ourselves to a nice glass of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco" target="_blank">Prosecco</a> and just enjoyed life.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We crossed the train tracks by the railway bridge, strolled into the old centre, and then made our way back towards the castle along the <a href="http://www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/castlehill_plan.html" target="_blank">Royal Mile</a>, investigated the <a href="http://www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/interest/tartanweavingmill.html" target="_blank">Tartan weaving and Mill Exhibition</a>, and then felt a strong pull... Whisky!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNGam4u47Fs/T8qAlm6682I/AAAAAAAACcA/TfMI7InXNeU/s1600/DSC_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNGam4u47Fs/T8qAlm6682I/AAAAAAAACcA/TfMI7InXNeU/s400/DSC_0747.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old centre</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/" target="_blank">Scotch Whiskey Experience</a> called our names out loud. So far we only have explored the shop, and are planning to do the tour today. Nobody ever said this trip is for fun; it's hard work to learn about Whisky! Hence we decided a decent meal was needed to survive the bedtime sampling. Lebanese was the mutual choice and Detlef's iPad recommended <a href="http://www.beirutrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beirut</a>. An absolutely excellent choice! ... and not pricey at all...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a9oHq-6554/T8sRE5lDgEI/AAAAAAAACcg/zzJdLozKQ8U/s1600/577737_448588568504303_500062777_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a9oHq-6554/T8sRE5lDgEI/AAAAAAAACcg/zzJdLozKQ8U/s400/577737_448588568504303_500062777_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The starters... absolutely delicious!</td></tr>
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Although we felt well prepared for the Whisky, the cold had got the better of us. We needed to get to the hotel to warm up. So the plan to visit the 'Voodo Bar' was abandoned and we again found ourselves in our house pub. I am testing a theory: According to a Whisky sorter display, which we saw at the Scotch Whisky Experience it appears that most of the Whiskys starting on 'G' are non-smokey... I really do hate smoke flavours. At the bar however they were running out of 'G' Whiskys, so I had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Jura_Single_Malt" target="_blank">Jura</a> instead. It was quite an interesting choice. I always thought they are either smokey or not, but I now learned that in parts of the process peat can be used which makes it earthy. And this one tastes like a fresh spring morning, with the mossy grounds steaming when the sun comes out after a refreshing rain.</div>
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... and I still didn't dare the haggis... </div>
<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-1697339437232637082012-06-02T09:08:00.001+01:002012-06-03T08:57:24.747+01:00Will I or will I not... it's Scotland after all!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I must be a little bit mad! 7:51 on a Saturday morning in a wonderful hotel in Edinburgh and I am sitting in the breakfast room, wide awake and having my first coffee of the day.</div>
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The only thing that my brain finds slightly confusing is the Spanish guitar music dropping from the ceiling; well, better than bagpipes I guess!</div>
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But first things first! This is to be a posh 10 day trip through Scotland with a lot of Whiskey tasting, those things need time and diligence.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkRBcrKvoyE/T8m7FTbPcwI/AAAAAAAACbY/5-IXOuEROek/s1600/545855_10150933222849828_867339326_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkRBcrKvoyE/T8m7FTbPcwI/AAAAAAAACbY/5-IXOuEROek/s200/545855_10150933222849828_867339326_n.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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The trip started yesterday by car, leaving 8:05 from my doorstep in Ipswich to Stensted airport. Valet parking was booked and although it felt a bit odd to see my car being taken away by a stranger holiday started straight away. Check-in with Easy Jet was uneventful, security check was annoying as always - Stensted is the slowest of airports with huge queues - and breakfast at Frankies & Bennys has become a tradition now. </div>
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Then off we went straight to the gate: Easy Jet does not allocate seats and it is a good idea to be there early for queuing. I quite like sitting at the gate to do a bit of writing, but not here. It wasn't a problem this time as I was in hubbies good company, but... </div>
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However, boarding actually is fast, we wanted to have seats across the aisle anyway, so the hours flight was rather uneventful, too. And then...</div>
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Edinburgh!</div>
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I was told that it is nice, but it is nice in a very specific way: This city is cosy, grand, traditional and young all at the same time; in one word: Fantastic! It's my kinda town - the more that we had glorious weather.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmIjRxLG6zA/T8nBHmdeOEI/AAAAAAAACbk/yvulBrFI8qU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmIjRxLG6zA/T8nBHmdeOEI/AAAAAAAACbk/yvulBrFI8qU/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite start into the day!</td></tr>
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Taxi got us to the <a href="http://www.linkshoteledinburgh.co.uk/" target="_blank">Links Hotel</a> and, boy, did we get lucky with that choice! We booked twin rooms, which for Germans is a sensible choice, so you get your own mattress, and duvet each and it is huge with ceilings about four meters high. It is at the far end of the building away from the kitchen and the bar, and it is the most silent room I have ever been in. You can hear your thoughts walk through you brain. After an afternoon of strolling through this beautiful city, enjoying the parks, having the best lemon cake and rum raising ice cream in ages and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=447978621898631&set=a.101474126549084.3180.100000594909715&type=1&theater" target="_blank">sampling the first of the whiskeys</a> I lay down, closed my eyes and was gone in a jiffy. Hence me now sitting here at this early hour, wide awake and well rested. I slept like a log. </div>
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I am now looking forward to two more days in a beautiful city in wonderful company. In the early evening our friends from Germany arrived. You might remember my story about our trip to <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/tuebingen-lovely-town-in-germany.html" target="_blank">Tuebingen</a> in Germany, when we attended the wine fair of <a href="http://ilp-food.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/wine-nectar-of-gods.html" target="_blank">Weinmarkt Mattheis</a>, which is owned by our friend. They are selling whiskey as well, want to meet potential suppliers and invited us to accompany them on that quest. We will strive to gather strength and momentum during those two days here and on Monday we will make our way across the country.</div>
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So let me finish my breakfast to get things rolling. Edinburgh castle is waiting for us. Still have to decided if I will try the the haggis, though.</div>
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Tata!</div>
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<br />Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-23229725701662847912012-02-12T15:55:00.000+00:002012-02-12T15:55:43.659+00:002012 Fuerteventura Travel Report<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDDyU2CyXBE/TzQlU3wyD6I/AAAAAAAACLU/Jb2B5PWAh5M/s1600/IMG_1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDDyU2CyXBE/TzQlU3wyD6I/AAAAAAAACLU/Jb2B5PWAh5M/s320/IMG_1027.jpg" width="238" /></a>Here I am again, my fourth year of Fuerteventura. After having skipped last years trip due to the Sumatra visit, I have re-organised my travel budgets a bit. One just does need it all: a girly week with mum in the sunshine during winter, and getting grounded in Tangkahan a bit later in the year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, last year skipping made sense as mum accompanied me to Sumatra, thus girly and grounding came in one package. This year I am back to <a href="http://www.robinson.com/unsere-clubs/spanien/esquinzo-playa/sommer-2012/club-fakten/?searchloc=menu" target="_blank">Robinson Club Esquinzo Playa</a> (German site) and feeling the urge to give an update. Not that a lot has changed; my accounts from <a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Diary.html" target="_blank">2008</a> and <a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/09-Fuerte/Travel-Diary_09.html" target="_blank">2009</a> are still valid. I guess it’s my viewpoint that took a bit of a turn. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Back then I already was quite the Internet girl. I paid some 14 Euros for a week and proudly connected to the world using my blue little Samsung netbook. Then I had to learn that the hotspot situation was a bit thin, rooms didn’t have connection and only on the terrace one could dive into the depth of wisdom and gossip. Pride about my capabilities of handling the equipment however, superseded the disappointment and I was a happy bunny.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VsIlylwYvE/TzQophLp_2I/AAAAAAAACNo/N4_IhVNVHsQ/s1600/IMG_1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VsIlylwYvE/TzQophLp_2I/AAAAAAAACNo/N4_IhVNVHsQ/s320/IMG_1083.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These days I found a lot of hotspots but was told that I had to pay €25 per week. Hmmm… this is a bit steep for an all-inclusive club, while a lot of the even smaller hotels offer Wifi for free. Here one gets drowned in alcohol any time of the day but for internet one has to pay… if you know me a little: I went on strike and rather not do internet. Now I am sitting very poshly upgraded with a MacBook enjoying a really rather spectacular view, but can’t read my emails. All I can do is write reviews like this. Ha! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This however is the only minus – the club is constantly striving for sustainability and environmental conciseness, something which I am rather interested in since the Sumatra eco-tourism trip. This year we did a club tour and saw the solar heating, the washhouse and the state of the art kitchen, and we were told about the problems to resource food on an island on which nothing grows. Resourcefulness is a big issue anyway. It is hard to explain to the mainly African workforces that every food that leaves the kitchen and doesn’t get eaten has to be skipped, while their families back home hardly know how to get by.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYjmOna4Qq8/TzQlCSz7LdI/AAAAAAAACLM/6xrdCMlWVyM/s1600/IMG_1020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYjmOna4Qq8/TzQlCSz7LdI/AAAAAAAACLM/6xrdCMlWVyM/s200/IMG_1020.jpg" width="149" /></a>Different from the olden days, now the buffets don't look as lavish anymore - yet still fantastic - but food is getting brought out on demand to be able to serve things the next day as well. Additionally staff is allowed to dine from the buffet after the guests have left. Robinson front end staff was always allowed to dine with guests, so the club's boundaries between staff and guests always were soft, hence opening the buffet to the workforces behind the scenes is a logic extension of their philosophy. Although the club separates waste it mainly gets dumped in one space, due to Spain’s environmental conciseness not being as vigilant as the German or English; Robinson Clubs however keep going in order to set an example and to be able to push limits. And of course the club cats are still there and happy. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKL8CerT2D0/TzQoetdCUbI/AAAAAAAACNY/3oxRhxZC9nU/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKL8CerT2D0/TzQoetdCUbI/AAAAAAAACNY/3oxRhxZC9nU/s320/IMG_1081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Those cats supply an endless stream of joy for everybody and are an example how ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking can enhance the living environment. Now two new unusual recruits do their duty for the club by keeping the number of pigeons at bay: Buzzards! They regularly give a little flight show and although they don’t actually catch the pigeons, they look threatening enough to make them keep a distance.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This island shows vividly that tourism is a coin with two sides. Without tourism people here wouldn’t have a proper living, but with tourism a whole bucket load of issues arises and I am glad that Robinson Clubs are addressing those.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another thing that didn’t change is the <a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Word_to_Mouth/AloeVera/Aloe_shop1.html#aloe_vera_canarias" target="_blank">Aloe Vera Information Centre in Jandia</a>. I was so glad to hear that they receive quite a bit of custom through ILP, which means that people read my website. Yay! If you are in the area you might want to consider doing an Aloe Vera workshop. Participants will be able to get hold of an almond, olive scrub powder, which mixed with Aloe gel is a fantastically rejuvenating peeling.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_buKZSIq58/TzQj9Ijw6AI/AAAAAAAACKE/I18Nq1KzUQM/s1600/P1020882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_buKZSIq58/TzQj9Ijw6AI/AAAAAAAACKE/I18Nq1KzUQM/s320/P1020882.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yJHcP7lur4/TzQj9fAVSDI/AAAAAAAACKI/yOFpTsP-5gI/s1600/P1020897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yJHcP7lur4/TzQj9fAVSDI/AAAAAAAACKI/yOFpTsP-5gI/s200/P1020897.jpg" width="150" /></a>As for the fun part – you may know that every time we are here we do something special – this time it was a buggy tour. We already got worried we might run out of options. We already had done the catamaran, jet-ski, Segway, Lanzarote, and an island tour. So the buggy it was. We could have gone on Quads – four wheeled motorbikes on which the passenger sits behind the driver – but we chose the buggy which basically is a go-cart and in which one sits next to each other. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJ4WAOiXhfI/TzQj_TgTq6I/AAAAAAAACKg/bWyEqoXkwfI/s1600/P1020910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJ4WAOiXhfI/TzQj_TgTq6I/AAAAAAAACKg/bWyEqoXkwfI/s320/P1020910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA0_9zgE68g/TzfaFFQTTPI/AAAAAAAACWE/59x-2fxrzxY/s1600/IMG_1033-s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA0_9zgE68g/TzfaFFQTTPI/AAAAAAAACWE/59x-2fxrzxY/s320/IMG_1033-s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Such a fun! Following the guide like ducklings their mum, we were the last in the row and bit the dust. Criss-crossing the countryside we went to the West coast first, a rugged beachfront where swimming is not possible due to strong undercurrents dragging everything out to see. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaDpNQIdmgY/TzQmrdNwXZI/AAAAAAAACLw/xJFyt-A7QcM/s1600/IMG_1049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaDpNQIdmgY/TzQmrdNwXZI/AAAAAAAACLw/xJFyt-A7QcM/s320/IMG_1049.jpg" width="239" /></a>Then back to the East side we saw surfers like we never saw them before. This is the surfing Mekka. Every year the windsurfing world championships are held here. Splendid territory!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On our way we stoped at the restaurant Bahia La Pared, which I can highly recommend. The fish is superb and the variety is amazing. This is the nice thing when doing those extra trips, one gets in touch with local people and businesses.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZejjyKH4wUU/TzT2TN--jRI/AAAAAAAACRs/IcFxCqKhQwI/s1600/IMG_1017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZejjyKH4wUU/TzT2TN--jRI/AAAAAAAACRs/IcFxCqKhQwI/s320/IMG_1017.jpg" width="239" /></a>Like the visit to the zoo; I even had the opportunity to meet my cousin who I hadn’t seen in 17 years. She is working at the sea lion department and since arrival day I already had seen her on brochures and posters advertising the zoo. We had heard good things about the zoo and had planned a trip anyway. So this was not just a great opportunity to catch some local flair but have a family reunion as well.</div><br />
A small thing, which however made this trip particularly nice is the impact individuals have in the service business!<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaUDRWnF-HY/TzUAk8zLJKI/AAAAAAAACVY/kcdanfURJ4c/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaUDRWnF-HY/TzUAk8zLJKI/AAAAAAAACVY/kcdanfURJ4c/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a>The lovely fella who manages the arrival and departure of guests, takes care of the suitcases and has a way with people which makes one feel welcomed and valued, and which is so different from the fake receptionist behaviour one finds all too often the more expensive the hotel is; the bar tender who remembers so well the favourite drink and with a wink attempts to tease the guest into trying something new; and last but not least the cleaner who day after day replaces the welcome flowers. Those were beautifully scattered over the bed, and when she found them ‘rescued’ in a jar, she kept replacing dead heads. I felt reminded of <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_measuring_what_makes_life_worthwhile.html" target="_blank">Chip Conley's TED talk</a> in which he describes how important it is to value the efforts of staff. Robinson Clubs surely create an atmosphere in which individual style can thrive. Every time I come to my room those flowers put a smile on my face.</div><br />
Thank you, guys. You made my days!<br />
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<hr /><b>More pictures</b> of the trip <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111997792937998780285/12Fuerteventura" target="_blank">on Picasa</a><br />
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<b>Bar Restaurante Bahia La Pared:</b> La Pared - Pajara, Tel 928 54 90 30, Opening hours 12-22. <br />
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<b>Quad/Buggy Tours:</b> Quad Adventure Excursions, Tel 928866552<br />
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<b>Fuerteventura 2008</b><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-General.html" target="_blank">Fuerte - The Island</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Diary.html" target="_blank">Fuerte - Dirary & Club Life</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Shopping.html" target="_blank">Fuerte - Shopping </a>(unfortunately La Ola is closed now)<br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-JetSki.html" target="_blank">Fuerte - Jet Ski</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Whatelse.html">Fuerte - What else?</a><br />
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<b>Fuerteventura 2009 </b><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/09-Fuerte/Travel-Diary_09.html" target="_blank">Travel Diary</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/09-Fuerte/Travel_Read_F09.html" target="_blank">Travel Read</a>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-59157413131571211242012-01-28T10:54:00.002+00:002012-01-28T11:08:26.298+00:00Yeeehaw! I am off!<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry, no advice... just sheer joy of going away! It's my annual girly week with mum to Fuerteventura, 20-22C, slightly windy, beach, all inclusive... my favourite club holidays at Robinson Club Esquinzo Playa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxyRJnxpnSU/TyPXB9wzIuI/AAAAAAAACJ0/cDv-O1JC31A/s1600/Fuerte600e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxyRJnxpnSU/TyPXB9wzIuI/AAAAAAAACJ0/cDv-O1JC31A/s320/Fuerte600e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">During my first two years there I filmed and wrote quite elaborately, but now it will all be about re-fuelling and gaining focus for the month to come. Hope you enjoy the travel accounts from previous years. </div><br />
<b>Fuerteventura 2008</b><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-General.html">Fuerte - The Island</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Diary.html">Fuerte - Dirary & Club Life</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Shopping.html">Fuerte - Shopping </a>(unfortunately La Ola is closed now)<br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-JetSki.html">Fuerte - Jet Ski</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/08_Fuerte-Whatelse.html">Fuerte - What else?</a><br />
<br />
<b>Fuerteventura 2009 </b><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/09-Fuerte/Travel-Diary_09.html">Travel Diary</a><br />
<a href="http://incredibleladies.com/Articles/Lifestyle/travel/09-Fuerte/Travel_Read_F09.html">Travel Read</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXrNSkoaXvIT3EGFumyg76iX8oIELoDRT0s7ctGYmvwYTKKF4aT5MJmzbLhprM7AW_6uvuRL3IixjTQxAdHCYv0Fvo5vWlKdBjJD1eQj8xK0UTW-G-yDV9u8Nf4H1b8i7Erk8MuofjiQf/s1600/Rika-signature.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXrNSkoaXvIT3EGFumyg76iX8oIELoDRT0s7ctGYmvwYTKKF4aT5MJmzbLhprM7AW_6uvuRL3IixjTQxAdHCYv0Fvo5vWlKdBjJD1eQj8xK0UTW-G-yDV9u8Nf4H1b8i7Erk8MuofjiQf/s1600/Rika-signature.gif" /></a></div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-11946749384697875742011-11-12T09:21:00.000+00:002011-11-12T09:21:27.181+00:00Back in TownYay! the joys of November... We are back in Tuebingen, my favourite little town in Germany, foR the wine fair. Oh, I am so much a creature of habit: we are in the same hotel with view on the river Neckar, and it seems that the number of swans has increased;when I woke this morning and looked out of the window 16 of this beautiful creatures had breakfast,dipping their long necks into the cold water. Brrr... Last year the weather was warm, this year it is rather nippy with 0C predicted tomorrow morning. <br />
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This time we are a bit smarter, though. We travelled with an empty suitcase... Well, full of blister foil it is. We will hit town now and tonight we will stock up on a few bottles of wine and some whiskey, I hope.<br />
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... And this is the first time that I am trying to block in the i-world entirely. A year ago I still used my cute little netbook and a camera, this is my first real test for the iPad with iPhone... Oh, how posh am I? However, the equipment disappoint's at least the standard browser. The i-World onl works well if one is familiar with the app-world. Thus this post has to be bland, no pix and not spell-checked. I find it somewhat peculiar that a good thousand pounds of equipment only work if a vast crowd of people produce bazillions of little code snippets for it. Strange world...<br />
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However, this is about our short holiday and not an IT blog. The sun just came out, and a town is waiting to be hit. So let' press the publish button and get out there!<br />
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Have a wonderful weekend!<br />
Always yours<br />
RikaRikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-75721405354743414342011-07-23T09:42:00.000+01:002011-07-23T09:42:03.563+01:00My Wonderful Tangkahan - Prelude 2<div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme - SOCP</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After having visited what was <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-wonderful-tangkahan-prelude-1.html" target="_blank">formerly the Botanic Gardens</a> and which is now Ian Singleton's new project for conservation and education we moved on to the SOCP centre which as we are told is located kind of back to back to the Botanic Garden and hence protecting each other from unwanted visitors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Now: The SOCP was an very emotional affair for me, and to introduce you to the matter with some facts and stories directly from Ian, please have a look at this video which is provided on YouTube by the centre.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUCmmLex6o" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I saw those animals. I saw those cages. One part of me wants to shout out: Oh how cute! the other part of me drives tears into my eyes because I should not see them there, I should not be able to find them cute. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WBlY7FzZUg/TihbD4OWDvI/AAAAAAAABvE/oiMnOye2kQ8/s1600/P1010143.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WBlY7FzZUg/TihbD4OWDvI/AAAAAAAABvE/oiMnOye2kQ8/s400/P1010143.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There we were at the SOCP</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MizM_4FwCKw/TihbHV7t0JI/AAAAAAAABvI/UPM0uSCVuqU/s1600/P1010150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MizM_4FwCKw/TihbHV7t0JI/AAAAAAAABvI/UPM0uSCVuqU/s400/P1010150.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cage in which dad, mum and the two babies live</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ACYSgbAHl0/TihbJfYXvgI/AAAAAAAABvM/BkwbIie3iz0/s400/P1010152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum and one of the babies. We could not get too close, to avoid infections and to not make her too nervous.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Tkf-KocrI/TihbMpLwmQI/AAAAAAAABvQ/Pv05Et4_Pxc/s1600/P1010155.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Tkf-KocrI/TihbMpLwmQI/AAAAAAAABvQ/Pv05Et4_Pxc/s320/P1010155.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, in the adjacent cage</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4VfV89EKW0/TihbB_PfeTI/AAAAAAAABvA/g6Mcjkv4WAA/s1600/P1010166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4VfV89EKW0/TihbB_PfeTI/AAAAAAAABvA/g6Mcjkv4WAA/s400/P1010166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian Singleton and Jess McKelson from RAW discussing projects</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">RAW</a> is supporting the SOCP whenever possible, e.g. part of our fee for the day trip was used as sponsorship for the programme. Jess now will be putting focus on helping to find a suitable site and funding for mum and her twins, so that she will be out of the cage and raise the little ones in a safe environment as naturally as possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some might ask if all that money and all that effort is worth it. I have heard voices saying, that with the same amount of money so much more can be achieved in South America where land is cheaper and circumstances are less difficult; that the approach of rescuing individuals is not helping for the bigger picture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I have a few things to add. Firstly, if confronted with an individual - who would be able to put it down for cost reasons? Secondly, orangutans play a vital role in preserving rainforest as gardeners of the jungle, as they distribute seeds over far distances. And thirdly, this is what I found on Wikipedia about their conservation status - critically endangered:</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLY0HT3SDK4/Tihl0dC60QI/AAAAAAAABvg/R_xAwjHSu18/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLY0HT3SDK4/Tihl0dC60QI/AAAAAAAABvg/R_xAwjHSu18/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Wikipedia: distribution of orangutan in Sumatra</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sumatran orangutan is endemic to Sumatra island and is particularly restricted to the north of the island. In the wild, Sumatran orangutans survive in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), the northernmost tip of Sumatra.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Singleton2004_5-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_orangutan#cite_note-Singleton2004-5"></a></sup>The primate was once more widespread, as they were found more to the south in the 19th century such as in Jambi and Padang.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rijksen1978_6-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_orangutan#cite_note-Rijksen1978-6"></a></sup>There are small populations in the North SumatraLake Toba forests. A survey in the Lake Toba region found only two inhabited areas, Bukit Lawang (defined as the animal sanctuary) and Gunung Leuser National Park<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wich2003_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_orangutan#cite_note-Wich2003-7"></a></sup> The species has been assessed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-iucn_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_orangutan#cite_note-iucn-1"></a></sup>. It is considered one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates." A survey in 2004 estimated that around 7,300 Sumatran orangutans still live in the wild.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Singleton2004_5-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_orangutan#cite_note-Singleton2004-5"></a></sup></i> <i>Some of them are being protected in five areas in Gunung Leuser National Park;</i></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">It is estimated that today only around 6000 Sumatran orangutans still exist. Not a lot! Every individual is important to enrich the gene pool. These 6000 do not live in one big area in which genes would be exchanged freely to maintain a healthy population. Roads and logging have cut the population into small groups already, some of them too small to avoid inbreeding. The fresh genes of those two babies are very much crucial for the bigger picture of orangutan survival in Sumatra. They need and deserve our help!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Tkf-KocrI/TihbMpLwmQI/AAAAAAAABvQ/Pv05Et4_Pxc/s1600/P1010155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hs6Fzm7_es/TihbPhLmMbI/AAAAAAAABvU/JlrEOMJMjMg/s1600/P1010159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hs6Fzm7_es/TihbPhLmMbI/AAAAAAAABvU/JlrEOMJMjMg/s320/P1010159.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Socialisation cages</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The resocialisation approach at the SOCP is pretty much hands-off. Although it appears a bit sad that those little ones are behind bars and don't get cuddles, it is their best chance for getting an ape lifestyle quickly. Humans might be good in cuddling, but they fail miserably in ape-ish skills. Research has shown that these little ones learn much faster from each other. In those cages they bond quickly and like street children they are able to survive in their environment at an earlier age then they would if getting used to a humanoid lifestyle. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWXZhWAxKpM/TihbSbqd6yI/AAAAAAAABvY/YTkrIVQax04/s1600/P1010161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWXZhWAxKpM/TihbSbqd6yI/AAAAAAAABvY/YTkrIVQax04/s320/P1010161.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good luck, little fella!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> You can support the SOCP by donations <a href="http://www.sumatranorangutan.org/content-n51-sE.html" target="_blank">via their website</a>.Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-80619202046396919242011-07-22T07:54:00.000+01:002011-07-22T07:54:42.108+01:00My Wonderful Tangkahan - Prelude 1<h1></h1><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that the scene is set by the <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-wonderful-tangkahan-preview.html" target="_blank">previous blog update</a>, let's move on to the actual diary snippets. So there we were, starting our journeys from our homes in Germany and Ipswich to meet at London Heathrow.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">I arrived early and the sensible thing to kill some time is with muffin and cappuccino. And then eventually, the trip felt real: Mum arrived!</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We killed some more time together, so much to talk about, checked in our luggage, and then boarded the flight to Munich which should deliver us to an aircraft with nice and cosy business seats which had our names on them. So far so simple, so far so Heathrow... delayed by thunder, delayed by sick passenger, delayed by paramedics not arriving, delayed by paramedics not knowing what to do... there the nice and cosy business seats had lift off without us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Arriving in Munich we moved into a good hotel and got re-booked to ... Singapore Airlines!... woohooo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I can tell you, one day less Singapore yet travelling Singapore Airlines instead was worth it. Half of the time it was raining in Singapore anyway, <a href="http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/" target="_blank">Sentosa Island</a> was a bit of a disappointment and a rip off as mum knew it from some years back mainly for a lovely place with butterflies and beaches, whereas now it basically is a kind of Disney World, and shopping was out of the question as we were overloaded anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So we were glad to move on to Medan the next day. Not that it was nicer there, in contrary, but it brought us closer to the actual adventure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medan, a vast area of houses, rich, poor, markets, dusty, hot, and hellish traffic ...</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrFKo7Yt4vk/TihJkxo__CI/AAAAAAAABuc/dIRFxcISgsw/s1600/P1020587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrFKo7Yt4vk/TihJkxo__CI/AAAAAAAABuc/dIRFxcISgsw/s320/P1020587.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Spry22tVktY/TihJp6j2ZsI/AAAAAAAABug/npvZftb1PbY/s1600/P1020557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://swiss-belhotel.com/medan-hotels/index.html?s_kwcid=TC%7C22886%7Cswiss%20belhotel%20medan%7C%7CS%7Cb%7C6207029183&gclid=CLifyq7qkqoCFUFC4QodoWE2yw" target="_blank">Grand Swiss-Belhotel Medan</a> is the best hotel in town and the place where one wants to stay. For taxis look for the blue ones, but even then be very vigilant and better get the tour operator or a hotel to pick you up, 50.000 IR is not cheap but a fair price. There is a modern mall accessible from the hotel with fantastic restaurants and coffee places so no need to go out into the hellish atmosphere of the city without a guide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had arrived a day early for contingency and to kill the additional time we had booked a trip to the centre of the <a href="http://www.sumatranorangutan.org/content-n31-sE.html" target="_blank">Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme</a>. We got lucky that <a href="http://www.sumatranorangutan.org/content-n15-sE.html" target="_blank">Ian Singleton</a> the director of the program (and scientific advisor of <a href="http://www.forests4orangutans.org/who-we-are/" target="_blank">Orangutan Land Trust</a>, my main charity) was available to show us round. First stop was the botanic gardens, the latest part of the project where an education centre is to be established on a grand scale: This will be conservation live and close-up. I am hoping to be able to go back in a few years time and to see what he has achieved.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdhdObIMi9w/TihOZzjvZ0I/AAAAAAAABuo/L1fF396Oj_w/s1600/P1010100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdhdObIMi9w/TihOZzjvZ0I/AAAAAAAABuo/L1fF396Oj_w/s400/P1010100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Education garden on a larger scale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKHmSHOqgjM/TihOjxtsVRI/AAAAAAAABuw/kMXZcelSqtA/s1600/P1010094.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKHmSHOqgjM/TihOjxtsVRI/AAAAAAAABuw/kMXZcelSqtA/s320/P1010094.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First impressions of jungle greeneries...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGyBZs-3ZY0/TihOgjY4LuI/AAAAAAAABus/z7hvI8jo7aY/s1600/P1010109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGyBZs-3ZY0/TihOgjY4LuI/AAAAAAAABus/z7hvI8jo7aY/s320/P1010109.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the respective creepies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> ... and tomorrow I will tell you about the orangutans at the SOCP.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y59Otn8ODoU/TihTtSKHt9I/AAAAAAAABu4/0wagi4zJSQU/s1600/P1010139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y59Otn8ODoU/TihTtSKHt9I/AAAAAAAABu4/0wagi4zJSQU/s400/P1010139.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little fella in quarantine... and he is one of the lucky ones!</td></tr>
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</div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-48976924413139377162011-07-21T07:59:00.000+01:002011-07-21T07:59:42.989+01:00My Wonderful Tangkahan - A preview<div style="text-align: justify;">My mum and I had planned this trip for more than a year; so much nerves spent on how to break it to our husbands, find good flights making the best use of mum's air miles to be able to travel business, and then the biggest question of all: What to pack!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We had to provide for three parts, none of which we were entirely sure what the requirements were. <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Step 1:</b> Singapore</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKXT_A3ImY0/TifELOsfjcI/AAAAAAAABts/p3nevpJ5a78/s1600/P1010067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKXT_A3ImY0/TifELOsfjcI/AAAAAAAABts/p3nevpJ5a78/s400/P1010067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Due to business class we could carry 30kg, and we wanted to look a bit pretty in a town like this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Step 2</b>: Green Lodge, the jungle home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DL93bqHQo5A/TifER_Yd30I/AAAAAAAABtw/7VEJRYYuUiQ/s1600/P1010363-Lodges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DL93bqHQo5A/TifER_Yd30I/AAAAAAAABtw/7VEJRYYuUiQ/s400/P1010363-Lodges.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Due to small airline between Singapore and Medan/Sumatra we had 23kg, and we would be mainly wet</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Step 3</b>: <a href="http://www.elephantjunglepatrol.com/" target="_blank">Elephant Jungle Patrol</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQY3EsxY-qw/TifEIuR3tnI/AAAAAAAABto/E9VBtPgcDrU/s1600/P1020008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQY3EsxY-qw/TifEIuR3tnI/AAAAAAAABto/E9VBtPgcDrU/s400/P1020008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We would only have a backpack each and had no idea what we would need.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">We kinda did well, but my shorts were too thick material and didn't dry well, the cute shoes I only wore once in three weeks, and my leather hat, the one bulky thing I almost left at home, became my trusted friend and I feel a bit like Indiana Jones now.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuhFMLDgvIo/TifBwvK9ZbI/AAAAAAAABtg/Hzu2RviLiZA/s1600/P1010842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuhFMLDgvIo/TifBwvK9ZbI/AAAAAAAABtg/Hzu2RviLiZA/s400/P1010842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I started collecting feathers and even a porcupine hair/pin to attach to it, unfortunately one is not allowed to take natural materials out of the country... so I left it back. Well, they let me through security with a pocket knife in my backpack... I could well have smuggled it in my suitcase I guess, but this is not the country to try the authorities, the more that I want to go back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">See, and that is the reason why I decided to be quite resourceful with the material I wrote during the trip. The initial plan was to do a big publication on this travel blog... until I met the children of the English School. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1SXmoX7TqKg/TifNs7b4ufI/AAAAAAAABuI/PQ4U4-h_5O0/s1600/P1010880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1SXmoX7TqKg/TifNs7b4ufI/AAAAAAAABuI/PQ4U4-h_5O0/s400/P1010880.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English School in action: Quiz winners receiving books</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is not even a school as we know it. Twice a week they gather at the beach or whatever place they find to learn English, something that is so essential for them to get a good future. I would like to support them, and help them to find a proper room and to build a library, and hence I decided to produce a little booklet from my diary which I will sell for their benefit. Hopefully next summer I will go back, bring some stuff that they need, and see how things go.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here I will tell you snippets of the trip and progress of my plans for the English School. I have befriended our guides and tour managers on Facebook, who are the supporters of the school on location, and they will keep me informed. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gblx6KMV1Q/TifJPwvjCtI/AAAAAAAABt8/xVWMnt0etzM/s1600/155069_1472903902534_1231759624_31012350_5771465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gblx6KMV1Q/TifJPwvjCtI/AAAAAAAABt8/xVWMnt0etzM/s200/155069_1472903902534_1231759624_31012350_5771465_n.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA4tZiDiC6g/TifJPIL5FLI/AAAAAAAABt4/W7V7oA7hoJ8/s1600/P1020015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA4tZiDiC6g/TifJPIL5FLI/AAAAAAAABt4/W7V7oA7hoJ8/s200/P1020015.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bimbim</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWoOJcx4jY/TifJQ09SWgI/AAAAAAAABuA/UjTk2FXc4gc/s1600/P1010882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUWoOJcx4jY/TifJQ09SWgI/AAAAAAAABuA/UjTk2FXc4gc/s200/P1010882.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ika</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">To wrap up for today: It was a fantastic trip, and it exceeded all my expectations! I did things I never thought I would do, I saw things only few people get to see, and I never felt better than in this heat and humidity. More snippets and background info to come soon, so stay tuned!</div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-47773702045280545112011-06-27T13:06:00.000+01:002011-06-27T13:06:48.143+01:00The day before...<div style="text-align: justify;">It's always the same, isn't it? The few days before a trip one would either wish the ground opens and by some magic one would just be there and everything sorted, or some dear soul would announce:"You know what? Why don't we just stay at home?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Time is never enough, suitcases are always too heavy, and surely there are things cropping up last minute. And it doesn't even matter if it is a long or a short trip. The effort of thinking things through is the same. At least a longer trip hopefully makes the effort worth the while, but it bears more risks of getting it wrong, too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh my...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow morning 9AM I will be leaving for the airport, I still have a pair of pants to fix, I am sure that I packed the wrong clothes and not enough of them... seriously!... usually I take more clothes for a one week trip and this time it's three weeks... just that this is what airlines let you cary. They should provide space for the length of duration... and they should just have a price list for overload. If one could just book for it... So my suitcase is full of insect repellent and water depurification tablets but no socks... crumbs...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Additionally we have lovely weather here, could be sitting on the patio with a cold coffee with vanilla icecream, instead I am procrastinating on my computer because I am dreading to pack and re-pack my suitcase for the gazillionest time, and anyway, for Singapore and Sumatra they have thunderstorms announced for the entire week. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But all the moaning and growling won't help me, will it? So off I go and pack, and taking a shower would be a good idea as well... Oh those elephants and orangutans better be bloody gorgeous!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">See you in three weeks time then - again: 'Oh my!' Me and no internet for three weeks - Well, I might eventually read that book that I have sitting around since almost three years.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDMDBH8lzM4/TghxqJ3RNyI/AAAAAAAABs4/lo28_aV6EBg/s1600/271511_10150227971614828_735459827_7256659_7973354_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDMDBH8lzM4/TghxqJ3RNyI/AAAAAAAABs4/lo28_aV6EBg/s320/271511_10150227971614828_735459827_7256659_7973354_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope, he is not coming! Although hubby thinks it a good idea...</td></tr>
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Ta ta<br />
xxxRikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-16583132754103212102011-03-24T06:27:00.000+00:002011-03-24T06:27:03.385+00:00Dim T - Restaurant in London<h1></h1><div style="text-align: justify;">What a wonderful finish to a great night out to London. On occasion of hubbies birthday we saw the <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.com/2011/03/hurlyburly-show-london.html" target="_blank">HurlyBurly Show</a> and of course one has to attach a nice dinner to it. Question usually arises, though: Before or after the show?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before the show, one might feel the strain of digestive activity while cornered in a seat between a lot of people, but at least one doesn't go hungry, while after, one might already be tired or has a train to catch. This was the first time that we dared the latter, and it was fabulous for various reasons. First and foremost came the avoidance of above mentioned tight spot, while hunger was tackled by a decent slice of cake for afternoon tea, and second, the restaurant we chose was well worth the wait. On recommendation we had asked for a desk with a view, and I am not sure if that would have worked out that well at an earlier time with the restaurant fully booked. Additionally, the night light made it all even more worthwhile.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The restaurant we went to was<a href="http://www.dimt.co.uk/" target="_blank"> 'Dim T'</a> an Asian restaurant serving a wide range of dishes from all over Asia, and Chinese teas. Having secured a taxi in front of Garrick theatre we arrived at More London Place (Tooley Street) in a jiffy and only had to take a brief walk to the waterfront.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXt3Cc1KYo0/TYpyz1Y6QII/AAAAAAAABMw/ixwU5j3L9Gs/s1600/IMG_0425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXt3Cc1KYo0/TYpyz1Y6QII/AAAAAAAABMw/ixwU5j3L9Gs/s400/IMG_0425.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I only very rarely cross the Thames, and to see the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London together from this side is just very impressive, but to sit in a restaurant, and to eat good food while having this view is extraordinary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM-9Zj96dvA/TYp2BMxrmoI/AAAAAAAABNU/ztvK1f8S3FA/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iM-9Zj96dvA/TYp2BMxrmoI/AAAAAAAABNU/ztvK1f8S3FA/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My red 'Thai Curry with duck' was delicious and Detlef's 'Fire Cracker Prawns' were definitely crackling, at least when he decided the chilly should be eaten in whole it brought tears to his eyes. The boy just loves is hot! We had Dim Sum for starters which are not entirely my favourites, but that is more due to my personal liking rather then the quality of food. Detlef was happy to step in for me while I enjoyed the spring rolls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We went there on a Saturday, had booked for 9:15 and about half an hour later the restaurant slowly emptied, and hence it was no problem to get a table at that window. After the starters we swapped places so that the birthday boy could have a look at the panorama as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a restaurant we definitely will visit again, the prices are absolutely reasonable, the food is delicious, the view is priceless, and I even had the perfect company. A lovely night time walk across the bridge brought us straight to the Tube station and only a short while later we sank into our train seats in perfect timing. </div><br />
What a wonderful night out!Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-39500490653707077972011-03-23T09:24:00.001+00:002011-03-23T09:29:23.209+00:00The HurlyBurly Show, London<h1></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIaAvKeObdw/TYmyBd7rxdI/AAAAAAAABMo/kHZ-Qu2oWWU/s1600/garrick+theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIaAvKeObdw/TYmyBd7rxdI/AAAAAAAABMo/kHZ-Qu2oWWU/s400/garrick+theatre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">OK, I might not be the best person to review a show, I have issues! But reviews are always about a personal point of view, aren't they? So let me explain mine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since forever I find that shows are too loud. I don't know if I am too sensitive or if the worl has gone rather deaf around me... The phenomenon however already occurred about 20 years back in Berlin when I watched 'Cirque de Soleil'. The show was breathtaking, but my head had swollen to the size of an exploding star. It was the same when I watched 'Fame' in London a few years back. And that brings me to another issue: If I go to a show, especially in a city like London, I am expecting a blast.... and Fame was... well, ok-ish. I however have seen better shows by the entertainment team of my holiday club. And I don't mean that condescending; those guys were incredible!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, here I am telling you about a London night out on the occasion of hubbies birthday. We both like burlesque, there are not a lot of shows of this type in London, this part of the world seems to be a bit squeamish, and when we found the 'HurlyBurly Show - A Contemporary Burlesque Revue' we of course had to go. Raising another issue: Squeamish is not a word that would describe me. My honeymoon location was chosen for the nude beaches and I have thrown my bra in photo shoots, so I expected quite a bit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tv7XgGnfmE/TYmxoqqD3eI/AAAAAAAABMk/DpiBtkx777k/s1600/1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tv7XgGnfmE/TYmxoqqD3eI/AAAAAAAABMk/DpiBtkx777k/s200/1882.jpg" width="200" /></a>Travelling from Ipswich we arrived well in time, there are nice coffee places like <a href="http://www.caffevergnano1882.co.uk/" target="_blank">Caffe Vergnano</a> on Charing Cross Road just a hop from the <a href="http://garrick-theatre.co.uk/" target="_blank">Garrick Theatre</a>. Picking up the tickets from Box office was straight forward as had been the online ordering before, and there we were sipping our drinks and waiting for the show to start. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Interval was only 10 minutes so one could order and pay for drinks before, what was a good decision to have taken as otherwise one wouldn't have been able to go to the loo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The theatre is on the small side, typically English, cosy and nice to be in, but we had booked rather late, all the good seats were gone, and I initially was worried that the heads in front of me would spoil the view, but I could see the stage perfectly well from <a href="http://www.londontheatredirect.com//img/seatingplan/GarrickTheatre.gif" target="_blank">seat R3 in the stalls</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then the show started and all that I am writing now has to be seen on the background of the above: It was an entertaining show and we enjoyed it, but it was LOUD! And not just loud... the sound system was not very pleasing on the ear. Brass music went straight through the head like a power drill. Towards the end I had to hold my ears close and we may have shouted at each other on our way home with people in the train thinking: 'Oh well, typical old couple, a bit deaf already.' And that was how we felt, numb-ish humming in the ears for a few hours to last.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Performance wise I'd like to pass hubbies judgement: 7/10. The girls were good, especially one dancer was really inspiring, but I saw the DVD of the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crazy-Horse-Paris-Dita-Teese/dp/B002VD5S1K" target="_blank">Crazy Horse Show with Dita von Teese</a> and I'd say: 'They might take on that one dancer mentioned above, and then they would train her.' But my judgement might just be spoilt by the telly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And finally the show itself. Again a hubby statement: 'I'd like to have it a bit naughtier'. See, there were a lot of naked rears, stringy costume and boobs with tassels, but we were missing the 'tease' bit in it. It was very much 'Revue' and not so much 'Burlesque'. We missed an arc of suspense going through the show. The numbers rolled one after the other, but except of the solo of the dancer mentioned above, which was quite at the beginning, I wouldn't be able to pick a highlight, and I surely wouldn't be able to determine a peak point of the show.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It nevertheless was an entertaining evening and the show is very watchable. If you don't want to get engaged in interaction with the audience, then don't sit in the front; the people who did, surely enjoyed it and there was a lot of 'whoohooing' and whistling going on. So people did have a good time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For us the show was inspiring as we now decided to make show going our new hobby. We will get ourselves well fitting ear plugs, and off we will go into the London nightlife!</div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-47679652079487448112011-03-23T00:02:00.000+00:002011-03-23T00:02:31.638+00:00The Court Restaurant at the British Museum<i><b>first published in 2008</b></i><br />
I don't think we ever spent so much money on so little food before…<br />
<br />
… but what food it is!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Remember? When I did the review on <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.com/2011/03/milsoms-hotel-and-restaurant-at.html" target="_blank">Milsoms at Kesgrave Hall</a> which has a really posh reputation I said that I either don't understand what posh means or that I am just not.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Court Restaurant (<a href="http://www.doco.com/deutsch/index_restaurants_de.htm" target="_blank">London's Do&Co</a>) works the other way round. You will enter as a normal person and you will dive into a world of dining that will make you feel posh without being awkward about it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The waiters are of professionalism and kindness that our kind of people rarely encouter. They are around and of service without being noticeable. I don’t like restaurants where they think the ultimate service is to show up every 10 minutes and to ask if everything is OK. Not here! These waiters are trained to catch your eye when needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although the noise from the museum’s Great Court can be heard, it is as if one is sitting on an island away from it. Like living close to an outdoor swimming pool; it’s good to know that there are people having fun and life is buzzing, but one doesn’t have to be part of it right now. It is peaceful, white noise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had booked online, were a bit early and got lucky so that we were guided to our table swiftly and addressed by a waiter in German. A little bowl of exquisite olive oil was filled and a basket of a house made variety of little breads was offered.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From a previous visit I know that you can ask for another one to go with the starters, as we had greedily eaten the first one in a jiffy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, then the anguish of choice. You may find it annoying, but for me this suits my new lifestyle: The menu changes rather frequently, meaning that you can’t order the same thing again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">One has to take chances, although there is always a safe choice like chicken. And those spices they use... Very international, most of it a bit Asiatic, always brilliant!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I usually go for the safe choice ordering chicken – this time we both went for the exotic option on the starters, driving up the price a bit more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were so excited about our starters of ‘Caramelised Scallops and Tuna Rolls’ and ‘Salad of Fried Squid’ – can you imagine, me and squid – that we forgot to take pictures. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scallop" target="_blank">Scallops</a> are a kind of big mussel which – again, me and Scallop but I had to try – is really, really nice. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4396.jpg" width="200" /></a>However, the Court Restaurant would be one of the few places where I would dare ordering them. My squid was absolutely superb and served in a little basked made out of fried potatoes – don’t ask, you have to see it – and that tomato, avocado medley with lemon aioli; ahhhh! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And I usually don't like avocado. And so it went on with the main course, which we eventually remembered to take a photo of. From there you can see that it is not a lot. It is not a restaurant where you can get away with just having one of the courses. However, due to breaks in-between one is eating slowly, thus getting a filled feeling with less food. This actually is a very healthy way of eating a meal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="127" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4395.jpg" width="200" /></a>BTW: They have a real thing going with peanuts. This peanut sauce for the Chicken Sate is heavenly. We once had a curry based on peanuts and it was of the same quality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the desert I was so full that I wouldn’t have wanted a single bite more, yet didn’t feel stuffed, so that I could enjoy the rest of the day without carrying a baseball in my tummy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/restaurants/DSCF4398.jpg" width="200" /></a>It’s a shame that from the pictures you can’t fathom the kind of flavours unfolding in these dishes. Usually, if I like something I start stuffing my face and eating faster. Here I was indulging in mingling aromas and needed ages to get through my desert. I’m not making this up. I’m usually more of a gourmand rather than a gourmet, but at Court Restaurant I’m starting to understand how food should be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately anniversaries have the odd nature of only taking place once a year. I'm looking forward to finding another reason to go back there soon.</div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-38573607960178280512011-03-22T23:50:00.001+00:002011-03-22T23:51:09.392+00:00Milsoms Hotel and Restaurant at Kesgrave Hall<i><b>First published May 2008</b></i><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">When we bought our Christmas trees sort of around the corner in our area we were always wondering what kind of mansion that might be, back there behind the trees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now we know: It has become a Milsoms Hotel and Restaurant. Didn’t tell me anything at first except that you can eat and sleep there - until I was told that it is one of the poshest places around. Apparently there is a Milsoms at <a href="http://www.colchesterguide.co.uk/" target="_blank">Colchester</a> (next town) and it’s famous. Gosh, I don’t seem to have a lot of poshness in me, have some catching up to do in that respect.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, hubby and I were invited to the one in Ipswich. And I have to say – this is a really interesting concept and you have to understand it otherwise the visit can go horribly wrong.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First of all, they don’t take bookings. So if you have plans for afterwards better show up for the earliest slot possible – but if everybody is thinking that way?... let’s just not go any deeper there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Probably it’s a good thing that Ipswich is a rather dead area and nothing to do afterwards anyway. Thus it all seems to be about having a good time there… and to leave the money of course, although <a href="http://kesgravehall.com/PDFs/menu.pdf" target="_blank">prices are not too bad</a> for a posh place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So you drive there, walking is not a good idea as the street doesn’t have any pavement to walk on, you get to a nice big car park and don’t find the stairs which lead down to the mansion – which is a beautiful house and the setting is just lovely. They have a big terrace to sit and it is all very open and welcoming – just that the silly stairs were hidden behind a car and either it wasn’t signposted or we were too stupid to see it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hence walking the long way round on the gravelled streets hopping and skipping along to get the stones out of the sandals we arrived with the last bit of poshness having vanished from at least my appearance. Detlef is much better in keeping his countenance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily our hosts were already there so we were guided through the further proceedings: Go to the bar, get a drink, sit in the lounge and have a chat. OK, I can do that. The place has an interesting style of decoration. Loads of leather and really big old looking sofas and arm chairs combined with contemporary tables and lights. Daring, but very nicely done.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ambience is very warm and welcoming – until a short person tries to sit comfortably. The seats of the armchairs are about the length of two thighs and leaning on with the back was impossible except if I would have taken the calves up as well. Hmmm, as we already have established that I’m not really posh anyway I could have been sitting there with my feet sticking out and it might even have been ok.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we got called to the table – don’t wear bare back top if you want to lean on – or choose your chair carefully – about half of them are upholstered with reindeer skin, the rest of them is leather. I was dressed appropriately, however just thinking how well that would have gone down with my sun burn. So I shipped safely around that cliff.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Again we were lucky that we were invited so the procedure of ordering was quickly explained to us. Milsoms is organised like a pub. There is a nice little tile on the table telling you the table number, a pad, pencil and a pile of menus. You choose, write it down and they pick it up or you can bring it to the bar as well. Drinks are served at the table.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That gives a nice and relaxed atmosphere and people are actually dealing with the matter of choosing rather than chatting while the waiter is waiting impatiently. Just one tiny little hiccup: The menu is not as straight forward as a pub menu. It has some weird words in it which the English guests didn’t know either. And it doesn’t list the ingredients which may be of concern to people with dietary needs. Did you know that clam chowder is made with pork? Googelled it: Now I know. Sometimes it’s made with wine, didn’t know that either. That is not really good if you have Muslim guests and if there is nobody coming taking orders who you could ask.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So most of us went for the obvious choices. I had a warm goats cheese as starter with beetroot. Well, I thought I’d put up with the beetroot as I usually don’t like it. However, that dish was lovely! The cheese was soft and creamy – goatie, yes – but without the slightest bit of a sting and I don’t know what they did to those beetroots – they must have been grown in heaven and not in earth. Altogether a tasty small bonne bouche for people who don’t want to be filled by the starters already. Just loved it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pasta starters were big portions and looked delicious as well. The others I didn’t track as I was happily occupied with my own dish.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Main dishes were delicious as well, although I wouldn’t lift mine into heaven. I had ordered organic chicken breast and got a leg. What I quite liked as the leg has more flavour anyway. However, if they take whole chickens apart and use the bits they probably should have it on the menu as part of chicken instead of breast. There is a choice of side order like mixed veg - nice but unspectacular, gem salad – well, it’s salad, or fries which looked nice as they were surely cut from a big potato. The people who had them liked them very much.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For desert I went for typically English, so I had the first bread and butter pudding of my life: Yummy!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I asked the lady who picked up our pudding orders how often she has to come back because it was unreadable the response was: Very often!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hmmm, we might be a bit too researchy, computerish, number spoiled – but why on earth don’t they number their dishes?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Altogether it was a lovely evening and the few quirky things add to the fun as one is never getting bored there. The ambience is lovely, the staff is very kind and skilled and there are loads of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The only thing that bothers me is the 'not booking table'. If I were to go with Detlef alone that might work, but I might be too German for that if I would have to entertain guests. In our case we knew that two of our guests had to leave for London that night and the gentleman next to me had a very subtle and sweet way of looking at his watch and keeping his calm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So basically: ‘Yes, great place!’ with a teeny weeny ‘But!’</div>Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-74899100727550455322011-03-22T23:40:00.001+00:002011-03-23T00:05:27.785+00:00A Posh Day Out in London<h1></h1><b><i>July 2009</i></b><br />
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<tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><img alt="" border="0" height="484" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/Travel/a2.jpg" width="200" /></td> <td valign="top" width="10"><br />
</td> <td style="text-align: justify;" valign="top">It was the occasion of our Silver Wedding Anniversary! Something special needed to be arranged and hubby was in charge. A party was out of the question: This would be OUR day and it needed to be perfect. And perfect it was!<br />
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We live close to London, so 'a day out in the city' is nothing special per se. Others however pay a lot of mony to get there. So we started off with the realisation that we are actually rather lucky to have a great location so close to home - so 'London' was decided upon.<br />
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Then of course one would like to be pretty, wearing heels, possibly dress and cute handbag as opposed to backpack. Transport needed to be arranged accordingly: 1st class train tickets and enough cash for taxi rides.<br />
Turns out that some of the more modern taxis accept credit card, but since we had the cash we spent it.<br />
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This kind of travel arrangement allowed for my favourite dress and the 5 inch heels and I felt very 'Sex and the City' indeed - A perfect start into a perfect day.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On arrival at Liverpool Street Station first action always is a rather un-posh visit to the loo worth 30p – thank God for the machines to change coins, that really can save the day – then clothes, hair and make-up check; London here I come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Taxis are located behind platform 10, and off we went to the <a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/default.aspx" target="_blank">British Museum.</a> Don’t get me wrong, the museum is one of the best places in the world to brush up on culture and history, but what we were after is the restaurant; for us one of the best places in the world to have lunch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few years ago we discovered it by chance and from then on we visit it for our anniversaries. <a href="http://ilp-travels.blogspot.com/2011/03/court-restaurant-at-british-museum.html" target="_blank">Do&Co Court Restaurant</a> never disappoints and yet again it was a wonderful experience. The booking was made online, the confirmation came promptly and on arrival it became clear that Detlef’s mentioning of our silver anniversary was picked up upon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were greeted with a glass of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco" target="_blank">Prosecco</a> which we thoroughly enjoyed. I have to admit: In regard to everything sparkly we are utter laymen. We usually just don’t like it, but this was a fine glass, and since breakfast was long forgotten, I got into swing quite nicely even ordering a beautiful glass of Rose wine. Not too bad for somebody whose usual order is a Diet Coke, alongside a comment: ‘No thank you, no alcohol it gives me migraine’.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A tiny bit tipsy I was brave again in my <a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/BMU_Menu_Standard_JULY%2009.pdf" target="_blank">order</a> and going for fishy things and oh those pasta were divine. I did not get disappointed. Have you ever noticed that pasta is getting cold very quickly and if one is lucky the restaurant heats the plates before serving? I have no idea what sort of dishes they are using: The plate was at room temperature and the pasta stayed hot to the end.</div><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/Travel/a4.jpg" width="500" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We were dining for two and a half hours; chatting, eating and drinking guided through our courses with the subtle attendance of the waiters, which we already enjoyed so much during previous visits. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Avoiding one of the typical London summer rainfalls we strolled through some of the exhibitions and then caught one of the taxis in front of the museum to get to <a href="http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/" target="_blank">Kensington Gardens</a>. I was prepared to have a short walk to get to <a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/" target="_blank">Kensington Palace</a> which is located in the park and cannot be accessed directly by car. </div><br />
<div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/Travel/kensingtonpalace.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
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<tr> <td valign="top"><div style="text-align: justify;"> We of course visited the exhibitions, had to however cut it a bit short for a good reason. We were after more food, or better: The experience of food!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Kensington <a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/CafesAndRestaurants.aspx" target="_blank">Palace Orangery restaurant</a> only serves <a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/The%20Orangery%20Afternoon%20Tea%20Summer%202009.pdf" target="_blank">afternoon tea</a> until 6PM in summer and we definitely wanted to indulge in this most typical of rituals which describes Englishness better than anything else. Oh my goodness, did I misjudge the amount of food involved. Try the ‘Champagne Tea’!</div></td> <td valign="top" width="10"><br />
</td> <td valign="top" width="250"><img alt="" border="0" height="179" src="http://incredible-ladies.com/pics/Travel/kensingtonorangery.jpg" width="250" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, I had never better tea. I have been drinking a lot of Earl Grey tea of all sorts: I now know how it is supposed to taste! Oh yes, there is ‘tea’ and there is ‘TEA’. Secondly, I now know what the fuss is about sandwiches. Common people might think it’s something bland with no crust served at the wrong time of the day… Oh no, these salmon-dill sandwiches were exactly what I needed at that moment in time and they were just superb. Then things turned - oh well, really really bad: Scones with clotted cream. I didn’t know what clotted cream is… Now I know! How can they do that to me? That is sweet butter… No, not <i>sweetened</i> butter; it is non-salted butter which is very very fresh and creamy. Being German and not used to salted butter anyway... a dream! And all of that with berries. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One would think that it can’t get any worse but it did: Belgian Chocolate cake with cream – the clotted version again. Detlef had gone into strike by then, he is not a real cream fan and the chocolate cake was a bit too dry for his taste. Well, he wouldn’t know when heaven falls down on earth. Just try a bit of cream with the cake… a sensual explosion. Gosh was I lucky that I chose the dress that is most forgiving of big meals! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We definitely needed a walk. So off we went up North through the park up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensway_%28London%29" target="_blank">Queensway</a> to <a href="http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1250/5611.php" target="_blank">Whiteleys</a> - a bit of a different, less posh but a wonderfully bustling cosmopolitan world all of a sudden. After a stroll through the mall we took a taxi right in front and headed back to Liverpool Street station. While waiting for the train we helped ourselves to a well deserved cappuccino and used my new iPhone to research locations for our next trip to London.</div><br />
A perfect finish for a posh day out in London!Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423194490013666269.post-69492793687673380872011-01-12T08:46:00.000+00:002011-01-12T08:46:26.854+00:00Please, envy me!<a name='more'></a><br />
The deed is done, the flight is booked, the deposit is paid: I'm going to Sumatra this summer. No, I am not just talking about it anymore, as I usually do, I actually am going to do it.<br />
<br />
Almost three weeks, and here is the itinerary:<b> </b><br />
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<b>28th June, 11:55</b><br />
An airplane will arrive in London Heathrow at terminal 5 with a woman on board. She eagerly will make her way through the traffic to get to terminal 1 and then, ... you will hear two screams echoing through the whole of the UK... that is when my mum who just came from Frankfurt will meet me.<br />
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<b>28th June, 17:10</b><br />
Two ladies will be lounging in their business class seats to enjoy the flight with a stop in Munich to then arrive on<br />
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<b>29th June 15:55</b><br />
in Singapore where they will stay in the <a href="http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/orchardhotelsingapore/index.html" target="_blank">Orchard Hotel</a> for 3 days. Mum has been there before, loves it and wanted more. Always listen to your mum!<br />
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<b>2nd July 17:15</b><br />
after a short flight the two will arrive in Medan on Sumatra to take rooms in the <a href="http://medan.swiss-belhotel.com/" target="_blank">Swiss-Belhotel Medan</a>, to stay for two nights before they will be heading into the jungle.<br />
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<b>4th July</b><br />
Hoping to be well acclimatised by then, they will join a group of four more people and the tour guide from <a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/index.html" target="_blank">RAW Wildlife encounters</a> to begin their once in a lifetime experience called <a href="http://www.rawildlife.com.au/files/RAW_12_Day_Itinerary.pdf" target="_blank">12 day Elephant Odyssey</a>.<br />
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<b>15th July</b><br />
The two ladies will emerge back into city life, and as I know them they won't be too keen into diving back into the noise and closeness to people. But good things have to end and after another night in Medan they will be heading home on the<br />
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<b>16th July 18:00</b><br />
This time the stop in Singapore will be brief and back it goes over night for a stop over in Munich on the<br />
<br />
<b>17th July</b><br />
where mum will leave the plane to take the train home, while I will do another hop back to Heathrow arriving in the morning. That will be the day for which their husbands should brace themselves as they might not get a single word in. Almost three weeks away with limited means of communication... poor things, that will be a tidlewave of reports and stories breaking over them...Rikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14671449965019068746noreply@blogger.com0