Teaching English in Thailand: Day 21, Caffeine Please

Day 21: Tuesday 14^th July

Wow, day 21. These past three weeks have felt like a lifetime! Not in a bad way, but it just seems like forever ago that I was getting drunk on the plane, laughing at the guy sleeping with his mouth open opposite me. And here I am, three weeks later, wearing long skirts and fitting the role of an 'English teaching assistant' nicely, (even though it's more like 'English teacher!" 

Although it's been 3 weeks, I still can't bear waking up at the crack of dawn! And I'm not sure I will ever get used to it! I never realised how much I depend on a cup of tea each day to get me ready for the day. In Thailand, I've not managed to find any Tetley tea bags (dedication) and normal milk that doesn't taste like plastic, therefore I’m struggling without it. I never realised the effect it had on me before, but when I am without it I can really tell! I wake up at 6:50 to get ready for school, which I think is the earliest wake up call in my life! Of course, me being me, I leave it right until the last minute to get out of bed because I struggle to wake up so much. This means I have half an hour to get ready, meaning I don’t have much time to fit everything in, including breakfast and a hot drink.

Lunch: Pad Thai (again!) And yes, I do take a new photo every time because I'm one of those annoying people who photographs everything they eat..

I only had two lessons today, so I was sitting at my desk for a lot of the time. The inevitable happened at about 2pm: I fell asleep at my desk. I’m not sure how long for, but it was definitely long enough for my bracelets to become imprinted onto my face; a bit like Jacob onto Renesmee in Twilight - what a great film that is, by the way. In all fairness, we kept having power cuts so I didn’t have much else to do, and seeing as the lights were off... Winky wink ;)

Below: Student Opal didn't want the Princess to see her filling in her eyebrows so she hid beneath the desk. Strange things happen in Thai schools, hahaha.

 

Student Opal and Rowena in our 'office'

I was having a bit of a ‘meh’ day where I was just so tired, bored, and feeling a bit hopeless. So  when we got home, all I wanted to do was chill out. Before I could do that, we went to the market as Kanang wanted to buy some bits. I think I sleep-walked round the whole place, to be honest. When I finally did get home, what better way to relax than to drink beer and read a great book in the warmth of the evening? The sun was hiding and the odd thunder clap could be heard, so I felt a bit like a wild woman of the forest, sitting in Kanang's beautiful decking area that's filled with plants, wildlife and too many mosquitoes.

 

Reading through a Beer Chang. Inventive!

One thing I have definitely learnt in Thailand, is to always keep a bottle of beer handy at home for those needy times. We get  home from school at 16:30 and the shops cannot sell beer until after 17:00 because of trading laws. And going out half an hour after getting home is just annoying, so you either have to deal with it, or prepare in advance!! Luckily, I had one left over from the weekend. Its amazing how much a bit of alone time, a beer and a chilled out book can make you feel so much better. And a bit tipsy.

Kanang prepared for us a huge salad which scared me at first because it was so darn big! But it was actually very full of air so please don't hastily judge me for the amount of chlorophyll I consumed.... We had some snazzy Thai salad cream which was naiicee. And there was some red cabbage hiding in there which reminded me of a classic drunken kebab from the UK. Shame I didn't have more beers with me!

Tasty!

I managed to get an amazingly early night of about 10pm which is a new record! It felt so good. I even managed to squeeze in an episode of OITNB- score! I don't remember the last time I went to bed so early. Its very refreshing; I am going to try and do it again more often!

Peace,

Olivia

Gandys Flip Flops | A Guilt-Free Purchase

The summer season is finally upon us, wahoo! In the UK where I live, we have been blessed with some beautiful weather over the past few weeks and it has only made me even more excited for my summer adventures.

At this time of the year, the shops are full of summer gear for us Brits that are preparing to flee to our sunny getaways. On our shopping lists are the usual suspects: bikinis, sun cream, and that sexy (but not too wild) beach kimono. Whilst slowly ticking off these items from my list I suddenly thought about the most simple thing that any holiday requires.. Flip flops! As well as those fancy butterfly adorned, tie-dye-leather fancy sandals that cost a bomb from Monsoon, every holidayer needs a pair of easy flipflops! 

I absolutely love flip flops. They really get me into the summer spirit, and the novelty of wearing them in the UK when it starts getting warm is great! About 4 years ago, I was given a pair of Havaianas by my brother's girlfriend (shown below). They were worn, but I instantly loved them because they fitted so well and they felt such good quality. I have worn them every year since then, including on my long trip to Italy and they are still alive and kicking today. Unlike usual, cheap flip flops made from foam which easily tears, flattens and becomes riddled with stones and grit, Havaianas are made from rubber which is much more durable and comfortable for long-term wear. A further plus to these beauties is that when they get wet, they don't squeak! Don't you hate it when you dip your toes in the pool or go for a stroll on the beach and then you are left with squeaky feet for the next half hour? Me too.

My well-worn Havaianas!

As some of you know, I am soon going to be embarking on a three-month trip to Thailand to teach English to Children in schools - eeek! So whilst gathering everything I'll need for the trip, I decided that it was time to hang up the old Havaianas and treat my tootsies to some new Gandys flip flops. Similarly to Havaianas, Gandys are 100% rubber which means no squeaks, long-term bounce and comfort, and an overall feel of quality. I have seen Gandys around for a while but never strayed from my Havaianas. That was until I tried some Gandys on and realised how much of a dream they were. So. Darn. Comfy! They are a little bit chunkier than my slightly more feminine Havaianas, but they are definitely comfier- and that speaks volumes. Also, I feel like the classic blue colour will go nicely with denim shorts or turned up jeans in the evenings.

#sofreshandsoclean

As you can see, the sizing on the label is a little confusing, because I am a UK size 4, (EUR 37) but the label says that they are a size 5/ 37 (but UK size 5 is actually EUR 38!). Therefore If you are ordering these online, I would suggest choosing a UK size bigger than usual! 

Gandys flip flops some in a variety of colours and styles, but the best bit about this brand is that Gandys donate 10% of the profits they earn to children less fortunate in developing countries. Being a part of a good cause like this is really nice, so if I can treat myself to a new pair of flip flops, I can treat some little kiddies too :)

Will you be joining the Gandys journey?

#orphansfororphans

Peace,

Olivia x

Malaysia | Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur

As my departure for an 11-week trip to Thailand steadily approaches, I thought I would share my experience of Malaysia with you. Even though I didn't know I would be blogging about my trip at the time, I took a few snaps which have come in quite handy for this fairly informative/ informal post! 

In 2013 I joined my friend and her parents on a trip to Malaysia. It was my first time going to any Asian country so it was incredible for me. I was like a wide-eyed child compared to my blasé travelling companions who had made this same trip almost every year for many, many years. I can now see why they keep on returning! I hope you learn something fun about Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur from this- it was a great trip for me and I'd highly recommend a visit!

 

So many stunning sunsets!

Langkawi

First, we flew from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Airlines, which was like a holiday in itself. I never knew long haul flights treated you so well! Free wine, snacks and meals were available on many occasions throughout the flight which I found such a novelty because I usually fly with RyanAir who are….a little less luxury! (don’t get me wrong, cheap flights are da bomb!) We then got a connecting flight to the island of Langkawi, which took about an hour, and the plane was empty so I had a whole row to myself for a very welcome nap.

The iconic eagle of Langkawi and a terrible impersonation by me!

The Berjaya Resort

We stayed at the Berjaya Resort which is a b-e-a-utiful resort on the beach. It is famous for its sea and rainforest villas that are perched all throughout the rainforest and over the sea on long, sturdy legs. The villas are so plush and everything is so luxury, allowing you to feel uber relaxed and special. Because the villas are all scattered throughout the resort, whether it may be land or sea, you can call for the little shuttle bus to pick you up and take you wherever you want on the resort. That may be to the beach, the oriental village which features the famous Langkawi cable car, or simply the main reception building which is an absolute spectacle in itself, with huge hanging chandeliers, fountains and a daily live band. The resort has a spa so of course, I had to give it a go. Never in my life did I envisage myself fully starkers being massaged/beaten up (in a good way), boobs and bumcheeks and all(!) by a small Malaysian woman. I guess that's what you get when you order a full body deep tissue massage from a deceivingly strong masseuse!

Sea villas

 

View from the villa balcony on an overcast day

Food

Two huge chocolate cakes greeted us in our rooms, which the resort gives to returning guests; they were incredible. This meant that the fresh fruit got neglected…. Sorry diet! Other incredible food that we ate at the resort was the breakfast, which we ate under a beach canopy daily. I had my staple of waffles or pancakes accompanied by a few freshly squeezed orange juices every day for two weeks and I don’t regret a thing. The beach bar also served the best chicken and peanut satay skewers of my life, and of course there was happy hour at the swim-up bar…

 

Apparently I like pancakes?

Night markets

Whilst I’m on the subject of filling my face, lets talk about Night markets! As you can probably tell, I am an insane lover of food. And shoes. And clothes. And anything cheap or a bit random and hippy-ish. Therefore, I was in my element at the night markets. I hate to say it, but I was too scared to try the infamous durian fruit. There’s just something off-putting about having something that smells like sewage in your mouth. Something I did eat though, and proceeded to dream about every day since, is something called apam balik. This is like a crispy pancake shaped like a taco filled with peanuts, sugar and creamed sweetcorn; such a dream! Night markets are great to see loads of different foods being cooked in front of you and it is all so cheap so it doesn’t matter if you’re not that keen on something; you can just buy another apam balik!

Market chickpeas | Me on the beach | Adorable animals on the tree | Coconuts
Delicious fruit | Tea in a bag | Honeycombe

The beach

What more can you ask for than the softest, beautifully white sandy beach you’ve ever stepped on? The weather was incredible and so were the sunbeds, which meant only one thing: extremely comfy tanning! And when being horizontal got tedious, a little walk along the mangrove path was always fun, or a big group game of beach volleyball with a load of randomers was great too.

Pink sky at night, shepherds delight! #nofilter

Oriental Village

The oriental village is a short shuttle bus ride away from the main resort and it features lots of little shops and restaurants, (the kind where you become best mates with the owner and you don’t get given a menu) which all surround a beautiful pond filled with colourful fish. There was even a little bunny sanctuary type-place there! The Langkawi cable car and Sky Bridge are a huge attraction in Langkawi. You board the cable car in the centre of the Oriental Village and ride allllllll the way to the top and then there are observatories, walkways and the sky bridge up there giving you incredible views of the island. 

 

Oriental village bridge posin'

Kuala Lumpur

 

We went to KL for about 4 days so we didn’t have huge amounts of time to explore! We spend a bit too much time in the shops than doing more exciting things unfortunately. Sad face!

Petronas Towers by day | Petronas Towers by night

No biggie.

Shangri La 

We stayed in the Shangri La hotel, which, seriously, lived up to its name. The hotel was incredibly posh, even to the point where I felt out of place in my flip flops. I must say, the breakfast was the best breakfast I have ever had in any restaurant/hotel/ anywhere on this earth. Think curry, noodles, doughnuts, chocolate fountain, fresh fruit, freshly cooked waffles and pancakes and even a whole honeycombe, which you simply spooned the honey off of. I want to return to Malaysia, just for those insanely, amazingly crisp on the outside and doughy on the inside pancakes!!

 

Inside the hotel/outside pond area

Shopping

There are some craaazzyy shopping malls in KL which are full of expensive shops and brands. I tried to stay out of these places, firstly because I cant afford BVULGARI on my student loan, and second, why would you waste your time in a shopping mall when you’re in KL?! Keep the Pavillion shopping centre and the huge one underneath the Petronas towers in mind if you really must go hardcore shopping, but if you’re more into cultural experiences and cheaper exploits, read on.

Oriental umbrellas

China Town

As already mentioned, I’m a sucker for a bargain. This means I was a very happy bunny when surrounded by Longchamp and Mulberry ‘genuine copies’ in the narrow lanes of the China Town markets. If you want a ‘branded’ item, they sell it there for a few quid. It takes ages to weave in and out of the sellers and their stalls who so desperately try and gain your custom, that you definitely deserve a shandy (or two) and some tasty treats that you picked up along the way when you get out of the crowds!

 

Colourful Chinatown!

 This is just a snippet of what we did and what can be done in Malaysia. We had a very relaxing beach holiday with a tiny bit of busy city life but there is so much more to be done here! I will definitely be returning to see what else I can get up to! It is a lovely country and every person that I met was so nice; it is very refreshing to see so many happy faces. This trip opened my eyes  snd showed me that there is so much more to beach holidays in Europe (which is what I had only ever experienced). I am definitely now a little bit (very) in love with East Asia, so thank you, Malaysia for being so good to me!

Peace out, and 'a presto!'

Olivia x