http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Benstanlio/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Benstanlio en-us Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:50:31 +0000 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:50:31 +0000 We travelled from Milford sound straight to Queenstown which was a long drive but was well worth it. Queenstown is like a small compact ski resort with huge mountains covered in snow in the distance a large lake and it is known as the home town for adrenaline seekers.On our first morning there we arrived very early so Peter could enquire about booking a bundgy jump expecting to have to wait a f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-392255.html The flight to nz was with air new Zealand which are now our favourite airline due to the fantastic food service and entertainment system We arrived in nz feeling rather sleepy due to the lack of sleep the night before and how early we got up for the flight. We picked up our Jucy hire car called el cheapo Pete wants me to state that was the only car left but really we know we would of gone f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-388558.html Our flight to Melbourne was uneventful which is a good thing I suppose From the airport we negotiated public transport to St Kilda where our hostel was This area of Melbourne is very cool we loved it it had a real cool trendy urbanite scene and had a beach for good measure We chilled here all day good food with some wine Good way to start of our time in MelbourneWhilst in St Kilda we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-386063.html After Noosa we drove of to Rainbow beach to meet Peter's friends and head of to Fraser Island Rainbow is a tiny place with just three hostels down one small road in which we camped Apparently its called rainbow beach because there are different coloured sands in certain parts we didn't see them we were more interested in having a drinkNeedless to say we got rather pissed on jugs of Stella http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/blog-382704.html Ah we arrive in Oz The flight seemed pretty quick partly due to Rox being asleep and me having movies on demand It was luxury to be able to go to a taxi driver say where your going and they know where it is and you don't have to argue over a price Back to normalWe made it to our hostel quite late dumped our bags and went to the hostel club for some drinks Our first few rounds were http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-378018.html Leaving Vientien was an ordeal.... We had a mamoth 24 hour bus ride from Ha Noi down to Vinh then across the boarder in to Laos then on to the capital Vientien... Our pick up from our hotel in Ha Noi was by little mopeds. This would be fine if we didnt have 22Kg backpacks on and the guys didnt drive like maniacs... Rox screamed pretty much the whole way and Peter nearly pulled his guy of backwar http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/blog-375663.html We arrive at Nha Trang around 5am with no hotel bookedhellip. Off the bus we get fight of all the guys trying to fit us both with two big bags each onto a motorcycle and start our wandering to find a hotel. We wander down into the main tourist destination and start looking for hotels that look openhellip..only onehellip.. The guy here takes us around 3 hotels banging on the doors waking http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/blog-370889.html Peter forgot to mention how when we were in Angkor a small boy was persistently asking us to buy water from him even though we already had a bottle in our hands Rox said No thank you we are ok where as Peter pretended he couldn't speak English. Despite this the boy suddenly started saying OH MY GOD in an American accent and said you lady are so unfriendly. Even when we came back the little b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-367572.html After the full moon party we moved on from Koh Pangan to Phi Phi. We were leaving at 6am however our hostel was having a pool party the music was so bloody loud and didnrsquot stop till about 5.55am typicalhellip We should have just stayed out all night no one fancied it as we felt so bad on our last boat ride when hungoverPhi Phi was really coolhellip Nice and chilled out we had http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-366013.html To view our photos go tohttppicasaweb.google.combenstanlio http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-363615.html Arrived in Thailand from Mumbai what a change..... Had a chilled out few days in Kata Phuket lazing on the beach for xmas We were both really surprised at how expensive it was here especially after just coming from India We blew our month budget within the first two weeks oopppsssChristmas was quite odd although it did manage to rain which made it slightly more like home Had a fanta http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/blog-362349.html A bit more about PushkarA pretty small place built around a lake Its a dry state so no alcohol nor eggs bizzarely Peter managed to find somewhere that done shepards pie a veggie of course This was perfect for his delicate stomach The next day we had time to explore and went to visit the Brahma temple but didn't bother going in as it looked like a tourist trap so we wisely stayed away Ar http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-357066.html In bikaner western rajastahan Pete went to the Karni Mats temple which is a temple full of ratsthey are worshiped here and there is a holy food offering that is covered in rats saliva this is claimed to beng good fortune but Pete strangely enough didn't eat any Rox chose to wait at the hotel as she is scared of rats but after seeing the pictures agreed with Pete that they look quite cute as t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Pushkar/blog-354070.html Our photos should be up now......We arrive at Bandhavgarh National Park mid afternoon and managed to get a jeep safar in this was very cool we got to see barking spotted and samba deer elephants and most impressive of all a male tiger It started of about 80ft away in some tall grass its lucky they have guys on elephants tracking the tigers or you'd never spot them We watched for about 10mi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/blog-352069.html We went to meet the group this was a much bigger group 24 of us all on an overland truck through India. We went for a group dinner and out for drinksgot to know few people better even a guy here from upminster who was born in Colchester small world.We had a long drive ahead to Chitwan national park we got to see the truck for the first time his name is Archie...its really good has few tables http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-352066.html All excited about our boarder crossing untill we had to trapse with our back packs for like half and hour to get there.... Went through ok and made it onto the Friendship Bridge. Here there is a red line painted half way along it signifying the boarder.... as we crossed a Nepali guy shouted to us 'Leaving China and waved his hands.... Probably how most of us felt.... It was bizzare it actually d http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Thamel/blog-347125.html Monday 10th Our trip to everest today Rox woke feeling ill....not a good start plus an 8hr drive climbing to 5000m poor Rox. We stopped for lunch and had curried rice......... little did we know Rox would be seeing this again Lots of stops on the way passport checks... Our first sighting of Everest was really cool we were so lucky the weather was perfectly clear. Pretty damn impressive. A http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Tibet/Everest/blog-347113.html Thursaday 6th contined...... We drove over three passes all nearing 5000m.....incredible views when driving over snow topped mountains. Our tour guide actually walked over these mountains to get into India to study Buddhism in Dharamasala he had to walk over the mountains as the government would not grant him a visa to leave Tibet....he walked at night and slept hidden in the day.At the top of th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Tibet/Gyantse/blog-347098.html Sunday 2nd This morning we had a late start so we ventured to the market well we stepped outside our hotel into the middle of it... We brought some sheep wool innersole for our trekking boots they're really comfy and only 50p each... Our day trip was to the Potala palace to get in here we had to give in our passports and go when the government plus we were only allowed to spend an hour in t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Tibet/Lhasa/blog-347094.html To view our photo's go to httppicasaweb.google.combenstanlioThursday 30th last night we finished of the day with a traditional Tibetan meal consisting of yak yak and more yak which was lovely probably the best on the trip so far mostly traveling today but were both glad to leave our hotel that we had last night in kangding was pretty grotty After having a shower Rox went to use the to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-340529.html