http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/AngharadS/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from AngharadS en-us Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:07:02 +0000 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:07:02 +0000 After our day in Agra we stopped at Fahtepur Sikri on our way back to Delhi.I'd heard bad things about the vendorswannabe tour guides and they were a bit of a pain. But we managed to find an honest guide and had a look around. It was a really great complex and as we'd found the day before there were not many tourists. The palaces for the three different queens of Akbar a Christian Muslim an http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/National-Capital-Territory/Delhi/blog-407201.html We had a complete nightmare getting out of Kathmandu. There had been a lot of minor striking whilst we were in Nepal but of course they picked the day we were due to fly out to have the mother of all strikes. I'd intended to buy my brothers' girlfriends presents in the morning. No can do all shops were shut. Our hotel also informed us that we may not be able to get to the airport no taxis car http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Agra/blog-406937.html We headed to Boudhanath hot on the tails of Bhaktapur which plays host to many many Tibetan exiles who left Tibet during the Chinese involvement. That means that there are seemingly hundreds of maroon clad monks perambulating the stupa the largest in Nepal I believe as well as lots of colourful monasteries in the surrounding area.We had already visited Swambunath stupa and I possibly thought http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Boudhanath/blog-403491.html After rainy Patan the weather fortuitously cleared up and so we headed to Bhaktapur. We spent a small fortune on the metered taxi to get there I'm sure something was suspect as it went up every 8 seconds if we were moving which seems a bit much and were therefore cross to notice the NR750 fee to get in to Bhaktapur it is only NR50 for citizens of countries like India and other SAARC countri http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/Durbar-Square/blog-403484.html 25.05.09 We got a taxi early from Kathmandu to Patan and checked into Cafe de Patan well placed about ten seconds from Durbar Square.Unfortunately we arrived in some pretty persistent rain which we thought in the usual Nepalese style would settle down after a while. It didn't. Therefore after going to our room and killing a cockroach which I swear are following us we killed three in Bandip http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Patan/Durbar-Square/blog-403479.html After Bandipur we headed for Gorkha. This involved changing at Dumre where we were jerked around by the supposedly helpful guys at the bus station who clearly let about five Gorkha bound buses go by before putting us on the worst one of them allSorry if I sound grouchy. We've had a few bad buses and I'm under the grip of a dodgy stomach so the last thing you want is to be crammed in to a local http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-402271.html We took a bus from Pokhara to Dumre where we caught a jeep up the hill to Bandipur.It was pretty cool making the effort to Bandipur. Although there are tourists there it is hardly a touristy place. The main street in town is pedestrianised and the Newari style architecture has been beautifully preserved. As its high up in the hills there are views aplenty. If it were clearer we would have had http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-402267.html We decided to do a three day two night trip in Chitwan and this followed on immediately from our trek no rest for the wickedThe first day involved catching a 7.30 bus to Bharatpur Heights from where Island Jungle Resort would give us transport onwards into the park. The bus was an experience as it was a proper 'local' bus with wet seats from the rain no leg space and the bus constantly stop http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Chitwan/blog-402254.html 11.05.09 We had decided to do a five day trek to Poon Hill on the basis that the weather isn't that great at the moment very changeable and that would leave us with more time to sightsee elsewhere in Nepal.First day started bright and early with a transfer to Nayapul. We were soon walking something I haven't done outside of a city concept in a while. We stopped for breakfast in Birepani a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Gorepani/blog-399368.html 02.04.9 When we arrive in Siem Reap from PP it's mid afternoon. We therefore settle into our hotel grandly called the Angkor Hilton and head off to get our three day pass before the tumultous rush up Phnom Bakheng with every other tourist from a ten mile vicinity. I'm not sure why anyone actually goes up there as it was the most underwhelming moment of my three days in Siem Reap as well as th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-397601.html 05.05.09 Oh what bliss is this I am finally up to date. An unprecedented thing in the last 8 months in your face to all naysayers that means you AledAnyway we arrived at Pokhara after our mammoth journey and checked in to the lovely Butterfly Lodge well placed in Lakeside to be near all the restaurants etc.Since we've been here we've spent a bit of time pottering especially me as Elliot http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Pokhara/blog-398059.html 29.04.09 We spent a few days in Kathmandu. I was surprised by the fact that the capital had daily power cuts but it now seems that these are par for the course anywhere in Nepal. They have some kind of schedule but the power does seem to be on really odd times. Our first hostel had no water either so after camping out at the airport we had a really stellar time still not being able to shower. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Thamel/blog-398046.html We'd already been to Singapore and we just had one night before our flight. We checked into our ridiculously overpriced tiny hotel in the Arab quarter which did look very pretty lit up at night before grabbing food and heading off to Raffles for a Singapore Sling where we were to met some friends. Unfortunately we got off at the wrong tube spot we had no guide so figured Raffles would be at http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Little-India/blog-397618.html We caught an early bus from PP to HCM and had a very short amount of time here so we had to fit a lot in. A lot of food that is as we decided we could never see anything meaningful in a half day trip. So we had pho for lunch along with a Vietnamese beer which was nice but a bit bland for a national dish. Although possibly we just had a bad one Then after walking around the tourist district http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-397617.html From Pursat we get a bus here. When we get dropped off in KC I am astounded that there are no tuktuks or motos waiting. And the walk is once more killer in the heat to the hostel. We are in KC to see the floating villages. We spoke to our hostel owner and he advised to go later in the day so that the heat isn't quite so overwhelming which we do. We had our own boat which isn't that environmenta http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Central/Kampong-Chhnang/blog-397613.html 21.04.09 We go to Pursat mostly because not many people go to Pursat. And indeed the local people do seem surprised to see us I'm all smug until we go to our hostel of choice and there's only one free room. SOMEONE must be here Anyway after almost passing out from the heat of carrying our bags as we get lost on the way to our next hostel we settle in a room bask in the ac and then head out http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Central/Pursat/blog-397610.html 19.04.09 Our first day in Battambang we relax in the morning and then hire two guys as moto drivers in the afternoon. The names they give us Chin Chin and Tin Tin are hysterical but probably not their real names. The tour is four hours in the hot sunshine but it is made better by detours through all the shady back roads where the children look like they don't often see tourists as they all http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Battambang/blog-397608.html 16.04.09 We get an early bus from Kampot to Kep and arrive in mid morning. It's still the New Year and so still very busy. We have lunch in the crab market right on the waterfront. Elliott and I really indulge and order a giant fish and a platter of the biggest prawns I've ever seen. Add in a splash of Kampot pepper sauce delicious and something which no selfrespecting French kitchen would http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Kep/blog-397605.html 14.04.09 Our first day in Kampot is uneventful we walk around town look at the river the bridges which the Kep revival guide does mention as high points the statues. There's nothing in particular to see but it's nice nonetheless. The next day however is my birthday Iain had carried a care package from home so I get my own little cake with 26 candles as well as cards and an eye waterin http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Kampot/blog-397604.html 08.04.09 Our first day is spent by the pool. Yes we have a hotel with a pool. It is a luxury and then after ten minutes of sunbathing a necessity. It is so hot that you could fry a steak on the pavement let alone an egg I of course pink nicely in any spot I missed with suntan lotion but other than that the day goes okay. We have great seafood for dinner at the New Sea View villa then go t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Sihanoukville/blog-397602.html