Off to Malaysia

It's been a year and am off on holiday to Malaysia this time. am only away for 14 days so don't know ho updated I will keep the blog... we will see

Home

Arrived home at 1.30am this morning. It took my about 50hrs from leaving London and had about 5hrs sleep. Didn't sleep on the first leg at all and arrived in Hong Kong at 7.30am and then had 14hrs to look around. by the time I got back to the airport I was so knackered and my legs really hurt from all the walking around. And because I got mucked around with my flights I had to get off the plane for an hour in Adelaide before getting to Melborne. That hour long flight I sleep as I just couldn't keep my eyes open.
In Melborne I had to go through customs, pick up my bag and check in again so as I was really tired and knowing I wasn't staying in Melborne I didn't really read the departure form and didn't put that I had some food (food being allowed through) and they asked what the jars were and looked at some pasta I had, took my passport away.... and just got a telling off and no fines...phew.
Things have certainly changed are bit at some airports and with all my travels I had my handbag searched, full feel of my body (by a women thank goodness), tested my bag and clothes with some device?? and alot more questions about my intentions of my stay and wanting to look at ongoing flights.
Managed to get up this morning at 8am and I will stay up till at least 9am so I shouldn't have any jetlag although with going those time zones over 50 hrs I don't think my body would know if it was night or morning anyway. I am just worried that I am not really tired because I am over tired and as soon as I get a good nights sleep it will all hit me.... I have never fallen asleep at my desk before but I am sure I will be to busy to even think about sleep.

It was good to be in my own bed last night.

Last few days now

It finally rained on Saturday but there was no wind at least. Went up to the fort on the hill overlooking Assisi but the problem was it was quite foggy so didn't get to much of a view, didn't matter though as there was so much exploring around the fort.

Left Assisi on Sunday morning to drive to Ancona as Oliver was flying out at about 5am. We drove all the back ways through the Umbria countryside and came across so many little villages, it was stunning and all in Autum colour much brighter than we get in NZ.

We stopped in Spello for lunch and looked around the town (see pic of little archway). We also stopped in Norcia as it looked so beautiful and of course it was. Thought I should take a pic of the water fountain as they are throughout Italy...... the running water didn't help with my need to find a toilet. We stopped in many other places along the way as the views were stunning.

The plan for me was to catch to train up to Como and spend a night there, spending the afternoon walking around the lake. When I got to Milan it was rainingand foggy again so didn't want to get wet again so jumped on the train to Geneva. It has been good today just relaxing and tommorrow I will go on a day trip somewhere before I jump on the plane the next day.

Italy was a fanastic place and someday I would love to go back again.

Assisi

Am loving Assisi!! When I arrived in I had walked the wrong way to the hostel and I asked an italian lady which way to go and she walked me there, saying it would be a nice walk for her. On arriving I meet an Aussie guy and we walked up to the town centre for food and look around the shops and we ended up chatting to a shop owner for awhile, even though he didnt speak great english. That the great thing about Italians, they try and talk with you even though they struggle with the language but they get annoyed with themselves that they dont know enough english. Other countries get annoyed that you dont know there language. We had dinner with a Italian couple that night, that were also staying at the Hostel and they were such lovely people.

Yesterday I went on a 10km walk, 5 up and 5 down. Went to the santurary of St Francis which was where he used to go quite a bit and it was a very nice quiet spot and a nice walk into country area that overlooked olive trees. (pic of the well, monks still live there). Dove's actually fly around and land really close to you and if you put your arm out they really think about landing on you.

Today I am in Pergia which is 30 min out of Assisi, there is a choc festival on but there arent to many samples being given out although thats probably a good thing. I might go out to the choc factory where you can eat as much choc as you can.

Got stung by a bee yesterday which hasnt happened since I was a kid, the Aussie guy is a Doctor so he was on hand to make sure I was ok. I got stung by a jelly fish in Montorosso as well and still have a mark. Ang got stung by one in Carpri and luckily there was a doctor on hand to give her some antihisteme.

Starting to cool down in the evenings now and need long sleeve top on and it is meant to rain tommorrow but cant complain as the weather has been perfect.

Belinda

Gelato!!

I think I have a new favorite flavour....... Nutella yoghurt, and I have tried a few flavours. The most bizzare tasting was pink grapefruit champagne, just wasnt to sure about it.

Have free internet at this hostel so am taking advantage of it, although cant add any pics.

Had another fantastic day today in Florence and thought I might go to the uffizi gallery as the queues arent as bad in the afternoon, but they still were so as I dont like queuing I didnt (youcan queue for 3 hours). Instead I went to the Pitti palace and it has extensive gardens with heaps of little water foundations and in the palace itself it has some museums but the ceilings and walls are spectacular.
After that I was wondering around and come across a market where the locals go to buy stuff and it was homegrown veges, homemade breads and pastas, homemade sauces and pestos.....it was great and a shame I couldnt really buy anything. I did get some cherry tomatoes but when I tried to buy them the guy wouldnt let me and said they were a present.

Then I had the icecream which just completed a great day out in Florence. My legs are feeling a bit tired from all the walking though

Heard the weather has been crap at home, hope it improves by the time I get back as I am used to good weather everyday.

Montalcino

Up at the Abbey with the countyside behind me. Below is a pic of a lantern but also of the Tuscany countryside behind which isn't very clear as it was close to sunset.
Its just another area of Tuscany....more in the south. Went there on a day trip yesterday and its amzing that it is so different to the Chianti region, I think better. The town itself was very nice. I bumped into a couple I had meet on the Chianti tour and we caught a bus to Abbazia Di Saint Antimo which was about 15 mins away but close to a very small quaint village. Its a "isolated Romananesque church" from about built in year 837 I think. Monks still go there 7 times a day to chant. Very nice place to spend the day anyway.

I was based in Siena which is a very nice town but found it a little frustrating to get information, which is what everyone I have meet has said. Not sure if they are sick of all the visitors as they get alot of tour buses through here full of English and Americans and they can be a bit precious I think.

Now I am in Florence again and am hoping to do a bike tour of Tuscany from Florence tommorrow which I have been recommended by a few people now. And tommorrow I am heading to Assisi from where I will take the 20 min bus into Pergia for the chocolate festival.

I am finding Italy a great place to travel around and think I could just keep coming back. The people are so friendly (except for the ones at train stations) and all the hostels are really good. Cant beleive I have only got about 8 days left in Italy although it also feels like I have been on holiday for ages.

It would be nice to see some more comments or emails!

Belinda

Tuscany........

Its everything you pictured it to be!! Yesterday went to San Gimignano, got there quite early so walked right around the walled town which gave me fantastic views looking out over the country side, it was stunning. Inside the town was just as nice although quite a few bus load of tourists were in there but outside the walls there are no tourists........they missed the best part I reckon.
Today I am doing a tour into the Chianti area with some wine and olive oil tasting so am looking forward to that.

Oh and I have been asked out 2 days in a row now but have declined both times. Forgot to tell you that a guy gave me a kiss on the lips in Milan after he helped me out with the metro tickets.......all happened so fast .....eeeeeuuuuuwwwww

Keep meaning to put some pics up but run out of time everytime. I am meeting a friend in Assisi next weekend so hopefully he bring his laptop (hint hnt Oliver).

I am going to try and stay in Pergia for 3 nights for the CHOCOLATE festival!!

25 degress already today at 10am and everyday is sunny....and no wind!!

bye

Stairs stairs and more stairs

I ended up staying another day in Florence as there is so much to see here. Went to the markets this morning and brought a bag (I thought was a bargain but an Italian girl in my room say the prices are high in Florence). Then I went to the Duomo and the queue had died down, it is amazing in there and it is amazing how they even built it. I climbed the 414 steps to the top for a wonderful view of the city. (See pic)Those stairs werent as bad as the stairs coming up from the beach in Positano though and after the first day both me and Ang said we would never do them again.
Ang - Nino from the resturant around the corner who took me and Tina kayaking also showed us the elevator that took you almost to the top!!!! Now we know that the locals dont climb those stairs.

I was going to try and put some pics on but they take so long to download and I am running out of time again, but I will try again soon as I have some good ones.

By the way it is still about 25 degrees here in Florence and I have only had one overcast day in Italy so far, although a Italain lady in the kodak shop taday was shocked I had just a tshirt on and she thought it was cold!!!

Belinda