Escape from the Island

Well, i got out. I escaped Sakhalin Island. Well, at least for 5 weeks, my rotational leave from Sakhalin.

I decided to head toward my new home, since i had just moved there from Australia before being quickly whisked off to Sakhalin no long after setting foot in the Netherlands. I didn't have a chance to get an apartment, recieve my freight, and unpack my suitcase!

But before settling in to The Hague, i had to entertain my friends in Amsterdam, and pick up my girlfriend (MJ) from Holland and drag her back to Holland cave-man style.

Breakdown of the my 5 weeks of freedom:

Day 1-2: Amsterdam

Dan & Fiona came to Amsterdam to visit and we stayed the weekend in a hostel on Vondelpark. It was peak period, and room was a sweat box, but we had a good time (and i think i sweated out 5kg each night). I always have a laugh with Dan and Fi. We hired bikes and rode around town, stoping nearly every half hour for some gastronomic delight or to sample the addictive dutch coffee. It was a very relaxing weekend actually, which was spent mainly enjoyed each others company. Went to the Heinekin Brewery but couldn't stomach 3 beers at 10 in the morning.

Week 1 -2: Switzerland

I arrived for Switzerland day, which is much lower key than Australia Day. There was a big family gathering at MJs parents house and we ate like kings and Mike (MJ's dad) bought lots of fireworks to let off. The next day we went down to Migeligia for 3 nights of relaxing. MJ's family own a holiday cottage here, on the southern border of Switzerland with Italy. We did some walking, bike riding and even some taboggoning on a nearby mountain. The rest of the time we just chilled around Lagano or the cottage. A great get away, its so beautiful being there. MJ's parents came down for a night too and we had a bbq, drank too much wine, and chatted.
After that we got back to the north and began to pack MJs tiny car. It only held half of what she had. But no worries as she was heading back in a week for her god-sons first birthday. It was a very emotional departure for her and Ruth (her mum), and i did my best to reassure them both.'On the drive up we stopped at Luxembourg, which was a supprisingly nice place. Its a very tiny country, but has some nice countryside and awesome castles. The capital is acutally a major fort from the old times, and looks really cool. Its a UNESCO world heritage site, and we stayed over for two nights to take it all in.

Week 3 - 4: Netherlands

Well we spent the next couple of weeks hanging out in the Hague. We moved MJs stuff in and took some time to get to know the area. MJ bought a dutch bike, and after that we went riding everywhere. Was reallý good fun. We didn't do much, generally just enjoying the cafes and restaurants. But was nice to totally relax in your own city. We also did an Ikea run to get a few housey items. The apartment is now setup and looks great i think. You'll have to come visit.

Week 5: Spain

We started in Barcelona for 3 nights with Dan and Fi. We did the sights on day 1 and a pub crawl that night which hurt a lot the next day. Day 2 we went to Stiges, a beachside town 30 mins south of Barcelona. Dan & Fi had some friends staying down there. They are gay, and as it turned out, i was surrounded by hundereds of them. It seems Stiges is a bit of a gay hangout, and we were on a beach crammed full of gay men. I should have know when it was all men on the beach. Was quite an amusing experience actually. I found it funny seeing big burley men playing with a beach ball together, or froliking in the water. And they were all buff too.... i think it was obvious i was hetrosexual. We spent day 3 doing some more sites in Barcelona and gerneral cafe-ing it around. The last day we went to get our ticket to Valencia to go to La Tomatina, and in true unprepared style, nearly missed out a train as it was so busy - people all racing to get down there. We luckily got a train, and spent the rest of the day before the afternoon train looking for an outfit that would never return from the tomatoes. We decided on buying some white bond shirts and made our own labels. We decided to write on it "Save the Tomato", and all 4 of us wore that. We also bought some sombreros to make sure we were an easy target. After we got to Valencia, we spent the first night out at a restaurant and a bar for some cocktails. We grew weary that night, and retired early for the crack of dawn start for La tomatina the next day. Well, the day did start early. MJ and I were at the train station at 6am, expecting to be mobbed by people getting the train to Bunol (where the festival is). However it was dead quite and we sat at the train station way before we needed to go. No problem at least we were prepared. We arrived at Bunol and it was like a massive party. Sangria, beer and people everywhere. This small industrial town that you wouldn't even stop at to refuel your car, was taken over by masses of party people. The festival was massive and all starts with a people trying to get a leg of ham off the top of a very high greased pole. That took about 2 hrs until success, and then bam....tomotoes. Lots of them. The town, and the people, were painted red. It hurt a bit. A tomatoe to the face packs a wallop. But it was so much fun. Our shirts were a hit,
and many people wanted a photo with us. Just a strange to be ankle deep in tomato pulp and cover top and bottom, in and out, in tomatoes. That goes for about an hour, then it was time to celebrate with some cervesas, sangria and a wash in the river. Then up again at the crack of dawn for my flight to Sakhalin....that was fun.

In transit...and Moscow (again)
After around 5 hrs flying i got to Moscow,and needed to get my connection at another Moscow airport across town to fly to Sakhalin. I had 4 hrs to do this. Not long enough. Massive traffic, 3 hrs in the car and we weren't moving fast. So i missed the flight, go put up in Moscow for the night and had the day to go touring. I visited the Kremlin and Red Square again, this time took a tour in of the Kremlin Catherdrals. Bought some more russian dolls. Then back to the airport for a long journey to Sakhalin.After 3 days travel i made it to the island, and here i am.

Back in camp, and missing the freedom of the west.

Comrade Steve