Total Travel Bug

Total Travel Bug is Moving!

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:07:00 +0000

Total Travel Bug is having a makeover!

As of next week, Total Travel Bug will be down for a few days.

'Oh no,' I hear you all cry while wondering where you will get your daily fix to tame your inner travel bug. But do not fear, Total Travel Bug will be back and will be bigger and better than ever before.

For those of you who read 'Blogger Vs Wordpress' you will know that I've had a bit of a dilemma. Do I stick with the comfortable safety of Blogger or move on in the world and finally update to smooth, sleek Wordpress? Well I've decided to do it and I'll be making the move and dedicating more time and energy to Total Travel Bug.

I still have so many stories to tell, including 15 months in Australia and a road trip around the whole country. You can see some of my photos from Oz in my Gap Daemon journal. There will be my final 2 months in Thailand and more news and updates from my big move to London.

Check out the Total Travel Bug Facebook page to keep up to date with what's going on and when the site will be up and running with new content and fabulous photos once again.

If you have any hints or tips to help with the migration over to Wordpress they would be much appreciated or any top thoughts as to what must, must, must be included in a travel blog?

#Friday Photos: Paradise Found

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:17:00 +0000

This week's #Friday Photos come from the most amazing and relaxing place I've ever come across. We stumbled across these traditional A-frame bungalows in Koh Lanta and couldn't resist staying for a night. This night inevitably turned into a week purely because the bungalows were so quaint and the beach was so amazingly beautiful.

Working away on my laptop. This became my office for the week.

The fishing boats head back in at sunset

The view from the bungalows

An Ode to September

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:05:00 +0000

How old are you when you stop seeing September as the beginning of the school year? I still buy academic school year diaries because I can’t quite get out of this habit. Forget January, nothing new happens in January. January just gets colder, darker and more depressing. But September is full of new beginnings, fresh starts and exciting challenges.

New Year’s resolutions in January are pointless. You begin the year with a hangover and that diet you promised can only fail when you have half a tin of Quality Streets and a stocking full of sweets left to eat. The exercise regime goes straight out the window when you realise that there is no chance you’re going jogging in the snow. It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s miserable so it’s no wonder New Year’s resolutions never stick. January is all about snuggling on the sofa with a blanket and a box of choccies. September, however, September is a different issue.

Since the age of four we have been programmed to think that September is the month of change. A fresh pencil case bursting with new ideas and thoughts, a stiffly ironed uniform that makes you smart and tidy for the first time all year and a brand new lunch box that is crammed with all your favourite treats.

I still have that same sense of anticipation and excitement in September. The long, lazy summer is over and my brain feels like it needs a workout. I’m ready for some good old fashioned hard work and September makes me want to get my teeth stuck into some new projects and really pull my socks up.

After three months of BBQs and boozing in a beer garden, my body is craving some healthy food and exercise and it’s still warm enough to brave the great outdoors with a jog. I’ve happily dusted off my gym membership and I’m raring to go.

So forget the new year because September is the month for resolutions, health kicks and boosts of energy that motivate you to do just about anything.

What’s your September resolution?

The Huffington Post: Making the most out of your gap year - by moi

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:04:00 +0000

The article originally appeared in The Hufftington Post. You can read the original article here.

Many people take a gap year to 'discover themselves' and find out what they really want to do with their lives. Most people take a gap year to have some fun in the sun with a year of beach parties and cheap booze. Some people take a year out explore the world and live their dreams before they settle down into their career. Whatever your reason for taking a gap year, ensure you make the most of it so you really get something out of it and have something great to add to your CV.

Top ways to make the most out of your gap year:

Teach English
Teaching English is a popular choice for travellers as it is a great way to earn some money and really engage with a new. If you speak English fluently then you can easily do a TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). There are many companies that will pay for you to do the course, fly you out to an amazing destination and then find you accommodation and a school to work at. The money isn't brilliant but this is an invaluable experience and a great way to boost your CV.

Volunteer
There are so many different projects you can volunteer with so you should try and get involved with something related to your chosen career. You can do anything from working at English language newspapers, building houses in remote villages, teaching children sports, working in orphanages, working with animals, conservation work or promoting better health and safe sex. Any type of voluntary work is an amazing and often life changing experience but it can also look great on your CV, particularly if it is related to your chosen field of work.

Write a Blog
It seems that anyone and everyone has a blog these days and when it is done well it could really help your career. You have the opportunity to broadcast your views and your writing capabilities to the whole world, hone in on your editing skills and prove that you can write engaging content. Travel blogging has to be one of the best topics to blog about as you are always surrounded by new and exciting potential for fantastic writing and photography. Blogging also shows that you have the commitment to stick to a project while travelling and you will learn some important IT skills.

Learn a new skill
You may not be able to learn a skill that is related to your career path but any interesting and exciting skills and interests can always help your career. You will often find many courses that specialise in something the region is famous for while you are on the road. It could be Thai cooking or kickboxing, martial arts or scuba diving. You may even find that your new skill opens up a whole new window of career options.

Get some work experience
Just because you are in a different country it doesn't mean you can't do work experience. Look into the types of companies you would ideally like to work for and contact them to see if there are any opportunities for you to work with them for a week or two.

Get some life experience
The biggest and best benefit of a gap year is life experience so get involved with as many things as you can, try as many new experiences, learn as many new skills and meet as many people as possible. Most people will only ever have one gap year in their life so make the most of every minute.

London Life: A New Chapter to the Story

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:29:00 +0000

As many of you are now aware, on Saturday I moved to London! All the way from the quiet solitude of Wales to The Big Smoke.

So why did I move and why so suddenly?

After returning from travelling 6 months ago I moved back into my family home in North Wales. Life was comfortable, peaceful and 'nice'. Yes, nice. And 'nice' is nice enough but it isn't really how I want to live my life. I want drama and excitement and fun and what better place to find it than in London?

I've always wanted to move to London. I'm a city girl at heart and although I do love the countryside I felt as though I was too young to settle into the cosy comfort of country living.

I'm always encouraging people to live their dreams and follow their hearts, particularly people who are nervous about travelling, and here I was, ignoring everything my heart was telling me.

I hate to admit it but it was a drunken conversation about following your dreams that made me finally say, 'Right, I'm doing it. I'm moving to London!'

The next day I woke up with the groggy senese that I'd made a promise I couldn't keep...and then I remembered. I felt a mixture of anticipation, anxiety and excitement but at the back of my mind I knew it couldn't really happen. How would I afford to move to London? And I have nothing to move there for!

And then things started falling into place like the pieces of a Tetris game, but it all felt a little too quick and a little too easy.

I was offered somewhere to live with cheap rent that I can actually afford. I found there was a space on the journalism course that I really wanted to do and I've applied for some internships so hopefully something will come together on that front.

Sometimes life slots into place so perfectly that you can't help but wonder if there really is a thing called fate?

So here's to the next chapter of my life. A chapter as a trainee journalist living in The Big Smoke. Lets hope there will be lots of tales and adventures to come right here on Total Travel Bug.

My big, big news!

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:32:00 +0000

Before anyone gets all excited and starts skimming this post for baby news, I'm not pregnant! That isn't my big news!

Any observant readers out there will realise that I've been pretty lazy about blogging recently. If any of you were wondering what's going on then I can assure you that I've been anything but lazy. I seem to have got myself involved with a million and one different projects recently which has left me with very little time to dedicate to travel blogging. Thankfully, there are bigger and better things coming to Total Travel Bug. After my recent post about being usure which blogging platform to use (Blogger or Wordpress?) I've finally decided that it's time to bite the bullet and give Wordpress a try. So Total Travel Bug will soon be moving house and will have a sexy new look to boot.

But that isn't my big news.

My big news is....I'm moving to London....tomorrow!!!!!!

It was a decision that came completely out the blue and partly a result of a drunken conversation about following your dreams and your gut instincts.

Move news on the big move coming soon and my even bigger plans for what I'm doing while I'm there.

If there are any bloggers out there who would like to meet up, show me the sites or buy me a beer (it was worth a cheeky try!) then get in touch!

#FridayFollow: Latin Abroad

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:21:00 +0000

This week's #FridayFollow is the very lovely Latin Abroad. She's amazingly well travelled and has some great stories to tell! Check her out....

1. How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

A: I would say I'm energetic, ambitious, passionate, outgoing and funny (or so my friends say!)

2. Tell us a little about your blog

I have two blog sites: On LatinAbroad.com I post tales, photo essays, and tips based on my travels and other destinations from all around the world. Conversely, TravelTheMiddleEast.com is a niche site focusing on my adventures in the Middle East, with several insider tips and guides, as I studied, lived and travelled throughout the region for 16 months.

3. Where have you been?

A: TRAVELED: Aruba, Austria, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Egypt, England, Germany, Iceland, Israel (twice), Italy (twice), Jordan, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Palestine, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain (twice), Switzerland, US Virgin Islands (St Thomas), United States (Louisiana, Illinois, NY, FL, DC), Vatican

LIVED: Dominican Republic (a summer), Egypt (1 year), Morocco (4 months), Puerto Rico (for 18 years--was born, raised there), United States (4.5 years)

4. Wow, that's a lot of travelling! Anywhere else left to go?

A: I'm heading home (Puerto Rico) for 10 days on September 2nd (can't wait!); Curacao for 5 days in November; New Orleans for a long weekend in December. In 2012, I'm probably heading to Asia for the first time--so excited!

5. Where would you really like to go?

A: I wish to visit all the countries in the world someday and make it to the Guinness book in a few travel-related categories ;) haha! The countries that top my list, however, are Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand and India. Been obsessed with all of them for quite a while!

6. Can you recommend another #FridayFollow travel blogger?

A: I would say Toni (Twitter @toniwonitravels), as her blog is as honest as it can be and she truly writes from the heart. Plus, she is heading to Africa soon, an epic itinerary worth following!

Many thanks to Latin Abroad, she is definitely worth a follow and check out her Facebook page too!

#FridayFollow: Confused Julia

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:36:00 +0000

This is a new feature to Total Travel Bug; every Friday we will be featuring a different blogger and if you’re not following them already, you definitely should be!

Having recently downsized her life in an attempt to be able to travel more, Julia has a penchant for good food and cheap beer. Most recently having visited parts of SE Asia and now planning an extensive RTW trip for 2012, her confused ramblings can be found over on her website, Homeless and Confused or Twitter feed @ConfusedJulia

Tell us about yourself in 5 words

Laughter loving Mancunian travelling lass

And what about your blog?

My blog is primarily about my travels and my hopes and dreams, with some crazy ramblings and humorous anecdotes thrown in for good measure. In fact, if I could sum it up in a sentence I’d say that my blog is very much like me as a person: what you see is what you get. I’m totally honest and open about my opinions on topics close to my heart and I write about things that make me laugh or inspire me in the hopes that other people feel the same.

Where have you been?

As a solo female traveller I have only previously been to Vietnam at the end of last year. That trip changed my life as I knew it and inspired me to travel as much as I can while I’m still young. Previous to that trip I’d taken lots of holidays with family and friends to places including the US, Canada, Egypt, several places in Europe, Dubai and Sri Lanka. This year I have been to the US twice and am planning a short trip to Mexico City in October.

Where are you going?

I’m setting off on a round the world trip in early 2012. The finer details are quite sketchy at the moment as I’m not a big believer in planning to the last detail, however I can definitely say that the countries I’m hoping to hit include Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, Malaysia, Mexico, The Philippines and New Zealand. I haven’t set an end date to this trip; it’s kind of a “wait and see” plan, because ideally I’d travel for as long as I could but it all depends on money and whether I can find work easily on the road.

Where would you like to go?

I’ve always longed to go to New Zealand and would love to get there next year, although I realise that it is definitely one of the more expensive places on my itinerary. I also love the idea of travelling China and Japan and one day taking a safari in Africa. India has also long held an allure for me; I think this is due to my love of curry! Ultimately, the more places I visit, the more I discover and the longer my list gets.

Can you recommend another #FridayFollow travel blogger?

I would have to say that the most useful travel resource out there is the Globetrotter Girls’ blog (@travelworklive). I have gleaned so much information from them about some of the places I plan to hit next year and they seem like really nice down-to-earth girls.

This is just a little intro to Julia so make sure you read more about her on her fabulous blog!

Blogger Vs Wordpress; My relationship with Blogging

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:36:00 +0000

I started using Blogger a couple of years ago when it was recommended to me by the online editor of my local paper. I happily set up the account without considering any other options and I created Total Travel Bug. This was a blog that followed my travels around the world and was featured on my local paper's website.

It was my first relationship with blogging and I enjoyed using Blogger; it was really helpful and easy and we had a lot of fun together. It was around about our two-year anniversary that my eyes started to wander and I started looking elsewhere.

I began flirting with Wordpress, a new blog on the scene who seemed younger and edgier, more stylish and sleek and ultimately better equipped. My friends all told me how much they prefered Wordpress and I started neglecting Blogger. I tried to hold things down with Blogger but it was obvious they were coming apart. I was updating my travel blog less and less and I wasn't replying to emails.

It was a rainy day in April when we really fell out. I couldn't upload any photos and Blogger missed yet another scheduled update. It claimed to be stuck in an Australian time zone but I knew it was just making excuses.

Blogger and I were drifting in opposite directions and Wordpress was waiting with open arms to pick up the pieces.

Wordpress was what all the 'cool kids' were using and I could see why. Modern designs and a user-friendly dashboard mean Wordpress blogs look more professional and have so many options.

Then, one fateful day, I committed myself to Wordpress and started a new blog. My life was changing from my old backpacking lifestyle that I associated with Blogger to a new 'journalism student' lifestyle that would I would come to associate with Wordpress.

I started writing a blog about all my thoughts on journalism and my future studies in the subject. I named it 'Junior Journo' and was excited to have a new project to work on. Junior Journo is still in the very early stages of development. I'm using Wordpress.com and can't quite commit myself to the self hosted pressures of Wordpress.org. I'm really enjoying writing about my early experiences with journalism and hope there will be lots more to come.

But one day last week I felt a familiar longing for Blogger. I missed travel writing and the travel blogging community. My relationship with Wordpress wasn't as strong as I'd hoped and I logged into Blogger. I still have so many travel tales to tell and experiences to share so I will also be blogging here regularly from now on.

I considered migrating my travel blog to Wordpress but if I'm quite honest it is far too much effort and I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

I now have more of an open relationship with both Blogger and Wordpress. It's a relationship that most people don't understand but I have my reasons. 'Just chose one or the other', people tell me, but I'm happy using both.

I neglected Blogger for a long time and for that I am sorry. After the initial honeymoon period with Wordpress I realised that Blogger does have some unique features that I appreciate but it is ultimately the familiar comfort that has been drawing me back to my Blogger blog. I know how Blogger works, what makes it tick and how to make it do exactly what I want it to do. Wordpress may be younger and more exciting but I haven't quite got the hang of it. I'm still learning and that can be great fun but it can be frustrating.

So I won't be chosing between Blogger and Wordpress just get and for now I'm happy to use both...

What blog hosting service do you use and why and what are your opinions on the Blogger Vs Wordpress debate?

#FridayFollow: Toni White

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:26:00 +0000

This is a new feature to Total Travel Bug. Every Friday we will be featuring a different blogger and if you’re not following them already, you definitely should be!

"My friend (who I met on the road) captured this at the perfect moment. I was stupidly posing like a catwalk model with the 'ooh look at me darlings' when she made me laugh and snapped it; came out GREAT =D"

Toni White is popping our Friday Follow cherry and is the first of the series to tell us a little more about herself and why she is so amazing. You can find her blogging on her blog Reclaiming My Future or catch her on Twitter at @toniwonitravels.

Explain yourself in 5 words.

I’m a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious funny, honest and a sexy chocoholic – I think that says everything it needs to =)

Tell me a little about your blog

At the moment it’s just a blog (and when I say ‘just’ I mean it’s totally awesome) about the observations of a solo female travelling with a really sarcastic sense of humour. When I come back from the next adventure I’ll turn it more into an all-round guide for female backpackers with a dash of humour and of course my chocolate-biscuit and man talk everyone loves!

Where have you been?

My first and only backpacking experience was last year where I did 3 months solo around Asia – Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Bali doing everything from partying with the Scottish rugby team to crying happy tears underwater when I saw my first Manta Ray.

Where are you going?

In just over 2 weeks time I’m heading to AFRICA! I’m over-landing through 7 countries in just 6 weeks (wow I’m going to be tired) so I’ll start in South Africa then head to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania (inc Zanzibar) and Kenya. I’ll be going out solo but will be joining a tour where I hope to make some more friends for life! =)

Where would you like to go?

Everywhere my heart desires. I have a life plan of getting to Australia in 2 years time for a working holiday visa and then on to New Zealand but in the meantime, who knows?!

Can you recommend another #FridayFollow travel blogger? (or 2 or 3 or 4)

Ooh I'm going to have to say my girls club: : @confusedjulia @wnderlustprojct @elleswim @packurpassport - totally rocking ladies =D

Guestpost: Camping Mishaps on Lake Garda

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:32:00 +0000

Lucia Monlia is a full time teacher, mother and aspiring travel writer with a passion for camping, family holidays and the Caribbean. You can find her on Twitter @TravelnutUK

During the school holidays I went on my first camping trip with my husband, my two children and my rabid dog to the beautiful Lake Garda in Italy. While the location was something out of a dream the whole camping experience was at times an unmitigated disaster.

Below I’ve listed some of those camping, hopefully you can learn from my misery.

Light my fire

On our first night, my husband, with his caveman like behaviour took charge of the fire. He had the kids collect the perfect fire wood and began constructing his masterpiece; I sat back in amusement a little smug, knowing what will likely happen, or not in this case. After 40 or so minutes all he had summoned were a few measly sparks, I was getting hungry and so were the kids. Somewhat dejectedly he reached for the lighter fluid and within seconds he had it lit. Please men don’t think you are Bear Grylls, it’s chilly and we’re hungry just get the lighter fluid and don’t be a hero.

Decked by a chair

Before going camping my husband kindly gave me the task of buying some deck chairs as well as some camping accessories. It’s fair to say teaching isn’t the most lucrative career but my decision to the buy our deck chairs from the pound shop is one I now regret. It was only the second day when reading through my latest novel the deck chair suddenly collapsed from under me only to be followed by eruptions of laughter from my caring husband and children.

Marshmallow meltdown

With our careful supervision the children toasted some marshmallows on the camp fire. On one occasion a marshmallow became engulfed with flames and in a mad panic my youngest son threw it in the direction of our dog, which steadily picked up the stick and of course the flaming marshmallow before running in the direction of our tent. Luckily, the marshmallow melted and fell off the stick before our dog entered the tent.

Digital switch off

We let our eldest son take his new portable game console on the trip this was more to keep him entertained while travelling in the car. One day we decided to go hiking and we let him pack his own bag including a water bottle, chocolate bar, sandwich, another chocolate bar and unknown to myself and my husband his portable game console. Like all young teenagers he was at the back flagging, however, what we didn’t know was that while he was climbing over rocks and boulders he was also playing on his portable games console, impressive multitasking until he slipped and cracked his screen, he won’t be getting a new one.

Domestic Enemies

My husband the ever practical joker, thought it would be funny to move our tent while I was sleeping in it, right up against a wall. I woke up blurry eyed haven’t not slept very well due to the very raucous wildlife and climbed out of the tent head first straight into a stone wall. Be very wary of practical jokers, camping brings the worst out in them.

I’ve now got a cracked head, sore backside and an even grumpier teenage son. Maybe I’m a little crazy but despite all of the calamities experienced during our Lake Garda holiday I would still go back. Life is about creating stories and camping facilitates this beautifully, hopefully for myself and my family this is just the beginning, chapter one.

Many thanks to Lucia and her guest post. If you would like to contribute towards Total Travel Bug email me at Monica@TotalTravelBug.com.

Borneo: The biggest flower in the world!!

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:15:00 +0000

Whilst in Borneo, we had the chance to visit the biggest flower in the world.

We'd seen a few signs on the side of the road offering viewings of the 'World's Biggest Flower' which you could see for the equivalent of about a fiver. I was reluctant for a while because I didn't want to pay to see a flower. But how often do you get the chance to see the largest flower the world has to offer...? So I finally caved and here it is:

Unfortunately there was a fence around the plant so I couldn't get close enough to put something next to it to give it some perspective. I can tell you this though, it was definitely the biggest plant I've ever seen.

Borneo: The Mulu Caves (Bat Poo Caves), home of Bird's Nest Soup

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:50:00 +0000

The Mulu Caves are one of the largest limestone cave systems in Borneo. The massive caves are home to bats, swallows and swifts and it is a popular tourist attraction to visit between dusk and dawn when the noctural bats swap places with the birds who are returning home for the night. There is a huge swarm of activity as the birds take the places of the bats and it looks like a giant black cloud as the wings of the different species flap around on their way in or out.

There was a boardwalk inside the cave that ran all the way around the edge to avoid the huge mountain of bat poo that had formed in the middle. The wooden boards were still slippery with a mixture between bat and bird droppings and the smell was so strong it actually made me heave.

Yes, it smelt!

The smell then clung to my clothes and stuck in my throat for hours afterwards. The mound in the middle was twitching and crawling with insects that gleamed in the darkness. Patches of the damp cave wall were entirely orange and it took me a few seconds to figure out that it was entirely covered with cockroaches.

This trip was 'optional' and we really had to persuade our tour guide to take us. Now I understood why.

We entered through a huge mouth in the cave but instead of being plummeted into darkness, it was actually quite bright. There were a few different chambers to the cave that had holes where thick beams of light cascaded down, illuminating a circle of the cave and looking like a spot light that beamed down from heaven. Well, it might have felt like that if we weren't surrounded by poo and cockroaches.

This was actually a pile of poo

Another thing that the caves are famous for are the bird's nests that are collected 3 times a year and used in the famous Chinese delicacy 'Bird's nest Soup'.

The nests can take up to 1 month for the birds to build and they make them purely from their own saliva. The nests are very valuable which is why there are keepers who live inside the cave to stop people from stealing the nests. They live in a small huts by the entrance to each chamber. It sounds like one of the worst jobs possible because after just a few minutes I was itching all over and couldn't wait to get out of the cave.

Beauty in my Backyard

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:59:00 +0000

Some of you may know that I was pretty reluctant to return home after travelling. I'd been to so many beautiful places all over the world that I couldn't imagine coming home to these bland old surroundings. I was explaining this to an elderly neighbour who was absolutely horrified.

"We live in Wales!" he said, "It doesn't get much more beautiful than this!"

And maybe he was right.

Here's to appreciating the beauty you have in your own backyard. I think that leaving home for a while helps you to appreciate what you have. These photos were taken at Fairy Glen, about 10 miles from my house and it was somewhere I'd never even been before. A magical little spot!

The gorgeous Fairy Glen

A giant fairy in Fairy Glen ;)

The friendlies sheep ever!

The fluffiest sheep ever!

A magical little hideaway in the Welsh countryside

What beautiful things do you have right on your doorstep?

Turtle Islands

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:30:00 +0000

Whilst in Borneo, we spent a night on Seligan Island, the largest of three islands which make up The Turtle Islands which are on the border between Borneo and the Philippines.

Seligan Island is absolutely beautiful, a perfect island paradise with white sand, clear sea, bright flowers and palm trees. Unfortunately it rained from pretty much the second we arrived to the second we left. I was a bit disappointed but we weren’t there for the snorkelling and sunbathing, we were there for the turtles!

The turtles come to the islands all year round to lay their eggs. The conservation teams earn their money through inquisitive tourists who are eager to see the laying, hatching and release of turtles.

We were told that the first turtle usually comes to shore to lay her eggs at around 11pm, so we were fully prepared for a long wait after our dinner. I’d just set down my knife and fork at around 7.30pm when a call came that set the whole room into a flustered panic, ‘Turtles laying! Turtles laying!’ someone was calling.

We jumped up from our seats as though someone had screamed there was a fire and we all scurried out of the door and onto the dark, dizzily beach. We followed a keeper down to the shore where the first turtle of the night had just finished the painstakingly slow process of digging her hole so she could beginning to lay her eggs.

We were told that when the turtle first starts laying, she goes into an almost trance like state and barely notices any of the people around her. They have terrible hearing so can’t hear all the people and due to the dark they can’t see us. This was slightly reassuring but it still felt a bit wrong. About 15 people gathered around a hole at the rear of the turtle where a torch was shining on her as she basically gave birth.

A keeper sat next to the hole and scooped up her eggs as they plopped into the nest. He put them in a bucket, ready to be buried in the hatchery later. The eggs looked exactly like hard boiled chicken eggs and popped out quickly, one after another while dripping with a clear slime.

This particular turtle was a Green Turtle and laid 78 eggs within about 10-15 minutes. When she was finished, she filled in the nest with sand, completely oblivious to the sad fact that her nest was now empty. The keeper then measured her, 102cm long, cleaned her shell of any barnacles and checked the tag on her right fin that indicated she had laid eggs on the island before.

We were then quickly ushered out of the way before she began her journey back into the sea and we headed to the turtle hatchery to watch the new eggs being buried in a new and safer nest.

They dug a small, deep hole in a protected area alongside dozens of other holes in long straight lines. They had protective mesh around them to ensure predators couldn’t get in and so the turtles can’t stray too far when they hatch and climb to the surface. Once they are buried, a small stick is placed in the ground with details such as the date and how many eggs are buried in the nest. This looks strangely like a mini grave stone making the whole area look like a weird turtle egg grave yard, particularly when the keeper filled in the nest with sand and muttered the words, ‘Hatch in peace’.

Some of the nests are placed in the shade to ensure they are cooler. This is because heat affects the sex of the turtle. The hotter eggs develop into females and the ones below 25C develop into males. I thought it was funny that even female turtles like to be warmer than the men.

Once the turtle eggs were safely buried in a new nest, we took a basket of newly hatched turtles down to the shore to release them in the moonlight.

They are all released together as it gives a few of them a small chance of survival. Only 1 in every 1000 will grow to be adults and if they are released in a large group, some of them will be attacked by predators while the others can make it to safety. That truly is ‘taking one for the team’.

We only released 22 and it was sad to think that it was unlikely any of these cute little babies would survive.

While we were on the Gili Islands there was a turtle hatchery where the turtles were kept in tanks. The keepers there claimed that they were released when they were big enough to survive, but we were told on Turtle Island that if they were not released immediately they would lose all their natural instincts and can’t survive in the wild.

I don’t know which is true but Turtle Island seemed to be very good and the guides and keepers were very knowledgeable and it was a great experience seeing them protected and released.

Life after Travel; Returning to 'Normal' Life

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:18:00 +0000

When I returned home after 19 months of travel, I was told by many people that I'd find it hard to 'settle'. Everyone told me I'd have itchy feet within a couple of weeks and I'd be bored with the routine of normality.

In all honesty, I was expecting to feel like this too, but I'm pleased to say that I'm starting to enjoy the comforting feeling of a 'normal' life.

There are a few 'normal' things that are taking a while to get used to. Strangely, these are the things that I never thought twice about while I was at home, but now I feel like a complete alien doing them.

Some things, like shoes, are taking a bit of getting used to. There are somethings that I have now realised I can live without, like make-up and the latest fashions. And there are some things that I have made me realise how lucky I am, like a fridge full of food and clean, hot water.

I feel like I'm being spoilt with the basic things that I used to consider to be human necessities and I really hope that I never take things for granted again. If travel has taught me anything, it has taught me that I am one lucky lady.

The things that now feel strange....

1. Wearing shoes, and even worse....wearing socks!
I think I wore trainers 3 times while I was away and I spent the rest of the time in flip flops, or 'thongs' as I began calling them in Oz. I love wearing my snuggily Ugg boots now I'm home but everything else feels so tight on my toes. I wore heels for the first time on Saturday and I could barely stand up!

2. Having a Mobile Phone
Everyone must think I'm bonkers because every time my phone rings it makes me jump like its a fire alarm. I also get overly excited by text messages! I did have a phone while I was travelling but I think it rang about once a month, now it rings ALL the time!

3. Being up to date with current trends like music and soaps.
My friends still find it hilarious when a new celeb crops up in our conversation and I'll say something like, 'Jessie J? Did we got to school with her...?' I was ecstatic this morning when a song came on the radio that I could sing along to but I just can't get back into the soaps, especially Hollyoaks, who is everyone!?

4. Hot showers...every single day!
This is an absolute luxury that I can enjoy every single morning and night, and sometimes in the afternoon, just because I can!

5. Being Cold
Being cold is something you get used to in the UK but its something I haven't experienced for over 2 years. It is taking me a while to acclimitize and I'm wrapped up like an eskimo while everyone else is in shorts.

6. Tea with Milk in it
Us Brits love a good old cup of tea but it took me a while to get used to drinking it with milk in it!

7. Having 'Stuff'
Sorry if this one is a bit general but I haven't had 'stuff' for so long. This included anything that can't be fit into a purposeful category. I have loads of bags, shoes, books, jewellery, make-up, clothes etc. I have no idea what to do with all this 'stuff' and I've already taken bags full to the charity shop.

8.Using a towel
A real fluffy towel. This is another little luxury that is still fabulously strange.

9. Sleeping in the same bed every night
I know I'm incredibly lucky to have this but it is actually kind of boring. No more waking up in the night and wondering where I am.

10. Speaking to everyone in English.
Even after two weeks, I want to say kob kun krab rather than thank you.

Did anyone else have any strange things it took them a while to get used to? Please let me know if you did and how you got over it!

How do you afford to travel?

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:57:00 +0000

How do you afford travel?

“I’d love to go travelling but I just can’t afford it.”

Have you heard this one before? I hear it virtually every time I mention travelling but it was never an excuse that even entered my head before I left. I wanted to go travelling, therefore I was going to do absolutely everything I possibly could to make sure it happened.

I get asked all the time how I afforded to go travelling. Some people just assume that my parents gave me a big wad of cash but I can honestly say that they didn’t give me one penny towards the trip. (Not one penny!!)

I didn’t win the lottery. I didn’t have a load of inheritance money. I didn’t have an amazing job. And I didn’t have a money tree tucked away in the back garden.

Nope I’m living proof that regular people can afford to go travelling.

I went travelling straight after uni and didn’t take years and years out to save for the big trip, so how did I afford it?

The secret is.....good old fashioned hard work. I know its boring but there is no magical answer to saving money.

When I was 14 I decided I wanted to go travelling. I had £300 in the bank, a massive amount for a 14 year old that had accumulated through birthday cheques. This seems like a pitiful amount now but I was so proud of my savings that it made me want to save more.

I started working in a local restaurant and saved half of my wages every single week. I must admit that at 14, I didn’t actually have a lot to spend my money on, which is why the savings did so well. I worked full time during all my holidays and always tried to save half.

I had a full time job while I was in uni but managed to get one that moulded itself around my life so I didn’t miss out on anything. Well the only thing I really missed out on was sleep!

So not only did I work, work, work and save, save, save; I didn’t buy one thing that I didn’t need. This is something that most students can relate to so it wasn’t all that hard for me. This meant anything from not buying chocolate bars to magazines, no new clothes or unnecessary food, no more getting taxis when I could walk, no nights at the cinema when I could rent a DVD and no expensive nights out when I could go to the student union. I still had fun, lots of nights out and a few little (cheap) treats but I found I could halve my spending habits by just choosing the cheaper alternatives.

And of course, I do have a few little ‘Travel Tips’ when it comes to saving your money for the big trip.

1. Start booking things while you’re saving

If you’re finding it tough to physically get your money into a savings account and keep it there, spend your money on travel related things instead.

I know travel is meant to be spontaneous but you do need to book some things in advance. I found it easier to spend half my wages on a flight or a hotel room than it was to put it in my savings account. Savings always have a sneaky way of slipping back out of that account and being spent on something unnecessary, but if you’ve already spent them, this can’t happen.

Flights, hotels and big budget expenditures should all be booked before you leave to get the best deal and booking these things gives you something solid to look forward to.

2. Don’t save all your money at home

I know it’s a bit daunting to leave home without much backup in your savings account but saving money while you travel is so much more fun, and it is possible! I had the choice between working in a bar at home or working in a bar in Sydney....guess which one I chose and which one was more fun.

Check out which countries you can get a working holiday visa for and start applying for jobs!
The truth is that I didn't have nearly enough money to travel around the world in one go but I was more than happy to stop for a couple of months in order to save some more and carry on travelling.

3. ‘Do I really need this?’

This became my mantra and it definitely contributed towards a massive chunk of my savings. Think this every time you’re about to buy something and I can guarantee you’ll spend half the amount!

There is no secret way to save money, just good old fashioned hard work and dedication. Book things as you go to keep you inspired and motivated and set yourself realistic targets.

How did you manage to save the money for your big trip??

Friday Foto: The Underwater World

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:03:00 +0000

Beautiful Birds in Borneo

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Wed, 04 May 2011 09:49:00 +0000

I was looking through my photos and realised that I have so many amazingly beautiful photos of birds from Borneo that I decided they needed a whole post to themselves. I've never considered myself to be much of a bird watcher or even a bird lover but I think I've been converted after I spent an hour cropping these photos and found myself in absolute awe.

I have no idea what any of these birds are called, so if you have any ideas about their names I'd appreciate it!

Friday Photos: Spring Cheer

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:41:00 +0000

Spring is one of those seasons that are a bit hit or miss. One day we are showered with glorious sunshine, cherry blossom and bright, vibrant flowers. Then the next day we are showered with nothing but rain and miserable grey clouds. The good days definitely make up for the bad and I'm afraid that today is on the side of the bad, but here are some photos to remind us how beautiful spring can be.

Back in the Blogosphere

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:31:00 +0000

I've been a very lazy blogger recently. I returned home from travelling a month ago now and I just couldn't find the motivation to do...well...anything. Why is it that doing nothing somehow leads to doing even less?

I've often heard people say, 'I'm tired because I haven't done anything.'

'Huh!?' How is this even possible? But over the last few weeks I've found that this is more than possible. It's absolutely true.

I spent nearly 2 years 'living the dream' and now I'm back home and reality has smacked me across the face like a slab of tarmac. I'm cold, I don't have a job, I'm living with my parents, I have no money and non of my old clothes fit me (damn that cheap beer in Asia!!).

I slumped into a pretty sad state until something inside of my clicked. I don't know what it was but a little voice just told me to get over myself and get on with my life. So I did. I've been feverishly applying for jobs and was offered a job as a Social Media Sales Executive this morning. It isn't my dream job but it is a step in the right direction.

This little bit of good news has also put me in the right frame of mind to start working on this blog. I've found it difficult to stay motivated while writing about travelling when I'm not actually travelling! I now have a massive amount of respect for all those travel bloggers who aren't actually travelling yet or who are saving money to carry on with their travels.

So I'm pleased to announce than I'm back! I'm back on the blogosphere and I have an enormous amount of travel tales and photos to share, 14 months of Australia tales to be exact!

So grab the RSS feed so you don't miss out and I hope you all enjoy whats to come!

Did anyone else find it tough when they returned home after travel? If so, what did you do to get over it? And how to non-travelling travel bloggers cope!?

Random Question of the Week

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:36:00 +0000

Random Question of the Week is a new weekly feature to Total Travel Bug.com. Every week I will be asking a random travel related question to some fantastic and inspirational travel bloggers. Some weeks I will be looking for travel tips and hints, sometimes I will be looking for inspiration and sometimes I'll just be being plain nosy.

This weeks question ties in with my recent return home. It wasn't until I actually landed on British soil that I suddenly realised how badly I'd missed certain things at home. Obviously my friends and family were at the top of the list and the warm security of home closely followed. Read this soppy post to see what else I really missed!

I asked 5 top travel bloggers:

What do you miss the most while you are travelling?

1. Mike from Art Of Backpacking said:

"I don't really miss a whole lot but what I definitely miss is my family. Funny because I think I've become closer with my family since I started traveling. I feel traveling has made me more mature. As cliche as it is, absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Other than that, I miss a good pizza, bagel, or cheese. It's a rare find, if not expensive, in China. I don't think I'll ever miss bills, debt, a ton of possessions, or anything else that use to tie me down to one place."

Art of Backpacking is all about cutting travel costs, but not cutting the exciting elements of adventure. Our mission is to help you travel in style; to distinctive places and to have fun doing so! Check out Art of Backpacking and find them on Twitter @artofbackpackin

2. 1 Dad, 1 Kid said:

"As I tend to travel to third-world countries, the biggest thing I usually miss when I'm traveling is the ability to drink water straight from the tap rather than always having to have bottled water around. I also miss reliable hot water. I HATE taking lukewarm, or worse, showers. This last time I went to Peru and lucked out: Only 2-3 cold showers for the whole 2-1/2 weeks. I think that's a record for me. May sound gross, but I also miss being able to flush used toilet paper down the toilet rather than tossing it in a bin.
So far my international travel has occurred without my son, so I have also missed him quite a bit, especially when I see families spending time together. THAT really gets to me."

Talon Windwalker is the single adoptive parent of a special needs child. “Eclectic” is his middle name: He currently works as a hospice chaplain and is a Zen monk, polyglot, cancer survivor, ultra runner, snowshoer, endurance cyclist, certified endurance running coach, photographer, public speaker, consultant, writer, advocate, former trauma nurse, was educated as a naturopathic physician, and is a lover of travelling, languages, and cultures.

He is currently planning an indefinite round-the-world trip with his young son beginning in May 2011, starting with Mexico. They will continue exploring Central & South America via slow travel before visiting Antartica and then heading to Europe to begin exploring the other side of the world.

He hopes you’ll be inspired to, as their family motto states, Live without regrets!

Check out his sites 1dad1kid and TravelGeneration.com/1dad1kid

3) Katy, creator of Starry Eyed Travels said:

"If you are British you will probably understand this; if not you may doubt the sincerity of what I’m about to say. But what I really, truly miss the most while travelling is a good cup of tea. Preferably Yorkshire tea or PG tips. I miss tea more than the patient queuing system, more than the wry sense of humour, even. While I was living abroad in France and Spain, nobody understood the concept of a cup of tea, the fact that it’s so much more than a hot drink. It’s so embedded in the British culture that it is always a comfort – no problem is too great that a cup of tea cannot go some way to solving it. Hurt yourself? Come and have a hot sweet cuppa. Need to talk? I’ll put the kettle on. Bad day? It’s cup of tea time.
Coffee, no matter how good, does not have the same soothing effect. Making tea is a ritual that creates a steady rhythm throughout the day and makes you feel anchored and safe. Of course, travel is all about setting yourself free and experiencing new things, but if I’m away for long enough, there always comes a point when my defences are down and I crave that cup of tea."

Originally from Salisbury in the UK, Katy is a writer with a wanderlust. She writes for several travel websites and will shortly be off on a 4 month adventure in South America. Check out her blog Starry-Eyed Travels and find her on Twitter @SEtravels.

4) Dan, creator of Adventures with Dan said:

"When travelling I don’t really get the chance to miss much. I’m always moving around too much or getting involved in things that take my mind off home, but I suppose the one thing I miss the most when I do actually stop and think about it is my friends and family. There are the odd occasions when I’d have some time to myself and I’d get thinking about home and what everybody was getting up to. The one time that sticks out in my mind the most was while I was on Koh Tao, an island in Thailand. I was laying down on a large rock on the beach at night time just staring up at the sky when a guy started playing his guitar a little further down. He played an acoustic version of Michael Buble’s “Home” – that set me off thinking about everyone and everything back home. It’s not often I miss things while travelling, but that night I really did. So to answer your question, the thing I miss the most while travelling is my friends and family (my bed comes in as a close second though!)."

Check out Dan's website Adventures with Dan and find him on Twitter @AdventuresWdan

5) Torre, creator of Fearful Adventurer said:

"I miss fluffy towels, crispy clean sheets, my warm down doona and my own pillow. I miss being curled beneath a mohair rug in front of a movie. I crave good cappuccinos with frothy foam and poached eggs with hollandaise from an arty café. I miss cooking elaborate meals in my big kitchen using any ingredient I want. I miss the smell of freshly laundered clothes, and being able to shampoo and blow-dry my hair each morning. I long for stylish clothes, freshly dyed hair, pruned eyebrows, earrings, lipstick. I miss having shaven legs that aren't speckled in bruises, and clean fingernails that aren't imbedded with miscellaneous black grit. Put simply, I miss all the small daily luxuries that are easily taken for granted."

Torre DeRoche once faced her fear of the ocean by voyaging across the Pacific for two years aboard a humble boat with a man she met in a bar. Follow her here: Fearful Adventurer blog

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fearfuladventurer Twitter http://www.twitter.com/fearfulgirl

What do you miss the most while you are travelling?
Make sure you grab the RSS feed so you don't miss next week's random question.

Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:45:00 +0000

Borneo and Sumatra are the only places in the world that still have Orang-utans, a name which means Man of the Forest in Malaysian. Seeing orang-utans in the wild was our main reason for visiting Borneo and it really was an amazing experience.

We visited the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre is an excellent example of active conservation, re-introducing domesticated, injured and orphaned orangutans back into the wild.

In this rehab centre they take the orang-utans from where they are in danger, such as in farmer’s crops or where people have captured them to keep them as pets. Once they are thoroughly checked over they are released back into the forest in a safe area. The orang-utans who can’t fend for themselves are kept at the centre until they are ready to be released.

The centre has developed special ‘half way’ areas which are platforms in the forest where one of the orang-utans old keepers will go every day at a certain time with bananas and milk. The keepers also offer the emotional support they crave which is something they come to rely on while they are in captivity.

The halfway platforms are available for the orang-utans when they are initially released while they are still learning to search for their own food. The keepers only offer bananas to ensure the orang-utans don’t starve but they quickly become bored and this encourages them to search for different things to eat and eventually they won’t need to return to the feeding platforms and will be entirely self sufficient.

The centre also educates local people and school children about the orang-utans to help ensure their safety in the future.

We watched an educational video and then went to a viewing area near the first platform to watch the orang-utans arrive in time for their meal.

There was a boardwalk leading to the viewing area where one orang-utan and her baby were sat. They were just chilling in the forest before lunch time and they looked relaxed and happy and led the way to the feeding platform as we followed in silent disbelief.

There were two female orang-utans with babies clinging to their chests at the feeding platform. Some people were disappointed we didn’t see more but the fewer orang-utans the better. It means they’re providing for themselves and the rehabilitation programme is working.

The two orang-utans sat patiently at the feet of the keeper who arrived with a bucket of bananas. It was amazing to watch them as they sat in such a human way and peeled bananas for themselves and their hungry babies.

It wasn’t long before about 30 Macquarie monkeys arrived in a daunting pack. They strutted along the boardwalk in unison like a mob and were unfazed by the tourists and their cameras. They swung through the trees and up to the viewing platform where the keeper and the orang-utans swatted them away like pesky flies.

Orang-utans are solitary animals and spend the majority of their time alone or with their young. Once they had finished their lunch they swung off and disappeared into the forest in opposite directions with their babies hugging their chests.

The small crowd were left in awe for about half an hour after they left. I think we were all hoping they would come back and we were now disappointed by the cheeky Macquarie monkeys who flaunted themselves for our attention. An hour before and I would have loved to be surrounded by these monkeys but nothing will ever compare to seeing orang-utans. They seem so human and intelligent and their babies are just so cute.

Climbing Mount Kinabalu - Day 2

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:36:00 +0000

If you missed out on Day 1 of my epic climb, you can catch up here: Climbing Mt Kinabalu Day 1.

We got up at 2am, a horrifically unnatural time to be woken up and to eat a plate of fried noodles. Fortunately, I’m a big fan of noodles, no matter what time it is, so I ended up with more than my fair share. The reason for such an early wakeup call was so we could get to the top of Mt Kinabalu in time to watch the sun rise and there was less chance of cloud blocking the view at this time of the morning.

By 2.40am we were wrapped up warm and were blinding each other with our head torches. Everyone left the hut at roughly the same time so we ended up with a row of about 30 people all bum to nose in the darkness as we trudged up a set of man-made steps that were carved into the rock.

Within minutes I’d worked up a sweat and was desperately trying to break free from the line to strip off my layers.

The line of sleepy people moved like robots on a conveyor belt, automatically dragging one foot up to the next step. Our head torches were lowed to the ground as we carefully negotiated each wonky step and figured out which tree branches were strong enough to hold our weight.

After about 20 minutes of this strange, synchronized walk through the dark, the pack began to break up as the fitter and younger people powered ahead and the older people slowed their pace. And there really were some oldies. There was a Japanese group who probably ranged from about 50 to 70. It took them slightly longer but they made it to the top with smiles on their faces.

I would have been quite happy to stay with this slow group but Halle (our mountain guide) marched us forwards through the darkness.

The air felt different up here, thinner and fresher. It was like the difference between drinking warm water and icy cold water. It does the same job but it isn’t just the temperature that is different. It tastes different and makes you feel different.

The massive bird had returned to my chest and was fighting its way out with fury. It was flapping so hard I could barely breathe and it wasn’t about to get any better. It was around about this point that I began to think, ‘What the hell am I doing? Its pitch black, I’m stumbling up a giant rock just so I can stumble back down again. I can barely breathe AND I’m actually paying for this!’

We were told that there was a rope at the top of the mountain and when we reached it we must never ever let go or we will die. I was almost looking forward to this reassuring safety rope that would guarantee my life, but when we got to it, it was so close to the ground that I would have had to crawl to hold on to it. I decided that I would risk it and walk on my feet.

We did come to one section where the rope was absolutely necessary. We were just coming into level 8 of the mountain climb where we stopped walking across the rocks and earth and came to sheer cliff face. We’d noticed the cliff face from further down the mountain but presumed there would be some kind of footpath that we couldn’t see, but oh no, we just used the rope to haul our weary bodies up the cliff. I found this quite difficult because I have absolutely no upper body strength and my feet kept slipping on the smooth rock face. Thankfully, due to the dark, I couldn’t see the 3,000m drop below me and the only thing separating me from certain death was about 1 meter of rock to my side and a rope that I was barely strong enough to hold onto.

I dug my toes into the cracks in the rocks as I shimmied along the edge of the cliff, pulling myself up the steeper parts or zig sagging across the parts that were flat enough to walk on without falling over.

We eventually came to the final check point where we rested for about 20 minutes in a hut. We were making good time so Halle insisted we waited in the warm hut rather than make it to the top long before sunrise where we would freeze while we waited.

We passed a lot of people on the way up and it was great to look down the mountain and see the line of head torches slowly making their way up through the darkness. They looked like giant stars below us but weren’t quite as amazing as the millions of stars above.

It was hard to get going again after our little rest and by this point I was full of Snickers which didn’t really help so I had to stop frequently to catch my breath.

There were a few head torches bobbing along in front of us and when they finally came to a stop high above our heads, I realised we were nearly there.

We bent our heads against the wind as we forced our feet to take the last few steps. And finally we made it and we joined the few worn out people who clumped on the rocks, over 4,000 meters high.

It was completely dark so we had an amazing view of the stars and the little trail of headlamps that were making their way towards us.

Within a few minutes, we could make out the clouds around us and soon we could see a little ray of light emerging from the earth below us. It began as a yellow fleck that soon developed into a bright light that turned the sky from black to dark blue and finally to that brilliantly bright blue that I couldn’t take my eyes off the night before.

Halle was disappointed that it was cloudy, wanting to show off his mountain in all its cloudless glory. But I thought it was amazing to be stood at the peak of a mountain, way above the fluffy clouds below us that lay like a rug, ready for us to jump into. It reminded me of how high up we were and the clouds put the height into perspective and I couldn’t believe I’d done it on my own two feet.

We couldn’t stay at the top for long because it was just too cold, so at 6.30am we began the long decent.

I scrambled down the first part on my bum and hands and then zig zagged across the smooth, steep rock face as walking straight down hurt my toes and knees. Sliding down the ropes was great fun but I tried to avoid the daunting view below that I could now see in daylight.

We stopped at Raban Batu hut for breakfast, picked up our bags and began the long walk back down.

We began as enthusiastically and excitedly as when we began our journey up the mountain the previous day, which now seemed like weeks ago. We were still high from what we’d achieved but looking forward to a long hot shower and a rest.

I was glad to one of the people climbing down, rather than the hot, sweaty people heaving themselves up. I smiled and nodded at them like a wise old lady and sympathetically gave encouragement. ‘Nearly there!’ I smiled, even though I knew they had a long, hard slog ahead of them.

What I hadn’t bargained for was the long hard slog ahead of us.

We were quickly making our way down the levels. Level 7, 6 and 5 were fine as we dreamed of the cold beers, warm showers and soft beds that waited for us. By level 4 my knees were aching but we were descending quickly and I still reassured people going in the opposite direction that it was worth it.

By level 3, we’d slowed to almost half the speed. The path was getting easier but our joints were aching like the elderly.

At level 2, I was having to take every step slowly and carefully. Stabbing pain shot through my knees and made me grimace and gasp with every single step.

Level 1 finally came but was the longest kilometre of all. I could barely move one leg in front of the other and was probably scaring the people who passed.

I never thought I’d say this but the 4,000 meter climb uphill was actually easier than the coming down. My heart and lungs had to work furiously on the way up, but I recovered quickly and it feels good to have a good old cardiovascular workout. It doesn’t feel so good to have a piercing pain through your joints that you know will stay with you for a fair few days.

But a few hours later, and with a belly full of food and mug full of steaming tea at the foot of the mountain, I looked up and felt really pleased with myself. The aching knees were definitely worth it.

I conquered Mt Kinabalu!

Advertising

travelbuguk@hotmail.co.uk (Monica) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:38:00 +0000

For new and exciting advertising opportunities on Total Travel Bug please contact me at:

Monica@TotalTravelBug.com

Please be aware that I only accept advertising if I believe it will appeal to my readers, benefit my blog and is relevant to the travel industry.

I am also available for product, place or business reviews and for sponsored posts. Please contact me via email and we can further discuss the possibilities.

I welcome guest posts from other independent bloggers so please get in touch if you have any ideas.