Untangling this fine mess

Bangkok, Thailand
Well, you'll be sad to know that none of my belongings (the show-stopping ones) turned up, as was always likely to be the case. However, I did get my flip flops back. Some dizzy French woman had put them on 'accidentally' and I recognised her from the Internet cafe walking in the street. Being in no mood to act coy at this point, I challenged her on her oversized footwear.

'Oh, I am zzzorry, I didn't realizzze, I zzzzought zzzey felt a beet big'. I think that deserves the childish remark of my schoolboy youth - chinny!!

So, there was nothing else to do other than to scoot back from Pai, northern Thailand to Bangkok and quite a scoot it was. Bus, moto taxi, mini bus, (earthquake...seriously), overnight train and Skytrain finds me back at Ros & Dan's off Thong Lo and elbows deep in trying to bail out the leaky vessel that is my current situation.

So, new passport being applied for and the wheels of that procedure have been greased by a piece of pre-trip planning quite against the grain for me - I had photocopies of my passport and driving licence in my main pack. Flight tickets being re-issued altho' there's the usual hassle associated with United Airlines that I won't go into for fear of curling up into a ball and muttering incoherently to myself. Can't do a lot about the Thai visa until I get a new passport, which could take up to 10 working days. Ooops.

Also bit the bullet and bought myself a replacement camera from Bangkok's premiere electronics mall - Pantip Plaza. Love the name. Got the same one as I lost, 2GB memory card and Samsonite case (I mean for the camera, not a suitcase) for half the price I paid for mine eight months ago. Chuffed about that.

On a note of fun, high jinks and high balls: Jo Bole rocked into town en route from Kuala Lumpar to Brunei. OK, so that's a strange 'en route' but it was mighty fine to see her...again (last time in Broome, Western) and to celebrate, slightly belatedly, her birthday. Wanna see some snaps?...OK then:

Dan relaxing on JoB's arrival with a glass of fizz. Niiiiiiice.

Me looking a little startled chez DazRon and unusually wearing a yellow t-shirt.

Jo's birthday meal last night at La Villa Italian restaurant, round the corner from DazRon's. Ahhh, la dolce vita!

Ros & Dan, raising a glass of Italian brandy that the proprietor, Roberto, insisted was better than the Armagnac & Cognac we had ordered...and he didn't have anyway. Funny that.

Jo & me...seemingly avoiding low flying aircraft.

The usual silly snap that tickled me. From a convenience store. I guess if you need pressure cooker spare parts, it is pretty convenient. Sorry.

Broome - a clean sweep

Ah ha, hello again my dear! Well, I have just spent a chuffing age uploading a selection of pictures from my time in Broome, Western Australia onto my Flickr site. There are some goodies in there and quite a disturbing number of sunsets over Cable Beach - never knew I was that interested but they were pretty impressive, it is after all sunset capital of Oz.

Below is a small selection of what awaits you if you click the above link. Go on, I dare ya!

Broome, Western Australia, 26 Feb - 4 Mar, 2007

It was in Broome that I met up with JoCam, Jo Bole, Bret, Megan and their two nippers Malacky & Macy one again. This was planned, it wasn't a wierd coincidence. Boley & Cam were doing some work in Broome, not sure what it was, something to do with destorying coral reefs in the process of extracting hydrocarbons from under the sea with which they were going to increase global warming, I didn't catch the nitty gritty. I also moved out of my slumming it backpackers' accomodation (although the Kimberly Klub was pretty cool or should that be kool?) and into the five star Cable Beach Resort, distinctly tagging on the shirt tails of Boley and JoCam. From backpacker to flashpacker! Cocktail anyone?

A few things about Broome:

• It is probably the most sticky place on earth
• It was founded as a pearling town & still has a big pearl industry
• It is a city and you can walk to the airport from the main street in 10mins
• It has a fab outdoor cinema unchanged since the 1920s (although they now show speakies, not just silent flicks)
• Did I mention it was bloody sticky?
• Errr...
• ...it's sticky

At low tide and a full moon there's this spectacular event called Staircase to the Moon. I could describe it but I think the picture does it so much more justice.

Amazing, huh?

Not content with reeking global catastophe and endangering most of the world's population with her evil scheming, Jo also insisted on abusing the local baby ponies.

Below are a couple of snaps that amused me.

This is what we would call a Toffee Crumble in Blighty.

The no-boozing sign actually has a can of Emu beer on it. Presumably the local mayor hates Emu beer. It's a bit vindictive but having tried Emu beer, I concur with them.

It was also in Broome that I had to bid farewell to another trusty couple of travelling buddies: Dusty Sandals and Shorty Blue. It brought a tear to my eye. They have been replaced with Dusty Sandals Jnr and an alternative pair of cak coloured shorts.