More about London

I guess I never said to much about my time in London. I mentioned the great Indian food which is impossible to pass up but didn't discuss my 2nd day there. I accidently slept in until 10:30 after claiming to be more of the 8:00 - 8:30 type of riser (please, someone vouche for me) so this cut into my time a little. However, I was still treated to a lovely walk along the River, ending up at the Tate Modern. It was a marvelous day out, about -2 and sunny - felt like an Ottawa spring thaw day. We stopped at an outdoor book market where I got to read some priceless words of colonial wisdom. Got to love the Brits and their ideas from the 1900s. Enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Tate Modern and took in a little of their permanent collection. I don't necessarily "get" art but I do enjoy looking, or perhaps the correct word here is glancing, at it.

Then we took a taxi ride home for convenience, speed and site seeing. Finally got up close to Marble Arch, which if you have ever taken a hop on hop off bus tour of London, you will know gets mentioned about four thousand times but you never seem to actually go past it.

Then of course it was off to Heathrow and then a night in the Hilton and time for more buffets as I've already mentioned. One interesting thing was a South African I met, kept saying 'are you sure we can take all of this?' and I had to assure him, yes, it's an all you can eat buffet, you can have whatever you want and as much of it. I tried to set a good example by taking extra fruit and snacks for later and telling him how I had taken all the tea bags and coffee from the room. He thought this was funny and probably thought it inappropriate as well.

That was London, the good times :)

Caffeine Headaches and False Alarms

Well, I'm back online. They have internet access here but I feel badly asking to use it all the time. Hopefully I'll get the login and then be able to access via my PSP, although typing on that thing will drastically cut down on how much I post here. Probably a good thing.

I've been experiencing headaches for the past 3 days, which I can link to a number of things. My first thought was exclusively dehydration and heat. I've been drinking water though so it didn't totally make sense. Then I thought it could be the muscle pain my shoulders, neck, back and entire body really has been in. My numbness (which some of you may have heard me complain about) has been acting up, in full force really. Finally, I realized that the headaches are connected to the most obvious answer of all. Caffeine withdrawal! I hadn't had a cup of coffee since the flight to Cape Town. Luckily, I took all the instant coffee available from each hotel room I stayed in and I've been drinking that. I think the soar neck still adds to the problem but with caffeine intake on my side, I'm doing much better.

Last night I went for dinner with my dear old friend Ida. It was lovely to reunite after 5 long years. I worked for her last time I was in Cape Town and she's invited me to spend the weekend with her next week. Seeing her meant I could unload my smuggled goods - an iPod for her granddaughter - at last. Oh, did I mention I got pulled aside at customs? I was about to stroll through the "nothing to declare" exit when I foolishly smiled at the guy in the "goods to declare" section. Well he asked me to go through there but much to my relief, he just asked me a few questions like 'do you have anything to declare? like cigarettes and alcohol?' and when I said no, he let me pass. Close call.

These posts are too long so I'll just break it down so far.
Yesterday went to Spier, place in wine country, for a picnic. Nice day in the shade. Last night dinner with Ida. Today rainy at first but now sunny and a cool breeze. This afternoon, going to orphanage to find out the situation. Hopefully get into some kind of routine just now (aka soon).

One note about false alarms. There are all these beeping noises all the time and 2 sets of armed response guards on patrol in this neighbourhood. Last night something went off but it must have been a false alarm since it was quieted quickly. No one let me know though so I tried to remain stealth for the next 1/2 hour or so.

Not sure when I'll get pictures up, haven't taken many yet anyway. I'll see if I can get something sorted though.

Feel free to post some words in Spanish if you guys know any. The grandmother and I seem to have a lot of time together - including going on walks - and really, I have no clue how to say anything!

Ole! (yes, I know, only appropriate to use Ole in Spain itself)

I Have Arrived

Alright, I'm here and it's beautiful. Was it a drama free final flight? You decide...I already have my answer.

Getting from the Hilton to Heathrow went off without a hitch. Getting our 600 Euros took some time but we finally got our pay day. Then, for me, it was off to Frankfurt. Fine there other than a lack of TVs on the flight but I think I fell asleep so that shows my fatigue level.

Then, we (me and a kind elderly British couple who got stuck on the same flight as me) wound our way around the Frankfurt airport to check in. We didn't have boarding passes yet. Much to my surprise and what shall I say? anger, disappointment, disbelief - yeah, disbelief - the flight from Frankfurt to Cape Town was oversold, as well, and there was no space for me. Again, I was offered compensation and the option of waiting a day or going through Johannesburg. Totally could not handle this so I broke down on a random bench. Some nice German lady asked me if I was okay so that helped. Anyway, headed to the gate anyway in an attempt to get on going standby. They tried to get me to take the money and the Jo'burg flight, which I really had no interest in but I also didn't want to not get on the direct, miss the Jo'burg and wind up in a hotel in Frankfurt overnight.

I took a chance and made it on at last. Oddly, people who checked in as standby after me, got on right away. I don't know what it is, maybe I seem like a push over or young and carefree but the whole thing has just been mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.

Alas, here I am, in the most beautiful city I have ever seen. It is 30 odd degrees, sunny and the house I'm at, looks out at a palm tree and then the ocean. The ocean just goes on for miles and miles (obviously) and right now there is a sail boat off in the distance.

I have met Lily and Dominic - who both speak Spanish, so perhaps I'll pick some of that up while I'm here. Dominic (the 4 year old son), also speaks English. There is a puppy here - not sure what kind but he seems friendly and active. Also there is a gardner, whose name I'm not sure of yet and a housekeeper named Veronica.

Now that you all know I'm here safe and sound, I'm going to go lie down for a rest. I'll try to get some pictures up but for now just imagine peaceful beauty with a large dash of heat.

The weary traveller

Oh and not, I didn't meet any god or God people, that was good people. My bad. Thanks for pointing it out though. And for the record - My time, is worth more than 600 euros. Although right now, getting paid for being unemployed is sitting alright.

Travelling Alone

I meant to say, I'm 2 for 2 on getting 'randomly' chosen for the bonus pat down search. Look, I may be lonely but the security pat down is not an appropriate substitute for meaningful human contact.

I've met some god people though.

Pat Downs, Airport Hotels and Meal Vouchers

That pretty much sums up my trip so far. Oh and a lot of hanging about vraious airports. Guess where I'm going next? Guess! Yeah, um Frankfurt. Cool, I've never been to Germany. Apparently there was no space left on tomorrow's direct fight to Cape Town so indirect it is for me and only 2 other passengers who got bumped. The rest got sorted on the direct flight. Forget never trusting Goodlife, never trust the airlines. Compensation for another day of my life is 600 Euros or the equivalent in any currency and hotel accomodation. Oh but the system was down so we don't have that money yet.

Food wise, it's been buffet after buffet after buffet for me so I'm probaby up 5 pounds already and I haven't even had my first bottle of coke, batch of sweet potato fries or Tempo bar yet.

I did have a lovely time in London though - delicious meals, coffee, nice company, cute cuddely dogs and a wonderful place to rest.

Going to see if I can set up my first survey on this blog. Oh and the snow in London, although it does exist and therefore it is chilly, it was actually absolutely beautiful out today - walked all along the River to the Tate Modern, had a nice meal and checked out a few pieces of art while I was at it.

Can't wait to get to the sunny 30 degree weather and smell the ocean.

Hope you're all well.

Just to run it down - flight to London couldn't land so flew to Amsteram, spent the night there, rose early, flew to London yesterday, sat on runwa for hours (had a nap), made it into London with help of friendly Aussie, went for India dinner and activities mentioned above. Got to Heathrow, sent to special desk, blah blah blah, no phone cards = using BA agents phone and then having it promptly swiped from my hands (sorry Dad, I did NOT get that phone back for another call). Should fly to CPT tomorrow and arrive Friday.

Snow in London = Arghhhhhh

Well it's a good thing I'm not in a huge rush. Why you might ask? Well because they kicked me off my flight to CPT. I wish it was due to some shananigans I got up to but no it's because of snow delays = oversold flights = boo for me.

So no I'm nt yet in the air again, I'm waiting to be assigned to some hotel and find out my details for tomorrow. With 2 minutes to go on my internet time, I best sign off.

International travel is sooooo glamorous, no?

Amsterdam It!

Well, I am in snowy London but only after a night in Amsterdam, hours flying back and forth over London for a few hours and then sitting on a runway, waiting for a gate that never opened up. Got the old stairs and bus in the middle of Terminal 5 and thrown in for good measure, was hostile treatment from customs.

Anyway, got to jet to take advantage of my shortened time in London. So far have had some great Indian food, a nice walk about town, some delicious coffees from my gracious host and a lot of lounging in comfortable furniture.

Hope all is well wherever you are.

Hopefully more to come.

Going, going, going...

Gone.

Next post should come from me in another country, rather than just from here in the centre of the universe.

Here's hoping I get to watch the Super Bowl in the airport and on the plane.

Good night Canada.

Where and When

London, England - February 2nd - 4th

Cape Town, South Africa - February 5th - March 31st

Sydney, Australia - April 2nd - 4th

Adelaide, Australia - April 4th - 7th

New Zealand - April 7th - 30th
Starting in Auckland and heading all over the country

Fiji - April 30th - May 3rd

Flying from Fiji, to Bangkok, to LA, to Toronto
May 3rd - 4th

Toronto - May 4th - 6:50 am
Who wants to greet me?
Odds are I'll be jet lagged and grumpy :)

Crunch Time

Less than 24 hours before I am flying across the Atlantic and things are coming together. Got a few important last minute things taken care of today, got to visit with a few friends and have some lovely, much appreciated good bye phone calls. I've been getting some emails as well and all the well wishes are very much appreciated. Although, they make it a little hard to pretend that I'm not going to be far away for 3 months. On the other hand, it is only 3 months, for now anyway.

I've managed to cram 3.5GB of tv shows and movies onto my PSP and even got an audio book for some light reading. To offset the fact that I'll be listening to the book, I selected Noam Chomsky's Free Market Fantasies - Capitalism in the Real World. I hope customs doesn't check my play list or it might be a while before I make it through. Maybe the nickname "Commie" I earned at work was somewhat appropriate after all. A debate for another time I think.

For anyone who is wondering, my bag is heavy, my knee won't like it and I want to take stuff out but can't choose what is lease useful in there. I just hope it's not over the weight limit or my airport driver will have a handful of stuff to take home with her.

I shall post my itinerary separately in case I don't have a chance to and you are unsure of where I am at what times.

Stay well everybody.