A fish out of water

 Santorini was everything I expected it to be, super chilled and relaxing, I read two books ..the white tiger (very good) and Mr Penumbras 24 hr book shop also good completely different! Kerry arrived eventually after a last minute flight change.  I swam everyday for a good hour and found lots of treasures on my way...3 dive masks, 2 pairs of sunglasses, a pair of goggles and 2€ !! Note to readers I kept one mask, 2 pairs of sunnies and the 2€ 😃 I ate some amazing seafood, sardines and calamari and ate in the best vegetarian restaurant ever named Tranquilo.  I ate there last year and I think it is better.  Absolutely delicious. So we have made it to Athens, but not really thought it through.  We actually have less than 12hrs here so we will try to see some stuff tomorrow before we head off to Dubrovnik. It's amazing how hostels differ so much.  The last hostel very clean very white lovely big beds and amazing showers , to an old house converted , super wob...

 Quick update after a delayed flight, at least it was the last one, I arrived in Santorini.  I had booked a transfer for 6£.  Wasn't sure what I  gonna get, as I had been quoted by other companies 35€ !!  Basically had a private transfer with a poco crazy Albanian driver.  After hello his second word was F%&k 😮 and he continued to tell me he speaks little English!! Well we arrived with only a few more f@#ks checked in to the 10 bed dorm ..which is massive.  I stayed in this hostel maybe in 2015 and it has definitely been upgraded. A good nights sleep was had, I was surprised when I woke up and saw it was after 7am.  Up quick change and straight to the sea.  A good 40 min swim in a sea just for me, so clear, a little bit windy but super good for the soul.  Swimming with a big smile on my face. Back and after a quick trip to the supermarket I enjoyed a fresh greek breakfast.  Happy happy days 🤗

 No alarm needed this morning, up and out without disturbing a soul.. as I left the hostel there was the most beautiful sunrise, it put a great big smile on my face.  My time in Oman was up, 5 days done.  Sweated more in 5 days than I have in the rest of my life together.  Would I recommend Oman, absolutely! Would I recommend Oman in July absolutely not!!!  It really has been great...I have met again some lovely people , seen some great things and helped to build a hostel.  Not something you can say everyday! I'm currently sat in Athens airport waiting for my third flight of the day! It's been a long day but hopefully the last flight will take me to the beautiful island of Santorini where I plan to lie on a beach for a week oh and meet kezza🤩 So the blog will also have a mini vacation we will reconnect in Croatia!  Thanks for watching see you soon 😊 

 After a good night's sleep on a brand new mattress on a brand new bed we made a plan.  The guys would go to the mosque I would sort my shit and then we would head out together.  Sooner than expected the guys came back from the mosque and we headed towards Nizwa.  It was an exceptionally warm day with temps in the high 30s.  Thank goodness for air-conditioned cars!!! The route took us away from the coast passing by lots of beautiful mountains, it really is a lovely country.  Didn't take us long before we arrived on the outskirts.  Morton really needed some food so we headed to the mall... Our first thought is we will need air-conditioned places as here the heat has reached 45!!!  The mall was mehhhh very not mall like , and how we used the facilities and with the aid of modern technology found a restaurant close by.  Even walking from car to restaurant was insane. The guys choose some meat dishes and I opted for a fish kebab which they didn't...

Whilst I was soaking up the cold air in the room, Kaab has just been to the airport to pick up another girl from the UK. Our dorm was full so she was going to be going upstairs to the ‘new’ part of the hostel.   I was like ohhh can I come and have a look. So I went up stairs, basically the new hostel is another flat in the same building.   It’s two rooms, one with ensuite, a bathroom, kitchen and balcony.   This is now a hostel.   One room was ready with two bunks and it had the balcony.   The difference is also there is a lot of light. As Liv was going to be there only person up here I was like oh oh can I change beds…Kaab was like of course.   Checked if that was ok with Liv and went and got my stuff. After I’d settled in , Kaab was up working in the other room, do you need any help in asked.   As I was in need of something to do but didn’t want to go outside lol.   The rest of the afternoon was spent building bunk beds for the other roo...

 So we headed to the restaurant that everyone had recommended, mum came with us but didn't eat.  We chose to sit on the floor to eat and for this you get your own private booth thing.  The food was a mixture of meats and rice and some vegetarian dishes.  I went for the palak, nan and rice.  We were first served a soup , no meat ... Except chicken which I discovered after a few mouthfuls.  It was delicious the flavours but I couldn't eat it.  Main course came out..smelt and looked good.. The rice plate was as big as my head and the naan as big as 2 heads 😜 I was hungry first proper meal since my left night in Uzbekistan!! It was scrumptious definitely didn't disappoint.  With our take out of left overs I headed back to the hostel, whilst the others went to the supermarket.  Unfortunately my stomach was already gurlgling 😔 To cut a long story short.. The good was good while it lasted and as a friend said eat cheap just incase...it cost me 5 b...

 There was no definite confirmation of time before I went to bed of what time we were setting out, there was movement around 4.45 so I guess the original plan of leaving at 5am was still on.  Car loaded with the 2 Chinese, Ting, myself and Kaab.  A quick stop for coffee, water and snacks and we were on the road.  Wadi Shab is located about 2hrs south of Muscat.  The drive was amazing, sunrise and so many mountains.   Realise Oman was so mountainy.   After a non eventful journey we arrived.  We came off the main road, down the hill and then you see the beginning.  You go under the bridge and then there is a lotus 🪷 'field'.  It's absolutely beautiful, white and pink lotus sitting there amongst the water and green leaves with the back drop of the cliffs.  Amazing.  The first part of the journey is to cross the lotus field ... originally we were going to swim/walk but then the Chinese guys mentioned that they couldn't s...

 After a relatively good night's sleep I was up early to see the ocean, just a mere 15 min walk away from the hostel.  Still having a not so great belly, I decided to get water and a banana and see how I went.  I headed off, omg 8am and already 🥵🥵🥵🥵 my clothes were soaked, literally stuck to me after 5 mins of walking.  Walking also proving difficult in my slippery havianas!!  But I made it, I wasn't all that impressed to be honest the water was brown and really didn't look very inviting even though I was sweating and not been in the sea for nearly 2 weeks. I have to say that Mataró is much nicer than this particular stretch of beach.  I was on my own bar a guy and a couple of kids on a jet ski.  I walked with my feet in the water and it was lovely as I walked and got hotter, I kept asking myself can I go in, what are the rules , I mean there is noone around.  I didn't know how much of my body I needed to cover.  I had bought my swim suit...

 Oman definitely is not the place to come in July if you are a sweater!! To say that I am drowning in my own sweat would be an understatement!! I left Abu Dhabi cold, the airport and the flight were both freezing, having to wear a hoodie freezing...so you can imagine my reaction when I step out into the omaní Air...boom the heat hits you like a sledge hammer!!! I'd previously asked the guy from the hostel the best way to get to them, easy enough a1 bus get off at the mall.  Simples.  I got money out from the machine, followed the signs for the bus, and there it was.  Still wearing my hoodie in what must have been 35 degrees.  Confirmed with the driver where I was going and how much it would be.  500 rials roughly 1.70€ ..if you think at home the same journey is 7€!!! In Uzbekistan 0.13 cents.  I only had a 20 which is like having a 50€ bill!  The driver kindly let me on for free.  It's about a 15 min journey... The bus has WiFi so I could fol...

 So don't know what to put it down to but I got my dose of uzbec belly.  I mean it could be the pipe water, the corn or the salad we will never know.   But it is definitely making for a challenging travel day ..always the way. I'm currently sat in Abu Dhabi airport waiting for my connection to Oman.  Really hungry but scared to put anything passed my mouth so let's see. Anyway to sum up this first part of my travels... Uzbekistan is an incredible place I can't recommend it highly enough.  Go before it gets well and truly put on the map. Thanks for those of you who have been following and asking when the next installment is ...well this should keep you going for a while.  I've tried and failed to buy esims and no longer have a working SIM so who knows when the next update will be ... Uzbekistan over and out 🫶

 After an oks night sleep and an amazing shower and breakfast I decided I would have enough time to go into registan square before I met the boys. It had not been open long so there were not that many people.   To be honest there are no words...three incredible structures all the same but at the time different!! All I can say is that you have to see it with your own eyes to see the beauty and the magic these buildings hold. I had a play with my camera and managed to get some good shots.  I was also photographed with a lot of uzbec women.  It was hilarious, like being famous.  We love you please can we have a picture.  Bless them the uzbec people are just so lovely and friendly!  The boys pushed back our meeting time which gave me an extra 15mins soaking it all up.  Like Khiva I just couldn't get enough!!   With another yandex we made our way to the observatory.  It's at the top of the town with great views.  The observator...

 After a short walk I arrived at my hostel.  Again we use hostel in a very loose term.  They had building work going on so it wasn't too peaceful.  The 'dorm' I was given was basically a triple with a shared bathroom up in the restaurant.  To be honest not a great first impression.  Obvs better than the last !!  I was given some refreshing watermelon and told if I wasn't happy I could change hostels.  I couldn't be bothered they assured me the building noise would stop by 18h and wouldn't begin before 0900 so..done. I sorted out my stuff had a little look at the map and wandered back to registan square.  I walked around the back ... impressive from any angle.  The colors, the architecture and the did I mention the colours and the overall grandeur was just mind blowing.   I walked back and sat for a while but my stomach was rumbling so with three recommendations of vegetarian restaurants in hand I set off...No 1...nope, No 2 nop...

 Siesta was longer than expected, obvs much needed, I blame it on the heat.  Had a shower and headed out.  It so easy just to wander, I love cities you can just wander.... happened to wander into a bar ...was definitely craving a beer 🤣 I was due to meet the guys around 20h.  After wetting my appetite I returned to my wandering.  Ended up at the main square for sunset.  It was setting behind the death tower so I positioned myself away from the tourists and watched. It is a lovely time of night.  Managed to refill my camera reel and headed off to meet the guys for dinner.  Bukhara was actually ok for vegetarians which was a pleasant surprise.  I ordered some cheese like parcels and pumpkin manti(dumplings) which were good washed down with some expensive beer.  Every now and again it's ok to treat yourself 🤗 After dinner we headed back into the main square, all of the buildings are lit up and it looks very pretty 😍  We just sat and...

 As i entered the hostel, there were some kids playing and a guy.  The kids said hello, the guy just pointed and said 5!! I'm like 5, 5 what ...that was the number of my room.  When I entered it was very dark and there was a uzbec guy in there.  I asked some questions about beds, bathrooms, towels etc and chose my bed.  The dorm according to booking.com was full!!  After being shown the bathroom which can only be described as a colour explosion on speed, I took a quick shower.  Not the best and water leaked everywhere but after that sweat box of a train ride I could have showered in anything!!  Clean and dry I left the hostel for a wander.  As previously noted the hostel was in a great location 5 mins from the main attractions.. we'll call it attractions because that is what they felt like.  Already there were a lot more people, tourists and coach tours.  Every space was an opportunity to sell something.  Old buildings being ch...

 The sky was definitely clearer and inside the walls was definitely emptier which was a lovely way to spend the last morning in Khiva.  We walked to what we thought would be a perfect spot but again it wasn't going to happen, but it didn't matter.  It was so peaceful. After taking sufficient pictures knowing that this definitely was the last time we went back to the hostel.  I must have over a hundred fotos of the same thing 😜 😜 😜  A little bit more Albania research, breakfast and packed we headed for the train.  Just by coincidence we were all leaving today, 3 of us for Bukhara and one for Samarcanda. The train stations I have visited so far here have been amazing! Immaculate buildings, free toilets a place to rest and shower, aircon and ample seating for the many train users.  Unfortunately the same thing can not be said for their trains.  7hrs travelling through the desert in a sauna on wheels!!! Man alive it was horrible.  So many peop...

After 2 and a half hours sleep I got up as agreed to see sunset over the beautiful old town of Khiva.  The morning was cool, the streets were empty and was a lovely feeling being inside the walls with just a handful of people.   We came in through the main gate and decided where we thought would be the  place to see this amazing sunrise.  We found our spot and waited... Waited for what you might ask, it was super cloudy, the walls and buildings were too high so there was no sunrise 😅😅😅 however as I mentioned it was amazing to be inside the walls before most people.   We still had a good wander around took some fotos and I headed back to bed.  Managed to get some shut eye.  Headed for breakfast which consisted of the best fried eggs and the hardest stale bread.  You can't have everything!! It was already pretty warm but decided on walking to the bazar.  Basically a market where you can buy anything and everything.  We found j...

We arrived back at the hostel to rest a little before the game, this plan changed quite rapidly as Amy had a bottle of 'Kyrgyzstan Amaretto' to drink! Its definitely different tasting and needs a mixer.   There were  some other girls out in the common area that we offered it to.  So in the end we were 5 girls chatting travelling.  All from different countries, different plans, following different paths.  2 of them travelling separately had been away for over a year.  In this time they had been to settle incredible counties some I had never even heard of!  A couple of them had done a highway (can't remember the name) where they had camped sola in the most beautiful places, surrounded by lakes, mountains and sheep! It definitely made me reminisce of my early travel days. Nothing like they had done.  Very different.  They rely heavily on mobile phones.  I travelled with a lonely planet, my travelling bible..so so different.  But t...

What a contrast of landscape, for much of the journey all you could see was desert.  Miles and miles of desert.  We went very close to the Turkestan border but still more desert, so dry and I imagine hot.  Then necminute there were buffalos and rivers and green green fields.  It changed so quickly. After a fairly quick and non eventful 13hrs we arrived in Khiva.  Completely different to Tashkent.  Alot smaller, sandier and touristy.  You get of the train and the first thing you see is a 'theme park' with a big ferris wheel.   I checked with the hostel to see what the best way to get to the hostel was and of course it was by taxi and they said around 6000som.  As you exit the station there was an onslaughter of taxi drivers preying on the arrivals. I chose to ignore them and keep on walking. One guy with an incredible amount of gold teach was very persistent.  You speak English, you need taxi, where you go.  So I calmly told him...

 Not such an early start as the day before but still up, showered and out by 10am.. My mission this morning was to get some new headphones for my train journey.  After popping into the supermarket for some freshly baked bread I headed to 'the mall' only to find it was mainly jewellery shops! I spied a shop across the road that looked like it could help.. Again no the guy in his broken English pointed me in the right direction.  There is a bus or a cab ..the cab is only 13000 uz ...umm the bus 1700..yep u guessed I got the bus! First shop I found did the job...first thing the guy said .."these are fake" 😂😂 the fact they cost less than 2€ i kinda guessed!  New headphones in hand I walked off to find the Minor Mosque.  Set between high rise and modern buildings this structure was definitely something of beauty.  Again with the bright white walls the brilliant blue dome and the incredible architecture.  There were a handful of people there at the same ti...

 As I arrived I grabbed a cheap SIM card..8$ for 50gb for a month.  My initial plan was to only connect through hostels but my brother bless his little cotton socks decided to go and get pneumonia and get himself admitted into hospital so I thought it was best to stay connected! (Love you bro!)  I was also told it was not possible to catch the airport bus into town, on asking in the terminal sure  no problem and you can tap on with your credit card no problem.  The cost 0.13€ ..oh ok then.  The driver kindly notified me when my stop was coming up and with the help of Google maps I made it to the hostel.   The jury is still out on the hostel, the first guy that checked me in really was having a very bad day! I was shown to the dorm, it was very clean, had lockers and air conditioning.  I had to ask where the toilet and showers were.  I found out the next there was a communal area! I grabbed a shower and was recommended a local cafe for so...

 We touch down in Turkey 2 hrs later than expected for me it just shortened my layover, England had got through to the Euro cup final...most people were happy. After clearing security I had already checked and funnily enough my next flight was from a different terminal.  I asked a few people how to get to terminal 1, was there a bus or a shuttle? Nope you have to take a taxi!! A taxi seriously..now we know I don't like taking taxis unless it is really necessary! Can I walk I asked a couple of different people.  You could tell by their facial expressions that is is not a frequently asked question especially at 2am by a single female traveller!  The answer was however yes it is possible, it will be 30 mins.  I have time on my hands, did a quick Google map check and off I trotted.  There was a nice early morning breeze and actually a pleasant walk. When I arrived at the terminal to my delight my connecting flight was on the departures board, and at present tim...

 So as most people will know I spend most of my time in or near water but this summer I have decided to embark on an adventure to a land locked country!  The idea of traveling to Uzbekistan was first put into my head by one of my students.  She was following some Instagram accounts about the country that looked absolutely incredible.  I started to follow these same pages and kept looking and kept liking.  I ummed and arred for ages and then unfortunately we lost one of the members of our swimming family, she was young like me and had everything to live for.  The day of her funeral I went and paid my respects and that very next day booked the trip. I found flights from London which happened to tie in with my trip back 'home'.  After 10days in the UK, 2 weddings , 3 camping trips and some new ink I was ready for my adventure.  I did some last minute shopping then was ready to board the 4am national express to Luton.  Very early for a 13h flight...