Big Trip from 2005 - Make my way back home and I learn to fly...Part 9 (Final)

I still can't believe it's been a year since the big trip...getting back from almost 5 weeks travelling the globe...I had so much fun and still today I'm so glad I went...I got over travelling alone, especially when I was lucky enough to meet up with friends and make some new ones along the way...the trip made me grow in a way I haven't in years...

I have just finished reading my journals from the trip, and it's amazing how it can jog your memory...and I have just gone over an inventory of stuff gained, used and left over from the trip...

STUFF...

- 2 Journals of the trip ( 1 given to me as a gift from the Guggenheim NYC from the lovely Nanette, 1 bought from Il Papiro in Venice)

- Many many digital and actual photo's of the trip - including a photo of the Florence at dawn and a Gateway in Venice to a private garden - both in the Living room

- BBC mug & pen from the Tour of the Beeb, London ( as well as this bad photo of me...)

FASH...

- A shirt, T-shirt and Jeans from London

- A stripy scarf & cute t-shirt from Paris

- A fitted black long sleeve top & 3 silk ties from Rome

- Bathers from Venice, jocks from Rome and socks from all over

- 3 Paris of Sunglasses, all quite fabulous at the time and now quite ridiculous

- 10 polo shirts from Thailand - all need to be washed drip dry

- Board shorts, bracelet's & other useless items only ever bought on holiday

- 1 Wallet from Mandarina Duck Florence (it's so the best store ever)

- A new suite of luggage (Luggage wheels broke in Florence & one handle got stuck in the Paris Metro)

GIFTS & SUNDRY ITEMS

- 20 postcards sent home, 2 which were lost and 1 which never was received by Bek & Damo

- 1 Pumistone in shape of foot from the 1 Euro store in Venice (EVERYTHING 1 EURO!)

- A nail clipper set that cost me 18 Euros from Paris...and then I found the same set in the 1 Euro Store ( did I mention that EVERYTHING in the store is 1 EURO!)

- 1 Disco Candy compilation bought from Virgin Mega store London ( I didn't realise until i played it I had all the songs from all the other Disco Candy Cd's already owned!)

- 1 Leather jacket(Florence), tie(Paris), Jocks ( Marks & Sparks) and diamante cuff links (Top Shop) all for Andy

- 6 Mini Jams from Fortnum & Mason - given as a gift (damn!)

- 1 Harrods Address Book meant as a gift but I kept it (you learn from the Jam mistake)

- A miniature Eiffel Tower bought from the 2ND Floor of the Tower

- 1 signed piece of Art Glass, 1 Vase, 8 Christmas Baubles & 6 mutli coloured tea lights holders (which washed to clear) from Murano
- 2 Books on Glass

- A serving tray with the London underground map on it

- 3 Sarongs ( they are so - wrong and yet so right for Posh & Becks)

- Frank Lloyd Wright Calender, Incense burner and other little goodies for Kris Kringle '05.

- 12 Shot Silk cushions - 4 used as cushions and 8 used as place mats - v.specsh!

DUTY FREE
- 1 bottle of Calvin Klein cologne which I still can't find

- 1 Million bottles of Vodka bought & drank

- 4 carton of fags ( thank god I quit in March)MISC...
- 12 Flower lays I bought from the above Thai lady when I was really drunk

- 5 Hats bought the same night - all for the Judy impressions ( flowers and hats strangely lost that night...)

- 11 used European train tickets

- 2 unused Metro tickets

- 7 Hotel bills - all paid in advance I might add...

- 5 well used Lonely Planet guide books - all my travelling gospels

- 3 international adaptor plugs for OZ electrical goods

- 23,000 Frequent Flyer point gained from 8 plan trips total duration about 3 days.... and used entirely on a one way flight to Perth from Melbourne!

And the bill for approx $12,000 was final cost of trip(and worth every cent spent!!!!)

I had planned to make sure I get to travel at least yearly - so far I have been to Perth and Hong Kong this year, I'm planning Sydney & Perth(again - family!) for 2007, and hopefully Phuket for Andrew's Birthday in 2008, and maybe a Bali trip sometime in the meantime..or Hawaii...or for that matter somewhere warm with a beach/pool and lots of well mixed drinks...

X b

Big Trip from 2005 - Thailand forever...Part 8

So Thailand eh..its still one of the best holidays we all had in years...

It's amazing what cheap booze...hot weather and lady boys would do to a simple holiday maker like myself...here I am with Alby summoning the spirit of Judy...

Alby & Allan with one of the prettiest trannies I have ever met...she's number one in Phuket doll...

Me still playing Judy to Jez's Liza...or at least Barbra...

Bless...Andy, Alby and our (straight) mate Damo in left over costumes from Victor/Victoria...either that or Cambodian headdresses are going to be the talk of the season at Spring Racing Carnival...

Again at Tuk's bar....a compilation so to speak...Jesus it was a drunken night ...
This is possibly the best pic ever....Andy looking lovely ...a nice shot of Tonza...and Jez so incredibly drunk...I love this pic so much...as Jez is one of the most urbane, witty, intelligent people I know...and he's so drunk here... and it still makes me laugh as he is totally the opposite of this pic...

Big Trip from 2005 - Thailand forever...Part 7

So the holiday was drawing to a close...the final leg was Phuket for 10 days...after running around Museums, tourist sights, churches, ancient ruins for 3 weeks...it was all going to be about taking it easy and slow














...The view from the hotel room balcony to the hills to the left...














And to the right...the beach...













...the pool is fantastic...like about the size of a hockey field...
So too the cocktail bar...a nice pic of Damo, Odie and Andy, and Montree behind the bar, after 2 days he pretty much knew all our drinks orders

Andy & I....yes and the infamous bruise on my pasty white 'just arrived in the tropics' skin

Andrew,Tony, Bek & Jez...all looking brown (bastards)

Everyone at dinner - we found this place a few doors down from the hotel - not only dirt cheap but some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten!

So one night after many drinks we decide to create 'Karaoke Idol' - Tony began with a rather wonderful rendition of 'Jambalaya' by the carpenters...a toe tappin' thigh slappin' experience loved by all ...Onya Tonza

Damo preferred a crooners number whilst seated with a beer...

Can't remember what Odie was singing but I love this pic of her anyway...

Ok so here's an idea that should have never happened...Allan, Tony Andy & myself sing Spice girls 'Wanna Be' which at the time seemed to the the greatest idea since track lighting...what it turned out to be was...to quote Jeremy..The worst thing he ever saw...in his life...but couldn't stop watching due to it's total utter dreadfulness...

Our new mates Stephanie & Tuk from 'Gramma Bar'

One night at Gramma Bar - A Hawaiian theme bar in the middle of a carpark in Phuket...Go there to sign your names with the rest of the gang on the roof of the hut - get a pink drink laden with enough booze to fire a rocket into space in a tittie glass (no less) and Tuk will do a show at the bar with a straw in her ear aka the Thai Madonna...beats the shit out of working.

Big Trip from 2005 - Viva Italy! Part 5- Venice, Murano & Bologna

The Rialto Bridge..another landmark you don't realise you are on until you see the view of the Grand Canal...

A short ride over the lagoon from Venice is the Glass Mecca - Murano...

A spent most of a day there being an avid collector of glass, especially Murano glass...













As I took disposal cameras as well as the digital I have only these...which knowing me is probably a good thing...otherwise there would be glass for days


Bless the Italians...they certainly know how to do a chandelier...

After a few Days in Venice, Ronni and I said 'Ciao' - she was off to Sicily and I was off to visit the city of Bologna...known for three things..the 'learning'(of the University), the red (of its walls) and the fat(the fantastic food)...

Noel and Alberto met up with me from London and it was fun weekend...in a nut shell

- Get to Bologna...raining...Hotel room flooded so they put me in a serviced apartment...we wander around the city and visit some it's great cafe's and bars...We meet up with Mirko, a friend of the guys, he takes us to a Friends house for dinner...car breaks down as battery flat...Mirko's brother comes to our rescue then an hour drive to Modena for dinner... Dinner was ace and got very drunk...we drive back to a Bar in Bologna at 1am in the morning...Noel and I fall asleep in the back of the car...Wake up and go to Bar...drinking continues as the most odd gay bar ever I have been to in my life...leave bar at 4am and crash...wake up very hungover...go shopping and eat a fantastic lunch...then need to go to the toilet for over an hour...Say ciao to Noel & ALberto and catch train to Florence...Sun is shining...

Noel and I before the drunkiness...

A nice shot of Alberto and me trying to impersonate a lamp...I have a whole collection of me doing this...lamps, vases, flower arrangements and furniture...but that's not for here...

Big Trip from 2005 - Viva Italy! Part 4 - Venice!

So after the beauty of Paris..I caught the train to Venice...other than the water, and the city has been the same for hundreds of years...the fact that no cars are present enhances what was one of the most unique experiences of my life...

The Garden Gate at Peggy's House(I thought the B & W pics of her in the house and the history of the Pallazzo and of Ms Guggenheim was far more interesting that the art!)

Me on the Academia bridge - Trying to blend in as a local...not succeeding

Meet Ronni...we met at Italian Class (yes I did a crash course in Italiano! Not that I was any good mind you) and she so happened to be in Venice so we hung out and saw the sights together...that was another highlight of my time in Venice...

St Marco's Square at 8am

St Marco's Square at 1pm

Moral: Go early

What I loved about Venice was that time moves at a different pace...No cars present so that helps...the air is very clean because of this so the locals ( if you can find any remaining) say...Yes you pay 18 Euros for a Bellini at "Harry's Bar" and you need to sell your grandmother to eat and for your hotel room, but the experience of this amazing city on stilts has to be visted at least once in your life...

Big Trip from 2005 - I love Paris...again (Part 3)

OK doll so Paris is beautiful and fab and glamorous etc etc etc...but seriously it so is...and although I thought the Eiffel tower would be just another 'tourist destination'(well it is)it is still an amazing structure...not just a fantastic view of the city...Oh and a tip for the thrifty travellers - you pay depending on which level you want to view from, platform 1 (don't bother too low)

Platform 3 WAY too

high- not much between you and land and death) or the usual destination Platform 2 where everyone goes and still feels quite safe...and yes you see everything from 2- so the 5 euros you save you can by a fabulous chocolate and banana crepe from the seller down below...that is almost as good as this monument to the machine age...french style of course - pefrect for any 'petit voyageur' !