Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny, France

On my recent trip to France I promised myself that I would finally visit Monet’s garden.   I have been to France numerous times and never made it there, which is very silly as it's so close to Paris. 

Monet lived in Giverny, a village in the region of Normandy in northern France only 74km from Paris.    If you are in Paris, there are half and full day tours that you can take which I would highly recommend. 

It wasn't a disappointment at all.  It was just like walking into the artists painting.  Full of colour and beautiful flowers everywhere. It was absolutely stunning and quite moving to be there having seen his paintings all my life.    

There are three parts to the visit, the colourful gardens full of flowers, the water garden with the famous lily pads and bridge and a tour around his house with many of his paintings adorning the walls.    There is also a nice restaurant where you can get a light refreshment or a full meal.

I am so glad that I finally made the time to go this time as it has become one of the most favourite places I have ever visited. 

Smoked salmon and caviar for breakfast - yes please!

I was very fortunate to visit Russia in March,  St Petersburg and Moscow, as part of a group of Travel Professionals invited to 'experience' the country and what it has to offer to the foreign tourist. 

It was such a wonderful opportunity and a huge contrast from Thailand where I had been 2 weeks earlier.  

In St Petersburg we stayed at the Four Seasons,  a 19th century Palace which still retains the feeling of something very special.   The quality of the rooms, service, fabulous food and overall atmosphere was that of elegance.    

I had always wanted to go to Russia and for me it needed to be snowy,  I can't explain,  it's just what I think of when I think of Russia.    The night we arrived there was a blizzard with huge fluffy flakes of snow.   Late in the evening we walked to the Winter Palace and The Hermitage museum, the second largest museum in the world.  The snow made it so magical.  It was very quiet as the snow fell and the whole area in front of the Palace was untouched, it was so beautiful.  

It's a particular moment when you travel that will stay with you forever and make you grateful that you have the opportunity to experience something so wonderful.    


https://www.fourseasons.com/stpetersburg/ 

Thailand elephant volunteering

I adore elephants, so when I saw the opportunity to volunteer for 2 weeks in Thailand and live in a rural village I jumped at the chance.

It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had and I will never forget the fabulous group of volunteers and helpers that I was with for that time.

We stayed in a home stay an hour outside the city of Surin, 450 kms east of Bangkok.   These communities have kept and cared for elephants for generations, and are like a member of their family.

Twice a week we were able to walk with the elephants and their handler, their Mahout, down to the river to bath them.   They loved to cool off in the water and we were able to go in with them.  

We also helped out in the community, helping to build a toilet in one of the local schools, making ‘elephant poo paper’ to help with the expenses of the elephant upkeep,  and also painted many elephant graves at the local elephant temple.    We were then invited by the monks to attend a special ceremony that most outsiders don’t get the chance to do.  A very very special memory.

If you want to find out more about this project check out this link.   This is an organisation that cares and protects the elephants and doesn’t exploit them for tourist gains. 

https://www.wearebamboo.com/volunteer/thailand/elephants.php?register=register

The ceremony at the elephant temple

Bangkok floating markets

Visiting one of Bangkok's floating markets is definitely a must while touring the city.    There are several to choose from, some right in the city, just off the main river and often include in a city tour.   

I went to the Bang Nam Pheung floating market in Bangkok.  It's in a loop of the Chao Phraya river nickname 'the green lung of Bangkok', a small untouched area still covered with vegetation. It's not really a 'typical' floating market as many of the stalls are actually on land and you can get out and walk around.  It's still worth a visit if it's all you have time for and there are some very interesting foods to sample.  

The one I enjoyed more was the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market about an hour’s car ride outside the city.  I arranged this with the concierge at the hotel I was staying at as it's a very popular floating market for tourists after it was featured in a James Bond chase scene.   

As we waiting for the boat to come and pick us up, just as you would at a bus stop I was fascinated by the shape and style of these boats, quite different to anything I'd seen before.  

Once on the boat we took off so fast, flying down the canals heading towards the congested market.  To be honest I think I enjoyed the speed of this boat more than the actual market.  Passing temples and houses on stilts, waving to the little children.   

The market itself is a lively tangle multiple canals selling many things from rattan balls to fresh fruit, to a restaurant selling all types of food.  An assault on the senses, the colours of the stalls and products, the smells of the various food being cooked.   Vendors passing on their boats frying pork, or selling beer and coconut water.   It's quite a fascinating place to go and I had never been anywhere like it before.  

I stopped by a lady making fresh pad Thai in her boat.  The best part was watching her cook it fresh for me, right there on a boat, while I sat in mine.  She ran out of eggs so another lady threw one over for her - what a different way of life they have.   Of course, it was the best Pad Thai I have ever tasted.   

Another truly amazing experience that I would recommend if you are in Bangkok. 

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, what a contrast!

Angkor, in the north of Cambodia is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia   It stretches over 400 km2 and contains amazing remains from the Khmer Empire from 9^th – 15^th century and is a UNESCO site. 

For several centuries Angkor was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom, it is filled with impressive monuments and ruins.  There are over 50 Buddhist and Hindu temples in this area and which attract millions of visitors each year. 

It is worth getting up early to watch the sun rise over the largest and most famous, Angkor Wat, but you won’t be alone.   

In complete contrast, is the city of Siem Reap, the nearest place to stay to visit these temples.  It was not at all what I had expected.  as it hosts millions of tourists a year it has become quite the nightlife centre also.    Pub street, as it says is full of just that and pretty crazy every night.   The nightlife scene comprises of lively bars, cocktail lounges, pubs, international restaurants and nightclubs that stay open until 4 am daily. 

If that isn’t for you there are countless massage spas and you can even have fish clean your feet while having a beer.   It’s quite the entertainment area and very inexpensive to stay.    I had dinner with an appetizer, main and beer for US$4 and an hour massage for US$10.   Definitely worth a visit. 

Deep fried Tarantula anyone????

Breaking the long journey at the side of the road to grab some snacks is a little different in Cambodia!

I have a major fear of spiders of any size, and deep fried or not they are still a source of nightmares.   

What is even more scary than this pile of tarantula’s nicely garnished is that in the white bucket underneath them are 100's of real ones.  Of course, I didn't realise that or I wouldn't have been close enough to take this picture.   

Apparently, they are a great snack and our tour guides wife craved them when she was pregnant and would call him up asking him to pick some up on his way home. 

A couple of the group tried them - they had imagined them to be hairy still, but their weren’t, and disappointingly they didn't spit them out but just swallowed them as if it was nothing unusual.

There were an assortment of other fried bugs, cockroaches, lava, crickets etc for purchase.   I stuck with a nice fresh mango instead!

1 Night in Bangkok...

If you don't know the 80's song - listen to it. 

Wat Arun, Bangkok

As the song says, Bangkok is a city full of temples and massage parlors - seriously,  I've never been to a city with so many massage parlors.  Between you and me,  I became slightly addicted to the to the massages.  Well what can you do when it's only $10 for an hour?? 

A full body massage,  but usually the Thai type which I never became fully acustomed to,   or the much more relaxing foot and leg massage.  On a couple of days I ended up with an hour body massage in the morning,  and ended the the day with a foot/leg massage.  Yes, a little excessive, but why not?   

There is nothing like an hour foot and leg massage right before bed.  It doesn't matter what time you are heading to bed,  the massage parlors will be open.  After a day walking around temples, followed by an evening partying or observing the partiers on the Khoa San road its the perfect ending.

The Khoa San road is a crazy crazy place.  During the day it's full of elephant pant stores,  t-shirts stores and other tourist paraphenalia,  but as the sun dips behind the buildings the music starts and the bars, pubs and clubs start trying to entice you it.   You can barely walk down the street by 10pm as it is so full of tourists and the music goes all night - so try not to stay in a hotel on the Khoa San Road as you won't get much sleep,  there are plenty to choose from within walking distance.   

Bangkok is really a city of extremes,   but I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back.

If you don't know the 80's song here is the link,  you're in for a treat... the intro is the longest ever,  stick with it - it's so worth it !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgc_LRjlbTU 

One of my many leg/foor massages

Bar on the Khao San Road