New blog

Hi there,

With the big decision to move to Southeast Asia, I've set up a new blog where you can follow my travels and experiences overseas.

You can check it out here: http://morenavietnam.wordpress.com.

Ta ta for now!

The Big Decision

Here's a question for you: how do you know when you're making the right decision? This is one I've been puzzling over for the past week because Tom and I have made a big one.

On February 4^th 2013 we are heading off to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to try our luck at being English teachers. The teaching gig is really a means to an end, allowing us to explore South East Asia for the next year or so. In saying that though, I'm pretty excited about dusting off the cobwebs in my brain and learning some completely new skills….all while on a one way ticket.

We've been told to expect a huge workload for the course we're doing. It's called the CELTA and is essentially four weeks of classes, lesson planning and soaking up as much information as humanly possible about how to teach English as a second language.

The schools are fully English speaking, so students aren't allowed to speak in their native tongue. This means that our complete and utter lack of knowledge about the Vietnamese language won't be too much of an issue (inside the classroom at least!).

The course runs Monday to Friday from around eight in the morning till five or six. On top of this, each night you're expected to do three to four hours of homework and around six hours on the weekend. Combine this with a completely foreign environment, add in a generous splash of humidity, dash of insane scooter driving traffic and stir together with rich history until you have a nice wee brew of culture shock.

Yes it's scary but also incredibly exciting. My heart is thumping just writing about it and I'm so grateful to know that Tom will be there as support. One thing is for sure, this is going to test our relationship. In fact I think we can bank on quite a bit of testing over there, educational and otherwise.

I'm trying to mentally gear myself up for the move but I know that nothing can really prepare me for how I'm going to feel. Lately I can't stop thinking about everything we'll be missing out on back home. Watching all the gorgeous engaged couples we know share their first kiss as husband and wife. Hanging out with our beautiful nieces and nephews as they learn to walk, have birthdays and grow ridiculously fast. Spending precious time with Grandparents..the list goes on. Makes a solid case for doing your OE straight out of school!

In saying that though, it finally feels like the time is right for us to take the plunge. Turns out that travel isn't something you just get out of your system. Ever since I got back from backpacking around Europe I've felt this kind of unrest. Traveling really puts the world into perspective and makes you realise just how much there is to see and experience out there.

So there are the two sides of the coin- what's out there to experience and what we'll miss out on back in NZ. Brings me back to my initial question, the one about knowing whether making such a big life decision like this is the right one...

After a lot of thought, I've decided that there is no right path. Life is kind of like one of those 'pick a path' books we all rushed to get first from the library in primary school. The point is that you just don't know if you've made the right decision. Which is a good thing really, because finding out is an adventure in itself.   

Stuff...and sometimes things

As much fun as reminiscing about my adventures in Europe was, I reckon it's time to move on and get back to what this blog used to be about- nothing in particular. Lets be honest, deep down most of us would rather read about someone's life that is a bit average. It makes us feel better about ourselves. This is the exact reason why I love Home and Away. No matter how shit I have it, at least my lover hasn't accidentally shot his own father and is facing a lifetime in prison while I'm left hiding a pregnancy to my step sister's husband...

So here I am, back again. Miss twenty something here to share with you my thoughts, fears and above all banal first world problems like how much it sucks when you go to make a coffee at work and someone's used the last of the boiling water in the jug. Fill after use people. Fill, after, use.

Of late I've been forced to realise that I'm on a fast way track to getting old. How do I know this? Well, for one I've started having the occasional singular drink after work, at home, watching the news. I also took a shine to the popular home reno show The Block. The nail in the coffin was when a new boy band performed at work this week. After ogling the cute guys, I was informed that when I was their age, they were 10. Instantly felt the need to wrap a scarf around one of them and check whether they'd eaten their lunch that day.

What does this mean for my twenty something syndrome? Am I finally accepting the fact that I can't put off growing up for much longer? Judging by the number of Simpsons episodes saved on our hard drive I would beg to differ but still, it's happening.

Funny to think that at my age, my parents were hitched and owned their own home. I on the other hand am living the de facto dream and haemorrhaging rent money for a shoebox apartment.

Times have changed though and to be honest, I'm pretty darn happy with how things are at the moment. I cherish walking to work knowing three quarters of the rest of this city are sitting in traffic, silently cursing their suburban existence. I also like the freedom of knowing that I can go out any night for as long as I want...even if I do choose bad reality telly and a cuppa 80% of the time.

Guess even at the (not so much tender but closer to medium-rare) age of 26 I can still stake a claim on suffering twenty something syndrome then. Right, best be off now- X Factor's on and being a twenty something chick I still have a soft spot for Britney....aaaaand before you judge, I KNOW you still know all the words.

A Nice time

I'm skipping a bit of the trip here for the sake of my buddy David who asked for some recommendations of what to do in Nice. So here goes.

We arrived in Nice after a loooong hot and sticky train ride from Barcelona. The thirteen or so hours were uneventful until we stopped off briefly in Marseilles and a met a kiwi couple who joined for the last leg of the journey. These guys seemed nice enough, obviously list tickers who had 'enjoyed' around 24 hours at each of their destinations before hurtling to their next point on the checklist. After more time spent with them however, it appeared this kind of travelling had begun to take it's toll. The guy was super friendly and just excited to hear another New Zealand accent, the girl on the other hand looked like all she wanted to do was eat her darling boyfriend's face off if he so much as touched her.

Turns out that they had been booking accommodation as they went rather than in advance which to an extent works but not everywhere, particularly in Nice. I think a lot of backpackers have this romantic notion of arriving in a place and finding a quaint place to stay once you get there. Doesn't happen. It won't be quaint, it will be shit. Remember this guys or beware the wrath of an unshowered, overtired girlfriend. 

Back to Nice though. We arrived at the wrong hostel (there are two of the same name just to mess with you) so ended up at the right one at around 11pm. It was a lovely suprise then that our room door was buggered and somehow trapped us in when we closed it behind us. Several panicked phone calls and a packet of Mister Corn (amazing European snack- find it in Spain) later we were finally rescued by the confused girl at reception. This was the last room left so our first night in Nice was spent with the door a crack open, in full earshot of a drunk American girl laugh-crying on the shoulder of some guy that was not her boyfriend.

That reminds me- watch out for young Americans who say they are “studying abroad”. They aren't allowed to drink until they're 21 back home so con their parents into paying for them to study in Europe where they can order over the bar like grown ups. The result is frightening and so, so loud.

Okay so I'm rambling now. Time for a list- that you may tick or not tick as you see fit if you are ever in the Nice neighbourhood.

Promenade des Anglais: This is the stretch of footpath that runs right along the waterfront. Great for people watching and feels a bit like a time warp where ladies rollerblade by in lycra and overtanned portly old men sport medallions and white linen shirts.

Cours Selaya Flower Market: Despite the name this is more about the food. Beautiful produce that is almost too good to eat and fantastic French atmosphere. So much colour!

Fennochio Icecream Parlour: All gelato shops in Nice are open ridiculously late and this is no exception. The real reason to go is for the variety of flavours though- I had black olive (amazing) and basil & tomato (bit weird) but there are 80 or so other flavours to choose from.

La Voix De Son Maitre: The most amazing creperie. We stumbled on this wee gem and never wanted to eat anywhere else in Nice. Get one of the Galettes (massive wafer thin savoury crepes) for dinner- we had smoked salmon on ours and they were glorious. The hardest part is choosing your topping- such a selection! They also serve delicious cider in tea cups. Note: you must linger at least 45 mins after your meal or they get offended. The French like you to savour your meals.

Le Chateau: Climb up the steps of Le Chateau for breathtaking views of the city. The colour of the ocean in Nice is something to behold and it is truly magnificent from a height. There's even a waterfall tucked into the walk and the elaborate graves in the cemetery are worth a look too.

Vieux Nice (Old town): Stumbling through the bustling cobbled streets that make up the 'old town' district, you really feel like you're in Nice- the heart of the city. Get a 'pan bagnet' in you (massive tuna sandwich that is so much better than it sounds) and pretend you're a local.

A couple things to flag...

Monaco: It's a novelty that this tiny place is a country in its own right and just forty minutes from Nice. Seeing as it's only a couple euro bus ride away we were easily tempted to have a wee look. Seriously though, a novelty is all it is. Yawn. The Monte Carlo casino is worth a gander but dress the part if you want to get past the reception area.

Wayne's Bar: If you're one of those people that go overeseas to hang out with other kiwis and the odd Aussie then by all means. If you want good music, atmosphere and personal space then steer clear.  

Happy Nice time!

Mmmmmm le tasty...behold the glory of the galette

Paree

Paris, the city of lights, love and fashion right?

Um yeah, my experience was quite different.

First up there's the smell. Nobody tells you about the smell. The place actually reeks of urine. I'm not sure where it comes from but it's one of those odours that sneaks up on you...just when you think you're safe you turn a bend and it slaps you in the face. Heartbreaking when this happens mid-crepe.

But ahh the food! Parisian cuisine is a redeeming factor- that is if you can find someone who'll serve you. After a train ride from Amsterdam and an hour or so of traipsing through the rain, Julia and I stumbled into a cosy looking restaurant. What wasn't so cosy was the reception. Not only were we English speakers but we dared to arrive too early for dinner service; “We derr nat seurve dinnow oontil sevoon!” barked the owner. First lesson learnt; the French don't do early bird specials.

Eventually we ended up settling for a baguette and some €5 Bordeaux which as you will find in France, was equally as amazing as any slap up dinner in a fancy restaurant.

I felt a bit strange in Paris as it took a while for me to fall for the city's charms. I actually feel a bit sorry for the place as it is quite possibly the most over hyped city in the world. The way that it is sold to tourists is so romanticised that you can't help but arrive with a bunch of pre-conceived notions in your suitcase. I suggest dumping these at the station.

Don't be a list ticker in Paris. Go and see the Eiffel tower but don't bother spending hours in a line to go up it. Our walking tour guide made the very good point that if you are up the tower, you can't actually see it in the city scape. A much better view is up the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Plus you get to watch the mental uncontrolled Parisian mess that is the intersection down below. Guaranteed prang every five minutes.

Another reality check is the Louvre. It's big, real big. So big that you couldn't possibly see everything in there unless you spent six years in the damn thing (seriously). A much better option is the Musee d'Orsay, described to us by a local as a selection of the best paintings in Paris. The Louvre by comparison is the 'mall' of paintings- they'll take anything. Yes, it has Mona but almost everyone I've spoken to says that she is a bit of a Sopranos finale- aka total let down.

If Paris were a person it would be a washed up actress that can't quite shake the delusions of grandeur she clung to so ardently in her youth. Funnily enough, this is what makes her charming. No other place emits this kind of character more than the district of Montmartre. You may know it from such films as Amelie. I now know it as the place where you truly feel like you are in Paris.

Montmartre is a treasure trove of history and art. There's the restaurant where Picasso used to paint the waitresses portraits to score a free dinner, Van Gogh's flat (and the brothel where he mailed his ear to the prostitute he wanted to marry!) and the beautiful Sacre Coeur. Add a sprinkle of street art, dash of Satanists (yup), a few handfuls of delicious eateries, a windmill or two and you get the real Paris, not the post card version.

If I'm lucky enough to go back there I will head straight to Montmartre, eat a bowl of cheese laden French onion soup and pose for a portrait with one of the insanely talented painters that line the streets. That is my impression of the true romance of Paris. I suggest you go there immediately and find your own. 

-Montmartre at dusk

Iamsterdam

It's Sunday morning and I could've slept until midday but for some ungodly reason I woke up at 7.40am. So ripped off. I figure if I can't be dreaming then I may as well be day dreaming about my trip so lets go to the Netherlands.

Getting from London to Amsterdam was quite the trek and amongst several train rides, we spent a night on a ferry which proved a memorable experience. We had no expectations of the boat...actually that's not accurate, we had low expectations of the boat.

On arrival at the terminal we decided to get some food from the dodgy little cafe in there incase there weren't any options on board. I had the tomato soup which was literally the sauce that comes with baked beans, minus the baked beans. After lugging our backpacks around to kill time for an hour or so we decided to get on board and were greeted with a selection of bars, restaurants, shops and even a casino. Epic fail. Lucky we still had room for a G&T which was potentially the strongest drink I've ever been poured from behind a bar. Two lessons learnt from that experience; don't make assumptions and don't ask for a double in Europe.

Expectations are a funny thing when you're travelling. You always have them but they're almost never proved right. I didn't expect a lot from Amsterdam other than the obvious but I can now say that my mind was blown by the place (and not in the way you're thinking). Amsterdam is a city with so much personality that you can't help but fall in love with it. Wandering the streets you experience a range of different emotions - with or without the help of a coffee shop. 

One minute you're being charmed by the canal lined streets littered with house boats sporting gaudy lawn ornaments, the next you're shocked by the barely clothed women posing in windows, then suddenly you're fearing for your life as a mad cyclist hurtles toward you shouting something rude in Dutch.

There is one place that I would totally recommend you go to even though you will most likely come out feeling utterly disillusioned with mankind- Anne Frank's house. The loft where her family hid while the Nazis invaded the city is so well preserved that it's eerie. What got me was how real the family becomes once you're there. You see the marks on the wall measuring Anne and her sister's height, the pictures Anne stuck on the walls to make up for the lack of windows and the handwritten pages of her diary, the second most translated book in the world after the bible.

The people of Amsterdam put up one of the biggest fights against the Nazi regime and tried desperately to save their Jewish friends. Unfortunately their efforts were largely in vain but this kind of fighting spirit is still evident in the city today.

In Amsterdam you can grow drugs freely, be one of the most popular prostitutes in town at age 85 (seriously her waiting list is three months apparently) and basically be whoever you want to be without needing to worry about what anyone else thinks. It is this tolerance that makes Amsterdam such a vibrant and exciting place. Also, you can buy burgers and other deep fried goodies from vending machines there (google FEBO).

I recommend going to Amsterdam with no expectations other than that you will be surprised. You won't be disappointed.

Yet another example of how cool Amdam is- street art designed as a celebration of the city's prostitution industry.    

London

Had a bit of a twenty something moment today. I was in a meeting with several of my coworkers and somehow it came up that I was 26. You'd have thought I'd just confessed to murder by the expressions of shock and confusion that followed. Apparently I'm immature for my age. Thanks team. It did remind me why I started this blog though- to bask in the age where you can put off all that settling down business. The only issue is that now I'm on the downwards slope out of my twenties and into a life of responsibility. Clearly my attitude is still back in the vicinity of 23 so hopefully this acts as proof that you're only as old as you feel you are...

26 does sound awfully grown up though. In Europe when you turn 26 you stop getting discounts at art galleries, museums and other tourist attractions. I wonder who decided that 26 was the age where you earn enough to pay full price? Clearly someone who doesn't work in radio.

When I landed in London, the first stop of my wee OE, I was still 25. I'd like to say that I took full advantage of cheap admission prices and saw everything there was to see but I'd be lying. Truthfully, we did very little in London. It was just so exciting to be there that we didn't need to.

One of the first things that Julia and I discovered on our trip is that travelers fall into one of two groups; those who list tick and those who don't . We fall into the latter. List tickers are those people who spend hours getting to a tourist destination only to spend five minutes actually there (four of which are spent hiding behind a camera lens). I just can't be one of those people.

Sure, taking photos is important and getting the cliché shots is fun but you also need to just be in a place. It sounds corny but London is one of those places that you can just wander around and be amazed by everything that locals don't even notice. Classic example of this was me rushing to get a look at a squirrel just outside of Buckingham palace. Apparently this is comparable to someone fascinated by the sight of a sheep in rural New Zealand.

The first full day we had in London wasn't planned and for that reason it was fantastic. There is nothing like the feeling of being on the other side of the world with nothing to do but explore. It is truly liberating. Where list tickers would be frantically trying to navigate the underground or paying some tour company too much, Julia and I were wandering about aimlessly, getting schoolgirl excited as we caught our first glimpse of Big Ben and stumbled upon Trafalgar square.

Even the grim weather was an attraction for me because it felt like London should. Bundling up in a coat and trudging around with hands shoved in my pockets, I didn't feel like a tourist, I felt like a Londoner....right up until I had to pay for anything that required change (cue me holding each coin up within an inch of my face so I could see how much it was worth).

We were lucky and had our own personal guides for the rest of our time there (you can't really be a kiwi without at least one expat mate living in London can you?). They were also kind enough to let us crash so we didn't have to haemorrhage cash for a poorly rated backpackers. This was especially great for us who were still thinking in Kiwi dollars (tip: convert your thinking to the currency immediately after you arrive or buying a coffee will bring a tear to your eye).

My London experience wasn't completely unplanned mind you. My now Londoner friend Kylie is very organised and had us buy tickets to the West End version of The Lion King months in advance. This was a very good thing. The tickets were really reasonable and the show was a-mazing. If like me, you're a nineties child then you are 90% guaranteed to be a Disney fan and this production will not disappoint. Had to refrain pretty hard from singing along to “I just can't wait to be King”.

If you're looking for a list of other 'must dos' in London though, this is not the blog for you. In fact, I can sum up all you really need to do there in just two words: look up.

This picture of St Paul's Cathedral is just one of the many reasons why: