Fishing Video Diaries

Mexico Video Diaries Part Two

Mexico Video Diaries Part One

Mexico wrap up

So it's all don and dusted, Mexico was amazing, had a fantastic time travelling from the huge Mexico City to the moderate Oaxaca City to the small town of Puerto Escondido and then further south to the very chilled beaches. Going to chuck up some video's, cause that's easier than writing it all down...

Mexico City

Well I have arrived in Mexico City after a relatively eventful journey. Getting from London to the airport in Mexico was no trouble, it was only the final 20 odd km that proved most difficult.

I set off in a taxi with a print out of instructions from Misha, headed for an area in the city which the guy at the information centre describer as ´dangerous´. Great. Anyway he didn´t speak any english and I no spanish. You can imagine where this is going... Finally after driving around so called dangerous area for a while I spotted a payphone )as my cellphone doesnt work here) and managed to get hold of Dalia, who was with Misha. Luckily she came and rescued me, and I got to the bar, whereabouts many tequilas were consumed and things were much etter all of a sudden.

Woke up feeling surpisingly OK, maybe i´m yet to pay. Tacos have been consumed for breakfast, and now is the time to relax. Tomorrow or the ext day we head for Oaxaca...

Mexico...soon

Well im off to Mexico in a matter of days and hopefully the blog will be in full-swing. Check back for updates.

Notting Hill Video Diary

Shetland Islands

Am still recovering from the recent Shetland excursion. Much merriment was had by all, through various wedding engagements and drinking sessions. Highlights of the trip included a fishing trip, where we hauled in the mackerel, and enjoyed the views of the craggy bluffs and rolling countryside.

Definitely looking forward to heading back there again soon. Keen to check out some of the bronze age stone structures and cruise round some of the smaller isles.

Notting Hill Carnival

2 million people, and a few extremely drunk kiwi's set out to see the sights and hear the sounds of all the carnival had to offer.

The weather was amazing and the tunes were pumping. Getting through the crowd to check out the various sound systems was an interesting operation in itself. We all made it through somehow. Even though everyone got split up and lost.

The French Video Diaries - Part Three

Follow this latest adventure as we embark on a tour de force of Provençal cuisine.

The French Video Diaries - Part Two

The Baou du Saint Jeannet.

The French Video Diaries - Part One

Bonjour du Cote d'Azur

The eagles have landed.
France has been a treat so far, Misha and I are having a fantastic time traipsing around the many varied and beautiful villages of the Cote d'Azur. We are staying with John and Jude near St Jeannet, about 15 minutes inland from Nice. The people, food, hospitality and weather have all been A grade good. Have enjoyed cooking some food, visiting the super marche and driving around the local area. Todays highlight was a trip to a local gorge complete with a pristine river and amazing smooth boulders. We did a bit of a river excursion downstream and took on the 9m cliff jump.

The weather has been fantastic...actually I don't think I want to go anywhere else. Flag London! Have movies to post soon.

London...so far

Well it's taken a bit of getting used to, but my time in London has been productive so far. I am enjoying the never ending newness of a place that offers a surprise around every corner. Luckily I have managed to score a bit of work, and the signs are good that there is more to come.

My first week in London was spent in a grungy flat on the 11th floor of a council building in Hoxton. Repetitive drams of fine single malt whisky complimented nicely the backdrop of London city, and on one particular evening a spectacular lightening show. Pub culture has not been easy to ignore and the constant buzz and partying is something that one needs to be wary of at all times.

Luckily I am a bit more settled for a week or so here in Islington, looking forward to about 10 days in France and a chance to visit a country I have wanted to see for a while.

More from Koh Samui

Our Bungalow on Lamai Beach



View from the south side of the island

The Reef

Koh Samui

Recently endeavored on another succession of Thai transport delights. Koh Lanta to Krabi in a minivan (including two ferries), then on to Surat Thani by public bus. Think bright pink tassles and the loudest Thai karaoke you've ever heard. Most of the locals were senior citizens and no one seemed interested in the extremely intense bass, this combined with the air-con set to 'Antarctica' made us glad to reach Surat.

Stayed in a basic (generous description) hotel without air-con. Went for dinner at a local market where we ate amazing mussel omelette's, and little coconut pudding things. Beautiful.

Koh Samui seems like a really nice place, we have a cute little bungalow on the beach. Went for a stroll last night and bought a paper air balloon off a local dude trying to sell us drugs (600baht for two E's if you're interested). It's all about scooters and exploration today.

Photos...hopefully

Here are a couple of pics of the trip so far, looking at putting some movies on the blog too, but you can't use YouTube in Thailand.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6528303.stm

Anyway, about to leave this monsoon soaked island and head to the hedonist paradise of Koh Samui. Hippies and drunk English backpackers...Hopefully not.

Look at the ceiling

Still residing on the rain soaked island of Ko Lanta, had a fun day out yesterday exploring the eastern coast on scooter. Stopped in at a deserted little beach named Nui towards the end of the island. It is a very cute little cove with little fishing boats lying around and a hefty shore break pounding in. I had a really good time playing in the waves until a bigger than expected slam on my back made me realise this probably isn't the best place in the world to be hospitalised with neck injuries. I guess the food would be good?

There are absolutely no tourists round these parts at this time of year. Well thats a lie...there are three Germans in multi coloured ponchos cruising round on a 50cc Yamaha with a side car, a Thai styled one though complete with fetching awning. There's also the Austrian woman and her family. She's more muscly than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stella and I are scared of her.

Then there's the resort, we booked it from Phuket, as most of the smaller operations are shut down. There are about three groups staying there, but its pretty luxury and neither of us are used to it. The staff are all really polite, sometimes over the top. Anyway its nice to indulge while the rain flows.

Having a bit of difficulty getting images up onto this thing, but within the next few days it should all be sweet.

Koh Samui next...........Ciao

Tsunami Tsux

As the rain hammers down and the sidewalks go from muddy to unpassable I am sitting in an internet cafe on the National Park island of Ko Lanta. I haven't seen any tourists, actually I haven't even seen many Thai's. This is what they call the low season. The one other group at our luxury resort (more later) constant rain, and discount everything sum up this time of year. Still, i'm sure it won't rain everyday and if it does at least i'll get a lot of time to write about it. Am off to hire a scooter, at a discount rate of course. Hopefully i'll be up to the challenge of riding whilst holding an umbrella, eating a Pad Thai and getting a foot massage.

C'mon Aussie give me a coffee.

After the shittest Bacon and Eggs i've ever tried on the plane, Sydney welcomed me with a clear crisp morning. The true test of a city is to try and find a coffee at 9 in the morning, and i've have to give this place a big thumbs down. Maybe I don't know where to look but after passing my 12th Starbucks madness was setting in.


George St


Waterfront


Overseas Terminal

Well that's about my lot from Sydney, it is actually really beautiful here. Sunny too. Next stop the land of silk, gems, exotic fruits and cheap watches... Watch this space.