Born to travel&#39;s Guestbook

REPLY
Hi Patricia, Yes we got lucky in the end, the train was really quite nice and we had really lovely passengers with us. Thank goodness as I couldn't have handled the last train we toom in India 5 years ago for 24 hours, and we would have just had to grin and bare it or miss our flight to the Andaman Islands, which are really nice.

From Blog: Back to Bedlam

26th October 2008

patricia
non-member comment

Hey again
When I read your blogs I usually wish I was still "out there" in the world, but NOT in a train in India. Actually, from the picture and description you guys should feel lucky! Your train journey was much better them mine, that's for sure. Have a fun at the beach. Patricia

From Blog: Back to Bedlam

24th October 2008

I'll try to add you...
Hi Barbara, Glad you are enjoying following our travels. I have just written your email address down and will try to add you to my address list. That way, you should receive an email notification when we update, and John won't have to forward them to you. Then, you just click on the link for the latest blog.

From Blog: Tea and Crumpets

24th October 2008

barbara
non-member comment

Thanks for sharing
Scott, John is good enought to share the blogs with me when he remembers. This is as close to free wheel traveling as I will ever get. Thanks for sharing. Barbara Kelly

From Blog: Tea and Crumpets

24th October 2008

RESPONSE to Hill ROB
Hi, Well actually we are quite experienced travellers. This is our third long haul trip around the world (first was 16 mths and second was 10 mths) but Manila was still kind of crazy! Yes, we have been to India twice before and know what you mean - soooo filthy and the scams are truly intricate, but we love it and hate it all at the same time! I am actually in Delhi rght now, having landed just a few hours ago... :)

From Blog: Manila Madness!

17th October 2008

hill roberts
non-member comment

manila madness
hi, interesting read. believe it or not, it happens anywhere in this world. in italy, we were fined 200 euros for not buying the bus tickets first before boarding., it happened on a sunday and we just got there a day before. anyway, these guys didn't speak a word of english, so we had to explain that we didn't know, since in spain, you can board the bus and pay. still, we plodded on, and rome, itself, was dirty, people so unpleasant, food so bad, food so expensive, and believe me, this is the worst european city i've ever been, though i've been living in europe for 28 years. anyway, charge your bad luck to experience. the way it sounds, you aren't a savvy traveler yet, i.e., rather inexperienced. perhaps, you haven't traveled as much. if you do go to india, or mumbai in particular, prepare yourself:the filth, the poverty, the unimaginable squalor is incredible.there are still 700 million indians living in abject poverty and squalor. yes, 700 million!!!take care and don't get your feet injured. wear closed shoes.

From Blog: Manila Madness!

10th October 2008

AUTHOR'S REPLY
Hi, Thanks for the comments. Yes, the people in Ukraine were really friendly and helpful. That was the thing we noticed the most. It's a shame that the robbery happened but luckily we have tried to forget it and still have fond memories of the country - a bit of a challenge can be good for you!! :)

8th October 2008

Vitaly
non-member comment

Really Interesting
I really enjoyed the blog guys. Overall it sounded like I difficult, but I hope rewarding trip because there is nothing like getting about without a map! I am Ukrainian so I was quite surprised you to note the kind nature of our people! Im glad and relieved people were so helpful, but as you may have noticed - the smaller the city the nicer the people. So in Kyiv, you may get the worst of it. In regards to the money wallet being stolen - this is unfortunately very common. Odesa is prime for small-crime, yet Kyiv is (with this example) also victim to it. I think the category you guys fall into, since you look like a really nice couple, pretty much had your experience mapped out for you: Since you are friendly and nice, so was the majority of the service and help. Because you are friendly and nice and tourists (which means naive in Ukraine) there was the robbery. Enjoy Polania!

3rd October 2008

patricia
non-member comment

So sorry!
Hi Guys. I am so sorry about the mishappenings. I heard great things about it in Dubai, but it was from an American who has been in Iraq for 6 years... so I guess his perspective is off, to say the least. If you are planning to go to Russia, be ready to spend a lot of cash and to find unfriendly people as well. Good luck, be safe and don't forget to WEAR your money belt. With love, Patricia

1st October 2008

sheila woolley
non-member comment

you poor things!!!
It sounds like a nightmare, I'm so glad you got your papers and passport back though and that you had enough money on you to get you thru' the crisis. We had similar problems with the language barrier reading menus in Bulgaria when we were there a few years ago. It was all a case of pot luck like you say. Don't worry I'll have lots of you favourite food waiting when you get home in a weeks time!! love mum xx

27th September 2008

REPLY to "HEY GUYS"
Yeah, I guess it's a California thing! Actually, our shoes were wet from the rain, so we decided better to wear sandals and get cold feet, than our shoes and get wet AND cold feet...

From Blog: Rain, rain, go away!

21st September 2008

Patricia Somewhere
Patricia MC

hey guys
Super cold and you guys are wearing sandals!!!!! A tropical Brazilian can't comprehend that. Love your blogs as always. Keep in touch. Patricia

From Blog: Rain, rain, go away!

20th September 2008

Not really accurate!
First of all, experiencing turbulence is not the fault of an airline, it is just the conditions. Just because you have never had turbulence on Biman doesn't mean that the pilots are smooth drivers or the airline is good! Second, as the Pakistani language is not roman letters, there is no real spelling as the "English" version is just phonetic. Besides, when I write the blogs I am in crowded, noisy internet cafes with keyboards that stick and power supplies that are sporadic, so proofreading the spellings of everything is not always high on my list of priorities. I just assume friends will pardon the mistakes and typos. Finally, yes, I know Pakistan is really poor, which is the root of the Biman problems. However, it wouldn't be so bad (or difficult for them) if they would just tell you the truth from the start instead of keeping you hanging on with "in a few hours" constantly. It was fine when we were heading to Delhi as we had no time constraints. However, we have had to throw away our return portion as we have a connecting flight from Bangkok and cannot afford to miss it. Given the feedback in emails I have had from other travellers, I can say that delays of 3 days are fairly commonplace. Therefore, having had to buy another ticket, Biman worked out more expensive than other airlines, so it really wasn't worth it.

17th September 2008

elita
non-member comment

I know biman flights can be confusing and disaterous because of their delays but you can hardly find a cheaper airline (you yourself admit you were lured by the prices) that gives free meals and accomodation. And I travel on it on pretty much a regular basis and as far as the flying of the plane goes, I've never experienced any turbulence or anything like that. You should also consider the fact that this airline belongs to one of the poorest nations in the world. So whether the plane looks 50 years old or not should not be a point of discussion. And speaking of (English) reading abilities, I'd say you score the least; the place is called DHAKA and not dakar or dkaha. I'd atleast read the name of a place I was standing in properly, especially if I were travelling to some unknown country!

11th September 2008

REPLY to GETTING CLOSER
I still call England home, as well as California, and right now we always refer to our hotels as home, too. i.e. Shall we finish internet soon and head home for a shower? I bet you do the same when travelling, no?

From Blog: An a-maze-ing start to Eastern Europe

10th September 2008

Mum
non-member comment

Getting Closer
It's great to see that you are gradually getting closer to England.(I was going to say home but then remembered it's not any more, boo hoo!) Can't wait to see you both in a few weeks. I can't believe we passed through the same airport at Abbu Dhabi just a few hours apart, I'm sure we should have planned that one better!! Love mum

From Blog: An a-maze-ing start to Eastern Europe

1st September 2008

Where are you off to?
We are in Eastern Europe right now for the next several weeks. It's a nice change, but the prices are killing us compared to India!!! Where are you off to?

From Blog: South Africa and Malawi

1st September 2008

patricia
non-member comment

Glad you resurfaced...
... I was getting worried you were still underwater somewhere, with sharks and rhinos. I am so jelous you guys are still "out there". I am so busy here that I haven't finished my blogs from India, although I'm getting ready to pack and leave again in 6 days. I am curious to know where you're going next. Have fun. Patricia

From Blog: South Africa and Malawi

11th August 2008

REPLY
Hello, I think you have the wrong person, this is Sharon, but we met Patricia on the road via travel blog...

From Blog: Seeking Nirvana...plus scrapes along the way!

11th August 2008

REPLY: How late exactly?
Hi, How late did you arrive in Singapore so that you missed your connecting flight? We have a connecting flight from bangkok when we fly back, so was just wondering?...

7th August 2008

Divya
non-member comment

Parvati valley...
Hi Patricia, Your parvati valley pics are amazing - did you happen to make it to Malana? That's the main reason for the 'Hashishi Valley' nickname... I'd been there recently - you can read about in: http://himachalholidays.blogspot.com/ If you're still around the Himachal Pradesh, do make that trek - a must-do!

From Blog: Seeking Nirvana...plus scrapes along the way!

4th August 2008

Wes
non-member comment

Biman Flight
I did fly once with Biman on the route from Athens to Singapore.I did arrive late to Singapore so I did not catch the flight to Adelaide South Australia but airline is ok .I will fly with them again if I have the chance.