http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/CD-and-LT/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from CD and LT en-us Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:29:30 +0000 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:29:30 +0000 A few snaps of our time around Kathmandu. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/blog-397508.html We did it We did it We made it all the way up to the base of Mt Everest and neither of us suffered from altitude sickness which we thanked the gods for. Having said that we were very careful and drank three or four litres of water each a day and went on a very potent garlic soup diet once above 3500m. It's supposed to aid acclimatisation....think I'd rather take a diamox any day We are als http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Himalayas/blog-380093.html Hello allA few photos of our time in Cambodias Capital City. It really was an educational few days which consisted of visits to the S21 prison The killing Fields and the city dump as part of a volunteer project to feed kids who work and live in Appaulling conditions for a couple of hundred Rielpence a day. It was an Eye opening visit to a city which we really liked and a nice way to finish ou http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-375259.html Hello allHere are a few snaps of our final day in Siem Reap. Having already seen the temples we decided to take a tuk tuk to the towns surrounding area which included a river community in the morning and a Cock fight in the afternoon. We do hope the pictures dont offend anyone if its any consollation we did not partake in the betting and the Cambodians also showed more mercy than we had expecte http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-375242.html Hello AllWe are currently sitting in Pnomh Pehn enjoying the sight of the Mekong River from our Internet Cafe. Before arriving here we were in Siem Reap to visit the Temples of Angkor...and how impressed we were Siem Reap was our first taste of Cambodia and a good impression it gave us though quite tourist orientated we ensured we made the most of seeing the temples with our 3 day pass. The fir http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-372911.html After Vietnam we arrived in Laos out of breath out of patience and to our surprise without a taxi no touts torturing us when we got off the plane in the capital of Vientaine. A very welcome change We agree that Vientaine is the most sleepy capital city we have ever been too. Not very much happening so we moved swiftly northward to Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng is basically a backpackers destinat http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/North/blog-370874.html A Unesco World Heritage site 3000 unique islands 'where the dragon descends to the sea' to quote but a few enticing terms in tour operator windows otherwise described as pure bliss best viewed from the deck of a beautiful junk or from a kayak on the emerald Gulf of Tonkin. This is how we chose to spend our final few days in Vietnam and it has to be said it was certainly the most relaxing tim http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Halong-Bay/blog-369943.html While in Sydney we took a couple of days to travel to the Blue Mountains and take a trek in this beautiful National Park which is home to the Iconic cliffs known as the three sisters. So you see it was not all partying while we were in Sydney but mostly. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Blue-Mountains/blog-360016.html Too much shopping not enough culture. Where should one go in Vietnam Sapa. We went on a two day trek in the mountainous region of Sapa which is located in the far north of Vietnam only a hop skip and a jump across the border from China. The trek took us through the villages of the local minority peoples and we stayed the night with a local family in their home. It was back to basics with http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Northwest/Sapa/blog-365033.html Most commonly used English sentence by Vietnamese people in the shoppers heaven of Hoi An.....Something else for you my friendIt turns out this line proved way too tempting for us To say that we went slightly shopping crazy in Hoi An would be a fairly accurate description. We went with no expectations and said we would only get one small thing made just for the novelty of having an item of c http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-365022.html We heard good reports from other travellers and the guide book that a great way to explore the central highlands is on the back of a motorbike with a group of locals who call themselves the easy riders. When we arrived in Dalat it wasn't long until we found ourselves a fine pair of gentleman called Dan and Lee offering us their services. They had a whole book of glowing reports from people all http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Central-Highlands/Da-Lat/blog-364997.html The Mekong river meets the sea in southern Vietnam after winding it's way through Laos and Cambodia from it's source in Tibet. Our three day trip into the Mekong delta provided us with an amazing insight into the lives of the local people who live and work by the river. The delta plain has beautiful scenery lush rice paddies quaint waterways and bustling little villages. Getting up at 5am to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/blog-361374.html We took a day trip out to the cu chi tunnels which are situated approx 65k north of Saigon. Visiting the tunnels provided a remarkable insight into what it must have been like for the viet cong soldiers who spent weeks living underground in the claustrophobic tunnels. At it's height the tunnel system stretched over 250k from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Cu-Chi/blog-361368.html We figured leaving Singapore with a monsterous hangover having to get up at 4.45am to catch our flight would be no mean feat. Little did we know the hurdles we would face that long day on January 2nd. We trailed ourselves out of bed packed up quickly becoming experts at the rucksack packing these days and left our lovely air conditioned room behind to confront the constant humidity of Singap http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-361360.html Hello allWell following a great couple of days in Brisbane we travelled to Singapore where we met more relatives for the New Year Celebrations. This time it was the Bannon family Norbert Margaret Catherinewho works in the Irish Embassy and was the reason for the family visit Christopher David and Patrick. It was a great few days which Included a New years party on Siloso beach almost lik http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Sentosa-Island/Siloso-Beach/blog-360025.html Hello againAfter all the festivities in Sydney on the 27th December we flew to Brisbane to meet up with my Aussie relatives Nancy Glen Janet and Janets fiance Josh for my birthday celebrations and a few Barbeques....... Once again we would like to say thanks to those guys for a great time in showing us the sights of the Gold Coast. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/Ashmore/blog-360023.html Hello allHere are a few snaps of our day out at Royal Randwick on Boxing day and what a day we had. Two winners came home for Lauren and I one in the first race and another on the last. Just the way you want it We walked away with a profit and pride. Great day out had by all thanks to Christine and her friends.Enjoy. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Randwick/blog-360008.html Happy New Year everyoneWell its been a while since we last gave you an update and it seems there is so much to tell and show for the time we spent before Christmas until our recent arrival in Vietnam. It was great to meet up with so many friends and family especially over Christmas and new year. For over four months we saw no familiar faces then seemed to cram everyone in to a period of rough http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-359984.html We enjoyed our introduction to christine's friends at their fancy dress party. Paper snow flakes was the creative option for us along with a piggy mask I couldn't resist at the local fancy dress shop. It certaintly helped us get in the Christmas spirit Hope you all have a good one. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-356309.html Hello all and a Big Happy Christmas to EveryoneWe are now stationed in Sydney Australia for Christmas. Staying with Laurens friend Christine so great to be in a home rather than a hostel over christmas. Here are a few snaps of our sight seeing so far. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Harbour/blog-356304.html