Travel Blog

If it feels good - DO IT!!

The Halong Bay Fiasco 2

VIETNAM | Sunday, 7 Jun 2009 | Views [19]

Day two of the Halong bay tour started surprisingly similarly to day one. Claire was in the shower when the phone rang. The voice said ”Finish! Leave hotel now!” I looked at my watch: 7.10 and we had been told to meet at 7.30. Ignoring what had been ... Read more >

Tags: tour, island, trekking, island, beach, boat, canoe


The Halong Bay Fiasco 1

VIETNAM | Saturday, 6 Jun 2009 | Views [21]

It was an inauspicious start to the trip. We had slept through the alarm and were awoken by a heavy thumping on the paper thin bedroom door. The thoughtful receptionist had given us a 20 minute headstart before the promised air conditioned minivan ... Read more >

Tags: tour, island, boat, mate, cave, passport, karaoke


Hanoi, where the wild mopeds roam

VIETNAM | Friday, 5 Jun 2009 | Views [34]

The first impressions of Hanoi in the taxi were that of a French city. It was after all the colonial capital of French Indochina so it shouldn't have been too surprising to be passing through ... Read more >

Tags: city, moped


Underwhelmed in Hue

VIETNAM | Wednesday, 3 Jun 2009 | Views [57]

It was only a four hour journey to Hue from Hoi An but we still had the bizarre “sleeping bus” to semi-horizontally not sleep in for the journey. We allowed ourselves to be taken to the suggested guesthouse ... Read more >

Tags: hangover, citadel, history, culture


Suited and booted in Hoi An

VIETNAM | Sunday, 31 May 2009 | Views [60]

We lucked out with the bus to Hoi An – it was quite a bit more modern and seemed to have been designed with passengers in mind unlike its previous incarnations. This time there was a space for your bag rather ... Read more >

Tags: tailor, beach, bike


Funky monkey and the floating bar: Nha Trang

VIETNAM | Thursday, 28 May 2009 | Views [110]

We had decided to do an island tour from Nha Trang - the punters on the boat were an eclectic mix of English gap year types, Filipino engineers working on the soon to open Nha Trang Marriot and a few locals ... Read more >

Tags: beach, boat, bar, island


The old Vietnamese casino-heist scam

VIETNAM | Monday, 25 May 2009 | Views [113] | Comments [3]

As usual, the bus was late. After half an hour of waiting patiently in the travel agency we went across the road for some beers, their arrival, of course coinciding with that of the sleeping bus to Nha Trang, ... Read more >

Tags: beach, omelette, scam, casino


History lessons in moped city - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

VIETNAM | Friday, 22 May 2009 | Views [87]

Crowds of overpriced baguette-wielding hawkers thronged around the bus as the rucksacks were crammed into its belly. They had a captive market and knew it – expensive la vache qui rit   baguettes for breakfast it was then. The return trip to Phnom ... Read more >

Tags: moped, history, tunnel, religion, temple, crash, home


All templed out at Angkor Wat

CAMBODIA | Monday, 18 May 2009 | Views [47]

As with Laos, we had been learning that time is a bit of a variable concept in Cambodia, so we weren't worried when the minibus failed to pick us up at the agreed time. Perhaps it was a ploy – the owner (what he owned was not mentioned, I assumed ... Read more >

Tags: tuk tuk, temple, hospital


Welcome to Cambodia - Phnom Penh

CAMBODIA | Thursday, 14 May 2009 | Views [28]

The storm had blown itself out by dawn and we left Don Det, as we had arrived, on a long tail. The holidays were over and the aftermath of the rains were very much in evidence in Nakasang on the mainland. The dusty street had turned into a mudbath ... Read more >

Tags: border, history, museum, storm


Palaces and Islands: Pakse and Don Det

LAOS | Tuesday, 12 May 2009 | Views [49]

The Champasak Palace Hotel in Pakse was built by Prince Boun Oumna Champasak with, supposedly, a room for each of his concubines. Also known as the thousand room pavillion, it's built in Laotian style, looks a bit like a wedding cake, has 1 King ... Read more >

Tags: holiday, hotel, island, river, hammock, wildlife


The holiday within the holiday - Vientiane

LAOS | Wednesday, 6 May 2009 | Views [33]

The bus, or a tuk tuk was supposed to pick us up at the GH between 1 and 1.30. At 2 the GH owner came over to us and called up to see what was going on. Within minutes a tuk tuk arrived and we were taken to the bus ... Read more >

Tags: bike, swim, bus, arch


In the tubing - Vang Vieng

LAOS | Saturday, 2 May 2009 | Views [56]

An early jumbo took us from from the airfield to the bus station. The road to Vang Vieng was steep and windy but the full volume Thai power ballads entertained. We arrived early, suddenly and a tuk tuk whisked us off on the hot dusty roadside to Phoom ... Read more >

Tags: tubing, injury


UXO and the plain of Jars

LAOS | Tuesday, 28 Apr 2009 | Views [78]

The 7.30 “AC” bus from Louang Prabang to Phonsavan left at exactly 8.30 and had quite a big hole in the floor under our seats. It was a comfy enough but windy journey punctuated by the obligatory noodle soup shop in a non-descript market town. Of the ... Read more >

Tags: guest house, war, uxo, tour, history


Camping by the Nam Kong river

LAOS | Sunday, 26 Apr 2009 | Views [39]

A tuk tuk brought us up the bank of the Nam Kong river in the morning and we walked across a fabulously rickety bamboo bridge to a Hmong village, beginning our trek. It was blisteringly hot and Tan, our guide kept the ... Read more >

Tags: river, trekking, kayak, animism, mot, visa, chess


Beware the manager and the ceiling fan

LAOS | Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009 | Views [73]

There are various strategies to finding a guest house and most of ours involved avoiding the hawkers as much as possible. We had liked the sound of Mekong, a place by the river mentioned in both LP and RG. A For Sale sign ... Read more >

Tags: sok dee guesthouse, attempted robbery, visa, injury, waterfall


The slow boat to Luang Phabang

LAOS | Sunday, 19 Apr 2009 | Views [57]

Songkran was finally over so we could walk the streets without fear of iced water attacks. We were going to Laos and just had time to drop off our boxes to be sent home before the bus was due to pick us up. The trip ... Read more >

Tags: boat, visa, border crossing


Sawadee pi mai!! Songkran in Chiang Mai

THAILAND | Thursday, 16 Apr 2009 | Views [55]

By the time we got back from the trek we were too tired. even for a massage, so we sold out and grabbed a pizza and watched a movie in bed. This was followed by a catch-up day – lots of internet and blogging for me while Claire did a few chores ... Read more >

Tags: massage, new year, festival, temple, culture


Eco-Trekking with Mr Pooh near the Myanmar border

THAILAND | Friday, 10 Apr 2009 | Views [191] | Comments [2]

Choosing a trek in the North of Thailand felt like a bit of a lottery at the time. Every seemed to offer the same thing – 3 days 2 nights of a jam packed agenda including visiting a   hill people village, doing an elephant ride, bamboo rafting and ... Read more >

Tags: trekking, tribe, culture, cave


Chiang Mai Sunday market and the medicinal properties of ginger tea

THAILAND | Wednesday, 8 Apr 2009 | Views [54]

Claire was still feeling dodgy the following day so we went looking for a local remedy. The proprieter of the Corner Cafe, where we'd been a few times came good in her suggestion of ginger tea – seems to be a great cure for a upset tummy. ... Read more >

Tags: market, massage, sick


Choosing a trek, the best Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai and a ladyboy in the gents

THAILAND | Monday, 6 Apr 2009 | Views [105]

i The restaurant was closed, had a for sale sign outside and Jane and Steve were nowhere to be seen. We decided for one to have a look for a place to stay while the other minded the bags. Walking down the street it was clear there were absolutely ... Read more >

Tags: culture, food, drinking, boxing, mot, israeli, ladyboy


The night train to Chiang Mai

THAILAND | Wednesday, 1 Apr 2009 | Views [127]

On our last day in Bangkok we were just about checked out when an enormous thunderstorm rolled in and opened on the city. It was more ferocious than spectacular – simultaneous bellowing thunder and lightning combined ... Read more >

Tags: storm, train, temple


A CIA agent and some Thai boxing - Bangkok all over

THAILAND | Monday, 30 Mar 2009 | Views [94] | Comments [1]

We woke up late and hungover and struggled out the door so as not to completely waste the day. We were heading for Jim Thompson's house – the home of a an ex CIA agent who practically single handedly revived the ... Read more >

Tags: hangover, palace, cia, buddha, chinatown, boxing


Finding and losing on Khao San Road

THAILAND | Friday, 27 Mar 2009 | Views [72]

It was time to sample some legendary Thai food so we stopped in at a restaurant which had a menu – not feeling brave enough for street food just quite yet. Claire went for the red curry and I for the hotter green.... Read more >

Tags: phone, guest house, teak, temple, haircut


Starting SE Asia with a Bang!

THAILAND | Thursday, 26 Mar 2009 | Views [59]

Bangkok is known as Krung Threp to the locals – the city of angels. Our arrival in the massive and massively modern Suvarnabhumi airport was straightforward after the three hour puddle jump to Sydney and a quick ... Read more >

Tags: hectic, temple, tuktuk


All very Irish on the East Coast

NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 25 Mar 2009 | Views [54]

As we made our way back south down the Milford Road we made a stop for a longer trek up to Key Summit, so named because three rivers flow south, east and west to three different seas from the peak. Fabulous views and alpine bogs at the top.... Read more >

Tags: birthday, rugby, camping, hostel, paddy, prison, camera


No rooms in Queenstown and a Milford Sound Cruise

NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 13 Mar 2009 | Views [65]

The next destination was Queenstown, probably the most touristy town on the South Island and home to pretty much every adrenaline sport known to man. Again it's a very picturesque setting for a town, on a lake and surrounded by The Remarkables, ... Read more >

Tags: fjord, cruise, lord of the rings, trekking, nature


Heli-hiking, horse riding and a country fair - Franz Josef and Wanaka

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 12 Mar 2009 | Views [82]

We spent the night in another DOC site at the end of Lake Mahinapua, near Franz Josef, home of its namesake glacier. It was really difficult to find in the evening. I had booked a Heli-hike up the glacier for the following morning and Claire ... Read more >

Tags: glacier, horse, helicopter, fair, camping, hostel


Greenstone and kiwi on the West Coast

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009 | Views [55]

The drive was hot and uneventful back over steep Takaka Hill especially as we managed to avoid getting stuck behind a 2 trailer road train of powdered milk, Golden bay's biggest export. A quick pitstop in Richmond for more supplies, then ... Read more >

Tags: camping, kiwi, jade


A ferry through Marlborough Sounds and kayaks on Golden Bay

NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 8 Mar 2009 | Views [87] | Comments [2]

It was great to be back on the road after a work break in Wellington (work for Claire, “work” for me). We stuffed our gear into our bags and jumped in a taxi to the Interislander ferry terminal. The 3 hour ferry journey ( a comfortable mode of transport ... Read more >

Tags: ferry, kayak, camping, springs, seal, fruit


Networking and notworking

NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 2 Mar 2009 | Views [74]

Sylvia and Oii bade us farewell early on the Monday morning – their schedule only allowed them another 2 weeks for the whole of the South Island and they had an early ferry to Picton. Our journey 5 minutes up the street was shorter but we ... Read more >

Tags: apartment, work, concert, carnival, rugby, flood


Getting settled in Wellington

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 5 Feb 2009 | Views [58]

After 10 days in the car and sleeping in tents we were all quite glad to pull up to the Wellywood Backpackers in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The monstrous pile of camping detritus that was crammed into the lift on the way up was positively ... Read more >

Tags: hostel, apartment, museum, fire escape


The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 29 Jan 2009 | Views [88]

Continuing further South, Taupo with its enormous lake provided a pleasant spot for lunch and catching up with internet and suchlike. We needed to keep moving so we carried on towards Tongariro National park, stopping ... Read more >

Tags: trekking, volcano, fire, camping


Maori in Rotarua

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 27 Jan 2009 | Views [77]

The next day was the anniversary of the day Claire and I had met a year previously so we were determined to enjoy ourselves despite the gloomy mood of Sylvia and Oli's unsuccessful attempts to reconcile. We took the front seats, yanked up the music ... Read more >

Tags: maori, camping


A hot beach near Narnia - the Coromnadel

NEW ZEALAND | Monday, 26 Jan 2009 | Views [165] | Comments [1]

Our next destination was the Kauaeranga Valley in Coromandel Forest park where a clutch of DOC campsites are set in a forest environment. A long gravel road took us up from the modern but shut Info ... Read more >

Tags: beach, hot spring


Camping & Tramping around Northland

NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 24 Jan 2009 | Views [155]

We were all quite happy to pack up the next morning and pile into the car rental company's collection car. It took us out to near the airport and we picked up our green flash station wagon rental (MOT 26) with over ... Read more >

Tags: camping, rental car, wildlife, forest, hot spring


A slightly bizarre hostel in Auckland

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 20 Jan 2009 | Views [70]

The 16 th of January never happened as we crossed the international date line to New Zealand, the first “developed” country on the trip. The flight was pleasant (LAN are great) and Auckland airport was certainly ... Read more >

Tags: hostel


Santiago de Chile and leaving South America :o(

NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 15 Jan 2009 | Views [98]

Teresa wanted us to stay for the whole time we were in Santiago, all of 3 days, but we couldn't accept any more hospitality, despite her insistence. We got a taxi to the centre – Teresa wouldn't let us go without giving Claire the woolen shawl and ... Read more >

Tags: crab, chess, cacho, chilean football team


A drug bust and a random act of kindness on the way to Santiago

CHILE | Tuesday, 13 Jan 2009 | Views [75]

The challenges with our final South American journey, to Chile, began as we alighted the bus. Our seats, 9 and 10 were on different floors of the bus. It took a few minutes of confusion before someone with some common sense came along to sort out ... Read more >

Tags: drug bust, hospitality


Things start to go a bit pear shaped in Mendoza

ARGENTINA | Monday, 12 Jan 2009 | Views [107]

A Bolivian approached us as we waited to get our bags off the bus, touting the “Life House Hostel” and promising free transport. We had been contemplating other places but we decided to go for a bit of randomness, seeing as we had never planned to ... Read more >

Tags: bike, blood, storm, rain


Bingo-bus to Mendoza

ARGENTINA | Saturday, 10 Jan 2009 | Views [154] | Comments [2]

I have already briefly described South American long distance buses as being quite luxurious and well equipped compared to many European bus journeys I've been on. We thought our last 12 hour plus journey in the continent deserved a blog of its own.... Read more >

Tags: bus, bingo


Biking around Bariloche

ARGENTINA | Friday, 9 Jan 2009 | Views [77]

As it was high season we decided to book ahead in Bariloche and arranged to stay at a place a few km out of town (Alaska Hostel). We said our bon voyages to Aisling and Keith at the terminal and jumped on another ... Read more >

Tags: lakes, biking, asado


Hats off to El Bolson

ARGENTINA | Wednesday, 7 Jan 2009 | Views [213]

The first time I had heard of El Bolson was when a friend recounted a tale about a friend of hers when in Buenos Aires. It had been settled (if that's the right word) by a bunch of hippies in the late seventies ... Read more >

Tags: trekking, hostel, fair, hippy, hat


New Years and Old trees: Esquel & Parque Nacional Las Alerces

ARGENTINA | Thursday, 1 Jan 2009 | Views [109]

The night journey across the continent towards Esquel was pleasant enough, although I thought I had left a bag containing all my gadgets behind. A man got on selling hand-made wooden rosary beads which I bought as a sort of superstitious insurance ... Read more >

Tags: trekking, party, lake, mountain, fireworks


Dinosaurs, black and white dolphins and Welsh tea in Trelew

ARGENTINA | Tuesday, 30 Dec 2008 | Views [208] | Comments [1]

In 1852 a number of Welsh settlers arrived in Puerto Madryn and worked their way south and west before they got to the Chubut valley which they decided was the spot for them and promptly irrigated, We arrived in the heat of the mid afternoon ... Read more >

Tags: museum, wildlife, tea, cake, mad people


A Whale of a Christmas in Puerto Madryn

ARGENTINA | Friday, 26 Dec 2008 | Views [122]

The bus was warm and smelt distinctlly of feet as we found our seats. It had been delayed for 2 hours and Retiro was packed with throngs of people heavily laden with Christmas miscellanea. Puerto Madryn, in Chubut province in Patagonia was 18 hours ... Read more >

Tags: wildlife, christmas, fireworks, whale


Old friends in Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA | Monday, 22 Dec 2008 | Views [168] | Comments [1]

t was always going to be a challenge to meet Marcos. I had taken the precaution of trying to text him suggesting we meet at the train terminal but without a phone it wasn't going to be easy. We spoke briefly and arranged to meet outside McDonalds but ... Read more >

Tags: delta, old friends, party, parrilla, package


At home in Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA | Monday, 15 Dec 2008 | Views [137]

It was a bit disorientating in the taxi at first. The street names didn't seem familiar and I had lost my sense of direction. Gradually Buenos Aires started to reveal itself as we approached our rented apartment ... Read more >

Tags: protests, apartment, theft, old friends


Sorting it all out in Punta del Este and Colonia

URUGUAY | Thursday, 11 Dec 2008 | Views [366] | Comments [1]

After a light brekkie we donned the rucksacks and walked the 500m up to the bus station to catch our ride to San Carlos. There we made a very hassle free connection   to Manantiales, meaning Springs which is a small village about 12km outside Punta ... Read more >

Tags: ipod, beach, colonial, ferry


Disconnected in Cabo Polonio

URUGUAY | Saturday, 6 Dec 2008 | Views [229]

Happily Karina & Monaim decided to come to Cabo Polonio with us and we left Punta del Diablo, overcast as it had been our entire stay, with our surprisingly heavy and awkward watermelon as a new addition to our luggage. The bloody melon became a ... Read more >

Tags: beach, artesania, jeep, cabin, lighthouse


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