Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Singapore Post

Hey, this is a travel groupmail i wrote when i was in singapore, in feb 2003...

Hi everybody,

welcome to my first ever groupmail for non-dutch speaking people (rare as they are). Not that I'm becoming lazy, but this way I don't have to repeat the boring facts everytime.

I've got to pick a point to start, and in this case it's Singapore. My apologies to the people who already know about this stuff.

Anyway, I had travelled all through southern thailand and malaysia, just in time to be in Singapore for Thaipusam, a bizar hindu ritual where people skewer themselves in true BBQ style, and drag huge metal constructions with feathers, bells and statues in procession around town. Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, that's about all that's fascinating about Singapore. Not being a shopping mall addict, I decided to get out of town fast.

I had been pondering my next destination for a few days, and then decided to make an unplanned sidestep to Australia. I didn't want them to feel left out, and I felt like a change in culture. So, to Perth I flew! Once there, I noticed that I didn't have a driver's license on me, and only had a limited amount of time on my hands, so I signed up for 2 tours.

The first was to the southwest. Lots of driving involved, since Oz is even bigger than their 50cent coins. But we had a great group, and an excellent tour guide. Saw the most beautiful beach I've ever seen at lucky bay (Esperance), walked in the treetops in the valley of the giants, and climbed the 75meter fire lookout tree (using metal rods hammered in the treetrunk) - scary!! Did lots of other things too, but I'm not going to bore you with that. Suffice it to say that it was a brilliant tour.

Two days later, I left Perth again, heading north this time. Good group again, luckily. I even learned the intricacies of cricket, and expanded my Japanese volcabulary substantially. I can now chat up japanese girls in the following manner: say hi - ask their name - tell them they're cute - tell them I love them. If that doesn't work, I also know how to say fuck off.

Did my best dive so far off Ningaloo reef (go there Koh Tau colleagues!): saw two 2-meter wide bullrays up close, and a lionfish. Also had shark swim by my feet at a few meters distance. Just 1.5 meter long reefsharks though.
Also great was the climbing and swimming in the gorges of the Karigini. Stunning scenery in about 40 degrees temperature! We slept outside in swags the whole time, under the stars. Romantic, except for the flies. And one night they were joined by centipedes, mozzies, beetles and rain at 5 am. We usually got up at 5:30 by the way. On another rainy night two truckies invited us to sleep under their trailer. A first for everybody.
I also learned to appreciate Promite (consider this a small step on the way to vegemite, Kirsty).

Yesterday and today were devoted to laundry and a visit to Fremantle. I was buying the obligatory souvenir boomerang in a shop when an aboriginal woman asked me if I wanted to make passionate love to her tonight, and grabbed my bum! New experiences are what makes travelling interesting they say...

That it for now. Flying to Singapore tomorrow! I hope everybody is doing fine whereever they are! Drop me a line to let me know.

sayonara,
nico