http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/BrownBuffalo78/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from BrownBuffalo78 en-us Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:28:58 UTC Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:28:58 UTC Coming Home Infinity and Beyond Near Death on the Road Monotony Boredom and the End of the Magic ManThurs 1206 PresentFinal DaysThe coach moves over the bridge and into Varadero's main drag. Back once again with the ill behaviour back to the beaches and the easy living lifestyle. I'm optimistic that the troubles are over. I've paid for everything up front and my hotel is allinclusive. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-304523.html Down and Out in Havana Staggering Towards the EndThur 0606 120608I take a coach back to Havana arriving at 10pm and checking into the Park View Hotel situated just off the famous Paseo del Prado and opposite the Museum de la Revolution. After the relative cheapness of casa's and hostels I've decided to splash out on threestar luxury for three nights giving me time to situate myself http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-303713.html You Can Leave Your Hat On The Bus Tragedy in Trinidad CubaSun 0106 050608I leave the hotel Paradisus just before 1pm and arrive at the main coach terminal. I'm headed for Trinidad a small town South East of Varadero. The terminal is crowded and noisy and I attract unwanted attention from a pair of fat badmanned guys who find me interesting because I'm English and alone. I can't http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Centro/Trinidad/blog-301489.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in Varadero The Emotional FinaleFri 3005 010608Friday 4pm. The wedding is over and Barney and Leanne are married. We all move to the wedding villa to begin the celebrations. Sadly the fathers of both bride and groom are taken ill and have to withdraw from proceedings. I wander in amongst the party mind hazy from champagne feeling slightly out of place http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-298097.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in Varadero Part 3 Nice Day for a White WeddingMorning. I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. There are mirrors all around. I stand in front of them transfixed. I can see myself from every angle every tight knotted muscle every sinew every patch of bright red sun burn. I turn like a chiselled chicken in an oven. I stretch. I flex a little. My re http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-296570.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in Varadero Part Two The Return of the KingThurs 2205 250508 The next couple of days at the Paradisus pass without a whole lot of incident. I get to know my new home relaxing by the pool swimming in the sea going to the gym and coping with painfully explosive diarrhoea don't drink tap water in Havana unless there's something precious up your arse that yo http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-295238.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in VaraderoWed 210508The bus from Havana to Varadero Cuba's most popular tourist resort costs 10CUC and takes around two hours. I leave at 2pm full of positive vibes. There are as usual a few variables that could place a potential spanner in the works and put a frown on my happy happy face. Firstly I'm not 100 sure in which hotel my friends are staying. I http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-294142.html Our Magic Man in HavanaMon 1905 Wed 210508I leave the Chicago hostel in Quito at 4.45am sharing a cab to the airport with an American woman. I pay the disgracefully high departure tax 40 pure financial rape. Any country that employs these taxes should be picketed and imposed with sanctions. Seriously if everyone refused to pay what would they do The airports would be thrown into c http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-293233.html Seven Days in Ecuador Part ThreeFri 1605 Sun 180508The coach pulls into Mindo around 11am. Mindo is a small town with less than 3000 inhabitants. The high street extends a couple of hundred yards consisting mainly of bars restaurants and tour operators. Mindo thrives on ecotourism pulling in the punters who come to see the diverse wildlife and to take part in outdoor activities among http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Ecuador/North/Bellavista-Cloud-Forest/blog-291226.html Seven Days in Ecuador Part TwoTue 1305 150508I spend my first full day in Quito wandering around getting my bearings. Quito is the capital of Ecuador with a population of roughly 1.5 million. The historic centre is a World Heritage site full of churches monasteries plazas and museums. It's a pretty stunning place just as you think you've seen it all you spot something else around http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Ecuador/North/Quito/blog-290399.html Seven Days in Ecuador Part OneSun 1105 Thur 150508I leave New Zealand after five weeks of frustration financial ruin and wasted opportunity. I look at my flight schedule. Shit. I know I'm in for an ordeal. My journey to Cuba to attend the wedding of one of my oldest friends will be long and hard. First I have to get to Ecuador where I'm due to stay for a week. A long time ago when http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Ecuador/North/Quito/blog-289925.html On the Road Final Fling in New ZealandTues 2904 Sat 100508Free at last thank God almighty Irsquom free at last. I wave goodbye to Te Puke after nine horrific days. I had such high hopes as well. I wouldnrsquot have cared about the conditions Irsquod even have found some way to put a positive spin on the wanking incident so long as Irsquod managed to get work as promised. Sev http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-289248.html Fear and Loathing from the Top Bunk The Awful Truth About Te Puke1304 250408 4.30am. I lie awake in the top bunk in my six bed dorm listening to the sounds of heavy snoring. The door slowly creaks open and in walks Trevor back from the night shift in the packing house. The air hangs low buckled thick with the sweaty smells of unwashed men. Trevor climbs into the bottom bunk below http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Plenty/blog-284451.html Despair and Disgust in Sky City Or How I Came to Loath New Zealand 0304 130408My taxi pulls up outside the departure lounge at KL international airport. I explain to the driver that I need to dash inside to use the ATM as I havenrsquot enough cash to pay him. As I head for the cash machines I glance at the departure board. The time is 8 lsquoO Clock. My flight has been moved fo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-284444.html Tears Treks and TattoorsquosMoonshine sings me to sleep and sunshine calls me to wake. I get up on our final full day in the jungle. Were off trekking for the last time and our numbers are seriously depleted. Some people have lost control of their bowels and jungle fever is rife. Im still holding out for a hero so doubt therell be any problems ahead and even if the unexpected occurs http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/blog-278467.html Rice Wine Blowing Through my Mind Thurs 2703 290308Authors note Id like to extend thanks to all my jungle buddies without whose contributions this blog would not have been possible due to the booze sodden state of my poor forgetful and badly damaged brain. Oooohaaaa. We set off in the afternoon for our second trek. A short journey down the river takes us to the start of the tr http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/blog-276395.html Weve Got Fun and Games 2504 260408Morning breaks. Were up early ready for our first trek into the jungle. During the coming week we will undetake three treks in search of wild Orangutan. Francis explains that he will be on the look out for signs of ape life such as nests which the Orang build in trees. They never sleep in the same nest twice moving on each morning. Thi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/blog-275634.html Welcome to the Jungle Mon 240308After a long bus ride we arrive at Batang Ai Big River accompanied by our host and guide Francis. We are met by members of the Iban tribe and loaded into longboats for the trip down the river to our new home. These are my drunken scribbled notes on the trip.Welcome to the Jungle. The boat is speeding along away from civilization and deep de http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/blog-274608.html Kuching Fri 2103 230308I arrive at KL's LCC Low Cost Carrier terminal to catch my flight to Kuching Borneo. The others are flying from the main airport so I'm left alone. I have over three hours to wait until my flight so I spend 45minutes on the toilet dealing with another of those situations that nagged and bothered me all the way during the journey. This is the pro http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/Kuching/blog-271720.html Farewell to Zoo Taiping Thurs 200308And so again another ending. The alarm clock rings its bell and my eyes open up to the last day of being a zoo keeper. We all make an extra effort to get up and out of the house in good time and maybe for the first time we arrive together before 8am. Today has to go well. I don't want to end the zoo experience with a bad taste in my mout http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Perak/Taiping/blog-271111.html