Jeps, mijn laatste blog is in het Nederlands. We zijn dan ook terug in België.
Verloren maandag vandaag, ja zo voelt het wel een beetje. Vakantie gedaan, zomer gedaan, terug gaan werken, wassen, rekeningen betalen...
Maar ik ben wel blij jullie één dezer terug te zien hoor!
Momenteel is de wasmachine op volle toeren aan het draaien en moet ik mij sebiet gaan induffelen om naar de winkel te gaan en mijn kasten terug wat te bevoorraden.
Ik begin wel te voelen dat ik moe aan het worden ben... Het is dan ook al avond volgens mijn biologische klok. Het zal vechten worden... Vechten tegen de slaap en de koude... :)
Vrienden en vriendinnetjes: tot gauw
Collega's: tot morgen
Mama: tot één dezer...
Knuffel,
Tania
Monday 12 January 2009
Summer lovin', had me a blast...
Okay, here we are, @ the Singapore airport: Changi.
Waiting for my flight to Frankfurt and after that to Brussels.
My flight to Frankfurt is delayed for 30 mins. Isn't that a sign telling me not to fly back? :) Hehe...
Oh well, I got 3 hours in Frankfurt anyway. The more time here the better (free wireless internet, something they should do in Europe as well!)
Today I went to the shopping street in Singapore.
Man, it was crazy, it's like these people had nothing else to do than either shop or eat :)
Shops like: Fendi, Prada, Louis V, Christian D. and many others were begging to come in using the magic words: SALES
But good girl as I am, I didn't go in. In fact I didn't stay long. Window shopping is really not that fun.
And my creditcard has turned red instead of the KBC blue so I just left without looking back...
(yes I'm proud of me) :)
Anyways, friends & family, co-workers & pets, thank you for following my journey.
It was a pleasure writing for you, hope you had a good time reading my bull shit.
I will post a last update when I'm back home in my Penthouse in Merksem freezing my ass off.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu....
Tania
Waiting for my flight to Frankfurt and after that to Brussels.
My flight to Frankfurt is delayed for 30 mins. Isn't that a sign telling me not to fly back? :) Hehe...
Oh well, I got 3 hours in Frankfurt anyway. The more time here the better (free wireless internet, something they should do in Europe as well!)
Today I went to the shopping street in Singapore.
Man, it was crazy, it's like these people had nothing else to do than either shop or eat :)
Shops like: Fendi, Prada, Louis V, Christian D. and many others were begging to come in using the magic words: SALES
But good girl as I am, I didn't go in. In fact I didn't stay long. Window shopping is really not that fun.
And my creditcard has turned red instead of the KBC blue so I just left without looking back...
(yes I'm proud of me) :)
Anyways, friends & family, co-workers & pets, thank you for following my journey.
It was a pleasure writing for you, hope you had a good time reading my bull shit.
I will post a last update when I'm back home in my Penthouse in Merksem freezing my ass off.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu....
Tania
Sunday 11 January 2009
Not ready yet to trade in my flip flops for winterboots....
Today was my last full day in Singapore.
Tomorrow night, 11pm, I will catch my flight back home.
But before we start talking or even thinking about home, Belgium, where it's -11°C, I wanna think about Singapore.
Warm Singapore, a country with a mix between Asia, India and a little West.
Today, after sleeping in, Juana and I met up with some other couchsurfers and we went to Sentosa Island. An artifical island with a beach made of imported sand.
It was nice to be on the 'beach' and have this little breeze.
Even though it was cloudy all day, temperatures were still around 28°C :-D
After the beach we went to Clarke Quay, which is a developed area around the Singapore River with lots of bars and restaurants.
We had some thai food and some drinks outside afterwards.
This part of town is really the richer part. You can tell by the prices of the drinks. It twice as expensive, which still makes it 'normal' prices compared to home.
Tomorrow I'll visit Arab street and a mosque and hopefully do some quick shopping, although my suitcase is full and my bankaccount empty, I still want to see a Singapore mall, even if it's just window shopping.
There is a mall here which is open 24/7
I mean, can you imagine??? Being able to shop 24 hours a day.
Like, if you aren't tired @ 3 a.m. you can go to the mall and buy some shoes :) Crazy... but lovin' it :)
Oh yeah, and the club last night was cool, ZOUK, never saw that many dutch people gathered in a room so far away from holland :)
All to see Armin Van Buuren.
He was pretty good. House music is not my thing really but he was quite alright.
The club was really cool, with 3 different area's to dance and a lounge bar.
Funny thing here is, inside it's always cool and outside it's nice and warm. I'm so gonna hate being back in Belgium.. Ugh....
Tomorrow night, 11pm, I will catch my flight back home.
But before we start talking or even thinking about home, Belgium, where it's -11°C, I wanna think about Singapore.
Warm Singapore, a country with a mix between Asia, India and a little West.
Today, after sleeping in, Juana and I met up with some other couchsurfers and we went to Sentosa Island. An artifical island with a beach made of imported sand.
It was nice to be on the 'beach' and have this little breeze.
Even though it was cloudy all day, temperatures were still around 28°C :-D
After the beach we went to Clarke Quay, which is a developed area around the Singapore River with lots of bars and restaurants.
We had some thai food and some drinks outside afterwards.
This part of town is really the richer part. You can tell by the prices of the drinks. It twice as expensive, which still makes it 'normal' prices compared to home.
Tomorrow I'll visit Arab street and a mosque and hopefully do some quick shopping, although my suitcase is full and my bankaccount empty, I still want to see a Singapore mall, even if it's just window shopping.
There is a mall here which is open 24/7
I mean, can you imagine??? Being able to shop 24 hours a day.
Like, if you aren't tired @ 3 a.m. you can go to the mall and buy some shoes :) Crazy... but lovin' it :)
Oh yeah, and the club last night was cool, ZOUK, never saw that many dutch people gathered in a room so far away from holland :)
All to see Armin Van Buuren.
He was pretty good. House music is not my thing really but he was quite alright.
The club was really cool, with 3 different area's to dance and a lounge bar.
Funny thing here is, inside it's always cool and outside it's nice and warm. I'm so gonna hate being back in Belgium.. Ugh....
Friday 9 January 2009
Ni hao ma :)
Today again a lesson in life.
Everyone knows what a minority group is, everyone knows that skin colours may vary, everyone knows that every race is different.
But knowing, or actually experiencing it is totally different.
Today I explored a bit of Singapore, two parts: Chinatown and Little India.
To get there I had to take the train (3 trains to be precise)
On the first train, I got to experience what it must feel like to be different.
I was the only 'caucation' person there. Everywhere I looked I saw asian men and women and also indian men and women.
And even though not everyone looks @ you, you feel stared at. You feel like they look at you, judging you. What you wear, how your hair is.
It's an awkward feeling.
You see, I always try to blend in in the city's I visit. But here I just couldn't and that only because I look different.
Don't get me wrong, nobody harrased me, everyone was helpful when i asked something. It's just the feeling of people looking at you. And they may even just be looking and not judging, but you can feel it, or at least you think they are looking.
I'm not a racist at all, those who know me, know how angry I can get when people are not given a chance & are judged only by their skin colour.
Today made me realise it even more, that we all are just people, living on the same planet trying to follow our own values and believes in life.
So far my life lesson today.
Now a little lighter stuff:
My first visit to the public toilet. I'm not gonna describe it, just look at the picture:
Haha, it wasn't that bad really. TBH I kinda like toilets like these, you never have to sit on a peed-on toiletseat :)
And apparently it's only the last two toilets in the public places that are like this :)
Chinatown was fun, bit tacky with all the red and gold :)
and little India was... interesting. People sitting on the street with tv's and other stuff to sell. It's different...
Anyway, gonna get ready cause we (Juana and me) are going out to have dinner with some other couchsurfers in Little India and after that we go clubbing cause apparently Armin Van Buuren is performing...
Later,
Tania
x
Arrived in the search of an ultimate break, Departed having found paradise.
It's true what they say: to find yourself sometimes you need to lose yourself. And that's what I did. A country with such incredible beaches, relaxing lifestyle and one of the best climates in the world. I found a piece of paradise.
The 3 weeks australia went by so fast. But the memories will last a lifetime. (That is if my brain will keep working:)Like I said @ the end of the Contiki tour, the things I've seen & done are too awesome to put down in words. Here I am, on Qantas flight QF5 to Singapore for my last 3 holidays before flying back to the cold and dark working days in Belgium.
Don't get me wrong, I like Belgium, I always seem to appreciate my country more when I left it for a while. Guess you can compare it to a relationship. If you give each other a chance to be apart and do your own thing you will see the good things again, if you just look at it from a distance now and then. So yes, I love my country and I'm proud to be a Belgian.
I'm also grateful to have a job in my country. Even though I can whine about it from time to time, I am glad to do my part in the community :)
Now, you'll probably ask yourself: If you do like Belgium and you are happy to have a job there, than why do you run from it? I guess part is the fact that I got the travelbug (reismicrobe) It's in my sign (sagittarus) and it will always run through my vains.The other part, I think, I discovered on my trip, is the four letter word: LOVE.
Don't get my wrong, I'm not gonna marry outback Jack or Luke tomorrow. I might not even be talking about a man. Love is a general thing. I love cities, nature, the ocean, the sun, the english language, surfers, friendly & fascinating people, ....
What hit me yesterday is not that I travel to travel, but to find 'love' in some sort and to enrich myself. I do believe that people who travel and embrace other cultures from time to time have a richer life. It's not because we live in the 'west' that that is the right way to live.
So, sweety's, if I may wish you anything this year, besides a good health, I wish you save and amazing travels. Even if it's just in your own country. You can be amazed by the things you discover...
Anyway, enough philosophy for today, the food is coming and qantas airplane food is kinda yummy. You get a lot of good stuff here, never hungry, never thirsty.
It's awesome mate :)
Take care,
Tania live from the sky :)
The 3 weeks australia went by so fast. But the memories will last a lifetime. (That is if my brain will keep working:)Like I said @ the end of the Contiki tour, the things I've seen & done are too awesome to put down in words. Here I am, on Qantas flight QF5 to Singapore for my last 3 holidays before flying back to the cold and dark working days in Belgium.
Don't get me wrong, I like Belgium, I always seem to appreciate my country more when I left it for a while. Guess you can compare it to a relationship. If you give each other a chance to be apart and do your own thing you will see the good things again, if you just look at it from a distance now and then. So yes, I love my country and I'm proud to be a Belgian.
I'm also grateful to have a job in my country. Even though I can whine about it from time to time, I am glad to do my part in the community :)
Now, you'll probably ask yourself: If you do like Belgium and you are happy to have a job there, than why do you run from it? I guess part is the fact that I got the travelbug (reismicrobe) It's in my sign (sagittarus) and it will always run through my vains.The other part, I think, I discovered on my trip, is the four letter word: LOVE.
Don't get my wrong, I'm not gonna marry outback Jack or Luke tomorrow. I might not even be talking about a man. Love is a general thing. I love cities, nature, the ocean, the sun, the english language, surfers, friendly & fascinating people, ....
What hit me yesterday is not that I travel to travel, but to find 'love' in some sort and to enrich myself. I do believe that people who travel and embrace other cultures from time to time have a richer life. It's not because we live in the 'west' that that is the right way to live.
So, sweety's, if I may wish you anything this year, besides a good health, I wish you save and amazing travels. Even if it's just in your own country. You can be amazed by the things you discover...
Anyway, enough philosophy for today, the food is coming and qantas airplane food is kinda yummy. You get a lot of good stuff here, never hungry, never thirsty.
It's awesome mate :)
Take care,
Tania live from the sky :)
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Catch ya' later mate Oz...
My last full day in awesome Oz.... It's like the country knows I will be leaving. Today is a cloudy chilly day in Melbourne. I enjoyed my relaxing time here, living the ozzie Melbourne life for 5 days.
Yesterday evening Cristian took me to the Melbourne beach. Man it's so cool these great cities @ the beach, I love it!
Oh, let me teach you something: the word MATE comes from the australian soldiers in the war, they said: catch ya later, mate. Which means: Meet At The End. For those who survived.
Cool to know huh, mate?
Unfortunately all good things come to an end. But, one thing is certain, I will be back. There's still so much left to see here. If only I would win the lottery :)
Check some previous blogs cause I will be posting some pictures in a few minutes.
Tomorrow morning I'll be flying to Sydney, hopefully spend a couple of hours there before my connection flight to Singapore.
Man, I'm gonna be soooo jetlagged when I come back..
Anyway, deal with that later.
Bye for now....
Tazmanian Tania
x
Yesterday evening Cristian took me to the Melbourne beach. Man it's so cool these great cities @ the beach, I love it!
Oh, let me teach you something: the word MATE comes from the australian soldiers in the war, they said: catch ya later, mate. Which means: Meet At The End. For those who survived.
Cool to know huh, mate?
Unfortunately all good things come to an end. But, one thing is certain, I will be back. There's still so much left to see here. If only I would win the lottery :)
Check some previous blogs cause I will be posting some pictures in a few minutes.
Tomorrow morning I'll be flying to Sydney, hopefully spend a couple of hours there before my connection flight to Singapore.
Man, I'm gonna be soooo jetlagged when I come back..
Anyway, deal with that later.
Bye for now....
Tazmanian Tania
x
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Lose yourself in the movie, find yourself in the country...
That's the quote of the new movie 'Australia' with Nicole Kidmann.
Haven't seen the movie, but I find myself in the country... Losing myself in the country too....
Still in Melbourne, decided not to go to Canberra, everyone tells me there's nothing worth seeing, so I changed my itinerary a little and did the great ocean road yesterday, where I saw the twelve apostels (rocks in the ocean)
It was really cool. Everything here is amazing.
Yesterday my mum text me saying it's snowing and freezing in Belgium. Funny, I'm sitting here in a skirt and top with thongs (flip flops) in the sun (29°C) and in my homecountry it's really winter. Well you guys, make a snow man for me, while I'll build a sandcastle :P
Today I'll go wandering around Melbourne a little. Try NOT to do some shopping since my credit card has been used too much.
Tomorrow will be my last full day in Australia ;'(
The next morning I'll fly from Melbourne to Sydney and in the late afternoon I'll catch my flight to Singapore.
Singapore will be cool too. i will couchsurf with juana there. And people told me it's the cheapest place to by new electronical stuff (poor credit card.. )
But I know one fact for sure, I will be back here....
xxx
tania
Sunday 4 January 2009
What is an Australian kiss?
... An australian kiss is a french kiss down unda' :)
Now ya'll be wondering if I experienced that but this is a censured blog so no kiss and tell.
At this moment I'm sitting outside with nettie in the citycentre of Melbourne.
It's about 25°C and sunny.
It's weird when I think about the weather in Belgium... Freezing... Haha, funny. I'm sweating here. But hey, I don't mind.
So, I'm in Melbourne now. Staying at Cristian's place, a guy from the Contiki group who lives here.
Tomorrow I will do the Great Ocean road. Have to get up early again.
I will need a vacation from my vacation when I get back. This lack off sleep is killing me..
Today I'm just walking around Melbourne. Funny, you can do the Neighbours tour here and visit Ramsay street.
Not on my list of priorities though.
When I look around, hearing the bells of the Cathedral, the traffic of cars and trams, the tourists and the locals walking around, the nice sunny weather... I feel so thankful. I mean.. How many people, Belgians, can say they've seen what i've seen? So many amazing things.
Travelling is and always will be one of the most important things in my life.
I think travelling changes you to become a better person, realising what you have, experiencing new things and people.
Sigh...
Ok, so far the emotional thoughts of life :) Hey it's a new year right? People can get a bit more philosofic than....
I'll try to post some new pictures soon too....
Tania who wonders why time flies by so much faster down unda....
Now ya'll be wondering if I experienced that but this is a censured blog so no kiss and tell.
It's about 25°C and sunny.
It's weird when I think about the weather in Belgium... Freezing... Haha, funny. I'm sweating here. But hey, I don't mind.
So, I'm in Melbourne now. Staying at Cristian's place, a guy from the Contiki group who lives here.
Tomorrow I will do the Great Ocean road. Have to get up early again.
I will need a vacation from my vacation when I get back. This lack off sleep is killing me..
Today I'm just walking around Melbourne. Funny, you can do the Neighbours tour here and visit Ramsay street.
Not on my list of priorities though.
When I look around, hearing the bells of the Cathedral, the traffic of cars and trams, the tourists and the locals walking around, the nice sunny weather... I feel so thankful. I mean.. How many people, Belgians, can say they've seen what i've seen? So many amazing things.
Travelling is and always will be one of the most important things in my life.
I think travelling changes you to become a better person, realising what you have, experiencing new things and people.
Sigh...
Ok, so far the emotional thoughts of life :) Hey it's a new year right? People can get a bit more philosofic than....
I'll try to post some new pictures soon too....
Tania who wonders why time flies by so much faster down unda....
New Year down unda'
31/12/2008
The last day of the year and also the last day with the whole contiki group.
If there is one thing in life I hate it's saying goodbye.
I met some incredible people, had fantastic times, I laughed, I cried, I felt excited, tired, tipsy,.... I had the best time of me life.
I did so many things. I think it will take a time to let it all sink in.
From surfing to a farmstay, from walking the whitest beach and swim in the blue/green sea to exploring the rainforest, from city's to beaches, from skydiving to scubadiving, from holding a koala & feeding kangaroo's to horseriding....
I think mojosurfcamp and scubadiving must be at the top of the trip.
But actually everything was so amazing, the things we did, the trip we took, the hotels, .. Everything....
My post today may sound a little bit down. But it's because I just said goodbye to my new friends. I'm on my way to the rainforest now with 9 others of our group.
We will be celebrating New Years eve on the beach with a bombfirte. There's also a pub with a circustheme tonight, will be interesting....
Anyway, as soon as I can get to the internet, I'll post this message, wishing you all a happy New Year, may I wish you all a trip to Australia someday.... And of course, the most important thing: a good health.
Kiss kiss kiss,
happy 2009 (9 hours ahead)
Tania
1 jan 2009
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Unfortunately I have not connection to the outside world here in the rainforest. No cell phone, no internet. So I write down my stories and post them tomorrow when the tour ends in Cairns....
Yesterday it rained all day (off course, we are in the rainforest and it's the rainy season)
Shane, our rainforestdriver took us on a path through a part of the rainforest and the mangroves. It was amazingly beautiful. Nature is so smart in it's way to survive and it's ecosystem.
After this walk I was soaking wet. But I didn't really care because rain here feels like a warm shower. And after the humid high temperature of 37°C , this rain was more than welcome!
Arrived at the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge we took a hot shower and got ready for New Years eve. Hoping the rain would stop cause we planned a bombfire on the beach.
But unfortunately it didn't stop raining so we needed to change our plans. We got together on a porch of one of the guys and got our booze out with some music.
We talked about the highlights of the tour and the amazing times we had. Who hooked up with who. We told our New Year's resolutions, and what we wanted in life.
Man I'm so gonna miss this. Tomorrow the tour officialy ends....
Today it's the first day of the new year. Weird, because I had no Christmas feeling or New Year feeling here.
So... you wanna know my resolution? Well, spending more time with the people I love, friends and family. Sometimes I'm living my life so fast that I forget to spend time with what is the most important thing in life... YOU!
Anyway, got to get ready now for our walk in the forest.
OXOX
Tania
2 jan
Yesterday we walked through the rainforest and swam in a creek and relaxed on the beach, where we were supposed to do our New Years eve bombfire.
It was relaxing and fun.
After the beach we got back to the hotel and decided to jump into the pool because it was so hot.
Then, around 6 I went to take a shower to get ready for our last supper as a contiki group....
We had a bbq which was good and coversations were fun. Nick suggested to take it to the pool so we did. The guys invented these games like building walls with beercans, or dropping them at the bottom and first one to catch it got to drink it.
Shane, our rainforest guide showed us some interesting bugs.
It was a short but fun last night....
The last day of the year and also the last day with the whole contiki group.
If there is one thing in life I hate it's saying goodbye.
I met some incredible people, had fantastic times, I laughed, I cried, I felt excited, tired, tipsy,.... I had the best time of me life.
I did so many things. I think it will take a time to let it all sink in.
From surfing to a farmstay, from walking the whitest beach and swim in the blue/green sea to exploring the rainforest, from city's to beaches, from skydiving to scubadiving, from holding a koala & feeding kangaroo's to horseriding....
I think mojosurfcamp and scubadiving must be at the top of the trip.
But actually everything was so amazing, the things we did, the trip we took, the hotels, .. Everything....
My post today may sound a little bit down. But it's because I just said goodbye to my new friends. I'm on my way to the rainforest now with 9 others of our group.
We will be celebrating New Years eve on the beach with a bombfirte. There's also a pub with a circustheme tonight, will be interesting....
Anyway, as soon as I can get to the internet, I'll post this message, wishing you all a happy New Year, may I wish you all a trip to Australia someday.... And of course, the most important thing: a good health.
Kiss kiss kiss,
happy 2009 (9 hours ahead)
Tania
1 jan 2009
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Unfortunately I have not connection to the outside world here in the rainforest. No cell phone, no internet. So I write down my stories and post them tomorrow when the tour ends in Cairns....
Yesterday it rained all day (off course, we are in the rainforest and it's the rainy season)
Shane, our rainforestdriver took us on a path through a part of the rainforest and the mangroves. It was amazingly beautiful. Nature is so smart in it's way to survive and it's ecosystem.
After this walk I was soaking wet. But I didn't really care because rain here feels like a warm shower. And after the humid high temperature of 37°C , this rain was more than welcome!
Arrived at the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge we took a hot shower and got ready for New Years eve. Hoping the rain would stop cause we planned a bombfire on the beach.
But unfortunately it didn't stop raining so we needed to change our plans. We got together on a porch of one of the guys and got our booze out with some music.
We talked about the highlights of the tour and the amazing times we had. Who hooked up with who. We told our New Year's resolutions, and what we wanted in life.
Man I'm so gonna miss this. Tomorrow the tour officialy ends....
Today it's the first day of the new year. Weird, because I had no Christmas feeling or New Year feeling here.
So... you wanna know my resolution? Well, spending more time with the people I love, friends and family. Sometimes I'm living my life so fast that I forget to spend time with what is the most important thing in life... YOU!
Anyway, got to get ready now for our walk in the forest.
OXOX
Tania
2 jan
Yesterday we walked through the rainforest and swam in a creek and relaxed on the beach, where we were supposed to do our New Years eve bombfire.
It was relaxing and fun.
After the beach we got back to the hotel and decided to jump into the pool because it was so hot.
Then, around 6 I went to take a shower to get ready for our last supper as a contiki group....
We had a bbq which was good and coversations were fun. Nick suggested to take it to the pool so we did. The guys invented these games like building walls with beercans, or dropping them at the bottom and first one to catch it got to drink it.
Shane, our rainforest guide showed us some interesting bugs.
It was a short but fun last night....
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