Teaching English in Thailand: Day 2, Crazy Taxis in BKK

Day 2: Thursday 25^th June 2015

"Sawasdee ka" Thailand!

Blimey, that was a long flight! After I had signed off from my last post a few of us ‘Tetters” re-grouped at the back of the plane, mostly by chance! I guess we were drawn to the smell of vodka and (surprisingly nice-smelling) toilets! We even bagged ourselves a few KitKats and other tasty treats from the little kitchen area; score!! We wasted about an hour or so chilling there, having a few drinks, getting in the way of the air stewardesses and anybody needing the loo. After this I managed to squeeze in about an hour’s sleep, which I was less than impressed about, seeing as we had a whole day of exploring Bangkok ahead of us!

 

Once we were safely off of the plane and into the furnace of cloudy, humid Bangkok, we were picked up by some lovely British Council people who drove us to The Royal River Hotel, which we would be staying at for two nights whilst we completed orientation and registration onto the programme.

 

We were all so hot and bothered by the time we got to the hotel (we thought the journey would take 15 minutes but took about an hour!) that we chilled for a bit before heading out to explore. The same group of us who met at the airport reconvened and went in search of some tasty street food. This led us to splitting into two groups and heading into a busier area called Siam Square in two different taxis. As expected, we lost the other group and ended up spending the whole day as a four. Our driver insisted he was following them the whole way, thinking we were stupid enough to believe him.

 

We thought that was bad… Our taxi home was even worse! After two or three taxis declining our request to go back to the hotel which was a fair while away, we managed to get into one and show the driver a map and address to try and get him to understand where it was. We agreed a price of 200TB (rookie error, always get a cab with a meter) and halfway through the journey we realised he was going in the complete opposite direction! That was when he started playing up; demanding more money off us, and saying he would leave us in the middle of the traffic, so we just said we would get out of the cab if he was unhappy with it.

That’s when he locked the doors.

He locked all the doors!! We didn’t want to complain because clearly, he was in a strange mood, but at the same time we didn’t want to carry on going further away from our destination. He was playing with us. After about an hour of nervously waiting in traffic that he purposely put us in, we decided to pay him the full fare of 200TB and he finally let us out, even though we were further away at this point than we were at the start. When he unlocked those car doors, I think we all felt such a wave of relief that we would live another day!

 

Bangkok traffic is crazy!

We managed to hail another cab with a cute older driver who didn’t look up for any hassle. He got us home perfectly, and some of us even had a little snooze! Once back at the hotel, there was only one plan: dinner, shower, bed. All before 9pm, too!

I've got to be up bright and early to meet my mentor tomorrow for a long day of orientation and ice breakers so I can't wait to have a nice snooze with my rock solid hotel pillow...

I wish those “Tetters” luck who went out for drinks tonight; rather you than me!

Olivia

Teaching English in Thailand: Day 1

Day 1: Wednesday 24^th June 2015

Hardest task ever: reduce this by half!

Today is the day! After a restless night’s sleep, it is finally time for me to zip up my rucksack(s) and head off to Thailand. For those of you who don’t know, I am going to work as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in a secondary school for 9 weeks with the British Council. A bacon sandwich and a good old English cuppa were handed to me by my uneasy mother little before we made the two hour journey to London Heathrow.

The brilliant thing about TET and working with the British Council is how many of us ETAs were able to meet and contact each other before we left for Thailand. The few meetings and Facebook groups that we had allowed us to acquaint ourselves with other people in the same position. Alongside the Facebook page that British Council TET leader set up for everybody on the programme, we also set up another few Facebook groups for those people wanting to chat about weekend trips and after TET plans. This was a great way to chat with like-minded people, who didn’t only want to teach; they also wanted to travel and experience many great things in Asia.  I personally got talking to many people from these Facebook groups and had already began forming friendships with them before we excitedly met at Heathrow baggage drop.

About 8 of us managed to find each other in the airport, which was a great way to calm each other’s nerves and feelings of being alone in the airport. After a Wetherspoons lunch and some free Pimms tasters we were well on our way to a great summer ahead!

Seeing as none of us knew each other extremely well and we hadn’t planned for such little things, we all sat away from one another on the plane. In one respect it was a shame because we were in the process of creating some nice friendships, and on the other hand it was good because I could drink a fair few bottles of free vino without being judged by my new friends, hahaha. Joking. Of course.

So that’s it for now. I am sat next to a lovely Thai man who hasn’t uttered a word to me, which is a bit of a shame!  Although he’ll be my bezzie by the time we land in Bangkok!! I fell asleep within the first hour of the journey at about 5pm so I think it’s going to be a long night. And I have no sleeping aids…. apart from wine.

Aaaaand there they are now with a fresh new tray of the glistening red stuff!

See you in BKK!

P.s, Im having a brilliant time watching the lad opposite me nodding his head every few seconds with his mouth wide-open in a deep sleep.

I love this trip already!

Olivia

Bubble Tea: What Is It?

There is so much confusion around what Bubble Tea is. I mean, everyone knows what 'bubbles' and 'tea' are, however, most traditional english tea drinkers are left a little dumbfounded upon first hearing about the combination of the two. When I first stepped into a bubble tea shop in Bath a few years ago, I didn’t have a clue what was going on. When I asked what an ‘original’ tea tasted like, the girl looked at me like I was mad and replied “tea”. It was all very unhelpful and strange. I now know that it tastes like a strong yet sweet cup of English tea- usually served cold. Since then, I have scored myself a brilliant part time job at Pearls Bubble Tea on my University campus (how convenient?!) and I LOVE it. My love for the job and the product has led me to want to introduce bubble tea to those of you who don’t know what it is, or who are a little afraid to give it a go.

Me and my Pearls girl Mona

Background

Before I get into it, I’ll give you a little intro to what bubble tea is! Bubble tea is also known as ‘boba tea’, ‘pearl milk tea’ as well as many other names that it has gained around the world. Bubble tea is a drink made from a base of green or black tea, which is flavoured using powders and syrups. The drink originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and is spreading fast throughout the world. It has become popular in the UK over the past few years after having such a good response in the US.

Toppings

The ‘bits’ that you see floating around in it are a variety of things; they can be classic black ‘boba’ pearls made from tapioca, or fruit jellies, popping pearls, seeds, beans, custard and lots more fun things! We call these ‘toppings’, even though they usually rest at the bottom of the cup - crazy, eh?! Toppings really make the drink fun because every now and then when you take a sip, you’ll get a tasty treat come up through the extra-wide straw so you can really have your tea, and well, eat it too! The toppings are all optional, so don’t be put off bubble tea if you’re not so into having bits in your drink!

Sweet and chewy Tapioca pearls

Varieties of drinks

Bubble tea shops usually have a huge range of flavours. The shop I work in has over 50 flavours! You can even mix and match these flavours if you’re into funky tastes, so go for it! Some bubble tea shops also use fresh fruit in their bubble teas so you can even get some of your 5 a day!

We sell fruit teas and milk teas. The difference between the two is that all of the fruit teas use a green tea base, with your choice of flavour of fruit syrup mixed with it (plus any toppings of your choice). The milk teas are a little more complex, but i'll explain that a little later. You can have your drink made cold, hot, warm, with/ without ice, or even have it blended into a slushie, so there really is something for everyone.

Left: A mystery fruit tea with tapioca and basil seeds. Right: strawberry & vanilla milk tea with tapioca and apple jelly.

Fruit tea

These are refreshing, sweet and light. A lot of people are put off because they ‘don’t like tea’, but believe me, you wouldn’t know you are even drinking tea! They are prefect for the summer because their icy fruitiness is just what you need in the heat.

Milk tea

The milk teas can use a black OR green tea base, depending on the flavour of the drink. At Pearls for example, chocolate milk tea uses black tea, and banana milk tea uses green tea – it’s just the way that Pearls does it and the recipe that we use, although other brands use different recipes. Flavoured powders are mixed with the tea, and you can add any toppings you like. Milk teas are like a thin milkshake. Anybody with a dairy or similar intolerance has  probably just turned off, I can tell! But, stay with me folks! We use a non-dairy creamer for our ‘milk’ teas so they are perfectly fine for you guys with intolerances, and still incredible for everyone else! *Steady on, vegans! The creamer contains a dairy derivative which isn't suitable for you guys (cries).*

Fruit jellies and popping pearls

We mix our special powders with tea to create a yummy, smooth drink which you can enjoy cold or warm.

Despite the huge amount of fans of bubble tea, many people dislike it because it’s a bit odd. I’ve heard bubble tea to be described as ‘bath water with left over bath bomb bits in it’, ‘frog spawn juice’ and other unappetizing names. However, your opinion could vary so much depending on which drink you try! With so many flavours available, you’re bound to dislike a few of them- just like I do! But I’d definitely recommend that if you don’t like your first bubble tea, try another, because there’s a whole other variety out there for you to try: fruity vs milky! 

My favourite: vanilla slush!

Fun fact: the name 'bubble tea' comes from the bubbles that are created when the drink is shaken!

What's your favourite flavour?!

Peace out, and enjoy your tasty teas!

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