http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/GTJ/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from GTJ en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:13:05 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:13:05 UTC Short entry but pictures are nice .Now itrsquos down to the surf and sand of Thailandrsquos beautiful beaches. Ian and I landed in Phuket and spent one night in Patong before moving further south to the more tasteful beach of Kata. Patong is known as a kind of party area and 1 night was definitely enough time there. Kata was far quieter and far more enjoyable. The 4 days in total spent in P http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/blog-284974.html The last stop of my northern journey through Thailand was at the city of Chiang Mai. A relatively small city but with many temples and lots to do if you're willing to explore just a little. By this stage I had met up with an English guy named Ian and since our itineratries were fairly similar we spent most of our time together looking around the province for 4 days.Temples temples temples time http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-277431.html The next city on my Thailand journey was Sukhothai. This place was definately a far more enjoyable and relaxed city than the previous one. I was lucky enough to stay in a very comfortable guest house named Ban Thai and have a wonderful host there who helped me out a huge amount with information about the area and what there was to do there.I spent most of my time in the city of Old Sukhothai abou http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Sukhothai/blog-276114.html Ayuthaya Certainly not the most beautiful city I've ever visited but one that comes recommended in my Lonely Planet guide if I had the time. Ayuthaya is about 2 hours north of Bangkok and was once the Siamese royal capital. Unfortunately this small city has been let go and I found it a little unappealing. The weather was a steamy 40 degrees and while I hired my bicycle and rode around town for http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Ayutthaya/blog-276108.html Hello from a very hot and humid ThailandI arrived here to a lovely 38 degrees and probably close to 100 humidity on Tuesday afternoon. It's been a very busy start to my journey here. In the first day and a half I've explored the shopping districts seen Bangkok's Grand Palace and have been to 3 temples. To add to the experience I've also had a small case of heat exhaustion and some sort of food http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-274034.html After 7 months in Korea itrsquos time to move on. Last week saw my company and I parting on good terms and now the adventure continues.The last few months in Korea have been freezing cold but a couple of weeks ago it was like someone flicked a switch and we went from 0 to 20 degrees Celsius overnight. The flowers are out in bloom and everything is looking good. Unfortunately yellow dust has c http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/Seoul/blog-270682.html Last Sunday two friends from work and I jumped on a bus and headed to South Korearsquos Demilitarized Zone DMZ. We were very lucky to have one of the bluest warmest days this winter as we headed to Paju with 40ish other tourists from all over the globe.Our first stop took us to the Bridge of Freedom. This was the place where just after the Korean War families were able to see their relativ http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/DMZ/blog-250868.html In what is becoming an increasingly difficult task to accomplish I have finally sat down and attempted to write a journal entry for my Christmas break.This year I was lucky enough to get time off and head back to the wonderful shores of Australia. Itrsquos been about 9 months since Irsquove been home and was great to see clear blue skies and feel a warm breeze on my face quite a contrast fr http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/blog-234023.html As November comes to a close the leaves are falling and winter chill is definitely in the air I realize that itrsquos been far too long since I updated this journal and let you know whatrsquos been happening.Itrsquos been a busy month. Before the month even began I was out socializing and meeting new people. Irsquove been very lucky to have friends visit from overseas in the past 5 weeks http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/Seoul/blog-223436.html I know I said that posts would become less frequent but therersquos been quite a bit going on in the last week so I thought Irsquod come on and post a few photos and one video for you to seeThe guys Irsquom working with are all really great fun people. Nearly all of us live in the same building so it makes going out for dinner or spending time together on the weekend really easy. Friday http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/Seoul/Insadong/blog-213273.html Hello again from rainy Seoul The weather since I have been here has been picture perfect unfortunately we have our first day of really chilly winterbound weather but it was due to happen sooner or later.The training for my new job has been going really well. Irsquom not going to be writing about it online at all and from now on this blog is going to be kept to my adventures and travels aroun http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/Seoul/blog-212404.html I sit here writing this entry chewing on a pumpkin kitkat drinking dong suh minsok tea and looking out my window at a wonderful view of downtown Jamsil Seoul. Last night I arrived in South Korea from Tokyo to start a new job and hopefully a slightly more eventful life than the one previously.My final week in Japan was a very lowkey but very enjoyable one. My friends in Mito all got together a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/South-Korea/blog-210850.html Irsquom finally home after a very long weekend and my first thoughts after sitting down at the foldout desk from my wall I have a much smaller apartment than I remembered.The last few days Irsquove been staying with Makiko in Hiyoshi a suburb midway between Tokyo and Yokohama. The actual town of Hiyoshi is quite built up and a maze of very large very old apartment buildings mixed in with i http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Kanagawa/Yokohama/blog-207572.html I didnrsquot realize that this little journal would be missed by so many people. I was thinking that it was time to give the thing a break for a while and not be such an exhibitionist of the written word but after requests here I am back at it with time to spare at none other than the delightful place of my employment.Today is in fact the last day of my employment with Interac and my last da http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Ibaraki/Mito/blog-207571.html Thanks to those of you who asked me about the typhoon and sent emails or messages. Irsquom fine Mito is a fairly flat city so we didnrsquot have to worry landslides or mudslides or anything too dangerous. The rice outside my place has almost been flattened but Irsquom pretty sure itrsquos recoverable.The weekend just past has been exactly what Irsquove needed and wanted. Friday night w http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Tokyo/Harajuku/blog-207542.html A word of advice to those who find themselves in a typhoon No matter how soft it sounds from inside your apartment opening the back door and sticking your head out to have a look is not such a bright idea. It will most likely leave you and a large area of your apartment wet and windswept.I woke up this morning around 630am thinking just this thought to learn that valuable lesson. The wonderfu http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Ibaraki/Mito/blog-207541.html Dorothy grab your basket and Toto hold on tight because we have a typhoon heading smackbang for the center of Mito. If the forecast holds and Japanese forecast is usually pretty good for these things then Friday morning we are going to be bombarded by the 8th typhoon of the season but the first to hit Ibaraki. A good thing I suppose will be that this means there might be no school on because t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Ibaraki/Mito/blog-207540.html One week in to school and itrsquos been pretty quiet.Last weekend I explored Mito a little with Jo. Mito is home to one of the first ever schools in Japan. The shogun of the time was a big fan of education and considered a friend of lsquocommonrsquo people so we were able to see the original school kept in very good order. It was really interesting to see old books and telescopes and all sor http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Ibaraki/Mito/blog-207539.html The holidays were fantastic I was able to see some really beautiful parts of Japan and experience some very traditional parts of Japanese culture and life. The last week has been spent back in Mito thinking lots about what I want out of the next 6 months in Japan. I came to the conclusion that I like Japan very much. I like the food the scenery the people and overall the country and I seem t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Ibaraki/Mito/blog-207538.html I realised that I never finished posting photos or stories about Kyoto. I hope you find this entry and can see a photo summary of the places I visited. http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-207536.html