Bill's Big Trip

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lipowcan8 — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:25:00 GMT

To tell l the truth, I've avoided writing this for about a week. Mostly because I know when I write this my trip will be over. I made it home to San Diego, unpacked my bags, settled in, saw friends and am now in Pittsburgh visiting family. I really can't explain my feelings. I'm happy to be home, happy to have done what I started out to do, but sad that it is over. A wonderful experience that will stay with me and hopefully make me a better person. Writing this blog has been a great way for me to document my travels. I value and appreciate your interest. In spite of all the terrible things happening in the world, there are so many kind, generous and good people. It's an amazing world we live in, I'm ready to start thinking about my next trip.

Best wishes and happy travels, Bill

Photos: New Zealand 3

lipowcan8 — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:50:00 GMT

New Zealand 3

lipowcan8 — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:54:00 GMT

It's been good three weeks traveling around New Zealand. I'm currently in Dunedin about five hours by bus south of Christchurch. I'll finish the loop around the south island tomorrow. Traveling by bus was a great way to see the country and it only cost about $200 US. I visited a bunch of parks and stayed in nine different cities/towns. A beautiful country that embraces the outdoors, they seem to really enjoy the more extreme activities such as sky diving, bungee jumping and downhill mountain biking. I took lots of pictures, see New Zealand 3.

I don't know if this will be my last entry from overseas, I start my trip home in two days. It's hard to believe seven months has passed. I'll write more later, it should be an interesting trip home, I have five flights and an overnight in Shanghi.

Photos: New Zealand 2

lipowcan8 — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:07:00 GMT

New Zealand 2

lipowcan8 — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:30:00 GMT

I added a few more pictures. Battery almost gone.

Photos: New Zealand

lipowcan8 — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 20:07:00 GMT

New Zealand

lipowcan8 — Sun, 7 Dec 2014 23:09:00 GMT

Just got here. A busy 24 hours.i landed in NZ at 11:45 at night and thought I'd save some cash by staying at a hotel/campground close to the Christchurch airport. A five minute cab ride cost $25., I worked a deal for $15. Anyhow ended up in the middle of nowhere. Next morning I wanted to take a bus to Kaikoura, a town three hours away by bus. I was told all buses had no seats for the next two days, my choices were a $50 cab ride to town or walk a mile or so and figure out the local bus transfer system.Tough choice, bit the bullet and called the cab. All and all, worked out ok. $35. For the cab and I was able to catch a bus to Kaikoura in the afternoon. It was one of the more challenging trips from airpoprt to city I have had.

Enough of that. I'm running out of wifi time. Will add pictures later.

Australia 2

lipowcan8 — Sun, 7 Dec 2014 23:02:00 GMT

I had a good bus trip up the east coast of Australia. Met some nice people and saw some amazing sites. 1800 miles was kinda fast for three weeks, I could have used at least two more weeks. I think I'll use it as an excuse to return. Words and pictures don't capture the beauty, you will have to come and see for yourself.

Photos: Australia 2

lipowcan8 — Sun, 7 Dec 2014 19:46:00 GMT

Photos: Australia, Sydney & Coffs Harbor

lipowcan8 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 23:06:00 GMT

Australia

lipowcan8 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:12:00 GMT

I enjoyed my time in Southeast Asia, but it was time to move on. My flight from Thailand to Australia routed me through China. I ended up traveling about 13 hours in the air on China Southern Airlines, it was ok at best. I think Australia is a 19 hour time difference from SD. I wish I could take advantage of the time ahead to help me with my football picks. Anyhow, spent three nights in Sydney, very nice. They seem to have things worked out, public transportation, public art, urban parks, folks are polite and helpful and the place is super clean, very little graffiti. On the down side, it's quite expensive.

I bought a bus ticket on Premier Bus. It's similar to my airline ticket. For $300. I can travel fron Sydney to Cairns(app. 1800 miles) and stop as many times as I like as long as I continue north. I'm currently in Coffs Harbor, it's about a seven hour bus ride north of Sydney. Nice town, sitting outside my hotel room enjoying a beer and listening to live reggae music from the bar next door.(didn't want to pay the cover charge). I'm off to Byron's Bay Sunday. I'm hoping to add some pictures.

Photos: Burma 5

lipowcan8 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:47:00 GMT

Photos: Burma 4

lipowcan8 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:28:00 GMT

Photos: Burma 3 - Kalaw to Inle Lake trek

lipowcan8 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 15:36:00 GMT

Photos: Burma 2 - Nyuangshwe & Inle Lake

lipowcan8 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:34:00 GMT

Photos: Burma

lipowcan8 — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:43:00 GMT

Photos: Thailand 2

lipowcan8 — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:12:00 GMT

Thailand 2

lipowcan8 — Sun, 9 Nov 2014 23:56:00 GMT

I finally have an good enough internet connection to download pictures. It's November 9, I'm back in Yangon Burma for a couple of days, then to Bankok for a few days, then off to Australia. I hope you enjoy the the pictures, I enjoyed the time I spent with my brother Ray and his daughter Lea. It was good to see family, especially so far from home.

Myanmar/Burma

lipowcan8 — Sat, 8 Nov 2014 00:30:00 GMT

I'm going to refer to the counrry as Burma, not Myanmar. It's been a good but somewhat tiring 27 days in Burma. The visa is good for 28 days, thought I'd give myself a one day cushion. It's been tough getting internet access, sometimes spotty, other times not at all. write more later

It's now later(Thursday Nov. 13). I've been back in Bangkok for a couple of days, had time to relax, enjoy air conditioning, pizza, cold beer and Oreo cookies. Ahh, the little pleasures of life.

I was able to see quite a bit of Burma and visited most of the top sites. I traveled by foot, bicycle, car taxi, motorbike taxi, boat, train, electric scooter, tuk tuk, and lots of buses. Started in Yangon and worked my way north to Bago, Inle Lake(Nyaungshwe), Kalaw, Mandalay, Hsipaw, and Pyin Oo Lwin. From there I rode the all night bus(15hours) to the southern part of Burma. Spent time in Mawlamyine and Hpa-an before returning to Yangon and flying to Bangkok. I moved along pretty quick, exept for spending six days in Nyaungshwe. I accomplished my goal of visiting Burma before McDonalds arrived, my way of saying before too much outside influence. There is difinately a change going on. Most obvious in men trading their skirts(I don't remember the proper name, you will see them in photos) for pants. I met a lot of good and humble people and enjoyed beautiful scenery. I had very little contact with government people other than asking police for directions or the use of a cell phone when my scooter pooped out. On the not so good side, the men chew two different products, one in the jaw area that doesn't seem to create a big problem, the other stuff they place between the lower gum and teeth. This creates a massive amount of red spit that stains sidewalks or anything else it lands on. It also rots out their teeth by the time they are in their 30's.Other issues include lots of litter, electric outages, sewage problems, unsafe drinking water and LOTS of stray dogs. Don't let the few negatives dissuade you from visiting. If you have an interest in experiencing a country before McDonald's gets there, I strongly recommend you get to Burma soon.

Burma was one of the countries I was most looking forward to visiting. I am thankful that I had the opportunity, it was a memorable experience. I took a bunch of pictures, I hope you enjoy them.

Photos: Thailand

lipowcan8 — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 00:49:00 GMT