Halloween

We had all been invited over to Nicola's toot toot crew's Halloween party, and there were suggestions that singstar might make an appearance so I was totally there.

I headed over to Hayley's after work on Friday and we all dressed up in our wacky costumes (some more wacky that others!) and after a few (deadly) drinks headed off down the road.

We bowled on up into the decorated house and started partying with all the other dresser upperra's. At about 10.30 we had run out of booze (a whole bottle of peach snapps and half a bottle of vodka already down the hatch) and missioned it to Tesco, with a few photo ops on the way (and we may have accidentally set off someones motorcycle alarm). Once at Tesco's we realised we didn't bring ID, crap 26 (well some of us) and still need to think about ID, luckily with my smooth talking skills (that is what I like to think persuaded the guy) we managed to purchase our bottle of vodka and head back to the party and continue our night.

After a couple of hours people started dropping off, first Tim and Louisa and then Hayley and Niki (Hayley was already chucking her guts up) but since I can totally handle my alcohol(!) I kept on partying. Now here is where it gets a bit fuzzy, at about, lets say, 2amish I thought it was time I left the party so I bolted out the door onto the high street and couple of minutes later I am outside Hayley's door taking in the fresh air and wishing I hadn't let Hayley pour my drinks all night (she is lethal!). Once feeling, lets say, not like I wanted to throw up anymore, I open the back door and blank, I don't remember what happens after then (and I always remember, ask anyone!!). It isn't until 6am I hear "Toni, Toni, wake up, you are in the bath, they are gone, come and sleep on the couch". What the??? How did I get in the bath? Why was I in the bath? I have no memory of anything after opening the back door! Hmmmm ... so I climbed out of the bath, took my contacts out and resumed my sleeping on the couch. Luckily, I didn't wake up with a hangover unlike some other people who could hardly move on Saturday.

Snow in London

At about 10.00pm tonight it started snowing. I was sitting in the lounge chatting when someone and they said, "hey, whats that outside? It looks like ..." "SNOW" someone yelped and everyone fought to get out of the lounge to have a look. It was amazing! The first time I had ever seen it snow before and I never even knew it actually snowed so close to London city. It was so pretty and unexpected. A nice little surprise.

Imperial War Museum

Today me and Niki decided to do an outing to the Imperial War Museum. I was particularly interested to go as they have a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Holocaust.

The war museum is huge and has many different floor and themes. We were only there for a couple of hours but could of easily spent much more time there. I particularly like the Holocaust exhibition which had lots of stories, photos, memorabilia and the exhibition of a World War trench where you could actually walk though a make shift trench and see how the soldiers would have lived in the trench.

I would recommend it, if you are interested in the World Wars or the Holocaust and a bonus, its free!

Dancing in Clapham

On Saturday night Hayley and I decided to get gussied up and go dancing. We were originally going to go into the city to a 90's club but lack of recruits meant that instead we headed into Clapham which was more closer to home.

We decided to head to a vodka bar that Hayley had been to before and thought was really good. On our way from the tube, we accidentally went the wrong way which meant that we ended up there after 11pm and had to pay the £5.00 entry, doh! Once in we headed upstairs to the loo and coat check and then decided that shots were in order. We got six different shots of some different types of vodka and then headed downstairs to dance. Unfortunately, the music was shite so I thought maybe a pitcher might pick us up, I downed half of that in about 20 minutes and tried to dance but, honestly, the music was crap some house shite that had annoying repetitive beats so we decided to get outta there and find some quality beats.

My two "short" friends --->

As we were walking down the street the "Cazabar" were playing rocking tunes and we decided to go in. We were warned at the door that is was a gay bar but as we could see no necking going on decided to head in. We pretty much stayed in the corner and danced until it closed.

As we were all enthusiastic (shots and a pitchers will have that effect) we kept on looking for somewhere else to go. We headed into another bar and had an awesome time dancing to heaps of totally danceable songs, meeting foreign boys and staying out past our bedtime (we are still young!!).

Rainman

Josh Harnett is hot!! Tonight was the much anticipated viewing of the stage show "Rainman" with Josh Harnett a real life Hollywood actor and ever so cute (especially in Pearl Harbour – insert picture) so the chicks (and Tim) headed to Apollo Theatre in Leicester Square. We were at the back, very high up but still head a reasonable view, gutted I didn't bring binoculars though!

When Hayley first mentioned it, I had never seen "Rainman" before so I watched it on DVD a couple of weeks ago so that I knew what it would be about. The play was really good, Josh was hot (he even got his shirt off) and the person who played Raymond was fantastic.. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good photo when he came out for his bows but now I can say I have see Josh Harnett in real life!

Famous people I have seen in London

• The Queen


• Josh Harnett

The Church

Today was the much anticipated (and planned) day at the Church. I was still suffering from severe never ending European cold but still managed to get it together on the day.

Our theme of the day was wearing all of one colour, being crayons in a box. Of course, mine was pink, unfortunately I couldn't find pink tights but highlighter pink leg warmers did the job.

At 9amish we hightailed it up to Tim and Louisa's (which meant we actually go there around 10ish) for a champagne breakfast with scrummy food, Asti (wine haters wine!) and some yager shots. We then missioned it down to Kentish Town and into the Church - only open Sunday afternoons from 12 - 4pm, mostly frequented by Antipodeans - for some afternoon drinking. We had such a great time, dancing, singing, drinking, posing (some more than others Louisa!!).

When the church closed at 4.00pm we headed to "She Bu" for those who aren't up with the lingo (Shepherds Bush Walkabout). After a boring hour on the tube we made it to She Bu before our alcohol buzz wore off. Shepherds Bush Walkabout is a pub that is aimed at the OZ/Kiwi market so as soon as we walked in the door we headed to the mince pie stand and munched into some pastry goodness (thanks Tim!). We then headed to the dance floor and danced and sang to, oh I dunno, 8.30pm (early drinking is great). At that time my European flu was bringing me down so I left the others and made the trek (the long way) home on the tube, de-colourised and went to bed.

Shakespeare

About four months ago I purchased tickets for the gang to go and see a Shakespeare Play at the Shakespeare Globe and the time had finally come around. So all bundled up in our winter woollies and a supply of tissues (I felt like death (sick again, remember, could feel it coming on from Amsterdam!) but I wasn't waiting another four months) and tubed it to the Globe.

After meeting up with the crew we took our £15 seats (they were a bit obstructed) but at least we weren't standing like some other unfortunates in the rain (their tickets were only £5 - yes Zac I was one of the "suckers sitting behind"). The play was Midsummer's Nights Dream. I studied this in third form .. and can tell you I remembered nothing about it (only what I learnt from that movie that has Kirsten Dunst is in and they turn it into a musical) anywho, after the first half Louisa went and brought the programme which was super handy as it explained the plot and we could understood the second half which made it totally more enjoyable and rather funny. I had a pretty good time and would recommend it - my tip would be to make sure you know what the story is about first!

1 October 2008

1 October 2008
FOUR COUNTRIES IN ONE DAY - try doing that at home!!

Amsterdam, Netherlands to Brugge, Belgium, to Calais, France to London, England

Today was our last day on tour. We packed up, said goodbye to Amsterdam and headed to Brugge for some Belgium waffles and chocolate and then onto the ferry to Dover. The bus ride was quiet and we were all reflecting on what a fantastic time we head. That night I stayed in the hostel with some of the others and to say a last goodbye.

I had such a great time on my holiday and would totally recommend it to everyone.

Most of the people on my tour - Rome

Highlights
- Skydiving in Switzerland
- Going up Jungfrau in Switzerland
- Drinking giant daiquiris in Florence
- Venice - everything
- Partying in Amsterdam

Lowlights
- Being sick - all the time (but it happens with every tour)
- Manky boat sailing
- Food in some places

The pro's totally outweigh the negatives though and am saving hard for my next adventures - which I am sure you are totally amped to hear about.

29 September 2008 - 1 October 2008

Can you see me?

29 September 2008 - 1 October 2008
Rhine Valley, Germany to Amsterdam, Netherlands

29 September 2008

Rhine Valley (St Goar), Germany to Amsterdam, Netherlands

Before we headed off to Amsterdam, we stopped off in St Goar for a beer stein and cuckoo clock demonstration. Left is the largest free standing cuckoo clock in the world.

And then once in the Netherlands we stopped off for a cheese and traditional clog making demonstration where we got to sample the cheese and purchase souvenirs (I love souvenirs!!)

Once checked into our hostel it was time to head into the "red light district" to see the "Moulin Rouge" sex show. What can I say ... it was interesting and entertaining and a bit uncomfortable. After that we had a walk around "skinny alley" which is pretty girls standing in shop windows waiting to be ... brought ... is that the right word? Once that was over and done with we headed to St Christopher's Inn where we spent the night drinking cheap two for ones!!

30 September 2008
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This morning we were supposed to get up bright and early and head out on a bike tour of the city, unfortunately it was pouring (and I was getting sick AGAIN!! and maybe a little worse for wear after the night before) so decided to can it and have a lie in. Once awake and out of bed we headed off to the Anne Frank Museum - Anne Frank gained fame posthumously following the publication of her diary which documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Anne and her family moved to Amsterdam in 1933 after the Nazis gained power in Germany, and were trapped by the occupation of the Netherlands, which began in 1940. As persecutions against the Jewish population increased, the family went into hiding in July 1942 in hidden rooms in her father Otto Frank's office building. After two years, the group was betrayed and transported to concentration camps. Seven months after her arrest, Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, within days of the death of her sister, Margot Frank. Her father Otto, the only survivor of the group, returned to Amsterdam after the war to find that her diary had been saved, and his efforts led to its publication in 1947. It was translated from its original Dutch and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl.

This museum was sad but nice to go and see, I have become somewhat fascinated with the Holocaust since my trip away.

After the museum we spent the next couple of hours looking around and having pictures taken and then went back to the hostel to pack, for the last time (weep weep) and then headed off to the floating Chinese restaurant for dinner.

After dinner we had booked a (booze) cruise on the river. We had a great time on the boat drinking to our hearts content and then headed into another bar in Amsterdam where we danced until we got booted out and ... had to pay 50 cents to use the toilet! Ripped!!

28 September 2008

28 September 2008

Prague, Czech Republic to St Goar, Rhine Valley, Germany Dawn - Rhine River

We left the "city of a thousand spires today" and headed to our castle on the hill in Germany. We travelled along the Rhine River -the Rhine River is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres, with an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second. The Rhine has been a vital navigable waterway, carrying trade and goods deep inland. It has also served as a defensive feature, and has been the basis for regional and international borders. The many castles and prehistoric fortifications along the Rhine testify to its importance as a waterway. River traffic could be stopped at these locations, usually for the purpose of collecting tolls, by the state controlling that portion of the river. The Rhine was beautiful and we learnt the legend of the Lorelei rock. (different Lorelei than the one in Gilmore Girls!)

We were promised a night in a castle in Germany, this was the castle, I can say I was a tad disappointed. I guess it kinda looked like a castle but it didn't have lots of turrents, or a moat, or anything like that and this is probably the best angle at the back its all wooden and inside looks like a normal hostel.

26 September 2008 to 27 September 2008

26 September 2008 to 27 September 2008
Tyrol, Austria to Mathausen Concentration Camp, Austria to Prague, Czech Republic

26 September 2008

Tyrol, Austria to Mathausen Concentration Camp, Austria to Prague, Czech Republic

Today we boarded the bus to head towards Prague. On the way though we took a detour to Mathausen Concentration Camp - Mauthausen Concentration Camp was one of the Nazi concentration camps that were built around the villages of Mauthausen. In January 1945, the camps, directed from the central office in Mauthausen, contained roughly 85,000 inmates. The death toll remains unknown, although most sources place it between 122,766 and 320,000 for the entire complex. The camps formed one of the first massive concentration camp complexes in Nazi Germany, and were the last ones to be liberated by the Western Allies or the Soviet Union. The two main camps, Mauthausen and nearby Gusen I, were also the only two camps in the whole of Europe to be labelled as "Grade III" camps, which meant that they were intended to be the toughest camps for the "Incorrigible Political Enemies of the Reich" Unlike many other concentration camps, intended for all categories of prisoners, Mauthausen was mostly used for extermination through labour of the intelligentsia, who were educated people and members of the higher social classes in countries subjugated by Germany during World War II.

Mathhausen was one of the many number of camps that were part of "The Holocaust" - The Holocaust is the term generally used to describe the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, as part of a programme of deliberate extermination planned and executed by the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi) regime in Germany led by Adolf Hitler.

Mathausen was interesting to visit you definitely weren't excited to be there, but glad that you were. My whole trip has broadened my knowledge of the Holocaust and I plan to go to the main concentration camping in Poland.

Prague, Czech Republic
After the camp we kept on going to Prague. Once we arrived we were feed and then went into town
at 10pm for our (painful) walking tour of the city. The city is beautiful at night, and I do love walking tours but we were tired and exhausted by the time we finished at midnight!

27 September 2008
Prague, Czech Republic

Today was our free day to look around the city. So after a much needed sleep in we headed into the city. First up was Prague Castle which was up about, oh, 50 million (ok about maybe 200 stairs) at the top of a hill and when we finally found the entrance was a bit disappointed, it really just felt like an old building with old stuff, not a castle feel at all. After the castle we took a stroll over Charles Bridge - a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic - the bridge is full of street stalls and beautiful photos and paintings.


------> Me and Richard


<---- Disney castle church

After lunch, Richard was in town so we meet at the Prague Astronomical Clock - The Orloj is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months - basically a fancy old clock thing.

After the hi, how are yous, we headed to the sex museum for a look around (hmmmm) and then back to the hostel for packing as we were heading to Germany tomorrow.

24 September 2008 - 25 September 2008

24 September 2008 - 25 September 2008
Venice, Italy to Kirkdorf (Tyrol), Austria to Munich, Germany, back to Austria

24 September 2008

Venice, Italy to Kirkdorf, Austria

We boarded the bus this morning and headed to Kirkdorf (Tyrol) in Austria. Austria is beautiful, it reminded me of Switzerland with the big mountains. We arrived in Austia in plenty of time to do our optional extras. I had chosen to do canyoning - canyoning travelling is through a gorge (down a waterfall) using a variety of techniques that may include walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling and/or swimming in deep pools.

We quickly changed in togs and headed off. Once there we got suited up in two wetsuits and our harness and after a few quick photos headed off. After a painstaking 10 minute walk up a hill in our outfits (I thought I was going to die) we made it to the waterfall where we started our canyoning adventures.

First, we abseiled down the first part (20m), and then jumped from the ledge about - The Edge - "Fuck Off" (warm up jump) (6m) - into a pool of water. With no hesitation I jumped into this pool, and once I landed my eyes flung open and I started gasping for air. The water was sooo cold, the kind of cold were you can't breathe and you can hardly move (I dread to think what the actual temperature was) once out of the pool and my breathing returning to normal I realised in my shock from the cold water that I had opened by eyes and that one of my contact lens had fallen out. Damm, and they were the only pair I had. I spent the rest of my canyoning trip with one eye closed, sliding down waterfalls, jumping into pools and walking along the rocky waterfall bed.

Once back at the hostel, I had a nice hot shower, dinner and headed to bed early for our day at Oktoberfest tomorrow.

25 September 2008
Tyrol, Austria to Munich, Germany

This morning we were heading to Munich to go and check out Oktoberfest. It wasn't supposed to be included in our trip, but since the timing was right, we were so close and had done our optional extras the day before, we thought why not check it out.

After two hours on the bus we were here. Oktoberfest is more than just drinking steins of beer. There are carnival rides, food, souvenirs and of course, the beer tents. We decided to spend the morning looking around Munich and doing some of the rides before heading into the tents.

Munich is a really pretty little city, unfortunately for us the weather was crapola but still managed to have a good look around.

In the afternoon, after a ride on the Olympic Rings ride, we decided to troop it into the tents. What a mission, everyman and his dog was trying to get in their as the weather was so miserable, fortunately for us, we found a back entrance and didn't have to wait an hour, like some people. The atmosphere in there is fantastic, people everywhere, barmaids in outfits (I wanted to get one, but it was way too cold to get changed) and of course steins full of beer. I don't drink beer, but thought I would get in the spirit of it, I purchased a half beer, half lemonade and managed to drink 2/3's of it which I think it pretty good. At bout 8.15 we decided to head out ad we had to meet at 9pm and we wanted to get some food. First stop, pork knuckles - these were amazing, best pork I have ever tasted - and then chocolate coated strawberries, after a quick stop at the toilet we ventured to the meeting spot about 5 minutes late. There was no one in sight, hmmm, we thought, ok they all must be late, most of them were pretty pissed, after another 5 minutes we thought, hmmm, and I called another girl who said that I was in front of her ok so I looked around, no one so I called again. They had already headed back to the bus, shit, luckily someone came back to us, but they were ready to leave us behind because we were 5 minutes late! Fortunately, for us we didn't get left behind, unfortunately for another person they did!

22 September 2008 - 23 September 2008

22 September 2008 - 23 September 2008

Zadar, Croatia to Postojnska Jama, Slovenia to Venice, Italy

22 September 2008

Zadar, Croatia to Postojnska Jama, Slovenia to Venice, Italy

Today we were heading to Venice via the Postojnska Jama caves in Slovenia - the longest cave system in the country. In the caves we had a short train ride through the formations before being taken on a walking tour of the caves.

After the caves we carried onto Venice and after a top deck dinner and then we all togaed up for the toga party!!!!!. This was another super night on my top deck tour and a lot of random things happened, and I have lots of stories, but funnier if I tell them in person, ask me sometime but I will say "we will always have number 21"!

23 September 2008
Venice, Italy

Today was our day to explore Venice, and surprisingly after the toga party last night, everyone was up bright and early to catch the bus into the outskirts of Venice's main square as there are no cars in the city centre and the only form of transport is walking or by boat.

The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland. (Under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay. It is petrified as a result of the constant flow of mineral-rich water around and through it, so that it becomes a stone-like structure.) The piles penetrate a softer layer of sand and mud until they reach the much harder layer of compressed clay.

The morning was spent going on a gondola ride around some of Venice's canals and a (extremely boring) tour of the city by an Italian guide. Once that was over it was our time to shop, and boy did I shop! Venice is amazing, the city is beautiful and the shopping is great. Venice is famous for its masks and has a lot of murano glass jewellery and ornaments. After we were all shopped out, we walked over the Rialto bridge and took a water taxi back to our meeting point. The night was spent repacking our bags and getting an early night.

21 September 2008

21 September 2008

Herceg Novi, Montenegro to Split and Zadar, Croatia

At 8.30 this morning (which is super early after a punch party) we piled onto the bus - some of us feeling better than others and headed towards Zadar in Croatia. The ride was coastal and extremely windy (how do you spell that?) and there were more than a few people "double bagging" due to car sickness, hangovers and then both combined!

At about 2pm we finally pulled over in Split, another beautiful coastal town in Croatia, for a lunch break and rest stop. Once in Zadar we had a quick dinner and walk around before heading back to our dodgy hostel accommodation.

Giant disco dance floor thing by the waters edge in Zadar!

19 September 2008 to 20 September 2008

19 September 2008 to 20 September 2008

Tirana, Albania to Herceg Novi, Montenego and Dubrovnick, Croatia

19 September 2008

After a late breakfast at the fantabulous hotel we hit the road and headed towards Montenegro. Our drive took us along some beautiful coastal roads and scenery.

As Montenegro has recently just declared independence - On the basis of a referendum held on 21 May 2006, Montenegro declared independence on 3 June. On 28 June 2006, it became the 192nd member state of the United Nations,[8] and on 11 May 2007 the 47th member state of the Council of Europe - it has very limited accommodation so what they have done is convert part of a hospital into a "hotel". Which means that one side of the building is was a working hospital (or for some, two doors down!) and the other side was a "hotel". There were even old call buttons for the nurses in our room and I can tell you that the food was defiantly hospital food, it was rank, there was a lot of mysterious meat and dessert was a banana!

20 September 2008

Due to our convenient location, in a hospital, I arose bright and early to see if I could see a doctor (was still suffering badly from bus sars). Two doors down from our room I knocked on the door and was welcomed in by a doctor and prescribed some drugs. How convenient and best thing of all, the doctor was free and the drugs only cost euro 3.50 bonus!

After my doctor's visit we piled in the couch and headed towards Dubrovnick in Croatia. Dubrovnick is a beautiful coastal town where the old city is surrounded by walls. After getting some local currency - Kuna - we headed into the old city and for a walk around the walls.

This walk took two hours and gave beautiful view of the city and surround islands. After the walk we caught a ferry to a small island and home to a nudist beach. After seeing some naked men on the beach we headed back to the coach and back to Montenegro for the Punch party.

The tour leader and bus driver had organized a punch party for us, we all payed 5 eruos and in a giant barrel got poured copious amounts of vodka, wine, juice and then some random spirits and it was potent but actually quite good. Had a fantabulous night with heaps of great people and there are many random photos, which you can catch in my photo gallery!

Kiwi girls --->

What better way to cure a hangover then sticking needles in your head!!