Khao San Road

A lot of people in one place overwhelm me. Well.

I arrived to Mint's apartment by 5pm and we went to dinner to meet up with AC friends who were on a Thailand summer project saving elephants in the North. This was my first experience actually caught in Rush Hour traffic in a big city. We spent 40 minutes in the car, barely moving. Nonetheless, it's an experience.

It was so nice seeing everyone [about 10 of us] though the table was long and narrow so I didn't manage to converse with everyone.

I had forgotten what it felt like to be in a hot country. To be sticky. To be shiny. It's probably more humid here than in Cayman. Oh wellz. We took the BTS line and a cab to Khao San Road.

I'd never heard of it before, but this morning I'm reading my Lonely Planet [total tourist] and Andrew Burke summarized it so well.

That wasn't  a very good screen-shot but took me far too long on this Mac- seriously, read it though. They are my words, but far better.

''One of these days I' going to find one of those Lonely Planet writers and I'm going to ask him, what's so fucking lonely about Khao San Road?''

Very true.

Anyways, saying goodbye to AC people is always sad- I'm getting better though.

Mint and I have made magnificent plans for the next 6 days-  I am total-tourist-excited.
 Off to the market! Then sushi. Wheyyyo!

Abs

Budapeszt 4 (:

Today Adriano took the day off and we went to Szechenyi Baths.

The building was very pretty and (besides the lack of sun) very true to the pictures. I suppose I am a bit spoiled considering I have been 'jacuzzi hopping' since about 8, but the water was lovely and warm. The best part was watch the old men, balding but extremely tan, playing chess in the shallow end. It made my day I would say.

I don't quite understand how the hot water spring makes it's way to the chlorinated pool... but oh well. I'm sure the minerals of calcium and magnesium have healed any ailments that were coming on.

We left with a delicious cinnamon ice-cream in hand [fahej]. Adriano then went to waterpolo training. And I managed to get use public transport and my terrible sense of direction back to his house, and then this cafe using the wi-fi for the last few hours.

It's been a wonderful few days. Travelling to new places is always exciting. I know it really does make a difference who you are with. Maybe if I had come with other AC friends and stayed in a hostel I would have been going out and meeting Uni Erasmus students in the early hours of the morning. But instead I'm going back to his house for a wonderful home-cooked meal and incredibly comfortable bed. I'm fortunate that this is just as satisfying to me, and I feel just as lucky to be doing it.  Who would have imagined I would be sitting at a dinner table with a Hungarian family, and they would all be speaking in English just for me. I really am spoiled.

Anyways, tomorrow I am going to lunch in Buda one last time and then heading to the airport an hour earlier than I would have a few days ago as the flooding means the traffic isn't too good.. Hopefully it should all be okay! In total it's over 18 hours leaving Adriano's house until getting to Mint's in Bangkok.

I will blog in a few more days!
Love,
Abi

Budapeszt 3

Yesterday Balint and I went to the Great Synagogue. I've never actually been in a Synagogue... Well I still haven't. But it was quite a pretty building I suppose. I managed to send some post cards which always makes me feel accomplished, like doing laundry. 

We then met up with my First Year from Adriatic, called Cindy, who is also on scholarship from the Hungarian National Committee. I told her of all the things I've done/seen and she said quite simply 'Well you've done all the touristy things'. Duh... Anyways, since we were in the Jewish District she took us to what is called a Ruined Pub. SO COOL. 

I wish I had gone at night time because I'm sure it would be a lot more interesting. But basically they're outdoor pubs that everything is is reused. I'm talking cars being shelled out and made into benches, with skis as the floor. To bird cages hanging from the ceiling next to gnomes on swings. 

From there we went to lunch where I finally tried something traditional - borsó főzelék - essentially a creamy soup with peas. Pretty good nonetheless. 

After lunch we went to one of the coolest places I have been in Europe, which is going to sound so meagre when I tell you it's a tea room. Basically you go in a take off your shoes and there are dozens of little alcoves/cocoons with pillows and incense and so chill. You choose from at least 40 teas and ring a bell to order. Above us in like a tree house were a bunch of Australian Uni students. I would come back to Budapest just for the tea rooms, I'm quite sure.  It really is the simple things my friends...

We then went to a Beer Garden that again would be really cool at night, and again has been undisturbed in furniture since the 1970s. Low Maintenance at least. Comparing UWCs and hilarious stories I tried my second type of Hungarian alcohol. It was a shot of cranberry-honey Palinka. Much better than the day befores Unicum anyways. 

Basically another great day. Adriano had Waterpolo training (national sport in Hungary) so I spent the evening with his younger sisters and Step-Mum. 

Budapeszt 2!

Okay my first full day.

Adriano works in the morning so my other Firstie from Hungary promised to meet up with me. He knows a lot more about the city and is a good travel buddy. I basically did 6 hours of walking all around Peszt with Balint. We started at Hero's Square.  I appreciated the statues. We walked and  I looked at the Opera House. I've never been to an Opera. Yet. 

The best buildings of every European city are their Churches. It's where all of the money went, so it makes sense. In St Stephens Basilica we sat and I just enjoyed the splendour (and the relief from my feet) for quite a while. It's always quiet, with a certain glow. I think so anyways.  The ceilings are always beautiful too, though it's a strain on the neck. This was the first time we went up about 500 spiralling steps to the top where we could look at the city from up high. Man, am I unfit, Insanity days are officially over. 

The next best building in an the city is the Parliament, which from Buda looks magnificent. One of the best. (Well of the ones I've seen). But up close on the road side there was sadly a lot of construction going on- which ruined the effect. Megh. 

Balint and I went into an antiquarian and, Hungarian) - they all make me happy. I bought  The Paul Street Boys (Hungarian: A Pál utcai fiúk) which is a youth novel by the Hungarian writer Ferenc Molnár -  a valuable souvenir. 

We stopped in one of Balints favorite pubs to try a Hungarian drink called Unicum I seriously thought it was disgusting. Peppery Tabasco Sauce flavour. Oh well... try everything once right?

Going to cities for the first time, museums are essential. Yet I didn't think I could manage the Naitonal History museum or anything of fine arts without a true guide to explain it all to me. So instead, Balint and I both being Higher European History students of Kate's - we went to the House of Terror. 


 The lady had promised that there were English subtitles under everything, but I really wish I had paid for an audio guide. Even so - it was very well laid out and I now understand more. However, going to a museum where you haven't actually learnt the topic in the first place, it's always overwhelming on how much I DON'T know about any situation. The building was once the headquarters of the AVH secret police. Many political prisoners were taken there for torture. Apparently the walls were of double thickness to mute the screams - not a great thought. 

It was interesting in that it focused on both the fascist and Stalinist regimes, and represented the atrocities of both. Now, I don't know if this is because I couldn't understand the Hungarian, but it seemed that it represented both, not making either side better - which is something you don't always get in a museum. There were prison cells in the dungeon which were harrowing. In each prison cell and in the last hallways there were dozens of pictures of people. I thought they were all prisoners- as it had been when I went to Auschwitz. Going through a hallway like that you always look at one particular picture and feel pain, and more to think that for every one person that is remarkable, there are a dozen that are not, that don't catch your eye. It's always so sad.

That's what I understood from the lack of English anyways. But it turned out it was the exact opposite, the prison cells - I had gotten it right. But the last hallway was pictures of spies/torturers from both sides (many still alive) who had allowed the atrocities to happen. A completely different feeling then... 

Anyways, by the end of the day I was exhausted. I got back to Adriano's, had dinner with his lovely family, and was asleep by 9:30. 

Appreciation Overload. 

Budapeszt 1!

Possibly not the best start to 6 weeks of travelling.
I arrived at the airport fine. I boarded the plane fine. Yet within 20 minutes of flying instead of heading in the direction I thought would be best towards Hungary our little plane said we were going towards Amsterdam. Peculiar...

Then the captain [who was by far the most vocal captain I have ever experienced] said we were doing an emergency landing in Amsterdam for a man was in need of medical assistance. I was in the front of the plane, but in the back of the plane there was quite a bit of mayhem.

It was at this point as we were descending that I realised I was the youngest person on the plane, swear to jah, by at least 30 years. As the lady from Toronto who I became quite chatty with put it 'All these oldies going on cruises'.

So we were delayed by about 2 hours. I got to go to the cockpit. The only question I had was 'how many buttons are actually in here?' There were a lot. Apparently the man, who was 78, had had a heart attack, which could have been prompted be the rising altitude. I really hope he is okay.

After we left we heard that the exact same thing happened to RyanAir 20 minutes later. Supposedly the whole situation, with the cost of landing, parking refuelling, paramedics etc cost 10,000 pounds. And it's becoming more and more frequent.

By time I arrived in Budapest, Adriano was there to meet me. We drove for about 40 minutes to his house in Buda and quite quickly went out again to see the Royal Palace.

From the Palace/ Castle Hill you can see the Parliament, and Peszt. Adriano didn't know much about the history of the area, but it was still pretty.

We went to dinner where I really wanted to try Hungarian food. Didn't quite manage it, as most of it seemed incredibly meaty. That night we watched Hangover 3. Though you can watch movies anywhere I think it's pretty cool watching them in different cities. I have now watched The Dark Knight Rises in Oslo, Skyfall in Lausanne and Hangover 3 in Buda :)

London Shenanigans

I suppose the last bits of this blog will be more of a recollection of my Summer Travels than speaking of AC. However, I will at least be with AC people- and none of it would happen if it weren't for UWC. It's always connected.

LONDON

Day 1-

Arrived to Gabi’s apartment in Waterloo early afternoon, went to a pub to meet up with 30 AC students in the evening. Six of the most beautiful girls staying at Gabi's for the the next 3 days.

Day 2-

Camden with Shana and Chloe, shisha and people watching at its best. Pims at 6 on the Terrace while the sun set. Night out in London with the gang…

Day 3-

Met up with Second Years in St James Park. It was a beautiful sunny day J
 Searched 7 stores for teriyaki sauce for dinner with Gabi’s parents. Early night, the History Boys.

Day 4-

Move everything to Ece’s student room at UCL. Mission in itself. Dinner at a Korean restaurant. Hackney for the night, staying at Carys’ with Chlo and Rhys.  Watched the Great Gatsby- dazzling.

Day 5-

Museum hopping. National British Museum, Carys (who will be studying Art History in Cambridge in September) took me around her favourites, Ancient Egyptian and Greek. Lunch in China town, [Malaysian food ironically]. Another museum, though I do not know which one. Tons of Picasso, Manet, and Monet… fun listening to Konan and Chris Lowell’s interpretations of the paintings.

Dinner at Pizza Express with Chlo.

Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre – it was amazing!

Day 6-

Not feeling too well… mission to move all of my luggage to Hounslow and spend time with my family. Chill.

Day 7-

Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes. Covent Garden performances. Lots of walking.

Day 8-

Canary Wharf, lunch with my second cousin Will. Camden Town: find a journal for Ilisha.
Found myself in  her aunts car on our way to Hammersmith to find fabric with Ilisha. Weird what can happen when you say yes and do things on a whim [obviously not my forte].

‘Crocktails’ [created cocktails] in the family backyard for the evening- incredible night.

Another Beautiful Song

Arjun, James, Bram and Michael's song at the graduation evening.

We stood and stared at length
At Mandela's bust by the wooden bushy bench
We've climbed trees and tames bees
While a bunch of us were gathered in rooms to make peace

I'll miss those chinese eyes, egyptian breakfasts
Sick bay lies and sosh rejections

Those long dayroom conversations
Some silent passive intimidations

Wakie wakie!, Its the morning surprise
The miserable rain or the rarest sunrise

Farewell farewell
To you and to me
And that castle by the sea

Those endless walks by the coastal path
Those chinese all nighters doing math
and then for a short while in August
We got to know us
Look at us now, we're packed
Let's just take the next bus

I'd like chicken donner with a can of coke
But cigarettes and marcross make me broke

Ive been waiting for this day for so long
Its time for skinny dipping, just grab your thongs
If it wasnt for the code of conduct, Id play beer pong
But look I just made a sad sad song


I want a shower party coz Im legal now
You completed the AC challenge, just take a bow

We're still staring
Our ships are steering
As we've watched the winds take more than just the barren
So you'll go tomorrow and Im sure Ill feel hollow
The ends in sight
Not sure if we should party tonight

Farewell to you and to me
And that castle by the sea