Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Riding elephants, bamboo rafting and white river rafting

After what was an amaze balls evening and only getting 3 hours of sleep, myself and Teeks gathered our momentum once again and headed off to spend an adventure packed day with nature.

Our clan is Batloung which is Elephants, so it was only fitting to go and experience the day with the Thai elephants which are known to be the smartest elephants. Our morning started off with riding the elephants and then we spent time to cool off and had a delicious traditional Thai meal, and of course we needed to quench our thirst with some beer. Once our tummies were satisfied, we headed off for bamboo rafting.

The guy steering the raft had so much trust in me and let me steer it myself. With 7 people on it, I have to say I did a sterling job and my muscles got a good workout. That wasn't the end of our adventure filled day, we then headed off to go white river rafting.. My first time and it was sooo much fun. I almost fell out and I was sopping wet after that.
Seeing we were wet already, we decided to go swim under a waterfall. Other children listened and brought bikini's, I decided that wasn't going to stop me, so I joined the fun in my undies (They were matching, thank goodness).

It was refreshing to spend an entire day out in the beautiful mountains of Chiang Mai and truly appreciate what nature has to offer.

I seem to find amusement everywhere I go.

The moment you step on this, you feel like you are going to plunge into the water



Bamboo rafting

What a delicious meal

Its all about the first sip
"Hello boy. Let Teeks give you some love"


Waterfall swimming. Teeks is always surrounded by girls.

Teeks in his element
Chiang Mai you continue to take my breath away and make me fall madly in love with Thailand.

Monday, 20 August 2012

Love World Tour Asia 2012 has kicked off



Finally I have gotten a chance to start blogging about my Asia travels. I thought that it would have been a seamless process blogging while on my travels, but I found out that I was having too much fun to blog. But now I am all settled back home, and I can spend some time going back in time on a trip that has changed me.

To be honest, I really did not know what to expect, what I did know was that it would be a trip that would change my outlook on life. I am a truly traveled individual, but every time is a different and unique experience and I am excited about how it changes me and what I get from my travels.

The start off my Asia travels saw the end of my New York holiday, a holiday that will go down as being truly memorable.

So my flight from Egypt to Bangkok was delayed by 18 hours, but that did not get me down. Once I eventually arrived in Bangkok, the excitement kicked in.  I need to say that Bangkok airport has got to be the most jacked up airport I have been to thus far. Everything is well organized, people are incredibly helpful, the free wifi actually works properly, and getting a taxi is a pleasurable experience. So off I went to the State Railway of Thailand to catch a train to make my way to Chiang Mai where my brother Teeks lives.

This is where Love World Tour Asia began. Thailand, Chiang Mai.

I visited my brother Teeks who lives up in the mountains of Chiang Mai. Being a Muay thai instructor he manages the school in the mountains. He lives a simple life that is filled with serenity and inner peace. It wasn't so much that I was in Thailand that I was so overwhelmed, it was seeing my brother after over more than a year. Seeing how he has grown into a handsome young man who's outlook on life is so refreshing.

Off we went and hailed down a TUK TUK which is one of Asia's main public transport system. Their main transport is scooters. Scooters scooters everywhere you look. The day started off with breakfast and one of Teek's favourite places, all for just 30baht which is $1. After checking into where TK first stayed when he arrived to Thailand, we proceeded to go and rent a scooter. Was I beaming with excitement or what?

We spent the day going to the market to buy fruit which we ate up in the mountain and exploring the breath taking views the mountains have to offer. Whilst Teeks sorted out a few admin stuff, I spent time chatting to a Monk who was up for a break. I have never been asked such profound questions in my life. Some questions I looked at the Monk with a puzzled face, some questions I was worried about what his reaction would be. Out of all the questions asked, the one that really made me rethink my life was, "What are you doing to take care of your soul?" That question was my guide for the rest of my trip. That question is one of the reasons I have decided there are some things in my life that add little and at times no value. That questions guided what it was I truly wanted to get out of this trip and out of my life. What I do know is that life is what you make of it, what you take out of it. I do know that life is not waiting for me to start living, it keeps going with or without me.

After the mountains we headed off back to the City to grab some Thai food. Curry and sushi were the order of the day. What a delicious meal.


The fruit that made my mouth water. I only remember the name of the big one-Dragon fruit
The school that Teeks suns

Such beautiful children- I wanted to take one back home for Tumi
Teeks and I ready to scoot off

Taxi- So cheap to take one

The Thailand Railway station- Find a space on the floor and sit and wait for your train.
The Muay Thai instructors have to wear white..
Hill tribe house
TUK TUK



Monday, 6 August 2012

Getting to know Dorothy...



Industry?
Luxury Marketing 


What are you hoping to get out of the New York trip?
Great Food, Summer Love and stock up on Cinnamon Toast Crunch 


How often do you travel?
Not as often as I should 


Past travels?
Thailand, Algeria, France, London, Dubai, LA, Ghana, Nigeria, Spain, Italy, Kenya, NY 


And why do you think going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
Is it? LOL

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Getting to know Katiso...

Image taken by Stephanie O'Connor


Industry?
Advertising

What you are hoping to get out of the New York trip?
A different experience from the other times that I have been to the Big Apple. NY is the city where big things happen, so a bit of inspiration. Discover something about myself I didn’t know. Fall more in love with art, music, food and life.


How often you travel? 
Overseas-Once every year.

Past travels? 
USA (NY, Albany, Washington, Florida, LA); Europe: France (Paris, Nice, Monaco), Germany(Berlin and Dresden), Austria, Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa), Switzerland, Amsterdam, Prague; UK(London); Africa (Egypt)
Straight after New York I leave the girls to go to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

And why going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
I’m sure in many life books they say that this is one of the things you have to do at least once in your life. Its New York. Its with crazy, fun loving and free spirited girls. We are at stages in our lives where its about enjoying life to the fullest. And making sure we have experiences that are memorable. You cant tell me you are not jealous.

Getting to know Thando...

Image taken by Stephanie O'Connor


Industry?
Strategy consulting in Telecommunications by day and a round the clock foodie & food blogger as Jozi Foodie Fix.

What you are hoping to get out of the New York trip? 
A much needed break from my beloved Jozi. To eat my way across all five boroughs, food is my passion so mostly looking at the food trends in NY (food trucks & street food I love!) and try a few of the amazing restaurants that the city has to offer. Just soak up the summer NY Cool (Art, Music, Life)

How often you travel? 
Not enough! I’m a traveller so if budget allows I at least try to cross seas twice a year; an annual trip to NY and one other elsewhere in the world. 
 

Past travels?
Americas: Mexico City, NY, San Francisco, LA; Europe: Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Athens, Madrid, Zurich, London; Asia: Bali, Jakarta Africa: Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe – it’s a shame that I’ve only been to so few 
 

And why going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
I decided to coincide my annual trip to NY with the girls to experience the city in a different way. It’s guaranteed to be crazy fun with these amazing ladies who like myself love laughter.

Getting to know Lera...

Image take by Stephanie O'Connor


Industry?
Marketing-Market development Manager for Bacardi South Africa 

What you are hoping to get out of the New York trip?
Sho! I think I'll figure that out once i’m back. For now it's a matter of "what does NY have in store for me?"

How often you travel?
Internationally, not often. But locally, I could take you to a few cool spots around my hood


Past travels?
Florida (Disney) – 1997 Dubai (2008) and now, New York baybeee (with a slight stint in Egypt)

And why going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
Why not? We're a bunch of crazy girls who are down for whatever (good things tough), and whatever it is we get up to, I can tell you for free that it's going to be EPIC!!!!

Monday, 9 July 2012

Getting to know Sphume...

Image taken by Stephanie O'Connor


Industry?
Entertainment industry - TV and Film

What are  you hoping to get out of the New York trip?
A kak load of Fun!, clothes, inspiration, heat, beautiful moments with beautiful friends!

How often  do you travel?
As often as freakin possible. love it!

Past travels?
Outside of SA- London, Edinburgh, Glasglow, Rio, Iguassu, Buenos Aires, Maputo, Gaborone, general USA.

And why do you think going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
There's nothing like being with the girls, and now we get to get to be in NYC, in Summer! Excited to have an amazing, hilarious, uncensored and ridiculously entertaining time in New York with some of the most awesome ladies around!

Getting to know Bobo...

Image taken by Stephanie O'Connor

Industry?
Film & television 


What you are hoping to get out of the New York trip?
A real break from what has been a hectic first half of the year. A chance to fall in love with New York, all over again.  


How often you travel?
As often as I can gather enough cents to do so. an overseas trip a year is what I tend to aim for. 


Past travels?
In the recent past, I’ve been around the US, lived in NY for 10 months, a bit of Europe, and not enough African cities. I’ve seen Accra, Cairo, Mozambique’s Inhaca Island. I’d love to visit more African cities. 


Why do you think going with a bunch of your girls is the best summer holiday?
 These girls are beautiful souls, lovers of life, fun, fashion, music and food. all the things I love too. this trip can only be awesome!

Follow Bobo on Twitter!

Saturday, 7 July 2012

How it all started

Photos via Stephanie O'Connor

Having returned from their 9 month film course in New York and jumping straight into work life, two friends, Bobo and Sphume decided at the start of 2012 that a summer holiday in the city they fell in love with during their studies was in order.
Slowly girls came on board and a couple of months later, 8 girls were searching for a loft apartment to share in the hub of Manhattan and a total 10 girls were planning to come together in New York to make memories and share in the experience of travelling with friends.
This is how it started. How it ends is what we can't wait for.