Blogs | Real Gap Blog

Ben - My Thoughts On Our Thailand Adventure

APRIL 11TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

Since I've been back in the UK for just under two weeks now, I thought it was about time that I let you guys know about how our 16 day whirlwind trip (really) went...

I have worked in the travel industry for the past 17 years and I have never been backpacking. I’m used to lazing around in the luxury of 5 star hotel, (and being able to chill out on a sunbed whenever I please!)- so when I was first told I'd be going to Thailand it was mega exciting but also really daunting. The fear of the...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- FULL MOON PARTY!

APRIL 10TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

It's the big one- it's all about the Full Moon Party!

After a lovely spicy noodle breakfast Ben and I decided that a beach day was in order (after all, we needed to top up our tans!). As it was yet another absolute scorcher- around 40c, we spent most of it in the sea rather than on the beach. It was great to have the time to chill out and lay low, especially before the evening's shananagans of the eagerly awaited Full Moon Party!

For dinner my friend had recommended a place called...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 14 (Koh Tao to Koh Phangan)

APRIL 09TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

Hi there, it's Harriet again. Thought I'd take over the blogging baton from Ben for the last couple of days!

After leaving Koh Tao we boarded the ferry to the stunning Koh Phangan. Luckily we prebooked the tickets (as they were fully booked!) - we reckon this was because of the Full Moon Party that was due to kick off the following day!

The ferry took 1 hour and we jumped in a taxi to our Thailand Experience final week's accommodation, Mac Bay Resort. This place was beautiful! It's based on a...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 13!

APRIL 08TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

Hiya guys! Now we're back in the UK Harriet and I thought we'd update you all on the last few days of our trip (Full Moon Party n' all!)- so expect to see all of the action on the Real Gap blog over the next week!

After having an amazing time volunteering, we spent our days 11-13 making our way down to the islands. We stopped back off at Bangkok for a couple of days to split up the trip, and then started the next part of our journey. We were both so excited to see a completely different part...

Travel Essentials in Australia

APRIL 05TH, 2013 BY REAL GAP BLOGGER IN AUSTRALIA

It's Sophie here! As I've been in Aus for the last six months I'm starting to get to know some of the bigger cities pretty well now, and I remember thinking it was really hard to think what to pack just before I left. So to help you guys out- here are my top tips for what to pack in Aus!

Passport- Check. Visa, Check. Tickets, Check. Mother's credit card for emergencies...

Listed above are all the things you KNOW are essentials. Without them, you'd hardly get further than your front door, let...

Melbourne's Awesome Art Scene

APRIL 04TH, 2013 BY REAL GAP BLOGGER IN AUSTRALIA

Hi there, it's Real Gap blogger Sophie here! I've absolutely loved my time in Melbourne, but since I'm now moving on to explore the East Coast, I thought I'd share the arty photos taken by my awesome mates in the city...

Melbourne is known as the 'indie' capital of Aus. Here, they are so conscious about remaining the 'Kings of Cool' that they have a geekish ruthlessness in protecting their hipster image. Coffee is made with syphons, and buskers are note perfect. No finishing touch is too...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 10!

MARCH 26TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

It's Ben again! Jungle action, anyone?

After being woken up at 5am by dogs barking and cockerels cocka doodle-dooing, I remembered that I was in the jungle, in a tent, in a house! So random yet so incredibly awesome! I eventually crawled out of my sleeping bag at 6:30am, more than ready for a massive cup of coffee (after 7 Changs the night before believe me, I needed a dose of the good stuff!). I made my way downstairs to find a few of our group already up, watching the sun come up over the...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 9!

MARCH 25TH, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

It's Harriet here! After making our way into the jungle following our volunteering stint in Sangkhaluburi, we've seen and done some amazing stuff!

Our time at the jungle project was INCREDIBLE! At this time of the year (March) lots of the local schools are closing up for Summer the team are able to send some volunteers out into the jungle to teach in a Summer English camp.

Because it is over an hour away the volunteers stay in the same accommodation used when the Thailand Experience goes...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 8!

MARCH 22ND, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

It's Harriet again! Today we completed our volunteering stint on the non-community option of the Thailand Experience; and it was so awesome!

Our alarms went off at 6am and Ben and I got ready for our next day of volunteering - this time with the building group (non community option on the Thailand Experience). This group start earlier and finish earlier than the Community option because it is such hard work building in the midday heat!

We jumped in the taxi with the 6 other volunteers and we...

Ben and Harriet's Thailand Adventure- Day 7!

MARCH 21ST, 2013 BY BEN FINAN IN ASIA

Harriet here! I've taken over the blogging duties from Ben today... and day 7 of our Thai adventure was all about the volunteering!

There was an early rise and shine for us and our wonderful fellow volunteers on Monday. At 8am we met up down in the hotel reception and jumped into a shared taxi truck to the Childcare centre (approx 25 mins from the hotel).

The centre cares for young children aged 2-5 yrs old and it enables their parents to go to work whilst giving them a safe and positive...

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