G'Lovers Travels

San Franbloodycisco!

kerrysgarner — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:58:00 GMT

San Franbloodysisco 23rd & 24th Jan 2011 Off on my adventures again! After spending 58 nights in the UK I'm ready to scoot back off. Part one takes me from London Heathrow to San Francisco I join P&O Arcadia on Monday the 24th Jan and will be sailing on her until our arrival in to Southampton on 29th March. We're on a world voyage and I join it a month in. The itinerary is amazing and I shall be adding a further 12 out of the 22 ports to my 'seen' list. It's one of my nephews 8th birthday today. Ironically I started working on ships for 2nd time around on my other nephews 7th birthday back in 2009! I'm currently sat at Heathrow airport waiting for my gate number to appear on the screens. My plan is to sleep as much as I can on the flight as I arrive early afternoon local time and hope to actually see a little bit of the city before heading to my hotel bed! Well here I am, San Franbloodycisco! The flight was 10 hours and uneventful. The trouble was I've been spoilt in the past by having at least 2 seats to myself! I was in seat F this time (I think it stood for 'For Fucksake') as I was 2nd in a row of 4…..my worse nightmare. EcoNOmy meant NO leg room. I watched 3 films and read a little - barely sticking to my plan of sleep :( The flight was 10 and a half hours long. Once I'd checked in at my airport hotel I had a shower freshened up and got the Bart in to the city. (Bart being the local underground system…..confusing I know as it's also the currency in Thailand! (BHT) I ventured into the Union square part of town. Lot's of shops and very 'American' in my opinion. Do you know what though? I think I love America! I went in to Starbucks and bought myself a decaf Cappuccino. I walked. I didn't know where I was going but I went through streets, I loved that if someone saw me reading the map they helped me, and told me to walk 3 blocks this way or 2 blocks down. As I walked across one street in the distant I saw my weakness……No before I tell all, let me explain: I have a slight obsession……with monkeys, well it's more of a love affair with Orang-utans actually but even so I adore the designs by Paul Frank (the most common being a chimp called Julius. Well in the distance on a San Francisco back street I saw Julius looking at me, I nearly wet myself! Just a look wouldn't hurt right? So I went in…….The sales assistant told me that they have a 30% sale on every thing in the store apart from the T-Shirt table and bikes (well I was hardly going to buy one of those - tempting as it was!) Before I left the UK my Dad gave me some money for my birthday in March and I wanted to get something from him I would like. I got 2 TShirts and a pair of pyjamas. Now I've had a pair of PJ's previously from the UK and they were really expensive (£75-£100) These were $55 on the tag but not forgetting the 30% discount they came to $43.50 bargain! When I pulled myself away from the Paul Frank store I wandered back to Powell Street which was where I got off of the Bart and I noticed Macys store on my way back. Now I'm not a shopper at all but I had to say I'd been to Macys! There were 7 floors to this department store, I wandered around the make up and perfume and wasn't at all interested so I left! I then got the Bart back to the airport and then the free shuttle bus to the hotel. It's now 2.50am I'm sat up in bed having been asleep since 8.30pm. My body clock's up the creek. It's 10.50am at home you see so I think it might take me a few days to adjust. What with all the time changes on board which will be happening in the next few days I best prepare for a messy sleeping pattern for a while! I'm excited with a bit apprehension about joining the ship. I hope the team I'm working with are nice, and they like me? - I don't often go through life wondering whether people like me I am who I am and if they don't like me it's fine. But working on a ship so closely together it's hard to pull away from awkward situations. I'm sure I'll be fine. Wish me luck! It's now 5.30am on the 25th Jan. I've spent my first night on board. All I can say is It's different! The ship is huge. Yesterday is a little bit of a blur actually. We got on to the ship really early (pick up from the hotel was 6.45am) The new team I'm part of seem really lovely - management equally. There's just a lot to take in and a lot of different things I'm going to be doing. I keep getting told how different the passengers will be to the passengers on my last ship (Ocean Village) and although I understand these ships attract a certain clientele I can't see how people can possible be so different? (we're all human right?!) It's a child free ship which I won't be used to. I also feel like I'm never going to find my way around! (but it's only been one day) I've seen quite a lot of people from OV who work in bars & the restaurants. I also noticed on the wall of pictures a few familiar faces. Basic rules for me seem similar to those I've had previous. One that's different: If I want to go to the crew bar I have to be in uniform though as I'm an officer! I can however go to the wardie out of uniform. I will have to learn to dance (which will be a challenge, but before arriving I knew this would be something I'd have to do.) My uniform is very smart (even though I had to troop around the ship yesterday in search for half of it because mine didn't arrive in time! I'm now on the ship for 9 days (without being able to get off) I am IPM (In Port Manning) at our next port (Honolulu, Hawaii) and all the other days are sea days. So this is plenty of time to learn to dance! As soon as I get internet access on the ship I'll add this to my blog. I really hope I settle soon, I do want to enjoy it I just don't feel at home yet. I am not open to it being at all like OV but I'm not going to change who I am and not be as friendly as I was on there. I got on with all of the crew on board OV and plan to hug and kiss and say hi to anybody I recognise on here….even if I do get some funny looks along the way! …..I don't think I'll get called 'Kerry G' for a while (which makes me sad!)

British festivities!

kerrysgarner — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:03:00 GMT

Blimey it's been over a month since my last blogg,apologies for those of you who missed me!

I've had a busy month. A little uninteresting in my opinion but it's only fair that I keep you updated.

I arrived back in the UK on the 26th Nov and have spent most of the past month visiting people and catching up really.

My best friend is a girl I met when we were about 5, she lives 45 mins away by car with her fiance, 2 children and she has one on the way. I went and stayed with her for a few nights. A trip to see her is never uneventful and this visit was no exception! Her fella went to France on a snow boarding trip and broke a bone in his back! There were a lot of flight cancellations at the time due to the extreme weather so getting him home was a nightmare. Any way all is well, he had a pin put in his lower spine to secure it and you wouldn't even know he was injured now - he's very lucky.

While he was away Linzi had her 5 month scan and asked me to go - it was amazing!

I went to see my smallest nephew in his school nativity play he was a 'torch dancer' (?) - lots of those at Christ's birth then yeah? he was brilliant!

I went to 2 of my other nephews nativity plays, who are both in local drama groups. They performed it at 'Pets corner' an outside farm in town near to where we live and they used 'real' donkeys to carry Mary to Bethlehem (round the farm once and back to the stage) and the 3 wise men shared a Lama (as a camel - naturally) as we lack camels in Essex! you wouldn't of known unless I'd told you….the pillow strapped to his back was very convincing and comfy I imagine! it was great and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 shows they put on. The eldest of the 2 was a narrator, and the youngest a shepherd.

Then finally my other nephew surprised me by asking me to go to his school choir concert. I didn't even know he was in school choir! he was brill and so I was all nativity'd out by the end of that week!

I've also been to my fair share of training sessions with my football crazy nephew. Who may I add is actually very good. He's only 8 but is so in to it. Also my other 2 nephews train once a week for 2 hours playing table tennis. ONe of them is only 6 (nearly 7) and he's brilliant. Left handed and got such a good eye. Such a talented family! :)

I made a visit in to the city of London for a last minute shopping trip just before Christmas as well which was lovely. I didn't go with anyone I spent the entire day wandering round the shops, I took my time in the book stores and cafes and walked down 'Denmark Street' near Tottenham Court Road tube station. I love it down there, it's a street dedicated to music!

While I was in brown I planned to walk across to Hyde Park and check out the "Winter Wonderland'. I didn't get there until 9pm by the time I'd had something to eat and finished shopping!

If you walk to the top of Oxford Street (Marble Arch end) it's just a 10/ 15 minute walk.

The European market was great. I took in the Christmas atmosphere, bought a 'Big issue' and walked back to Bond Street where I got my train home.

I live a 40 minute tube journey & 10 minutes car ride away from the city.

I absolutely love London. Of all the cities I've visited in the world 'home' is top. I never tire of it, I think this is assisted by the fact that I don't live in the 'smoke' I journey in!

I spent Christmas eve going to a social club with one of my brothers and my sister-in-laws family. The weather has been so extreme here leading up to Christmas that the streets were full of ice. Walking to the car after that evening was amusing especially as my elder brother decide to fall arse over head!

I remember going to Midnight mass a few years ago when I lived in Peterborough. It was held at Peterborough cathedral and was filmed for he BBC. It was amazing and although I'm not at all religious it was something I feel at peace doing. So I mentioned going this year. As I was spending Christmas eve night and Christmas night at my brothers my sister-in-law said she'd come with me. We went to the local parish church near their house which is a quaint converted barn. We were a little late……to say the least! arriving just after midnight, they were singing 'Oh come all ye faithful' and when it finished they were said one last prayer! it started at 11pm! We were 2 of the rare people who decided not to drink Christmas eve yet slipping on the ice as we walked away on top of turning up late made us look like we'd just rolled in from the pub!

Christmas morning was fun with only about 4/5 hours sleep. The boys got up just before 6am. Once there stockings and presents from us had been opened I took them over to the field in their new football kits and wearing their new boots for a kick around.

11 of us were at my brothers for Christmas lunch and then in the evening and on boxing day there were 15 of us. Very cosy but lovely to spend a Christmas with my family.

I've not spent Christmas in Essex with my family since 1998! so it made a nice change

1 speedboat, 4 Airplanes, 5 airports and 52 hours later

kerrysgarner — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:15:00 GMT

All was going well, until the flight out of Singapore was delayed. The in coming flight was delayed which had a domino effect on us leaving. I thought for a while that I'd still make it but unfortunately we landed at Hong Kong International airport at 1.10am which is when my connecting flight was scheduled to leave! So Cathay Pacific arranged for a hotel stop for me at the airport. This was very nice and meant I could have a shower although the hotel was so big that I had trouble finding the reception! Have you ever been so disoriented through tiredness that you begin to annoy yourself because all rational thinking goes out of the window?! Well that was what I was like last night. When I did finally find reception I was told that the room I was allocated was on floor 3 in the North wing (yes that's how bloody big it was I was in 'a wing'….very appropriate being attached to an airport and all!) Trouble was when I went where the Chinese man at reception directed me to go my number wasn't there, so I walked round for ages looking for it feeling very foolish and so tired. I nearly decided the sensible thing to do would be to just go straight back to the airport, after all it was fast approaching 2am and I had to be back in the departure lounge for 8am! 6 hours to find my way around a hotel that big might not be enough time!

Anyway I found it in the end.

I had a shower before bed, caught some Z's and then got in the shower to wake up at 7.30am.

The Cathay Pacific flight which I'm sat on now is very comfortable. They're a great company. I luckily have 2 sets next to the window to myself which is lovely for a 14 hour flight. I've watched a Leonardo Dicaprio film which was a little confusing but good. The guy sat in front of me has ants in his pants, causing my laptop to jump up and down. And I'm about to settle down with Hugh (Laurie of course).

I'm upset now as I've competed season 6 of House and need to research whether there's in fact a season 7. It ended how I was hoping so I was happy!

I then read for the rest of the journey. The books I'm reading at the moment are ver good I'm on the 2nd of the Larsson Trilogy.

I landed at 3.40pm yesterday afternoon. My Dad was waiting for me at Arrivals with a really big 'Daddy hug' which I was in desperate need of! It was lovely to see him as always.

We spent the 2 and a half hours driving home talking and catching up. He dropped me off at my Mum's where I had a hot cup of tea, bath and was in bed by 9.30pm.

It's now 6.15am and I've woken up hungry and fweeeezing! It's so bloody cold here that I'm wearing all my clothes! …..Ok - slight exaggeration but I may as well be, I don't remember the last time I wore pyjamas and I've also got a hoody on, and neck length socks! I'm still cold :)

i've made cup of tea and some toast because my body thinks it's 2pm. I'm going to have a little read and try and spend the rest of the day awake

I'm looking at all my luggage and that all needs sorting through as well. Oh god I hate unpacking!

I'm going to cycle to my old school this afternoon and watch my 8 year old nephew play football for the first time. I can't wait to see my 4 nephews.

Photos: from my travels

kerrysgarner — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:49:00 GMT

43 and a half hour journey home.......

kerrysgarner — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:45:00 GMT

Wednesday 24th November This will just be a case of me adding when I get a little bored over the next few hours. To be honest this could be the longest blog yet! I have a 43 and a half hour journey back to the UK from 10am this morning! It starts with an hour and a half speedboat trip to mainland Trat where I fly from to get to Bangkok this evening. The traveling from airport to airport is all part of the journey and actually I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it - I actually do! It's 6.30am I couldn't sleep. It's really nice sitting out here for the last time. It's absolutely pouring down with rain and the noise of it hitting against the canvas of the tent is awesome. A moth woke me up last night I think it was in the bathroom, it was flying into the canvas wherever it was, stupid bloody thing why can't they learn how to fly straight?! then a gecko decided to pipe up it was like the 'bug band' had started in the street….I mean jungle! Have you ever wondered why a gecko is called a gecko? well if you've heard one before you'll know but that's exactly the noise they make! they build up to it like a low cat meow/growl then they're off! gecko, gecko gecko! quite funny for the first few times then just annoying when you're trying to sleep! SHUT UP! I think my antibiotic paste has actually worked! the bites have eased, the old sandfly bites aren't itchy or giving me much grief at all. The new fresh mixture of bites I have else where are a little itchy but they'll ease I'm sure. I'm all packed just need to put my last few bits away once I've showered. Trat airport: Well, more like a garden party really! It's an open air departure lounge with a few Little Tykes toys in the corner for kids to play on. There are fans on full as it's rather hot, nibbles (food that is not a pet hamster!) and we're just waiting for the Bangkok Airways plane to come in for us to board it! I've been here since midday so I'm tired without even doing anything. I've got a long wait at Bangkok airport as well, I arrive about 8pm local time and don't fly to Singapore until 11am tomorrow 15 hours! what the bloody hell am I going to do at the airport for that long?! crikey I'm gonna be sleeping on benches like a right pikey! It's a good job I like airports. It's also a little more equipt than Trat so I should be fine. I'll need to have some food when I arrive as the stuff available here hasn't been great - I could do with some 'proper' food. Bangkok airport: It's 5.30am, I've been here since my plane got in from Trat at 8pm. I tried to sleep for a bit but the floor was so uncomfortable that I decided I could sleep when I'm dead! I'm now sat in Starbucks having just had a Christmas Frappuccino. Toffee & nut very nice it was too. I've watched 2 films since being here. Salt with Angelina Jolie (which was very good) and The new karate kid also really good. I've just watched an episode of House as well. I've actually gone through to departures now, and I've ordered a bagel and cappuccino. I can board my flight in about an hour. It's now 9.40am and I've been at Bangkok airport for almost 14 hours! I'm a little weary to say the least. And I've got a sore arse and bloody heart burn that won't shift! Singapore airport: Just sat down in The coffee bean cafe. Last time I was here I was sat with the lovely Emily Hughes having a chat. Now I'm sat having a tuna sandwich and coffee. I'm still weary although I slept for a short while on the AirAsia flight from Bangkok to Singapore. There was loads of Asian people on there shouting and being far too loud, not a great deal of sleep plus I was sat in the middle seat of 3 and the woman with the window seat was missing a bladder (well, it seems as though she was) Most people ask for a window or aisle seat when checking in, she should've asked for the toilet seat, she spent more bloody time on it!!! I fly to London Heathrow via Hong Kong at 8.05pm (local time) which means I'll be in the air for about 17 hours. My Dad's going to be picking me up in the morning armed with a coat and blanket for me (I've requested them!) It's forecast snow so I'll need it. I have sandals on at the moment!! ha should be fun :) Right I'm going to add this now as it's time for me to try and find a power point to be sneaky and charge Mac before I board the flight that way I get my regular fix of Hugh Laurie (aaahhhhh) - I love you Doctor House xxxx

and now, the end is near..........

kerrysgarner — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:53:00 GMT

So here it is, my final night in paradise :(

I'm sat outside with an incense burner which apparently keeps nasty bugs away, since I've lit it I've nearly been twatted around the head approximately 14 times by moths and lots of other scary noisy things. What a load of ol' bollocks! It's probably a 'hey, come over here we're having a bug party incense stick' Gonna kill Jo Jo!

Had a lovely last day today. The sun was out most of the morning so Joe, Jo Jo & I ventured off to a neighbouring island in the kayaks and went fully equipt with our snorkel gear. We put the canoes on a small beach ledge and went off in search of fish. There were a few things to see but relatively disappointing really.

Then we kayaked back across from where we started and perched on a beach for a few hours and lazed in the sunshine like 3 happy little gheckos!

The sea's beautiful to chill out in. So warm.

We decided to head back to the resort once the darker clouds started to head our way as it looked like a storm was brewing. We were right the rain came down and then stopped briefly afterwards. After we had a snack I went to the spa and had a free 20 mins neck and back massage which I got a token for when we first arrived. It was very nice, relaxing although a little uncomfortable as I still have quite a sore back from the sunburn! I suffered through the pain like a true soldier, it all worked out ok in the end.

I researched the bites I have on the internet last night as I was beginning to get a little concerned. I really haven't seen anything like them before and although they're not painful they're awful to look at! Self diagnosing on line isn't great as it always gives you the worse case scenario! (I'm laughing now, as my Dad absolutely hates that word!!! ha scenario, scenario!!! - sorry Dad x) plus everyone's a doctor when it comes to the web! I did however take one persons advice as it's using stuff which I have with me. So when I'd had a shower tonight I opened 2 capsules of the antibiotic Amoxicilin which can be bought over the counter in Crete! I used the powder with a small amount of Savlon spray (which made it in to an antibiotic paste) and dabbed it on each of the wounds I have on my lower legs. I also took another 2 antihistamine and just hope this keeps them at bay until I get home in 2 days.
The new remedy I have invented today if it works will make me a lot of money therefore I have a patent pending if any of the dragons are interested!

All is good in the Kood! :)

I'm going to continue to read for a bit here in the comfort of a chair plus lightening in the far distance! My last night of luxury before I begin my epic journey home which is going to take me 43 and a half hours!!!!

wish me luck, my next blog with any luck will be me writing to you in the snow!!! (I hear the weather in the UK is a little cooler than the 34 degrees I've been used to here?!

NOt long left in paradise :(

kerrysgarner — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:53:00 GMT

23rd November, I forget what day of the week it is! like being on the ship days of the week are irrelevant….it's tuesday if you're wondering but I'm going to tell you about yesterday and what I did.

I'd decided that I wanted to go diving at least one day while I was over here. For those of you that dive, you'll know it's not really a cheap hobby. Like skiing, unless you've got all the equipment it can be expensive hiring everything. I invested in a good mask and snorkel a few months ago from a dive shop in Turkey but everything else I have to borrow. Most places do a package fun dive. I've got my PADI so myself and the guy who runs the activity centre here came with me and we went out on a boat with other divers from another centre on the island. As I'm sure most of you are also aware that when you dive it's compulsory to have a 'buddy'.

The first dive site was a place called Hin Salak Uan, visibility was only 4/5 metres which isn't great especially for Thailand but it was a nice hour long dive and we saw plenty of fish.

Yellow tailed barracuda, black tailed barracuda, bearded scorpion fish, pink skunk banded anemone and lots of sea whips! We had lunch on the boat which was a rice dish and fruit then for the second dive a little further down the island at black rock. Visibility was much better here, 10 metres at best and we saw again similar fish. I picked up a sea cucumber which was very strange to touch. Soft and it had a tiger print. A lot of sea cucumbers I've seen in the past have been black and the defence they've had have was to squirt a thick sticky glue substance at you if they think you're a threat. This one doesn't have that defence apparently and was like a big giant cuddly caterpillar!

We also saw a Spanish dancer down there (type of fish not some gorgeous brunette with castanets!)

I have trouble equalising on my descent usually and get grief from my ears and the pain just under the ears on my neck is not nice. I went really slow this time traveling down the anchor line which I try to do every time but it worked well yesterday and when I came up after the first dive I had no pain and no deafness which is a first! I'm now sat here the morning after with a small blockage in my right ear but nothing like usual so this is good :)

When I returned from the trip I went on the search for my friends who are on the island now Jo Jo & Joe. They'd arrived after a 9 hour journey to get here like I'd had a few days previous. We had dinner together last night and were planning on a beach trip altogether today but it's raining :( the heavens opened last night with lightening which was fun to watch while we sat and ate. We also saw a couple of mice while we were sat eating which to be honest would freak me out anywhere else but you have to remember I'm in the jungle! I was sat eating my lunch 2 days ago and there was a monkey 10 yards from me in a tree!!!! I'm petrified of mice though, always have been thanks to my Nan & Mum when I was little this is the reason behind me having this fear!

I go round my tent with the torch every night before lights out on 'mouse watch' funny thing is, if I found a gecko, snake or anything else I'd be fine, a mouse and I'd move out immediately!!

So only one more night on the island for me, then it's marathon of a journey home. I'm sad to be leaving this gorgeous island and even though it's a bugger to get to I will return one day.

Another day in paradise....

kerrysgarner — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:34:00 GMT

Sunday 21st November 2010

Why is it that nature seems so much more scarier at night?! i thought that at 8am this morning when I woke up all brave and at one with it all. When walking to dinner last night a frog moved out of the way as I was heading straight for him (sensible frog!) and I shit myself! silly eh? The noises all around me are similar at night to those made during the day yet I'm more at ease with them in daylight hours. It's now 6.10pm in the evening and I'm sat outside again with all these noises - I'm becoming accustomed to them now. I really am enjoying my stay here at Away resort and don't want to even think about leaving yet.

I've just been and spoken to Andy the activity guy and I'm diving tomorrow. I'm meeting him at the centre at 8.45am for a 2 dive day. Can't wait, I'm excited about that now too - I'm a very excitable person these days!!

I've had a good day today. I got up and had my usual breakfast which consisted of a bowl of muesli and a bowl of local fruits with natural yoghurt on top plus a glass of OJ. I went and got a kayak and rowed to the beach! it seems funny but it's not swimmable, must be something to do with the boat traffic around the island so you either kayak or you can cycle like i did yesterday although this is the long route.

I laid my towel on the same beach that I stopped at yesterday and spent a few hours there. It was very relaxing I swam in the sea, read and listened to my music (not all at once of course, I know I'm good at multi tasking but I wouldn't want to get my book wet!) It was a very hot day today hardly any clouds in the sky and I'm feeling a little red tonight. Not sun burnt as such but a little tingly around the edges!

My legs are really irritating me and have been all day (well ok, the bites are irritating me, I've got along with my legs for years now!) I get quite a response from any person who seems them. I must admit they're really nasty looking, a couple of them are beginning to look like red angry burn blisters! I need to be careful if I develop any more I'm in danger of looking like I've got measles and they'll not let me fly!

Sorry to change the subject but as I said I'm sat outside typing this and something's just crash banged into the side of the tent canvas and now I'm paranoid that I'm under attack by some Thai night monster!!?

Right I'm going to sign off and read. Book one is nearly read! I'm in the 'happy book place' you know the place you lose yourself in on holidays and alone time? I only succeed in finding this place on holiday but I'm happy to say that i'm there with my book right now. I'm also looking forward to tomorrow as my friends Jo Jo and Joe will be arriving on the island. They don't head back to the UK until the 30th so I get the next 2 days with them until I head for home which'll be nice. I absolutely love my own space but having company every now and again is also nice.

The Thai night monster is a GHECKO! ………. GHECKO ATTACK quick take cover!!!!

first day in paradise

kerrysgarner — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:08:00 GMT

Saturday 20th November

My first night in a 'posh tent' was a success!

I was a little edgy what with the noises from various birds & crickets etc. It was funny actually because I sat reading last night on the platform ousted my tent and from the beach island opposite all I could see was fire and I could hear girls screams (in a ooh party sort of way, not 'quick call the police someone's being attacked sort of way!!) It felt a little like I was in the movie 'couples retreat' you know where they're not allowed to go over to the party side of the island! I'm a little curious so I might take the kayak over there later and see what's occurring!

I had a lovely dinner last night shrimp spagetti. I also went to a bar just down the road from my resort called 'Sunset bar' a small hut next to the water where you have to take your shoes off at the door and you sit on cushions next to low tables. It was only 50BHT for a beer so I sat on the cushions and read. The girl working there had a tribute concert to Bob Marley on the flat screen TV, Lauren Hill was singing it made the atmosphere very chilled out.

I think while I was sat though I got bitten to buggery! I have 22 bites on one leg (only below the knee) and 19 on the other!

Walking back to Away resort where I'm staying was a challenge not only because 1 beer is enough to make me go la la, but because there are no street lights on Koh Kood!

I went to speak to the activity guy earlier in the afternoon who's name is Andy (he's originally from Devon and has been island hopping Thailand for 8 years. He's been on Koh Kood for a month. I'm going diving with him for the day in the next few days.

I'm currently laid out on a rock right now next to Klong Chao waterfall. I cycled here from the resort. I've borrowed the bike for the day to explore the island!

I'm sure all the people around me think I'm french! yep how embarrassing I forgot to shave my pits! To justify this:

Armpit shaving and leg shaving come hand in hand and since my legs have been bitten to buggery from Mosquitos or whatever's decided to munch on me I chose not to irritate them any more than they already are. No one knows me here anyway so I don't care! besides people reading this blog love me with or without hair growth!

After the waterfall experience I collected the bike from a bush that I left it in when the rock walking got too much with a bike in tow and continued my exploration along the island I found a lovely little beach with just me on it next to 'Tinkerbell' resort I went swimming in the sea and bathed in the sunshine for an hour or so. I then found further along a place called 'Happy days' I sat and had a tuna salad and fresh fruit plus a sprite and it came to 215BHT. I decided to cycle back to Away resort then because my bites were really irritating me - I was in desperate need of a shower and I opted to chill in the afternoon breeze as the sun had gone behind the overcasting clouds.

I'm now sat on the platform outside the tent again about to see what I fancy to eat. Something light again as the heat makes your appetite strange. But you guessed it when I'm done I'll settle with my book!!!!

I've arrived in Paradise!

kerrysgarner — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:06:00 GMT

Friday 19th November

I've arrived in paradise!

Now because paradise is hard to come by these days I'm hand writing to type up later because I read on line when researching this beautiful island that there's no internet access. Since arriving I've established that there is indeed wifi (be it slowish) but I'm going to stick to my guns and write the diary anyway and just upload it when i can.

Civilisation as far as ATM's and 'noise' is a speed boat away - and it took an hour to get here.

I'm sat with a view to give anything for and it's moments like this that I reflect on how lucky I truly am. The weather isn't idyllic but this isn't important to me. It's 3.10pm in the afternoon but again time doesn't mean a thing on this island and certainly not for me for the next 5 days!

There's a slight breeze which is gratefully received and I have a tiger beer & a tuna sandwich…..what more could I want?!

My day started at 5am with a morning call from reception. Taxi took me to Bangkok airport I checked in and grabbed myself a coffee and croissant in a cafe.

BangkokAir who I flew with were very good. Small plane holding only 7- people (rows of 2).

Trat airport was about the size of my Dad's living room (which by the way is a lovely spacious size for a living room, but a dreadfully small size for an airport) The departure lounge was on stilts and open air but had thatched roofing!

The transfer company wanted 1800BHT (nearly £40) to take me to the pier where I was to catch the speed boat from. Instead I chose to pay 500BHT to Trat town centre (which took about 35 minutes) and from there I was told there's a free bus to the pier. I sat there for hours and no bus came. I decided to call my resort as I had no idea how far the pier was and the last boat to the island leaves at 1pm! it was 11.45am. I eventually caught a bus and arrived at the PIer at 12.55pm!

When I pulled up to Koh Kood it was raining but still looked absolutely amazing.

The person who met me was very polite and held an umbrella to shelter me from the rain. I have no idea whether this person is a man or woman! No offence intended I just don't have a scooby?!

Another boy insisted on carrying my rucksack…..I felt awkward letting him as it's bigger than him!

boy boy boy - definitely a boy he/she has just walked past and I'm pretty sure…..oh no actually I'm not ?????

Anyway I'm going to go chillax and read next to the water I think…….

Bangkok - hustle & bustle!

kerrysgarner — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:04:00 GMT

Thursday 18th November - Singapore If anyone reading this is planning a trip to Thailand my advice to you would be that any guide book you buy with 'advise' sections in then read them and take them on board! I had the 'Lonely Planet' guide' bought for me a few months ago and I have read it and re-read it yet I still let some bloke fool me! don't worry no harm was done & no money spent…. I was walking towards the Grand Palace& I'd managed to avoid most people (local) talking to me up until a very persistent guy decides to block my way and point to a large doorway very obviously closed. He tells me that the Grand Palace is closed until 12pm for prayer. He also mentions that if I take a government run tuk tuk today I go any where I want for 40BHT he waves a tuk tuk driver down and the next thing I know, I'm on the back. He took me to a sitting buddha in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok. Then he took me to a fashion house where they made men and women's fitted suits. When I came out of there I told the driver I didn't care for shopping I just want to go to these places that I've circled as I only have the one day in the city. He said that he had to take me to one more shop for him to get a gasoline voucher I tried to argue the point and he was getting a bit frustrated. I agreed to go into the shop for ten minutes and then I wanted to go to the places I'd previously told him. He took me Wat Benchamabophit next a buddhist temple which houses 53 different statues representing every mudra (gesture) and style from Thai history. Interesting I also managed to see monks at prayer. When I got outside my tuk tuk driver had gone! a taxi driver asked me how many shops he'd taken me to when I told him 2 he said he'd have got the vouchers he would've wanted and he's left you! I managed to find another tuk tuk driver (funny that!) and I got him to take me back to the palace area NO SHOPS this time, he didn't like my requirements! He also charged me a lot more because of that! He also tried to convince me to buy trousers and a top from a Thai stall as I had long shorts on and wouldn't be allowed in to the palace with them. Now while I respect the buddhist faith, any other religious building be it a temple, mosque or church if there's a requirement of clothing they will supply you with something to cover up. I knew the Grand Palace wouldn't let me down and my instincts were correct, 200BHT got me a dark green sarong number and the money was returned to me when I gave it back! SO DON"T BELIEVE TUK TUK MEN, THEY"RE LIARS!! After I'd wandered the vast grounds of the Grand Palace also taking in Wat Phra (temple of the emerald buddha) I took a walk to Tha Tien and caught a 3BHT ferry across to Wat Arun (temple of Dawn) which you climb to the top of (if you're fit enough, crikey it was steep!) I got the ferry back across and walked the short distance across the road to Wat Pho, Bangkok's largest and oldest temples which houses the famous most popular attraction the reclining buddha - 46m long & 15m high. It's feet are 3m high and have mother of pearl inlays! Wat Pho is also where the Thai massage school is and so I paid 360BHT (£7 ish) for an hour long massage which was very nice, relaxing but it was the fastest hour of the day!! I got the final tuk tuk of the day back to Khaosan road and met Jo Jo & Joe for a beer and pizza! We also wandered round the stalls and I bought 2 pairs of Thai fishing pants So excited I look like a hippie in them but I don't care. Family reading this if you're thinking 'oh my god what is she turning in to?' you should think yourselves luck it's just pants because I was really close to getting dreadlocks weaved in to my hair and my wrist pierced! HONESTLY!!!! Jo And Joe are 2 friends from the ship and we happen to be doing a very similar trip around Thailand so when we'd eaten we saw 'fish spa' now these guys had experienced this in Cambodia the year before I'd seen it at Singapore zoo but daren't do it on my own as the tank was facing out for all to see. As there was 3 of us and they were up for doing it again we did. Ha, it was one of the funniest things I've done. Basically you put your feet into a take of small fish and they take all the dead skin off by biting or sucking (not really sure which?!) Once you get over the tickle factor which took me about 5 minutes! it's like your feet are vibrating. 150BHT got us 20 minutes (usually it's 15 minutes but to be fair as I said I spent the first 5 minutes screaming and laughing like a pansy and he must have felt sorry for me!!) - I've attached a photo. I Skyped my best friend back home when I got back to the hotel I was whacked having been out for 14/15 hours or so. She was talking to me along with her little boy Rosco (who's 4) when we'd been talking for about an hour she asks me what my plans are tonight? I told her I 'm going to bed I have a taxi at 5.30am she told Ross to tell me not to be so boring and go out in Bangkok. She said I can sleep on the plane how many times am I going to go out in Bangkok?! so I went……she gave me 3 things to do 1 eat something horrible and take a photo (at least take a photo of it) 2 have a cold beer 3 take a photo of a lady boy! I went out for about an hour taking in the atmosphere of Khaosan road. It really is something else. Always alive! I took photos of bugs (food) I snapped a local which could've been a lady boy and I'd had a beer earlier with Jo & Joe and didn't want another one. Anyone who knows me knows a beer a week is too much for me! So I failed my mission, but at least I went our again, I love her for that. That's what's good about Linzi she's so straight with me about everything that offence or treading carefully is never an option we tell each other how it is - even if it through her 4 year old son!!!

Singapore to Bangkok

kerrysgarner — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:50:00 GMT

ednesday 17th Nov Singapore

Ok I've just decided to whip my laptop out of my bag and write! I'm sat….hang on let's get my map out - Next to Merlion Park. It's soooo hot, so I won't keep Mac out of the bag for long. I just caught the MRT (SIngapor'es underground system) from my hotel and it was fully air-conditioned! (read this and weep fellow London rat racers!) I wanted to see the famous Merlion statue and I have done now, he's just over my left shoulder. The last time I looked he was spraying water out of his mouth. Let me just check………Yep he still is! I catch a flight this evening to Bangkok, which get's me there at 10pm (local time). I spend 2 nights there - one full day. I'm sad to be saying goodbye to Singapore, it's really no surprise at all why they only allowed us to have a weeks visiting visa! This is definitely the best city I have ever had the pleasure of being in. Thank you Singapore! I met Jo Jo for breakfast this morning, her and Joe are off to Bangkok today as well but they have an earlier flight than I do. I got to Changi airport in Singapore a lot earlier than I needed to but it's better to be hanging around the airport than any where else. I saw Ems in the airport, her flight to Melbourne was scheduled 5 minutes before mine to bangkok. We had a coffee and then I said to her 'Em, I've got someone to introduce you to, don't laugh ok?' then I pulled out a pink/cream monkey that is my new travel partner from my bag! What's special about 'JoJo the traveling monkey' is that I knitted her! Her names is because it was Jo who inspired me to spend every waking moment for the past 2 months knitting her. I was so desperate to finish it for my trip that I actually finished it sat on the floor of Singapore airport! Emily didn't react how I expected, there was no laughing just 'hang on, he looks like Lanky…….'who the bloody hell is Lanky' was my response! - (See the photo!) I showed my knitted efforts off to my Nan on Skype last night - I'm sure she's so proud. She didn't say so, but I'm sure she realised how proud she is as soon as she had some thinking time! 2.22am Singapore, 1.22am Bangkok, 6.22pm UK Info: 47 BHT to £1 BP AirAsia flew me to Suvarnabhumi International airport, it felt a little rickety at first but I got used to the little noises. The taxi'ing to the run way was so long that I thought we were traveling by road in the plane! When I got to the airport I had no idea about the exchange rate for the local currency so I took what I thought was appropriate for now and enquired about getting to Khao San Road which is where my hotel is. Buses could of taken me but because I didn't know where I was going and for speed I got a taxi. My taxi smelt of cheesy Wotsits……..first observation. Second observation was that there were no seat belts in the car. The driver had one and so did my back pack in the front but the rear seats weren't issued them! The trip cost me 450BHT. As we pulled up to Khao San Road about 35 minutes later it was buzzing! I got there about 11pm, I felt a little odd walking through all the hustle and bustle with my back packs but I got used to it. I was so excited that once I'd checked in I got in to the shower and then went out! I got some food from one of the famous street stalls. 50BHT (just over a pound!) got me veggie spring rolls and some noodles. Singapore and Bangkok are completely different in so many ways - People from Singapore would have nose bleeds if they saw the rubbish in the streets here! I love how every place I'm going to is so different The world is for exploring so I'm off, blog again soon……☆

Orang-utan breakfast, Singapore zoo & Night safari

kerrysgarner — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:42:00 GMT

Tuesday 16th November - Singapore

So here I am sat in my hotel room in Singapore. I've only been in this city for 7 hours and I'm completely and utterly in love with it!

I've booked into the Ibis which is lovely. The room is well air conditioned and I'm on floor 15! It's actually 2am and I need to go to bed as I'm up early for a breakfast with the Orang-utans at Singapore zoo, but I couldn't wait to tell you about my evening.

I checked in and had a shower as the day of doing nothing on board the 'Beirut ship' was tiring. I headed out into the city in search for a sushi restaurant……..I don't know why but I fancied sushi. In the end I found a fine little restaurant called 'Sho Teppan' in Raffles city shopping centre where I had salmon, rice salad and soup. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal eating with chop sticks :) I was offered a knife and fork but I thought 'fork it, when in Singapore……'

I received a few texts from various friends while wondering around so I decided to go and meet a few of them as they were around the same area as I was, and I hadn't managed to say goodbye to a couple of them so it seemed only right. We met at Raffles hotel where Nick (the Ents & retail director from OV) was staying for 2 nights! We asked to see his room, he obliged………VERY posh! (I laid on his bed, and went for a wee - 2 separate events I must add!)

We then all wet to the Long Bar in Raffles home of the Singapore Sling and each had one, something that I was assured by the others just had to be done, it cost $25 (about £12.50) but hey I can add it to the list of 'I've dones' now.

I'm still in awe of how clean, tidy and safe Singapore is. I walked back from where Raffles is to my hotel (a 15 minutes walk) and i didn't once feel uncomfortable. I can honestly say I've never felt so at ease any where before in my life.

I'm going to call it a night now as it's 2.15am and I'm up in a few hours!

I'll add to this tomorrow after my day and this post can be extra long……

* * * * * *

I've got a feeling this blog will be my longest yet, as I have so much to tell you!!!

First I got up ridiculously early due to me not being able to hold in my excitement. I got a taxi to where the zoo is as it's about half an hour drive from the city. It cost me $24 SGD (SIngapore Dollars) which is exactly double the british pound at the moment.

The breakfast I'd pre-booked started at 9am and at 9.15 they bathed 2 of the Elephants in the bath next door (not a regular sized bath, smart arses more like a pond!) You could go and feed them if you wanted. I went through and took photos, I didn't really want to pay to feed them though, I stroked their trunks and they repaid me by spraying water on me!

At 9.30am the Orang-utans came from the trees and sat themselves on a shelf that they're clearly used to sitting on. A lady gave a short talk on them all and then we had an opportunity to have our photos taken with them, The best thing for me to see today was that the Orangs aren't locked up in cages, most of the animals have free rein, well to a certain extent any way - they couldn't just go and catch a bus if they wanted but you know what I mean!

During breakfast I learnt about an Orang-utan called 'Ah Meng' who was housed at Singapore zoo for many years. If you're interested in more info follow this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ah_Meng

She is to Singapore what Snowflake was to Barcelona - god bless them both x

I learnt loads today actually, I tend to try and pick up as much info as I can when I visit zoos. There's never enough time in the day! Here's some of the educational things that spring to mind from todays trip:

Did you know that one of the ways you can tell the difference between an Alligator and a Crocodile is because an Alligators 4th bottom tooth (from the front) can't be seen when it's mouth is closed yet a Crocodiles 4th bottom tooth can be seen. Although my guess is that if your close enough to either an Alligator or a Crocodile to be able to see it's 4th bottom tooth it's mouth won't be closed anyway!!!

Also did you know that a Rhino's horn is a build up of hair?!

Oh and it would take 10 Pigmy Hippos to equal the size of a regular Hippo! I saw a baby pigmy hippo today, imagine how small it was?! If there wasn't a pane of glass separating us I would have tried to dress it in a baby's romper suit that said 'I love Singapore zoo' and a matching and smuggled him out as my baby! (don't bother with the resemblance comments!!)

So having spent the entire morning wearing my sun glasses and sweating from the humid heat, as I sat down to watch the 'Elephants at work & play' show the heavens opened. It was monsoon weather and I thought right Kerry, you've got a waterproof camera a waterproof jacket and you're pretty waterproof lets just do it………..I couldn't have been any wetter within seconds! I was walking around with the biggest smile on my face! Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely adore the rain. Everyone around me was taking cover and probably looking at the strange 'special' lady in a white head band who was smiling…..but I didn't care. That's one thing I've always said in life don't let the weather dictate what you want to do, natural disasters do that too often, rain is a blessing and I soaked it up today. To the point that when I got back to my hotel 7 hours later my skin on my feet was so wrinkled!!

When the zoo closed at 6pm I ventured over to the Night Safari part and waited until 7pm before I was allowed to enter. By this time if I'm honest I was absolutely whacked! But none the less I went on to the Tram and was driven around the park (a separate park to the zoo) to see all the nocturnal animals! This was a completely different experience altogether.

The guide continuously asks people not to have their flashes on there cameras due to it dazzling the animals as well as it probably pissing most of the animals off - some people are so stupid there were constant flashes and most people were really getting annoyed with the 'stupid few' grrr makes me so mad!

There was a show on called 'Creatures of the night' which was excellent. A combination of script from animal trainers and animals making appearances themselves. At one point the presenter acted as though one of the animals had gone missing, he asked for the lights to go up and asked various rows of seats to stand. The presenter along with 5 other trainers opened a door in the floor which was where some people had been sitting and pulled out a snake which took all 6 of them to lift out and carry!!! Ha I was laughing, some people were screaming!

I called it a night at 9.15pm and got in a taxi back to the hotel, in only cost me $14 SGD back?!

I'm now about to call it a night as I have another jam packed day tomorrow, I bet you the reader can't wait………….x

Waiting to be put on to wooden blocks and drained!!

kerrysgarner — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:14:00 GMT

Monday 15th November 2011

I didn't write anything on here yesterday as there really wasn't a lot to say! we spent the day out in the China sea just floating (I'm sure there was a lot more technical stuff going on, but I wouldn't know what?!) we completed all our last minute stuff around the office, handed in our pagers etc and then just finished packing. I've got less luggage than some of my friends……especially Donna! She's hilarious, her and Tom (we call him Princess Tom) actually have a case full of beauty products and make-up each! I have a back pack to take traveling with me. If I was really traveling from hostel to hostel I wouldn't be taking as much as I am but as I'm staying in 3 different hotels I also have a day pack as well. My guitar and another bag of belongings will go into to storage at Singapore airport in a few hours and stay there until the 25th Nov when I fly back to the UK.

I have to pay for this storage and for both bags it works out about £50 for the 10 days which I think is very reasonable.

We've just arrived into dry dock in Singapore but anyone would think I'm sat in Beirut…….it's a complete mess on here! I can't actually hear anything right now as I'm sat in what used to be 'Charlies bar' the only area on the ship with internet connection and air conditioning still! There are builders and contractors all over the place the floors and carpets have been ripped up and it's quite sad to see my home of the last 14 months being refitted like this.

Venues that are unrecognisable: Village square (no wooden floor and the stairs are coming down) blue bar, Moviedrome, Marquee, Connexions, The Oval. ALL GONE! :(

No crew are allowed off the ship until we're on wooden blocks and drained (that sounds funny, eh?!) Hopefully we'll be allowed off soon.

We had to be out of our crew cabins by 10am this morning as the whole of our street (the ST corridor where we all lived) is being broken up today! They're making our cabins a little larger so they'll be 4 berth. We were given suite cabins on A deck (deck 11) for the rest of the day, which sounds greater than it actually is, there's no air conditioning no beds (well they were stood up against the wall so we shifted them!) and the balconies have been ripped up!

I'm looking forward to my first night in Singapore and the first of my 10 night adventure. In the nicest possible way I am looking forward to being alone and away from every one else. Wish me luck it's Kerry time! :) …x…..

Oh and I love you Dad - and don't worry! (I know he's reading this for sure) xxxxx

Popping in to Singapore, then popping out again!!!!

kerrysgarner — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:16:00 GMT

Saturday 13th Nov 2010

Last night was the last night for Ocean Village :(

We're now in 'no-mans' land really. Officially the ship doesn't belong to P&O Australia until the 15th NOv and we're back at sea just off Singapore as I type and it still states Ocean Village on the funnel but we're just cleaning tidying and generally sorting through 7 years worth of toot!

It was a very emotional last day yesterday. There was a really bizarre feeling about the place. Our last sail out was from Port Klang which is the gate way to Kuala Lumpur.

The last extravaganza show was an hour and a half long in the Marquee and was really good. It was hosted by comedian Kev McCarthy and the acts included Jaki Graham, The Chapman brothers, Tony Lewis as Robbie, Simon Ledger, Richard Sharp, Katy Reilly, Michael Boast, Keely Warrick & the Freedom to Move dancers all backed by Jet Set.

A lot of passengers were emotional and also very complimentary of what us events team do. Which was nice.

We've got to know so many people over the past 3/4 weeks and they're people we'll not forget in a hurry, some real 'crack pots!' (a friendly term I use when we get to know the passengers!)

So as I say we set sail from Singapore earlier today and will be spending the day at sea tomorrow doing tests on the ship and then we get back into Singapore on the 15th Nov where we all disembark, this is where my adventure begins……………..

Kuala Lumpur - malaysia

kerrysgarner — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:13:00 GMT

Friday 12th Nov 2010 - Kuala Lumpur

I decided to go on the 'Kuala Lumpur On Your Own' tour as this is a bus ride into the city and a pick up to the ship. The coach trip was over an hour. I went with Donna and Jonny. Jonny is the destinations manager on board and he'd pre-booked a table in the revolving restaurant up the KL tower! The view from up there was amazing and we paid about £25 each for the meal which was very reasonable. All 3 of us went for desert and when we walked back our table had moved!!

Over all a very nice pleasant day.

Mangroves & bat cave adventure in Langkawi

kerrysgarner — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:31:00 GMT

Thursday 11th November - Remembrance day. Lankawi - Malaysia.

It wasn't until I looked yesterday that I realised how close the ship is to Phuket today!……I also never know what day of the week it is until I look at my 'i calendar' on my Mac (which I often refer to as just Mac! (just to clear up any confusion caused if I mention him!!)

I have a jam packed day ahead as usual. We don't do as many hours when we're in port but I try and take advantage of the ports of call. We're only at each for 1 day so I don't really want to spend it sleeping. It's much needed, but I can sleep on a beach in a few days.

Jo & I are going on a 4 hour tour together, 'Mangrove & cave adventure'. We travel on a coach for an hour to Port Kilim, go on a motorboat into the Mangrove forest. Then we walk along wooden platforms looking at various marine life (hoping to see moray eels, horseshoe crabs, mantis prawns and stingrays) Eagles fly around the area to catch their prey so we should get some great pics. Then finally we walk through a cave in search for bats. I'll take lots of pictures and share my stories later when I return.

I've no idea why every tour I do has the word 'adventure' in it….I clearly woke up one day and thought I was Richard Attenborough! :)

I'm about to start my 2nd from last shift on Ocean Village :( I had an amazing morning in Langkawi. We did all of the above. I learnt that 'Lang' means Eagle and 'Kawi' means red/brown.

I held a horseshoe crab, a sting ray who I decided was named 'Ray' decided it wanted to escape and come live with me! I didn't like seeing them in nets basically being stored as food, but I eat fish so I'll not become one of those hypocritical preachers! I LOVE SUSHI TOO MUCH!

I've never seen as many eagles as we did today, seeing them fly over head was awesome and so peaceful & quiet.

It was extremely humid even though the sun wasn't beating down on us. The sun was out this afternoon though so I was thankful the tour was over by 1pm.

We have a Robbie Williams tribute on this evening who's a regular act on board and is very good so I'll be in the venue for his last performance.

I can't believe there's only one night left, sad times :(

Last of the sea days :)

kerrysgarner — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:01:00 GMT

Wednesday 10th Nov 2010

I've not written in a few days as not a lot's happened, I'm on board the ship and am currently on day 3 of 3 sea days. My location is 'Indian Ocean between Cochin & Langkawai (Malaysia)'

Sea days for us mean long hours. We're all putting in 110% at the moment as it's the last few days on board. We've been losing hours left right and centre as well as we have to be on correct local time once we get to our destination. Today is the last hour forward I believe, which makes us 7 hours ahead of UK time. We lose the hour at 2pm. It's surprising how much you miss that hour you know! It's usually my 'nap' time.

There was a top deck party last night which saw a lot of passengers enjoying themselves. At 10.30pm it decided to rain and although it wasn't cold by any means every one took cover (apart from a few of us nutters who decided to dance in it!)

We have a few 'guest entertainers' on board with us now until Singapore and we're all familiar with each others company so we socialise with most of them:

Kev McCarthy (comedian) is a lovely man who has his wife Rita on board with him at the moment. (It's like having my Mum & Dad on board!!) They're good fun and join in with us.

The Chapman brothers are also around until the end and they're great as well. (if we doing the family comparison thing they're the 'annoying, fun little/big brothers!)

Judith Decorti is a physic who does seminars and talks to the passengers about finding your sixth sense. She seems nice enough I just don't really spend a great deal of time with her.

I do however know Jaki Graham (80's soul sensation) from years ago when I worked at Butlins. We also worked together when Ocean Village started in 2003 and now here we are again sharing the final crossing together. She's on board with her lovely husband Tony.

I'll be adding to this blog all day today just to try and make it a reasonably interesting read! I'm off to train now as first thing in the morning is the only time I get to do it with all my hours during the day spent working!

It's now early afternoon and unfortunately the heavens decided to open just as I started to play cricket, with 7 passengers (all men) and the nutters stayed out in the rain. I came away when I felt I couldn't get any wetter. It would appear the weather's not all that it's cracked up to be in the Indian Ocean! it started raining about an hour ago and hasn't stopped! The decks are full of passengers reading and drinking coffee. It's supposedly due to stop within the next half an hour, we'll soon see……

8.20pm (ship time) 1.20pm (UK time) - It hasn't stopped raining all day! :(

I'm not really that bothered by the wether as we work all day, but it makes the passengers a little upset therefore our job becomes harder because they complain. Here they are on a 3 or 4 week cruise to all these amazing destinations and they moan about the most trivial things. For example last week we had a 'sea food buffet' which was out of this world. King prawns the size of my face yet some woman insisted on moaning about the fact that the prawns weren't as big as last year!! How the bloody hell do you remember the size of a prawn you ate a year ago?!

None the less we're here to keep them happy so I'll keep smiling :)

Out with the boys, Jo Jo & Ems

kerrysgarner — Sun, 7 Nov 2010 11:05:00 GMT

This is officially my first Blog but I have written previous 'diary' pages on my laptop which I decided to extend for the purpose of sharing and add to these pages.

So here I am some where off the coast of India, Cochin to be precise on my way towards Malaysia. If you're reading this I'm 99% sure you'll know me and what I do but I'll introduce myself on the off chance that a complete stranger has stumbled across 'G'Lovers Travels' …firstly what do you think to the genius name? I was really impressed with myself for coming up with it!

Ok so I'm a 29 year single female who is fortunate enough to work on board a cruise ship. I have done so for the past 14 months. I work as part of the entertainments team on board a ship called Ocean Village.

We are currently sailing on her final voyage to Singapore. In fact we are only 5 days away from this being the end!

I can't believe I haven't 'blogged' before now but hey, better late than never I suppose? I plan on having so many more adventures that I actually believe this is the first of many interesting reads!

What better way to start than my adventure today in Cochin, India. Myself and 2 of my good friends on board Jo & Emily decided we wanted to have a taste of the 'real' India so 7 of the Indian crew guys from the bars department offered to take us out for a tuk tuk ride and a curry. This is the list of who went:

Myself (Kerry)

Emily

Alwyn

Philip

Thomas

Sandeep

Agnelo

Brino

Noel

We set off at 11.30am meeting the guys on the quayside (just off the ship) We all had to have our Indian landing cards stamped and also we had to carry a photocopy of our passports on us. There were guards just off of the ship walking around with guns!

When we got out of the security gates the Tuk tuk drivers were all waiting for their next 'targets' …………we were it!

It took honest to god about 15 minutes to actually sort out who our drivers were going to be, they were all fighting over us! I have no idea what was said but there was a lot of shouting going on. The lads decided to separate us 3 women so we each went with one of them!

Brino explained to me that there are 26 different languages in India and he didn't understand what the local drivers were saying! They do sometimes speak and international language which he was able to understand but generally they didn't speak the same language as them.

Most of the bar guys on board are from Goa.

There were a lot of men wearing what can only be described as an adult nappy! The Indian word for this is an Lungi (pronounced Lun gee) and apparently boys from Goa laugh at lungi's!

So we eventually set off to wherever Alwyn had agreed to go to eat. The Tuk tuk journey was definitely an experience!

One thing I noticed about the local traffic was there didn't seem to be any rules, no traffic signals, and no sense but it seemed to work!

We eventually got to an area of Cochin called 'Thoppumpady' and this is where we had our food. We sat upstairs in a small cafe restaurant. It was very basic nothing at all special, once we sat down Alwyn & Philip went to a wholesales place to get beer.

We ordered our food, Jo Em & I decided to go vegetarian. (Emily is the only one out of the 3 of us who is a meat eater, but she certainly isn't the easiest to please when it comes to food. Emily is allergic to fish & nuts amongst a long list of other things!!) She likes to live on the edge and while we're out with her Jo & I are under strict instructions of what to do in the event of a giant peanut attacking her, we know where she keeps her pen!!

The food was amazing. The Veggie korma which we shared as one of our dishes didn't taste like a korma at home but none the less it was tasty. What made us laugh was that each dish worked out to be the equivalent of 80p in the UK!

The boys kept giving us things to try, I'd dip my finger in taste it and then ask if it was hot?! I made a silly noise on a number of occasions due to it burning my mouth! all the dishes I tried were lovely and half way through the boys asked us if we minded them using there fingers? of course we said we didn't mind and in fact after this we decided to also eat with our fingers, making sure we didn't get food on the palm of our hands!

It was very nice and made the food more enjoyable.

Our journey back to the ship on the Tuk tuk was much the same as going…….no sense. 8 f us were left to go back as 2 of the boys had to be back on board for work. we had 4 to a Tuk tuk which was cramped.

I noticed that children were often transported on the back of a motorbikes. Buses didn't have windows. And generally here was a fair amount of rubbish around.

We stopped on the way back in a Cochin bakery and got $5 (US) worth of sweets. This I'm regretting now I'm back on the ship as I've eaten far too much of all that stuff today and feel ridiculously tired.

I Managed to send my 4 nephews a postcard each which I do in every new port we visit.

So all in all an amazing day had by every one.I would really like to go to India now and experience different areas…..watch this space. Alwyn and the boys have said they'd show us round if we ever decide to go to Goa or Bombay.

I'm going to sign off as it's gone 12.30am and iI have a really long day ahead of me tomorrow.

Keep smiling :)

Kerry xx