http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Brad and Rich/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Brad and Rich en-us Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:08:40 BST Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:08:40 BST So its been a whileJust thought i'd say a quick hello.I've been in oz for about 5 months now started a job at fitness first which lasted all of 2 weeks then needed a holiday to thailand so buggered off for two weeks. 2 weeks on 2weeks off now that would be a great lifestyle.Anyway since the last report much has changed as i'm sure most of you are aware. We hit NZ for novdec which was awe http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/Caulfield/blog-261414.html Ok just a quickie...we're back in Perth...arrived yesterday and had a much needed night out.Started on a few bottles of wine from the Southern region then head out about 10ish....straight to 'The Deen' which is one of the must publicised venues. It wasnt that busy when we first arrived but it was rammed within an hour...We left there about 2ish and popped over to a place called 'Paramount'.En http://www.travelblog.org/Antarctica/Antarctica/Amundsen-Scott-South-Pole-Station/blog-214667.html I cant remember the last entry but think it was around coral bay just after we broke down wchi is ironic....but we'll come on to that.Since coral bay we have ventured south through monkey mia and down to perth arriving well ahead of schedule. We had a great night out at The Deen dancing to reggae music and falling in love with african girls...i need to go to africa.We decided to do a little lo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Bunbury/Bunbury/blog-213853.html In case you were worried i survived the surfing escapades.Bali was awesome the surfing the food the gili's the drunk nights out...and sharing it with jimmy and flash topped it off. It was great to see them.We arrived in Darwin 1st October and what a shock that was....it was dead. How anybody can live there i dont understand. I apologise if i offend anyone but there is absolutely nothing to do http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Coral-Bay/blog-210269.html Ok so we have been a little lazy....probably been about 3 motnhs since i last uploaded a blog..but that is because this is a travel blog...and the last 3 months we were not travelling..we were working very hard.Right i'm gonna keep this short and sweet for 2 reasons firstly i just found out we have lost some entries due to server failure and secondly if i write to much now you will not buy my b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Kuta/blog-205973.html After a few nights on Koh Tao fairly relaxed apart a few heavy drinking sessions we head over to Koh Samui to say goodbye to the Aussie's.We had one night and had to make the most of it. We arrived just after midday and did the usual orientation. Samui is pretty crazy especially when you are used to laid back koh tao. However it did have its benefits of which Burger King seemed to be the big http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Samui/blog-178761.html Sorry guys this is just a quickie always the best way.We have been extremely busy lately with beach's swimming pools whisky buckets and mushroom shakes that we havent had the time to write back and tell you about our adventures.over the last week we have moved on from the mental koh phangan and crazy full moon parties to the more relaxed koh tao. we were in a house with 12 of us which was http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Samui/blog-177573.html After a few days of pain from the tubing which i'd still do again we travelled North to Luang Prabang. The journey was suppose to take about 56 hours however one thing i have realised in SE Asia is always anticipate the unexpected. We set off about 10am and apart from the towering cliffs above and below crazy driver and monsoon weather everything was okay. We had our first stop and spot o http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-170912.html So we landed in Vietiane Laos' capital city. Not that you would have any idea that its the slowly developing country's major city the occasional car buzzes past to blow some dust in the faces of the numerous tuktuk drivers sleeping on their own back seats...the road improvements halffinished without a workman in sight....we liked it Unfortunately there was a distinct lack of things to do. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-169711.html From Hanoi we fly down to Phnom Penh where there wasnt too much to do. We arrived in the afternoon and headed for the Killing Fields which if you dont know was due to the khmer rouge in 1975. For four years they tried to make it a communist state and brutally killed and tortured anyone who they felt would be a threat to their cause. All students teachers and anyone who had a potential of a bri http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-169704.html Hanoi has a very similar feel to the majority of the south east asian cities very busy hundreds of bikes and communities of people sitting outside eating talking and drinking at all hours. As soon as we arrived we knew it was not going to be one of the most exciting places on our travels but the main intention was to visit Halong Bay a cluster of beautiful islands in the North East. On th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-168275.html Its now 430am and we leave in an hour for Cambodia. We'll be a shame to say goodbye to the Vietnam land of the crazy streets and lovely people.Just to let you know we have added some text to the previos journal in vietnam along with some new photos. We'll put up the new blog for Halong Bay ASAP.Hope everyone is well and not missing us too much. Actually hope you are missing us loads and pining http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-167176.html Day 1 Landing at Ho Chi Minh City Airport Saigon we were once again on unfamiliar territory. After a brief momentrsquos panic when Brad left his passport on the desk at immigration thatrsquos right folks not me for once we jumped into a cab and made our way to the backpackerrsquos part of town. As the cabbie picked his way through the mass crowd of mopeds and motorbikes that rule http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-163267.html Ok this is just short a sweet for the minute just to keep you all updated but we will expand i promise. The internet connections in some places are not so good but when the photos go up we'll write some more. Xi'an is another crazy place in china like most...Really busy and a bit dirty not my cup of tea. We met a Canadian couple Annie and Paul who went with us to the warriors which was a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shaanxi/Xi--an/blog-162862.html So today was the culture day... we got up about 745 well actually woken up as we had to be at reception to begin our tour. We visited a few Jade factories where they talk about the different forms how it is made and you can see them in the workshop carving which is pretty cool. Then they take you into a massive shop and try and sell you everything so i bought a little something...rude not http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-160653.html Boys enter BeijingnbspAsia raquonbspChina raquonbspBeijing By Brad and RichMay 20th 2007Brad Frankel Rich Darwin So we are now in Beijing. We arrived yesterday morning and as normal were absolutley shattered. We got to the hostel without getting mugged off so we are learning...slowly but surely. We met up with Jonathan lorraine's brother who showed us around Tiananmen square and Bei http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-160261.html ..that i said hello to our readers so brads kept you updated on most of our activities...and rest assured the photos are coming. all 250 odd of them from the last 3 interesting days and 2 mental nights i guess that just leaves thoughts and feelings...well i was smileyfaced saying goodbye to mum dad claire and alex rob i know you werent there but u were in my thoughts and it was good to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-159653.html first stopBrad Frankel Rich Darwinfirstly thank you for all your comments...please keep them coming.Han... wear all the clothes you want but dont get them dirty like your dad.Sam...wink wink nudge nudge keep me updatedRus...i think it was better that way not good with the goodbyes as i'm sure some of the boys will tell you.Danny...i will never move on.A quick note before i forget for many ye http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-159646.html so this is the second time i'm writing this as the first time i went to save it and the computer kicked me out. we're pretty much settled in shanghai its crazy how quickly you can acclimatize. We have booked our tickets to beijing which leaves tom night...its a 12 hr train ride but we have beds in a dorm and they are meant to be really good out here. We went for a stroll the first night got a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-159342.html So no pictures for you just yet but trust me there will be plenty to come. It has been over 24hrs now and we are definately adjusting to living out of a bag and being the minority. we had a stroll around yesterday as soon as we got here which felt really weird a few mixed emotions wasnt quite sure. but after a nap a bite to eat and a long walk we got our senses and began to feel more comfortab http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-159006.html