UK06

Gallery: Germany

shannon — Wed, 9 Aug 2006 01:05:00 GMT

Europe in 3weeks

We Need a Shower 06 III

shannon — Fri, 7 Jul 2006 23:27:00 GMT

Getting on a boat in Englad is one thing. Waking up in another country where they drive on the wrong side of the road and speak Dutch is another. Great experience, except after the night we'd had we did'nt want to be woken two hours before we had to get off at 7 by a women offering us breakfast over the loudspeake in Dutch.

The boat lands in Rotterdam and from there we headed to Laden to meet 'the Dutchies' (3 Dutch blokes Sam and Gaz had met in Oz). Sjef (Chef) and Seibren (See bren) are cool blokes living in this small town based around a series of rivers and highly populated with students who in general don't get along particularly well with everyone else. I fell in love with this town fairly quickly (which has become a bit of a habit) it's got loads of cafe's and almost everyone travels around by bike and travel by boat is fairly common too, very nice relaxed atmosphere with friendly people. but we weren't there for very long, we were off to Masteritch another cool town in the Netherlands, this is where Sjef's folks live.

We're not met all that openly at Sjef's folks house his dad hardly said hello and after we'd had a beer his mum got home and suggested we go out for a while, which we did and we got some tea and some beer into us, then headed back to get showered and changed and were off again. this time with a case of beer, bottle of tequila and some potent dutch spirit that tasted a lot like burning (This was introduced by the 3rd Dutchie Francoia). this made us equipt to play the dutchie's SDDS "Supper Duper Double Ass drinking game", sounds stupid, it's actualy a fun and effective game and I think the name was invented to make english people say Supper Duper Double Ass drinking game. after playing for a while we decided it'd be rude not to challenge a group of people that were playing soccer behind us to a game, so we did and I was Man of the Match and no one can really remember the details but we know we won. Due to SDDS the rest of the night is a fair blur for everyone but we know that amongst other things the following happened, we went to a pub, a club, a kebab restaurant, a koffee shop for joints, mickey spewed in a pint glass, gaz burnt his lip on sambuka, Sjef needed to chuck after the first joint so ran out of the koffee shop clutching his mouth, Francoia stole a bike and Mickey nearly got arested for it, Mez and Sjef were the only ones that picked up, we drank Sje's fave beer (apparently 15% and served in a glass the shape of a wine glass but size of a pint everyone was wasted and had an awsome night.

The next morning we're off around Masteritch having Sjef's guided tour and picking up some awsome food while we were at it. but this was the 9th of June or as Europe new it, "the start of the 2006 world cup" so we were off to Germany to have our slice of world cup action.

We Need a Shower 06 II

shannon — Fri, 7 Jul 2006 23:12:00 GMT

Hull-Rotterdam

Until this point, the only Ferry I'd been on is from Sorento to Queenscliff and I didn't even see a dolphin so this had a fair chance of making an improvement on that but I never expected what was to follow. We drove the van on and went straight up to the 15th floor to get rid of our stuff and get a couple of quick Tequila shots in before hitting the bars. Down in the lift to the Irish bar and this is where I met Murphy ('s Draught) it's my carlton while I'm here, it's big it's black it's always cold and I know I like it. A few pints into us here and we were ready , so we just went to the casino and played roulett. Did I mention I won 20 quid? Or as I prefer to call it, $50 sometimes that exchange rat looks awsome! so then I was done in the casino and it was my round so, more Murphys and a cigar and some get to know you time for the group (mickey had an early night) but the rest of us kicked it in the bar listening to pub rock played by the live band til the wee hours until it was time to go buy a hot dog (yes they thought of everything on this boat). time for bed.

We Need a Shower 06 I

shannon — Fri, 7 Jul 2006 22:51:00 GMT

Gaz picks us up from the train and as promised takes us to a couple of his locals in York. We spend several hours enjoying the scenary and and ales and he introduces us to one of his mates Johnny. from here he takes us to his dads where we are treated like royalty, fed an awsome BBQ and warm Fosters (Not So Good) but the company was great and we were reunited with Adam so we had unexpectadly seen all three of our Poms within 5 days of landing in the country. After Tea we meet Mickey, he's in the Army reserves and as only someone who's in the army reserves would do he rocks up in his army reserves uniform and that's my first impression of him, unfortunately, his first impression of me is me trying to make jokes about him being in his army reserves uniform but oh well, you move on. off to Mickey's to meet what can only be described as THE VAN. The photo's will describe better than I can but this Machine is an OldSkool Bus (16 Seater) with all of the seats apart from the front 5 femoved and replaced with an all in one Table and chairs, Bed for four, Storage compartment slash bedroom. this is what the boys bought with just 400quid each. Trust me it's bloody impressive and it took the 5 of us around Europe in 3 weeks doing over 4,400kms.

The following morning we wake and we're off to go and get and meet Sam from Oxford, (He was getting the train to York like us). On meeting sam I thought he was a bit quiet, and I was right, but I didn't see the wicked sence of humour that would help us all through this 3 weeks in a very close vacinity to eachother. Gaz being a man of his word, showed Sam (with Mez and I happily in toe) around a couple of his locals. so with a couple in us were were ready to get the van ready for departure and by 7 we were on the road toward our 9 o' clock ferry.

England 1b

shannon — Fri, 7 Jul 2006 22:33:00 GMT

Mez and I decided to cut our time with Sarah short and book a hostel in London and go and see Neils band The Hair play. So after spending the day with tose guys we jumped on a train back to London and tube from there to London Bridge where we walked to the hostel which is awsome has its own bar, club and coffee shop. Dropped off all of our gear and headed toward Shoeditch which is just past Whitchapel, (Think Monopoly, if that dosen't work think Tnanti.) So Neil's on at 930ish and we're running a little bit late, it's 9 by the time we're on the tube. Turns out the Shorditch station's closed for maintenence so we had to walk from Whitechapel to Shorditch (Like Tanti to the Pines with nothin inbetween and a way higher black gang ratio). So Mez (mini skirt and top) and me (white jeans and watermelon jumper) take this walk between 930 and 10.30 as it's getting dark, awsome, we thought our trip had com to an early end when we asked this nice young girl for directions that turned out to be completely wrong and had us walking down a very dark alleyway toward a large grop of black men. we finaly made it to a main road and asked a van full of 8 police which way we were supposed to be headding and after pointing us in the right direction followed us (we think) to make sure we made it okay!

Anyway inside the Spreadeagle, (the name of the ex-strippers Neil was playing at) We found Neil talking to a group of girls and when we got to chat to him he told us we missed the gig! Oh well, worth it for the experience. and it was awsome to catch up with Neil over beer and Pizza. afterwards we jumped in a taxi and went straight home to bed. Tomorrow we see Gaz!!!

We Need a Shower 06 IV

shannon — Fri, 7 Jul 2006 00:10:00 GMT

I wish now that I'd've written down before I'd left what I expected from each country, especialy Germay because I don't think I expected it to be bad, but I definantly didn't expect it to be this good and the people this friendly.

Driving in Germany from the west Basicaly Holland, but we were in Belgium for a moment after taking a wrong turn, but anyway, heading toward Frankfurt from the west of Germany and as Game time approaches, we realise we're not going to make it there so we stop in the next town we go through. Although Mickey spends most of his time asleep in the van the rest of us watch the match at a bar where the bloke who owns the bar has set up a big screen in the shop window facing his bar so people can sit outside and watch it. this bloke is incredibly friendly he looks after us well with cold beer well topped up and then takes photos of us and offers to email them to us, I'll try and add them. there's even a random old German bloke who comes up to us at half time and says hello and tries to have a conversation with us, but with his, not great English and our terrible German we didn't get very far,

anyway, Germany won the game so everyone was happy and we were out of there, back on the road towards Frankfurt. by the time we arrived, it was quite late and dark so we just found a carpark in the hills somewhere and pulled in and went to sleep. when we woke in the morning though we saw that it was not just a carpark but a park and there were toilets and loads of space to kick a soccer ball about. it took all of us to go to the toilets, use them as a shower and whatever else and to come back to figure out that Herin means boys and damen means girls, so we all used the wrong ones, I read damen as DA MEN. all slightly cleaner than before and ready to go

Down the hill toward the centre of Frankfurt where we parked the van on the side of the road and walked away from it.

England 1a

shannon — Thu, 8 Jun 2006 02:44:00 GMT

Just a brief one from memory of the past 4 days since we landed at Heathroe coz everyone else is packing the van to go to Germany and I look like the slack ass I am at the moment by letting them do all the work while I sit and email and what not.

sarah picked us up from the airport and took us to hers to shower and drop off our stuff so we sat and chatted about gossip and football (AFL) with her Tor and her folks for a while then we went out for a pint and a bite to eat, Lovely little English pub in Burmingham. then Tor started work so Mez and I hit some locals to get a feel for the place and then headed over to where Tor works to meet Sarah for another pint or two. Home by 11 or so coz I was soft.

Net day was Sunday and Mez and I were both wide awake by 8 so we were off for a walk the streets are tiny and there's no footpaths so that in itself is an accomplishment. When we got back we got Kev (Sarah's dad) to give us a lift to the station. ONece in london we did all of the touristy things Like the London Eye, Big, Ben, Parliment House, Buchingham palace and Tower bridge. Along the way we found some awsome pubs and a nice restaurant. So after one day in london we feel like absolute professionals on their public transport mainly the Tube

All in all one full day in England and nothing major to report except, we Love it just as much as Hong Kong.

Well Off to Germany now, I'll try and fill in the rest of our time in england soon

Gallery: England

shannon — Wed, 7 Jun 2006 20:45:00 GMT

pics between Honkers and leaving for the world cup

Gallery: Hong slash Hongkers

shannon — Sun, 4 Jun 2006 20:05:00 GMT

ShaznMez in Hong Kong

Hong Kong in a day

shannon — Sun, 4 Jun 2006 19:47:00 GMT

Well we've landed!
pretty exciting for us but not a whole lot to tell so far so this should be nice and brief.
after pretending to be a female and getting away with it only moments before getting on board flight CX104 Melbourne to Honkers Merrin and I had a blast for the first hour or so of the flight, however we rapidly became bored and I decided that beer dosen't taste quite the same at 30,000feet. we became less chatty and took it in turns of sleeping next to the window and watching TV
Shortly after arriving we're swept away in a tide of people and ended up on a train, no idea where it was taking us, turns out, just to the other end of the airport. just through customs and we are told to be quiet by the bus people taking us to the hotel apparently our enthusiasm wasn't appreciated at 1:30am in a quiet airport.
so to the hotel we went and being the gentle men that I am I ducked accross to 7/11 to grab some smirnoff blacks, however shortly after discovering that we're the three worst Aussie travelers ever, (no bottle opener) we decided to share one and hit the hay.
Al I know you'll love this... Bacardi 151 HK$200 dosen't sound so great but when we buy $8 with one of ours that's a fucking good deal!
So up early this morning, grab some brekkie and then we jump on a train and then into a taxi to get a tram to the peak (that's one of the tourist attractions) however our cabbie either didn't understand us or blatently ripped us off by taking us straight to the the peak so out we get and head into a cafe slash deli and I'm pretty sure that'll be the only time I'll be greeted by a Hongkes resident with Bonjour, How may I help you? Any way it's a french deli at the top so we had quiche, pizza and this funny ham and cheese sandwich thing! (Welcome to Honkong Guys!)

After some shopping in and aroung Hong Kong and much use of public transport we're back at the hotel and cait has a new pair of shoes and new sunnies quick nanna nap and then we're off again

I bought food from a roadside market and Mez bought sunnies!

then we were off to the night market, very similar to Bali (lots of stalls, but once you've seen about half a dozen youve seen them all! that is, until you get to the fortune tellers! Many revelations including that Merrin and Cait are both going to be rich and powerful women and I'm not going to make any money til I'm 35 and that if I marry before then it'll end in divorce! Awsome! did I mention that if I marry a skinny girl it'll be a mistake? That's Rad, so some of us were more impressed with that $100 spent!

All in all, Hong Kong is a must see destination and it's definantly worth more than the fleeting 36 hours we dedicated to it! (there's always the way Home.)
Hope You're all well
Love you all but
Not missing any of you yet!
Much love Shanno

Before we left

shannon — Mon, 29 May 2006 18:20:00 GMT

just thought I'd give this thing a shot

see how we go

Gallery: Before

shannon — Mon, 29 May 2006 17:54:00 GMT

Photos from before we left Aus