Manchester

Not really a whole lot to report on Manchester.

We arrived late at night so decided to stay in and watch movies on the comfiest bed ever! (Mum if your reading, I think it was similar to the one in London!)

The next morning we all got up and enjoyed a 5 pound buffet breakfast which was so yummy.

We then caught the free shuttle bus to the airport and hopped on a train and headed into the city so we could hit up Primark. 40 pounds later we emerged from Primark very happy customers.. We then decided to go our separate ways for 2 hours as well all wanted to do different things. I continued shopping and bought a jumper and a scarf from Topshop and Urban Outfitters, while some of the others grabbed a coffee or looked around the town.

After two hours had gone by we once again met up and made our way back to the hotel so we could get some rest before our trip home. On the way back I discovered from the other crew that the hotel we were staying in used to be a mental asylum (glad I didn't know that the night before!), after that the ghost stories from the night before started to come out.

When we got back to the hotel Countdown came on TV so I was thrilled. It seemed as if everything I love about the UK managed to squeeze itself into one day what with the shopping, food and TV!

The flight back was thankfully uneventful, and I think we got a good run as I have heard nightmare stories from Manchester flights.

We got our rosters for next month yesterday. Nothing to exciting on the horizon flight wise. I have hot Glasgow twice and London Gatwick, but fingers crossed my parents are coming over so that will be exciting!

Next up, Milan.

Catch ups

So after what seems like forever, I finally got to catch up Monique again. 

Last night we went out with her housemate and a few of her friends. We wanted to go on the cable cars but they were still closed, so instead we caught the boat over the creek to Heritage Village.

While we were there we checked out Sheik Mohammed's house (which is something that I have been wanting to do since my parents left). I was slightly disappointed as it was more like a museum then his actual house. I was expecting it to be all laid out with furniture and stuff but instead it was just photos of what Dubai used to look like and old coins and maps. But it was still worth a look. 

After wandering around there for half an hour we went and had some dinner along the creek at a restaurant where I went with my parents, which was really nice! 

One of the girls mentioned she felt like a coconut so the guy we were with went and bought us all one which was really cool. Never had a coconut before...

Today we were meant to go to Deira shopping but I woke up with a migraine so instead we went to the movies tonight and saw the musical with Tom Cruise in it. The movie was okay... nothing to write home about. Monique was super happy as she was able to get both caramel and salty popcorn, so it was quite a successful night on her front. 

After the movie we walked around and got some frozen yoghurt (yum!) and did some shopping before heading home.

Manchester tomorrow so just trying to get the last of my bags packed before calling it a night. 

Dublin

We arrived in Dublin around midday and we all kind of went our separate ways as some of us had been there before and some hadn't. Sally and I were pretty keen to hit up the shops so we wandered down the road from the hotel to check out the main shopping strip. 

To be honest the shopping was kind of disappointing (although I did get the book I have been after for the last 3 months). We both agreed that nothing was really jumping out at us. So we probably spent a couple of hours there before heading off in search of a chippy. Finding a chippy in Dublin is hard work! We walked around for agesssssssss.

We asked so many people and everyone would either send us to McDonald's or tell us there was nothing like that in Dublin (a chippy is a old fashioned chip shop for those who don't know). 

After walking around what seemed to be the whole of Dublin we finally found one just down the road from our hotel (typical). Perfect timing as well as the rain had just started to set in. 

After we scoffed down our cheesy chips we headed back for an hour or two to rest up before meeting up with the others in the bar downstairs to watch the football.

After a couple of beers later we headed off into town with our local guide (our SFS was Irish). We managed to go to three bars (two of which I realised I had been to last time I was there which was rather funny).

After a fight between our two SFS and racial slurs thrown at one of our cabin crew we decided to call it a night and get some chinese food for the road. 

Whilst we were eating one of the patrons in the restaurant (who was quite drunk I might add) threw a bread roll in our direction. The guy who it hit, Mario, had had enough so he went outside to have a cigarette. Alex our SFS who was also really drunk decided to fight back and threw a handful of rice and vegetables at this woman. I think the woman was in shock because she sat there for what seemed like maybe a minute before snapping. She stood up (and she was huge) and walked over to Alex to try and fight her. Patricia and I were trying to separate the two when Alex finally took my advice and walked towards the door. The lady ran after her and pulled her hair before one of our guys tackled the woman to the ground so she wouldn't do any more damage.

The guys ordered us to take Alex around the corner out of the woman's site before they bought her out and put her in a taxi. 

Looking back into the restaurant after we ran outside it looked as if a rice bomb had gone off. There were girls huddled in the corner of the restaurant and there was rice and vegetables all over the place!

We could not stop laughing the whole way home, and the next day everyone said they woke up to find rice in their bed or in their pocket, etc. 

The plane ride home was also riddled with jokes of the previous night as we were serving chicken and rice.

I would have to go on record here and say this was the most eventful layovers I have had to date. 

I think I will be remembering this one for a while. 

Kuala Lumpur

Another trip back to KL, but this time with a longer layover, which meant we were able to see and do a lot more then last time. 

We were an hour delayed getting out of Dubai so we didn't manage to reach the hotel until well after midnight, however this didn't stop us from grabbing a quick drink down at the Irish pub, and taking in a local band before turning in for the night. 

After a few hours sleep we woke up bright and early as we wanted to get an early start so that we could see most of what KL had to offer

We decided to hire a driver and our first stop was Batu Caves. 

When you first arrive there you are greeted by a huge gold statue, and what seems to be never ending stairs up the cliffs, its pretty amazing!

 When we got to the entrance we realised that the whole place is riddled with monkeys. 

At first it was cute and they seemed really friendly, but by the end of it I was ready to say goodbye to them (they chased one of my friends down the stairs and tried to bite everyone, so not as friendly as they first appeared)

I imagine that back in the day the caves would have been amazing, however I was slightly disappointed as I felt they had been ruined with all the shops and cheap touristy stuff now on sale inside the caves, but despite this I was still glad we went. 

Next stop was the waterfall. 

I hadn't heard much about this place but when we arrived there it was beautiful!!

It was full of locals just enjoying their weekend swimming in the falls, cooking on the BBQ, and having a sing a long. The water was quite cold but it was so hot outside that it would have been perfect to swim in. 

On our way out we stopped at this little shack and got photos with a whole range of birds. I was slightly nervous about holding these birds as one of them previously ripped my friends earring out. But they seemed to behave themselves when I was holding them. 

After we got back from our little tour a couple of us headed down to Chinatown to try and get ourselves a good bargain. The shopping there is sooo good, I think next time I go to KL thats going to be the first place I head to with my allowance. I managed to buy a watch but that was all I could afford on what little money I had left. 

For a trip that I wasn't really keen on doing (because I went there last month) it was surprisingly good. 

Must make a mental note and take my bathers the next time I go to the falls though. 

Swimming with dolphins

This week I had been rostered to get my US Visa, so with five days off a few of us decided to go swimming with dolphins!

When we first walked into the enclosure I was a little nervous as I wasn't sure how friendly they would be towards us (I think this came from watching multiple youtube videos of things going wrong with animals kept in such small enclosures..).

The instructor lined us up and quickly briefed us on what to do and what not to do, and before we knew it we were jumping in the water.

To my surprise the dolphins were beyond friendly! They would close their eyes and roll over when you starting patting them, they would wait for you to hold on before they took off when we were swimming with them, they would smile in all the photos, and they even let us hug and kiss them!

After our time was up we decided to stick around for the dolphin and seal show, and despite the bad start with the magic show the rest did not fail to impress. I was so shocked at how well the dolphins and the seals got along. At one stage they were even playing together with a ball! 

Our day was so amazing! I will definitely not be forgetting it any time soon. 

Beijing

I have been wanting to do this trip for so many years now, and it definitely did not disappoint.

 When we arrived we booked a tour that was cheaper then the one the hotel was offering and it was to take us to the Ming Tombs and The Great Wall. 

The next morning we got up bright and early so that we could get an early start and start exploring the wall. 

When we arrived down at reception the tour guide informed us that we were to stop off at four factories along the way and that because of this we will now not have time to go and visit the Tombs. 

After an hour long heated discussion and many phone calls back and fourth to the company our Purser finally lost his cool and after calling the tour guide a 'fucking idiot' she sped off in her van yelling abuse at us out the window. 

By this time all the hotel run tours had since left so it looked as if we weren't going anywhere. 

However somehow we managed to convince the receptionist to call in his cousin, who then drove all 8 of us out to the Tombs and the Wall in a rental van. 

After 2 hours and 1 car crash later we finally arrived at the Tombs. 

It were a lot smaller then what I was expecting but it was still very interesting. 

The next stop was lunch followed by the wall. 

We decided on getting the cable car up to the wall and then toboggan down, however once we got to the top a thunderstorm started to roll in so they closed the toboggan and we were forced to catch the cable car back down, which was slightly annoying. 

Many people say that when they reach the wall they are slightly disappointed, however this was not the case with me. I do believe that we possibly didn't go to the best entrance as we were in a valley and couldn't see the wall span over the hills for miles, but it was still amazing! 

I am so glad I was finally able to tick that box. My aim is to go and see all the wonders in the world, so I still have quite a few more to check off..... 

Visitors

Last week my parents came out to visit me in Dubai. 

It was the best 6 days I have had in a long time. It was so nice to see them again after being here for 4 months. 

We stayed in the nicest hotel that overlooked the creek, and everyday we got free use of the minibar, so I now have a cupboard full of yummy snacks.

We did all the touristy things on offer in Dubai such as the Dubai Fountains, Madinat Jumeriah, Silk Souk, Gold Souk (where mum bought a really nice ring), Dhow Dinner Cruise, etc. 

Even though I was still in Dubai it still felt as if I was on holidays, as it gave me a chance to escape my apartment for a couple of days and do all the touristy things that I would never normally do. 

I was pretty sad to see them go, but it's not long now till I head home for my annual leave. 

Tunisia

Wow what a beautiful place!

It looks exactly how I imagine Greece would look. It's filled with white building, blue roofs, cobblestone pathways and alleyway shops. 

Our first stop when we arrived was Catharge. 

Catharge is a site that is full of ancient ruins that is spread out over the main hill in Tunis.

We check out the museum and explored the ruins for a few hours before heading down to the main part of town to wander the streets and grab ourselves a bargain. 

I feel so sorry for Agniezska as every corner we turned I was asking her to take a photo of me in front of the amazing blue doors. 

The place is like a movie a set. Every corner you turn is just picture perfect. I had a hard time choosing which photos to add to this blog so I apologies for the amount I submitted. 

We ended up having dinner at a restaurant on the cliff that looked over the marina. Sooo many nice boats!  

I have decided that I will definitely be bidding for a trip back to Tunis in the following months. 

My parents were meant to be arriving today for a week long holiday, however flights out of Hong Kong are fully booked so they are stuck there unfortunately, so hopefully they will arrive tomorrow. 

In the mean time I am off to the Park Hyatt to make the most of the free bar that comes with the room they booked for tonight.