So we have had an amazing time in Auz! It is such a beautiful country and I am sad I only got to see a tiny bit of it but I have had a great week and feel fully refreshed from India! So what have we done here......lots!
On Wednesday we went sight seeing in Sydney we took a boat trip across the harbour and looked around the opera house. We then wandered through the city and did a bit of shopping. The city is beautiful and what striked me was how clean it is.
Thursday we went to a Koala park and got really close to a Koala which was cool. We also got to see some Kangaroo's. Then that afternoon we travelled to Port Stephens where Lucy's Aunty lives.
Friday we looked abit around Nelson's Bay in Port Stephens.....we got to see are first Auzzie beach......which was stunning. In the evening we watched the sun set across the bay....the beauty of this country is incredible!
On Saturday we went to Burundi beach and went swimming in another beautiful beach, and then later on we did a bit of kayaking across the bay to a little island. I actually really love kayaking!!
Sunday we headed back to Sydney and went to Palm beach (where Home and Away is filmed!) and me and Lu went and visited the NF church there in the evening. Once again another lovely church! So vibrant and exciting and again we were welcomed in.
Finally today we went to Manly Island on the Manly ferry which was great! it did however rain today!
Its been a great week and I have actually managed to handle the heat and surprising I am starting to get a slight tan and still haven't got sunburnt!!!!!!
I am soooooo excited about going to NZ tomorrow.
Monday 30 November 2009
Tuesday 24 November 2009
G'day!
So we are in Sydney and its so nice to be here! The last week in India was actually slightly hard, me and Lu both just wanted to be in Sydney. I am so glad that I went to see the culture there and I really enjoyed the tour around Kerela but after 2 weeks I was finding Indian life hard. I guess the culture is so different - for example you are constantly pestered by people wanted to sell you things, take you places. Even doing simple things like eating an apple or brushing your teeth are harder there (you can't wash your teeth with tap water). I do however feel like I have achieved a lot by going - I was completely worried about going to India before I left England but God really protected me and kept me calm throughout the whole trip - I wasn't ill!! how amazing is that, I didn't get stressed - which is incredible for me because I used to get tense walking around London! (I must admit on the last few days of the trip a bit of stress came out of me because I didn't really want to be there anymore). I did learn once again that with God you can do anything - and I have achieved a lot by staying in a country that is so far out of my comfort zone and for that I am glad I went.
So what did we do for are last week in India......well we went to Goa, which to be honest wasn't as amazing as I hoped it would be. We went to one beach town which wasn't very nice (in a space of half an hour walking from one place to another we were offered drugs by 4 different men), we did however stay in a nice hotel - cheap, had a swimming pool and nice service so that was good. We then decided to go back to the city and forked out a bit more money and stay in a luxury hotel for 2 nights, Panjim is quite a nice city and this is where we spent most of our week. On Sunday we went to the NF church in Panjim - it was great! They welcomed us in and I felt so refreshed afterwards.
Had such a long journey to get from Goa to Sydney (4 hour wait in Goa airport, 1 hour flight from Goa to Mumbai, 5 hour wait in Mumbai, 5 hour flight from Mumbai to Singapore, 2 hour wait in Singapore and a 7 hour flight to Sydney) but once we got here it was worth it - Lucy's aunty was waiting for us with ballons - how lovely. We are staying at Lucy's uncle's with his wife and Lucy's aunty and her husband. The small things here are making me happy like eating salad (you can't in India incase they wash it with tap water), having toast that doesn't taste sweet, having a hot shower (a lot of our hotels had cold showers), seeing roads like the ones in England and getting my clothes washed in a washing machine!!!
We are heading out today to the city to do some sight seeing which will be fun. I think thats all to say for now.
Lucy says Hi!
So what did we do for are last week in India......well we went to Goa, which to be honest wasn't as amazing as I hoped it would be. We went to one beach town which wasn't very nice (in a space of half an hour walking from one place to another we were offered drugs by 4 different men), we did however stay in a nice hotel - cheap, had a swimming pool and nice service so that was good. We then decided to go back to the city and forked out a bit more money and stay in a luxury hotel for 2 nights, Panjim is quite a nice city and this is where we spent most of our week. On Sunday we went to the NF church in Panjim - it was great! They welcomed us in and I felt so refreshed afterwards.
Had such a long journey to get from Goa to Sydney (4 hour wait in Goa airport, 1 hour flight from Goa to Mumbai, 5 hour wait in Mumbai, 5 hour flight from Mumbai to Singapore, 2 hour wait in Singapore and a 7 hour flight to Sydney) but once we got here it was worth it - Lucy's aunty was waiting for us with ballons - how lovely. We are staying at Lucy's uncle's with his wife and Lucy's aunty and her husband. The small things here are making me happy like eating salad (you can't in India incase they wash it with tap water), having toast that doesn't taste sweet, having a hot shower (a lot of our hotels had cold showers), seeing roads like the ones in England and getting my clothes washed in a washing machine!!!
We are heading out today to the city to do some sight seeing which will be fun. I think thats all to say for now.
Lucy says Hi!
Friday 13 November 2009
Beaches and Backwaters...........
So an update of my week-
Chennai was ok but nothing special - we had a driver take us round sight seeing on Friday but me and Lu must have been very annoying for him because most places he took us we weren't very interested in which meant we were in and out pretty quickly. We arrived in Kochi in Kerela at 3am on Saturday morning after taking a sleeper train from Chennai which was a very weird and interesting experience, I was exhausted and not really looking forward to getting a rickshaw (tuk tuk) to the hotel that early in the morning as the drivers often don't have a clue where they're going but we got there safely. Then on Sunday we went to the NF church in Kochi -they have a church of about 30 it was so nice - the service was great and then afterwards they have lunch together - they made us feel very welcome.
Monday we started the organized tour which was good however very busy -
Monday - We checked into are Hotel and met with the other tour members, there is 9 of us 4 British, 2 Canadian, 2 Swiss and 1 Irish, it was great to meet new people!
Tuesday - We travelled to Alleppey and took a boat through the backwaters - which was beautiful. We then arrived at are home stay (which is staying with a family), I was expecting it to be basic but this was not the case the house was massive they had lovely double rooms - enough to fit 9 of us! They live right by the river on a Island in the backwaters - to get to places they have to take a boat (the children go to school on a school boat!) - they were a lovely family. In the evening we had a guide round the village which we got to by canoe and half way through the walk it poured down - fun but we were drenched my shoes have only just dried. We then had a rather long (1 hour!) journey back to are home stay on a canoe in the rain - I was cold and tired so not a happy bunny but the traditional Indian songs the guide and the people in control of the canoe were singing was interesting.
Wednesday - Woke up not feeling great my IBS wasn't at its best and the curry for breakfast made it soooo much worse! I couldn't say no to breakfast as that would've been rude to our hosts (who had fed us lovely food the day before) but it wasn't a great experience and something I hope to never do again. We then had a 5 hour mini bus journey to Periyer - which is in the mountains and has very bendy roads to get there (curry breakfast, bad IBS and bendy roads = very ill maddy! wasn't sick praise God!). Periyer was beautiful and a lovely little town and are hotel was once again lovely.
Thursday - We went to a Tiger wildlife reserve saw no tigers and 1 elephant from quite far away it was quite dissapointing - but the trek was fun!
Friday - We travelled to Varkala which took us 8 hours, when we arrived at are hotel I was once again surprised at how lovely it was (this was meant to be a basic tour) it is on a cliff with AMAZING views of the sea.
I think thats it about the tour......
Weather hasn't been great here it has rained most days...on the plus side I still haven't got sunburnt and the heat isn't unbarable. I am looking forward to going to Goa on Monday as its sunny there and we are planning to chill out on the beach and do some shopping which will be nice.
I have enjoyed my time here but I guess I am looking forward to a bit of normality in Sydney - being able to get from one place to another easily, asking someone a question and them understand what I am asking, eating a salad and a few other things. However I am glad I came because I have definatly experienced something different!
Lucy has not been so great last Saturday she was really ill and this has meant her stomach hasn't been normal all week, she has also felt tired and achey which hasn't been good. However today she seems to be getting back to normal so hopefully she will have a nice relaxing week.
Anyway I'm off now to maybe buy some flip flops then read my book and play Suduko overlooking the amazing views.
Chennai was ok but nothing special - we had a driver take us round sight seeing on Friday but me and Lu must have been very annoying for him because most places he took us we weren't very interested in which meant we were in and out pretty quickly. We arrived in Kochi in Kerela at 3am on Saturday morning after taking a sleeper train from Chennai which was a very weird and interesting experience, I was exhausted and not really looking forward to getting a rickshaw (tuk tuk) to the hotel that early in the morning as the drivers often don't have a clue where they're going but we got there safely. Then on Sunday we went to the NF church in Kochi -they have a church of about 30 it was so nice - the service was great and then afterwards they have lunch together - they made us feel very welcome.
Monday we started the organized tour which was good however very busy -
Monday - We checked into are Hotel and met with the other tour members, there is 9 of us 4 British, 2 Canadian, 2 Swiss and 1 Irish, it was great to meet new people!
Tuesday - We travelled to Alleppey and took a boat through the backwaters - which was beautiful. We then arrived at are home stay (which is staying with a family), I was expecting it to be basic but this was not the case the house was massive they had lovely double rooms - enough to fit 9 of us! They live right by the river on a Island in the backwaters - to get to places they have to take a boat (the children go to school on a school boat!) - they were a lovely family. In the evening we had a guide round the village which we got to by canoe and half way through the walk it poured down - fun but we were drenched my shoes have only just dried. We then had a rather long (1 hour!) journey back to are home stay on a canoe in the rain - I was cold and tired so not a happy bunny but the traditional Indian songs the guide and the people in control of the canoe were singing was interesting.
Wednesday - Woke up not feeling great my IBS wasn't at its best and the curry for breakfast made it soooo much worse! I couldn't say no to breakfast as that would've been rude to our hosts (who had fed us lovely food the day before) but it wasn't a great experience and something I hope to never do again. We then had a 5 hour mini bus journey to Periyer - which is in the mountains and has very bendy roads to get there (curry breakfast, bad IBS and bendy roads = very ill maddy! wasn't sick praise God!). Periyer was beautiful and a lovely little town and are hotel was once again lovely.
Thursday - We went to a Tiger wildlife reserve saw no tigers and 1 elephant from quite far away it was quite dissapointing - but the trek was fun!
Friday - We travelled to Varkala which took us 8 hours, when we arrived at are hotel I was once again surprised at how lovely it was (this was meant to be a basic tour) it is on a cliff with AMAZING views of the sea.
I think thats it about the tour......
Weather hasn't been great here it has rained most days...on the plus side I still haven't got sunburnt and the heat isn't unbarable. I am looking forward to going to Goa on Monday as its sunny there and we are planning to chill out on the beach and do some shopping which will be nice.
I have enjoyed my time here but I guess I am looking forward to a bit of normality in Sydney - being able to get from one place to another easily, asking someone a question and them understand what I am asking, eating a salad and a few other things. However I am glad I came because I have definatly experienced something different!
Lucy has not been so great last Saturday she was really ill and this has meant her stomach hasn't been normal all week, she has also felt tired and achey which hasn't been good. However today she seems to be getting back to normal so hopefully she will have a nice relaxing week.
Anyway I'm off now to maybe buy some flip flops then read my book and play Suduko overlooking the amazing views.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Bye Bye South Africa.....Hello India!
So I have arrived in India.....on first impressions its just like I expected - sticky heat, crazy - busy roads, lots of people but I am enjoying it! It was a very long journey from Clarens to here and I had to wait quite some time for Lucy (5 hours!!!) at the airport which was pretty boring as there is nothing there to do but it was soooooo nice to see Lucy and its lovely to have a bit of home with me on my travels now. Our hotel is lovely, we are in Chennai for today and tomorrow and then we move on to Kochi - I am excited and slightly nervous to experience the trains! Tomorrow we have hired a driver to take us sight seeing around Chennai which should be fun. Then on Monday we start are week organised tour around Kerela (which incl - travelling through the Backwaters and going to a tiger preserve - which also has wild elephants there - I am sooo looking forward to that!).
It was actually really sad to say goodbye to Clarens....I really loved it there and will miss it. It was really nice because on Sunday night the church prayed for me and then again on Tuesday morning at the prayer meeting. God taught me so much in my time there and I think he has changed me so much.
1. I hardly stress anymore, my anxiety and worry seems to be fading away.
2. I trust so much more in God for provision and protection than I ever have before!
3. My fear has calmed down a lot.
4. I am excited (not scared) about seeing other nations and cultures, I think this is something God is preparing me for in the future!!!
I have also recieved LOTS of words from God in 4 weeks which I am praying on and trusting in God for. I have made good friends in Clarens who have taught me a lot and I will miss them. However I am very excited about this next part of my trip, what I can't believe is how fast it is going.
I also wanted to say thank you so much for those of you who gave me and Lucy chocolate (you know who you are) it was amazing to have some of it last night (we have A LOT - a picture will be coming for you to see the incredible amount of chocolate we have) I loved every melting moment - HA HA! (it doesn't melt in your mouth in SA).
I hope to get to internet within the next week but there is a possibility I wont be able to.
Bye for now!
It was actually really sad to say goodbye to Clarens....I really loved it there and will miss it. It was really nice because on Sunday night the church prayed for me and then again on Tuesday morning at the prayer meeting. God taught me so much in my time there and I think he has changed me so much.
1. I hardly stress anymore, my anxiety and worry seems to be fading away.
2. I trust so much more in God for provision and protection than I ever have before!
3. My fear has calmed down a lot.
4. I am excited (not scared) about seeing other nations and cultures, I think this is something God is preparing me for in the future!!!
I have also recieved LOTS of words from God in 4 weeks which I am praying on and trusting in God for. I have made good friends in Clarens who have taught me a lot and I will miss them. However I am very excited about this next part of my trip, what I can't believe is how fast it is going.
I also wanted to say thank you so much for those of you who gave me and Lucy chocolate (you know who you are) it was amazing to have some of it last night (we have A LOT - a picture will be coming for you to see the incredible amount of chocolate we have) I loved every melting moment - HA HA! (it doesn't melt in your mouth in SA).
I hope to get to internet within the next week but there is a possibility I wont be able to.
Bye for now!
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