My Travel Adventures

Siem Reap

etak91 — Fri, 6 Feb 2015 21:51:00 GMT

From Phnom Penh we embarked on an 8 hour bus ride along the extremely bumpy and underdeveloped road to Siem Reap. It definitely had the feeling of a Ghanaian bus trip!

We finally arrived in Siem Reap to stay in the best hotel yet on the trip! We were all definitely stoked. Soria Moria hotel is another locally owned business that is 51% staff owned. Two interesting facts about Siem Reap:

1. Siem Reap province is the third poorest in the country despite being the most touristy. This is because majority of the businesses are under foreign investment.

2. The temples of Angkor Wat are actually owned by Vietnam due to a 99year lease the Cambodian government authorised. All the money for the day passes to the temples go to the Vietnamese government instead of the local community.

On day two we all set off in the very early morning to witness sunrise at Angkor Wat. Definitely a magnificent sight to behold but the amount of people and their selfie sticks somewhat detracted from the ambience. However, I can gripe all I want but this is the way of the technological world these days and it definitely didn't deter me from having both my camera and phone out to snap pics! At least I don't have a selfie stick!

The temples are beautiful, especially Ta Prom with its overgrown trees intertwined with the structures. We spent the day exploring the Ta Prom, Bayon and Angkor Wat temples. All are extremely impressive and special and one day was a prefect amount of time to experience them. I saw people with a seven day pass - surely that amount of temple sightseeing would take away something special from the awe inspiring spectacle.

Siem Reap itself is a lively town - especially around the area nicknamed 'Pub Street'. We discovered the night markets on the first night and went back every other night we were there. I ran into a couple more tarantula sellers (although thankfully no live ones) and was brave enough to get close enough to take a photo. On our last night we went to a bar where we watched a traditional Cambodian dance show while a nightclub raged below us. Quite strange in the most awesome way!

Whilst there we also visited a local floating village via dodgy canoe boat. Initially we thought the floating part had been an exaggeration as all the rickety, stilt built home were well above water level. However, being the dry season we had to venture a bit further along the river to see the villages. All houses in a community on the water are all tied together to stop them floating away and they change locations about twice a year. Surprisingly, about two kids a year from these villages leave to go to university. While a very low number it is quite impressive considering the living conditions. Hopefully in the coming years this number will continue to increase.

Overall, Cambodia has been one of my favourite countries to visit! Definitely one to add to everyone's to do list!

Phnom Penh

etak91 — Fri, 6 Feb 2015 00:25:00 GMT

So after an amazing 12 days in Vietnam I headed to Cambodia, a country I have wanted to visit for a very long time!

We boarded a bus and said goodbye to our Vietnamese guide at the border. A bit of an odd border crossing - we got a visa on arrival, a few documents stapled to our passport and a temperature check (similar to how I would check the temp of the ham in the deli dept I used to work in). Thankfully we had no issues. Strangely enough the first thing we encountered once crossing into Cambodia was about five rundown casinos. We definitely weren't in Vietnam anymore!

Our local Cambodian guide, Thida (a bubbly and inspiring person), met us just over the Cambodian border. We made our way to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. I wasn't sure what to expect of this city but I ended up absolutely loving it!

The Cambodian people are absolutely lovely and friendly. Cars and motorbikes even stopped to let us cross the road and people volunteered to help us when they found us looking confusingly at the map! We made our way around either by walking, tuk tuks or cyclos... All a very fun method of travelling - although I did feel sorry for the cyclo riders that had to pedal us westerners around, especially considering one of the riders was 80years old! However, I recently found out my parents, on a recent trip to Brisbane, had someone pedal the both of them on an old school bicycle tuk tuk! At least our guys only had to pedal one person and the Cambodian tuk tuk drivers are on motorbikes.

Phnom Penh is a city with a very recent, terrible history. We started our first full day in the city with a tour of Tou Sleng Prison and the Choung Ek Killing Fields. Our guide was a young girl who told us, in unflinching detail, the atrocities that occurred during the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970's. At the prison we learned of the countless people arrested, tortured and later killed for ridiculous reasons such as being fair skinned, wearing glasses, having smooth hands or having an intelligent job. The prison (considered highest security during the regime) was once a primary school. I can think of no greater atrocity than turning a place of learning into a torture headquarters.

As sickening as the use of the prison was, we met two survivors of the prison who have found found their healing process through sharing their account of their time in the prison. Both men that we met had lost their entire families during the regime and were tortured by the prison interrogators. Both were present and gave testimonials at the trials that took place in the 2000's to indict the main perpetrators. However, it is interesting to note that many of the key perpetrators died of a mysterious heart attack days before they were due to testify. In addition, the royal monarchy remained intact during the regime and has always had close ties with China. While not officially documented or said aloud in public, these facts would absolutely create doubt and controversy among the local population. As well, majority of the young generation have no idea what occurred in the 1970s as it is not taught in school.

After our visit to the prison, out tour guide took us to the Killing Fields - a place where thousands of innocents were executed. While the Choung Ek Killing Fields is an infamous site, there are more than 400 unnamed killing fields throughout the country. Our visit through the grounds was extremely disconcerting. The place was largely untouched apart from a few signs, a museum and a monument made out of bones (with coloured stickers to show how the person had been killed). Walking through the grounds there are signs asking people not to step on the bones. At first I thought they meant the graves... But a few more steps revealed unearthed bones. To describe the atrocious nature of what occurred in this area during the Pol Pot regime is impossible. It is something one can only experience for themself. I also believe it is extremely important for everyone to see places like this in the world to understand how truly awful human beings can be to one another. As shocked, appalled, disturbed and disgusted as it can make people - this is the correct reaction to have!

Almost 2million people died unnecessarily during the Pol Pot regime. It is hard to believe that the Khmer Rouge were only in power for 3 years 8 months - not even the entire length of a normal government rule.

We were scheduled to have dinner with a local family that night and found out we would be spending the night with our young tour guides family for dinner. Da, who was only 20, and her family, welcomed us into their home and fed us one of the most delicious feats ever. They had a simple home that housed 30 and flooded during the rainy season but they also taught English lessons to the local kids in the neighbourhood and were more than welcoming to us. Their family was truly inspiring - especially considering some of Da's grandparents had died after being imprisoned at Toul Sleng and her parents survived the regime.

Two more points about Phnom Penh - one uplifting and one truly nightmare inducing frightening!

1. Our local tour leader, Thida, was passionate about helping the local community. One particular organisation she introduced us to was called Friends. It is a chain of restaurants that train local street kids in a trade, school them and house them. Seeing the environment and cooking ability of students I really hope this charity becomes more well known.

2. Tarantulas are good for the lungs! I was truly dreading coming across some of these large, hairy creatures. Day two in Cambodia I was overrun with them. Two people at lunch ordered a plateful (at the Friends restaurant!). They were artfully plated and came with a dipping sauce. Of course I had to be an idiot and ask whether they kept live ones in the kitchen. Next minute - a live one comes out on a plate and people are holding it! Everyone witnessed my first freak out. Later that night, after a beautiful home cooked meal, our host whips out two bottles of tarantula rice wine (with about 10 spiders in each)! It was homemade and the spiders were actually shoved into the plastic bottles alive!! I'm proud to say I held the bottle and even had a tiny sip! People heard my second freak out during the night when I screamed during a nightmare. Clearly way too many tarantulas for one day!!!!

Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City

etak91 — Tue, 3 Feb 2015 01:06:00 GMT

Saigon & Ho Chi Minh City - same same but different.

The further south you travel in Vietnam the more Western it gets. But nothing prepared me for the stark difference between Hanoi and Saigon. Completely different cities! Both cities are undoubtably Vietnamese but Saigon has so many foreign shops, restaurants, coffee shops, expensive cars, etc.

Another thing that shocked me was the fact that the city is still commonly referred to as Saigon despite the name change to HCMC after the war. I must say it certainly rolls off the tongue easier.

Another shocking fact about Saigon - the traffic is even more chaotic than Hanoi (didn't think it was possible). On my first morning I thought a marathon was taking place. But nope, just 1000 motorbikes waiting at a traffic light!

We were only able to spend one night it Saigon but we sure packed it in!

After arriving off the overnight train at 330am in the morning we were all knackered - especially after the mini party on the train for a fellow traveller's birthday who cleaned out all the beer in the dining cart. We squeezed 6 people into each room for a quick nap before heading off to see the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Definitely a must do when visiting Saigon, the Cu Chi Tunnels are both fascinating and frightening! The history of the war is very much told from the Norths perspective! Very different from the American/Australian version I learned at school. Walking through part of the tunnels and testing out a trap door was extremely claustrophobic (although it had apparently been widened to fit western tourists)! Learning about the everyday life of the Vietcong in the tunnels and the tricks of war they used 'to kill the Americans' was interesting and slightly horrifying. However, it would be impossible for anyone that did not live through that to actually understand. Our trip to the tunnels ended at a shooting range. Slightly controversial? Yes. But that didn't stop our group from shooting a few rounds from an AK47. I have no idea if I hit the target or not. A soldier, I would not make.

After lunching at a famous Pho restaurant 'worthy of the president' (Bill Clinton apparently visited) our group headed to the War Remnants Museum. This museum was very confronting but I believe also very important to visit as it outlines the atrocities caused by the US during the Vietnam War (referred to as American War within Vietnam). It seems that America has had its hand in every conflict in history and in this case (like many others) completely unnecessary. The fear of the domino effect of communism in the region turned out to be unfounded. The reunified country of Vietnam is hardly any threat to the world and has turned out to be a pretty awesome country!

Nha Trang

etak91 — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 01:55:00 GMT

Next stop on our trip was Nha Trang. A must do tourist destination that is all about R&R. Massages, restaurants, banana lounges, beautiful beach, water park, snorkelling... This list goes on! After round two on the overnight reunification express this stopover was definitely needed (it was a tension filled night with the threat of mice looming - but thankfully we lucked out!).

Definitely a highlight of Nha Trang was the mud baths (which is exactly what it sounds like). A big group of us piled into a bath full of mud. We were covered top to toe! Luckily the mud of Vietnam was nicer on the skin than the mud in the Dead Sea. It was certainly a team bonding experience!

Continuing with the R&R theme, I had the absolute best massage of my life and spent an afternoon lazing on the beach! Absolutely divine!

We also had dinner at a local BBQ restaurant where you cook your own food over a charcoal pot. So bloody good! Especially the morning glory stir fry! New favourite vegetable (now just to find it in Australia). With $1 large beers it was hard to go wrong.

I would highly recommend three nights in this town. Sadly we only had one but were sure to make the most of it!

Hoi An

etak91 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:06:00 GMT

Shopping, shopping, shopping with a bit of culture thrown in is how I would describe Hoi An. It is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, get a dress made or to just chill out in one of the restaurants overlooking the river.

Our transportation to Hoi An was a bit bizarre - a bus with bunk bed like seats. However, it got us to our hotel mice free. Winning!

Hoi An is an awesome little town with French inspired architecture and is a world heritage listed site. Our first day our guide took us on a walking tour of the town but with the amount of shops all around everyone was quickly distracted! Unfortunately bartering in the town is not easy. One woman wouldn't even try with me - just returned to her lunch while I stood in the shop looking like an idiot (I really wanted that singlet!). Another threw a calculator down and stormed off. And it wasn't even like I was saying some ridiculous price! I was just going off the price of another t-shirt I had bought.

I drank coconut water for the first time straight out of the shell. Surprisingly good! Sitting on the small plastic chairs on the side of he road watching them freshly crack open a coconut right in front of you is definitely a must do experience (as well as the selfies to capture the moment).

We had one brave fellow traveller that tried dog for lunch one day. Thankfully the rest of us weren't invited to this particular lunch. From his account it seemed pretty elaborate and tasty. Apparently he didn't ask about the type of dog and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a pet dog at home. Makes you wonder - is eating dogs and cats illegal in Australia? Or do we not even have a law against it because eating our loveable Labrador puppies seems unfathomable?

We also hired bikes. Although not nearly as speedy or comfortable as the scooters it was great riding through bright green rice paddies and heading out to the beach later in the day. Although not the most appealing beach they had banana lounges, food and beer delivery to the lounges and minimal beach hawkers (although the ones that were there still suckered you in).

When we left Hoi An our guide reminded us not to blame him for our significantly lighter wallets!

PS. I'm not exactly sure how I forgot to include this in my original Hoi An post but - we did an amazing cooking class there. We learnt how to make traditional spring rolls, sweet and sour chicken soup, papaya salad and fish cooked in a banana leaf over an open flame with the most delicious marinade ever! I even are the fish! The food and the cooking instructor were actually so good that earlier that day when the Pope (yes - the actual POPE) was in town celebrating the 400th year anniversary of Catholicism in Hoi An he was catered for by the same people. In fact, apparently the food was so good he even asked for seconds!

Hue (pronounced ‘hway’)

etak91 — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:36:00 GMT

So the Reunification Express train - great cabins, beds were a good size and toilets not that bad. We thought it was great when we got on - until of course the first mouse was spotted!! Throughout the night a team of mice caused havoc throughout the cabins. Our downfall? Visiting the local market before the train and thinking it was a great idea to take a picnic onboard. With two night trains to go we are definitely going to have to think about some mice deterrent methods. Not sure how effectively it would work though - the mice seem to have their system down pat.

Despite the terror ridden night we all arrived in Hue safe but tired.

We only spent one night in Hue but packed it in. During the day we hired drivers to take us around on the back of their scooters which was one of the funnest things I have done whilst travelling! Driving through the town (while not as busy as Hanoi) was certainly an experience. With almost no rules, especially at roundabouts, we definitely had to put our trust in our drivers to get us through the chaotic traffic unscathed. But it was okay - our guide assured us most of the drivers had their licence.

Dinner was enjoyed at another local restaurant where we could eat outside and the biggest bottled beer I have ever seen was under $1.50. We then partied it up at a local nightclub where $4 cocktails were 2 for 1. It is going to be very hard coming back to Australian prices!

Next stop: Hoi An which is known for its shopping! Yes please!

Halong Bay

etak91 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:34:00 GMT

An eerily beautiful boat trip in Halong Bay with epic scenery will definitely be a highlight of this trip. Would be great to see it in summer time with the sun shining but the fogginess gave the trip a 'pirates of the caribbean' feel which is hard to beat.

Dinner was enjoyed in a very local restaurant in Halong Bay city where the beer (Bia Hoi) was $1.50 per jug and 5 dishes shared between 3 people was $5each. The great thing about being in a tour group and having a local guide is being able to experience amazing local places that you would never be game enough to try if travelling alone.

A couple of bizarre and slightly disturbing local customs that I have discovered along the way is:

Dogs and cats are eaten to provide good luck for a month (the only downside to the local restaurant was the caged dogs and cats out the back near the toilets. A few more jugs of beer and I think we all would have been ready to stage an activist breakout and rescue. Our guide's view is 'meat is meat and dog is delicious').
A very expensive wine is used as a traditional Vietnamese aphrodisiac. How? It's brewed with a king cobra with a scorpion in its mouth. Why? A crazy King that had 500 concubines.
The most expensive and apparently delicious coffee in Asia is made from weasel poo.

I'm sure there will be a lot more cultural experiences that will create shock and awe on this trip!

Off to Hue (pronounced 'hway') tonight on the overnight Reunification Express train!

Hanoi

etak91 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 18:05:00 GMT

So after a very long journey I have arrived in the capital city of Vietnam - Hanoi! This is my first real venture into South East Asia.

The few mishaps so far have been delays in flights, no ATMs, the most hectic and chaotic driving system I have ever seen, being dumped by the taxi driver when he couldn't move his car further amongst the people/street sellers/motorbikes, ending up at the wrong hotel (I didn't realise until the next morning) and what appeared to be an attempt to steal my thongs by a local man.

But that's what travelling is all about, right?

A great first night was had with some familiar faces and a crazy roundabout is being used as a land mark to ensure I don't get lost! With beers costing around about $1 this is definitely necessary!

Not much English is spoken here... Which is great - I just wasn't prepared. Will definitely need to brush up on some key Vietnamese terms.

Tonight I start my tour from Hanoi to Siem Reap for 15nights. Very exciting!

Summing up the last seven months.

etak91 — Tue, 3 Dec 2013 22:02:00 GMT

England - Finland - Russia - Scotland - Germany - Czech Republic - Spain - Morocco - France - Ireland - Italy - Greece - Turkey - Israel - Palestine - Poland.

London, Bath, Brighton, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Moscow, Edinburgh, Oban, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Munich, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, Malaga, Tangier, Casablanca, Essaouira, Marrakech, Fez, Chefchouen, Fuengirola, Paris, Nice, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Sorrento, Athens, Ios, Santorini, Crete, Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ayvalik, Ephesus, Pamukalle, Konya, Cappadocia, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Hebron, Katowice, Krakow, Warsaw and a few random towns along the way.

15 countries visited, 20 flights, hours of bus and train trips, 45 cities slept in, 24 hostels, 28 hotels, 3 riads, 1 family house, 1 couch, free walking tours galore, a thousand experiences, a million memories, untold amounts of alcohol, variety of delicious food, countless new friends.

Europe 2013, you have been fantastic.

Polska

etak91 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:09:00 GMT

Spending a week in Poland due to the fact that it was the cheapest flight out of Israel was a great idea! While the temperature difference to Israel was a joke it is so freaking cheap! My first few nights were spent in the royal capital of Krakow. With the biggest medieval town square in Europe it is definitely a beautiful city! My mission to find delicious stroganoff sadly failed. I mean who serves it in a bread roll or with salad. I have discovered a love of potato pancakes though! A day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a surreal experience following my visit to the memorial in Jerusalem. Towards the end of the day we saw the most beautiful sunset over the remains of the main extermination camp. While a peaceful location now, made photo worthy with the setting sun, it is even harder to picture what it was really like all those years ago. It makes you wonder if the prisoners saw the same beauty in similar sunsets and if it perhaps gave them hope for a better tomorrow.

Used to 'CityFail' back home, the delayed train to Warsaw should have been nothing new. However, trying to discern what is going on from the reactions of the people around you because you can't understand Polish really tests your patience. Arriving an hour and a half late in what felt like the dead of the night (in reality 6pm - damn European winter) I finally arrived at the Oki Doki hostel. I thought Warsaw was just a beautiful as Krakow. However, while the architecture in Krakow is original, the majority of buildings in Warsaw are post-WWII reconstructions. A very interesting city considering their communist past and love of vodka. In fact, my free walking tour got a lot more lively after free polish vodka shots were handed out. The three rules to Polish vodka drinking: 1. Freezing cold and in shot form. 2. Only 250ml in order to have a fun night but no hangover. 3. Always drink with food - preferably herron, pickle & bread. My last day it was their national holiday. A huge affair with military parades and cannon fire. With news reporters everywhere, I was even almost interviewed. At least I assume so since a microphone was shoved in my face.

Poland, my first really cold country! Oh well, the weather provided a good excuse for a bit of H&M shopping!

Hebron, West Bank.

etak91 — Wed, 6 Nov 2013 08:44:00 GMT

Okay, so I felt that my one day in Palestine deserved a seperate post. When I told my parents that I was going to Israel mum of course freaked. But I calmed her saying I wouldn't go if I didn't think I was safe. I mean Jerusalem yes, but the West Bank and Gaza, hell no. Well, 24hrs into my time in Israel I had a tour booked for Hebron in the West Bank. Honestly one of the most interesting and best days I have had on my trip! Meeting the Palestinian guide in Bethlehem, the drive to Hebron was enlightening. Various zones are established in Palestine. A-under Palestinian control, no Israelis. B-Israeli control, all allowed. C-Israeli control, no Palestinians. Signs declaring no entry to Israelis - danger to lives, certainly sober you up to the dangerous situation.

Israeli control seems to be total. Hebron almost seems like a ghost town in parts. More than 1800 shops and livelihoods have been destroyed. The establishment of non-Palestinian streets has forced countless shops and homes to be shut from the front. Now, in order to get into their homes, many are forced to enter through back windows using ladders. While the West Bank, and especially Hebron, has a reputation for breeding suicide bombers this in no way reflects the general populace. Speaking to some of the locals really enhances the situation. Shop owners are indignant, beggars have bullet wounds, kids are learning from the wrong examples. All of this just highlights the complexities that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict encompass. It doesn't seem like there are any definitive rights or wrongs, let alone solutions.

The Israeli presence is definitely felt when walking the streets. At one point, we were walking through a Palestinian cemetery (obviously a Palestinian only area) and I guess from a distance you couldn't really distinguish we were internationals. There was a soldier in the distance waving a big Israeli flag for no other reason than to intimidate and let the Palestinians know that they are there and not leaving. Sadly numerous people told us that the amicable side we saw of the soldiers was most likely shown to uphold appearances in front of foreigners.

A definite highlight of the day was having lunch with a Palestinian family in their home. Living on an Israeli controlled street and the man being under house detention, this family have suffered badly. Their road access is constantly closed up, their grape crops have been poisoned, the wife has been beaten and they were living underneath the watchful eye of the leader of the Jewish Defence League. A lovely and interesting family it most certainly feels as though they have been treated unfairly. Home videos showed to us back up this statement. While the soldiers are quick to intercept and take action against Palestinians causing a fight, when the settlers are the ones inflicting the violence the 'authority' figures tend to take a backseat. A horrifying video showing a group of Palestinian school children being attacked by Israeli kids throwing rocks at them is a sad everyday reality. What a way to live. Parents should be ashamed that this violence has become common place and is a treated as a game to their children. Peace negotiations are never going to be successful if future generations are breeding more hate.

Such an interesting day and most certainly a unique experience to see beyond the wall. It doesn't matter how much you study or the extent to which you follow the news, being on the ground and speaking to locals gives a completely different perspective. In the end, it doesn't matter who is right or wrong, legitimate or illegitimate, jewish or muslim, if even one family is suffering it is one too many. Compromise and concessions must be made if peaceful resolutions are to be realised. Perhaps too simplistic an outlook, only time will tell.

Israel - ישראל

etak91 — Tue, 5 Nov 2013 06:20:00 GMT

For ages I've been saying to my parents 'no of course I won't be going to Israel. I'm not crazy'. Well last week I did a complete turn around and booked last minute flights to this conflicted country. And I am so glad I did! Israel is an amazing place to visit! While I had my plan down pact for if a air raid siren went off (did have a moment of panic when the siren for Shabbat sounded) it seemed a completely safe country. I spent the majority of my time in Jerusalem and had fun watching all the Orthodox Jews walking around. One neighbourhood actually had a sign stating that you are not allowed to enter if you are immodest. Which clearly I was in my long pants, singlet top and scarf. I mean jeez, even in the Old City I might as well have been parading around in stripper gear with the, nope not stares, but scrunched up eyes as they walked past. Wouldn't want to corrupt their devout minds with my arms now would I! Imagine the scandal in the community... Jewish man sees arms!!! This all added to the atmosphere however and was most certainly a type of place I had never visited before. The walled-in Old City of Jerusalem, split into four quarters, made an interesting conundrum. Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian Orthodox (apparently they are so important because they started practicing Christianity 24years before anyone else?). Jerusalem is a religious fanatics' wet dream. It is so steeped in supposed history. Every single story and belief of this city intertwines with all four present parties. Of course all stories just slightly differ between the different religions.

Before you start thinking my trip to Jerusalem was a religious pilgrimage there was so much more to do. I went on a day trip (or more like very early morning trip) to climb the Masada mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. I almost died on the climb. I blame the altitude, or lack there of, considering we were 400m below sea level. And I missed sunrise by two bloody minutes! I then did what anyone does when given the chance, I went floating and mud puddle flopping. Literally. While you definitely float in the Dead Sea (it's bizarre and not normal!) you most certainly don't float in the mud. Almost like quicksand, I was a bit worried after I followed the guide into the metre deep puddle. Getting out was certainly a struggle and not without injury! Think ten times the salt component of normal beaches on open cuts... Ouch. My skin did feel lovely afterwards though.

I also visited the Holocaust memorial. It was a very moving experience and not like any other I had visited. What really gets to you is the video accounts of survivors. In most cases they are they the only one of their family to survive. This whole period of history is just incomprehensible to my generation. I was convinced to visit Israel by a Jewish guy whose grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor. I am constantly in awe of my own grandparents who survived during the war but surviving Auschwitz is a whole different struggle.

I ended my Israel trip with a night in Tel Aviv. Pretty much a city with a beach and nightlife. The hostel was awesome though. Such a good night! The beach would have been good but I'd just gotten the mud out of my cozzies and chucked my makeshift sarong towel.

Whirling Turkey

etak91 — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:37:00 GMT

10 nights, 7 places, a group of great people & a country that amazes - my tour through Turkey was incredible.

After spending a couple of extra nights in Istanbul, Ecebat was the first stop for a trip to Gallipoli. Gallipoli is always going to be a special place for Australians to visit and my time there was no different. To be taught about the ANZAC landings on these beaches is one thing but to see the idyllic landscape now is both hard and easy to imagine how it was a century ago. The memorials are very moving especially the displayed quote by Ataturk, the eventual founder of the Turkish state. He stated "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well".

I opted out of the trip to Troy as I had heard it wasn't that impressive. No worries though, just across the river from Ecebat we found the Trojan horse used in the movie. Way more interesting! Next stop was at the small harbour town of Ayvalik. While not a big town, watching the sunset from our rooftop terrace and having a UNO/bullshit tournament certainly made the night a fun one.

Selcuk was the place for the ancient ruins of Ephesus and delicious gozleme. Equally amazing? Perhaps. These well preserved ruins are yet another example of the incredible talent and expertise that people thousands of years ago possessed in order to create something so magnificent and so out of the realm of modern architecture. Oh and if you were wondering, the gozleme was spinach and feta and absolutely delightful.

Our next destination was a complete shock! The natural calcium formations gave Pamukkale's mountain a bizarre but very cool look. Think a snow field in the wind down of the season. You have to walk up with no shoes. Initially really cold, the water trickling down the mountain quickly heats up and makes the climb quite tricky in parts. The sunset provided picturesque views and definitely made this town an unexpected wonder of the trip.

Ah and yes! Next came the conservative town of the Whirling Dervishes! A traditional ceremony given the upmost importance in Konya. The literally whirling men were a sight to see once in your life. I reiterate 'once'. The repetitiveness of the ceremony certainly wore on us after a long seven hour bus trip. However, it was definitely worth sticking with it to the end to see the locals chant and pray along with the Dervishes. I'm still wondering how none of the dervishes fell down from dizziness though!

So last but certainly not least is Cappadocia! Love, love, love. This extraordinary place was completely bizarre and different to anything I had ever seen before! Houses and defence formations made out massive rocks. Quite smart considering if they were under attack they blended into the landscape and really who would think to look in the rocks. Despite mum being paranoid that I would go on a hot air balloon ride my lifelong warnings from her have definitely stuck. I ended up trekking up the mountain to see sunrise and the rise of the balloons. Definitely didn't feel like I missed out on anything despite having my feet firmly planted on solid ground. Oh and our group now has a local pub in Goreme, Fatboys! An Aussie/Turkish owned place. 5 meals to be eaten while there, 5 meals eaten at Fatboys. Also a fun late night dancing and drinking with the local staff and a few of us!

Phew, big blog! Hope you weren't bored because I certainly wasn't during my time in Turkey!

Apple Tea

etak91 — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:11:00 GMT

Istanbul - the only city in the world placed on two continents. Europe and Asia. I'm not sure if it was just the people I met, the time of year, the vibe of the hostel or what but my time in Istanbul was a highlight on my trip. So much fun in one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in plus a city that is full of sights and experiences - what's not to love. Seeing the Blue Mosque was a must, shopping in the grand bazaar irresistible and tasting turkish delight in the spice market delicious. I've discovered a love for apple tea and the Turkish beer isn't half bad. My time in Istanbul was almost perfect except for... the hassling. 24hrs into the country and I'd been hit on and asked out for tea more times than my entire life put together (granted being asked out for tea was a first!). Marriage proposals are a plenty, followers hang around too long, sexist men... yep. I swear hearing any of these for the hundredth time made me want to scream: 'where are you from?' ' you look hungry' 'look in my shop' 'don't break my heart' 'you dropped something' 'oh wow' 'look at my menu' 'why you not friendly'... And the doozy of a line: 'there are two types of Australian travellers. Those that are friendly and those that are scared of their own shadow but still travel because of their ego'. Wow buddy definitely makes me want to further get to know you. Rant aside though, for every hassler there was a local that made my day. A waiter that chats with no ulterior motive or better yet one that offers free sheesha. Women that make gozleme on traditional cookery. Those that offer free apple tea... Yum! The general atmosphere is really what makes this amazing city.

The Cyclades & the Acropolis.

etak91 — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:43:00 GMT

Spending ten nights in Greece was definitely a highlight of my trip! Ios with its beautiful beach, Santorini with its stunning views, Crete with its turquoise water & Athens with its ancient ruins. All so very different it's hard to pick a favourite place. Just weeks out of peak season Ios was practically deserted. This just meant we had the beach to ourselves and our beers were brought over faster! Santorini, the must see of the Greek islands, only disappointed on the lack of blue roofs. It provided a stunning sunset, lots of donkeys and many windy cliff top lanes filled with souvenir shops. Unfortunately, only spending one night was definitely not enough. Oh well, guess that just means I'll have to visit again in the cute to explore the rest of the island! The town of Agios Nikolaos in Crete was a huge surprise! The most beautiful blue water I have ever seen, delicious restaurants, cheap wine, nibbling fish and amazing shops (too bad I couldn't buy much). Three days of relax was divine! And I got to have a cheap but delicious peppercorn steak! Finally!! Heading back to the mainland was like stepping into a different country. Completely different feel to the islands and not in a good way unfortunately. However, the Acropolis is definitely worth seeing and hearing about Ancient Greek history will always be extremely interesting.

Sadly the end of Greece was time to say goodbye to Sam as well! It was an amazing 5weeks!

Italian bruschetta & wine

etak91 — Sun, 6 Oct 2013 00:13:00 GMT

A week in Italy had it all - wine, food, ruins, scary cliff top roads.

The first few nights was spent in Rome with Sam rediscovering this ancient city. We drank on the Spanish steps, visited the Colosseum, discovered Italian wine, devoured bruschetta, people watched and souvenir shopped. Oh what else... Hmm... That's right! We saw the Pope at the Vatican and was waved at by the Prime Minister! Completely unplanned for but isn't that the beauty of travelling? Randomly stumbling across amazing sights and people.

Next on the Italian agenda was catching up with Dad and heading to Sorrento. Despite a few bumps in finding accommodation we found this town quite charming and lively. A day trip to Pompeii (in the pouring rain no less) was so interesting! The ruins of a 2,000 year old town devastated by a volcanic eruption provided great insight into the operations of an ancient city. The next day involved a drive along the Amalfi coast. Lets just say, I'm very thankful to be alive right now to write this post. I'm pretty sure that windy, narrow cliff top road and dad's (over?)confidence added years to all our lives. However, despite the numerous close calls it was next to impossible not to enjoy the scenery. Absolutely incredible! That drive is definitely once in a life time!

OKTOBERFEST! OKTOBERFEST! OKTOBERFEST!

etak91 — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:12:00 GMT

Does anymore need to be said?

Day 1 was a Saturday and it was busy! We had no chance of getting into a beer tent but had fun watching all the drunk people vomiting, stumbling, crying and passed out on 'hammered hill'. We ended up in the Viktualienmarkt beer garden in central Munich drinking with a group of Danish guys dressed in Lederhosen. After delicious roast pork, good beer and funny company Sam and I decided to call it an early night in preparation for the next day.

After numerous people telling us we need to be at the tents at 630am to guarantee a spot at a table we thought 'hmm nahhh'. We strolled into the Augustiner tent at 1030, got a brilliant table and started on our first stein. We drank the day away with 4 steins, a roast chicken and a group of local Bavarians. Of course, after 4 litres of beer our intelligent drunk selves thought it was a brilliant idea to go on giant drop type ride and a huge spinny one. Thankfully we only ended up on 'hammered hill' to eat our massive bratwurst at the end of the night.

Barely a hangover the next day thanks to the deliciousness that is Augustiner beer. An amazing time at Oktoberfest - expensive as hell but so worth it!!!

PROST!

Crowded Catalonia

etak91 — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 20:24:00 GMT

So imagine our surprise when we cruise into Barcelona further practising our Spanish only to find out that they don't use Spanish at all. Catalan is the language used and is a mix of Portuguese, Italian & French! And they replied rudely in English whenever we attempted Spanish! This is due to the fact that they want to be their own country separate from Spain.

Being the week of the annual festival of Catalonia the crowds were ridiculous! Overall I must say my favourite place was Madrid in Spain. However, my two favourite things we did in Spain were in Barcelona!

#1. Watching Barcelona FC play! The best team in the world! We were so close to the goals and saw 4 goals at our end! Including the best player in the world scoring with a header! Atmosphere was absolutely incredible!

#2. Discovering the works of the architect Gaudi. His eccentric designs are definitely a sight to see. His masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, was absolutely incredible! Even though he is long dead, this basilica is not due to be finished until 2030!

Hola, Madrid!

etak91 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 05:44:00 GMT

Ah finally some sunshine and hot weather! Madrid was a huge surprise. After a huge build up it didn't disappoint! Wandering the streets, eating tapas, drinking sangria and soaking up some Spanish were definitely highlights.

Our favourite place was a small local deli with a bar and a ham cutting expert! Beers were super cheap and served with a free tapa of bread and salami. What more could you want! Woolies could definitely learn a thing or two!

One big night out started out with watching a knife be pulled out during a fight, included a shit load of shit tapas (what else would you get on a cheap tour) and ended with mojitos and tequila! All in all it was a fairly interesting night!

Our last night was spent taking our naive selves to the bullfighting! It wasn't until we were actually in the process of booking our tickets that we realised the bulls are actually killed. Alas, we figured it was traditional a Spanish and a sight to see. It was still a completely shocking sight. Not an experience I regret doing but neither is it one I will be rushing to see again!

On the bus to Barcelona now! Beyond excited!

Cousin time

etak91 — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:26:00 GMT

So finally after months of waiting, my cousin Sam arrived in Europe to travel with me!

Our first week was spent in chilly London and Dublin. London was spent doing the touristy sights, introducing Sam to pints, a grim reaper tour in the rain and a wet night out in Shoreditch (where my issues with left and right got us lost).

Our mix ups didn't end there! We both got to go to our first English football match - Fulham v. West Brom. It wasn't until 30minutes and a goal in that we realised we were cheering for the wrong team! We thought for sure there was a typo on the big screen! Oh well, the score ended up 1-1 so we got to cheer for both goals!

Our time in Dublin was flipping cold! Not sure how I'm going to handle a European winter! Regardless, we had a fantastic time wandering the streets and doing our own pub crawl. I also had my first and only pint of guinness in the famous Temple Bar pub! Not awful... The price hurt more than the beer!

After all that cold weather that our poor Australian selves can't handle we are really looking forward to hot weather the rest of the way!