So it's exactly one week before my departure to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Which means it's time to take my first Doxycycline pill as advised by the overly smiley and overly caffeinated pharmacist that prescribed them. They're to prevent me from getting malaria which would not be a pleasant end to what is hopefully going to be the adventure of a life time!
On opening the first of many boxes of my anti-malarial tablets, remembering that I have done my little bit for the environment (and rucksack space) by putting three packets in each box- rather than the stupid pharmaceutical companies putting each in its own box ... There are only 8 pills in each box by the way! And I'm planning on being away for a good 5 months in South East Asia- this as you can imagine adds up to a hell of a lot of pills! However, lets save this rant for another time, this is a time for excitement and nervousness and time for a "new chapter in my life" (however cliché that phrase is, a new chapter is exactly what this is going to be.) But before I pop the first of many little green tablets, it's flash back time...
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| My farewell cards ❤ |
It's been a funny old year so far with emotional extremes battering me from every direction, I won't bore you with the details but these consist of the worst sadness of losing my dog Diesel (some people may or may not understand the loss you can feel losing a companion of the the canine variety, but personally, this has been a heart wrenching transition for me). To the opposite extreme of sheer happiness when the sister and brother in- law only decide to go and have twin boys! That's right, Auntie Hollie at your service! Don't get me wrong, it's agony leaving my sister and those boys behind, but as my sister said- "if you don't go now, you'll never go, me and these boys will be here when you decide to come back". And I have likened my self to the idea that I am going to be one of those cool aunties that bring really funky presents and tell wonderful stories to them of all the places I'm planning on going.
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| The very cute Matthew and Nathan |
It was both a horrid and exciting thing saying goodbye to my sister at the airport to depart to Qatar and see my mum and dad for a few weeks before actual departure. We've become very close and the best of friends in the last few years and I'm going to miss her immensely. So with her practically pushing me onto the escalator at Manchester airport I make my way to airport security- waving at my sister down stairs through the many windows they have and pretending to go down imaginary steps to see her smile one last time in real life.
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| Me and my beautiful sister Louise |
Of course the tears did start to well up again and I'm trying to control myself from sobbing as the nice lady looks at me sympathetically and hands me a clear bag for my liquids. But I'm soon distracted by an elderly Chinese couple with beaming smiles on their faces laughing as they go down the wrong isle at security a few times and struggling to speak much English, the security staff were laughing as well and this jolly connection between everyone was warming and eased my anxiety and sad feeling some what. It's nice to see people being happy and not so serious!
So the first flight of many- Manchester to Doha, feeling confident and excited, I decide to treat myself to a celebratory drink (I don't normally bother with a alcoholic drink on the plane, but this is a celebration!). Let's see, I hear the man in front of me getting a champagne, and I see she also has orange juice on her cart- Excellent! A bucks fizz will be lovely. As a bonus the air hostess misunderstands me and gives me a full glass of orange juice as well as a full glass of champagne, of course I just make my own and end up with two drinks...YUMMY!
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| Snacks on a plane |
Several minutes later however, I remember why I don't bother drinking on aeroplanes... Why is there always a queue when you're desperate for a pee?!
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| Above the clouds somewhere over the UK |
7 hours or so later, with very pudgy fingers (reminding me the moment in Star Trek 2009 where Kirk has an allergic reaction to a vaccination against a Melvaran mud fleas virus, fortunately however, I did not get "numb tong!") I land in Doha and with both mum and dad picking me up from the airport. Hugs and kisses all round! We tootle off back to their apartment, only getting lost once, which is a record for them- In the past we have driven round all over trying to get back!
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| Doha city skyline, always reminds me of Stargate Atlantis |
Oh what a lovely week it's been with mum and dad. Dad has been bringing home the turkey bacon (no piggies allowed in the middle east) and me and mum have been lazing it out by the pool getting fat by having lovely lunches at the pool house.
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| The pool, it's a bit busy for my liking! |
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| I was a bit sleepy after my flight |
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| Some lovely flowers by the pool |
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| This doesn't look like much, but blueberries, banana, meringue and ice cream?! YUM! |
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| Me and Mum awaiting blueberry pancakes! |
Dad was off at the weekend (which is a Friday and Saturday over here.) We were very British on the Friday and we went for a walk in the park by the Islamic Museum of Art. We didn't go in this time but I have been in before, it's free entry and the exhibits are simply stunning! The things that stick in my mind from my visit there would be the many historic copies of the Qur'an (so intricate and beautiful) and the ancient Turkish suit of armour from medieval times, pretty cool!
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| The Islamic Museum of Art, even the building is stunning |
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| The Mum and Dad in the park |
On the Saturday we went on a trip to a place called Purple Island, about an hours drive from the city of Doha... However, it was neither purple nor an island, but it was very pretty! We sat ourselves down with some picnic blankets, looking over the mangroves and water and spotted some very elegant heron and crane type birds (unfortunately I didn't manage to get any decent pictures of these!). And of course there was some paddling involved! The water was so clear, and we spotted many little silvery fish and some bigger ones too! And after scientific observations... It turns out fish love bread... Who knew!
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| Beautiful clear water |
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| Perhaps this is the island? Maybe it was purple once?! |
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| Pretty cool. This was the ground we walked on! |
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| Mangroves |
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| So inviting! |
Whilst in Qatar, I have been reading and re reading my itinerary for the Cambodia Teaching English as a Foreign Language internship and I am getting more and more excited by the day- as well as having crazy dreams where I go and it turns out all of my work colleges are doing it too... However, I'm pretty sure this will not be the case! But I am of course very nervous! I've never been in a teaching situation before so only time will tell if I am cut out for it or not (no matter what though, I am determined not to end up like Miss Trunchbull! The outfit, simply wouldn't suit me!) But I have been put at ease by the following picture...
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| Under the "things that are available (and cheap!)" Section... |
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| MARMITE!!! |
So honestly, how bad can it be?!
Of course I am apprehensive about my trip- where will I go? Who will I meet? What I'm going to get up to? What if I get homesick? This is going to be like nothing I have ever done before. I am literally jumping into the unknown! But, I keep thinking of when I am an old lady... How cool will it be to be able to say where I have been, who I have met and what I got up to. No regrets! It's PMA time (positive mental attitude as my dad says). So let's pop this pill, have a fab time, and not get malaria!
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| Wish me luck! |
Oh, and just for funsies, one last picture for you...
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Life can't be too bad when there are chapattis bigger than your head!!!
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