So planning to set off around 9am, we woke up around 10 or so and probably left around midday. Not bad for us really.
After some teary goodbyes (no, not really although it was sad to leave what had been so nice a home to stay at. And it really was a home.), Jo's uncle drove us to a good spot to start off from. He also gave us some sandwiches for lunch and some water. Two things we hadn't thought of and much appreciated.
So with signs proudly on display, thumbs stuck out like we were trying to give them away and bent over to almost touching the ground for proper hitch hiker effect, we waited on our knight in shining armour (or hot girl in skimpy bikini) to come to our rescue.
1 minute later? Hey, you can dream!
5 mintues later? Um, nope.
10 mintues later? Still nope.
15 mintues later? Couple of smiles but still no luck.
20 mintues later? Some cute girls have gone past but they must not have spotted us
30 minutes later?
45 minutes later?
1 hour later!!!!!?
Aaaarrrghhh! Friggin Germans! Can't they see that we are cold (it's around 7 degrees), wet (it's raining on and off the whole time) and want a lift?
But we keep on trying and when a nice new 2007 Lexus rolls past, the thumbs go up more out of habit than hope as since when do we get picked up in nice cars? But all smiles, we put the begger look back in our puppy dog eyes and drop the bottom lip to a quiver just in case. And lo and behold he actually pulls over!
400 kms and about two and a half hours later (autobahn plus nice car = driving at 200km\hr plus at times) and we pull into Jo's grandparents house. Such a comfy lift I'd slept most of the way in seats that rival our couch back home!
Now it was time for some grandma cooking! (o:
Dec 13, 2007
Last day down South
With Grease blasting away in the background, it is a little hard to concentrate on what to write. But we've been stereo deprived for 6 months and I just don't have the heart to turn it off. Or even down (o:
So last night with Jo's family we went out for some more gluwein (mulled wine stuff) and then just relaxed. Played some soccer in the arvo with his cousin and friend and um, can't remember really what we did, haha. Oh, we went for a bit of a bike ride around the town. And Katrin probably taught me some more Deutsch - seriously, she was the best 4 year old teacher you could ask for! Hilarious.
Then we packed ready to head off the next day to Jo's grandparents place up near Bielefeld. This included making our customary signs. One saying where we were headed and another saying "We've got chocolate". In english. More for the novelty than the chocolate this time we figured as it's christmas and there's a lot of Choc going around.
So last night with Jo's family we went out for some more gluwein (mulled wine stuff) and then just relaxed. Played some soccer in the arvo with his cousin and friend and um, can't remember really what we did, haha. Oh, we went for a bit of a bike ride around the town. And Katrin probably taught me some more Deutsch - seriously, she was the best 4 year old teacher you could ask for! Hilarious.
Then we packed ready to head off the next day to Jo's grandparents place up near Bielefeld. This included making our customary signs. One saying where we were headed and another saying "We've got chocolate". In english. More for the novelty than the chocolate this time we figured as it's christmas and there's a lot of Choc going around.
Dec 7, 2007
Boo hoo hoo!
Me and Jo just went 'climbing' at the local gym here in Karlsruhe in Germany.
It was sadder than watching bambi.
We were awful.
I was worse.
Oh, it was pitiful.
Just pitiful.
Arms like jelly on a belly wobble machine
Legs like we were using a sewing machine
Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!
So unfit
So sad
But it has made me want to get fit again
Bye bye unhealthy
Hello fruit and vege
And the occassional beer...
Dec 6, 2007
More deutcsh
We were taken to a movie by Michael last night. American Gangster. Im Deutcsh (In German). Thankfully it was a brilliant choice, all action, little actual talking of importance and I'd say I got about 95% of it. Just the jokes are what I missed.
Then with my eyes already drooping worsed than a granny's underarms, I suddenly found myself in a bar. Why was I surprised? We were at the movies with a German after all! So far we've tried about 5 different beers and that's maybe about a cm worth of a tip of the proverbial iceberg. If I had a different beer and sausage with every meal, I think I'd get one village worth out of the way. Maybe.
And going out is twice as fun for me as people try and talk to me (like sell things in shops or offer their help etc) and it just cracks me up cause I have no idea what they're saying. It does surprise me though how many speak english.
Then with my eyes already drooping worsed than a granny's underarms, I suddenly found myself in a bar. Why was I surprised? We were at the movies with a German after all! So far we've tried about 5 different beers and that's maybe about a cm worth of a tip of the proverbial iceberg. If I had a different beer and sausage with every meal, I think I'd get one village worth out of the way. Maybe.
And going out is twice as fun for me as people try and talk to me (like sell things in shops or offer their help etc) and it just cracks me up cause I have no idea what they're saying. It does surprise me though how many speak english.
Dec 5, 2007
Living it up, Deutcshland style
Bretzels for breakfast. Sausage for lunch. Cold dinner before bed. Ah, what a life.
Bretzels really are to die for. Soooooo good! Like sooooo good! I could eat them all day alone. With butter they rival most foods known to man.
Yesterday I had a bratwurst sausage for lunch and that was Be-You-Tee-Full too! Mine was a red one, Jo' a white one and there are literally dozens more to try. They're huge too. Like a foot long a least for the smallest I saw. Today will be a currywurst though. Same I think but with chilly powder ingrained. So not really the same at all (o:
Mmmm. I'm not going to list all the meals we've had but take it for granted they are delish and delish and delish. And meat is topping the diet again which, for a while at least, is a nice change after almost 2 months of being a vege.
And going out at night here is just like being in a movie. It is all christmas styles here at the moment with lights and trees everywhere, people skating in the park, hot mulled wine on offer all over the streets (we got ours for free) with crowds dozens thick encircling them and everyone is happy and clean! What a change to see people with make up and styled hair and nice clothes again. We're still our usual messy, hairy selves but it is nice to see others putting in a little effort, hahah.
Oh, susie and katrin are home so it's time to go and try the pavalova me and Jo prepared for lunch... (turned out great!)
Bretzels really are to die for. Soooooo good! Like sooooo good! I could eat them all day alone. With butter they rival most foods known to man.
Yesterday I had a bratwurst sausage for lunch and that was Be-You-Tee-Full too! Mine was a red one, Jo' a white one and there are literally dozens more to try. They're huge too. Like a foot long a least for the smallest I saw. Today will be a currywurst though. Same I think but with chilly powder ingrained. So not really the same at all (o:
Mmmm. I'm not going to list all the meals we've had but take it for granted they are delish and delish and delish. And meat is topping the diet again which, for a while at least, is a nice change after almost 2 months of being a vege.
And going out at night here is just like being in a movie. It is all christmas styles here at the moment with lights and trees everywhere, people skating in the park, hot mulled wine on offer all over the streets (we got ours for free) with crowds dozens thick encircling them and everyone is happy and clean! What a change to see people with make up and styled hair and nice clothes again. We're still our usual messy, hairy selves but it is nice to see others putting in a little effort, hahah.
Oh, susie and katrin are home so it's time to go and try the pavalova me and Jo prepared for lunch... (turned out great!)
Jo's familie
Just like being back home right now. Seriously.
We are staying with Jo's uncle Michael and aunty Susie and his two younger cousins; 11 yr old Chris(tian) and 4 yr old Katrin.
I don't know what is nicer. Sitting down to go to the toilet, having a shower when I'm already cleaner than I have been in months, knowing I can eat whatever, whenever without worrying about getting sick, drinking tap water again, sleeping on an actual mattress, eating meat, not having to haggle day in and day out or just simply being able to sit and relax.
This is what we needed after India. For sure.
We are staying with Jo's uncle Michael and aunty Susie and his two younger cousins; 11 yr old Chris(tian) and 4 yr old Katrin.
Super nice people. And after India it is crazily good again.
Everything is.
I don't know what is nicer. Sitting down to go to the toilet, having a shower when I'm already cleaner than I have been in months, knowing I can eat whatever, whenever without worrying about getting sick, drinking tap water again, sleeping on an actual mattress, eating meat, not having to haggle day in and day out or just simply being able to sit and relax.
This is what we needed after India. For sure.
Entering the land of sausages and beer
Flight from Delhi to London - all you can eat gallery of snacks in the back but otherwise pretty uneventful really. 4 movies each. Walked off feeling zombie like with eyes like an Israeli after visiting Goa and bags underneath them that made the customs officials question issuing us with excess luggage charges.
London to Frankfurt - Almost dead now from a lack of sleep. Sentences uncoherent. Mumbles only, leaving both parties confused with half finished sentences and made up words thrown in for good measure. Shot through the airport without hassles. No visas asked for from both sides so all good.
When we thought we were headed for customs we suddenly found ourselves out in the open, in Deutcshland, with bratwurst and currywurst sausage smells affronting our overwhelmed senses and bretzel markets lining both sides of the street. Luckily for us we had Jo's uncle and cousin on hand to whisk us away to the safety of a nearby (1hr) village where we collapsed onto a bed and slept for the next 12 days straight.
London to Frankfurt - Almost dead now from a lack of sleep. Sentences uncoherent. Mumbles only, leaving both parties confused with half finished sentences and made up words thrown in for good measure. Shot through the airport without hassles. No visas asked for from both sides so all good.
When we thought we were headed for customs we suddenly found ourselves out in the open, in Deutcshland, with bratwurst and currywurst sausage smells affronting our overwhelmed senses and bretzel markets lining both sides of the street. Luckily for us we had Jo's uncle and cousin on hand to whisk us away to the safety of a nearby (1hr) village where we collapsed onto a bed and slept for the next 12 days straight.
Dec 1, 2007
Yay! Neigh! Yay!
So after a fun 17hour train ride, Jo and I are back again in the lovely, clean, beautiful smelling, friendly city of Delhi. Oh what fun times are to be had! Where shall we start?
Oh no! What was I thinking?! We fly out tomorrow morning at 6am! Bugger!
Oh how sad)o; We will have to leave Delhi until next time after all.
On a brighter note though, we're off to Germany!
Yay for meat
Yay for cleanliness
Yay for set prices
Yay for beer
Yay for Jo's relatives
Yay for Germans
Yay for not being India!
Oh no! What was I thinking?! We fly out tomorrow morning at 6am! Bugger!
Oh how sad)o; We will have to leave Delhi until next time after all.
On a brighter note though, we're off to Germany!
Yay for meat
Yay for cleanliness
Yay for set prices
Yay for beer
Yay for Jo's relatives
Yay for Germans
Yay for not being India!
Nov 30, 2007
Lumbini
We planned on a day in Lumbini before heading for India to do Varanassi.
So we made it to Lumbini from Pohara as planned and all was well. We were going to stay for an afternoon and then push on. But in the end we decided there was no point in rushing from place to place and not really seeing anything and so we would stay in Lumbini overnight and leave the next morning for Delhi; skipping Varanassi. Or leaving it till next time anyway.
During the day we visited all the sites and discovered a day was plenty. Monastaries and a rock (marker of buddha's birth place) can only hold so much appeal. The best thing we saw was a big tree and to top things off, there were literally two choices of food on the menu; dal baht and chow mein. Yay. There was also a stone chimney and some awesome signage...
Really!
(pic of stupa)
So next morning we set off with a french and an Irish guy we'd met, only to discover there was a 'strike' going on for all vehicles in Nepal. Huh? we were then told the roads were broken. what? all of them? Turns out the maoists had blocked all the roads for some stupid reason (we are not fans of them after the trek) and so we couldn't leave! arrrrgggghhhh! they're nothing but trouble that lot!
So we had to stay another day. Not too bad as we just relaxed and played cards in the end. There was also a prayer festival in town starting that day with Lama Rinpoche in town so we went and saw him (he's 3rd 'in charge' after the Dalai lama and Penchan Lama for Tibet) and enjoyed some tibetan foods for a change. Tibetan dough balls were great. Filling and great in fact.
So we made it to Lumbini from Pohara as planned and all was well. We were going to stay for an afternoon and then push on. But in the end we decided there was no point in rushing from place to place and not really seeing anything and so we would stay in Lumbini overnight and leave the next morning for Delhi; skipping Varanassi. Or leaving it till next time anyway.
During the day we visited all the sites and discovered a day was plenty. Monastaries and a rock (marker of buddha's birth place) can only hold so much appeal. The best thing we saw was a big tree and to top things off, there were literally two choices of food on the menu; dal baht and chow mein. Yay. There was also a stone chimney and some awesome signage...
Really!
(pic of stupa)
So next morning we set off with a french and an Irish guy we'd met, only to discover there was a 'strike' going on for all vehicles in Nepal. Huh? we were then told the roads were broken. what? all of them? Turns out the maoists had blocked all the roads for some stupid reason (we are not fans of them after the trek) and so we couldn't leave! arrrrgggghhhh! they're nothing but trouble that lot!
So we had to stay another day. Not too bad as we just relaxed and played cards in the end. There was also a prayer festival in town starting that day with Lama Rinpoche in town so we went and saw him (he's 3rd 'in charge' after the Dalai lama and Penchan Lama for Tibet) and enjoyed some tibetan foods for a change. Tibetan dough balls were great. Filling and great in fact.
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