In the morning, I fixed myself a cup of tea and woke up slowly. Breakfast was fresh fruit and cereal. Wynford's daughter appeared, waking late after a costume party where the theme was the Flintstones - how fun! Wynford and I said goodbye to her and headed off by car through the surrounding Rhondda Valley.
There were terraced houses everywhere; the doors and window frames were a multitude of colors, all stacked neatly in rows. We talked about the different terms for housing like townhouse...
This morning I decided to look out the drapes and check my watch when I woke up. It was 5:30am and already getting light. Any further north and I suspect it would be the gloaming, when the darkest part of night remains twilight.
Breakfast was again superb, this time with an added sausage. Chris need to run an errand, so he dropped me off at Sorbie Tower to wander around. It was quiet except for the birds; it smelled of fresh rain and wild garlic (or onions - they both look the same to me)...
The drapes in my room were thick tapestries. I awoke in the morning, but couldn't tell the time, so I dozed off back to sleep. Around 8:30am I finally got up. Almost instantly, Chris, my host, had a hot breakfast prepared. An egg, potatoes, bacon (of course, they raise pigs), tomatoes, and toast, all served with Brown Sauce (like A1) and homemade rhubarb/ginger jam.
I checked my email and showered; then Chris was extra-kind enough to take me into town. We drove by Sorbie Tower (built by my a...
Vic had to leave for work so I said my goodbye early. She suggested I might want to skip Galway because it would make a tough day. This was always a "Plan B" that I was hoping I wouldn't have to do, but I can also be flexible and adapt when necessary.
Jim and I spent the morning checking out options for going to Belfast and catching the ferry. I decided to take the 12pm Bus Eireann to Belfast ($15 Euros) arriving around 3pm to catch the 5pm ferry to Stanraer, Scotland ($35 ...
Breakfast was a healthy serving of muesli with fresh banana, pear, yogurt and milk. The coffee tasted sooo good. Jim had to cater an event and left early. Nathan and I looked at photos I brought in my computer of Cambodia, America, my family, and other places. Being Sunday, it was Vic's day off so she chose to spend it relaxing while I went with Nathan by bus to meet up with Jim in Blessington for a ride through the mountains.
We got to Blessington at 12:30pm, but Jim wasn't going be finishe...
I'm walking through a park full of people with backpacks and rock-climbing gear. Who are these people? I've been looking for someone for 2 years to climb with in Cambodia... BZZZZZ.
7am and it's time to wake up. This is the day I go to Cannes. I officially started working in film in 1999. I've attended the American Film Market since 2000. Cannes is the Big Daddy of festivals and markets. Now it's my turn. And I'm representing Cambodia; how cool is that!
Uli walks me to the Metro stat...
The calm before the storm. One last day in Paris, and I thought the best way to spend it was to relax. After a breakfast of muesli and yogurt, I worked on the computer writing my Amazing Race diary and checking the Internet for more details about future days of the trip.
Uli took me to the post office to send off postcards and we got bagel sandwiches for lunch. Mmmm, pastrami (not available anywhere in Cambodia)! Back at home I worked some more on the computer and took a nap. After pizza for...
no, I am not on the show "The Amazing Race" but when I got into the taxi in Kuala Lumpur, it felt like I am embarking on a similar - fast-paced journey.
DAY TWO
Getting from the airport (LCCT) was easy. As with most places focused on tourism, getting back was more difficult. But I was expecting it to be, so I allowed plenty of time.
The Swiss Inn Hotel in Kuala Lumpur was a pleasure. I had a good night's sleep and awoke refreshed. A breakfast buffet was included - noth...
