sun,sea and a new world

I watch the world go by

2010-07-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I sometimes think that I am just a spectator in the game called life, I see it passing every day, but at the end of the day I am always wondering what I have done to make that day the best it could ever be.

I moved away from London because I had become stuck in a rut, my work life was hectic and the whole London dating disaster was crazy. A head spin.

I thought that moving to another country would stop the routine and predictability of it.
I was wrong, here I am in Indonesia and have become stuck in a somewhat mundane routine.
I start to wonder how that could have happened, I start to blame work, my boyfriend and just fate. But then I start to think more, and look a little closer and I realize it's me, It's all in my control I have the ball and I am deciding which way it goes. Scoring a goal and happiness depends on me. Yes I work 5 days a week from 12-8pm, but why should that stop me from having a little fun?! The answer is it shouldn't, it should push me to make my non working hours as fun as possible. I should be pushing myself to experience new things and meet new people. Why don't I? Honestly I am scared, I was scared in London and now even more so in Indonesia, I am scared of breaking my comfort zone. Moving to Indonesia was the bravest thing I have ever done, some could say I wasn't really using my head when I decided it. I just left on Impulse.

Now I am this beautiful country, but paralyzed by fear, fear of change, fear of failure and fear of communicating with people in case of them laughing at me.

I want to do so much, I want to join a traditional dance class, I want to create some kind of Indonesian/English coffee meeting time... so I can Indonesian and people can use English too- No charge just a chance to make friends etc, and have fun. I want to take vocal lessons, there is so much here to enrich my life. But fear takes over.

I like Indonesia, It's weird how normal life seems to me now, how I know the streets of my city, how i know the food to eat, how i know the customs. I love it, I love that i know so much about another country, but I want to know more. i want to push myself deeper into the unknown because i know if i do, there will be rewards at the end of it.

For Indonesian Friends,

Aku sebaiknya coba pada tulis di Bahasa Indonesian, karena aku bisa belajar lebih. Blog ku tentang hidup ku di Indonesia. Aku bebicara tentang Kerja, Happiness dan takut ku.

Ohhhh.. itu susah sulit sekali untuk aku tulis itu. Haha

Maaf jika km ga mengerti ini... aku coba ya!

I jinxed it

2010-06-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

So my last blog was about how I love to ride my motorbike.... Big mistake I jinxed it.

Three days ago, me and my friend were on my motorbike on the way home. We were both really happy after spending a good night watching my friend play in a band. So anyhoo, whilst driving through the campus of a University, a bike started to drive really close to us, so close i could touch his bike- All i thought was " how weird is that" but a second later, i see that the two boys are trying to steal my friend bag from her, and as a result were also pulling my bike. The boys were thankfully not successful in getting my friends bag, but were successful in pulling me and my friend off the bike and making us fall and my bike slide down the road. The most scary experience I have had.

After we fell, I went into panic mode, screaming and crying. Thankfully my friend totally calmed me down, a kind fisherman helped us, and then the police came but nothing they can really do for us.

My injuries are not serious, a sprain, grazes and a dislocated knee. I now walk a little funny until i start to heal. Today in an effort to speed up the recovery my boyfriend took me for a traditional massage- I had to no idea what to expect, i thought maybe a light massage to release the tension- How wrong i was, i was led into a really dark and dingy room, where my blind masseuse proceeded to try to click my knee back into place, oh the pain. I screamed so much, and cried for the whole ten minutes of the hellish massage. Thankfully now, i am walking much better so that's a good sign that the pain was worth it.

I have learnt one lesson this week, don't jinx good luck.

x

Dont Think just do

2010-06-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so driving in Jojga may not be the safest of places to drive but I have been successfully driving my motorbike for a couple of months now, and touch wood I haven't had a problem yet. I was driving yesterday in total mayhem and i started to think how the hell have I not had an accident?! I mean if you have seen these roads then you know that its total craziness.

So here are my top tips in order to survive the roads of Jogja or anywhere else in Indonesia.

1. Do not at any time be polite and let people go in front of you, or come out of a street- just charge on.
2. Consider cars the enemy, they beep, they are faster and bigger- We hate them.
3. Don't get yourself stuck behind a bus, coach or becak, if you do expect to use your brakes every second.
4. If coming out of a small street onto a main road, don't stop just go go go, even if you can see lots of traffic they will move.
5. Have no fear of being nearly squished by a lorry and a coach on either side of you. It always works out.
6. Make sure your mirrors are positioned to see the sky and not the road, or better yet- don't use your mirrors at all- just swerve into the lane and hope nobody is in your way.

Ok so I am being super English and using amples of sarcasm here, because here in Indonesia well my sarcasm isn't understood... So i am applying lashings of it here.

Although totally dangerous, driving my motorbike gives me a real sense of freedom, I truly enjoy riding around with the wind blowing in my face. It makes me proud that I have learned something else here, how to ride the roads with confidence.

Everything else fine over here, just plodding along doing what I do. My job is going well, my health better and my social life 100% better, I now have friends that i trust and care about( and who sometimes get my humor too). Guitar lessons are going well, I am now in process of learning a whole song- Its a really cool Indonesian song called Pelan Pelan saja- Slow Slow only( not a great direct translation). I hope one day i can play and sing at the same time, that's my ultimate goal.

Okelah gotta go!

Niketa xxx

Beauty comes from Within

2010-06-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

A year ago i was totally obsessed with the way I looked- Clothes and Makeup. I obsessed about it so much, as i was totally lacking in confidence people may have thought that I was this confident person because that's the way I acted. How wrong.

I find that since i have moved to Indonesia I have become so less obsessed with the way I look, I am comfortable in my own skin, if people don't like the way I look then that's their problem. But i think more than anything i have come to realize that beauty isn't how you look but how you are as a person. Cliched as it sounds but do you have a beautiful heart?

At first we are attracted to a person by the way they look, but after a while you come to find out that the beautiful person is not such a nice person. I am told daily how beautiful i am, because of my unique look( not so white, not so asian), maybe a year ago I would have been so happy to hear those comments, but now( yes of course I like) but always think about how beauty is only skin deep, what about me as a person. Am i beautiful too? I wish someone would just say that to me.... Oh Niketa you are such a beautiful person. But then I start to think, Am i a beautiful person inside?

I start to think what I could to make myself a better person... I look through all my flaws, and i decide yeah maybe a i could be a better person. More so a better sister and Friend, I could be a little more understanding, interested and thoughtful. I could make more time and effort with new and old friends. I love my sisters and friends so much, so why not show it more...? I love you! ha ha.

I don't know why I have gone all spiritual on this blog, I suppose Indonesia has mellowed me out a little. I am not the same person as I was in England. My priorities have changed, I am more concerned about my health, my future and when I will see my sisters again( i miss u so much). I think also when I was doing my modeling shoot thing, I realized that been young and looking young doesn't last forever, but been a nice person does. I suppose I also have a lot of time to think as there are lots of moments when i am alone and free to think.

At the moment, i am feeling a little scared here, i mean there are moments where i feel super confident and will happily chat away with anyone in Indonesian, but right now I feel a little lost and shy. I feel like this small fish in one huge bowl... Totally lost and directionless. It's a phase and it will pass I know.

But overall I feel happier than I have done in a while, i have started to get my appetite back, and can actually see my curves returning, I feel stronger and determined to get my health back on track. After last weeks week long sickness, I have realized if i don't eat then I will be in serious trouble soon.... so eat, eat and eat!!

Thanks guys for reading my blog, i am always happy to hear from people, and I hope that you guys enjoy reading my feelings and new life.

Love to everyone.

2010-05-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I had a modelling shoot for the front cover for Jogjas teenage newspaper, which will be published on Wednesday. Yesterday was a long day, with many people all taking my photo. Whilst standing in various shots and poses, I started to think how fake the modelling world is, I was caked in Make up, my skin which is naturally speckled with freckles was turned flawless, my eyes were made to look like little dolls… I looked in the mirror after about 1 hour in makeup- and I didn’t recognise myself- who was this perfect looking girl staring back at me?

I loved the day and relished in the idea of how good I could look every day if I spent one hour putting on fake lashes, foundation, powder, eye liner, mascara, eye shadow and lipstick oh but how lazy I am… nah that idea is not for me. So the results are amazing and you can see some of my photos on facebook- more to come when I get them too! I love the fact that when I am older I can look at these photos and tell my children “ Yeah your mommy can look pretty sometimes” ha ha.

After my last blog post I am feeling a little better, and taking each day with a renewed energy and confidence. I had my friend from England come and stay at my house a couple of weeks ago- and that was great, I got to polish my tour guide skills by showing Liz around for 10 days! Miss u!

So anything new? Nope not really, my guitar lessons are going well, I can now play four chords relatively quickly, not an expert yet but getting there. Oh yes actually one thing new, I have a new cat! Me and my boyfriend were driving home in the rain( always) when we saw this little kitten all alone and crying, My heart broke there and then! I had to have her, so I scooped her up and took her home. She is now happily residing at my house and has even chosen her religion…. muslim!! Whenever my boyfriend prays little Ginger will go in the prayer room and pray with him… Very sweet.

I seem to be suffering from a disease called Lazi-i-tis!! Haha, I just don’t want to go out at the moment, which means I am been super unsociable… Ah well we all have times like that. When I finish work all I want to do is go home and sleep… lazy huh. In Indonesia and all I want to do is sleep.

Sorry for the lack of contact to everyone over the past week, I have again been sick. This time struck down with a virus that knocked me out for four days, I am now in recovery...This would be the 5th time I have become sick in Indonesia, so now I need to take action and start to look after myself a whole lot better.. Vitamins, plenty of food, gallons of water and happiness in my heart. So I give myself a month to pull my health together starting with weight gain- Coming out to Indonesia i weighed a very healthy 63kg and now i am 53kg... Not good... Target weight 60Kg...... So lets eat! I want my sisters chilli con carne with spam ham so much followed by a dessert from Marks and Spencers.... Boo Hoo....

Oke well have to go, speak to you all soon..xxx

2010-05-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

Life in Indonesia seems to be flying by, I have been here now for 6 months, half a year already gone. Everyday I am becoming more accustomed to Indonesian culture and traditions. I spent my first birthday over here in Indonesia last week, turning 24 does not really fill me with joy, I feel older and I don’t like it. Yes I know in the grand scheme of things 24 is young, but to me I feel like I have experienced so much in my life (good and bad) that turning 24 is not so enjoyable, it was made even worse by the fact that I had to stay at home as I had a chest infection- so all in all a pooey birthday!

I should really make myself some resolutions for the next year, little targets which I can work towards, but well that’s just not really me… you could say I am a little lazy.

I have a new little part time volunteer position at a school close to my house, where I go in and read to all the elementary students there. On my first day there I thought I would be reading to a small select group of maybe around 10 students, but how wrong I was as when I arrived there, I was given a microphone and shown the room full of around 70 students, so that scared me a little bit. However getting over the initial shock I actually found myself enjoying it- it gives me a chance to act and make a complete fool of myself whist I also try to be 10 different characters whom all have 10 different voices- So that takes two early mornings a week.

My guitar lessons are progressing slowly… I mean really slowly… Not me but my fingers, however much I try my fingers just don’t want to move fast, so they proceed in a slow manner which makes my music sound stilted and shit! Ah well I will keep trying. Funny thing is that my teacher wants me to play in this event that my music school is holding. There is no way I can do that I have only had 3 lessons and I don’t think I have improved at all- I kindly say.. Mas Nggak Bisa, belum siap. Saya nggak pede. Saya malu mas! Ha ha- Which means… Friend I cant! I am not ready! I am not confident, I am shy!

Thankfully my Bahasa Indonesian is improving partly to my confidence increasing, of course I am not fluent and wont be anytime soon, but I can hold a conversation and understand maybe 50% of what people are saying, if they speak SLOW SLOW SLOW… PELAN PELAN PELAN! I do sometimes get my confidence knocked when people simply don’t want to try and listen to me, and automatically say they don’t understand me even when I haven’t said anything- I find that a little rude and offensive, but overall Indonesian people are real friendly and happily help me mumble and stumble my way into a conversation.

I have to admit I am starting to feel really homesick, there are moments when I just want to jump on a plane and go back home, go back to where everything is easy for me, but of course I am not going to do that… Just moments on insanity!

Before I came here, I though it would be easy to make friends etc, but its not. I suppose its always to make great friends that truly understand you and get u. I find making male friends the hardest, as I am always worried that they may want something more than friendship. That’s not because I think I am beautiful or amazing, it’s just how it is here. I have always got on better with guys over girls…. They just get me better, my sense of humour and I love bantering….but I am not stressing over the friend situation as I am pretty busy so it will happen when fate decides it wants it to happen.

Untuk teman ku yang orang Indonesia, saya nggak bisa menulis Bahasa Indonesia karena itu susah bagi saya. Mungkin dalam satu tahun saya bisa. Tapi untuk sekarang saya bisa menulis Bahasa inggris aja. Saya harap kamu mengerti sedikit, atau kamu bisa Tanya aku dan aku akan coba tolong kamu! Ha ha ( English friends this is for Indonesian friends only)

Oke gonna go, miss everybody!

Cruising along

2010-04-09T03:17:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody,

Hope all are well.

After my last blog post my mood and feeling have now improved a little. This is due to myself having a long talk to myself( and all the lovely emails) and deciding that I need to put myself out more into the community. So I have done the following-

1. Started my indonesian language course, I am not the most academic and have the attention spam of a small new born baby but I am learning lots, and have even taken to sticking post it notes all over the house in aid of my remembering, so now my house resembles a post it note factory.... Waduh.

2. I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar since my first boyfriend inspired to me this particular instrument, I did try to go to Guitar lessons in London but my laziness made me stop... This time I have no choice as I have just paid for one months worth of lessons.. starting next week..

3. I have also come across this aerobic thing, only problems are I dont need to lose weight and it's at 6.30am in the morning( Indonesians are obsessed with waking up at 5.00am)...Maybe I will give that one a miss!

4. Anyone who knew me well, knew that I made jewellery when I was in London, so I have also found a place that runs free courses, that's great!! I just have to find the nerve to go there... I am a little scared.

5. My friend works in a hospital at the weekends volunteering for cancer patients, this is so inspiring to me, so I wanna do it too... so in a couple of weeks I will be going there too hopefully.

I suppose things are here in terms of facilitating making friends, you just have to go out and find them, and push yourself into unknown situations. For me everyday is a struggle and i am very shy when it comes to speaking Bahasa Indonesian, I can speak a lot and people have told me that my Indonesian is very good seen as I have only been here a short time, and i now speak 70% Indonesian with my boyfriend.... but people I don't know it's different I go into shy mode.... I am hoping all of these courses will help me to become more confident!

Indonesia is a great place, real friendly people and cultural I just have to embrace and adapt, to be part of a different culture is such an amazing thing so I shouldn't waste it worrying about how many friends I have but i should be worrying about how much fun I am having and how much i am learning!

Bye guys, miss everybody so much.

Loneliness Strikes

2010-03-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

I feel this may be a little bit of a sad post, as well at this moment I feel a bit down, yesterday I felt great but today I feel like Poo poo.

The feeling of being alone strikes me now and again, and today it's hit me how alone I truly am.
This is going to sound all depressed and dreary but Maaf( sorry).

So I haven't got many friends over here, which saddens me a little. I just don't know how to make friends here, I struggled to make new friends in England when i could speak the language and here I am in Indonesia not able to really articulate what I want to say into anything but mumble jumble.
I know that I have a problem with the way I act with new people, people will mistake it for snobbery or arrogant but it's not I am a really shy person when I meet new people, I worry that I am not interesting or clever enough to be talking to people- those are the thoughts in my head when I meet new people. It takes me a while to be myself with new people, I wish I was the type of person who could just talk to anybody... But I can't... I don't know how to.

I am of course taking steps to try and make friends, in two weeks i am due to start Indonesian lessons, and I am going to Yoga, I really want to join a sports club or team, but not many Indonesian women play sports here, only men which is not cool as they are stare at me!
So if anyone has any ideas on how i can interact more with people then lemme me know!

Hmmm, well gotta go, I had to talk to someone, so I chose all of you!

xxx

Freedom and Knowledge

2010-03-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

So it's dawned on me that I have been over here for four months now, It's gone so fast I can't believe it. Life seems to just whizz by at a super fast speed.
So four months gone, what have I achieved? What has changed?

1. I can now drive a scooter alone, so have been whizzing around jogja trying to discover new places and new things to try- Did Yoga today and my body is killing me... waaaaa.... Plus I couldn't understand half of what the instructor was saying so that made the lesson a little harder!
2. Confidence to use my shaky Bahasa Indonesian- at first I got really paranoid that people would laugh at me( they do) but it's all cool, I must sound a little funny. Although Bahasa is the one of the easiest languages to learn I am still having trouble to remember half of it.... Hmmm maybe my brain is just not big enough.
3. After teaching little children for a while now, I come to discover I want children... ha ha... I came to Indonesia not wanting them- oh how teaching little ones can make you maternal!!
4. I have become a little bit more patient... But that is more to do with the fact that everyone moves at a snails pace( apart from the roads) so I have been forced to follow suit.
5. Indonesian people are really the most friendly and helpful people I know!

One bad thing though here is that I just don't want to eat, I don't really seem to want to eat the lovely food that is here, so as a result I have lost a fair amount of weight, which is not cool.....
So I need to stuff my face with food to keep the energy and weight on my body... as anyone who knew me from the Itsu days- knows that I can get very skinny!!! Arrrrggghhh... Pizza hut here I come!!

Another part of my life that has changed is the whole budgeting thing, I get paid a good sum for Indonesia BUT i need to save money to go to Hong Kong in November which is not cheap when u are on the Indonesian currency of Rupiah, also I need to save for another years rent for my house to be paid in December, so I am not loving this saving 50% of my salary thing... I want to buy clothes...

24 is looming around the corner for me, and I am not happy about it!! 24 what? when did that happen? I am actually an adult now, and that thought alone scares the shit out of me. My age is not the only thing that is changing... My mind too, instead of obsessing over my hair, I am obsessing whether I should buy a washing machine or how will I get the garden fixed up.... Or do I have enough food in the fridge for everyone. I simply don't like it I want to think like a 18year old again!

Ok Guys, hope everyone is ok!!

Lots of Love xxx

Comfort or Fashion

2010-02-17T21:04:00.000-08:00

Well I am in Singapore for the 8th time in one year, so understandably I am a little bored, I am here for hopefully the last time as I am picking up my one year Visa for Indonesia.

I do really hate coming to Singapore for lots of different reasons-

1. I always seem to spend lots of money here, on various things-Travel, Food and the biggie clothes, I love the clothes in Singapore especially in the Bugis clothes market.... fantastico.

2. The feeling of not belonging here, I mean when I come to Singapore i don't look fashionable or supermodel esque or rich.... So when I see lots of expensive clothes on rich people... I silently weep in my 40,000rupiah( £4.00) top. Ok i am going over the top a little, i actually don't care, but the difference in the way I am from a year ago is huge. I used to obsess with what I wore and wanted to have designer things. NOW. I don't care, as long as I am comfy.. he he

Ah the scooter, well yes still learning each day getting a TINY bit better, a few moments when I have accelerated instead of braking, nearly causing a accident with another motorbike... OOOOOpppssss...Arda will not allow me to drive without him or in the day until I have mastered the night driving and turning a corner... A couple of weeks and I think I will be ready!

Went to a gig the other weekend, and mingled backstage with some very famous pop/rock stars...which was really cool! Aku suka! There was an amazing ambience at the gig, people having so much fun, loads of families and cool people, but what really amazed me was the fact that there was no alcohol in sight, it's refreshing to see that people don't need booze to have fun. I love that aspect of Indonesia, not feeling any pressure to drink or party.I am very happy with my party free life right now.. Give me a cup of coffee any day!

Ok well gotta go,

Sampai Nanti!

Discoverys

2010-01-30T22:56:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

So I am sitting at work on a Sunday so I thought that I would catch up with everyone.

Bad news is I have an ear infection, which is so painful I have to cry sometimes!!! he he.
Hospitals here are fantastic I must say, as I only had to pay 8.00 quid, and I go to see a doctor and get all the meds too( and there was a lot to give me as well), so I am impressed by that. I am even more excited I got my own hospital card with my name on it( small things please me)... but of course I am hoping that I don't need to use it so much whilst I am here.

Hmmm, I discovered an internet place, and a very cool coffee shop near my house, which I can bike to now, so I feel a lot happier that I can at least go on the net to chat to my old friends.
Yes I know only little things the net and coffee but it's a big deal for me, as I am starting to find new places and things around me.... Oh and I am going to do Yoga!! as I also on my bicycle exploring found a yoga place!! yay...

Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm..... Me and Arda are great, of course I miss him like crazy when he is in his hometown, and my working hours have increased a little which means I can't seem him as much at the weekend... We have a crazy relationship in terms of traveling etc... as we live far from each other... but it works....

I have just started to do a new class, it's called " Conversation", basically there are no books and no set curriculum just talking, I was scared at first as I didn't know how I would handle such a class, but I have fallen in love with the lesson and the students, such a great class... I really look forward to teaching them every Tuesday and Thursday....

Me buying a scooter is just around the corner, I am a little scared, but I have now mastered the bicycle- if you could have seen me the first time I cycled on the road.... but now I am a pro!! he he....

I would love people to come and visit me, although I don't really have much time off work, I would love to have some visitors...

Spoke to my sister the other day, and I feel so much happier after the conversation.... I love u both!! and miss you so much...

Love always

xxx

Halo... Apakabar

2010-01-22T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

So I have been working as a teacher for one month now, which has flown by. It’s crazy how quick life goes here, surprisingly quicker than London, but of course the quality of life is very much different.

So what have I achieved after one month!?

To confidently (well sometimes) ride a bike on the roads of Jogja.
To drive a scooter
Lots of new words in Indonesian
Confidently teach a class full of 7,8,9 year olds and 17,18,19 year olds.

I love it over here, but of course there is that old problem of loneliness that creeps into my life sometimes, as I don’t speak the lingo yet, it’s sometimes a little hard to immerse myself into the whole culture here, and my lack of confidence when I speak Indonesian hinders me somewhat, I am scared that people are going to hear me speak Indonesia and laugh in my face, at my pronunciations of the words, so here comes the Indonesian lessons…. My friend Eric has kindly volunteered to spend sometime with me to teach me the lingo, and my lovely boyfriend has also upped the ante on the lessons- So maybe in 3 months I will be sounding a little better.. Of course there is also the problem of transport, now if you have been to Indonesia, you will know that you need transport, buses simply do not exist (well they do, but with no structure or timetable) so to get around you need either a scooter or car, my bike is only for getting to work, I simply cannot cycle everywhere its not possible, for me anyway.

So right now if my boyfriend or my friends are not with me I am stranded in my house… Although I do love my house I don’t really want to be there all the time.

So the solution to this little loneliness problem is………… speak Indonesian and get a scooter- my two things to work on for the next few months, hopefully this will allow me to make friends.

So my boyfriend has just joined this new band, it’s a Brit pop band stylee, and they have asked me to be a singer in the band, now I have always harboured an ambition to sing in a band, even dreamt about having a sell out tour and people chanting my name everywhere I go. So yeah I would like to do it, but my boyfriends having none of it, doesn’t want me there cramping his style, as the band is his thing- in his words “ You are too good for this band” HA HA….. so in revenge I am making my own band… anyone want to join, I have spaces for guitarist, bass player, drummer, that’s basically the whole band…. Oh Dear it’s not going to work, my dreams of been a rock and roll star are over. Although I do still have a piece in this band, as they are currently in the studio rocking out to my song that I wrote (my boyfriend did try to pass it off as his own song), it’s a song about Fate. It sounds pretty cool, so from now on just call me “ The songwriter”

The men in Indonesia, can be a little in your face here, I get so much attention, I should charge people 1000Rupiah every time they look at me. Now this is NOT because I am a beautiful goddess, it’s because I am female and white. Which is problematic, as I can’t stop being white or a female. It’s ok when I walk down the street if people want to stare or make lewd comments I can somehow take it, but when I am already wobbling on my bike, to have a scooter honk and drive right by me, or even start speaking to me is a little distracting to say the least. Not just distracting though, it’s potentially dangerous for me as I am no award winning bike rider so I could easily fall off my bike or worse still hit the offending scooter. So I have been thinking of ways to make myself look less “British and Womanly”

Eat 40 doughnuts a day, get really fat and look so hideously unattractive, causing pain to the eyes if you look at me.
Wear a full helmet and facemask when riding the bike, or even when walking down the street.
Paint my body neon orange; making me so bright people can’t see me.
Paint my body brown everyday and shave all my hair off which will make me look like a man.
Go into Hibernation in the day and only come out at night.

I am opting for the 40 doughnut a day one, they do the most amazing doughnuts here in a place called J.co… yummy…

I just want to show off my Indonesian learning( which is minimal)

Well enough ranting,miss everyone.

All Moved in...

2010-01-04T05:26:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

Hope everyone had a really amazing Christmas and New Year. Heard it’s snowing in England at the moment, which I am a little jealous of, as the weather here is too hot! I am literally sweating half my body fat everyday. So I have just moved into my new house which has Dua Kamar, Satu Toilet and Satu Garasi… Yes I am showing off with my Indonesian that I am learning at the moment!

Moving into my house has not been without problems, at present I still have builders here as they are still renovating the toilet and kitchen (as if you would have seen it you would have run off screaming), totally traditional Indonesian, outside kitchen complete with various insects to keep my food company and a toilet that is basically a hole in the floor( yak, yak, yak) so all of this getting done up now! So this is my new home for one year…. So please come to visit- I know my sister may come, more please!! In reality I will not be coming back to England for a year, as my wages just will not allow such travels to happen at the moment, and with me just paying for one year for this house, and kitting it out with furniture I am all spent out…. But it’s worth it, my pad is cool and I am closer to my boyfriend… but far away from my sisters who I am missing more and more everyday… Grrrrr….

Today I visited the leader of my village who welcomed me into the community (well my boyfriend as I don’t speak Indonesian). Complete opposite of London where you don’t even know what your neighbours look like.

Christmas has passed in a blur, with my crazy trip to Singapore and moving house; I actually don’t feel like I have had a Christmas. So to cheer myself up I bought myself a new bike to get around, no, no, no I know I said a scooter but in reality if I drive one of those I am instantly doomed to be dead within a day or so… so I went for the safer and cheaper option of a bicycle, the only problem is that I am SCARED of cycling here, as driving doesn’t seem to be Indonesia’s strong point.

Hmmmm, my trip to Singapore was problematic, but talking about it makes me want to cry so better not! My trip to Jakarta proved that after six months of travelling, I am still a target for tourist rip off prices…. Oh how I hate it when that happens… Jakarta is so different to Central Java, as the level of poverty is very high, the worst I have seen in my travels around Asia, just looking how people lived made my eyes water, I had to look away at times, as the guilt that I felt was unbearable, but what it better was that all the people seemed content and happy with what they had, it’s a great thing to see, puts things into perspective for you.

Last year was a rollercoaster, I had moments when I thought life couldn’t get any worse, I was diagnosed with Gastritis of the intestine, which then took over everything for five months…. I thought I would never get over that, and worse I thought it would never get better. But it has everyday I am thankful that I have no more problems with my stomach…. I have my sisters to thank for supporting me (and listening to my endless list of worries) Aylin who cared for me in Cyprus( but also made me gain at least a stone in weight, due to bread eating) Tony who did a little bit of mental magic and mostly Arda My boy…. Who made me see the light again.

There of course were many highs, travelling, riding elephants, facing my fears, having a family moment in Hong Kong, meeting the love of my life and becoming a teacher.

New years resolution?! I don’t make them, but I know what I want to achieve/do.

Speak Indonesian
Ride a bike without killing myself on the roads of Jogja
Speak to my sisters more
Experience new things
Make lots of friends in Indonesia
Keep in touch with England Friends… Aylin, Rory, Tony, Liz the Itsu Crew….

Well that’s it,

Miss you all

Niketa xxxx

Wishing you a hot, sweaty and happy Christmas.

2009-12-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

Christmas? Really!!! Not over here, with one day to go until Christmas I can tell you that it doesn’t really feel like Christmas at all, apart from the sporadic Santa Claus in the shopping mall, everything else seems to be chugging along in the same manner it always does. I like it! Memories of England during the run down to Christmas send shivers down my spine. The way it’s all hyped up to ensure maximum profits of the shops. Don’t get me wrong I like the getting together part of it, where you eat so much you think you are going to burst and you spend all day ogling at the presents you have received (maybe that’s just me) but well you can do that anytime really .My plans for Christmas Day? Oh, I will be sitting on a Train to Jakarta en-route to Singapore to do the dreaded visa run. Wish me Luck(It’s all a bit dodgy). I am also working today, so anyone that thinks Teachers have an easy life you are sadly mistaken!

Hmmmmm Work is going great, startied to make friends with people now, I love all my students who vary in age and size, and they are so god damned cute! Ha ha….

I am at present living in what they call a “ Kosti”, that’s just a fancy smancy way of saying it’s a boarding house and boy do they live up to that name.

I have rules….

Be in by 9pm Mon-Fri
Be in by 10pm Sat-Sun
If you will be late home let the owner of the kos know so they can unlock the gate.
Hang washing in a certain area of the house( must not be outside you own window)
No boys allowed in the kos at any time.

Hmmmm, I got handed these rules and to say I was annoyed is an understatement, I was livid! I am a 23 year old lady who has been living alone forever, so why am I now living in a boarding house? Well, I don’t really have a choice, its this or a hotel. I am looking for a house to rent at the moment, but it’s not easy to find somewhere that’s close to work. I have viewed some houses, and to say that I wouldn’t feel safe there is an understatement. I WOULD FEEL PETRIFIED, and so would my sister if she saw them too. Basically when you rent a house out here, you don’t do the same as what you would do back home. You know spruce the place up, new furniture etc. Here, well lets just say Cats/Rats/Cockroaches and dirt have all been noted in the places I have seen. I just need to find a house soon, as I don’t feel like I can settle into life as I am on edge trying to find new living quarters. It’s all a little stressful, so my time off at Christmas will be spent in Singapore and then everyday on the back of my boyfriends scooter( getting sunburnt may I add) driving around trying to find a house to rent.

So here it is, the public apology, sorry for been so crap at keeping in touch, I have been so busy at work etc… I do no have time to do the Facebook checks as much now( a quick five minutes at work), but this is my new years resolution to keep in Touch!

Well guys, have a lovely Christmas and New Year, heop it’s filled with Love, peace and Happiness.

Peace out people.

xxxx

The Girl did Good..

2009-12-10T20:34:00.001-08:00

Hey All,

So I thought this was blog worthy news... I GOT A JOB!

So I have just finished my 3 day demo/trial lessons in Jogja, and I got the job, I start on Monday so that's pretty cool. Now the stress begins a little though as I need to find a house to rent etc, basically i am only working next week as then the school closes for Christmas, so I have to stay in a very cheap homestay for one week and then get my boyfriend to help me rent a house for one year- so cheap to do that- 6-7million RP which is around £400 for one year, so that's all cool.

The next step is getting a scooter, as whoever has been to Indonesia knows that you really can't get around if you don't have wheels... and well a car is simply too hot, so I will be getting a scooter... The problem is that i can't drive one, it's so funny to see me drive it... i am literally screaming every time a car goes past me, or I start to wobble and brake sharply which nearly sends me and Arda over the handle bar. Hmmm so I need to really learn that soon.

During my 3 days working at the school, I had such a great time, working with different levels and ages of children, some children very loud and some very quite- both equal challenges, but such a reward when they start to learn something from you.

Oh man I can't believe I have a job, it's weird to know that I will be here now for one year for sure, maybe longer.

I miss everybody loads,

Keep in Touch,

N xxx

What's a girl got to do....

2009-12-07T02:26:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

So here I am sitting in the internet cafe again, seems my whole life is revolving around a PC, but of course it's all productive, job hunting!

Well to be honest there is no news on the job front yet, it's all a little slow, slower than what I expected I suppose, I had notions of been able to just roll up here and get a job, sadly that's not the case. I have been for demo lessons and interviews. At first the thought of demo lessons sent a shiver down my spine, my negative thinking kinda got in the way a little... the questions- Am I good enough? Do I know what the hell I am doing? crossed my mind the first time I did a demo lesson, but it all went ok in the end, although I didn't get the job- due to been pipped to the post by a more experienced person. That's the thing.... I am new at this, and there are so many teachers around that have experience in this job, so why would somebody pick me?!.... I know why they should pick me.... I am passionate, a quick learner, I LOVE children and have so much experience in training people( my old job)... But how do I tell them to pick me!

Another stumbling block for me, is the fact that I don't have a degree, some companies wont even look at me, due to the fact that I don't have a degree, I don't get it though, I can have a degree in anything for example- Science and then they would look for favorably at me- Damn my non educational background!

I do however tomorrow have a 3 day demo lesson in Jogja, which is a cool city in central Java, really busy and full of hustle and bustle, I had the interview last week, it's a really cool office, cool people who work there and seems to have a great feel about it, so fingers crossed for that one.

The upside is that I am getting to see so much of my boyfriend, as we are living together. It's so nice... Arrrrggghhh I am getting all lovey and dovey! Ha ha.

Hmmm well ok, that's all folk, keep on stalking me..

Love and Hugs,

Niketa

My Course has finished!

2009-11-25T06:04:00.001-08:00

Hey All,

Well tomorrow is the last day of my course, and it has passed in a blur!

For nearly four weeks, I have been studying, doing homework and planning lessons, and I must say that I am a little glad that I can have a break for a while.... My brain is starting to hurt just a little. Who knew that the English language was just so complex, here was me thinking that there was only 3 tenses....... when hold it! there are actually 9, oh how little we do get taught in England.

So I am now trying to cram in all basic grammar in every spare moment that I have, with the help of my boyfriend( who ashamedly is better in the grammar department than me) I should have a clear grasp on it in about 5 million years!

So tomorrow, i am officially not studying, and officially unemployed and that is bloody scary! NO JOB.... for 6 months now i have been flitting around carefree and now i need to start to work! Whoop Whoop. My course has prepared me for the realms of teaching and I can't wait, it's such a great buzz to teach children English as you really get to see your teaching rubbing off onto the kids. Such a great feeling. Oh there have been times where the children have been uber challenging and damned right annoying... But they are children I suppose that's what they are programmed to do.

On the job front, I have three potential's lined up. I had an interview on Saturday for an amazing one which is located in Solo- Central Java, this is the one I really want, the people who run the school are amazing and the school and it's curriculum look great- They have requested references, so fingers crossed I could get this one.

Another one which is in Semarang, which is where my boyfriend Arda lives, I had the interview and now have a demo lesson to do on Monday( I am ssccccaaaared!!)

Another interview happening on Wednesday with the biggest english school in Indonesia, in a great location Jogja....

So keep your fingers and toes crossed for me please! I NEED AND WANT A JOB!

Ok well anyway enough talking, I hope that everyone is ok...

Speak soon.

All Burnt Out

2009-11-11T05:21:00.000-08:00

Hey Everybody,

Well I have been here for nearly two weeks and I am burnt out, I am tired, sick and restless.....

I think all I want now is some semblance of a routine, some security that I am going to have a job.

Well the course that I am on is all good, I am working like a dog to make sure that my little brain takes in all the information that is been told to me, I did an exam today which contributes to my final score, I got 85 out of 100, so that's cool I passed that one, I got the worse out of the class but I am happy cos at least I passed this one. I never thought that I would be the best anyway.

On the job front I am searching everyday and emailing every day to try and find a job, it's not easy.... let me tell you, for the people that said it would be... It's not! I have an interview on Saturday in central Java for a teaching position so lets see how that goes.

It's fun but I am drained of all energies at the moment, I am sick!! I think I am just doing way too much here and with the heat, bad food combo it's really effecting me.

Kinda sucks but hey that's life.

Will keep you all posted in regards to the job search!

xxx

Not Really a worthy Post but hey I am bored....

2009-10-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

So Hey all,

I don't really have much to say on this one to be honest, i think I am doing this more because I am bored in Dubai Airport, so I thought I would inflict some of my boredom onto you all too.....

Last week in London passed in a blur, meeting friends and doing all the planning to leave again, made my one week seem like a day!!! Oh I sit here now in Dubai airport after consuming a burger king... I hate it when I have to eat fast food( I am not really a fast food fan), but in fear of spending far too much money in one of the various fancy smancy restaurants here in the airport, I ended up having a chicken burger- Yum Yum- and more importantly how much did u want to know that! ha ha. I do hate these long haul flights they make me very moody and tired, so having my bank card stopped by the Fraud protection people at HSBC did nothing to calm my Travel rage as I like to call it. Oh the person on the phone at HSBC got an earful!! not their fault though.

Another thing that is bugging me is the fact that i have seen all the films that are playing on the plane, same old same old... can they please change them, it seems that even after my five month stint around Asia they are still playing the same movies... Very Boring for me. Although I am finding some solace in the Twilight books that were bought for me by the "A" you know who u are! Oh Edward.... but Jacob is also growing on me too.... If only i was Bella.

Ok I think u get the jist of it, I am a little bored!!!

Hmmmmm, well I will be boarding my next flight to Jakarta in the next hour, so i will leave you all be.

Keep in touch,

Niketa xxxx

Hong Kong Fuey

2009-10-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

I am back Again from Hong Kong! Had a lovely 10 Days with sister and dad, and i am ashamed to admit it that i didn't do many touristy things, but I did however get sucked into the cheap shopping( that's touristy right)?! He he. So anyhow found Hong Kong to be a cool bustling place, with a great backdrop to it, everywhere you go there is huge tall buildings, and looming in the background you find those huge mountains! So cool! Suffered from severe jet lag which is strange as I have never really experienced it before, so me and my sister Nikesha would find ourselves at 3am wide awake and pretty much bored as there wasn't much to do at that time! I think that my body clock is well and truly screwed up for a while now, what with all this flying around everywhere!

Starting to feel the nerves now with this whole move to Asia thing! i really hope to find a job in Indonesia, I have been assured that I will no problem but for those of you that know me, I am a bit of a worrier! So I worry!

Well I am going to keep this blog up and running for the for-seeable future as i would like to keep everyone up to date on how I am doing when I am looking for a job, studying and then finally working!!

Speak soon peeps...

Back To England With an Almighty Bump

2009-10-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

So here i am back in Sunny England- Bah!

As soon as I touched down into England I burst into tears, I miss Asia so much.

For the last two weeks of my travels I went back to Indonesia- and really loved it... the vibe, the beauty and the people.

Traveling is a great experience, as cliched as it sounds I have utterly changed as a person, those little things that really mattered to me before i went seem so insignificant to me now... Living out of a bag for four months has also made me realise how materialistic I really was..

I suppose I have become more confident in my own skin and have come to accept who I am as a person.

Thinking about working in an office or a high pressured job just sends me into a fit of shivers, so I have decided to take the plunge and invest in a teacher training certificate( TEFL) I will be doing this in Indonesia for four weeks in November, then I am out on my own looking for a job as a teacher... Scary but exciting thought, I suppose four months ago I would have never even thought about doing something like this- venturing into the unknown, but traveling and working alone in a place that I do not know has inspired me to embrace a new culture and experience- I also really want to learn a new language so this is the perfect chance to do so..

So I am off to Hong Kong in three Days, where I will be spending time with my sister and Dad- will be there for 10 Days and then I am back in the UK for a week, and then off again. Its all go and scary... But life is too short to worry..!!!

So if anyone wants to meet up, hook up whatever lemme me know.

much love x

Its nearly that time to say goodbye to Malaysia...

2009-09-19T02:15:00.000-07:00

Hey all....

So have been in Malaysia for the past two weeks, doing various bits and bobs....

have been working with a company that does volunteer work for local communities, so I have been building an eco friendly toilet waste system( how glam does that sound) and in this immense heat let me tell you how bloody hard that is. I have also been teaching English to underprivelged children- made my day that I could make them happy... all they wanted was a little bit of love, and for anyone who knows me well.... I am a sucker for asian children so I was well in my element..It was so nice to see how happy the children could be without all the materlistic things that we all have back at home.... I made a special bond with two little girls- one named Siti who was 11 and the other was called lori-ena.... who was 8( she was my fav).

I also got to see an in-habited island called Mantini island... UR-mazing place..... paradise....
Was also great to see how people lived on an island- the total people living there were 800 so really small, I found it weird the contrast between the beauty of the beach and then the poor living conditions that the villagers lived in.... BUT- they always had a smile on their face. I had the pleasure of sleeping in a hammock for a couple of nights, literally five steps away from the beach, must admit was the most uncomfortable sleep i have ever had- I actually felt like i was in a plastic bag- roasting alive.. Ha ha- But an experience none the less.

I leave Malaysia in Three days time, but before I leave i am fitting in one more island tour and then diving which I am so excited about- waaaaaa how cool...

I am back to Indonesia for a couple of weeks to see a friend, then I hit the uk shores on the 5th October... but before you get excited I am there for a few days then off to Hong Kong and China to see Pops....

Oh man it kinda sucks I am coming home soon.... I am not too sure how I feel about that one, and how long I intend to stick around.

Love you all and see you all very soon...

xxxxxx

GoodBye Indonesia.. Hello Malaysia and Singapore

2009-08-28T03:07:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Well my last post was a sorry effort to sum up what I have done so far here, and with Lots of spelling mistakes... Sorry I was tired!!

So I am still in Indonesia for another three days and I am gutted to leave this place, Indonesia has truly won my heart, and is by far the best place I have traveled and holidayed in.

I have had such a busy month here.. I have done so much.

Trekking, swimming with Sharks, Discovering new Islands, Sunbathing(of course), Traditional puppet shows- where I was a VIP due to me been english and Chinese!, Paintballing in Intense heat, Visiting a zoo where we were the only people there, going to a Bird Market- which made me Cry and nearly catching rabies off a possum that tried to bite my hand off!

I have traveled in The Java area visiting.... Borobodour, Karimjawa islands, Solo, Samerang, Yoygkarta, Jepara.... so a busy and confusing month as the public transport here is rather confusing!!

So I am off to Singapore for four days on Tuesday which I am nervous about as I am all alone!! Boo Hoo.. then to Malaysia for one month.

Home time fast approaching and I must say that I don't want to come back!! I love it over here.... so who knows how long I am going to stay in England... But it will be good to see everyone again.. Miss you all.

Love you

Indonesia

2009-08-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys... Right well here is my update so far on Indonesia...

Have been here for one week now, and i have to say that I really love this place, for three weeks i am traveling everywhere really, Java, Samerang and Karimjua islands...

so far this week I have done a sunrise trek which was an 5 Mile walk uphill at 3.30am in the morning that was hard, I have zipwired from a moutain.. paintballed, stayed in the highest village in Indonesia where the the temperature was about -5.. so cold, I am not used to those temperatures after living in such warm climates for a while.

Of all the places I have been to I can say that I love this place and it's my favorite for sure.

Just a short entry today...will update more soon.

Elephants and Goodbye Thailand...

2009-08-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

So just finished my two weeks of elephant volunteering, and it was amazing!!

I was based in the north of Thailand in a small province called Phitsanaluk, on arriving at the camp i discovered that we were staying in mud huts for two weeks- and in those mud huts lived an array of creepy crawlies... from Scorpions, Cockaroaches, Beetles( and then all the mentioned AGAIN but with wings), Geckos, Giant blood sucking mozzies- you name it, it was there. So had to face another fear of mine there.

For two weeks we washed, fed and rode the elephants every day- which was an amazing experience. I did have a near death experience whilst riding the elephant- which involved a Deer and a stampede of scared elephants and me jumping off... but when I see you all i will tell you- i wouldnt be able to put into words how frikkin scary it really was!!

The group that i was with were amazing, and yet again i said goodbye to all of them today and yesterday.. Not good times!

I am now in Bangkok AGAIN.. I really should call this place my second home- where i am spending the day before i jet off to Indonesia for a month... downside to that is that my flight is at some ungodly hour with two stopovers and three planes... not good times... Cue bad mood tomorrow.

Well that's your lots for now, will keep you posted as to what is happening in Indonesia..

Love you all miss you all.

Niketa xxxx

End of the Orphanage and onto Elephants....

2009-07-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

So completed my time at the orphanage project, and feel quite happy that I have contributed in some way to making the kids life a little bit better...

For majority of the week I have( Wait for it).....

Been Bricklaying for the week, and building a wall for a new library that is to be built, sounds rubbish but I was proud of my wall at the end, and was even known as the bricklaying master, maybe thats my new career path when I get back home!

I am now in Krabi on Ao Nang beach where today I did the Koh Phi Phi island tour, as it's monsoon season over here at the moment the speedboat ride was TERRIBLE! The thought that I might die did cross my mind a few times whilst we were rocketing over the huge swells. Thankfully i am alive to re-live the tales. Phi Phi island is lovely- although too touristy now, which ruins the whole ambience of the place, amazing cliffs and clear waters made up for that though. Doing Krabi alone so kinda missing having my buddies with me! I MISS YOU ALL!

I head back to Bangkok on Saturday for the night, and then onto Phitunsluk- Wang Thong to be a Mahout for two weeks which should be lots of fun, I only hope that they treat the elephants with care and not handle them violently, as I went to see a elephant show in Ayutta(not sure if u spell it like that) and I was brought to tears by how they were treating the elephants, making them dance and kneel to attention- one can only think how they train them in order to make them do these tricks.

Kinda looking forward to August now, as this is when I move over to my new destination Indonesia- Yay! Can't wait, Although I love Thailand, I think a change of scenery is now needed.
But i do want to come back to Thailand and do the island tour more- so if you wanna come then let me know!

Ok well will stop yapping on now, hope everyone is ok- sorry I am sooooo P00 at keeping in touch.

Much Love

Niketa xxxx

Orphanage and Goodbyes.

2009-07-08T00:19:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Just returned back from one week on Koh Samet where it was Party Party everynight, sunbathing, jetskiing etc. On saturday I had to say goodbye to all my fellow travellers that I had been travelling around with for the month, and it was one of the hardest things I had to do. As the group had created such a strong bond the whole time that we were away together... I miss you guys! I am now back in Singburi where I am doing Orphanage work, today was my first day in the orphanage and I wanted to cry as soon as I stepped into the place. A bad smell took over the whole grounds and children running everywhere, some of them looking sick, others covered in bites from head to toe- which I later discovered was due to the boys room been an open area as they cannot afford at the moment to cover the windows to stop the mozzies from coming in. Liertally around 50 children crammed into a very small room- the only saving grace was that they had beds that had been donated by previous volunteers. Today I have been doing construction work- tiling the staff room( which I am not happy about as the staff room is not the most important thing that needs to be seen to)- Tomorrow however I am helping in building a seating area for the children which will be in the school Yard. I get to play with the children and have already made a little bond with a small skinny Thai girl named Nas-damy(I think). She is now proudly wearing a ring that I gave to her- Very Cute check her out on Facebook when I upload pictures on Saturday. One of the Co-ordinators told me that most of the girls who are there end up in the sex industry in Pattaya as there parent send them when they are 15 to earn money, and the boys seem to end up in the Thai Mafia- Heartbreaking stuff, but although there is much sadness there, all the children seem to be running around with smiles on their faces. Thailand really is the land of smiles!

When I get back home, I would like to raise some money to send over here, to provide anything from mozzie nets to new fans( I will keep my eyes peeled for the most needed things). so if anyone wants to contribute then please let me know when you see me, trust me its for a worthy cause.

Thanks for reading this, and miss you all.

Much Love

The Hardest week of My Life

2009-06-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Hey everyone,

I am alive still.... after what can only be described as the hardest week of my life... Trekking!!

If I wrote all the things that I did last week I would be here for hours, and you guys would fall asleep of boredom, but to some up...

Arrived at Phutonei National Park and did the following-

1. Climbed the Highest point in Thailand.. took a long time and with the steepness and humidity was a personal challenge.
2. Climbed a massive waterfall- slippery rocks and no safety harnesses made that soooooo Hard.
3. Climbed and crawled in three caves- each one offering a new challenge- Bats, Spiders and small crevices etc.
4. Sleeping in a tent for 4 Nights- no sleep.... I hate tents!
5. Cold bucket showers- Man they suck! Literally had to throw ice cold water over myself to stay clean- not nice.
6. Living with various creepy crawlies, some as big as my hand- yak!
7. Living with no electricity at all, no phone, no Luxuries.
Sounds like hell, but it was amazing, I feel so great that I have faced so many of my fears doing this week, for those of you who know me you know I hate spiders and heights, but I have managed to overcome them now. When i finished my trek up Wada mountain I was so overwhelmed with emotions I had a little cry... I couldnt believe I did it!
In Koh samet at the moment, where I shall be doing Para-Gliding- another challenge! After this week I shall be starting my month long volunteer work- starting with the Orphanage which I can't wait to do, and then onto the elephant Santuary.
This week I a hard week as I have to say goodbye to all my buddies that I have been with for the past month- bonds are made so quickly over here so should be an emotional day on Saturday- Boo Hoo.

Ok well, keep reading. Miss u all.

The Koh Islands

2009-06-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ok so the last time I wrote on the blog i was in a rural place called Singburi- with pretty much nothing going on there so some of the group decided that we should head on over to Koh Toa... well let me say that it was amazing, we spend 5 Nights over there, and it was like paradise, lots of sun sea and you know the rest of it.
Did a day on a boat snorkelling which was good and bad, as the waters were so choppy we all felt like we were going to Puke! and plus the water was splashing into the boat- not good times!
Nightlife is pretty cool in Koh Toa- but most of the group were tired( we are all getting old) so we didnt go to crazy, but last night which was our last night in Koh Toa- we did go a little crazy... just a little, but I won't delve into details too much...
Back to Singburi tomorrow where i will be doing the weeks trek in a national park, and then after that we are going to Koh Samet for the week.. and after that the work starts where I will be working in an orpahange for two weeks and then off to the elephant sanctuary can't wait. Hope you are enjoying the photo's on Facebook... More to come.

Sorry haven't really delved into everything we have been doing, as I would be here all day and night...

Well Miss u all loads, I am off to Thai Bikram Yoga now... Should be an experience. xxx

The First of Five Days

2009-06-10T01:34:00.000-07:00

Well here I am in Thailand, and so far it has been a interesting five days here!

Arrived into Bangkok feeling tired and basically rubbish! but soon got over that when I saw just how bloody cool Bangkok is, lots of Crazt Tuk Tuks zipping in and out of the roads- Ur-Mazing! we should so invent those for London.. I am on it already.

First Night we decided to be crazy and see a ping pong show, which was lets say the most surreal experience ever- for those of you who dont know what it is, it's basically a weird show that involves varoius objects coming out of a ladies nether region! Weird, but strangely entertaining!
Second day was crammed to the rafters with Temples- Note to myself never to go and see another temple again... ZZZZzzzz.. in the night we went to a show called Calyspo where lots of hot Lady Boys danced and pranced around the stage.. Cool Pictures on Facebook! We ended up in a bar on Koh Sam road- which ended with us street dancing and entertaining a throng of people- Oh the Hilarity!

I am now in a small Province called Singburi where we are getting submerged in Thai Culture- Cue more temples etc, but have also been able to see lots of elephants swimming in the river, which was amazing. We have two weeks of culture week where are going to be shown around lots of temples, so half the group have decided to rebel and go and travel to one of the islands.
So me and Sab's have decided to have a mini adventure and travel to one of the islands- but not decided which one yet! SSSoooooo Exciting!

Well I could gabble all day on this thing, but I won't. Having good times, and bad... but not missing home yet, just the people!

Keep checking.

Much Love

Niketa

Good bye everyone!!!

2009-06-03T04:56:00.000-07:00

Good bye everyone!!

well it's here one more sleep then i am up up and away! Yay.

Just want to say goodbye to all, and that i am going to miss everyone who know's me!

Keep on checking the blog, as the next time i update it, it will be from Thailand.

Catch you all later,

Much Love

Niketa x

It's soooooooooo Nearly here

2009-05-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

OMG... six days to go. How time flies when you are literally clock watching every day( note sarcasm) feels like I have been counting down when I am going for the past 4 gazillion years!

Thanks to all who came to see me off on my leaving party- nice to know i am so popular- LOL!(god I hate that word- Laugh out Loud- stuuuuuuupid).

Packed my backpack yesterday and let's just say that there is no room at all for anything else- literally i will be carrying what resembles a big fat body in a black bag- and boy does it feel like it too!

That's all for now,

Lots of Love from the

Unemployed Bum! xxx

2009-05-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Officially 18 days away from been in the lovely place that is Thailand..... I still have so much to plan and i am now starting to panic as i don't think my backpack is big enough to hold all of those dresses and stuff that I am taking...

One more week of work to go( i am so going to miss my home for the past five years).

Its all becoming a little bit more real as the days go by, it's only now that the fact I am going to be away for four months is sinking in... i am already missing my amazing sisters and best Friend Aylin... Boo Hoo...

Well that's the moan over with now, will update more nearer to D day.

Peace out, over and out.

XOXO( style of gossip girls)

2009-04-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

God knows how i actually managed to create this blog-not so blond then!

Well it's 53 Days until I leave England and take my first flight to Thailand for eight weeks, where I will be Trekking in Mountains, yep you heard right- trekking.me. mountains, take it I wont be wearing make up then- god help the poor animals who have to endure that! Then working in an orphanage for two weeks, as well as working with elephants for two weeks also. For the other month I will be bumming around, visiting temples, staying with monks- you know the usual things we do in England!!( Not). Then off to Malaysia for a month where i will be working in a school for a week and then for the rest of the time exploring. Well that's the last blog until i am over there- so keep on checking this out...