LIBBY GREENHALGH

I am afraid you are going to be greeted with a few wordy blogs and not so pictorial from now on, they will also be few and far between as the daily routine of the event begins and I am generally just working So I left Phuket about 4 days ago with Lindsey and finally got to the hotel room at about 3am, after much excited chatting with Emilie I managed to fall asleep at about 4am and got up at 0830am to go to the boat park and unload a container with the troops – which mainly consisted of moving and stacking a hell of a lot of water bottles. They were moved from one container to another and then promptly collapsed down and had to be restacked- joy of joy! But finally done and a stroll round the area with Emilie to show her vaguely where things are and more importantly to get an ice cream and everything was back in the balance! I am managing to sneak a bit of outside time in and I am hoping to get out on the water once the event starts, but otherwise I will keeping an eye ...

Last full day in Patong and therefore the last full day of holiday- tomorrow Lindsey and I will be making our way to Singapore (hoping our budget airline doesn't let us down) and heading to Perth, or I should say Fremantle, and back to work with ISAF Perth World Championships. Today was scooter day number two after my maiden voyage in Chiang Mai - I thought lets go again and take a passenger this time. Lindsey was either very brave or a little bit stupid!! After my ranting abut maps and tuk-tuk drivers not knowing where they are going we set off in the morning on our scooter to Kata beach for breakfast. Within 5 mins I had us going round the one way system again and then 20 mins later we were lost on a beach called Paradise Beach (which wasn't too bad) but concerned we may not be able to leave as the hill we came down to get there had us nearly going over the handle bars!!! So we breakfasted there and enjoyed our sun loungers!  By the time we got up the hill and back to va...

Last night was our first night out in Patong- having heard the rumours of 'sin city' - guided by our trusted friend Zoe with the following words "Banglor street is the place to go to see some sights!" -that was where we headed. I was ready to bat off the ping pong balls and darts that I was expecting to be to be flying across the streets and happily say I ticked that box off the experience list. Just a little glimmer of the neon Zoe, Lindsey and I However, disappointed is not the right word but the evening wasn't quite like that. There was neon a plenty, some banging tunes and most places you looked there were girls- no maybe boys and menus that were not offering food! It was fairly entertaining and unless you really want to pay you won't see any flying ping pong balls Following this rest and recuperation were required and some cleansing of the eyes which came in the format of a midday rise and another day and another beautiful beach. ...

Libby's been telling me since I got here that I have to write a guest 'holiday buddy' blog, so here's what we've been up to over the past couple of days.. Libby reaches the top! For our final day on Phi Phi we'd decided to do the 'strenuous but sweaty' (said Lonely Planet) walk up to the Viewpoint, which had stunning views over the island beaches and jungle.  With just 3 hours sleep for me (jetlag finally kicked in!) and us sleeping in a bit later than planned, it was pretty hot and sweaty before we even got going.  I decided very quickly after setting off that 'strenuous and sweaty' wasn't for me, so found a cafe while Libby marched on. Here's the result... she says it was worth it, in spite of the sweat dripping into her eyes. Cocktails on the beach It was then back on the ferry to Phuket (a surprisingly easy journey compared to the trip over!) and we made our way to a beach bar overlooking Kata Beach for sunset and to ...

 Two days ago I left Chiang Mai and landed finally at just after midnight in Phuket and met up with Lindsey (who was sadly feeling a little under the weather). We has a lazy rise and booked our ferry to Ko-Phi-Phi and a day trip to the Ao Phag-Nga Nationl Park- which I am sure in a couple of days from the photos you will see the reason it is famous but also the many reasons to visit  arrival at Ko-Phi-Phi  However, yesterday I am calling a blogging blot, because I was shown all the things I actually imagined this country to be like in one day, but the location is too stunning to be too pissed off for long. The ferry to the island – we got to the port at 1300 for the 1330 ferry and stood in the queue only to be told no next ferry – 1430. Ok fine. Then we at least managed to acquire a proper ticket and finally at 1530 and  a crush to get on we boarded the red Jet equivalent- which is very much not the red jet! When you disembark at Ko Phi-Phi you are greeted by a...

After my tiger experience I managed to push myself back out of my ridiculously good hostel and head to Saturday walking street. Basically a street full of markets and meant to be a bit more traditional and I finally found what I thought I would see everywhere, weird stuff on sticks-and great food for abut 50p! Having acquired an old favourite of mine- Milo shake- I thought I would take to walking the street and it became quickly apparent that it was more of a 'shuffling experience' to be had. If you were with someone or a group of people the local art seemed to be to form a snake like group and shuffle along behind each other Personally I prefer the night bazaar but that is only because I love the jewellery what to eat......and where did I park my scooter?  This morning began my last day in Chiang Mai before I head off to meet up with Lindsey and explore the islands with perhaps a slightly less active regime. So I couldn't leave without seeing the Asian Elephants...

After last nights relatively high drama of losing my wallet and my telephone at the night market - safely recovered- I did some fairly sedate but very touristy things today. First up was Flight of the Jungle- basically zip lining (or as we use to call the one in the back garden- firefox) around the jungle canopy. If you were afraid of heights this is probably no thing for you - we were anywhere between 3 and 100 M up in the air. I should also add that you should make sure you tie you camera onto yourself pretty well -mine took a tumble from about 10M up bounced and somehow still works! The jungle as they call it here is stunning as it seems most of the scenery is - I have to say theses ziplines were definitely better for location but I still convinced ours back home had more pace- maybe that was because I was under 9 years old though!!! The best bit was the abseil at the end where basically the dude controlling my rope just let it run and you were just falling face first- ...

I probably should have not eaten for about 3 days before I did my Thai cooking course as I am now the size of a bungalow (can't be a house as I am so short!)  and waddling too! I got collected along with about 10 others at 0830 this morning and we all popped on a train then on some funky new bikes designed for passengers and before we knew it we were in the countryside cycling around farms with Hoi are cooking lady pointing out all the different things. bicycle fully geared for pillion passenger Eventually we end up at our cooking destination and having selected off a list of things we cruised round the farm being shown a variety of spices and herbs and how to pick them for our selected meals. This has given me several new ideas on what to grow next year in my garden!! my ingredients at the ready I cooked the following things, and ate them chicken with cashew Hot and sour prawn soup spring rolls Deep fried banana Massiam curry (pr...

I have moved to Thailand, in fact Chiang Mai and it is a very different scene. A brief stop in Bangkok and some earlier chat from my Dad and the people there meant I merely passed through the flooded city. Interestingly enough the taxi driver that took me to my hostel here in Chiang Mai called Bangkok a swimming pool!!! I am now staying in a hostel for something like £2-6 a night. The first two night in a dorm room with 6 of us- its pretty small- then I have upgraded o £6 single room- getting posh in my old age!! What struck me straight away was that people can drive here and I have been  brave  and hired a scooter. I was amazed how all I needed was my passport and to say yes I can drive a scooter- Having never actually ridden one by  myself- my first fail was not being able to start it!!! the narrow roads with signs encouraging you to peep your horn   But it wasn't long before I was zipping along albiet at driving Miss Daisy speed beeping my horn ...

Today was my last day in Ubud and it started with my earliest start and ended with my most lazy day, as tomorrow I fly to Thailand, so it is also my last day in Bali. This is where I was at 0530 this morning after a 2 hour hike or drag up some lava flows. Sunrise at the top of Mount Batur just me and one other It was stunning and very calming what was probably more amazing that I could never capture with my point and push camera is what the american girl Tamara I was with coined heat lightning. But is basically lightning in the distance no noise but has an orange warm glow- it was really beautiful - looked a bit like something out of star trek- but without meaning to sound full of b*******- it was quite soothing for the soul. The crater lake is quite impressive and the way the clouds spilled over into it was stunning to - something worth  a hike unless you actually dislike hiking more than me!!! Also the novelty of cooking an egg and bananas on the steam coming out of the ...

Firstly I apologise for the poor English and bad spelling in my blogs- but I am afraid those picky ones amongst you will have to grin and bear it! Today was a prime example of why I probably shouldn't travel alone.....offroad mountain biking in the midday heat of Bali....is that what you call a holiday- I now can't walk and I am off trekking tomorrow at 2am????!!! Must think more about relaxing. The cycling to be fair was pretty good- the first part was spent with me going 'holy *****' I am not going to make this and generally gripping on for dear life and really not appreciating the scenery - but once I had sweated my body weight out in water and had a word with myself I got the opportunity to take a few photos and appreciate it all a little more Clinging on and fortunately downhill at this point Post tour we had probably the best food I have had since being out- chicken satay my favourite, some really good fish, but it was the crispy soya beans that were amaz...

I left my surf buddies (self indulgent photo at the end) yesterday including the dead cow and the poisonous snake and head up to Ubud via  lovely silver jewellery store....my bank balance is getting a hammering!!! Ubud is a very different place to Padang Padang and today I feel like I have done and seen loads and walked miles, with quite possibly one of the best discoveries being that it is famous for its crispy duck and suckling pig - though pork sells out quick! Where to begin is the question.... as with all good movies theses days it seems only appropriate to begin at the end, go back to the beginning and then waffle around in the middle and leave you slightly at a loss!! I have just come from a Balinese dance that ended with a massive fire (planned) and a barefoot man dressed as some bizarre creature running through the fire and kicking the embers towards the audience though a few people got more than they bargained for. It wasn't quite as spectacular as the shows...

Not kidding at all yesterday was a new one on me- yes we have all heard the stories of dead animals, trees and other rubbish. But today I had first hand experience of surfing with a dead cow – well more paddling out with one and then trying to avoid it on my way in! Had a fairly chilled day yeterday with mainly some emergency planning going on as it became apparent that I had got my dates wrong and was out of somewhere to stay as of tomorrow well Saturday. AHHHH. Got to love being as organised as me!! Coupled with the solicitors asking a meal out of doing my mortgage and somehow needing me to sign something when I am in the middle of nowhere and wanting to talk to me but not provide me an Internationally friendly telephone number – I went into head in sand mode. We shall see how that pans out later today!!! lifeguard trying to tow the cow away- unsuccessful Padang Padang surf camp has been an amazing place to stay and almost wish I could stay longer just to relax at the l...

I have been in Bali now for 2 and a half days and have spent the majority of it surfing  or sleeping- in the process I have acquired one cut to the hand, luckily not the head, from my fin, some fairly good sunburn even for my standards  and met some really lovely people In the surf school I have joined Padang Padang- it is great , the instructors do a great job of pushing me onto the waves and making me feel like I can surf and the other people on the course are from all different walks of life- most bizarrely one of them knows Kirsty Law ex (Alex Reid). Today of note we went to Padang Padang beach which is where the film Eat Pray Love was filmed including the last scene. It is pretty much as the movie without the bar and actually surprisingly small but beautiful none the less, more so from the water. Tonight we went Uluwatu the most SW point of the country and  watched the sunset and some very large surf- Wendy and H I am surprised you are not or have not headed h...

I set off on Monday 7 th from London and headed to Bali after getting the wrong terminal forgetting my e-ticket and dropping my breakfast all over the terminal floor, I am pleased to say I boarded the plane and watched 3 movies and didn’t sleep as much as I would have liked! Despite my initial nervousness of setting off travelling when I stepped off in Singapore some of my trepidation had passed and the thought of sunshine and shorts was even more appealing.  the view from my room before the heavens opened my bedroom I am now Bali at my accommodation in the pissing rain with an almighty thunderstorm and all set for 0630 surf- that will be sink or swim with my jet lag! Lots of love  Libbyxx