Caravans,troglodytes and explosives

Ok so I've finally recovered after our epic drive south of Paris. We collected our brand new lease citroen from near the airport and headed off after a quick instruction on the how to use the gps. Of course, however, it's all French so we battled it for a while and head off. Three wrong turns, a triple spin around a roundabout and a quick growing of a few extra grey hairs we finally left the airport and onto the elaborate freeway system. Through Paris and finally out into the countryside. Easy! All this in a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side and everyone driving on the wrong side....
Our trip should have taken around 6 hours but due to a major accident on the A20 it took around 9. Then we had to locate our accommodation which is in an unmapped town called Baran. Fortunately our accom owner was very understanding and speaks English, he directed us and we finally located the town square.



Welcome to the thriving metropolis of Baran. A historic village that's lanes were never meant for cars.


And yes I did meet a car coming the other way, a jiggly manoeuvre ensued which they appeared quite accustomed to.
We followed our host Olivier to his property and to our home for the next week.
Taadaa!
Said it was going to surprise you!



It's an original American airstream he imported and restored. There is another behind and to the right is the pool.



Once we settled in we went off exploring the Dordogne region which is thought to be one of the cradles of humanity. It has many prehistoric sights with cave paintings dating back to early man. The archaeologist in me has awoken!
Tomorrow we are hoping to see some. You have to get up early and join the queue to get one of the 52 tickets issued per day. I'll let you know how we go.
One of the first things on the agenda was the local Sunday farmers market where we bought fresh ham,cheese,olives, tomatoes,bread and this amazing nougat! You buy it on thickness and this very lovely and funny fellow carves it off for you.






I can tell you, it was to die for and the market was wonderful. All fresh organic produce straight from the growers and makers. I'm completely converted. No more supermarket rubbish.
Over the following days we travelled to a couple of medieval villages. I can tell you every village is beautiful I just can't capture it. But here's a couple of snaps.








We also visited a ancient cave site and troglodyte village which remained occupied till 1966. This place was four stories high and each level accessed with rope ladders and steps cut in the stone. A rock climbers paradise.












The caves go deep into the rock and these walkways stick out, freaked Susie out a bit but all very safe. I'm sure the original occupants just walked about like it was nothing.

Now the explosives part!
Olivier has a lovely property and we have been visited by birds and deer today. The local farmers hunt the deer but Olivier doesn't so they know his property to be safe, however not so much can be said for the local moles! Olivier has tried traps with no luck and this one is busy tearing holes all around the pool, so Olivier has resorted to explosives. He places this contraption in the hole, if the moles comes scratching around......Bang! We heard it go the other day however it appears to have outsmarted the explosive and new holes have appeared. Mole 1, Olivier 0.

Location:In the South of France

Arc Triomphe and the Louvre

Prior to our epic drive to our current location, let me complete our Paris adventures.
Firstly let me warn any wary travellers, the metro system is fantastic, tickets easy to purchase, train running nearly every five minutes and super fast but be warned, do not get caught behind a dithery person getting on or off. The trains are run electronically, not by conductors or drivers so they stop, doors open, alarm sounds, doors close, train leaves. Simple! Except Susie was behind a very slow family and me behind her. She got halfway in the door as alarm sounds, I attempt to follow and got my arm crushed in the automatic doors, sue got hers caught too. We only had seconds to deal with the situation, resulting in sue getting on the train, me off and yelling,"I'll catch the next one". Sue later informed me,when we found each other a few stops down,that the two adults of the family dithered so much that as the train catapulted from the station they both fell over! Karma maybe?

Anyway a few bruises and a lesson learned. The next time I caught the train I leapt on, don't get in ma way, I'm coming through!

Prior to the great train injury we had visited the Louvre.



What a place that is. Just the rooms are magnificent, never mind the art.


Oh there are a few must sees.

Some unhappy smiling lady.



And another one with no arms.



The crowds were crazy but in my old age I've decided that when I want to get a good photo, I'll just push through where once I would stand back. We also sat for some time among some great works. It was worth the crazy crowds and the queues to see some wonderful pieces.

The final day in Paris was spent at the arc de Triomphe and walking down the Champs Élysées.







We walked up to the top of the Arc, fantastic! I can highly recommend this. Much cheaper than the tower, hardly any queuing and not too busy. The spiral staircase made for some great photos as did the view from the top.






Ooh what is that in the background?



And a wonderful diorama down the Champs!



We were planning on hiring bikes just so I could say I had ridden on the Champs Élysées but the weather was not our friend. We walked instead and enjoyed a Nutella crepe that was to die for. A well earned chocolate lava experience. What a wonderful day.



Thank you Paris. We have two more days with you on our returning leg so another crepe will be in order. In all Paris was everything I hoped it would be and as we have plenty of time we are not stressing to see it all in one day. Next blog will be from our current location and your not going to believe what our accommodation looks like.

Uke complete me.

Location:Somewhere in the South of France

Paris! A city where everyone is beautiful

What can I say! Paris, where the dogs wear designer labels, the waiters look like super models and everyone is beautiful.
Our trip to Paris began like every good tourist, on the open top bus to see the sights.
We began with Notre Dame.



I was attempting to get out of the way but the photographer had other ideas.

I did look for Quasimodo but I think it was his day off.




Then there's the magnificent Arc de Triomphe.


More on this and the famous Champs Élysées on a later blog.
And there is also this big metal thingy that we went up today.



Unfortunatly the lovely weather decided to change and as a result we were not able to go to the top, just the second floor.
As I've got a dodgy knee we decided the lift was the better option and after learning to queue we finally got stuffed, like sardines into the lift up. Now I may have met Susie at rock climbing but heights are not her strong point and I had to prise her vice grip off the elevator hand rail. She had that baby in a strangle hold. It is amazingly high up but I did talk her into a quick photo op at the rail.



The weather, as you can see was a bit gloomy so we popped back down and allowed a local to have way too much of our money for a couple of sexy ponchos. ( they keep the magic in).
We then walked along the Seine to the bridge of locks. Lovers clip the lock to the bridge and throw the key in the water to signify eternity.



However nothing says"I love you forever" as much as a good old bike lock!



Some people also use combination locks! Is that a bit of a get out free clause?
Here we are with our magic ponchos.



And Susie rocking the poncho and the travel brolly from Nana.



Now as a final gesture I've decided, and this came about quite by accident, that I will attempt a picture of the country visited in their local food. So for a starter, here is a map of France that amazingly appeared while I was eating a baguette.



Until next time.
Uke complete me.

Location:Rue des Arquebusiers,Paris,France

Just a tiny taster

Hello to friends and family back in freezing Melbourne.
This is just a tiny pre taster of all things bloggy to come.
As most of you know Sue and I are off on a over three month trip in Europe, visiting France,Spain,Switzerland,Greece and Great Britain. It's been a long time planning and could not have happened without the amazing effort of Nick our brother in law.

I knew all things were aligned perfectly for this trip back in Melbourne a week ago. I have a great ability to put things in a 'safe place' to never be found again! Well last week I had a list of items I needed to locate and found all items in about an hour.

My second good omen was our last evening when we went for tea with Sues parents and Nanna. Nanna is 98 and still loves the pokies. She doesn't mind me to play near her but Sue has to move away, she's not good luck,according to Nanna. So Nanna and I are playing away on the 1 cent machine and blammo I win $140!!! While busily collecting my 140 gold coins out here comes nannas little hand, pinches a coin of my good luck!

After a long flight we have arrived safely in Paris. Just for a taste here in the view from our bedroom window.










And a view outside. Even the back of apartment buildings are beautiful. It's about 19 degrees this morning and a spectacular day ahead.









So much more to come.
Uke complete me.

Location:Rue des Arquebusiers,Paris,France

To Battambang and back

From Siem Reap we headed northish to Battambang (pronounced battambong). I thought it would be far nicer to take the boat which takes between 6-8 hours and is said to be the best boat trip in Cambodia.
First we took a small bus, then a second bus down a dirt track to the boat mooring in a small shallow waterway. About half way there two Germans on the bus realised they had left their passports at their hotel! The whole bus groaned. The rest of the way the driver was on the phone. We thought he was trying to help them but we later found out he was just doing his own thing! The two Germans were not getting on the boat.
The waterways are clogged with a thick floating weed which meant we would battle through then backup to free the prop.



Yes we are on a boat. We then passed through many floating villages.



Some people from these would be ferried out to join our boat. Some with crates of eels and stuff for market. One woman had a small bag of tiny chicks which cheeped the whole way.



This family are coming out to get on board.
We also had a kitten stow away who was under the floor boards and meowing a lot. When we stopped at a small floating store, the boatman lifted the floor and rescued the kitten who was promptly unceremoniously plopped on the floating platform. Guess they now have another cat!



Here is our boat, moored and a kitten rescue underway.
The boat had hard wooden seats and limited space. It also took over 8 hours. Not a trip I will repeat but definitely an adventure, especially as the afternoon downpour started.
We alighted off the bow onto a set of metal stairs which was also a challenge.

Once in Battambang we did the touristy stuff such as the bamboo train.






We had our own carriage( if you can call it that) but were told the one ahead had broken down and we would pick up two people. No problem. Would you believe it was the two German boys! Obviously got their passports and caught the bus. Took about 6 hours, with air con and a comfy seat.
As there is only a single track when a train comes the other way,the one with less passengers gets off the track.



It was good fun except all the bugs in our teeth.
Our tour continued to some temple ruins.



With a lot of stairs.



These two boys came up with me fanning me the whole way for a dollar.



I left Sue at the bottom for the next temple as it was even higher and in this heat is hard work.
Half way up a strange little man called me over and for a dollar loaned me his torch to go in the cave.



What was I thinking!!
I can tell you there is nothing in this cave except bats and tree roots coming down and freaking me out touching my hair. It requires you to bend over to get through. It's a long cave and at the end! Nothing! Great use of a buck.
I continued up to a higher temple where I was chased by a monkey. Missed seeing the stone carving cause all the monkeys were stalking me. I chose a different path back and ended up bushwhacking. Not something you do in a high land mine area. Had to battle through the locals burning leaf litter to finally arrive back safely.
Ok! That was interesting.
Battambang was interesting cause there are no tourists, you are just in Cambodia, seeing the real place as people go about their lives. Did find a great pizza place run by a Frenchman and a wonderful cafe called gecko that is set up to train locals then have them take over the business. Great food. Best we've had. The market was interesting.



Dried Fish anyone?
Or how about some eggs?



We have returned to Phnom Penn now and home to chilly Melbourne tomorrow.
I'll be bringing home a container of hair gel, what do you think of the name?



I'll have a neater top with that then!

Uke complete me!

Location:Preah Ang Yukanthor (St: 19),Phnom Penh,Cambodia

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Life and Hope are involved in more than just providing food and homes for the underprivileged.
They also have an extensive sewing school where girls learn how to be very skilled seamstresses, they also assist young people with gaining education and a number of other projects.
One on these is PAGE ( project advancing girls education). Y Nol had taken us to meet the 25 young women who live here when we were with him but we returned for another day to assist with some tree planting.



New soil had been purchased by the Fef's ( Sue's school friend and her family) fundraising activity in Elwood and Sue's work colleague Ing had also made a generous donation to Sue which we are happy to say went toward some of the plants. The plants chosen will provide fruit,shelter and some are just nice to have around.
All of the girls got involved with the planting which involved collecting some good soil and digging holes.





Then about 50 small fruit trees and shade plants went in.



The girls were so into the activity that it was hard to help.




Here is their resident cat Simba hitching a ride.
After all the activity the girls insisted we stay for lunch. The generosity in this country from people that have nothing is quite humbling.



Here are most of the girls along with Pip,Gemma and Sally.

Soon our time in Siem Reap was at an end and we bid farewell to our Aussie friends and all our new friends too. ( Sue is now Facebook friends with our guide from the temple tour). We will return soon and maybe help teach English at the school.
It was time to take the boat ride to Battambang. I'll save that and some of our adventures for the next blog. The miniseries for this trip is nearly at an end.

Uke complete me!

Location:Battambang,Cambodia