Trip: Asia 2015
There are [29] stories from my trip: Asia 2015
HONG KONG | Monday, 30 Nov 2015 | Views [625]
Returning from Macau I was so exhausted I was ready to fall over and collapse. Instead of heading to Kowloon, this ferry headed for Hong Kong Island. I was already knackered enough. Why has Hong Kong been so damn difficult? When I talked to my father ... Read more >
MACAU | Saturday, 28 Nov 2015 | Views [740]
Going from Hong Kong to Macau is like going from one country to another. Crossing the water is like a sort of "no man's water" as you have to go through passport control to exit Hong Kong and again to enter Macau. Immigration is just a formality, and ... Read more >
MACAU | Friday, 27 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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HONG KONG | Wednesday, 25 Nov 2015 | Views [775]
A pragmatic mixture of a little Melbourne, Rio, and Wellington, slightly more of Beijing, a lot of New York, and a great deal indeed of London. Welcome to Hong Kong! I'll admit I stole the framework of that quote of one about Fidel Castro's ideology ... Read more >
HONG KONG | Monday, 23 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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CHINA | Monday, 23 Nov 2015 | Views [797]
Whilst I definitely found some good in China, across the board it's problematic, disorganized, and bureaucratic. All along I've said with China "if there isn't a rule they make a rule, and if there isn't a problem they create a problem." The language ... Read more >
CHINA | Sunday, 22 Nov 2015 | Views [790]
The DPRK was such a fantastic experience! And I never expected the vibe of a college field trip. Yesterday morning we all returned to Beijing aboard Air Koryo 151 and at the baggage carousel we said our goodbyes. Some people caught connecting flights ... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Saturday, 21 Nov 2015 | Views [653]
In a day in the DPRK there’s always a lot to write about and talk about. Slightly sad I was this morning and certainly I indulged in too much soju last night. I would thank Margo for tipping out my last drink and walking me to my room last night.... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Friday, 20 Nov 2015 | Views [803] | Comments [1]
Today we would visit a very surreal place in an already very surreal country. Our excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) would take place today where I'd get to step across the border and shake hands with a DPRK soldier. The DMZ is anything but and ... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Friday, 20 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
38th parallel
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NORTH KOREA | Thursday, 19 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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NORTH KOREA | Thursday, 19 Nov 2015 | Views [709]
You’ll quickly learn in the DPRK that days are long as a visitor! You’ll rise early, get home rather late in the evening and there’s no stopping back at the hotel if you forget your memory card. If you forget something you’re ... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Wednesday, 18 Nov 2015 | Views [891] | Comments [1]
What a long day it was today! Rising early from a deep slumber I was up whilst it was barely light out. Breakfast would be early as we had a really full agenda today! Our meal was a simple but tasty one of fried sausage, shredded cucumbers, and bread ... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Tuesday, 17 Nov 2015 | Views [850] | Comments [1]
The adventure began before I even got on the plane. Upon checking in for my flight I was handed a boarding pass for Air Koryo 152. As the DPRK’s state-owned airline it operates a fleet of Tupolevs and other Soviet-built aircraft dating back decades.... Read more >
NORTH KOREA | Tuesday, 17 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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CHINA | Tuesday, 17 Nov 2015 | Views [626]
In only a few hours I'm off to the DPRK! Getting here from Korea involves flying to Beijing and I had a few, albeit exhausting, hours to stroll around. My only option for China after all the heartache with Chinese visas is the 72-hour visa waiver. When ... Read more >
CHINA | Tuesday, 17 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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SOUTH KOREA | Monday, 16 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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SOUTH KOREA | Monday, 16 Nov 2015 | Views [1173]
My time in Korea is winding down and in less than 24 hours I'll be in the DPRK. Victoria and Josh would host me after running into them coincidently on the train a couple of nights ago, and since I had stored some gear at Carlsen's house I had went there ... Read more >
SOUTH KOREA | Saturday, 14 Nov 2015 | Views [1021]
Poetry, fish markets, and open sewers would be the story of my day. None of them go together but the last two sure smell. As I left Carlsen's flat with he and a Dane named David, I had difficulty deciding what I wanted to do today. David hitchhiked from ... Read more >
SOUTH KOREA | Thursday, 12 Nov 2015 | Views [1627]
Within a short bus ride of Busan is Beomeosa Temple. Modern high-rises exist a 10-minute bus ride away but Beomeosa Temple dates back to the 7th century! Monks practice their prostration and people come to offer prayers. As I was on a packed bus mostly ... Read more >
SOUTH KOREA | Wednesday, 11 Nov 2015 | Views [1216]
There's always that "ahhhh" feeling when you visit a new country for the first time. That's how I feel being here in Korea as it's definitely a place that hasn't disappointed. For simplicity's sake, in my blog I'm referring to South Korea as "Korea" ... Read more >
SOUTH KOREA | Monday, 9 Nov 2015 | Views [865]
The past 24 hours have been another major test of my travel endurance, and I sure hope when I'm 50 or even only a few years from now I can endure this type of experience and laugh about it with a friend over a coffee or a glass of wine. In the past 24 ... Read more >
SOUTH KOREA | Monday, 9 Nov 2015 | Photo Gallery
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INDONESIA | Sunday, 1 Nov 2015 | Views [2203]
Wandering through rice fields, receiving a hydraulic massage from a waterfall, and teaching English! What do they all have in common? The answer is that I've done all three today. Gede woke me early as negotiated a lift to the waterfalls with Ahmed, ... Read more >
INDONESIA | Friday, 30 Oct 2015 | Photo Gallery
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INDONESIA | Friday, 30 Oct 2015 | Views [2877]
Coming over from Bali for a few days I'd experience Lombok and the "real Indonesia" for awhile. As I exited the ferry I managed to hitch a lift with a local on a motorbike from Lembar where I could immediately tell Lombok is vastly different to Bali.... Read more >
INDONESIA | Friday, 23 Oct 2015 | Views [888]
If you're spending a long or even short time in Bali you'll (literally) stumble upon canang sari , better known as daily offerings. These are little woven baskets of flowers, rice, and so forth that are an integral part of Balinese Hindu culture.... Read more >
INDONESIA | Wednesday, 21 Oct 2015 | Views [667]
A year ago today I was in Bali for the first time. Bali conjures up many images: majestic sunsets on a blissful beach. The "Island of the Gods" it's often called, though one reason I like Bali is for what people don't realize it also is: earthy, gritty, ... Read more >
