Tiger Kingdom

Tiger Kingdom

I arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday (Saturday) around mid day. After a short ride from the airport, I arrived at the lovely Kantry Hills hotel.

I decided to walk along the main strip to grab some lunch. Beef in oyster with vegetables and a drink came to about £2.20. I forgot how cheap things are here!

I saw a car driving past advertising Tiger Kingdom so I did want any solo tourist does... I hoped in the car with the strange man. Daddy always said never get in a car when a man offers sweeties, he didn't offer sweeties, so I figured I was ok.

The driver was actually really lovely and we have a very interest conversation in broken English. He was really surprised that I was travelling alone,  he said he wouldn't even go to Bangkok alone and that I was very brave.

When I arrived at Tiger Kingdom, I got to choose which size Tigers I wanted to see. I decided I wanted to spend time with the baby ones and the big tigers.

The baby ones were first up. After reading the safety instructions (and signing a waiver printed in Thai) I was allowed in the area. It was in two sections, the first section had three cubs about four months old.

They were sleeping a lot at first, I did wonder whether they had been 'drugged' but after speaking with the keeper, he explained that they play for a while then they sleep.

It was nice stroking and getting so close to them. They don't like their heads to be touched but they lied their bellies rubbed. I was told I was being to 'soft' with them so I petted them more firmly.

The next section had two even smaller cubs. These again were pretty sleepy but then woke up a bit. These were around two and half months old, and they were so adorable.

They all clearly trust the keeper as they allowed them to be pulled on their backs to the water bowl.

The keepers were really friendly and knew a lot about the cubs. They were also very nice and took lots of pictures for me so I could concentrate on spending time with the cubs (No selfie stick required).

Next up were the big tigers. When I say big, I mean absolutely massive!! There was no cute play pen for them. There was double chain gates and electric fences.

Straight away I sat with a big female. She was happily laying down and panting away. Next I was told to stand next to the pool, people were laugh but I assume they were happy... No they knew what was coming.

As I stood by the water, a tiger jumped off a ledge straight into the water completely soaking me. But looking at the picture, it was incredible. This massive tiger jumping high in the air behind me.

After that we went to see another large female, I stood behind her then all of a sudden she turned around and stared straight at me. I have never been so scared in my life (I was even more scared than I usually am with Mums driving!).

Somehow I managed to pretend to be calm and slowly back away to stand behind the keeper, yep I was hoping if anyone got eaten it would be the local dish first.

After my heart stopped beating so rapidly and I got my breathe back, I was able to stand behind the tiger and 'cuddle' her. I did ask the keeper if he was serious after how scared I was before but I guess it won't be often I get to cuddle a tiger.

I used to have quite strong opinions of these types of commercial places with the tigers or wild animals just being used as a tourist attraction but you could see how well kept they were and it appears the keepers really care.

The price to get in was crazy cheap, I think around £15. There were quite a few people there but I don't think it was unsafe with the numbers.

My only concern was one tiger that was locked in a relatively small cage. It was pacing back and forth and clearly wasn't very happy. I meant to ask someone about it but I forgot. Hopefully he isn't always in there.

I truly had such an amazing experience. I was supposed to be cuddling the tigers in Miami for my birthday this year (before being dumped lol) but I still managed to do it, just a few months later.

I find it absolutely incredible the experiences I have had. To think how sad I was three years ago, makes me really appreciate all I've got in life. And that's not the ability to travel, but actually my incredible friends and family. I love you all very much!! 

One word for Hong Kong... Wow!

My time in Hong Kong is sadly nearly up :-(

I really wasn't sure what to expect. I guess I expected it to be a bit like New York City, with all the sky scraper buildings and insane crowds but it hasn't been as hectic as I thought it would be.

I had a bit of a delay at the airport waiting for the transfers. It would have been so much easier to the the Airport express then the MTR but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

When I arrived at the hotel, I was very impressed! The grand entrance and the lights were amazing. The check in staff were really friendly but I was a little frustrated that my room was available straight away. A complimentary Pimms soon sorted that annoyance out.

I heard the rooms in Hong Kong would be small and although mine was a little, it wasn't too bad!

I decided to head out to Causeway for a little wander around and I'd also heard it was pretty good for shopping. I was staying on the street looking a little puzzled at my map, when a nice man said 'Its that way...' without me even saying where I was going. It turned out, he was correct!

For dinner I went to a chinese little canteen place off one of the streets and had a nice traditional beef and rice dish. It was pretty good although a little fatty. It hunk including my milky jasmine tea, it cost about £6.

My first full day, I decided to visit Big Buddha. Annoyingly it took over two hours to get there and the cable cart wasn't working, so I had to take a bus. The MTR (trains) system here is fantastic, it actually puts TFL to shame (not that they need any help).

The trains run so frequently, they are clean, air conditions, quiet and they cost so little. I've been hopping on and off the trains over the past few days, and it's cost me less that it costs me to get to and from work for one day!

I was really lucky that the weather was clear when I saw Big Buddha. It wasnt too busy but the steps to the top were pretty tough in the heat- well worth it though! 

I went for a little walk along the nature trail but I wasn't too comfortable walking through the woodland alone so I came back. On the way back, I saw the biggest spider ever in the tree above. I screamed so loud, the man behind me was really startled. I did apologise but it took me ages to walk under the tree.

In the evening, I met up with a friend for some dinner and drinks at Azure. Gordon Ramsey was hosting an event in the building for his Bread Street restaurant. I literally just missed him going into the building. The roof top bar was pretty cool and the white wine was even cooler.

Star ferry was on my 'to do' list but when I woke up, the smog had rolled in. The trip was good but the hazy skyline made my pictures a little fuzzy. Or that could be my poor photography skills?

It's been nice wandering around the parks but the heat is so intense. I found myself having to go into the shops, just so I could cool off... ;)

It's been ok so far being on my own. It was nice to have someone to hang out with one night, and thanks to What's App I can keep in contact with the people that matter (you know who you are!) so for thee that say you couldn't travel along, you should try it. 

The perks so far; 

- I can choose whatever place I want to go eat/drink

- I can star fish in my bed (although I do that anyway!)

- There's no time table. I can do as I please!

- I've got time to just take things in and think/reflect

Some people don't understand my passion for travelling but when you have the opportunity to see such amazing things and meet such great new people, what isn't there to like? Making memories is all worth the money... Unless I get altazimers that would suck! 

Ready, set, go....

The new journey begins...

I'm off on another exciting journey soon and once again, all by myself (cue the song...)

I had originally booked to go to Hong Kong, Borneo and Bali with 'the ex' but when we split up, the trip had to be cancelled. Instead of missing out altogether on an amazing trip, I decided to adapt it to a less 'couples' place and swapped Borneo (no cuddling orangtages for me) and Bali (honeymoon central) for elephant rides in Chiang Mai and being a beach bum in Koh Samui.

Usually when I go 'travelling', I book onto organised tours. But I decided to throw away my backpack after my last trip. There gets a certain point in a women's life when she just doesn't want to wash out her knickers anymore in the sink of a crappy two star hotel.

I'm starting my trip in Hong Kong. I'll be spending three nights there and I have a rough idea of the places I'd like to visit. Definitely the Big Budda looks amazing. And now I have my amazing 'selfie stick' (thanks to my lovely housemate) I can take lots of cool pictures with the big dude (or it is dudette?).

There's a few cool bars I've been recommended to visit in Hong Kong so I'll definitely go to them. This will be a very new experience going into a nice bar/restaurant alone. I'm hoping I'll get speaking to some nice people whilst I'm there, if not there will be far too much reflection time.

Next stop is Chiang Mai. I hadn't heard of this place before but I wanted to see the elephants whilst in Thailand and it seems like this is one of the best places to go to see the elephants and even ride them through the jungle.

I know there is a lot of controversy regarding riding the elephants but I've done a lot of research and I even I spoke with my old tour guide from Thailand and she recommended a couple of good places that treat the elephants really well.

Annoyingly, this is going to be another one of the amazing experiences that I'll be doing alone. It used to bother me a lot but I've got to the point now that I realise how lucky I am to be visiting these incredible places and having these brilliant experiences that despite being alone, it's all worth it. No doubt in the future I'll be talking about my experiences with someone special. 

After Chiang Mai, I'll be heading to Koh Samui. It was difficult deciding whether to go to Koh Samui or Phuket but I was swayed with the prospect of the weather being better in Koh Samui. It'll be great to have a nice little Autumn tan.

The hotels I'll be staying in are all pretty cool. I do realise how much of a lucky girl I am to be going to these gorgeous places and being able to stay in nice places but isn't the saying 'Work hard and play harder...'

P.S Ducky is coming out of retirement and is really looking forward to using the new selfie stick!

Open your eyes.

The worst thing about travelling the World, and visiting all these wonderful new places, is the fact that it opens your eyes up to all the sadness that is in this World. 

I've just travelled from Vietnam to Cambodia. It's my first experience of Asia and I honestly didn't know what to expect. 

I'm feeling very sorry for myself at the moment. Not only is it the anniversary of my husbands death in two days times. But I've also been kindly dumped by my boyfriend, whilst I'm over the other side of the World. 

I've been sitting here, thinking how bad my life is. How I must have been such a shitty person for all of the crap I've had to deal with. 

Yet there is so much heartache and pain in this world. Yesterday when we were travelling on the bus, a motorbike clipped the side of the bus and crashed. 

I was sitting at the back so I saw the bike trapping his legs, I saw the other cars and bikes having to swerve to avoid hitting him, I saw the blood gushing from his nose. 

Although it was his fault for the accident, that doesn't stop him being in a lot of pain. And it didn't stop our bus driving handing him some cash. No doubt as he felt guilty, but also because the medical care here I believe is non-existent. 

That poor man probably had a bad concision, yet he had to get back on his bike and continue driving. 

And now today, on our way to Cambodia we drove past another motorbike accident. And whoever was driving it, had died. They were just laying there, under a piece of material. 

The motorbikes are so crazy here. It seems to be the cheapest mode of transport so there are so many of them. 

At first I found it amusing seeing what they were carrying on their bikes. I've seen a motorbike carrying a motorbike. I've seen one little bike carrying a family of four. They seem to try and fit so many people on them. 

So all it takes it one wrong move and a whole family could be wiped out. Now if we saw in the newspaper that a young dad was carrying his two year old child on a bike, the child would be taken into care so quickly. 

It's interesting to find out how different thing affecting the one part of the World create issues on the opposite side. 

My guide was saying how the main job for people in the cities in Cambodia is being a tour guide or something tourist related. Pooky said when the volcanic ash was causing travel havoc, that people were unable to visit the country for so long, that many people died due to no money to buy food. 

To me that seems like such a crazy situation. It's so sad that something affecting the opposite side of the World caused so many people to die. 

And to think of how many of my friends on Facebook were bitching and moaning about not being able to go on their holidays. 

Does that make us self centred?

I love to travel, to see how beautiful other countries are. I love to see the wildlife and the countryside. I like to try the new foods and go shopping for bargains in the local markets. 

But I am ashamed to say I wish I could turn my back on the poverty. Seeing disabled people begging for money because they can't find a job. 

Or seeing children so happy to be given a bottle of water. What World do we live in when there is such equality?

But I am not foolish enough to think that I, being one person, could make any difference. 

So if I can't make a difference, what do I do. Do I turn my head and try to ignore what's going on. Or do I try and make subtle changes to try and help?

It certainly puts things into perceptive. So if I'm seeing all this pain from the family grieving for the person on the motorbike or to the little girl who couldn't have been older than six years old guiding her blind father around begging for money. 

Why do I still feel so wrapped up in my 'poor me' life? I have a beautiful home (admittedly it is the house my husband killed himself in), I have fantastic friends and family. I have a great job and I have enough money to go and travel the World. 

Maybe it's me people should feel pity for. I can't even be content with what I have. 

The one thing that I have really tried to do the last few days is genuinely smile at strangers. Honestly, you should give it a go. To smile at someone you do not know, and receive true warmth for absolutely nothing, is so rewarding. 

Road Trip!

LA Baby

Wow I am seriously loving life! America is incredible. I completely forgot how different things are over here. 

When I arrived at the hotel in LA, I decided to just chill by the pool for a little bit and soak up some rays before I met the tour group. 

Everyone from the group seems really nice. There are eight girls and two guys. It's normal for there to be more girls than guys. 

We got up early on Sunday to explore more of LA. we went to the beach at Santa Monica which was lovely. It was really quiet but I can imagine on a hot sunny day it's amazing. 

We then went to Rodeo Drive. Oh my god the shops were amazing. It was lucky they were shut as I could have seriously maxed out the Amex. 

Everywhere is so clean and  well kept. The hotel where Pretty Woman was shot was pretty impressive. And we also saw The Beverley Hills hotel where sadly Whitney Houston died. 

The best for me in LA was Hollywood and the Hollywood walk of Fame. It was so busy and so many cool people. 

We were walking along and then I saw a TV crew. Next minute I know we were asked to sign a waiver as we were in a shoot for Breaking Amish. 

That's pretty cool and that is the norm over here. I would have loved to stay longer and explore the area more but we had to head on to San Diego. 

San Diego reminds me strongly of Mexico. It's a great town with a good atmosphere. Lots of shops and bars. 

We headed to the beach and it was lovely to sit and write in my diary. I've enjoyed being with everyone but it was nice having 10 mins to myself. 

The camp site was pretty good. Very good amenities such as showers, restrooms and a good kitchen area. 

We cooked burritos. It was good everyone working as a team but it's pretty difficult cooking for so many. 

We're now on an 8 hour drive to Scottsdale in Phoenix. It's a long drive but we've been chatting, playing UNO and having wifi in the van has been handy. 

My 2013 Crazy Travel Plans

I had such a great time updating everyone with my travels last year that I have decided to continue to document my experiences again for 2013.

A little background for those that don't know me. I am Becky, 26 years of age and recently single! That to me is the biggest difference from my travels of last year, this time I get to party freely without the hassle of a boyfriend.

Since splitting up from the ex I have been having a blast. It has made me discover how important friends and family are. And also how important it is to have an amazing time at any given opportunity. I'll pretty much give anything a go once....

So, my latest travels will be to the U.S.A. I've been faithful to G Adventures and have booked there San Diego, Grand Canyon and Vegas trip starting this Saturday. I am so excited for this trip as I've always wanted to go to Las Vegas and have a crazy time.

The trip is a YOLO trip aimed at people aged 18-30. I'm hoping there will be lots of other single people of similar age to me looking to have some fun. Part of the trip will be camping and although I'm not the biggest fan of camping, I think it's all part of the experience.

At least I know that when I finish in Vegas I have booked myself into a room at Tropicana for a few extras nights. I'm sure that's when the fun really begins.

I don't know what I want to do first; Hit the casinos and learn how to play poker, lounge around the pool or better still go to a pool party or shop till I drop. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep when I get to Vegas, that's for sure.

I'll keep you all posted on the goings on whilst I'm away. For now don't be too jelaous as it seems the weather will be improving in the UK so my friends back home may even have a better tan than me.

Home sweet home

Although it was such a long journey home, I'm so glad I am here.

I have had such an amazing time travelling. I know the reason I went travelling was to try and run away from
the anniversary of Dean's death didn't quite workout, but I have gained so much from my time travelling.

I have been some amazing people and have former great friendships with Amy, Caroline, Meera and Maria.

In fact everyone (well except for three people!) we're all very good people and I have learnt a lot from everyone.

The experiences I have been honoured to have are amazing. My highlights are cuddling the howler monkeys, surfing the Pacific ocean, hiking the Inca Trail and discovering the indescribable Machupicchu after the mist mystically disappeared.

I am really glad I travelled when I did. Although I missed my family and friends like crazy and starting a new relationship before you go travelling wasn't ideal but everything has worked out.

I don't see me doing a huge trip again but I am really excited to start a new exciting journey in my life, starting to live my life again with a wonderful man who treats me so well and makes me incredibly happy... Thank you Stuart xxx