HEYAA!!

Well I survived London....more than survived actually! I loved it! Soooo going back one day. Did everything my legs could manage, my haves being the markets and Greenwich...pretty little river side town. So expensive though, that's why it's a relief to be....

Finally in Bangkok!!. Plane ride not fun. Sat next to a fat old guy for 10 hours straight who insisted on lying on his side, facing me, it felt like he was staring at me all the time. Very creepy. Watched some good movies though so that made up for the 2 hours sleep! Oddly though, now I don't feel tired at all. I am on like a Bangkok high or something.

Hotel is pretty good. I can tell it used to be not very good but awesome about 10 years ago, and they just haven't refurbished. You know what I mean. The rooms nice, HUGE bed and a lovely view over...erm well a building site. Nice.

Apparently there's a pool here, but this place is so big i can't find it. I feel like a pig in mud though, surrounded by about 5 giant shopping malls (i'm talking at least five storey, as big as a regular Aussie block and piled with stores selling anything you can image), little arcades with heaps cheap rip off brand stuff (if you get a Louise Vuitton purse anyone, of course it's real!), the Bangkok fashion week is on about a block away and there are taxis everywhere. So if i get lost i can just hail a cap, pay my $1 AUD and be where i wanna be.

Counting down the seconds though until Nick joins me. Then the real fun can begin.

Before then though, i have a Thai cooking class tomorrow morning so i can cook you all a big feast when i come home and one day of exploring (the malls that is) on friday before Nick is here on Saturday!! YAY.

OXFORD AND RHIANNA!

On Wednesday I traveled down from the Lakes District to Oxford. My third cousin Rhianna, who I have been writing letters to for years, was there to meet me. Immediately we got along and we are so much alike. She loves books and reading and noodles! Hehe. She took me out to the best noodle bar I have ever been to.

Unfortunately she had to leave early this morning as she had a uni excursion to Germany to a book fair or something. So today I am just relaxing, doing some washing and nothing else really! She is so nice though because she is letting me stay in her dorm room..free accommodation, bring it on! Tomorrow the madness starts again when I go to London.

BEING SPOILT!!

Okay so on Sunday I sadly left Bex and Katy in Edinburgh to travel down into the heart of England's Lake District. There I had arranged to meet up with my late pop's brother and a side of the Edmondson family that I have had nothing to do with other than a few letters. Well. What a reception I have recieved. I have been doted on and spoilt since I arrived, fed the best food, taken to amazing places and to meet a lot of family members I have never heard of, though have immediatly taken a liking to.

Today Trever and his wife Sheila took me on a lake cruise on one of the famous lakes. It was drizzling and cold but I had a ball. I got taken out for lunch and afternoon tea and have had the best conversations. It's like I've known them my whole life.

I will be sad to leave on Wednesday, but it has to be done because a week today I fly to Thailand!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time

Love yas

DAY OUT IN SCOTLAND!!!

Yesterday Bex had a day off work and we decided to go for a drive to the old town of St. Andrews about an hour and a half away. So we set off in Bex' cute little VW and went for a drive in the country. Scotland countryside looks a lot like Australia's...only a whole lot greener and many more little dams/craigs or whatever they call them here!!

Above: The famous first golf course at St. Andrews. When we got there we found out about a European tournament going on, so we weren't allowed to take photos because of the media coverage or something. Still managed to sneak in one or two. To me, it kinda looked like any other golf course...still cool though to be on such a famous one that holds so many international events.

Above: the old cathedral that got burnt down and never rebuilt. Still looks cool though. It was mega huge!!

Above: me being a total tourist, with my backpack and map at the ready. Like my new tops and free jeans?

Above: Bex, Katie (Bex' housemate) and me at house party.

After St Andrews we got back to Bex' flat and cooked fajitas for tea. So yum. Then headed to my first Scottish/English house party at Bex' boyfriend's flat. So much fun and so nice to be able to understand what's going on!! Met some awesome people and had a bit of a dance.

Above: Katie and I enjoying a dance with 100% Scottish flirt-Gordon.

SPLITTING UP :(

We met Elise in the airport on Monday night. So great, but kinda weird to suddenly be with someone else from home. We made a sign and almost tackled her to the ground when we saw her. She's still the same bubbly Elise. She had a good time on her tour but is glad to have a bit more of a relaxed schedule for the rest of her trip.

Above: Waiting anxiously for Elise to arrive...

The girls and I soaked up the sun on the Barcelona beach on Tuesday, enjoying our last time together and they took me to the airport that night. A quick goodbye as they had to catch the last train back into the city and I had to go and scope out a good place to sleep for the night.

Above: Beach bums.

The sleep at the airport was okay...first night alone a bit daunting though. I sneakily set up camp next to two girls about my age who were already asleep, I was like their third traveller for the night. Got a little sleep but time went so slow. Flight was dull and in such a crappy plane, the airconditioning looked like smoke coming out and there were weird noises the whole flight. I suppose that's what ya get for buying the cheapest flight eh? Main thing is I arrived safe and sound.

Bex was there waiting at the bus stop for me in Edinburgh where my airport shuttle dropped me. So good to see her again. She's still the same and we still get on awesomely. Her flat is gorgeous and it is such a luxury to have a bath, pay tv, free net and everyone speaks English (though sometimes a bit hard to understand). I had a walk around when Bex had to go to work and the city is really gorgeous, old buildings, great shopping (i bought a book about London and food from typically English Tesco's) and it really isn't that cold. Like yeah it's colder than Spain but probably about 15 degrees still and not much rain...yet that is!

Tomorrow Bex has the day off so we'll go see some of the sights, maybe go for a drive to see some stuff out of town and just hang out in general. YAY. I love the UK!!

Above: Bex on her birthday we celebrated together in Africa.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Bonnie has had a baby!!!!! Congatulations to Bonnie and Ash who welcomed little Abby into the world on the weekend.

We want to see photos guys...comeon.

Can't wait to meet her.

STILL HERE!!

Wow, I am so behind. Sorry everyone!

So we survived Ios (just), lots of swimming, sunbathing and fun. After Ios though it was 36 hours of straight travel from Athens on the train to the coast of Greece, on a ferry to the Italian coast and then another train up to the top of Italy to the Cinque Terra coastline. Not very fun at all.

Reminded me so much of Wilsonś Prom for those of you who went in year 9 on the camp. Just rugged coastline and bush except a few differences. The mountains were sort of graded like steps to hold grapevines and orchards and all that and on the coast are 5 small towns all within hiking distance of each other. One day we did a lot of hiking, walking between the town we stayed and the next one. Just such cute little seaside village kind of things. Met some great people there. One of whom was a girl from Brisbane who just loves Thailand and filled me in on everything I should do while Im there, so now im even more excited to get there than I already was!

Then we trained it to Nice in France. Beautiful glamorous seaside town! By now though, after 4 months of travel, im not feeling so glamorous, a lot of my clothes and shoes have worn out and we definitly look like seasoned travellers. In Nice we stayed in a small apartment above a restaurant run by a lovely old French lady. She knew no English but was so adorable and accommodating.

Above: Two beautiful girls we met in Nice, this was up about a billion steps on top of a hill.

Travelled north to Dijon (home of Dijon mustard) but on the way in the train and pretty much for two days straight Ash was very sick and vomity. Didn't get up to much in Dijon.

North again to St Malo, on the North West coast, very close to the UK. A really chilled out holiday spot. Lots of tourists but good still. Has a cute old town centre and forts out on little islands in the water. We did a day trip to Mt St Michel, a huge church out on an island about an hour from St Malo. It was so cold though, windy and rainy and ikky. Had to wait a long time for the bus. Next time i take a car!

South again down to a small town called Blois (B-Wah). This was such a grey haired, oldies paradise...no offence Nan. A small compact town filled with cafes and wine shops and the like. We planned to travel out to the country a little to visit a famous Chateau but instead opted for the one in town as it was too cold to be waiting for busses again. The Chateau of Blois was gorgeous, huge and grand and so old. I could so live there.

Above: a totally great sandcastle/map I made in st malo of my favourite country. I miss my creative moments, away from my sewing/craft room! I have to compensate anyway possible.

And then the fun began. South again to the border of France and Spain. We met Ashlea's old exchange student Elsa and stayed with her for nights. In those three days and nights we fitted so much in. So much food, meeting people, partying and I went to see a live Salsa band!! It was awesome. Even though i know the basics of salsa i felt like a fish out of water because everyone was so good! Had lotsa people try to teach me but fail, still great though!

And now we are in Barcelona. Tonight we meet Elise at the airport!! So excited about that. Went shopping and bought some musts for England - Spain is cheap! Got some shoes and some jumpers for the cold and rainy weather.

Hope everything is well in Ballarat. Glad to see a Victorian team take the premiership even though i hate Geelong. Keep your emails coming!!

Love Em