http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Anitas Walkabout/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Anitas Walkabout en-us Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:29:58 UTC Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:29:58 UTC Sometimes traveling on a budget just doesn't pay off. The Lonely Planet Guide called the road from the border to Siem Reap as The Boulevard of Broken Backsides and after a grueling 6 hours after crossing the border into Cambodia I understood why.We departed Thailand early in the morning to head to the border at Aranya Prathet ThailandPoipot Cambodia. The journey on the Thailand side was ok th http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Cambodia/blog-241754.html Angkor Wat is by no means the only jewel in the ancient Khmers Empires crown with other temple treasures like Bayon and Ta Prohm you are hard pushed to see half the delights on a 3 Day Pass. This is especially the case if you are like us and decide to go by peddle power instead of tuk tuk which is admittedly a pleasant way to see the Angkorian delights and surrounding countryside but under the bl http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Cambodia/North/Angkor/blog-240342.html Just a very quick blog entry to show a few photos of the result of doing what I had said I wanted to do for years have my hair braided. Decided that with the ratio of hair braiders on Ko San Road in Bankok nearly equal to the number of tourists that is was an opportunity not to be missed4.5 hours later and in the early hours of the morning it was finally finished I was now the proud owner of v http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-240336.html Be prepared to have your socks blown off if you are wearing any in the heat of Cambodia by making a trip to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat has a reputation for been one of the most magnificent temples in the world and it will definitely give the Taj Mahal a run for its money though it is a hefty 40USD for a 3 day pass to visit Angkor Wat and surrounding Temples in the Angkor Archeological Park it is wort http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Cambodia/North/Angkor/blog-240259.html Well last few days in Thailand before my Visa runs out and I head to Cambodia. Spent most of the time just hanging out with my friends in Thailand rather than doing the tourist trail thing though there was a trip to look around the Siam area of Bangkok the place for Shopping Malls and Shopping Plaza.But mainly my time has been spent in the very much not tourist area of Bangkok in the Laksi Area http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-235402.html After all the partying it was time to recharge our batteries and what better place to do this than on the little island of Ko Jum an island with only electricity by generator for 3 hours a day no big hotels and no parties only long sandy beaches and tree covered hills and the only form of transport a limited number of scooters for hire.The intial plan had been to head to the island of Ko Lanta b http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Jum/blog-235300.html Ko Pha Ngan is the Party island of Thailand hosting the famous or infamous Full Moon Parties at Haad Drin Beach but me and the gang arrived too late to experience the Full Moon Party which happened a week before on Christmas Eve but as the party island it seemed like the perfect location to see in the New Year.The Full Moon Parties are probably considered world's biggest beach party that is until http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-235299.html Well the Christmas vacation started in Ko Tao ok so I am already on a long holiday but the rest of the gang aren't. Accompanied by Ricardo Ben Karni and Jay we took a overnight bus and speed boat to the little southern island off the east coast of Thailand.But before we set off there were a few last minute essentials to be done. For me this was finding that perfect Bikini to hit the beach with http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Tao/blog-235298.html IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME......but this year with a difference. This was my first Christmas not spent with my family and it was definately going to be different having extended by travels and arranged to meet up with my friend Ricardo in Thailand.We met up a few days before Christmas and stayed at his friend's place now my friend too Ben's.I was surprised and delighted to find that Thailand actu http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-235297.html The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings in Bangkok Thailand and the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid20th century the official royal residence to Chitralada Palace. Construction of the palace complex began in 1782 during the reign of Rama I.Having read in the book 'Places to see before you Die' that this is one of the top places to visit in the wor http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-235296.html Well left India behind and now in Bangkok which is as far opposite to India as possibly can be. Though I have be told many times that Bangkok is most definately not Thailand. It is a city that could almost be anywhere in America with sky scrapper buildings shopping malls with the latest trendiest shops and where the newest gadets to be found. I am in reverse culture shock after spending so lon http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-235292.html I moved from the ashram down to the Swarg Ashram district of Rishikesh where I continued by Yoga mediation and Reiki practices having found a great teacher doing classes at one the hotels in the area. Other than yoga and having started to acquainted with my musical side dfuring my stay ashram I decided have a go at learning the Tabla an Indian Drum and the Sitar Indian Guitar like thing. As t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttarakhand/Rishikesh/blog-235280.html Just come back from spending 10 days in an ashram and the was fantastic. The place is set in the foothills of the mountains and with the Holy Ganges on the doorstep it make for beautiful walks which we did daily as part of the course at Phool Chatti. The walks were part of a thing called walking meditation and done in silence which really makes you very aware of your surroundings which so often we http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttarakhand/Rishikesh/blog-235279.html I have now left the delights of Delhi behind and I am now in the lovely beautiful and peaceful location of Rishikesh in North India near the foothills of my beloved Himalayas once again and the location for Yoga Ashrams The Beatles were here in the 60's. To get to Rishikesh Judy and I overnighted in Haridwar a less touristy town close to Rishikesh and a pilgrimage site in its own right. Har http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttarakhand/Rishikesh/blog-235278.html So after Agra we went on to Delhi very different than the rest of India A big city with very nice areas and other not so nice rich people good roads infrastucture modern stuff fast foods etc. I even had lunch at TGI Friday's So slightly revised my opinion of India at this point.As a group we arrived in Delhi for the last day of Diwali ideal time for insomniacs and adrenline junkie http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/National-Capital-Territory/New-Delhi/blog-235240.html Well after spending so long time in Orcha we unfortunately only had a very short time in Agra to see the not to be missed Taj Mahal which we nearly didn't get to see after a crazy train experience. We were to have a 600am train departure to Agra. Except that our train was delayed... more than 5 hours So the tour leader decided to catch a different train going to Agra another train that was http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Agra/blog-235226.html Orcha is a small town between Jhansi and Khajuraho and has some marvelous palaces and temples. Although this is a onestreet village some how with the tour we had to spend two nights here and though lovely little town it did feel a bit of an overkill to spend two days though the accommodation we had to stay in was fit for a king with its own grounds including small temple and a large swimming p http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jodhpur/blog-235217.html What better way to chillout and relax than slowly drifting on a boat down a river with nothing else to do other than eat sleep read a book or two and watch the world drift by and that is exactly what we did on our second day in India with a 1 day gentle sail down the Ganges and camping on her shores to watch sunset and sunrise.Sailing down the Ganges is very tranquil and sedate compared to loud http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-235212.html The name Varanasi possible arrived because the city lies where the Varuna River and the Assi River in its north and south respectively flow into the river Ganga. 'The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the river Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious center in northern India for several thousand years. People often refer to Varanasi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-235205.html Just a short blog with a few images from my border crossing into Mother India as our tour leader Chandra refers to her.We set off early and crossed the border at Sunauli at 6am and bleary eyed we passed under the Nepal arch at the border and into the land between before crossing into India. Hello IndiaWe then had a 5 hour drive to Varanasi which was a killer and though the roads are of better qua http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jodhpur/blog-235202.html