Sunny Sydney...well kind of

Sydney 8th March 2008

When the plain is arriving into Sydney airport the sun is starting to rise, there is a sharp glow of red from the sun and that coupled with the landscape below makes a fantastic sight. We arrive at the airport just before 7am, I'm pretty shattered, just spent the entire night watching as many films as I could fit in...wanted to get my monies worth from Virgin Airways. Once I get off the flight you notice the temperature difference from Hong Kong, its a real pleasant 24degrees...like a "good" summers day back home! The place I am staying at, WakeUp, is about 20mins walk from Sydney Harbour Bridge & the Sydney Opera House so its a good location for the main sights. When I arrive at the hostel the first thing I notice is that everyone staying here seems to be really really young, not alone that when you walk up the street and pass several other backpackers hostels it seems to be the exact same thing. I'm certainly starting to feel my age. After checking in and getting a shower I venture down to the Harbour front to view the bridge & the opera house and as I venture through the city you start to think to yourself, this place is just like a city in England! OK, I am sure most Aussies wouldn't agree but for the Brits I bet it must just feel like home for them...except the weather is better. Although the weather isn't all that bad this time of year most of the pictures I get of the Harbour Bridge & Opera House show black clouds in the distance, they are not the usual images you associate when you see pictures of these places. All in all they are fantastic sights and I guess something that everyone whats to see when they travel to Sydney. The plan for the next few days so to see most of Sydney's sights and hopefully make a trip out to some of the local beaches. I'm also hoping to see the Blue Mountains, just north west of Sydney, before I catch a flight to Perth on the west coast. This city seems to have no end of places to see, it certainly feels like you could easily spend a week or so lazily travelling around the city & the outskirts seeing different places. In the centre it has some really nice areas, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, of course around the Bridge & Opera House & the huge Botanical gardens, then further out you can venture to the many coastal areas of Manly, Watsons Bay, Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach & many others.Speaking of Coogee beach, just before I arrived in Sydeny there was a piece on the news about an incident that occurred in one of its local restaurants, Coogee Bay Restaurant. The story goes that a member of staff got pretty p*ssed off with some people eating at the restaurant. So when the people sat in for their desert they found human (or dog) feces in it...I guess the waiter thought they would never notice??? Anyway there was a big fuss about it all, naturaly enough, so when I went out to Coogee beach surprise surprise there was no one eating at the Coogee Bay Restaurant. As I walk along the beach there are the usual signs about what not to do on the beach but there is one that stands out. Its a notice to people with dogs, the sign goes, "If your dog makes a poo then put in in the bin!" but some one was pretty quick off the mark and followed it on with, "Or just give it to Coogee Bay Restaurant"...classic.Before I set off to Perth I managed to do a trip out to the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters. Unfortunately the day is dull and overcast so the pictures didn't come out great, its a nice sight but nothing to write home about. On the trip out there our bus driver & guide has told us his exhaust is half falling off so he has to drive a little steady on the way. At our first stop he checks the exhaust which is dangling down from the rear and he seems to do some minor repairs. As he comes back he passes me and ask "Do you know anything about repairs mate?" and I kind of look at him saying yes & no to which he responds "Ah ya couldn't come and have a look at this could ya?". So we venture to the back of the bus for a look at the damage and its comical. The exhaust has fallen down but our guide has tied it back up again with nothing other than a old fleece jacket!!! Hemmmmmm, that might get a little hot, I tell him, and I reckon there is a more than fair chance its going to go up in flames 5 mins down the road, "Ahh ya think mate?". You have to laugh. In the end we manage to strap it up with a couple of old fan belts that were lying around on the bus and on we go. The make shift repairs last the day and fair play to the guide he insists on me only paying half price for the tour, not bad eh.

The neon lights of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Wednesday 4th March 2009

Well its a small world, the first person I meet in Hong Kong is from Cambridge above all places! He has just arrived from Heathrow and is spending a night here before going to New Zealand. I've booked into a hostel in the centre for something like 10pound. Sturth, the English guy has reserved a hotel but that's going to cost about 50notes so he decides to check out the hostel. When we arrive they say they haven't a bed available for him but will put a matteres on the ground if he is willing to take that. He's not bothered so he takes it. The lady shows us to the room we are staying in and its tiny, not alone that we are sharing with three others, a single man and a couple. The beds are are so tight together you can role from one to the next, no joke. As for the bathroom well thats a similar story, I think the size of the bath says it all...then again I guess we were lucky to even get one!By the time we get the room sorted its about 7.30 pm and generally at this stage in Asia the evening is dark. As we venture out the main door you are immediately hit by a blast of light...the streets are littered with neon lights like you wouldn't believe, even the sky is bright from them! The place we are staying is know as Kowlong which is the other side of the harbour to Hong Kong island. As you venture down to the harbour front you can see all the lights from the island. Its impressive, every electronics manufacture seems to have their sign glowing the distance and at about 8pm every evening a light show is put on. This is where the lights of most of the buildings on the island flash in sequence with some music they play, its very surreal but well worth a watch.
One thing I am greatful for when I get to Hong Kong is that they have some decent pubs and and after been pretty much dry going through Malaysia & Singapore I think I deserve a drink. So on the first night we venture to a pub around the corner from where we are staying, Ned Kellys Last Stand. My luck is in, they even serve Guinness (I later find out so does ever other place in Hong Kong). I haven't had a pint of Guinness since I left for the trip so I'm salvating at the mouth for this one, that is until I get the bill...6.70 a pint!!! To be honest in the end it was worth though.I have to say Hong Kong is defenately worth a visit, certainly for a couple of days anyhow if not just to see the city & all its lights. Hong Island part of it seems to be where all the business is contucted but along with that there are more bars & clubs over there than you could imagine. Also on the island side you can take a train to the peak of Victoria Hill to get some stunning views of the City...you won't believe the number of high rises. Another thing about Hong Kong is its not a bad place for choice of food, Chinese, Thai, Jappanise so with a few pound in my pocket that I needed to us I decide to treat myself to some fantastic Sushi followed by a few pints of Guinnes & some Jazz...not a bad way to finish my trip in Asia ;-)

Singapore is a "Fine" city!

Singapore Sunday 1st March 2009

It was a 4hr journey to Singapore from Melaka and as soon as we rock up it starts to chuck it down from the heavens. Worst off all its not the main bus station they stop at, its a small place just outside of the centre which has a tiny bus shelter just big enough for everyone on the bus. The down poor is like no other I've seen, thunder & lightening to match!!! It takes an age to get a cab, due to the down poor everyone seems to be hired. After an 1hr or so I manage to get one with two Americans and we make our way to the Little India part of Singapore. When we arrive the place is buzzing the taxi can hardly move through the crowds, I wasn't expecting this in Singapore. After getting out of the taxi I need to go to a cash Point and when I finally make it to one there is a que of about 15+ people...no joke, you'd think this was the only ATM they had here. When I arrive at the Hostel I ask the guy what's with the masses of people, he just tells me its a Sunday, it's the workers day off and everyone meets up with their friends for a chat. About an hour later when I venture out for some food the crowds most have doubled and sure enough if you stand back and watch them they are standing in groups chatting to one another. When I get chatting to someone else about this later he says its a regular Sunday occurrence in the Indian community and next Sunday will be even bigger he says...its pay day! Well Singapore certainly lives up to its reputation of been one of the most advanced places in Asia...it's certainly the cleanest any how. Its got a great bus & MRT system, getting around the place could not get any easier. It's got shopping centres that I would say outdo by far anything that is in Europe. On the down side there are a couple of things, its cost (compared to other Asian Countries) and that it is so strict. As for its cost, well coming from Thailand, Cambodia etc you certainly notice it. One nights accommodation would pay for 3 nights in most other Asian countries. What you can and can't do in this country is probably to much to list, it has its good and bad points but leaves the place feeling very sterile...not a whole lot of character. Singapore is kind of worth a visit but you'd be hard pressed to spend much more than a few days here. The main places of interest seem to be China Town & Little India with their usual Temples & Pagodas and not forgetting their market stalls. They are also developing a theme park just off the main land called Sentosa Island. Its like a mini version of the islands that are been developed out in Dubai, lots of beach side areas, some with beach huts and others with massive hotel complexes...to be honest it's worth a look but bring the cheque book!

Malaysia

Malaysia Saturday 21st February 2009

As you are driving across the border into Malaysia the first thing you notice is almost everyone drives a Proton...gone are the Mazda's & Toyota's that were promenant in Thailand, shoddy looking Protons are the order of the day. I guess been a Malaysian built car you can't expect them to drive around in much else. My frist stop in Malaysia is Penang, a small little island linked to the main land by a 13.5km bridge. I end up staying in Little India, George Town the main town on Penang. Little did I know Malaysia would have such a big Indian community and as a result you have no end of Indian resturants to choose from. I can't remember the last time I had an Indian so when I arrive the first thing I do is get some cash and go search for some grub. For about RM6 (just over a pound) you can get a great feed the only thing is you have to pay almost double that for a drink!!! Drinking is a pricy game over here in Malaysia (well compared to other Asian countries)

On reading the Lonely planet before coming to Malaysia they made the comment that Malaysias economy is run by the Indians but the country is goverened by the Malaysias. Arriving into Penang you can certainly see this is true. The Indians seem to dominate the place and do most of the day to day work like cab/bus drivers, builders etc. The Little India section in Penang always seems to be alive with activity. The smell of spices & food been cooked waft through the air and along with this you have the Indian music & Bollywood films blaring out from every street corner.

After spending a day or so around Penang you certainly start notice the difference between here and the other Asian countries that I've been in so far. For one there is very little bartering (bar the markets), buying bus tickets, trips, accommodation etc are generally a fixed prices. The people are very helpful also (not that they weren't in other countries, its a little different here) also they speak very good English. For any first time traveler I'd say Malaysia is certainly an easy place to start, good transport, they speak good English, its a friendly place and above all its got some great food.

TBU

Monday 23th February 2009

Its a 6am start to get to the Cameron Highlands and it takes about 4hrs to get there. The journey is straight forward enough but the last hour is where you get to see some fantastic sights as the bus makes its way up the mountain range. I end up staying in a place called Fathers Guest House which is on a hill over looking the town of Tanah Rata. The dorm rooms are set out in the style of military bunkers with 20 of us to a room. There is certainly a change in temperature up here, the highs are about 22 degrees and then in the evenings it drops to lowish teens, which you really notice after getting used to some of the temperatures around the mainland. The Cameron Highlands is renound for its ability to grow many different types of crops (Tea & Strawberries been the most popular) due to its climate, along with this the place is a get away retreat for many Malays from the hustle & bustle of the city's & the extremely humid conditions. Many tourist tend to come here for the trekking and for the scenery. As for the trekking well there is no end of it to be done, you could easily spend a week here just doing the 14 or so routes they have laid out.

TBU

Wednesday 25th February 2009

Kuala Lumpur

Friday 27th February 2009

Melaka

One entertaining week in Thailand!

Back in Thailand, Wednesday 18th February 2009

I arrive back in Thailand with the plan on traveling to some of the Islands I didn't manage to get to when I was out here first. My plan is to go to Krabi, Koh Lanta & Koh Lepi. It feels good been back even though I only spend the afternoon in Bangkok before I grab a over night bus to Karbi. When I arrive in Krabi and pick up my ruck sack something seems to be a miss. First the zip on my big, which is locked, is in a different position to usual and the bag seems a little shuffled around. I don't pay much notice to it until later and then think to myself has someone gotten into my bag? When I open it up I can certainly see someone has been through it. I generally keep some money & a cash card in this bag as a backup. The first thing I notice is the wallet is sitting on top of my cloths, not buried at the bottom where I had put it. When I check the wallet the cash I had in it is gone but thank god the cash card it still there. For some reason who ever took the money left the card, maybe it was just too much hassle, I'm kind of grateful even though I've had about 60 quid taken. The only place I can think this could have happened is while my bag was on the bus to Krabi, well there is nothing I can do about it now.First stop on Karbi is a beach called Ton Sai. Its a nice little spot but a mission and a half to get to...well if you chose to go the hard way for the sake of a pound or two. First of all you get a long-tail boat to Raliay beach which is West of the island and then from there you can either get another long tail boat to Ton Sai or clime over a hill/rocks to make it. I chose the climb, and at 1pm in the afternoon let me tell you it was the wrong idea...sometimes its worth paying a couple of pound for a little less pain. The climb is not all that bad but with a back pack and a day-pack strapped to you is a fair old task! By the time I get there I am like a drowned rat...with sweat. As soon as I get checked in it's straight into the sea to cool off. Ton Sai is a really nice place, laid back and has a good vibe about it. I stay a couple of nights there before moving on to Koh Lanta which is just an hours journey on the ferry. When I arrive in Koh Lanta I am starting to think my luck is running out on this traveling lark. I end up having a bit of a run in with a tuk-tuk driver over payment for a moto taxi from the pier to one of the beaches. Its a common enough thing, the tuk-tuk driver stops mid way through the journey and says that the fee we agreed on isn't enough and requests more. It gets a little heated and I just tell the guy to bring me back to the pier and I'll get another taxi if he doesn't want to take me. On the way back I notice a place advertising rooms for 200 baht and I ask him to leave me off here. When I grab my bags he wants payment, I've no intention of paying the fella which I tell him and I then start walking to the guest house. As I'm walking to the guest house the tuk-tuk driver comes after me demanding payment, lots of shouting at this stage, from us both. An American guy who is passing stops and asks whats up, he's with a Thai lady. I tell him my version of the story and his Thai friend speaks to the Tuk-Tuk driver. After the Thai lady has spoken to the driver she says I'd do best to stay away from this guy and suggests that I go back to the pier and pick up another taxi. At this point the Tuk-Tuk driver picks up a lump of wood and starts shouting something in Thai. Both myself and the American guy are now thinking this fella is going to go nuts. The American guy is a big block of a man and turns to me and says, "I think we should bust this fellas balls, he's a good for nothing Thai!" (it was like something you'd hear in the movies...I had to laugh but the last thing you need is to have a fight out here) At this stage I'm thinking we best try and settle this and lucky enough the Thai lady talks to the driver and somewhat settles him. In the end I pay him 50baht (1 pound) for the trip from the pier to where he had taken me, he wants more but no way is it worth anymore than what I give him so in the end he ventures off, none too impressed. After all that I go in search of a different guest house, just in case this guy decides to come back...might be best to avoid any more confrontations. I find a really nice place right on the beach front and when I check in its time for a well earned beer, thats enough entertainment for one day!The couple of days I spend on Koh Lanta turn out to be fantastic. The guest house I am staying at is run by a really nice family who'd seem to do anything to help you out and the location is super. In the few days that I am there I venture south of the island to see some of the other beaches along the coast line and on my last day there I hire a bike to goto the National Park. When I hire the bike from the Guest House I have to give them my passport for security (at this point I make a mental note...make sure you get it back!!!???) Anyway I spend most of the day in the National Park and the surrounding areas. The following morning I hand the keys of the bike back to the owner of the guest house before I grab the bus to Hat Yai. After travelling in the bus for a few hours I then realise I've left my passport with the guest house! Shit, shit, shit! Before we get to Hat Yai there is a stop off in a place called Trang so I get out of the bus and call the guest house. They have the passport and suggest that they send it on the next bus to Trang so I can pick it up, all I got to do is wait for it. Its a bit of a risk sending it on a bus, who knows what will happen to it in transit, but I decide to take it rather than have to go the entire way back. Eventually the passport does arrive but the guy driving the bus who brought it wants payment? All I can do is laugh at him and ask whats the price. Its next to nothing, 80baht (1.60). When I ask him whats with the fee his response is, security of transport i.e. To line my pocket, I was just glad to get my passport back.Well it was an eventful week back in Thailand, all my Irish luck must have been used up early on in the trip...you can't help but laugh looking back on it though.

A few weeks later looking back on this you realise how tight you can get about your money when you are travelling around Asia. Things are very cheep, a good meal is about 50 baht and a bottle of beer the same so after a while you end up thinking 40-50 baht is loads of money when in reality its nothing to us westerners. The 50baht for the boat trip to Ton Sai, 50baht for the tuk-tuk driver and 80baht for the Passport all came to about 3.60...and look at all the hassle it caused...comical!

Laid back Laos

Sunday 8th Feberuary 2009

What a journey!!! I was booked to go on the 10am bus direct to Vientiane but there was no space left when I arrived, every bus was full to the brim. The travel agent I booked it with said I'd have to wait for the 5pm bus which he assures me there will be room on?!. The only thing about this service is that the bus goes half way back to Hanoi, where I just came from, so as to cross the border!!! The new border crossing is at a place called Vinn plus there is a change of bus on route. I set off at 5pm, more like 6pm, and we make our way to Vinn where I change to catch another bus to Vientiane. I arrive in Vinn at about 1.30am and the bus for Vientiane arrives about 2am. When it arrives I'm starting to think this is going to be another journey similar to the one to Sapa...it looks loaded. All the seats are taken, in some cases there are 3 in a two person seat. Along the length of the isle they have put 3-4 wooden plank seats for the rest of us to sit, its crazy, we are all straggling one another on these planks of wood just to try and fit in...and this is the way its going to be for the next 15hrs!!! We stop at some unknown spot close to the border at 4 in the morning. We wait here until the border opens at 8am. At the border it's the same old same old. Any tourists traveling across get charge double the going rate. Some of the people on the bus try to kick up some fuss but officials at the border just get a little more hostile and in the end its easier just to pay up and get done with it. We set off again and some 9 hrs later I finally reach Vientiane...I don't think my ass has ever hurt so much, 15hrs on a wooden plank, a dare ya to try it! A shower, food & sleep is about all I can do when I arrive. The following morning I hire a bike and see some of the sights around the City. It's so laid back compared to any other city I've visited in Asia. No horns from cars for one! People seem to be in no rush what so ever, its a real chill out place which is surprising considering its the capital of Laos...some may say not, it is Laos after all! One thing that's good about the place is its food and of course Laos beer...good stuff! The food certainly seems to be a lot more like the Thai dishes...spicy.

Tuesday 10th February 2009

Vang Vieng is one weird place. You can either spend your time there tubing, caving or sitting in a restaurant watching continuous episodes of Friends & The Simpons...hard to believe people come all this way just to tune in to this but they do and you wouldn't believe how much business these places get. As for the Tubing and the Caving well they are very different activities. The Tubing is just one big session cruising down the Nam Xong river. It can get messy I'll say that, the number of people coming off the river with injuries is keeping the local A&E in business. As for the caving well thats a little more civilised but fun none the less. There are no end of caves, some are well worth a look and as for the others, well they are just an excuse for some young kid to charge to go into a 10ft black hole! The way it seems to work is who ever owns the land that leads to the cave charges the entrance fee. I'd swear that some young kids just dug some holes and classified them as caves just to get a few pound...they are on the ball. One thing is for sure when you enter these caves make sure you bring a torch & the battery's don't run out, when you get well into some of them there isn't a hint of light.

Friday 13th February 2009

Next stop in Laos is Luang Phrabang. It's a historic old city and a really nice place to spend a day or two but that is certainly enough. The worse thing about traveling to so many different countries that border one another is that you tend to encounter the same activities over and over again. So if you haven't already done the Elephant riding, bamboo rafting, mountain biking, caving, Temples, Pagodas...etc etc then sure enough you could kill a few more days. So as much as it was nice to see this historic place it did seem to be the same old same old. After a couple of days I decide I best book a flight out of Laos back to Bangkok so I can continue my trip to Malaysia & Singapore and for the couple of days before it I decide to head a little further up north of Laos. My bus ticket is booked for the following morning at 9am. Now, when you spend some time in Laos you will come to notice that pretty nothing runs on time. So the next morning when I'm expecting to be picked up at 8.30am and there is no sign of it happening I decide not to worry. When it is 9.10am and there is still no sign I think its about time to make a call. When I call the travel agency they say they have totally forgotten but send someone down to pick me up in the hope of catching this 9am bus. By the time we get to the station the bus is long gone and the guys response is, "I think you get the bus tomorrow OK!", no shit sherlock. Anyway at this point I'm thinking this only leaves me with a day up North so I decide to knock this trip on the head and bring my flight forward to the following morning. Again I am due to be picked up this time at 6am and its a similar story. When there is no sign of the pickup at 6.15am I decide to get a taxi myself...don't fancy missing another trip!