akaLittleMissCrazy

"Enjoy Life Today -- Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

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We found a pair of little White Throated Dippers last week, and were lucky enough to watch one of them feeding the chicks ❤️ isn't she gorgeous? . . . . #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #Birds #WhiteThroatedDipper #Spring #Chicks #Nest (at Yarrow Valley Country Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB_VZRMJYQm/?igshid=yxwo9h49m2ul

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PUPPY APPRECIATION POST (because let's be honest... Lenny is just a overgrown puppy...) . . Sorry @khumphries96 , he's just too cute to choose one photo. My beautiful boy from @manchestercheshiredogshome ❤️💖❤️ . . Couldn't imagine life without him, particularly now when I'm either stressed out at work or bored locked up at home! . . #LennyTheLurcher #Photogenic #Poser #Cute #Dogs #Love https://www.instagram.com/p/B-UhYZ4p-M5/?igshid=1fm1rtvsrcjro

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Saying goodbye is NEVER an easy decision. But sometimes it truly is the best thing you can do for your pet. As vets we understand this is a huge decision to make, and we truly do understand how much it hurts. Our own pets are not immune to the deterioration of age and disease. You can do everything right, treat them with VIP level care - but eventually every road reaches its end. I often tell my clients during euthanasias that this pain is the price we pay for loving them. But I wouldn't have it any other way ❤️. They bring such joy to our lives, I simply can't imagine a life without my fluffy best friends. And even though their lives are heartbreakingly too short, we are blessed with the time we get to spend with them. . . Sleep well, beautiful. We'll miss you. Xx . . . . . #RIP #Goodbye #ILoveYou #Veterinary #VeterinaryAwareness https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_-gc4nF0P/?igshid=me69r1rkprcg

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Having fun with some photography on our morning walk ❤️ 🐕 🐾 ❄️ . . . . . . #Pretty #PhotogenicDog #Rescue #Walkies #Photography #WinterWalks (at Haigh Woodland Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gnbsjJvLx/?igshid=1buibizac6g21

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Can't help a cute pose-y photo when the scenery is this damn pretty ❤️😁😍. No filters needed. . . . . . . #Cornwall #ConstantineBay #Beautiful #Gorgeous #NoFilterNeeded #Amazing #Sunburnt #Yay #Holiday #CouplesPic #Cute (at Constantine Bay) https://www.instagram.com/p/By8heqCnx_Q/?igshid=f8xwf9pmjxux

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Exploring gorgeous wild Cornwall. ❤️ . P.S. You know you've got your boyfriend well trained when he takes cute photos when you're not paying attention . . . . . #Cornwall #Exploring #Newquay #Beach #Caves #BackpackingEscapes #Travelling #Beautiful #BoyfriendTrainedWell #Candid #Photography #LovingLife (at Newquay, Cornwall) https://www.instagram.com/p/By22FpqHNuo/?igshid=1hojrhnda5i1z

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Day off perfect dreams ❤️❄️☃️🐶 (at Holmes Chapel) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQaYOzh–M/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15dqjh2tq56ei

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Backpacking Escapes Video - Europe & Asia 2018

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Backpacking Escapes: Siem Reap

Siem Reap. A backpacker’s dream and our last stop after 50 days of traveling. Of course the big attraction of this city to tourists is the temples, particularly Angkor Wat. For our first day we rented bicycles for $1 a day as suggested by a blog Rachel had read. All I can say is dear God I’m impressed if they actually managed to actually cycle all 3 circuits in 2 days without melting. With a proper dirt bike I may have been able to, although I would be very tired after a grand total of approximately 150 kilometres. But honestly what killed us was the heat. I’d recommend bringing A LOT of water or at least some money for the street vendors (who thank goodness sell ice cold water for normal prices instead of trying to rip you off. Absolute life savers).

We cycled the small circuit; a total of 43 kilometres in 36*C heat on the most rickety bikes I’ve ever seen. Even though I was a bit stiff by the end of the day I sti enjoyed this experience. The highlights of this route include Ta Prohm (accurately nicknamed Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider temple) with some spectacular Strangler Figs engulfing the doorways. I love how despite all the restoration and conservation efforts, they have haven’t pushed the jungle completely back. This keeps the mysterious forgotten world aura surrounding these temples in tact.

Srah Srang was once the 'Royal Bathing Pool' for ritual bathings. It was so perfect I just couldn’t resist dipping my feet in, much to Rachel’s amusement as she watched in confusion as I suddenly threw my shoes off saying “Why not?!”.

Bayon Temple is so drastically different to all the other temples that it is somewhat curious to explore. It originally had 49 towers; today 37 towers remain with almost 200 faces carved facing in 4 directions. Despite its slightly cluttered feel, this temple was mysterious and beautiful in the evening golden light.

Angkor Thom means ‘city centre' and is actually the collective name for the area including the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Make sure to fully explore these areas, particularly between the inner and outer walls as there are many wonderful carvings that are still well preserved down here. See if you can find the 5 headed horse, the elephants and the 5 headed Nagas.

Our final adventure for our first day here was our “shortcut” home. And by “shortcut” I mean Google maps told us there was a road running down to join the riverside track. In reality this was a very narrow dirt path winding through the jungle, then along a road that was more pot holes than actual road through the village-like outskirts of Siem Reap. On the bright side I’m fairly sure we were the highlight of the day for many many children who all rushed out to say to hello to us as we passed by, then sprinted back inside to tell their parents about the strange girls. Honestly I’ve never said hello so many times in such a short space of time – it was so endearing 😊. The people here are so friendly, warm and open.

Angkor Wat sunrise is probably the number one thing you’ll hear people recommend, for a very very good reason. I mean, just look at this beauty:

I don’t think words are even necessary; these photos speak volumes for themselves. No filters - that's just genuinely what it looked like. Yes it meant dragging ourselves out of bed at 4.30am but at least today we’d had the sense to book a Tuk Tuk driver for $12 each who took us to Angkor Wat for sunrise, then to all the way out to Banteay Srei (which by the way is worth the journey away from the city. It's only a small temple but it has a wild beauty around it and the grounds are also lovely), then finally around the Grand Tour of Angkor.

Another major advantage of getting up early meant we had a lot of the temples to entirely ourselves. Literally Queens of Backpacking ❤️

For our day off we decided to simply wander. Something about the twisting streets screams 'explore me' and it has one of the best vibes we’ve had from any city. It is quirky and interesting, and the people are so lovely. We decided to walk towards the riverside and stumbled upon an old map for the 'Historical Quarter Walk' which held a view interesting sights.

Before long we arrived at the Royal Gardens Park, nicknamed Bat Park for a very good reason. We flopped on a bench in the shade for a quick drink and both had the same sudden almost simultaneous moment of realisation. Rachel’s jaw dropped as I gasped 'Holy cow...'. Looking up we realised the trees were full of hundreds and hundreds of fruit bats hanging from the branches.

Having found our own little peaceful corner watching these bats occasionally flutter from tree to tree, we spent the rest of the afternoon lounging here. The park is very quiet and sleepy during the day but wakes up in the evening. Apparently if you want an outdoor Zumba class this is the number one place to go. We passed 3 on our way out of the park.

Another highly recommended activity I’d found on Pinterest was the Happy Horse Ranch. Another 5 gold stars to Pinterest – this was BRILLIANT. We’d started going into animal withdrawal so a three hour hack seemed to be the perfect cure. This is the best way we’ve come across to see the picturesque countryside. Endless fields of rice plantations and lotus flowers stretched out all around us. There’s nothing quite like feeling of wind running through your hair as you canter through such a peaceful gorgeous place. And to top it off all the horses here looked happy and healthy. This place easily gets a 10 out of 10 and I’d gladly go again. Our guide (Kong) was very friendly & helpful, the views spectacular and the horses perfectly matched to our experience levels (a.k.a. we can both handle a slightly fizzy spooky horse, personally it makes the ride more enjoyable than plodding along on an old cob! Even if it is slightly more difficult to shimmy past a water buffalo threatening to charge at you when you’re also trying to persuade your horse it’s absolutely fine if she just keeps on walking).

Artisans Angkor was simply an incredibly lucky break. We’d been googling free things to do in the city when I came across a brief mention of this silk workshop around the corner from our hostel. It ended up being so much more – by simply turning up at the door you get a free guided tour around the workshop where they make wooden carvings, stone carvings, silver inlays, jewellery and some stunning silk garments. You really get an appreciation for the amount of skill and how long it takes to make these masterpieces. Some of the stone sculptures take 4 months to complete. The tools they used are recycled from old motorbike and tuk tuk springs. These artisans also help with the restoration of the Angkor temples, recreating some beautiful statues based on the original designs. During your tour you may even get to try carving yourself (then realise how hard it is and watch amazed as the guy turns your scribble into a masterpiece).

The next day we returned to the workshop to get the free shuttle bus for another free tour (I love that Asia is cheap, but free is even better ❤️), this time around the silk farm itself. Hats off to whoever first looked at a cocoon made by a worm and thought “You know what? I bet that will make a really nice fabric”. I learnt so much here and it didn't cost us a penny. Artisans Angkor use over 60% of their sales income to give back to the local community and provide so many people with jobs & support. Definitely high up on my recommendations list. It's such a shame more people don't know about this. Go go go people.

And that's it....

The end of my Backpacking Escapes series. For now at least! Thanks to the fellow travellers I've met along the way I've now got a list of new places to visit and things to try as long as my arm, and I can't wait for more adventures. South East Asia has truly been a dream, and I would say it's been a once in a lifetime trip - but how can it be when I'm so in love and so desperate to come back?! I'm certain this won't be my last visit to Asia, but rather the first of many.

Bon voyage for now my friends! I've got a couple more blog posts planned but it's time to go home. To those of you still travelling make the most of every moment! And those of you who aren't....

What are you waiting for??

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Koh Rong

Ah Koh Rong. You know I’ve not got much to say about Koh Rong as we didn’t actually do anything.... But that was the whole point. No electricity, no WiFi, and no fuss. It was the absolute perfect location to unplug and unwind; with nothing to do other than enjoy the beauty surrounding us.

The only challenge of Koh Rong was actually getting there. After our bus was 2 hours late we had a sprint and an overpriced Tuk Tuk to actually get to our ferry 5 minutes before it was due to leave. We then had a very bumpy ride across thanks to the storm that literally started seconds before the ferry set off. But fortunately it was as if we passed through a magical barrier and suddenly the storm was gone – leaving us looking out across beautiful endless white beaches with crystal clear water, surrounded by lush green jungle.

Jungle we soon realised we had to hike through to get to our hostel. We chose the quieter of the 2 islands, wanting a taste of true rural Cambodia. And boy did we get it. Our hostel was miles away from any other form of civilization, but to us this was heaven and just what we were looking for.

The hostel was gorgeous, with a selection of huts and tents to choose from. Our tent was perfection – opening up to a spectacular view of the ocean and surrounded at the back by jungle (below is the view from our tent, photo courtesy of Rachel W).

The quiet chatter of the daytime jungle is nothing compared to the sound at night. No need for any of my meditation playlists tonight, I had the real deal. Bird song filled the air, blending like a symphony with the chirping whistling cicadas and other animals rustling through leaves.

Like Koh Phi Phi this is another popular island for bioluminescent plankton – and we decided this was the perfect opportunity for some skinny dipping! We had an unlit beach directly outside of our tent essentially to ourselves since everyone else was preoccupied at the bar. Rachel had never tried skinny dipping before – suffice to say I think she highly enjoyed the experience! She danced up and down the beach, splashing through the surf, laughing with every bounce. Below is a collection of my video diaries from the day - including the delighted squeals from Rachel.

Whilst the best time to see the plankton is a moonless night, we were bewitched by the harvest moon reflecting off the water. Perfect for a silhouette photoshoot:

Life truly couldn't get any better than this moment right now. Bioluminescent plankton is and always will be magical. The tips of the waves seemed to glow; shimmering as they crashed lightly against the beach. It’s definitely one of my new favourite wonders of the world to see. I’d recommend bringing goggles or a snorkel as the underwater experience is truly one of a kind.

There are plenty activities to do on Koh Rong such as hiking through the jungle to Long Beach, or kayaking out to Pagoda Island. And for those of you feeling more lively there are beach parties every night, and a Full Moon Party on the main beach. I would love to go back for an extended weekend or full week to make the most of everything the island has to offer, but for now we were living the dream. Koh Rong is one of the most beautiful places we’ve seen during our trip. Fingers crossed it isn't ruined by excessive tourism and remains a little area of heaven for the next time I visit.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Phnom Penh

Our first stop after the long drive (this is definitely a reoccurring theme, we’ve been on A LOT of buses during our adventures) to Cambodia was the capital, Phnom Penh. I had absolutely no idea what to expect here, the only thing I had heard was Cambodia is even more old school Asia than Vietnam. Unintentionally we seemed to have planned our South East Asia route as if we were travelling back in time step by step. Either way I was looking forward to learning more about this country.

And God did we learn a lot. I’m actually ashamed to admit I had no idea about the atrocities the people here have endured. I'm just going to share a few photos of the beautiful places we visited before I go into the hard side of the city.

Just a tip we wished we'd known: that trusty combination of Thailand pants, tank top and shawl you've been using for temples across the rest of South East Asia? It unfortunately won't cut it in Cambodia. You have to wear a shirt that comes down to your elbow. No sheer cover ups are allowed. Unfortunately as we were unprepared for this we couldn't go into the Royal Palace. On the brighter side we did manage to get into Wat Phnom which was beautiful:

'Dine In The Dark' restaurants are becoming a worldwide attraction. After finding one of these restaurants with a Michelin Star rating for only $18 in Phnom Penh, we couldn't resist. The whole idea is to help you learn what it's like to be visually impaired. All of the staff are either partially or fully blind. Without a doubt I can tell you the whole experience was BRILLIANT. I would do this again in a heartbeat. You don't realise how difficult it is to do something as simple as pouring your can of Fanta into your glass until you can't see. All of your other senses become 10 times sharper and you notice the smallest sensations you'd usually take for granted. I have a greater appreciation for how fortunate I am now, and massive respect for the visually impaired who still make the most of their lives. And in truth they are probably far more mindful and aware of their surroundings than we are. We could learn a lot just by slightly changing our point of view - something I'm going to try to do more often when I get home.

WARNING: This post may be a bit difficult for some of you to read, so stop here if you really need to but I swear it’s important. It’s important we all become more worldly aware so hopefully in the future we can stop these catastrophic acts of cruelty before they escalate this far.

Pol Pot was Cambodian Prime Minister, and one of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge Regime. From 17th April 1975 under his extreme communist rule, up to a quarter of the population (the exact number is unknown but may be as high as 1.7 million people) were killed in under 4 years. Through manipulation they managed to convince foreigner visitors such as Sweden that the refugees were lying about the cruelty & corruption and that the country was actually free & at peace.

It is heart-breaking how this was allowed to happen with no-one realising the severity of the situation here. Members of the Khmer Rouge were shockingly allowed to represent at the UN for 12 years even after the first mass graves were opened.

Formal schools were prohibited and turned into prisons, stables and warehouses. Pagodas were also closed and they killed any monks who refused to disrobe.

196 such prisons have been identified. S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng Prison, used to be Chao Ponhea Yat high school. 14,000-20,000 people were tortured and killed here – the exact number and the identities of many victims are still unknown to this day. Only 7 known prisoners survived after the Vietnamese invaded. The site receives 250 visitors every day, some of whom are survivors tragically still looking for answers about their lost family.

City people and the well educated were seen as threats, and the village people (who Pol Pot called the Base People) were viewed the most important. However they still suffered. Everyone did. False confessions of crimes such as working for the CIA or KGB were forced by torture. A few samples of these confessions are on display, horrifically written in old school books presumably left over from the days when the prison was a simple innocent high school. Another twisted use of something once so pure was the gallows: an old school climbing frame turned into a torture device where prisoners were hung upside down and dunked in cold dirty water whenever they lost consciousness.

After years of death & cruelty, everything changed when suddenly on 7th January 1979 the prisoners were gathered up by panicked fully armed Khmer Rouge guards and forced to walk towards the Killing Fields. Some prisoners were killed on the spot and left in their cells. Fortunately for a lucky few the Vietnamese army intercepted the movement and some prisoners escaped. Unbelievably a couple of these survivors still come back to the prison every week to talk to visitors; to share their first hand experience and try to help us understand the unspeakable. All I can say about this is I’m so so impressed – it must take a remarkable amount of courage to come back and relive such a dark time in your life.

Words can't describe this place. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, you can’t shake the feeling of being watched as you go around the prison. We felt uneasy the entire time; it’s really no surprise a place as hell-like as this feels haunted. Several rooms are so distressing we felt physically sick and had to sit down to try & clear our heads. Despite all this I’d urge you to visit. I'm glad I went and can only hope that if enough people learn and try our best, we can help improve the world we live in by learning from our past.

Another upsetting but 100% worth a visit location is the Killing Fields. This is one of the hundreds of mass grave sites scattered throughout the country.

After sunset truck loads of people were brought here, told they were being transferred to prevent panic or escape attempts. Some people may have hung on to this miniscule ray of hope, despite the fact they knew everyone who was “transferred” never returned. When the numbers of people were too high to kill immediately they were held in a wooden structure overnight. All sorts of tools were used to save the expense of bullets, from tree trunks to ox cart bars. Chemical DDT powder was placed on the bodies to finish off any survivors and cover up the smell.

9000 skulls are stored in 17 layers in the giant stupa at the centre of the site. This is a combination of Hindu and Buddhist design, protected by mythical Garudas And Nagas. I pray that somehow these victims have found peace wherever they are now.

Sorry for such a depressing post guys – I cried whilst going around these sites and a couple more times whilst writing this post. I promise the next 2 will be much more cheerful: despite this dark chapter of its history Cambodia is truly a stunning gorgeous place. But as I’ve stressed again and again, it’s important we learn about the darker side of history. Humanity needs to improve. This is not acceptable. We have to learn, find strength together and move on. Hopefully to a better future.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Nha Trang

After 11 hours on a sleeperbus that arrived in Nha Trang at 5am, we flopped at our hostel with no plans for the rest of the day other than the Thap Ba Spa. The sleeperbus was actually a pleasant surprise – it was essentially 3 rows of bunk beds with a small compartment for your feet and only a slight tilt to the chair. This meant you could stretch out and get comfy. Having previously anticipated a very uncomfortable night resulting in a painful back, I’m pleased to say I slept far better than I thought I would and felt absolutely fine the next morning. I would definitely take sleeperbuses again as they’re a bit of fun and a great way to save time (provided you’re not travelling a ridiculous number of miles from one end of the country to the other).

We decided to try Thap Ba Spa to relax after our journey and because Nha Trang is famous for its mud bathes. This experience was not at all what I expected. I walked in expecting a thick clay-like bath; instead I found myself in a silky milk-like fluid containing exfoliating minerals. I’m not exactly a spa kind of girl but I admit I did enjoy this (though not quite as much as I enjoyed the pools afterwards). Personally I wouldn’t pay to do it again as I didn’t really notice a difference in my skin but if you fancy giving it a try go for it! It’s hilarious if nothing else. The funniest thing is you sort of float...not the bobbing kind of floating you get when you’re in the sea, but a 'why won’t my legs stay still' like you’re under an anti-gravity ray kind of float. You’ll also get a good laugh at looking at each other's strange green-brown faces and trying to work out how the mud literally gets everywhere. I described myself in this photo as looking like a happy version of the Hulk (with boobs as I was corrected.... thanks Ed👍).

Nha Trang is also well known for its snorkelling opportunities. We went out on a trip that involved 3 different locations and were rewarded with a selection of gorgeous views such as these:

There’s not much that we wanted to do in Nha Trang compared to other places, so I've not got much else to say. Nether the less I enjoyed our brief visit here and so far Vietnam has been a joy.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Hoi An (+ Da Nang)

The next day was almost unbearably long but after a grand total of three buses, a ferry and a plane covering 984 kilometres we arrived in the delightful village of Hoi An. This is another Pinterest dream, looking ridiculously idyllic like it’s straight out of those fantasised versions of old school Vietnam – complete with lanterns everywhere, Non La conical hats and street vendors with their wares hanging in baskets from yolks over their shoulders.

Between our flight from Hanoi and our final bus, we had a couple of hours to grab something to eat and have a quick nose around Da Nang. Crossing the river I didn’t know which way to look. This city gets a 10 out of 10 for mastering the balance of stunning neon lights without overwhelming you. There were beautiful bridges lit up in a multitude of colours in every direction. My favourite was our reason for coming – the Dragon Bridge. This 666 metre long dragon lights up at night wonderfully, a wave of gorgeous contrasting colours.

Hoi An is a popular tourist destination that drastically comes alive at night. It sits on Thu Bồn river which is covered with floating lanterns every night. As an eco-nerd, I was very pleased to see that the next morning nearly all of the lanterns that had washed up on shore had been cleared away. You can rent a boat to take you through this magical wonderland for a decent price if you haggle a bit (we got it down to 100,000 Dong each, probably could have gone lower but we were happy with this price. Everything in Vietnam is so cheap!). I'd recommend getting one close to the bridge as this area is the most beautiful to look at. After your boat ride take time to wander the bank of the little island as there are a selection of gorgeous structures.

Day time in Hoi An is a completely different world – at least 10 times quieter and a different feel about it. The tickets available from various points around town will allow you entrance into 5 different historical sites around the town. My favourites out of the five we chose were Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Quang Trieu Assembly Hall. The colours were bright and fantastic, but balanced perfectly so they didn't clash or take anything away from the beautiful gardens in the courtyards. The dragon sculptures in particular were mesmerising.

Hoi An traffic is much calmer than what we’d seen in the cities and easiest to get around on bike. Luckily our hotel offered us free bicycles to take wherever we liked. Don’t worry about leaving your bikes in the town, we felt it was very unlikely that anyone would take them. However make sure you park it somewhere recognisable as there are many many bikes around town and you may find yourself in a 'needle in a haystack' situation.

We even took our bikes out to An Bang beach, an easy flat 4 kilometre ride from town. Whilst slightly irritated by the fact we were charged 50,000 Dong to park our bikes, I’m so glad we took the time to explore this beach. The endless white sands are lovely and I couldn’t resist a quick splash in the sea. Unfortunately the waves were unpredictable and it wasn’t long until my Thailand pants were soaked. But I'm an absolute water-bug so as you can see I didn't really care! (Photo courtesy of Rachel Westwood, the selfie queen)

I’d definitely recommend Hoi An, it’s perfect for a quick visit or for a slightly longer romantic getaway! Either way I know I'll be back soon.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Cat Ba

I didn’t fall in love with Vietnam until we reached Cat Ba. Whilst the city of Hanoi had a certain strange charm I wasn’t really enamoured by this hustling city. In comparison, from the second our ferry arrived on this island in Ha Long Bay and our bus took us on a beautiful drive through the countryside to the town, my eyes were glued to the window with a goofy grin on my face. I started writing this blog post whilst still on the bus, before I’d even started thinking about the Hanoi post. I couldn’t help the thrill and inspiration flowing through me as I gazed at the towering rocky formations covered in jungle rising up sharply amongst the wetlands. This was our first taste of rural Vietnam and it looked amazing. There are few feelings better than when all your Pinterest dreams become your reality.

Cannon Fort is only a 30 minute fairly steep walk or a short scooter/bike ride from where we were staying on the waterfront. This is the highest point in Cat Ba town and provides the most spectacular views of sunset. Because of this it is insanely popular, so arrive early or be prepared to weave through the gaps to get a good spot.

The good part about it being popular is you never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll end up doing – that’s how our adventures with a guy called Ace started. Having been impressed by “the girls who hiked in pyjamas” (got to love Thailand pants), Ace offered us a ride home so we could stay longer and not worry about walking back in the dark. We happily agreed and soon we were distracted and learning each other’s full life stories (down to the smallest strangest detail), leaving the sun plenty of time to disappear from the sky and leave us in complete darkness.

With no clue about where we actually were we opted for the “what the heck let’s go this way” attitude to finding our way out of the old fort. This was great fun until Rachel decided to freak me out and tell me it felt like Slender Man (if you’ve never seen or heard of this, you’re very lucky! It’s seriously creepy). Thanks hun -_-

We eventually escaped and went back down the mountain with 3 of us on one motorbike. You might think this sounds crazy, but the locals will happily fit 5 people on one bike with the driver scrolling through Facebook and the last person holding onto a sleeping toddler (I mean seriously, I get told I’m impressive for being able to fall asleep anywhere but I think this sets new limits). We finished off the night with one of the many brilliant restaurants & bars around town. The food was amazing, the pool game entertaining and it’s always a win when you get 3 delicious beers for only 45,000 dong in total (at time of writing this is £1.50).

Cat Ba Ventures are one of the many tour companies on Cat Ba that provide trips out to Ha Long Bay, and it was the one we’d heard the most about from other blogs online. Putting our faith in our fellow travellers, we choose the day trip that includes swimming, snorkeling and kayaking through the nearby cave system for a brilliant £22 (lunch included) along with 2 friends we’d made on the bus journey over. This trip was truly worth every single penny and more – I can see why Ha Long Bay is one of the most highly recommended places to visit in Vietnam. Masked slightly by a thin veil of mist, the hundreds of mountainous islands rise up out of the ocean like something from Middle Earth or Skyrim. It’s clear to see why there are so many Sea Eagles around here; it’s the perfect territory and I was thrilled to see them doing so well.

We quickly gained a reputation on the boat for being the “crazy girls” – initially this was because when they stopped the boat for us to go for a swim everyone else hesitated because it was a bit chilly (yes we are apparently now cold when it's 23*C outside – coming back to the UK is going to be one hell of a shock). Of course living by our cliché 'you only live once' moto we quickly stripped off into our bikinis. Noticing that our new Aussie friends were stood at the edge but still hesitating (poor show boys 😜) I immediately vaulted over the railing and jumped off the top of the boat first! We then further surprised everyone by climbing out after swimming for a few minutes so we could jump off the top again!

We also visited the local fishing villages, which are literally floating houses with large 8 metre deep nets for breeding and raising fish.

We spent the rest of the day swimming with Sea Eagles & Ravens flying over us, and kayaking past one of the most endangered mammals in the world, the Cat Ba Langur! My wildlife watching skills kicked in when we heard the strange call echoing through the valley. I eventually managed to pinpoint the source and paddled over for a closer look. Spotting the movement in the trees I was describing to Rachel where to look and soon enough a large part of our group were floating in our kayaks watching these endearing creatures, unaware of how lucky we actually were to have seen them. In 2000, only 53 of these beautiful monkeys remained due to poaching and habitat loss. Their numbers have now slightly recovered but are still estimated to be between 75 and 100. Quite simply we feel like we’re truly winning at life ❤️

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Hanoi

Okay I take it back – Bangkok isn’t that crazy. At least not until you compare it to Hanoi. The traffic in this city is absolutely insane! There seem to be absolutely no rules here yet miraculously we haven’t seen anyone crash. You can go any way around the roundabout you feel like, and which side of the road you drive on seems to be interchangeable. Crossing the road involves stepping out looking as confident as possible whilst thinking “Don’t die don’t die don’t die” and weaving around the flurry of cars & bikes. Furthermore whilst the roadside cafes are super cute and brilliant to go to, the tables outside also block up the entire pavement meaning you constantly have to walk on the road. We had our sarongs tied tightly around our waists covering our bum bags as we had been warned multiple times about the motorcycle thefts here. Not the most relaxing time we’ve had during this trip.

Hoa Lo Prison was built by French Colonialists in 1896 after they chased out the residents of the old crafting village. It was built to hold thousands of revolutionary Vietnamese and soon became known as 'Hell on Earth'. I have to admit I didn’t know how much history and conflict there was between the French and the Vietnamese. It was distressing to learn how badly these prisoners were treated. The walls surrounding the prison are 4 metres high, 0.5 metres thick and topped with broken glass & high voltage electric grids. Prisoners were beaten, fed rotten scraps of food and had cold water thrown on them in the middle of winter. The Cachot cells where prisoners who’d been sentenced to death were held had slanting floors so that when the prisoner’s feet were shackled (which they were 24/7) their heads were lower than their feet – leading to blindness and oedema. Prisoners frequently died of typhoid, dysentery and malaria. It’s no surprise the prisoners fought back the best they could – making their own newspapers, organising schools within the prison and planning escapes to rejoin the fight on the outside.

In stark contrast to these atrocious cruel acts, between 1964 and 1973 the prison was used to hold American pilots who’d been shot down during the conflict. These prisoners were treated so well they nicknamed the prison 'Hanoi Hilton Hotel’. They were treated for their initial injuries and had regular health check ups. They were allowed to play sports, watch films and attend church at Christmas. One of the prisoners held here was John McCain. I have huge respect for the Vietnamese here, proving that you can break the cycle of violence and avoid spilling any more blood.

Train Street is literally what it sounds like – a train track running down the middle of a narrow backstreet. Every night from around 8pm the trains start running fairly regularly down here – leaving an incredibly narrow gap of about 30-50 centimetres between the wall and either side of the train. During the day this street is predominantly filled locals and backpackers with cameras as it is ridiculously picturesque. You’ll know when the train is coming as the locals will suddenly pick up their tables and move inside, well accustomed to this daily routine.

Ngoc Son Temple is one of the two island temples on Hoan Kiem Lake, the other being Turtle Tower. Unfortunately it was going under major renovations when we visited but the patio area behind the temple overlooking the lake was so peaceful and such a pretty sight. We sat here for quite some time enjoying the view.

We also visited St Joseph’s Cathedral and some of the other temples such as the Temple of Literature & West Lake Pagoda (Tran Quoc Pagoda). I’m afraid I don’t have much to say about these sights – they are absolutely lovely but unfortunately we’ve reached that stage of our trip where we’re comparing everything to all the other places we’ve been and these temples just didn’t quite blow me away. If you want stunning breath-taking temples, personally I’d recommend you go to Thailand or rural Vietnam.

Just a bit of warning the mausoleum where President Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved and on display is closed from October onwards. We weren’t that bothered by this as frankly I find it a little bit disturbing and a tad disrespectful as he didn’t want to be laid to rest this way. Furthermore the Presidential Palace and the Citadel are closed on Mondays, which is when we were in the city. All well - you win some, you loose some.

The Ceramic Mosiac Mural is a 6.5km long tiled masterpiece. It reminded us of an Aztec style artwork and would have been a very pretty peaceful walk – had it not been for the 8 lanes of traffic behind us!

Whilst it was a good place to start our Vietnamese adventure, I must admit I was glad to run away to the countryside! Ha Long Bay, here we come.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Singapore!

At the forefront of eco-friendly tourism and genuinely the most mesmerising city I’ve ever seen, Singapore soared above all my expectations. I’d been so excited I was slightly concerned my high expectations could only lead to disappointment, but I shouldn’t have been worried at all. Singapore is truly a spectacular place and excelled in every aspect. Furthermore one of our more pressing concerns (that the city would bankrupt us) was soon laid to rest as we realised whilst expensive for Asia the prices here were very similar to those in the UK. Also eating in Hawkers Centres meant we could have a delicious meal cooked right in front of our eyes for the equivalent of £2-4. My only regret now is whilst it was one of our longer stops it was still too short. There is still a wealth of things to do and many I’d love to see again. Nevermind – all the more reason to come back!

Haji Lane is a quirky little side street near the Sultan Mosque where you’ll find an assortment of shops and cafes. Take a walk down here and you’ll find some stunning graffiti walls. The street truly comes alive at night and is worth a little bit of your time even if you don’t go in anywhere. The general feel is very bohemian, which is a nice change of scene from the glamorous high tech city.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown is much more than it first appears. The prayer hall is stunning; looking up the first floor bannister is lined with intricately carved dragons that look as if they could fly off the wall at any moment. The upper floors are filled with various museums and memorials, all free to visit. There was so much to see that we literally spent hours here and even had to come back the next day as it closes at 6pm. It was fascinating to explore this style of Buddhism and see how different it was to the Thai temples we’d grown accustomed to.

Clarke Quay is one of the night life centres of Singapore. There are plenty of bars and restaurants under the cover of these simple yet highly effective structures. The lights come on at sunset and change in a rainbow wave of colours. We found the best place to watch was from the other side of Read Bridge, which was also lit up. I’ve never taken so many pictures of one thing from the same angle – every new combination of colours was somehow just as captivating as the last.

I’m not even sure where to start with the Gardens By The Bay. I just absolutely completely utterly loved it. We started with the Flower Dome, the world’s largest greenhouse filled with hundreds of different plant species. They were separated into different continents or themes (such as the Alice In Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh and Wizard of Oz exhibits photographed below). There are plenty of signs with just the right amount of information to educate you about the different plants and about the impact humans have had on these ecosystems. It was truly enlightening and enjoyable.

Cloud Forest, the second dome at Gardens By The Bay, was another inspiring wonder. As soon as you step through the entrance you are met with the world's tallest indoor waterfall measuring 35 metres. A suspended walkway spirals around the makeshift mountain, resulting in a series of ecosystems that replicate a natural cloud forest. The forest is misted every 2 hours which makes the whole place feel enchanted. The lower level is dedicated to education to help save our planet – this was amazing but emotional so be ready. I’m going to do a brief eco blog soon where I’ll tell you what I learnt here and some interesting stories & tips to help you become more eco-friendly!

Speaking of eco-friendly: every aspect of Gardens By The Bay aims to reduce its impact on the environment as much as possible to show that modern day life can continue brilliantly without sacrificing our environment. The Super Trees (which by the way are even more breath-taking in person) all have solar cells to power the domes and the evening light show. The domes' cooling system is powered by biomass. The water used is filtered through natural plant beds and recycled to water the plants in the domes. Despite being one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, the Gardens By The Bay carbon footprint is miniscule. Words can't describe how impressed I was and I now feel inspired to see if I can go another step further to help reduce mine.

When you leave the domes you’ll be given the option to get your hand stamped so you can come back in again later. I would really recommend doing this and then briefly revisiting the domes at night. We literally spent about 10-15 minutes walking through each dome a second time. The waterfall is particularly captivating subtly lit up. And you 100% have to go see the Gardens By The Bay Symphony light show at the Super Tree Grove every night at 7:45pm and 8:45pm. It’s pure brilliance and had me bouncing & dancing around despite the fact it was pouring down with rain. In summary (if you can’t already tell) I freaking adored Gardens By The Bay. And the fact that we spotted an otter in the bay just behind it was the cherry on the cake!!

MacRitchie Reservoir is ideal for some fresh air, wildlife and a light hike (depending on which trail you take). There is a tree top walk above the canopy here if you hike to the top. However be very careful if you take anything out of your bag or you may be ambushed by monkeys – a lesson we learned the hard way. Or rather Rachel did when she ended up running along the sky bridge yelling “Char get it off” as she swung around with a monkey attached to her backpack. Me, being the supportive friend I am, got my camera out!

For all you fellow Potterheads out there I welcome you to Platform 1094, a Harry Potter themed cafe with amazing food and delicious entertaining cocktails. Below is the 'Flaming Brew' or as Rachel calls it: The Goblet of Fire. Just a quick note to say this place was ace and so much fun.

The Night Safari at Singapore Zoo is a unique and breath-taking idea. This area of the zoo opens at 7pm and is open till midnight. We recommend you start at the tram and then walk around the zoo as there are some areas you can’t reach from just doing one and not the other. We got some spectacular views of the animals including the majestic Malayan Tiger and some more unusual species that are too nocturnal for other zoos to show. Our luck continued as we walked around the zoo. You know you’re vets when at the leopard enclosure Rachel pointed out "I can see a tapetal reflex!" (which is when an animal's eyes reflect light in the dark). Thinking "hmmm if he is watching us then we should be as quiet as possible" I suggested we should crouch down and wait. Not 5 seconds later this huge majestic cat walked straight up to us, directly on the other side of the glass. Followed by a few more amazing views of other animals, we eventually got to the bat house where our luck reached its peak. We just happened to walk through the bat house at feeding time, and since we were the only ones in there the member of staff feeding them just gave us one of the bananas!!! We had these adorable little fruit bats so close to us, with a Malayan Flying Fox (the largest bat in the world, with a wing span of 1.5-1.7 metres) just watching us from less than a metre away. Just absolutely magnificent!

Adventure Coves Waterpark is another unique park, highlighted by the best lazy river I've ever had the pleasure to go on. Part of the route goes past the Ray Pool so you find yourself floating alongside these curious delightful little creatures. Adventure Cove continued to entertain us with some brilliant slides and a snorkelling coral reef pool.

UK you seriously need to up your game. Singapore went above & beyond, blowing us away and leaving us completely enamoured with it’s life & character. This is the only city I've come across that I could see myself living in long term besides Liverpool. I hope it won't be long till I see it again.

[akalittlemisscrazy]

Backpacking Escapes: Kuala Lumpur

Feeling low after leaving Thailand (I’m seriously going to miss it so so much) we eventually arrived in Kuala Lumpur. The first night was unexciting with a quick trip to Petaling Street Markets to fill up on some delicious kebabs and flopping into our beds at midnight. Our hostel was super cute, though it reminds me of the TARDIS as it keeps going and going down twisting corridors. The lovely owner had seen we’d booked 2 beds in the dorm, so upgraded us to a private 2 bed room free of charge! Win 😁

Our aim for the early start didn’t exactly go to plan but we eventually made it out for 9am to the Batu Caves. Honestly I didn’t like these caves, or the Ramayana Caves nearby. Maybe it’s just personal taste but the colours are too bright and gaudy, and the cave too brightly lit with neon lights which took so much away from the natural beauty of caves. Whilst both beautiful to look at, the temples and the caves just didn’t work together.

However in between, halfway up the 272 step rainbow coloured staircase (which admittedly is impressive and a sight to see), is a nature conservation area called the Dark Cave. This was far more my style. You can get an education tour (35 RM, 45 minutes) or an adventure tour (80 RM, 3-4 hours). We choose the education tour and I loved every second of it. You’re led by torchlight down the concrete path running through the cave as your guide shows you some of the wildlife and main sights along the way. There 200,000 bats in the limestone cave and 200 different species of animal, ranging from tiny flatworms to cave racer snakes to this unusual Long Legged Centipede.

Other than your torch there are no artificial lights anywhere inside the cave. This cave is also home to a few critically endangered species such as the rarest spider in the world, a species of Trapdoor Spider Liphistius batuensis. There are only 150 remaining, endemic to this area. In addition to being very enjoyable, it’s nice to know that the ticket money goes towards future conservation across Malaysia. Once again trying our best to be responsible tourists!

To my utter delight after the disappointment of Batu Caves, the next stop was the Bird Park! Now as many of you may know, I am an utter bird addict. Big birds, small birds, multicoloured or plain. I just love them all! I mean really – I spent 15 minutes happily sat next to the Jay aviary watching them. Rachel meanwhile was getting very excited over the ostriches. There is such variety here that there really is something for everyone. Spanning 21 acres the bird park contains 3000 birds in the world’s largest free flying aviary, plus separate enclosures for species such as the birds of prey and parrots. I got a bit carried away here, taking around 260 photos in the space of 3 hours. BUT LOOK AT THE PRETTIES 😍

Another amazing nature reserve to see is the ECO Park. Also known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, this 9.37 hectare rainforest sits slap bang in the middle of the city. It’s wonderful yet bizarre to be strolling along the canopy walk, enjoying the calm & quiet chattering of the forest around you, and spot the odd skyscraper towering through a gap in the trees.

Very close to the ECO park is Menara KL. This 421 metre tall observation tower is unique thanks to the Sky Boxes above the observation deck. These are literally giant glass boxes 300 metres above the ground that provide incredibly views of the city below. A top tip is check the weather before you buy a ticket – they won’t let you in the Sky Boxes if it’s raining as it’s slippery and a lightning risk. However if it does start raining you might just have to be very stubborn like we did and wait for over an hour for it to stop and for them to let you up! Luckily we wanted to stall for time until we could check in to our hotel anyway and the view was well worth it in the end. Besides we weren’t the only ones being stubborn – we teamed together until there were 9 of us waiting for the elevator. Never underestimate British perseverance.

Speaking of our hotel we were pleasantly surprised it’s so easy to get a good deal in Kuala Lumpur. We got our room for £12 a night (so £6 each). The attraction of this hotel was obvious – the infinity pool on the roof which looks out at Menara KL and the Petronas Towers. The Menara KL even put on a light show whilst we were in the pool. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself and have a night to refresh with a swim, a good shower and a peaceful night away from any snoring roommates!

Whilst Rachel was very impressed with the Petronas Towers (I personally don’t like skyscrapers), I was wowed by KLCC park behind the towers. There are some beautiful fountains here that change pattern frequently and dramatically so this is the perfect spot to sit and relax for a while. They also put on a light show at the fountains every night, which was unfortunately cancelled for us as monsoon season was starting and a thunderstorm opened the heavens directly above the park. I did however get some entertainment and distraction from the thunder – in the form of Rachel running out into the storm in her not so waterproof poncho to save a frog who’d fallen off the wall and couldn’t get back up.

Overall Kuala Lumpur is a very mixed city with a lot of potential. The greenery around the city is beautiful and relaxing, mixing fairly well with the rest of the city architecture. We’d heard this described as smaller but similar to Singapore, and I can definitely see the similarities. Hopefully in the near future this city will further develop and become even more beautiful and closer with nature!