Roadtrip in Australia: Epilogue

Pictures Part 3:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27415&l=8daae&id=523210814

After all the vehicle breakdown adventures, all our friends are reunited in Sydney and have set up camp in Nina’s living room, guestroom and master bedroom. On New Year’s eve, they spend a fantastic night at a party on a rooftop terrace, where they have a one million dollar view over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the world famous fireworks. They cheers to 2008 and all the friendship, laughter, love and adventures to come.

The last days in Sydney are spent enjoying snowcrab, sightseeing and suntanning on the beach… Then the company must part. Iris, Egon and Yaisa fly to Singapore, where they continue the seafood festival, Nina, Mirjam and Kaat go hiking in the Blue Mountains, in the rain… Next stop for Mir and Kaat is Alice Springs, where they have yet another problem with a motor vehicle, but keep their spirits high by trying to get an emu to dance and trying to spot pygmee koala’s in yellow coats… haha, yes, blonde… Iris and Egon are currently in Cambodia, after having cycled in the Mekong Delta and Kaat is discovering Tasmania. Don’t they ever stop travelling??? Unfortunately for Nina, Mirjam and Yaisa, their holidays have ended and it’s back to reality. Back to Sydney, Amsterdam and Singapore, back to work….

But travelling, discovering, laughing and spending lots of wonderful moments together with ones best friends was the best way to close off 2007… What will 2008 bring one wonders…

The end…

But not THE end really, because hey, life goes on and the sun is still shining!!

I had hardly landed in Singapore or I was back in the air again, business trip to Taipei this time, but I took the opportunity to visit dad in Kaohsiung of course. Again, a very food centered weekend, but what else do you expect from the Nio’s… ;-)

Pictures from Taiwan:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27416&l=25ad5&id=523210814

Once back in Singapore, it was time to organise my new life. I moved out of Villa Marina (why do I have so much stuff????) and started decorating my new appartment, which happens to be in the middle of Geylang. Yes, that’s the famous redlight district of Singapore. Nothing like Amsterdam of course, but it does give the neighbourhood a great atmosphere. The “chickens” as they call them, stand on the sidewalk, all dressed and made up, waiting for their customers to approach them, as it is prohibited for them to actively sollicit the men… Consequence, huge traffic jams from 7 pm onwards on Geylang Road, or at least VERY slow moving traffic… :-)

But Geylang is also famous for it’s local food, so it’s a good thing that I’ve lost 6 kg because I intend to try out as many restaurants as possible! I’ve seen place that sell Dim Sum, Frog Congee, hundred different types of noodles soup, it’s mouthwatering!

So I’m staying put in Singapore for a few weeks but my first guests are about to arrive and then in February it’s off to the Netherlands for 10 days… My agenda is already filling up for that period, can’t wait to see many of you again and enjoy the little things that I do miss sometimes: haring, paling, crisp cold weather, good old vrijdagmiddagborrels, Surinaamse broodjes at the Amsterdamse Poort, wondering around on the Albert Kuipmarkt, the dog poo on the streets, the friendly Amsterdam taxidrivers, the complaining about how the Euro has made everything so expensive… I’m going to love it!

So long,

x-Y-x