Chris and Charly's Passage through SE Asia - chrischarly

Bye SE Asia blog... off to Australia!!!!

chrischarly — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It is our last day now in KL for I don’t know how long. Would love to go back again, and to be honest, pretty damn sure we will. Christina and Michael are like family to us now and once again we spent the day with them. Went out for breakfast at Imbi market, the place where I painfully got chilli in my eye a few months back. Then came back, did a little shopping, packed our bags up and went out for an Indian for dinner. Then said tearful goodbyes before they dropped us off at KL sentral to catch the bus to the airport. We planned it a lot better this time so didn’t have a painfully long wait before boarding at 11:30pm, fingers crossed our 700+ cigarettes manage to get smuggled through security into Australia!..

Far too much food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chrischarly — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Lady making fresh noodles

Chef cooking our yummy pork

Woke up, didn’t have breakfast as Michael said he would take us out again. Chris had gotten up before me and done a little shopping whilst I slept. Then went to a local noodle place, advertised as one of the top 10 things to eat ever in KL.

The yummy pork

Yummy noodles

So we thought we must try this too! So we did and it was so delicious! Completely stuffed and thinking we couldn’t possibly eat anything else, Michael said we must try this belly pork that is also famous here. So reluctantly we agreed and went to have some too. This was also great but I was about to burst and made him stop taking us places to eat so we went back instead for a rest for 1 ½ hours before we met up with him again. As soon as I got in I passed out and fell fast asleep, completely unplanned and Chris woke me up an hour later saying we must meet up with them again. Then we did and Michael took us to a super market where we brought groceries for Chris to cook dinner for later and I got my hair cut. Stupid guy only cut half my fringe, so one side in 2 inches longer.

Chris cooking

Chris busy cooking

Then went back and Chris cooked roast lamb dinner, had an awesome night before taking a taxi back home.

All sitting around the table

Chris' lamb roast dinner

Arriving in KL at 2pm, perfect start to the day... almost like being home:)

chrischarly — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Blagging our way through into convention

Andrew's birthday cake

The highest counter in the world!

Pretty coffee

100% chocolate

Back in KL, of course happy, it feels like coming home we have been here so much, went to see M&C in their office after having breakfast. Then they told us about a foodie convention that was on, Chris was excited until he found out he had to wear trousers and shoes to get in, another sweaty day in KL. When we arrived, we lied and said we still owned a pub so we could get in for free. Haha. Walked around for about 4 hours having loads of tasty free food and drink samples. Awesome. Then came back far too stuffed for dinner and had an early night chilling out.

And now, back to KL...

chrischarly — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Chris and I

After a brief stop-over it was time to move on, so, checked out at 8am and caught a tuk tuk to the bus station and the bus left promptly on time at 9am. Nice bus and very good journey, really fast driver and arrived dead on time at Bangkok airport at 2pm. The wait was way too long, but it was our easiest transport option with no messing around so we didn’t mind. Flight was also fine and left at 8:20pm to KL. Arrived in KL at 11:30pm, ran through immigration, got bags as quick as possible, then ran to get tickets for last bus to Pudaraya, which is the closest place to Sarang Vacation Homes, our favourite place in KL. So happy we made it to the bus as didn’t think we would. Then found the bus, relieved and then had to wait for about ½ an hour, maybe longer for it to actually go. They said it was direct, they lied of course. Went via the other airport. When we arrived in Pudaraya, decided again to walk instead of getting a taxi, took us about 20 minutes to get to Sarang Vacation Homes. Then had to wake up Terry to let us in. When we got upstairs realised it was 2am and we told them we would get there just gone midnight. Oops, exhausted, sleep time!

And now back to Thailand...

chrischarly — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Our bags hanging ot of the back, drenched

We said our fond goodbyes to everyone. The kitchen staff responded by saying, ‘Charly we love you!’ That was so lovely. Will miss their lovely cheery smiley faces. Even Ezza, J and Tith managed to surface to say goodbye at the early hour of 8am! Made us feel nice and appreciated! Then caught a local minibus for a long drive to the Thai border, which was tiring and long. Passed through border easily, no hassle coming out of Cambodia compared to coming in, which assured us that they were rip off ********. Then caught a minibus into Trat, which was easy peasy. Decided against taking a tuk tuk, they said it was 3km into town, we thought they were lying so walked. After going 3km we were exhausted and sweaty and wished we were more trusting but found a nice place to stay for 200 baht. Then chilled there in the evening, quite enjoying Trat.

Last day at Blissful...

chrischarly — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Blissful

Well now it is our official last day at Blissful and we spent it hungover and trying to recover. Nice to spend a day the other side of the bar, watching rugby and nothing not a lot else. Nice early night!

Oh dear...

chrischarly — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Flaming sambuca from 1 glass to another

Well it is our unofficial last day at Blissful and as tradition goes, Ezza, Dick and co planned to get us wasted! First off we had the big pool final, previous matches had been won by Chris 5-4 then Ezza 5-4, so this was a big deal, so we headed off to Wunderbar at 11.00. We started without a beer, but after 3 games realised it was time. The match was a whitewash and Chris won 5-1; this started Ezza’s downwards role. After a few in Wunderbar, we strolled into Rusty’s for a few more and then it was apparent that we were getting slightly pissed, well Ezza was anyway. As I knew I was getting tagged teamed with Ezza on the early and Dick on the late, Chris thought it best to take Ezza out of the game.

Drinking the fumes of sambuca

On his last two beers, he gave him a shot of vodka in the bottom and he didn’t even notice. We staggered home well past when we were supposed to and Ezza disappeared to bed about 6pm. Another victory to Mr Joel. After this point it all went decidedly down-hill, many shots were poured and drunk and after several hours of this, including some dancing on the bar, and some Sambuca fires on the bar it all becomes a blur for Chris. The details are best left for the night, and only remembered over beers in the future. All in all a good night if slightly too drunked!!

Another quiet day

chrischarly — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Scrappy

Fat Boy (yep, that's his real name)

Very quiet and boring day. Very few customers, so the night dragged slowly by. But we did finish up early which of course is a bonus.

12 days of work originally, now 3 weeks...

chrischarly — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A 5yr old candle

Well, we were supposed to absolutely leave today, after delaying it day by day and finally go and see Ankor Wat,

Blissful bar

The killing Fields and S21. But we decided instead of rushing it, we would just have to come back again… one day...

Mr. Tith (waiting staff)

Dick and Ezza want us to come back and work here again,

Almost closing, J snoozing

so you never know what might happen in the future?! But either way, we have been useless tourists missing out 3 major things to see and visit. As everyone always says when trapped in Kampot and find themselves wasting away the days… ‘Next time’…

Again... poker night

chrischarly — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Poker night

Poker night again. I spent 2 hours teaching a very hung-over Olly (another traveller) how to play before I started work as he had never played before as he was

Poker night

desperate to play.

Olly passed out

But after all my hard work playing teacher, to make him feel better and get rid of his hang-over,

Dieke dancing on the bar

he drank 5 shots and 7 beers and managed to pass out by 6:30pm, and pass out is literally an understatement as we worried a few times if he were still breathing! He managed to sleep solidly for 6 hours so missed poker unfortunately. But many other travellers showed up and the bar was packed out. Very busy night.

Day 2 of hangover

chrischarly — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The bar

Monks

Day 2 of the hangover for old man Chris. Managed to get out for second round of the pool championships between Chris and Ezza. Chris lost 5-4 so now 1 match each, decider scheduled for Saturday. Had a fairly quiet night and a few beers then early night.

Hungover

chrischarly — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Old picture of a bridge

Ouch! What happened last night. Had many ice coffees, Royal D’s (vitamin isotonic drinks) and Comfort food. Oh and no beer. Had another fairly busy night, glad to get to bed…….

Stupidly messy night...

chrischarly — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Old building

Had a nice roast Chicken lunch today, well shared one as they are huge. Had a pretty busy evening and enjoyed a few beers throughout the evening , and some very tasty Mongolian vodka, courtesy of Clement, an old Blissful barman who returned today.
Ezza was on top form as Clement was back and we all ended up pretty pissed by close-up and then headed to Madi’s bar on the River,

Old building

before making our way to Bar Red. It was pretty busy and we ended up drinking heavily including beer, G+T’s, shots of various description.

An old building

We staggered home at about 5.30am to discover we didn’t have our keys. Tried climbing over the gate unsuccessfully but the barbed wire scared us. We then staggered back to Bar Red to see if we had left our keys there. Nope. So Chris thought it would be the perfect opportunity for yet another beer. Then phoned Ezza who reluctantly got out of bed to let us in just as the sun was rising. Found our keys, Chris had left them behind Blissful bar when working. What a muppet… Top night!

Something's been eating my clothes...?

chrischarly — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Chris hard at work, watching cricket and beer in hand

Bungalows outside

I currently own 3 pairs of trousers. Put 2 of them in the wash yesterday and 2 of them have come back with holes down the left leg. Gutted, they won’t last much longer and they were good ones, can’t buy decent clothes out here like that, and no way can afford the same in Oz. Think a rat might have eaten them, or the stupid washing machine. Either way not good. Busy day at work again.

Back to being busy

chrischarly — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Kampot town

Lee, Dick and Chris... 'advertising'... or, slacking

Yay the bar was actually pretty busy today, so actually did a few hours of work with a glass of wine sneakily hidden at the end of the bar at all times.

Chris Dancing

chrischarly — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Haha... look closely

Think I finally dragged myself out of bed at 2pm.
Had the worst night’s sleep ever.
Quiet again.
Locked up at 10:30pm.
Nothing much occurred.
Apart from the biggest cockroach in the world landed on Chris.
Highly amusing watching him dancing behind the bar trying to shake it off.

R.I.P to my brother Darran :( xxx

chrischarly — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sadly my brother, Darran passed away today. So a very sad and emotional day for everyone who knew and loved him, especially Sharon, his wife and Bridget, his mother and I know myself and my Sisters and Stuart my brother. Many people grieving today. It’s really hard being away from home when all this is happening. Glad I have Chris.

Long day

chrischarly — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Fruits of Asia roundabout

Long day today.
Stayed pretty much glued to the computer as I have done for the past week awaiting news on Darran.
Got an update that he is now critical.
So have been worried sick and praying all day.
Oh yeah, work was boring.

Quiet day

chrischarly — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Local houses

River dividing Kampot in 1/2

Seriously quiet at work today.
Tried to keep ourselves busy as much as possible.
So, ended up sitting at the end of the bar with a glass of wine in hand…
Can’t complain.

Work...

chrischarly — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It's a Sunday, so roast dinner for me!

Dick and Chris eating Chris' home-cooked steaks

Working again today, and again not much to say about it as most of you back home are also working, so don’t really want to read about it.