Tee's Intrepid Travels - Legs 4 & 5

Ahoj! Bonjour!

Yes, this next exciting installment covers the first half of our European continent conquer-age.

The last time I left you I'd just touched down in the magnificent metropolis that is Prague...

It's getting hot in herre
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Water and juice... Amount spent CZK500 (NZ$25ish)

Ice-creams... Amount spent CZK500

Being in the European heatwave... Priceless!


Jenny and I stumbled unknowingly into the hottest temperatures known to man (or us two kiwi's from down-under at least). As most of you know, there is a heatwave in Europe which may sound lovely to people from NZ or places of colder climate - but believe you me it is almost unbearable (imagine it being 11pm at night you are standing motionless and there is sweat dripping off you). mmmm yummy.

But being the troopers that we are - we have managed to see the most of the sights.


Prague - Random Central
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Things that come to mind during my Prague stay:

- Language: Arriving in a place where words look and sound like gobbledy-gook was interesting to say the least. No words looked familiar but we managed to navigate ourselves around ok (thanks to Dave, Charin and good charades skills on our behalf).

- Old buildings: The same as everyone else says. Everywhere you look are beautiful old buildings (our mouths were constantly gaping and muttering "wow"). Buildings built before 1300 just blow me away. Everyone has to go see it for themselves as my words won't do justice!

- Creamfields: Charin invited us along to a mammoth music festival with 30,000 in attendance. It was a great time out in an old airfield with various music-style tents. Massive attack was the big act - 2 hours ahhhh it was magic! For NZ$48 the 14 hours we spent there was well worth
it! (despite longs treks in the dark to find where our missing bus home
was)

- Water: difficulty in finding non-sparkling water (difficult when you can't read labels)

- Food: my greatest regret was not trying the prague-famous "fried cheese" - maybe next time! We did eat a lot of bread and holy cheese though (supermarkets were scary when everything seemed unfamiliar and labels were in gobbledygook)

- Dogs: apparently there are no middle-sized dogs in Prague (lots of small and large) and they go everywhere with owners, including frequenting movie theatres

- Ireland: a local told me of their similarities...famous for beer, small countries, fighting for freedom, wonderful people - I'll wait till after Dublin before I comment

- European fashion sense: interesting to say the least...matching couples, extremely short skirts (boys will love Prague), what we call "2/3 pants" (try to imagine Kylie Minogue butt-not-covered shorts with the middle section between mid-butt area and knees missing, and with tight-flared leg warmers...it's hard to describe!) - self-consciousness does not seem to be apparent.

Paris - The City of Lurrrve
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Unfortunately no French boys serenaded us, although Jenny was asked for coffee along the Champs Elysees and a guy grabbed her watch on the metro - go jenny!

Had a fab time in Paris, we stayed in Montmatre (for those of you who have seen the Moulin Rouge and Amelie - they were both filmed in this area). Complete with the Sacre Coeur, merry go rounds, material shops and local artisans galore - it was great!

2 days and monuments-a-rama - again, despite the heat jenny and I pushed our bodies to the extreme and managed to see the Louvre, La Concierge, Saint Chappelle, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower (which was insane - 2 hours queuing in 40 degrees = not good), the Pantheon, L'Arc du
Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Sacre Coeur....jealous yet?

hehe anyway, there was so much more and yes it was crazy madness - but fun all the same.

Greatest regret - not eating snails or frog legs or seeing a lot more sights...but that doesn't matter as it gives me a reason to return!

I think that should be all from me for now. Bet you can't wait for the next exciting installment - Europe Part 2 'the English speaking countries hoorah!'

'ttfn' or 'a bientot' or 'something I've forgotten in Czech'

be good my children

xo tee in London

Tee's Intrepid Travels - Legs 1, 2 & 3

Yes, I've conquered 4 countries to date and have only just managed to get my A into G to write something. I don't feel guilty though, cos half of you haven't written to me yet hehehe

So, for those of you who don't know, my friend Jenny and I have initiated our plan to take over the world whilst on our way to Canada to infiltrate their Legal Education System for two semesters beginning September.

ooh ooh Jenny says a big hello to you all even though possibly you don't know her - she is feeling much better after sleeping off a 48 hour no-sleep stint (she who does not sleep on planes).

Anyway, welcome to my list - hopefully I'll tell you some interesting things. I've been informed that coollists actually have to be cool...I'll try hard. I'll also try to keep things short - update you on the minties moments, kodak moments and other random assortments.

To save you and me time I'm only doing legs 1,2 & 3...

Leg 1 that was Brisbane
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Only a couple of days that consisted of:

1) Films
2 strange films at Brisbane's 12th International Film Festival. I suspect I'm not intelligent enough to interpret and fully appreciate the subtle undertones and metaphors that make these films so special. oh well.

Films = 3 stars Theatre seats = 5 stars (superb!)

2) Food
We ate lots. We have decided to re-name our trip to be "Jen & Tee's Culinary World Tour". Making gourmet sandwiches in the sun on the grass in the middle of Brisbane and World-renown 'fush and chups' from Scarborough were highlights. We also discovered the world's best gelato which was sent from Heaven (thanks God).

3) Mars
By chance, while up Mt Coot-tha (City lookout point) we discovered we were sighting Mars the closest it's going to be to Earth for 75,000 years. We also realised it was our last chance to see the southern cross for a long while and shed a tear or two.

Legs 2 & 3 - South East Asia Conquered
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Highlights:

1) Family!
Got to see my bro AJ who I have seen in a while and finally got to see his "bachelor’s" pad and puppy, Sage. Both were interesting. Mum and Dad were also there and we adopted Jenny into the Lee clan (she is definitely asian under that blond hair facade).

Also ventured to see my Ah Mah (grandma) in KL who was only expecting my mum to arrive - was nice to surprise her...only she didn't recognise me... something about me growing - hmmmm

2) Shopping & Food
Need I say more


And so we have arrived in Prague after too many hours of flying. Europe is having it's first taste of Tee since 1986 and like me is I'm sure enjoying it. More tales of Prague later, since I've only just arrived really.

Hope everyone is doing well, wishing you were all here (really!)

Love to you all

xo Tee
(and Jenny Mary who does not sleep on planes)