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Posts Tagged ‘Student’

Thailand: My First Night in Pattaya

January 10th, 2010 No comments

It was seven-ish and I was sitting in a nice-enough room overlooking the front entrance to the pub above which I had just moved in. The pub was the Pig and Whistle on Soi 7 in Pattaya. Across the way was a big hole, which they were hoping to construct a hotel in and next door to that, just opposite me, was a tiny bar with one lady sitting on a stool outside it. Not that there was a wall there, it was open on two sides. The Soi was lovely and peaceful, I thought. I also thought that I might go and sit in that little bar and talk to that woman, if my friend was late, because I would surely see him arrive from two metres away, the width of the Soi.

So, I went to the bar in the pub at 19:15 to await my friend who said he would meet me at 20:00. It was much busier than thirty minutes earlier but not noisy and I sat at the bar. The first thing a barmaid did was say hello, give me a menu and step back. I did not really want to eat, I only wanted a beer as I presumed we would be dining together later, but I wanted to read the menu anyway.

‘A pint of Boddington’s', I said. It arrived and the girl began laying a setting for me. I tried to explain that I was not hungry, but it was no good. Like in Spain, most people eat and drink at the same time. All the while the girl was smiling at me. Then she said: ‘You live upstairs? My name Charli. What you want to eat?’. So, I gave in and ordered something and rice.

‘You first time in Thailand? You no can eat. Too spicy’, she said with a grin. ‘Oh’, I replied, ‘but I want to try. ‘I put only 50-50 for you’, she said and went.

I battled my way through that meal and it took a Boddingtons and a bottle of water. Charli had been accurate, it was too hot for first-time foreigners and she had reduced the chilis by 50%. I have always heeded a Thai’s guidance on food ever since.

I changed seat to by the window to see what was happening as it was dark by 19:30 and I was curious. Within thirty minutes Soi 7 had changed completely. I could see hundreds of ladies and tourists milling about. I wanted to go out and join in or at least sit in the quiet bar across the way, but I’m ashamed to say that I was too scared, so I sat put, rivetted to the Pig like a rabbit in a hunter’s beam.

My friend walked in on time and after we had been chatting for an hour, he said: ‘Drink up, I have someone I want you to meet’. This was it, we were going into that mele. A waitress opened the door for us and the racket and the heat were terrific. Particularly the noise. Every metre at least two or three girls would yell: ‘Hello, sexy man, you want a drink’. Trying to say no courteously to each call was out of the question, so I just stuck close by to my pal.

Luckily, we only had about fifty metres to stroll and we sat down in another bar. My friend said hello to several women and then said, this a girl I have been going out with for some time. I was flabbergasted as I had never heard him talk about her, ever. She was gorgeous, but could not speak English, so I sat in the pandemonium in silence. Not for long through, as my friend said, I have a blind date for you and he introduced another girl to me who was equally beautiful, but with whom I could speak a little. She was captivating and I was captivated. The pandemonium seemed to pass away, but it was only because I was concentrating on my new friend. The four of us had the best time and the best food I had ever had in my forty-nine years of existence.

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Rottnest Island Western Australia

August 26th, 2009 No comments
by Jimmy Schmidt

Sitting on the edge of the Australian continental shelf near Perth in western Australia, Rottnest Island is just 11 km (6 mi) long and 4.5 km (2.7 mi) at its widest point. An iconic holiday destination for Perth residents, with 70 per cent of visitors coming for a day out, the entire island is run as a nature reserve and the surrounding waters as a marine park.

Known to local Aboriginal people as Wadjemup, the island is believed to be a place of spirits and is of significance to the Aboriginal communities. Artefacts have been found at a number of sites on Rottnest Island which are at least 6,500 years old, and possibly older, so there were indigenous people living here before sea levels rose and the island was separated from the mainland.

The first Europeans to discover the island were Dutch navigators who were searching for a shorter route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia in the 17th century. At that time the island was uninhabited. Samuel Volkerson was the first European to actually land on the island in 1658. William de Vlamingh visited in 1696 and named the island Rottnest after the abundance of Quokkas (small marsupials) he saw, mistaking them for rats.

Other Europeans soon followed, believing the island had potential for salt harvesting, farming and fishing. From 1839 for almost a century the island housed a penal colony for Aboriginal men and boys. When the colony closed, the leisure potential of the island was realized and tourism took off.

The island is best explored by bicycle as private cars are not allowed. The 24-km (15-mi) route around the coast runs through some of the most beautiful scenery, passing small, sandy beaches in secluded coves. The island has a total of 63 beaches and 20 bays, some of the finest in the world, and the turquoise water makes swimming here a must.

There are lovely reefs here, with twenty species of colourful corals and 364 species of fish, which can be explored by snorkelling, diving or a trip in a glass-bottomed boat. There are also a number of shipwrecks close to the shore, making diving here a popular pastime. Look out for humpback whales, green and loggerhead turtles, rays and bottlenose dolphins.

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Enjoying Holidays and Spring Breaks in Cabo San Lucas

April 9th, 2009 No comments

Cabo San Lucas can be the perfect destination for those who want to make their college spring breaks very memorable. Cabo will not be called the Rolls Royce of college spring breaks for nothing.

Cabo is also a safe place to party. You can have fun and being treated nicely at the same time. These make Cabo San Lucas a good party place. The crowd in Cabo is very different from other parties that usually become wild and reckless.

Aside from a fun and entertainment, Cabo San Lucas is popular for being the safest destination for tourists in Mexico. With all the great pleasures of nature, the fun of safe partying and sports, the food, and just the right crowd, Cabo is indeed an ideal holiday destination.

Though some cases of misconducts are inevitable, the cases usually reported in Cabo are simple violations of the law like public urination. Cabo authorities are however very strict in imposing their laws, and tourists and travelers are expected to stick and obey to rules. They also implement strict rules against illegal drug possession and use.

Young and old alike who go to Cabo San Lucas for their spring break usually return the next year and the succeeding years. There are even those who started going to Cabo during their college years and still continue to return yearly, this time with their own families.

Having all the great qualities of a good vacation spot, Cabo San Lucas indeed provides a satisfying holiday to the expectations of travelers, guests and tourists and a satisfying spring break for college students.

Vacationing in Cabo has also evolved into something that is very easy to plan. Online information about the place is readily available and reservations and booking can be done online as well.

So if it is royal treatment you want in the midst of partying and fun during your spring break, then Cabo San Lucas is the perfect choice.

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Worry Free Travel with Travel Medical Insurance

February 25th, 2009 No comments

Travel Medical Insurance is a bright idea for the many travel savvy and not travelers today. We have all heard the stories of being in a foreign country, getting sick and it costing hundreds of dollars. There is no excuse for this. Travel Medical insurance can eliminate some of these worries.

Without Travel Medical Insurance you could face a financial strain that could really disturb a perfectly wonderful trip. There are many unfamiliar hazards and illness in forerign countries and one trip to a doctor or hospital would be rather scary not to mention could be extremely expensive for a non citizen.

What about finding a doctor or knowing what vaccanations you should have before traveling. Travel Medical Plans often assist you every step of the way. They even have a wealth of information avaialble to help you plan your trip and get to know your destination.

The plan you carry in the US typically will not cover you when you travel across seas so obtaining travel medical is essential. Most government funded plans or hospitals will only help citizens of that country so you would not like to risk not getting fast treatment that you can afford.

Travel Medical plans have many added incentives as well. They often cover other travel needs such as lost baggage, help with passport and discounts. They also have added additions you don’t think about like medical evacuation and life insurance.

If you are a sport freak and plan to climb a mountain do not forget to add the sports rider. There are many other options they offer as well. Typically you can purchase your insurance for an extended amount of time like 6 months or you can purchase just 2 weeks of travel you expect to make.

Many people avoid this insurance because they have an idea that it is costly. These plans are typically very affordable and the total cost could be less then one visit to a doctors office. The application is very simple and short. It usually doesn’t take long to be approved.

So if you want to travel worry free and with financial security do not forget to purchase your travel medical insurance. It is an essentiel part of your planning. Have fund and stay safe!

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