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Post by janeyd on Jan 16, 2016 8:40:21 GMT -5
oh no. need to find an affordable last minute escape option for chinese new year. was going back to see friends in paris but was told im expected to be in Aus the following weekend for a family thing and i cant do two long haul return trips in such a short time (normally i dont take well to family expectation like that but its my great aunt on my mum's side's 100th birthday party, and i really enjoy her company and that of her remaining sons).
of course a lot of nearby destinations are insanely overbooked and/or expensive.
dilemmas dilemmas
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Jan 17, 2016 6:21:42 GMT -5
Can you extend the time in Oz or have you used up all your holiday allowance?
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Post by sprite on Jan 17, 2016 6:50:45 GMT -5
borneo? sabah, malaysia offers orangutangs. sarawak has the nimah caves and you can easily drive yourself around there. yes, it's hot and humid, but fairly quiet and the air is good (unless it's on fire). miri will be packed with expats on the weekend who are escaping brunei.
or, brunei, do a rainforest weekend with a dawn canopy walk. no booze, but super peaceful. and good, cheap, food.
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Post by mei on Jan 17, 2016 9:25:51 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing as HD.
can you fly to Oz earlier, and do a non-family holiday-type weekend there to a good location and maybe work remotely from Australia in between that and the family weekend (at least a few days) so you wouldn't have to take too much days off?
but I also like sprite's suggestions...
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Post by Oweena on Jan 18, 2016 3:18:26 GMT -5
You can fly to S. India and crash at my place.
There's not a ton of tings to do here, but you're welcome to use my place as a way to get away.
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Post by Queen on Jan 23, 2016 16:51:13 GMT -5
I'd probably stay and enjoy Chinese New Year... it's fun the first time.
Otherwise splurge on a couple of days in a resort somewhere like Langkawi.
Might be tricky to match dates but could also be worth looking at G Adventures for tours.
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Post by janeyd on Jan 24, 2016 1:24:28 GMT -5
Ive splurged and booked an overpriced weekend in Phnom Penh - 99% because one of my best friends from paris will be there.
Couldnt extend the aus trip as holiday leave is so precious (i used up half a years allowance for the two weeks i was sick in Aus over Christmas & NY) and im one staff short in my team as my 2IC leaves this friday (so no working remotely until i find his replacement). Plus i didnt want to extend as Aus is never a holiday for me - it always turns into family obligations (for example the one night off i have there, which ive planned to spend with friends, brother and SIL expect me to babysit) and inevitable putdowns either unmarried, childless or size related.
So, if you lovely jammers have tecommendations for Phnom Penh activites id love to hear them.
Ps thanks so much for the india invitation. Another time!
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Post by Queen on Jan 24, 2016 2:44:09 GMT -5
You're not available to babysit as you have other plans. Practise saying it.
Like the sound of your plans. Will be good to see a friend on the break as we'll.... And the splurge will be worth it.
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Post by janeyd on Jan 24, 2016 3:08:02 GMT -5
You're not available to babysit as you have other plans. Practise saying it. Been there, said that. the corresponding guilt trip from all concerned is already unpleasant  But yay for a real city break to sonewhere ive never been and to see a great friend |
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Post by janeyd on Jan 24, 2016 3:08:16 GMT -5
You're not available to babysit as you have other plans. Practise saying it. Been there, said that. the corresponding guilt trip from all concerned is already unpleasant But yay for a real city break to sonewhere ive never been and to see a great friend |
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Post by Queen on Jan 24, 2016 4:36:24 GMT -5
The guilt trip is just their unrealistic expectations.
I know I'm making it sound easier than it is, but in the face of unreasonable demands you have to set limits.
Also, lie. "It's the only time friend x can make it, otherwise I'd be happy to baby sit"... I recently advised my mother to lie about something, she was shocked. When I said that the alternative was to be honest and how did she think that would go... she finally got it.
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Post by janeyd on Jan 24, 2016 5:06:49 GMT -5
Thanks Q their expectations usually are unrealistic. The availability thing is actually the truth, as friend 1 is a surgeon and friend 2 is a national athlete trying desperately to get her knee back to a point that she can qualify for rio.
"But they can come here"
Ah, no. A girls night out is the desired agenda. Not a babysitters club.
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Post by Queen on Jan 24, 2016 7:14:45 GMT -5
Bwah ha ha ha ha.
I wish I could sit on your shoulder for some of these conversations. (In my Tinkerbell form obv).
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Post by sprite on Jan 24, 2016 14:19:25 GMT -5
tinkerbell with a poison peashooter, sure.  Q is right. from the sounds of it, nothing you do is good enough for them, so why sacrifice your friendships for them? they must have other babysitters available, including some more familiar to their children. you're probably one of the worst people to babysit! |
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Post by Phar Lap on Jan 27, 2016 5:56:36 GMT -5
Not to speak ill of anyone's family, but .......your brother and SIL expecting you to babysit sound like a selfish pair. What part of holiday do they not get? Who do they use other times to babysit? If they want a baby sitter let them use someone else. Do they really expect someone who travels thousands of miles is going to want to waste their time babysitting their offspring? Tell them no, keep saying no. Be firm - you should be firm with inferiors. Especially ones who won't listen.
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Post by sprite on Jan 27, 2016 11:00:51 GMT -5
ah, pharlap, you forget. janey is a miserable, childless spinster, who could think of naught better than to spend time with the genetic wonders which are her nephew/neices! she should be so lucky that a self-centered degenerate like herself is allowed around these breathing beams of light and unicorn farts.
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Post by janeyd on Feb 2, 2016 8:03:46 GMT -5
Thanks for making me laugh ladies.
im also laughing now at the monty-pythonesque fact that my three closest friends arent available the sunday night. Love life - seriously im going to take myself out to a nice resto solo!
And now, recommendations for Phnom Penh. Any of you been there?
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Post by romily on Feb 2, 2016 10:57:34 GMT -5
Been there twice - in 2002 and 2013. What a change to the city - 2002 the roads were unpaved, nearly no cars, but the people were amazing. In 2012 all roads paved, much more developed, but a general "You are a tourist I'll rip you off" attitude seemed to rule.
Obviously this is a totally personal assessment, based on the two days I spend there, the few people I interacted with, the fact I had very fond memories of cambodia, and just came from laid back laos...
A must do is a stroll along the river promenade, have a look at the temple there (can't recall name), and sip a cocktail overlooking the mekong at sunrise. There's good shopping in general, and some interesting daytrips to old khmer ruins can be done - did so in 2002, so don't ask me about details! There's a crazy nightlife, and a very lively drug scene, incl all kinds off meds you can get over the counter - I went to a pharmacy to ask for painkillers, and they tried to sell me morphine and syringes / needles... but it's not in your face, and I found it quite a funny anecdote!
A visit to the killing fields and the khmer rouge prison is tough but very interesting.
It's a crazy, corrupt, fucked up, lively, very poor city, with a nice touristy veneer in some areas. But it's real, and has it's own charm!
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Post by sprite on Feb 2, 2016 16:37:32 GMT -5
would you be interested in a cruise from PP to Ho Chi Minh City along the Mekong? someone in my choir did it, loved it.
mind, they were in their 60s, so it likely didn't involve masses of moving.
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Post by romily on Feb 3, 2016 4:54:35 GMT -5
It does require a visa in advance for Vietnam, as they still don't have visa on arrival (or didn't last year!)
I want to go back to asia. Kind of right now!
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Post by sprite on Feb 3, 2016 5:02:54 GMT -5
good point.
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Post by janeyd on Feb 3, 2016 6:03:24 GMT -5
The cruise could be great for someone with more time, but i think i'll try to stay in and around PP this time. Friend is there until mon lunchtime. Im there until tues afternoon
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Post by tzarine on Feb 14, 2016 2:16:23 GMT -5
i love the streetfood
there was a market we went to & sat on the ground eating freshly made noodles
yes to the walk along the promenade!
romdeng, a socially conscious restaurant w good food:http://tree-alliance.org/our-restaurants/romdeng.php?mm=or&sm=rd
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