Beyonce!

This is how the story goes. We flew a million miles to see one of the seven wonders of the world and I can guarantee the only thing the kids will remember from today is.........

We were at the very top of Angkor Wat Temple. The only way to get down is via a very steep, narrow wooden ladder, thus it becomes a bottle neck. We had waited around for a few minutes when a young girl behind me whispered to her friend 'I think that's Beyonce'. Our heads whipped around and standing next to us was Beyoncé - go figure! Tom immediately said 'Hey Beyoncé'. She politely said hello. We then asked for a photo which she declined. We descended the ladder and she was then surrounded by security. OMG, OMG, OMG - Emily nearly died as she had touched Beyoncé's hair. LOL

Apart from that we saw some really cool, old amazing temples. You know the ones that have been standing for century's and are nearly as famous as Beyoncé!

                       We really had an incredible day. I hired a guide, Sam, for 3 days. He drove us from one temple to another. Showed us back entrance's and nooks and crannies that we would have never found ourselves. I kinda went a wee bit over board on the photo's today but there was just so much to look at. Emily is hoping to see Obama tomorrow!

The eagles have landed!

We arrived safely in Siem Reap, cleared immigration and purchased our ‘Visa’s on arrival’ without any fuss. The first huge surprise for the kids, have to admit it freaks me out a well, is that they drive on the opposite side of the road. Emily announced immediately that she would not be driving anywhere while here. We all decided that that was fine with us as clearly there are many ways to die already in this country.

I had booked us a 4 hour quad bike tour for our first afternoon. I debated about this tour as it sounded so very ‘touristy’, however it’s not all about me, unfortunately, and I knew that the rest of the family would love it. You have to be 17 to drive the quad yourself, so it was a requirement that both the kids had an instructor on the back of their bike the whole time. This I thought was a marvellous idea as it significantly reduced the risk of Tom hurting himself. Ian and I had to take a test before setting out which consisted of riding down the road and back.  LOL

The tour was actually quite cool and we drove through some amazing country side. We saw lots of fields, rice paddies, buffalo and many local villages. I loved driving through the villages as all the local children waved and laughed, although how I didn’t take out a chicken or duck is beyond me as they were everywhere.  

When we stopped the children would all gather around. I would try and speak to them, of course they had no clue what I was saying. Ian and Tom didn’t quite know what to do, however Emily, who is clearly the most sensible member of the Clark family, decided to ‘Hi-Five’ them. This worked a treat and they all lined up to hi-five the strange white girl.

We also purchased a box of 50, 2 minute noddle packets which we then handed out to children at a local school. This was really cool!

Our hotel ‘The Angkoriana’ is crap-o-la. Our rooms weren’t ready when we arrived. They promised me 2 rooms together – there not. I have no proof but it appears they turn both the hot water and wi-fi off at night and they conveniently pretend that they don’t speak English when you ask questions hmmm….. Any Hoo. I must have left the shower tap turned on because suddenly water started pouring out everywhere unexpectedly this morning……. Ha ha ha

Today we start ‘templeing’. Hopefully the guide I hired for the next 3 days will be here to pick us up at 9am…. Just a tad excited this morning……  

 

The glorious 'Angkoriana' hotel...... LOL

 

Sydney to Kuala Lumpur completed!

We finally left Sydney, very weary, on our big adventure. 

Although the flight was only 9 hours it seemed to take forever. As predicted I was fortunate enough to grab the seat next to number one son - Thomas. OMG, first he wanted to sit by the window, which was fine until he then wanted to get up every 2 seconds. He was consistently hungry, no change there really, except he kept wanting to eat everything of mine! He then proceeded on a few occasions to try and stretch his nearly 6 foot body all over me. It was like sitting next to a big spider monkey.

His head phones broke, he spilt water over his jumper, that he left on the floor. He kept opening the window shades, which of course nearly blinded me every time and he thought he would try and push every button within vicinity. Good times so far....

As I needed to try and remember everything for 4 adults I forgot to pack my neck pillow. Thus I was one of those people who nods off to sleep only to wake themselves up again when their head jerks to one side.

We depart on the 6.50am flight in the morning from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Look mum I saved you a seat!

  

New Years Eve - Sydney 2015

New Years Eve – tick……..

To start the year with a bang we scored four tickets to ‘Wonderland’. An amazing event held at Dawes Point, Sydney.

For some reason I failed to comprehend the magnitude of NYE in Sydney. For the past 20 years, NYE has consisted of grabbing our camp chairs, eskys, couple of kids and swatting in a friends backyard. Usually I’ve had enough by 10.30pm and am fast asleep by midnight! Not this year, this year we got to hang out with a ga-zillion million people and party!

Wonderland was totally phenomenal. The venue was magical and had the most outstanding view of the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Circular Key. Not only did we have the best view in the house, it came with our own DJ, 2day FM broadcasting live, free thongs (I know how incredibly Australian), just loved it. And to top it off the sponsors included Lyndt and Magnum, which meant we had free chocolate and ice-cream all night – I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Really no joke I was beside myself.

At one stage I was lining up to get a soft drink. There were 2 younger (30ish) women in front of me. Both weighed, combined 10kg and were wearing socks as dresses, any hoo one remarked to the other that the free thongs must be cheap as the smelled very ‘rubbery’ WTF!. She needed a good ‘thong slapping’ that one.

There was some seating and tables in the venue, however we had a rug which we laid out on the grass. About an hour in a lovely young man bent done and asked if I would like his chair. I kindly declined, whilst overhearing the giggling from my ever grateful family. Clearly I am not ageing well!

Crowds in George St on the way home!

               



Asia 2015

12 months ago I came up with a brilliant idea, yet to be proven, of travelling with my long suffering husband and our two well adjusted teenage children, insert laughter, though Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. 

With the help of cheap airfares (gotta love Asia Air), 6 months of overtime and hours and hours and hours of research, thanks Tripadvisor, I put together a plan..........

31 days, 3 countries and lots of Nurofen - what could possibly go wrong?

 

 

 

Maybe Myanmar?

Should we book?