BEAMET: Croatia and Bosnia / Herzegovina

Hi all,

Well if you've survived the blog about the bitey things, you may now be interested to see where we've been and what we've been up to.

Since the previous Beamet blog, we have been to the following places; Slovenia - Ljubljana, Postojna caves, Piran; Croatia - Porec, Rohinj, Zagreb; Bosnia / Herzegovina - Jajce, Sarajevo, Mostar; Croatia - Split, Hvar Island (and today we're making our way to Dubrovnik).

It has been an amazing trip so far and we're still only at the start. I have to say for me a real highlight was the Postojna caves, which are just amazing. They are full of stalagmites and stalagtites and the cave system is some 20km long. We only got to see a few kms but it was just incredible, and the acoustics were fabulous. At one point, when we got to the concert hall, I simply couldn't resist, and in true Aussie fashion let out an almighty 'coo-ee' which resounded for about 10 seconds. The Italian girls choir who were giving an impromptu recital were not impressed!

Piran was gorgeous, its a Venetian port on the coast of Slovenia with lots of cute cobbled streets, excellent seafood and a real relaxed vibe. I could've happily stayed there for a few days. And Dad would've loved the harbour with its boats. To be honest, Dad you'd have loved Porec, Rohinj and Split for the same reasons. There are some gorgeous looking boats here.

I really like Croatia, I think it has a good vibe and the people are very friendly and helpful. But I have to say I didn't think that about Bosnia. First of all, you could seriously tell you had moved to a different country the minute you crossed the border, because the first thing you saw was a building scarred by artillery marks, and then a dirty great big Mosque (BiH is mostly muslim). Then there was the state of the cars - everybody drives around in a banged up old jalopy, and no wonder when you see their driving. Seriously, I once read in a Bill Bryson book that 'no one should have shared the secret of the motor car with the Italians' - well that should apply to BiH as well. The highway to Sarajevo, if you could call it a highway, is a single lane, windy road through the mountains (which it must be said are very picturesque and beautiful). The speed limit on these roads, well I don't know what it was, but I couldn't manage more than 60 without having difficulty as each new bend approached, yet we were being overtaken left, right and centre by these flying junkboxes with wheels. And as for driving on the right hand side of the road, well, the number of times we nearly got clipped by motorists approaching from the opposite direction but well and truly on our side of the road was astonishing.

We arrived eventually to Sarajevo after a quick stop in a gorgeous little medieval town (again scarred by war though) called Jajce. This town has a huge waterfall right in the centre, and it was simply stunning. Anyway, Sarajevo. We didn't get into town until quite late, like 10pm or so. Time is quite deceptive here as the sun doesn't set properly until 9pm, so you often find yourself travelling a lot longer in the day than you possibly intended. So we arrive, and we find a couple of guesthouses in the centre of town (they advertise them as hostels but they´re private houses). One has only got 2 beds (we obviously need 3) and the other has got 3. So we go for that one, but its getting very late now, and the guy is trying to be very helpful, but I´ve been driving all day, and I don´t need to hear about every single thing there is to see and do and Sarajevo. Anyway, Agata stays to find out the information whilst Agnieszka and I see the room. We discover a cooker in the room, and seeing as we´ve been lugging bags of pasta around (in the interests of cutting costs), Agnieszka goes and asks if its possible to use the stove. Next thing, the guy gets all in a huff, I don´t know exactly what is said, but the next thing I know he gives us our money back and chucks us out!

So itś 11pm, we have nowhere to go. Fortunately the place that only had 2 beds has now found a 3rd, and we ended up there for the night, but it certainly didn´t give me a positive vibe about Sarajevo.

Next day we did some sightseeing in Sarajevo, which was very hot, but interesting, and by chance at breakfast we were sat next to a Finnish girl who told us about the Tunnel Museum, which is set in the tunnel that the Bosnians built under the airport to smuggle food into and people out of Sarajevo during the Bosnia - Serbia war some 12 years ago. Do you think we could find this museum? We drove everywhere looking for the thing, asked about 6 Bosnians for directions (memo to self: never ask a Bosnian for directions... we were sent so many different ways and none of them were right!). At one stage we encountered a couple of kids actually playing on the highway (go figure!?) Eventually we found it through directions from a taxi driver (but I misunderstood some of the directions and ended going up a dirt track...). It took us nearly 2 hours to find the museum, but once we were there, it was totally worth it. Especially as one of the girls visiting the museum was actually a Bosnian survivor of the war, who as a child had used the tunnel to be smuggled out to the countryside to be reunited with the rest of her family. Her accounts were very moving and made the experience very sobering.

Anyway, after Sarajevo we went to Mostar, which was a couple of hours drive down the road, but was a beautiful Medieval town which has the iconic Stari Most bridge which is the symbol of all Bosnia. This bridge was totally destroyed during the war but they have since rebuilt it, and it is truly beautiful. We had amazing accommodation in this place (even had the luxury of air conditioning! yay! Although we had no hot water for showers... beggars can´t be choosers I guess).

So after Mostar we headed back into Croatia to Split, where we had to return the car. So stay tuned for stories of our experience in Split...

Wings, Stings and Little Bitey Things

I am the Chosen One. Truly.

Now don't be too jealous, you don't know what exactly it is that I have been chosen for. You see, Agnieszka thinks I was chosen when we were in Bled, but I think it was more likely Zagreb, as it was the next day in Zagreb that I discovered my true calling.

Which is? Why, to be the main attraction for all wings, stings and little bitey things. I woke up in Zagreb to discover 42, yes, that's 42 insect bites on my body. I don't know whether the hostel there had bed bugs, or whether there were just mosquitos or something in the room, but these things aren't real little. They're huge welt like shapes on my body. And not just on my legs and arms - no, I've got 3 under my left arm pit, 1 in between my toes, couple on my torso, 7 up my left leg (I must've been lying on my right side because for some reason I don't have many bites on the right) and even my fingers were not spared. It's ridiculous. I look like some sort of leper or something.

And the stupid thing is I left the aerogard at home. I didn't think I'd need it here. So, we spent quite some time that morning wandering about Zagreb looking for insect repellent. Fortunately I found some, so there hasn't been any repeat biting sessions, but now of course there's the itch factor - luckily I had something with me for that!

Then, when we were driving in Bosnia (an experience in itself, I tell you - but one I'll probably save for another blog), just as night was falling (on our approach to Sarajevo) and when I was driving, we were suddenly accosted by a plague of all things with wings. Seriously. It looked like it was raining. You couldn't see anything through the windscreen - and that was when we discovered we didn't have any screen wash in the car. Fortunately there was a servo nearby and we could clean the blighters off.

But to cap it all off, yesterday we took a ferry from Split to Hvar Island. It was a very hot day, and I had packed my togs in preparation for a swim in the Adriatic. In I jump, and seriously, I was in there for all of 2 minutes when I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder. I look down, and there's a red hair like thing sticking out. So its off to the nearest pharmacy, where the woman informs me that I've been stung by a medusa, which I think is some sort of jelly fish. Now I didn't see the thing that stung, but oh boy, was it painful, and boy, did my shoulder swell up. So I had to buy some cream which I now have to apply twice a day.

We're going to Montenegro hopefully tomorrow. Wonder what insects await me there...

BEAMET: Slovenia

Hi all, I write to you on day 2 of the Great BEAMET.

We left Stansted midday yesterday and already that seems like an eternity ago. With the hustle and bustle of the last few days at school it seems like the BEAMET has just suddenly arrived and hit me in the face, which also means that I don't feel quite prepared for it.

That certainly hit home yesterday when I realised at the airport that I had forgotten to transfer my memory cards over from my old camcorder to my new one - which I can get away with I suppose, but I won't be able to do any quick little video messages standing outside some important place (this I had hoped to do in Israel, so that's a pity). Oh and I've forgotten a few other bits and pieces but hopefully can make do...

Anyway the flight to Ljubljana was pretty uneventful (except for some dodgy turbulence - can I just say I'm having some trouble typing this blog as in typical European fashion, the letters are not where they should be - so if you see me typing a load of z's, be aware they're supposed to be y's).

We stepped off the plane late afternoon to 35 degree heat (after having left London where at midday it was barely 20... bit of a shock to the system!) and then promptly wondered what to do. I had booked accommodation for the evening in a little town called Bled, but couldn't see where to get the bus from, and anyway, we decided that as Agata will be joining us tomorrow for a few days, we could just hire a car and drive to Bled. So we did.
Sounds easy, doesn't it. But the 'map' we have, if you can call it that, is less than ordinary and a journey which should have taken 45 minutes took us 2 hours.

We arrived at Hostel 1004 to find that they hadn't even built the beds we were to be having that night. She told us it would take an hour or so, and as it was still light, we decided to walk down to the lake and have a bit of a look around. I have to say Bled is a very beautiful town, the lake is just gorgeous, and the instant I set eyes on it I felt the rubbish of the past few dazs at school melting away.

Got back to the hostel and the beds were now assembled, so basically I crashed for the evening.

Next day (today) we got up and wandered down to the lake to see it all in the day. I have to say it really is stunning. In the middle of the lake is a little island upon which is a cute little church. Slovenia sure seems the place for cute little churches, and they are all built in the same style. On top of the hill, overlooking the lake, is Bled Castle, which looks like it is about to fall off the hill and into the lake!

We spent most of the morning wandering about Bled (there were craft markets to see) and then Agnieszka took the wheel and we headed off to Bohinj. This is another lake, like Bled, which was formed by melting glaciers, only this one is not so touristy. We got a boat to the other side of the lake and then decided to walk back around the lake. Sounds like a good idea, but the walk was 8 kms and it was, by this point, rather hot. So, when we got back around, we had to have a swim in the lake, glorious it was too, and then a coffee at a cafe overlooking the water.

It was at this point that madness set in. We realised with Agata arriving tonight we wouldn't probably be travelling back this way again. Bled and Bohinj are part of the Triglav National Park, which has as its main attraction, the Julian Alps. The Vršič pass is a road that crosses the Alps, is very spectacular, and has a height of 1611m above sea level. So, we decided to drive there and have a look - only its 5.30pm now and Vršič is in completely the opposite direction to Ljubljana. Madness!
But it was glorious to see, and well worth it. This meant that the drive to DIC Hostel, Ljubljana, mostly took place in the dark, with me driving, wrong side of road and all, and Agnieszka attempting to give directions from the 'map'. Fortunately I only went the wrong way down a one way street once... Suffice to say we arrived several hours after we intended, but it has been a good few days, and we are looking forward to Agata's arrival later this evening. I do wish though that the hostel had airconditioning - or at least a fan...

Tomorrow the plan is to see Ljubljana and then maybe start to make our way to Croatia, or we might stay another night in Ljubljana, depending upon what the others want to do.

Stay tuned! The Great BEAMET has begun...

Lake Bled with the Castle overlooking the lake

Hiking at Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj

The Julian Alps on the way to the Vršič pass

The Great BEAMET

Just to say I'm leaving in 10 minutes to embark upon... The Great BEAMET (Big Europe And Middle East Trip)! We're intending on going to (and hopefully pretty much in this order) Slovenia Croatia Bosnia / Herzegovina Montenegro Albania Macedonia Bulgaria Romania (maybe if time) Turkey Syria Jordan Israel The last 3 depend on updates from smart traveller. And the only other restriction is I have specific dates I must be in Macedonia, so we may have to skip to there pretty quick... So stay tuned to this blog for updates on our adventures!

If you're British and you know it, clap your hands...

So Saturday night I went to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" with my friend Sara. I have to confess, right from the outset, yes, I am a Harry Potter fan. Strange, I know, but true. Anyway, I thought the movie was excellent, they managed to cut out a lot of stuff from the storyline (which would have made it too long) yet maintained the integrity of the book. And finally the kids have learned to act, which is a big improvement.

Funnily enough, though, in light of my recent cinema visits, and bearing in mind this is allegedly a children's movie, there really weren't many kids there at all. Probably that had to do with the fact that I was at the Odeon, Leiceister Square, so the tickets were exorbitantly expensive. £12.50 for an adult, and then £1.60 booking fee! Come on... although I suppose its understandable when you consider this is the cinema where they hold all the Premiere's...

The wierdest thing about the whole experience was the clapping. Seriously, there was actual clapping. After the ads, (just before the movie started), and then again at the end of the film. Now what I want to know is, who (out of those who deserve congratulations and applause) do they actually think is going to hear this? Do they think Daniel Radcliffe himself is going to look up from whatever he's doing, and acknowledge the applause? Seriously, people. Enough already with the clapping.

You know they don't just do it at the cinema either. The first time I encountered this British clapping phenomenon was when I went on a package holiday to Crete. We'd been cramped in this tiny plane (leg room, what's that?) for a couple of hours, and then when we landed (without incident) there was spontaneous clapping. Now at the time I just thought they were doing it out of relief that we could get out of this cramped space. But since then, every time I've been on a plane with predominantly British passengers, there's been clapping.

Bizarre...

May The Force Be With You

So this weekend was "Celebration Europe", a Star Wars convention celebrating 30 years of Star Wars (scary to think that Episode IV: A New Hope has been around for that long!) I managed to get along to the convention, and it was amazing! First of all I couldn't believe how many people were there (it was jam packed to the point of being a bit unbearable at times) and then I couldn't believe the range of stuff there was! Not just merchandising, but there were several 'fan' stages set up where they would interview actors and crew from the films (I got to see Ray Parks (Darth Maul), Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok) and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), vintage toys auction (didn't buy anything fortunately, although I did see a vintage Luke Skywalker for sale at one of the stalls for a whopping £295!), jedi training (for the kids), autograph area (seriously overpriced)... and then there were the fans themselves, dressed up in various Star Wars costumes. There was a big disco on the Saturday night and a big screen set up on the Friday night showing A New Hope - I really wish I'd been able to go to the whole convention, not just one day. Oh and they had some of the original props, concept drawings and stuff from the movies, plus I also got to see the trailer for the new animated TV series of The Clone Wars which looks really impressive... Anyway, I managed to bring my trusty canon camcorder along for the event, and have put together a little teaser for those Star Wars fans out there who didn't get to go to the convention... the only problem is my camcorder doesn't do so well in low light, but hopefully you get a sense of the vibe... enjoy!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Well today is Dad's 60th birthday, and tonight he is having a big birthday bash with his family and friends at home in Brisbane. Of course, I'm not there, but he did ask me to send him a short video message, which I posted about on blogger recently (see "It Never Rains But It Pours"). Well it turned into a bit more of an epic than originally planned - lasting some 9 minutes! But if you're interested, here is my video message (apologies for the bad singing though, I had had a cold for like 2 weeks and lost my voice)...

Happy Birthday Dad!

Four more sleeps to go!

Yep, that's right, 4 more sleeps until...

CELEBRATION EUROPE!

Yay! Die hard Star Wars fans out there, unite!

Can't wait, the only problem for me is that the convention is 3 days long, and I can only go on Saturday! Alas!

Die Hard 4.0

Well as you would know from previous posts, I haven't had much luck at the movies in recent weeks. So I was a bit dubious about going to see Die Hard 4.0 with Jane and her sister Anne on Sunday night. Especially as we had decided to go to My Vue at Croydon. Nonetheless, along I went, and I am happy to report that there were no 6 year olds in the audience who could not sit through the whole thing, no one talking, no untoward behaviour - and that I was actually able to enjoy the film for a change. Except for one small criticism. This is an action film with lots of very big explosions, and these are exacerbated by how loud they actually play the film. Seriously, I needed ear plugs in some spots! But other than that, it was a fantastic film and I really enjoyed it. Wow. Want to go see it again, it was so good. And here's a taster for those in Oz, where the movie's not due out til August 9th or something... So when's Die Hard 5?

Accidentally Friday Street

Well, after all the Triple M last week (and with more to happen this week), I decided actually to have a weekend off for a change.

A couple of weeks back, in fact, it was the day after Gemma's girly night, Gemma, Louisa and I decided it would be a good idea to go hiking. We originally planned to go to the Yorkshire Dales (my absolutely most favourite place) but time got away from us, and we left it a bit late to buy train tickets (they're so much more expensive if you book under a week away). Also, we thought it might be better to go at another time on account of the floods they've been having up there.

Anyway, Gemma and I decided that we would go hiking in leafy Surrey yesterday. Unforunately that meant that Lou couldn't come, because she lives in Leeds, but we will still do the Yorkshire thing at some point.

I subscribe to Walking World, a website that lists a whole heap of walks that you can do in the UK, and even some in France and Spain. Last year Jane, Agnieszka and I went to do a walk in a quaint little village called "Friday Street", but it rained so we kind of just had lunch in the pub and abandoned it (although we did do a drive around some of the villages in the area). I've always wanted to go back, so I suggested it to Gemma, and off we went.

It was a beautiful little walk, 6 miles (which took us a lot longer than it should have because we kept stopping to take pics, but also because I forgot to bring the compass so a couple of times we had to spend a bit of time trying to figure out where to go next). The walk takes place mostly in woodland, and starts in Friday Street, then heads up to a nice little village called Coldharbour (where last year Agnieszka bought a load of cards at the Church because she liked the picture), the highest village in Surrey, and then you go up Leith Hill, Surrey's highest hill, before heading back to Friday Street. We had a fantastic time, and saw some lovely scenery. It was very rewarding to do a 6 mile hike too!

The view from Leith Hill

Gemma at Leith Hill Tower

By the time we finished, we didn't want the day to end. Gemma's parents in law, Gill and Adrian, recently bought an apartment in Canterbury, because Adrian has to work down there quite a bit. They let it out to people and had suggested to Gemma that she could use it over the weekend if she liked. So, seeing as we still had a few hours left of sunlight, and also because the weather really was glorious, we decided on a whim to head off there and stay the night. We had sort of thought we would do that, so we had packed overnight bags just in case.

I have to say this apartment was absolutely amazing! Full of all the mod cons, and minimalist in its decor (but classy), its an easy 5 minute walk from the centre of Canterbury. We dumped our stuff and headed off into town for a bit of a stroll, to find a French market there (probably in honour of the Tour de France which was scheduled to go through there on Sunday). The cathedral was closed, but we enjoyed looking at the exterior and also walking around the streets at the back, where there are some truly quirky examples of architecture. Then we bought some nougat and some fudge at the markets, got some take away Chinese and headed back to the flat for a nice quiet evening in front of the telly. Fell asleep watching the Da Vinci code.

The next day there was no real rush to head off, so woke up leisurely, had breakky and then headed back to London. I had some work to do for school so I spent the afternoon doing that (and then again later on in the evening).

What a wonderful, relaxing weekend!