Friday, January 31, 2003

'Are you ready for the next episode?' (copyright Calvin Broadus and Andre Young Y2K)...Well what a day of fun we've had. Firstly having spoken to the British consulate in Phnom Penh they said all borders (land) are all now closed, and they thought the flights from Siem Reap to BKK were also cancelled - we then had a few different options...

1) Go to PP and get Visa for Laos/bring Vietnam Visa forward (it starts on 11/3) and go to one of those 2 instead.
2) Try to fly to somewhere else - Silkair (Singapore airways) has flights twice a week although they are about 250UKP+
3) Go and visit more rural parts of Cambodia and wait for it all to blow over...(our Cam Visa lasts until 20/2)

Well after having consulted a couple of travel agents they told us the flights to BKK are running (at least that's what they say...) so we are braving Siem Reap airlines (OH MY GOD) and a propeller plane on Sunday - the 2nd. All flights for tomorrow daytime (there's no way I'd fly at night as well) are full so it's Sunday. Having had a pretty stressful day we're going to find a nice place to see in the Chinese New Year tonight and tomorrow and sample the local brews (yes there is a beer called Angkor, but weirdly enough it's produced in Sihanoukville...s'pose they couldn't fit 'Sihanoukville' on the tin...)

That is about that I suppose. I cannot tell you just how stressful it is to be in a foreign country where very few people speak English and you cannot get out...hopefully this will be the one and only hitch but somehow I doubt it...! Now off to the hotel to try to get a refund for the bus ticket and book another night there.

We should, therefore, be in BKK for Sunday night and will stay for a few days before going up into Chiang Mai et al. It appears for the time being that the stream of tourists to Cambodia may turn into a trickle which is such a shame because it is an outstandingly beautiful country and all the people we have met have been the friendliest met so far...

As Jen has put above a big thanks to Neil who is going to help us ship some stuff back to the UK - quite why I packed a complete set of thermals and a fleece I have no idea.

Well here goes, this is written by Jennifer so will probably be more factual than funny - diary writing is not my forte.
There are a few details to update you all with. Yesterday started off with a lie in, and then it was to the mine museum - this guy originally laid the line mines down for the army and now is a one man band disarming them whist battling with government to do so. It was amazing the different shapes and sizes of these things.
The last of the temples were completed - at the moment I don't want to see another temple. We saw the Bayon properly, the Phimeanakeas (the kings private temple) and the Baphoun which was undergoing a 7 year restoration project. We watched the sunset set over Angkor Wat.
The the news came that the borders between Cambodia and Thailand have been shut due to the riots between the two countries. At the monemt there is conflicting information, but it appears the border is still open for tourists, the British embassy says there should be no problem with us getting to Thailand tomorrow, we will update you if anything changes. There is no animosity towards us here although all the Thais have left Siem Reap to return home.
This morning has been quite sedate we have been to see a local butterfly farm, where there were some fantastic butterflies, it is run by a British guy.
We are trying to confirm that we will be able to cross the border at Poipet tomorrow morning because we don't want to stay there because it has been described in the lonely planet as " the worst place on earth".
We have also found a lot of stuff in our back packs that we are not using, and some souvenirs are beginning to become quite bulky so we are shipping some stuff back through DHL and Neil (Thank you)

Update - the border is closed we are going to have to fly .

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

PICTURES!!! A nice little internet cafe has let me loose with my portable hard drive and so, dear readers, at last, you get pictures!! I will try to get these in order...

First we have:

The happy couple on a the back of a truck (songthaew) on our way to Koh Chang..., and the again at the waterfall on Koh Chang.



The ferry to Sihanoukville, and Jen in front of the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh



Sunrise over Angkor Wat, and arty Ta Prohm picture



Hope they are all of interest. Now I've worked out the whole resizing image and uploading malarky we will try to get some on at least once a month. Today we went back to the temples and toured some of the lesser known ones before ending up at the Bayon which is very famous for it's faces. I burnt my leg on the exhaust pipe of my moto driver and it hurts like hell. This meant that climbing all those steps in the sun was pretty unbearable so we got home for about 4pm. Tomorrow we are going to the mine (land not coal) museum and trying our hand at navigating through a minefield (simulation - duh!). Then back to the Bayon before sunset at the big hill from which you can see everything (you can tell I left the guidebook in the room tonight...)

Will fill you in with the rest tomorrow - we have decided to go by bus to BKK and it is booked - should be a fun 12 hours but will hopefully be in BKK for Chinese New Year which should be amazing. Mike B if you read this we are booked in at Suk11 again - see you there!

Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Well this could be a long one so here goes...the first thing to say is that whoever you are, wherever you are you MUST come to Angkor and do it soon. You see at the moment there are only a few busloads of tourists and the temples are all unspoilt - some of the stair-climbs would fail just about every helath and safety test known to man in the UK - but the Cambodian government is on about putting in escalators (!) and having a music/lights show....this would ruin the place completely. To emphasise this we left the hotel at 5.30am to get to Angkor Wat for sunrise. It was beautiful, we stood transfixed for 40 minutes before exploring the famous site. 3 hours, and tired knees later (there are sooooo many steps!) we left feeling there were probably other nooks and crannies to discover but we've got another couple of days if we want to go back. The difficulty here is describing the temples in words (especially as it's nearly 7.30pm here, we're knackered and the bars and tea are calling!!) - the pictures will have to do the talking. (On that note I think I have found an internet cafe where we may be able to upload - will keep you posted...)

The temples are spread over a pretty big geographic area so after Angkor Wat (and a very interesting conversation (in French) with a 64 year old Cambodian woman over boiled eggs and baguette breakfast - Jen's battery had already run down on her camera so she had to hot-foot it back to the hotel to get the replacement...) we jumped onto our Motos (with drivers!!) and went to the second temple - Banteay Kdei. This was in a worse state of repair but still had a number of amazing carvings and structures that were still standing after nearly 1,000 years. Opposite this is Sras Srang - the King's pool, which was more like a boating lake...unfortunately the water level was not low enough to see the village that is buried beneath it...comparisons with Ladybower however stop here...

Onward to the highlight for us so far - Ta Prohm. This is one of the famous temples, but what makes it different is that rather than restore it they have let is be taken over entirely by the jungle and the elements. Now, of course, this means most of it is in a state of disrepair, but that is the charm and the beauty of the place. As one person put it - it's as if nature was the destroyer and comforter, in the same instance the tree roots splitting walls in half, only for moss to patch up the splits like a natural bandage. There was many a photo-opportunity and a good hour or so spent wandering around this magnificent area, ended exit stage left when another busload of Japenese tourists arrived...a sign of things to come...?

After a quick spot of lunch - noodle soup is becoming a bit of a staple foodstuff - and having to ward off the incredibly irritating hawkers - 'You want 1 flute mister?' 'No', 'You want 2?' etc etc... - we visited Thommanom (small but well reconstructed site) before entering Angkor Thom - what was effectively Angkor City. By this stage we were starting to feel the heat and were tired so after a fairly half-hearted walk around the Terrace of the Elephants among others we decided to call it a day - we were pretty much all templed out!

Home by 3, quick shower (and sleep for Dan - Jen has got a new score on Erix by the way Pat - over 260,000) and out writing this dirge. Tomorrow we plan to go in later and do justice to Angkor Thom. We also plan to be there for sunset.

Keep those emails coming - connections are OK here, although they have sporadic powercuts...we are planning to be in BKK for 1st Feb and are still undecided about whether to fly or go by bus - we think it'll probably be bus due to a) it's almost certainly a propeller plane - Siem Reap airways...hmmm doesn't sound that safe to me... and b) it's c.24$ Vs, over $300. That's effectively over a week in Chiang Mai/China etc...We will be staying in BKK for 3 nights and then start the trip north into Chiang Mai and then onto Laos.

The best place to look online for info on Angkor is here for those of you who want to visualise what I can't describe!!!

Monday, January 27, 2003

Have arrived in Siem Reap - we're going to be here until 1/2 when we make the trip back to Bangkok. 3 days temple touring and then a day in SR looking at (amongst others) the Butterfly Farm (I'll let you guess who's idea this was...) SR is OK - seem to be some nice bars/eateries - we are going to Angelina Jolie's fave bar later to try the Tombraider cocktail which she 'invented'...hopefully she'll be there tonight too.

Bought a picture of Angkor Wat - seems like a genuine oil painting, also one of a couple of monks and a couple of fake lonely planets from a market stall - all in cost just short of 60$...about 36 quid. Just trying to sort out the best way to get to the temples and then get around...we are trying to get bicycle rental from the temples itself rather than cycle all the way in 40 degree heat, either way, someone's about to make some more money out of us. We did however get a big bag of washing done for 4$ - BARGAIN!!!

Will let you know our thought on the first of the temples tomorrow.

Sunday, January 26, 2003

Very quick update - went to the Royal Palace...Jen decided to wear shorts and got shouted at when she tried to go into a temple...it was 38 degrees though!! Saw the silver pagoda which looked more like a dirty aluminium to be honest. Nowhere near as spectacular as the Grand Palace in BKK. In massive state of disrepair but the signs are there that they are trying to do something about it. It could be wonderful.

Our taxi to the ferry leaves at 6.15am tomorrow (!) - Siem Reap here we come!
Firstly, Jen is all excited because despite not having our baby out here we now have a reef named after him. Yes that's right, just off the coast of Cambodia there is an 'Oscar's Reef'. Jen got this opportunity to name the reef because she had to do the early morning dive on day 2, and it had never been dived before.

Thanks for all your emails - sorry it's taking a while to respond to them all, but we tend to go online every other day roughly. We are now in Phnom Penh which I guess you would describe as busy, poverty stricken with beggars in alot of areas but also has it's unique, interesting parts. That said it's only a whistle-stop tour as we are off to Siem Reap tomorrow (early ferry) to go to the temples at Angkor, which we are sure will be one of the highlights of the trip.

In PP we have been to the Killing Fields, which was pretty harrowing, for those of you that don't know, 17,000 innocent people were tortured and then taken there to be killed for crimes like 'being educated' or 'wearing glasses' under Pol Pot's Maoist regime. We also went to the former prison where they were totured which is now a museum. There were some pretty horrific images as I am sure you can imagine. This afternoon we are going to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda before a couple of drinks in our favourite nightspot (the FCC - Foreign Correspondants Club), hopefully meeting up with a Canadian couple we met with last night who we got on really well with.

Hotel is functional but basic, but hey what do you expect for 12 USD a night (about 8 GBP).

Onto Angkor - will post another later in the week, and in case it isn't before Tuesday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICK!!!

Saturday, January 25, 2003

OK then...where to start...

Firstly we are back on terra firma after a couple of days on a boat - lovely when the sea is calm, a bit more 'lively' when the wind starts to blow...

We arrived in Sihanoukville as you know a few days ago now and booked straight onto our PADI course at Scuba Nation.

Day 1 - After completing our exam the preceeding evening over a couple of beers and a fantastic curry, and passing (Jen got 84% - Dan 80% - told you she's the brains of the outfit...) we set off on our boat in clear waters with myself and Jen, Carole (mid fifties free spirit - English uni. lecturer) Vicky (our instructor), Sandra (SN's new instructor, coming to 'see the ropes''), and Leigh - the Divemaster. We were 'driven' by our captain and first mate (no Captain Pugwash jokes here please) who were Vietnamese but we were on an ex-pats boat. After about 2 hours we arrived at the island of Koh Rong Saloem which is a great place to dive due to depth of 5-15m and some excellent coral. The visability wasn't too bad at about 5-7m. We did our first couple of closed water dives (in that big piece of closed water commonly known as 'the sea') and were soon ready to embark on our first 2 open water dives (you need to do four and complete various exercises along the way...). The first one was no problem, our ears equalised OK and we completed the basics, mask flooding et al. The second dive was more of a problem with Jen not being able to go down more than a couple of metres. After realising she had a block that wasn't going to shift she reluctantly had to sit out the rest of the day. This would now mean she had 2 1/2 units (out of 5) of the closed water and 3 dives to do the following day...a tall order in anyones book. After a few tears and a bit of self doubt we all managed to convince her she could do it and we would all help her through it the following day. With Jen safely on the boat Dan finished his closed water and also his 2nd open water and weirdly enough really enjoyed the fin pivot (!) which is a kind of floaty thing on the bottom of the sea using your breathing. You basically pivot on your fins. We think Jen's blockage was caused by doing the float (where you have to lie on your back and float (duh) for 10 mins) so Dan decided to do the float early morning on day 2...

Day 2...We woke up at around 5am with the wind having picked up...we had slipped anchor and were all of about 10 metres from same nasty looking rocks and coral bottomed sea... but our captain (who's name seemed to be 'Oy' from what the instructors called him - how damn convenient) steered us away from danger and into a more secluded and sheltered bay. He didn't look like he knew much but I tell you this guy could seriously 'drive' (or is it pilot?) a boat (or is it ship?). Those winds were a taste (no pun intened Carole) of what was to come. At around 8am Jen did her first 2 dives (finished closed water and did open water no. 2) and saw our favourite underwater creature - the Christmas tree worm which looks like (guess) a Christmas tree but disappears when you come close only then to re-grow...OK so you have to be there... - among other things. She was bloody determined to pass and was going great guns, Vicky even went as far as to compliment her on the dive, but enough of that don't want her getting'*too* big-headed...The sea by this stage was getting rougher and rougher. Carole threw up (hence the earlier 'joke') everything she had in her and only Dan's iron stomach saved him from the same ignomony. We all completed the 3rd dive before the waves got to a point where the boat looked as though it was capsizing - I was envisaging the 'Tourists lost at sea' headlines I can assure you...! Anyhoo, the captain duly found us a more sheltered cove (again - what a genius this man is...) and we completed our 4th and final dive. Ironically (and much to her credit) Jen completed everything first whilst Carole had still to do her exam and Dan this blessed float. (I would have drifted to the beach and never got back in those winds). It was agreed that Dan would do his float back at the beach when the ship got back (about 5.30pm.) but when we got there after travelling through some seriously rough seas the bloomin' speedboat broke down so we had to go to port which was obviously not the ideal place to do a float. Vicky and Dan trapsed down to the beach and in the last of the days rays Dan finally did that bloody float. After arriving back at the dive school and with everything washed out (was Dan's float a cunning plan to get out of the washing...? we'll never know...) we got our certification and got back to the hotel at about 7pm before crashhing out and sleeping until 7am! Best nights sleep we've had too. Vicky and the others were magnificent and if anyone is thinking of coming to SEA and doing diving I would urge you to use them as they are start-up but genuinely care about their pupils.Yes they are a little more expensive that other places in Phuket for example but they are worth it...trust me. (hey they even forgot to charge me for the beer I had on the 1st night - Vicky I owe you a dollar!)

The good news is that I think, as with skiing and snowboarding, we have been bitten by the bug. We absolutely loved it and the final dive (which was the best of the lot) was just amazing, we swam through whole shoals of electric blue fish, saw giant clams etc etc...We now can't wait for our next one, hopefully in the Maldives, if money allows...

Having awoken we have decided to leave Sihanoukville (named after King Sihanouk - who was originally ousted in the lates 60's during the Vietnam war and lived in exile during the 70's/80's before returning to power.) I fear this place will be very different over the coming years and the deserted beaches, moto drivers and charming restaurants and cheap accomodation will give way to package tours, air-con taxis, and branded resorts. As if to prove this point, last night as we were re-arriving a bus load of french tourists on a package tour turned up - a sign of things to come?

This morning after a light breakfast we have decided to go to Phnom Penh and have booked a room on the riverfront for 12 USD. This includes hot shower and air-con but no TV which means we can't watch the Aus Open final, which will be on in the early evening here. They also sell tickets for the ferry to Seam Reap and they also have a guesthouse there so if we like it I guess we'll do the sensible thing and go with them all the way. They also spoke immaculate English, and seeing as we've learnt one word ('ahhhgorn' (phonetically) - which means thank-you in Khmer) and the name of the local beer ('Angkor' - how convenient) we need English speakers...

Only a couple of other things to note - we found our wallet which we thought we'd lost. Mike, a chap we met in Scandanavia, is bringing us a leatherman from the US when we meet with him in a couple of weeks, and finally (I feel all Trevor MacDonald) Dan has got a tan. Don't die of shock, a proper tan like you know - brown not red...this happens once in a lifetime and dear reader we even downloaded the pictures to show you...but the bloody connection this end is too slow to upload and hence still no pictures. We did spend over 40 mins trying though...

Hope you are all well, we'll write another one after PP and the Killing Fields et al...

D & J

As a footnote the hotel has lost a little of it's appeal with the arrival of middle-aged French people speaking at the top of their voice (think of a kind of Franco-SAGA) but it could be worse, at least we can understand what they're saying (and they're not German...;) )

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Just a quickie really - spent the day doing our PADI tests (jen beat me by one mark - damn...) and then went for our first closed water dives. They all went well and we seemed to do OK. Meeting the instructors for a beer tonight and to sign off our final modules, before going onto the boat tomorrow for an overnighter. Should be great fun and we are really looking forward to it.

Obviously no access tomorrow (d'uh) so we'll catch up with you on Friday by which time we should be PADI qualified.

PS One thought we have had is to stop off at the Maldives via Singapore and do some diving there - we were meant to do this via India but for some reason we didn't get there.....

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Sorted the diving...we have spent the day with our heads in text books doing the background stuff that'll enable us to do the 2 closed water and then the open water dives. This will mean we do a couple of dives, presumably, in a swimming pool tomorrow, followed by 4 open water dives around the islands just off Sihanoukville. We are hoping that the other lady on the course with us will agree to put her diving back a day so we can all do an over-nighter on the boat, which will mean we save on accomodation costs and also means we get more time at the dive sites...watch this space.

Did very little all day really apart from going to the beach, having another great meal (8 USD this time - only one beer although Jen did have 2 cokes...) and revising. I am head student at the moment and Jen is falling behind in her studies (the lure of sunbathing didn't really do it for me...) although she has done enough (just) to start the diving tomorrow...

Still not found anywhere we can upload pictures which is a little frustrating but you'll just have to wait. Jen got a great on of me sat on the back of a moped - and yes indeed dear reader the tyre was indeed close to bursting point...

If any of you others have websites (Pat come on mate there's not even a link on your livejournal...) please feel free to put a link to ours on it...

As ever you can mail us here: mailto:dandjcornwell@yahoo.co.uk

Just a very quick update - got our Vietnam Visa (in 5 minutes - unbelievable, in the guide book it says 5 days...) We have to be in Vietnam on or around the 11th March - so another 7 weeks or so to go through Cambodia/Thailand/Laos until Vietnam...then China for a couple of months which may mean we hit Aus/NZ a little earlier than planned.

Off to sort the diving out today before a day on the beach I think!

Thinking of you all....honest...

Monday, January 20, 2003

The Dead Kennedy's once sang ''It's a holiday in Cambodia, it's tough kid but it's life, it's a holiday in Cambodia, don't forget to pack your wife...'' Well thanks to Jello Biafra and his merry men I did pack my wife and we have both, indeed, landed in Cambodia for another part of our ''holiday''. But, I hear you cry, first things first tell us about the last couple of days...OK here goes...

Left Koh Chang (miserable sods at our hotel - dear reader if you are ever in that area do not under any circumstances stay at Chai Chet bungalows...) and almost immediately we remembered that we had left something (our leather man - small pocket tool, akin to a swiss army knife but bigger and better, not some sort of gay action man) in our room. We went through all the bags and seeing as we knew where it was we rang and explained the situation. They went off for 10 mins to have a look but ''couldn't find it'' so we have lost our first item. To be honest they were bloody rude anyway and we were pretty pleased to be away from there but my leatherman...gutted! Anyway - on to Trat (the capital of Trat province - what a shock eh?) which acts as a stop off before crossing the Cambodia/Thailand border. We stayed the night in Trat - literally nothing to do. Got outwitted by a couple of middle aged Thai women in a market which is always a winner (you try doing the ''charades'' action for penknife...) and then went to bed pretty early in anticipation of a 5am start. At about 9pm heard a massive explosion (which genuinely sounded like a bomb) - ran out of our room to look outside to see a night market full of people just swanning around eating lizard (this is the local speciality along with rice with curdled pigs blood - we passed on both...) as if nothing has happened - couldn't have been that serious eh?

Anyhoo, we got up early as planned and got to the Thai/Cam border for about 7.15am (it opens at 7am) and then went through about 3 rooms full of Cambodian police who stared/chatted and stamped out passports and eventually we got to the ferry 10 mins after it should have departed...but hey, never the sort to not fleece tourists we duly got ripped off and boarded the ferry...4 hours later we arrived in Sihanoukville which is absolutely WONDERFUL...the people, the setting, our hotel, the food, the beaches, the cost - I could go on - everything about it (so far) is fantastic. We are staying at the same hotel the prime minister stays at (!) and it is 20USD (about 12 pounds) a night!!! we have already been on one elongated Moto (basically a kid on a motorbike with your rucksack in front of him and you on the back) ride (8km from the port) and as this is the preferred mode of transport I see it happenning alot more in the next few days. We also went for rice/noodles and chicken and a couple of litres (they don't mess with their beer bottles here) of beer for under 10 USD. We are staying here for at least a couple of days, but that will almost certainly turn into a week if we can sort the diving out...

Not alot else to report - the only thing is that the internet connection here is AWFUL which means we are struggling to download mail so if you have mailed us we will try to get back to you but they may be short messages and it might take a while to get back to you - but please keep writing to us - it is fantastic to get emails from everyone, especially those who have put up with reading this drivel...

Oh well better go, a swim just before the sunset is in order I think - it's about 30 degrees all day so sunrise and sunset are the nicest times to be out. Having a fantastic time, and we've still got Phnom Penh and Angkor to go - we are both agreed that we think Cambodia is fantastic already...

Keep those emails flowing...

D & J

Saturday, January 18, 2003

Greetings from Koh Chang. KC is an island about 400 km from Bangkok - just to the South East. It's the second largest in Thailand (Phuket is the biggest) but is really underdeveloped - they didn't have electricity and roads until 2 years ago...Our hotel is OK - the first room was awful with an ant infestation in the bathroom but the second room seems to be OK, and it is 100 yards from a white sand beach.

We have spent today walking (don't die of shock) about 3 miles to a waterfall through rainforest - it was beautiful and although we weren't brave enough to go swimming (there could have been some big fish in there you know - well we saw some little ones - we had a little paddle to cool off.

It is such a contrast from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Just to keep you all up to date, our plans have obviously changed and now sit something like this....:

Tomorrow - back to Trat (on mainland near ferry port) and then off to Cambodia to a place called Sihanoukville - there we plan to do our PADI diving here. Then it's the long slog up to Phnom Penh and onto Siem Reap from which we will visit Angkor Wat which will surely be one of the highlights. Back then into Thailand before going up through the north to Chiang Mai (we're going to do a Thai cookery course here hopefully). From here into Laos and onto Vietnam/China.

Budget is going (roughly) to plan although we got a bit fleeced for our hotel here in KC.

Not sure what the internet connections will be like in Cambodia so you might not get an update for a while so for now it's goodbye from Thailand...we'll catch some rays for you!

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Well we're finally here - Thailand - Bangkok to be precise. The weather is hot and humid and that was at 5pm. The gueshouse we are staying at is great - nice and chilled and relaxed - beer only costs 50p a litre and obviously that hasn't clouded my judgement at all.

Jen is feeling much better - she's even hungry again which is a good sign. We are probably going to stay in BKK for just another couple of days before either heading north to Chaing Mai or south to Ko Chang Island. Or something else - to be honest we have no real idea at the moment - all we do know is that we might have to get some Visas for Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam/China soon and this may take a few days.

Bangkok (for those of you who haven't been) is a great city where you get to see everything from street vendors selling designer clothes at a tenth of the price to sweetcorn salesmen on the side of the road. It is not at all threatening though and the people are incredibly friendly.

Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Feeling better still, off to get some tea - last post on this side of the world - Asia here we come....
...and 2 lucozade tablets - woo hoo!!! She'll be in those go-go bars in no time strutting her stuff!

Have also managed to book a hotel in Bangkok...2 nights, double room for £17 (both of us, both nights!!)

UPDATE - Jen has had a can of coke (and kept it down)...
Now what's that phrase...? All the best laid plans...

Here I sit, not on a Boeing 747 India bound but in the Terrace Lounge at Heathrow - ready to travel to Bangkok, not Mumbai. To cut a long story short Jen was up all night with a rather dicky tummy, and, although she struggled through a 45 min flight from Manchester, there was no way on earth that she would have made 9 hours to Mumbai at 10 this morning. So, BA (who were so extremely helpful - I cannot say how helpful they have been) tried to get us on another India flight tomorrow but all of them (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata) were all fully booked with a huge stand-by list. There is a religious festival on at the moment and thus these planes are full for at least the next week. We then tried to get on a Qantas flight to Bangkok (cutting our losses) tomorrow but that too was full so the only option is tonight - 10pm to Bangkok. Well, it's goodbye to India before we've even met her - what a shame. How ironic that Jen got 'Delhi Belly' before we even got near to the city itself.

To be honest I think we are both quite relieved as it means we can spend more time in SEA/China which we wanted to do - we may even be able to get a cheap flight to Japan now.

So - scratch the itinery - India is no more - Bangkok here we come!!

Monday, January 13, 2003

This will probably be the last entry for a while - we are off at about 4.30am tomorrow to catch the 6.30 flight to Heathrow from Manchester. Yesterday was Jen's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! For lunch we went to our local pub for a bite to eat and then bade farewell to the friends that had remained from the night before. In the evening we went out a lovely meal at The Waltzing Weasel which is a top notch eaterie...Jen's parent's (Richard and Lynn), Jen's sister (Rachel), Rachel's boyfriend (Sandeep) and me and my brother (Patrick) all went. The food was fantastic (as usual), we didn't manage to get a picture of all of us - but we did of Jen's family.



(l-r) Rachel, Richard, Jennifer, Lynn)

Following dinner we arrived back and packed up the TV and some other stuff that Richard and Lynn are looking after for us...and said (pretty emotional) goodbyes. Richard and Lynn have been incredibly supportive over the last 2/3 months as have Jan and Ken (my parents) and, along with my brother who is dropping us at the airport and taking care of things while we are away we could not have done all this without them - so THANK YOU!! I said a very emotional goodbye to my doggy who tried to lick me to death. I'll let you decide whether my eyes are red due to the camera or tears...

Sunday, January 12, 2003

Just a quick update - firstly - had the neighbours round on Friday from both sides and we stayed up til about 1am having a couple of bottles of wine. They really are the most fantastic neighbours, really understanding and always available to help out. We really are very lucky to have them as neighbours. Here's a piccy of all of us together enjoying a bottle of champagne they brought round...



Last night we had our close friends party - a real couples affair it was too. 15 of us (plus Lou and Andy that came round this morning). A good night was had by all, and here's another photo.



Having your friends round, and seeing family puts it all into perspective and makes you realise how much you are going to miss people next year, we're going to miss James and Emily's wedding (don't forget to email us with best mans details James!), and Lou and Andy's for starters. Then also Jen I am sure is going to miss all of her friends and especially Angie who was one of her bridesmaids over 2 years ago. Just think, when we get back Paul and Ali will have a completely renovated barn, Marek will be a Retail Director and Snowy will still be Snowy - some things will never change. To all of you - thank you for coming, thanks for supporting and encouraging us, but mostly, thanks for just being a great bunch of mates, we will miss you all.

Off out tonight for Jen's birthday with her parents, sister and boyfriend, and my brother so should make for a fun night - piccies here tonight/tomorrow.

*********STOP PRESS******** One of our neighbours has just offered to sort out our storage issue for us at half the cost we were going to pay. This is what I mean when I say they are great neighbours. Dave, if you read this, you are a star - we will have a few drinks on you!

Friday, January 10, 2003

Just got back from (Dan's) Mum and Ken's (stepfather's) house.


Dan's Mum (Jan) and Stepfather (Ken) & Porthleven harbour

They are taking on the cats for a year and they seem to be getting on OK even though one of ours (Itchy) and one of theirs (Jasmine) are currently re-enacting turf wars similar to those in Gangs of New York. (No ludicrous moustaches though).

Car is sorted - the garage have agreed to sort the handbrake thing out themselves, meaning we will have to knock £25 off the price but we still get the money - the rent thing is looking dodgier as they are steadfastly refusing to allow us any room in our garage to store furniture. They are also paying at the absolute minimum we have asked for so we reckon it'll cost us c.£3,000 which we had not accounted for. Am meeting them on Saturday afternoon so will get a good idea about them then...to be honest I've got a feeling it isn't going to happen...watch this space.

Drove back from Cornwall late last night getting in at about 1.30am mainly so we can get stuff sorted today - we need to get a couple of removal firms organised and keep on filling that loft!

Party is taking shape - everyone is definitely coming as described in an earlier edition of this tome. Should be a good night.....

Monday, January 06, 2003

Hope you like the colour change - it's Cambridge Black and Amber, will miss the footy while I'm away
so the least I could do is to make the blog a bit of a tribute...Thanks to Mark G for the idea...
Why are things never easy? - the rent is unfurnished so we've got to put all furniture in store for 11 months - NOT CHEAP!
And also, the car needs a new handbrake sleeve which we have already paid for but the garage have let us down in that they completely forgot to order it and now the dealership are not sure they want the car - answers tomorrow no doubt....

Sunday, January 05, 2003

The day it all came together.....?

Jen's car's sold...

Got a messaage from the letting agents saying they've got someone for the house - an 11 month rent from February 1st...

FINGER'S CROSSED....

Thursday, January 02, 2003

Oh and while I remember a little quiz for you courtesy of a couple we met in Canada....What is the only team in the English football league who do not have to change their strip from their home strip when playing away, and why?

Answers to dandjcornwell@yahoo.co.uk

Alternatively wait a few days and I'll post the answer




Us in Banff!!!!!!! Well we're back, had a great time, met some fab people, ate some wonderful food, and boarded some knarly powder dudes........

Only 12 days now until we're off again - this time the biggy though. Off to Jen's parents this weekend and mine next week, got to sell Jen's car and rent our house out still....

Wednesday, January 01, 2003

Well alot has happened since the last posting, including me actually doing a couple of blue runs and today a part of a black run, needless to say it was definitely worth persevering at snowboarding. We have both had shocking colds now, although there are some pills over here that seem to do the trick!

We also went to the Ice hockey - Calgary Flames Vs Toronto - great fun and a 20,000 sell out...



Off to Wild Bills tonight for food, a band and some booze and leaving the hotel at 9.50 am (Canadian time) tomorrow - we should be home by 5.45a.m. on the 2nd Jan.

Adios from freezing cold Banff.....we will be back!