An Asian Tattoo

My stitches have finally been removed and my leg is healing well - the scar looks like it is giving the 'fingers' to anyone who has the pleasure of viewing it. Sometimes it sees the light of day and gets a bit of air; but it is usually covered as there is a lot of 'staph' or 'MRSA' that is going around here, so better to air on the side of caution.

Well, officially I have less than 2 weeks left in this beautiful country that many people call 'paradise'. Driving around in the heat and viewing the country is just amazing. Trying to take in as much as I can before I leave - the scenery is breath-taking and life for many travellers here is pretty much stress free. 

The last time I visited the hospital, I was in a bit of a rush, as I always got lost going to and from the place. So trying to make my last appointment, I arrived a wee bit late. Normal procedures before seeing the doctor is that they take your temperature and blood pressure. Now, considering I was rushing to get there; the nurses took my blood pressure and asked me if I was dizzy or feeling faint. I replied no, and they told me my blood pressure was very low. Now, if that is after rushing around to get there, I wonder what it would be normally - just shows you that I must have no stress in my life...what's that? I'm sure it will soon rise a little bit, as I get back home and into the swing of reality again; which will probably be a massive culture shock...or just shock to my system again!

My latest blog title is 'An Asian Tattoo'. You're probably wondering what it is all about. Well, I can tell you this from lots of experiences from others and from myself, that if you want an Asian Tattoo (which is absolutely free - yes - FREE!) you need the following: -

• A scooter/motorbike - any size of engine
• Tarmac, rocky road surface, animals or just trees and bushes
• You can either be one of the following: stupid, drunk, unable to manage a motorbike in wet weather conditions or unable to manage it in any condition
• Driving skills at home are completely useless here in SE Asia. 
• A helmet to protect you; but absolutely no leather gear to protect you if you fall.

Driving the roads here in Thailand, or SE Asia, is a bit like those computerised tests you take on 'hazard awareness' before completing your first driving test examination. When you take these tests at home, you click the mouse for all the dangers that you see in your way. Each time you click correctly, you earn a point (I think) and the more hazards you get correct, the better the chances are of you passing this exam.

Well, if you sit yourself on a motorbike and drive the roads here, it is a little bit like this hazard awareness exam. Except in SE Asia, you would be clicking the mouse every fraction of a second as it would over-heat and explode in your hand as driving here is completely crazy.

Trying to concentrate on everything happening on these roads, not only with cars, people, animals, dangerous road surfaces etc has had many of my friends and 'farangs' (foreigners as the Thais call us), including myself, a new Asian Tattoo or lots of these tattoos. Basically, 'An Asian Tattoo' is absolutely free, when a foreigner decides they'd rather make friends with the  roads here and fall off their bikes. I fell off one night, driving home and my skin was somewhere on the concrete and the bike scratched. 

One of my friends has at least 8-10 nasty Asian Tattoos all over her arms, legs and body - oozing with lovely puss, who fell off after a dog didn't get out of her way. 33,000 Baht later...which is the equivalent of  £700 to fix the cost of the bike - not good! Yesterday evening, a lovely guy (33 year old from England) who trained at the camp here, was travelling home on his motorbike, with no helmet and had been drinking. Apparently, he drove into a metal barrier on the side of the road. Tragically, he lost his life and died from his injuries. Images of his body wrapped in a white cover, blood all over the road and being lifted onto a stretcher isn't one of the images of Thailand that people want to see here. Others have fallen off on wet surfaces or just lost control using the throttle. So, it is very easy to come to Asia and receive these free tattoos.

Many insurance companies don't insure us stupid 'farangs' who hire out these motorbikes. The Traffic Police here in Thailand set up road checks. Normally when this happens, you can spot the tourists trying to dodge them by turning around and going in the opposite direction. If the Police stop you, they ask for your driving licence - most tourists don't have a motorbike licence, but are still allowed to hire them. If you aren't wearing a helmet, then they can charge you for this also. And, they have been known to breathalize people also -if caught, it is a night in the cells. Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that they actually stop and breathalize people, as so many locals and tourists drive whilst completely under the influence of a lot of alcohol.

As I said, my time here is soon coming to an end; as is my 'crazy gap year' (or 2 years). Constantly, I am the butt of many peoples jokes when it comes to my 2 years of travelling with a zero tan. I think I have a bit of a 'farmers tan' with a few more freckles joining up on my skin. After one day on the beach here, lots of people have more of a tan than I do. Even some of my Thai friends comment; 'You soooooooooo white' - it gets a bit embarrassing at times! 

And, it also doesn't help being here in Thailand and buying beauty products. All the Thai women want to have white skin and different coloured eyes. Having dark skin is a sign of poverty and white skin a sign of wealth. People are never happy and they want to be like others. I suppose to us foreigners, all the Thai people look the same: brown/black hair, brown eyes, brown skin (similar to South America). We want to look like them and they want to look like us.  

Shopping for beauty products in the local supermarkets, can be a pain in the arse. When I run out of deodorant, body spray, moisturiser etc, naturally, it is time to re-stock. Trying to find these products, which are the same brands at home is pretty easy. Except here, there is just a slight difference. In Thailand, most of these products have 'extra whitening' in them. So, not only am I white enough as it is; these things aren't helping with my tanning process. 

So, any kind of  'tan' that I already have after 2 years of travelling, is now being destroyed by all these 'whitening products' - thanks Thailand; not only am I the brunt of many a joke here;  but I will probably get even more slagging when I return back to Ireland.  

This is my penultimate blog. My final blog to end this amazing journey that I have been fortunate in having will most likely appear a day or two before my arrival home. Trying hard to make time stand still for me, but that's not happening for me either!

Thai hospital/Insurance Company 1 vs. Mary 0

Well, I made my way back to stunning Thailand and have been here now for the last 5 weeks or so. I am back in Phuket at the place I was previously at exactly one year ago. Yeah, fitness for me and the ultimate and final leg of my journey, before returning home at the start of May.  It is hard to believe that when I return home, I will have been away 22 months. I do not regret any of it and have had the time of my life and have no idea how I will settle these itchy feet of mine back into normality again...so only time will tell!

Quite a few people who were here last year have returned again, and new friendships have been formed. The place is stunning as usual, with the beautiful beaches, sunsets and the amazing Thai people. My time here has been spent exercising in Bodyfit and Crossfit (which I never did before - intense exercise at a high paced speed but with great benefits). I have had the chance to cruise around the island on a boat, visiting places on the motorbike and eat yummy Thai food and spending days/weekends with friends at the beaches and other places. I also made it to Penang in Malaysia for a visa run - Penang didn't do it for me and I wasn't very impressed with the place, but glad to get an extension of 60 days in my passport (and another stamp..which I love from all the countries I've visited). Only problem is that my passport runs out in 2014 and all the pages will be blank again...boo - well, that just means I'll have to figure out a way of travelling a bit more in the next 10 years.

As with everything, it was about time that I visited a hospital here, similar to what I have done in most of the continents I have visited so far on my travels. This time, I decided to gash open my leg and acquire minor surgery with my very first set of 12 stitches to go with it. I went to a Crossfit class and was in a team of 4 - myself being the only female, with 3 other guys. It was a Friday, and every Friday is known as 'Chipper Friday' which includes a Farmers Walk round camp with heavy weights, 200 Box jumps, 200 burpees, 200 press-ups with weights, 200 ghekko jumps, 200 pull-ups, running around camp with weights or carrying a team-mate, 200 kettle bell swings along with 200 sit-ups with weights in a timed exercise. A nice way to end the week...easy...eh?!

So the Box jumps involve jumping onto a metal type stool in different heights, which can be up to 30 inches with your two feet, using your arms to jump up, standing tall at the top, then jumping down again onto your two feet - this is repeated in your team until you get to 200, then you must move onto the next exercise. My team were a bit slow at getting the equipment out, so as the time was counted down, some of the guys were late in starting, so I decided to begin the box jumps first. I managed 4 before the box/stool became a bit unsturdy and I hit my shin on the way down on the corner of the stool. At first, I just thought I'd grazed the skin and felt sweat running down my leg. A minute later I looked down to wipe the 'sweat' away and realised that it wasn't sweat but blood pouring out of a very deep would in my left leg. I wasn't in much pain, but think the adrenaline from the warm-up etc. had something to do with that.

One of the trainers had me lying on the floor whilst she bandaged my leg, but I could see from her face that she was nearly going to puke - as you could see my bone and whatever else lies under the skin. An ambulance was called and I was shipped off with sirens off to Bangkok Hospital in Phuket - it was embarrassing as really there was no need for all that.

So I made it into the A&E with one of my friends accompanying me - I'm sure I smelt gorgeous (not) as I was sweating from the exercise and kind of felt sorry for those poor doctors and nurses working on my leg. Several injections later and minor surgery with 12 stitches and I was patched up. The doctor told me I was lucky not to have broken my leg and was worried about the kind of tear to my shin and had to remove dead skin cells as there was some necrosis inside all the goo! He also said that he hoped that the sensation would return to my shin but if it didn't I would have to undergo surgery and have a skin graft. I'm hoping that doesn't happen and my nice cells will heal up properly...please nice cells, be good to me haha.

And with travel insurance, sure things are great - they cover everything and are so supportive ...NOT the bunch of money grabbin *bleeps*. Because I was taken to a private hospital, they wouldn't cover the costs of treatment - even though I was put in the ambulance by others and driven there by the paramedics. Next time, if my legs and arms are falling off, I'm gonna make a dog-tag, drape it round my neck, or maybe I should get a tattoo that says..'If I am dying, please drive me to a public hospital, as my insurance company are a bunch of arseholes and won't pay for a band-aid if they had to' - maybe that will do the trick.

But at the minute, I think my leg is healing well, even though I can't see it under the bandage. I just train with weights for some upper body stuff and have been chilling. I had a great St Patrick's Day with friends and a little bit of alcohol numbed the pain - that Patrick lad came in handy. Spent the afternoon at a secluded beach with DJ's, food and drink then made our way into Patong to the local Irish bar there for a couple of pints of the Black Stuff - which tasted like balls...but the craic was so much fun.  

So that's some of my craic here - can't believe I have about 6 weeks left ..tryin not to think about it too much and enjoying every day here whilst the going is good. Below are a few pictures of my little graze to my left leg - ehmm, if you are queasy, look away now...could swear there are worms inside my leg, or maybe that's the ligaments and whatever else we are made up of. Gross really to think that we are blood and guts under all this skin. Beauty is only skin deep - too feckin right!!

My left shin bone with the little graze

Is that a worm inside my leg..could swear it is!

No not a shark/dog bite...just a corner of a stool that can do this

I think I could stitch better - no entering of leg competitions for me then in the future!

Cusco days are done

I've finally said good-bye to my adopted home of Cusco and am now in the airport in Lima about to board my flight in an hour's time to connect to London via Amsterdam. I will be staying in London, with my good friend Pippa, who I met travelling about 4 years ago when we both were on an active, adrenaline fuelled holiday in Turkey. The last time we met was in London 6 months before I left, but we still keep in contact via Skype, emails, Facebook - so looking forward to catching up with her again.

The last couple of weeks were spent having lunches/dinners/nights out saying good-bye to the good friends I have made in Cusco over the last 20 months of coming and going!  Some people have asked me if I will return again - maybe one day in the future, but being in Cusco 6 times; I think I've done and seen all I needed to, so naturally for me, it was my time to move on.

I spent a couple of days chilling out and having fun and lots of laughs with a good friend in the stunning Sacred Valley and taking in the amazing scenery one last time; which sometimes reminded me of rural Ireland.  My last night was spent with my wee Peruvian friend, Marilia, and her family, who were celebrating her fathers birthday. Wow- what an amazing night and what a headache the next day. These Peruvians know how to party. Most Peruvian families are very close and celebrate birthdays all day and into the wee small hours of the night singing, dancing, eating and drinking. Family to them, is not just immediate family, but cousins, aunts, uncles and more. It is tradition to be with everyone - they all look after each other here from the cradle to the grave - so nice! It was a great way to end my last night in Peru. 

I also got to eat cuy (guinea-pig) - yeah, you know the nice, fluffy pets that children have at home. Here, they eat them - minus the fluff, fur and cuteness. Jaysus, when they are skinned and cooked, they look like rats. I was asked to eat a bit, so trying...ok, pretending to be tough, I said yes. Oh my God, I thought I was going to throw up - the animal isn't presented to you in nice slices on a plate. It is presented to you in full with the body looking like it is stuck in rigormortis! It was lifted by the tail and given to me. Ok, so you hold the head - with the 2 front teeth sticking out and the claws hanging off it, and just bite. So, I took a bite and that was the end of it. In my head it was a rat and didn't smell that nice too. I did watch a relative of Marilia's devour another wee guinea pig by pulling it apart, leaving just the head, which he threw to the side when finished.....niceeee!

I've met so many good friends here on my 6 times living here and know I will keep in contact with some of them. I suppose I already do with some of the ones I met the first time I was in Cusco - and I've already met up with some of them again, when I/they have been travelling on different occasions.  Travelling is great - these people have a habit of wandering back in and out of your life on various occasions opening your mind to different ideas and perspectives - changing the way you look at things I suppose! 

Next for me after arriving in London is to leave again the following day with a flight out of Heathrow, heading towards SE Asia with a few hours wait in Dubai. OMG, I can't wait to say I've been in Dubai, even though I technically haven't sitting in an airport. I've always wanted to go there; but as I'm not rich enough this time for it, I'll maybe get another time when I have the money to do so. After Dubai, I will arrive in the 'Land of Smiles', not only for its natural beauty - beaches, history, scooter motorbikes (Hermie my bike, I'm comin to get you again!) but also for the amazing and friendly people there with their great culture and the smells and sounds of SE Asia.

My plans?! Well, you know me, nothing is ever set in stone as my mind changes so frequently, I just go with the flow. I will stay in Thailand for a month and then I hope to go to Java, Indonesia and then Cambodia and Laos (as I didn't manage to get there the last time). I have a return flight booked for London at the start of May as my money will have run dry by then. I have also told my school that I will return to teaching for the next academic year. But, if I can use my TEFL qualification and find a bit of paid work to keep me going, I intend to stick around SE Asia and make the most of my last few months of travel and freedom before returning to St Nicholas' in August.

Ok, time to go - my flight boards in 15 minutes. Time for the next 4 more days of sitting on my arse, stomach filling with wind and no doubt complete constipation by the time I arrive in Thailand, oh and jetlag...I can't wait. But Peru - it has been amazing. However, now I am ready for the next and final chapter of my crazy travels - I wonder what that will hold for me?

Murphy's Law

Happy New Year! I had a great time at home visiting everyone, but it was time to take the return flight back to South America and back up to Cusco.

No sooner had I landed in Lima, - 'Murphy's Law' began- 'If anything can go wrong, it will'. My bank card wouldn't work when I tried to use it. Dopey me received a new one when I was back in Ireland and forgot to activate the pin. This kept me in Lima an extra couple of nights. I was meant to be back in Cusco for NYE, and to start work the next day, but didn't make it. I did have a great time in Lima catching up with my two Peruvian friends. Rosario, who invited me over to her house for a lovely meal on NYE with her family and then we went out to the Miraflores area of the city and met up with another friend, Ronald, who I met in Cusco and his mate Yuri. So nice to have these contacts here in Peru and we had a great wee night.

The next day it was time to get a seat on the 22 hour bus back up to Cusco. Spent 24 Soles there and back only to find out that the offices were closed about 5 minutes before I arrived. So that meant another night in Lima, which was lovely and warm as it's summer here. That meant me being late - 3 days for work; but surprisingly, they were fine about it (obviously desperate for staff as I found out that 7 people walked out mid-December, so even if they wanted to tell me to get lost, they couldn't).  

Arrived in Cusco on 3rd January and about 10 minutes before it was time to enter the bus terminal, the room in a house that I was meant to rent, wasn't available until the 8th now. So then I was technically homeless for a while. Got in touch with my friends from my old Spanish school and they housed me for a few days, until I got myself sorted.  Met up with my colleagues and friends from work on the Friday and then settled back into work on the Monday. This time, I was teaching different classes from before. Mainly Basico, Alto-Basico and Advanced Levels.  The classes were just so sweet, Basico adults so vulnerable trying to learn English, but you could be a complete eejit with them and sing/dance around the room and they would copy.

By Day 2 my eye started to get the same feeling it had before. I just thought that it was probably the altitude and pollution again so I put some drops in it. By Day 3 I couldn't open it...it was the same story as before, so this time I jumped into the nearest taxi and went to the same hospital I had been to previously with my shingles/sunburn. Embarrassingly enough, it was the same doctor that had seen me before. So yep, got tested with a hand-torch if you don't mind - and he was fit to tell me that the shingles virus had reappeared again(?).  Left the hospital armed with the usual supply of antiviral drugs and other weird drugs to take.

Returned to work in the afternoon after taking the drugs. I was given four different types of drugs.  One was an antiviral, which I'm used to, the other two were drugs that would knock out a horse. Of course, I was as high as a kite trying to teach. One particular drug, which I later found out, was given  to people with neuralgia pain (which I was having) but also for people who take bad seizures/epileptic fits/serious ADHD/schizophrenia!!It decreases the number of red blood cells in your body (great, that's all I need at high altitude when as many red blood cells are needed) Side effects. I seemed to have them all. Confusion...yep, can't even remember calling my friends on the phone, dizziness, sleepiness (couldn't even manage to take my clothes off to get to bed), and bleeding from places I shouldn't be. It also lowers your dependence on alcohol. I only found this out after my birthday celebrations with friends here in Cusco and did wonder why after a few cuba libres, I couldn't have anymore!

I did have a great birthday weekend here in Cusco with my friends. And one of my alto basico classes sang me happy birthday in Spanish/English and Quechua.  I have decided on staying here in Peru for another 3 weeks, then I'm out of here. I hope to leave Cusco by the end of the week - it is rainy season here and it really rains and it is very cold also. One day whilst walking to work, the roads became rivers - brown rivers at that - it was crazy. The season is summer, but is totally different to Lima where there is nice heat etc. My family would prefer I take an early flight home and get my eyes checked out properly, but I'm going to stick it out here for a wee bit more and keep travelling like I always do! I'm getting itchy feet again, so I need to uproot myself and go off travelling again.This time I'm getting the better of Murphy's Law..fingers crossed.