Bronnie's Travels: October 2012

18th August 2011 Rostock - Warnemunde Germany

18^th AUGUST ROSTOCK- WARNEMUNDE GERMANY 21 DEGREES

I caught a cab into the town of Rostock a 20 min drive and couldn’t believe what was there!

It was a very quaint village with lovely buildings a town square surrounded by a Gothic style Town Hall churches university of Rostock.

I sat in the square having a coffee watching the world go by, sitting in the sun was a pleasant surprise!

A lovely little market where the locals were buying produce.

I then wandered around the village and back to the mall for a spot of shopping!! Well I found a great shop called Biba a german brand and bought a few things!

So another wander around I decided to go back to the ship dump the stuff and then wander around Warnemunde which was not far away from the ship This is a gorgeous seaside beach that is popular with Germans and others!

Again a surprise, I wandered up the pier and across a bridge and here again gorgeous seaman cottages, lots of little shops, and lots of people wandering around. I headed to the beach through the tiny streets and then white sand along the Baltic ocean. Beach day beds painted in white with people sitting and lounging addred to the atmosphere. Another coffee and people watching!

A glorious afternoon.

Back to the ship and I decided to have dinner on deck 8 under the stars. Went for a drink sitting at the bar and I was pleased to see Manchu, Charles and Ryucho, (cant spell it ) ,arrive. Manchu equally happy to see me as he thought I had got off in Poland!!

His Mum suggested we have dinner together as they wanted to dine in the dining room and I like it outside. We had a few martinis then dinner then down to see Myra the bar girl who knows everyones name after 24 hours amazing!!

Another martini and a late night 12.45am

Manchu is just a great guy and Im lucky to have him as a friend, hes been my sanity!! Plus hes very cute!!

Note the photo of him!!

20.10.12 Moving to Hotel de le Paix

Monks washing

Part of original KIngs son palace at Satri

^20th October Hotel de la Paix Luang Prabang

Up early for a morning walk which I love, as watching the locals getting ready for the day is fun.

The smell of wood permeates the air as they cook their breakfast. Its pleasantly warm and quiet as I wander the streets.

I head back for breakfast and catch up with the girls. Im enjoying so much the rice noodles and chicken for breakfast and want to have it at home!

They are heading off to see a waterfall but I decided to head off down the street for a wander . A little sick of being a tourist.

Another good hour walk and check out a few shops before heading back to Satri Hotel for departure

. Im sad to leave as the ambience and staff are wonderful . The decor is stunning the rooms filled with local antiques and the warmth the owners wife who decorated it abounds

It is a really beautiful place, once a palace of the Kings son ,the building is still here and they have built around it with the same style, French colonial, in fact you cant tell the difference.

When we depart The staff all come out to say farewell and give us each a present of silk woven mat.

Feel sad leaving., like leaving your family.

Now have to farewell to the girls too, we had a great time.

Sun takes me in to the hotel and another sad farewell, he said he had fun too!

I called him my slave as I was always asking him to find the camera in my back pack! I teased him a lot which he loved!!

Im not going far away just down the road. The Hotel de la Paix

This was a French prison many years and ago and quite a different feel. The buildings was in a square with gardens in the middle and a large swimming pool. The ambience is of calm. But a Very different feel from the Satri, Satri more homely this rather stark.

Ive been upgraded to a suite!!

The walls are about 20 feet high and windows up high too.!!! Guss it was a prison! So no view outside!

. Im in the Governor’s quarters and it’s as big as a house! I have a bath room just with a bath. The area with the loo and shower and double hand basin is as big as a sporting changing room, another room with couch and wardrobes, another room with tea and coffee making and a huge bedroom with bed and canopy.

Its is decorated in a very modern feel. Interesting but a little too dark for me!

I have lunch which was delicious and sit by the pool till 4.00p.m when I head to the spa.

Here I have the most amazing massage and facial by Fon just divine. One of the best Ive ever had. All with natural ingredients, including yogurt and honey . Fab.

After this I head into town to the night market as I hadn’t been as yet. It is fun and colourful but you wont believe it I haven’t bought any crap!!!

Night market

The pool Paix

Outside dining looking to entrance Paix

Bathroom - Bath is in a separate room!

Coffee Room!!

Dressing Room Paix

Bedroom at Hotel Paix

SAying farwell to wonderful staff at Satri

EArly morning breakfast

This is where the men play bootonk! Cant spell it!!

The orginal house of the Kings son at Satri

One of the pools at Satri

A beautfiul budha at SAtri

Early morning getting ready for breakfast

Statue at SAtri House

Back to the hotel for dinner again delicious and bed.

19.10.12 Bathing an Elephant!

Farewell dinner at L'Elephant

A cute bar across the road from L'Elephant

Lyn and Soun

Jean and I

Her name! She was 36 years old!

19th October Bathing an Elephant

This am I woke to the noise of long boats up and down the river. The rising mist over the mountains very dramatic and soothing.

Across the river I see 7 elephants having a wonderful time in the water calling out which was so loud!

Soon we will go to bathe our elephant! Feeling a little scared but excited at the same time.

We meet at 8.00am and get on our luxury raft to cross the river. They are so gorgeous . I'm given instructions hold onto his ear put foot on his leg and grab other ear with left hand then leg over!

As you coul imagine there is much screaming by me! Well I'm on with my mahout behind me! Now into the water! Again screaming as its steep and steady as she goes. My girl is 35!

Now I am loving it. Sitting right behind her ears she embraces my legs and I feel very secure. I'm given a scrubbing brush and scrub away, while she hits her trunk in the water splashing me! It was a wonderful joyous experience ! So glad I did it! Now up we go out of the water and getting off quite easy. Hand on ear leg off and onto hind leg I'm off!

After breakfast in our gazebo,today we had pho and Lao tea made from mulberry leaves. Delicious!

It's elephant instruction time.

Now pie means g o forward

How for stop

Kwai turn right

Cop chai ley ley thank you very much

Getting up this time I was much better as getting the hang of this, we wander around while I give instructions

A reward of bananas from the top of the elephant with her trunk coming back to me for each one!

Lots of photos and off I get! Easy!

A walk through the village with Phone and she tells us Souns wife had a baby by caesarian last night. Feel awful as we were teasing him yesterday saying not on the phone again! The baby was early, but all is ok.

Lunch in our gazebo looking out over the Kwan River then we head back to Luang Prabang.

I head to the pool have a swim and drop my ipad! Shit there is crazing on the screen and on the top looks like a stone hit it.. I just hope it will still work till I get Bangkok and see if it can be fixed.

A massage reduces my stress level before we head out to dinner at L’Elephant for the final supper with Jean and Lyn and dear Sun our guide.