On the 21st January 2007 I am off on a 31000 mile adventure. My first destination is Thailand. From there I plan to explore the likes of Cambodia, Laos and ‘Nam, before heading off to Melbourne for some comedy. Teaching in Australia will hopefully provide a little income to help me complete my tour through NZ, Fiji, Cooke Islands and finally L.A to New York. Bookmark this page to keep track of my progress, feel free to leave a comment, and enjoy 2007.
ej
Its all pretty crazy. Rained hard for the first 2 days but now its very sunny. Bought some suntan lotion from boots but it does not smell very nice. Mostly just hanging out on Kosan Road. Jet lag has got the better of me, which will come as no suprise to most of you. I seem to sleep about 4 hours at night and then 4 more in the afternoon. The buffet breakfast at the hotle is great and I always get a tummy ache. Had 2 Burger Kings so far, but begining to get a liitle more adventurous. Had a tuna salad yesturday and ate all the tomato, thats my challenge, to get to like tomato. Meant to go had see some Thai boxing the last 2 nights but over sleep. I not really fussed unless Paul Emsley (in the mustard shorts) is fighting. His trademark ‘Emsley Elbow’ is apparently pretty awsome. Spending most the evening drinking. Some of the local beers are a bit strong. Have ment a range of travelers, all with different stories. Taking the Bus to Chiang Mai tonight and lets see what happens.
Lovin it! Away from the smelly pollution and dirty English chavs in BKK. Justin relaxing for a few days then going trekking. Going to hire a bike today a take on the busy streets. never would have tried that in bangkok but here its not so bad. at least they play on the same side of the road. need to find somwhere that hires out real bikes - rock and/or roll. Been feeling guilty about MRC’s bridge, I was actually on the river bank at the time it broke but I was responsible for the radiator in his Harnham House, which cost 5000 pounds to fix and his Mum had to come into headmasters assembly to claim money back. Its time to kick ass and chew bubble gum. and im all out of gum.
Just got back from a trip on my bike. Where did you get the bike from? Some kid back in town. Traded the van for it stright up. I can get 80 miles to the gallon on this hog. I headed for a temple on the mountain overlooking the city, which had been recomended. The mountain appered in the distance as i left the city. It never seemed to get any closer just like playing Super Hangon. I then took a corner to quickly, hit a giant BIRD BIRD sign and broke my muffler. The ride was pleasent as the traffic thined and the view was special. Tomorrow I will take the bike to the zoo, they have giant pandas. Just finished reading ‘Flight from Deathrow’ by Harry Hill - brilliant. Must start writing my diary again, get a quick nap in then go out and watch the football. Will post some decent photos and sensible comments when I get back from treking.
Went to the zoo today. Much better than London as you can get so much closer. Did not see the pandas as you had to pay extra. The highlight was most definatley the hippos. Chilled out this afternoon, traded Harry Hill’s novel in for Great Expectations. I, only 60 pages in, but for me, Dickens lacks a little something in the comdey department. Off treeking tomorrow which should be alot of fun. Is it giro day Tom?
I have returned to BKK in order to sort out the next stage of my trip. I intend to get a visa and plane ticket to Vietnam, travel down through the country. through cambodia and back to Thailand. I dont especially like it here as its very smelly and the rooms are far more expensive than Chiang Mai, its still super duper though. I have had to say good bye to some good australian buddies so am now on my own again. The bus trip down here was highlighted by a broken seat that would not recline. I amaneged to fix it by climbing underneath. I was then asked to fix the seats of 3 very greatful passengers - probably my finest hour! Missed the rugby as well, every bar on Kosan was showing back to back gayball, I must try and find somewhere to watch the highlights and the matches today. I have reached the 2 week mark, the time span of my longest holiday before, so now I must be a real traveler!
Managed to organise myself yesterday. Booked a plane ticket and visa for Vietnam leaving on Friday. Today I have got myself out of Bangkok and into Kanchanaburi, famous, like MRC, for its bridge. Its so nice to be out in the counrty again. Country or City? No competition.
Just realised that the post I did about treking in the mountains did not work. Needless to say, it was awsome. Unfortunatley I forgot my camera and missed some excellent photo oppertunities. I will hopefully get a good collection of pics from other trekkers. I appologies for the poor spelling. The key boards have Thai letters on them as well and it can be a liitle confusing. I bought a jar of marmite yesterday, Its only small, but cost the same as my room. I had to buy it as I caught the smell of some vegimite an Aussie brought on the trek. I watched Rocky Balboa in a pub last night and then Ireland/Wales then I had a subway. Its time for lunch. I think I shall have a club sandwhich, pull out the tomatoes and onions, try and eat the tomatoes. Have a nice week…
Edit: Some Photos from the trek in the mountains!
Why do you have to pay more for weaker beer? Im trying my best to not drink European beers, but Chang and Singha at 6.4 & 6.0 % respectivly are getting too much. As a result of the strong beer I am suffering today and will achive little. Im going to book a day trip to the Bridge over the river Kwai and some waterfalls for tomorrow.
Managed to pack my last day in Kachanaburi with plenty of sight seeing. Visited the spectacular 7 tired Erwan waterfalls, had a ride on a train on the Death railway and then walked over the Bridge over the River Kwai.
I was back in BKK the next day to pick up my visa and tickets. Up at 6 this morning to catch my flight to Hanoi. Safe and sound at my hostle now. Sharing a dorm for the first time to keep costs down. Francsoir, the Frenchman in my dorm, is probably the best prepared traveller I have ever met, he has got every piece of traveling technology and seems to know what hes doing. His English is very good so Ive gained alot of advice. I seem to have let the last 3 weeks slip away a bit and realise I have little over 4 weeks left in SEA so must start to plan a bit better. Sat next to 2 aussies on the plane who had been in Thailand for some time. One word: Herbs
Back from a boat trip around the spectacular Halong Bay.
It was all very nice but the weather let us down. Technically it is winter so can’t complain. I did go in the water, we were warned that it was very cold! But the boat had to be jumped off so another chap and I went for it, straight off the top deck. The water was actually very warm. Francois got some good action photos, which i hope to get emailed to me.
Did a bit of kayaking in naff kayaks that required 4 right strokes to evry left to go straight. Again, the weather let us down. Most tourist were wearing hats, coats and trousers all the time, but the Englisih Lads on the remained in shorts and flipflops always hopefull of some sun. The most disapointing thing about the trip was the misserable Vietnamees tour guides - far from the crazy, funny and freindly Thai guides ive had. Still, Hanoi proves to be far more challenging than BKK with its crazy traffic, lack of Mcdonalds, Subway or a 7eleven on each street. Tonight I catch the train to Hue. A few more stops down the coast and I should be in Saigon by the weekend. Unless The New Year celebrations (some time this week) slow me down. Just Spent 7pounds on a meal as i was so sick of seafood. Dinned at Al Fressco’s, a famous resturant in Nam. Im off to by a book for the train and some snacks, preferably Ritz crackers with cheese in between - those badboys have saved me on more than one occation this tour. Keep it foolish…
Viet Nam is proveing a most excellent destination. After the relative dispointment of Halong Bay and Hanoi, I have found the journey south most agreeable.
HUE: paid extra and got my self a sleeper train to Hue. its a 14 hour bus trip which here in Nam is a bit of a nightmare. Slept well on the train which was full of locals going home for tet, the lunar new year. They all had there new years trees, like our chritsmas trees, but with little oranges on. Arrieved refressed but alone in Hue. Spent the afternoon sight seeing and then had a great night out in the DMZ bar,as recomended by the LP ( thats shorthand for lonely planet that you non travelers would notunderstand, Daniel.) The weather is better here, lots of sun and the temps in the mid 20s.
HOI AN: got on the bus to Hoi an and bumped into Francois ramdomly. He had made some more friends; Neil from England and Aurore from France. 3 hours bus ride and we were in Hoi An. It is beautiful town as it was one of the few places to get hit during the war. The next day we were joined by Matt, John and Sam who had been on the halong boat trip. Went to the beach (4km) on some hired bikes, that was great fun.
Nice to get some beach time in an work on the tan. The town was pretty quite as most places shut for new year, but we still managed a big nightout, Highlighted but some inventive bi-lingule drinking games. Went to the My Son temples which were a sort of mini Ankor Wat apperently.
Found a resturant that did Coco Pops, not Kellogs, but a treat none the less. appropriatley the places was called TREATS.
NA TRANG: The french left us a day early for Na trang, after Francois had shaved off hos impressive travelers beard. It was a 12 hour over night bus trip for the remaining 5 of us, which is a real struggle. Unlike the spacious luxury coaches in Thailand, the Vietnam Coaches are designed around the Vietnameese Body size, no more than 5′6′’ and 8 stone. still we got here safe and found and excellent little hotel. Matt and John booked a 4 day Dive course. spent the day on the beach. Its very very hot! This town is like being on the Mediterenean, very touristy, but the diving is excellent. Neil went diving yesterday and said the visability was ace. Tomorrow Sam and I are going out on the diving boat with Matt and John to do a bit of snorkleing. Neil has moved on to Mui Ne to try some Kite surfing. Im heading there day after tomorrow.
Enjoy Nam so much and running out of time fast that I am unable to get back to Thailand and do the South. This is a shame, but Id rather do Nam and Cambodia properly. I can always go back to Thailans beaches during my excessive summer holidays.