http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/GayleandDave/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from GayleandDave en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:02:48 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:02:48 +0000 We needed a couple of days recovery after our motorcycle adventure and Baos is the place to relax We had a lovely weekend wandering around town eating the rediculously sugary cane sweets the type that threaten to stick your teeth together forever and generally trying to get the feeling back in our bums after the motorbiking.After that we headed to the capital Quito for a couple of days. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Norfolk/Norwich/blog-458810.html After a relaxing week or so in Huaraz it was time to pack up and move on. We headed off down to Trujilli on the night bus which was not quite to the standard of night buses we have become accustomed to not a lot of sleep was had. Once we arrived we jumped into a cab and headed to a small coastal town called Huanchaco. We spent the day mainly trying to stay awake which was difficult in a town wi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Centre/Banos/blog-453947.html So we left country number 9 Bolivia for Peru as always were a little nervous about the border crossing would we have to pay a 'fine' for anything would we be allowed to cross at all. It turned out to be another easy and free crossing followed by a minibus to Puno. Once in Puno we changed to a comfy double decker bus to continue our journey to Cusco the starting point for trips to Mac http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ancash/Huaraz/blog-449951.html Been a while since the last blog we have been super busy travelling the length of Bolivia and loving every minute of itAfter we left Potosi behind we headed further north to Sucre on a fairly pleasant but bumpy six hour bus ride a little sceptical about going to another big city but we were very pleasantly surprised. We spent a good day or so just pottering about the city tasting the local mark http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Copacabana/blog-447837.html And so to Bolivia a big change from the places we'd been prior to this in South America. The poverty level was evident from the moment we crossed the border however we were still greeted at each small street stall with a smile and a friendly run down of their wares and without the high pressure sales techniques we'd experienced in South East Asia.We had heard a few horror stories about the bu http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-442389.html So we left Mendoza and took our first overnight bus in South America wow We paid a little extra to be in 'First Class' so we had an actual bed to sleep on. It went completely flat with a nice pillow and blanket we even got Champagne OK so it was fizzy wine but still wow. We only journeyed for 10 hours we've done longer on a day bus to Cordoba but thought as we're in a country renowned http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Jujuy/Humahuaca/blog-437635.html Sorry its been a while since our last blog since New Zealand we have travelled a fair few milesWe flew from New Zealand after what was an amazing experience touring one of the most amazing and beautiful countries ever After a long eleven hour flight we landed in Santiago Chile confusingly about four hours before we left New Zealand We were both a little worried about arriving in South Amer http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Mendoza/Mendoza/blog-428683.html On Thursday 30th we continued our roadtrip to Wanaka which is a lovely little skiing town towards the south west of the South Island. We quite literally drove up the side of a mountain to Treble Cone ski resort had a hot mulled wine and some lunch and watched the skiingThe following day we decided to take the 'scenic' route or the more scenic of the routes through the mountains via Cardrona http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-425698.html We've got our own wheels and our own home again even if it is rented. As with most visitors to New Zealand we decided the best way to see the country well the South Island at least was to hire a campervan. Some may say we're mad to do it in the middle of winter however we got one with its own gas heater that has done an admirable job of keeping us toasty overnight even in below zero tem http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-422876.html Wow what a temperature change At last we are feeling the benefit of carting walking boots fleeces thermals etc all around South East Asia where it was averaging 35 degrees. It's now averaging 15 degrees We arrived in Sydney after an all night flight from Bangkok and decided to stay awake the whole day to get our body clocks into Oz time we did very well and were looking forwards to feeling http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Katoomba/blog-418383.html We have been in Cambodia for a week in comparison a relatively short stay but after our time in Vietnam just the respite we needed We travelled in a very comfy and spacious bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia. What should have been a relatively straight forward border crossing was somewhat complicated to say the least In true Vietnamese custom taking a bus load http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-413975.html After our hectic but exciting adventures on two wheels around northern Vietnam we felt the need to chill and relax for a day or two before continuing south down Vietnam. We booked ourselves on to a Halong Bay trip one of the few 'package tours' of our travels. We were picked up from our hotel sixteen of us in total in the pouring rain dark grey clouds looming and were reserved to the fact tha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-410639.html After a relaxing end to our time in Laos we took a flight to Hanoi contrary to lots of stories we had heard from various people on our travels we were pleasantly surprised. Horror stories abound of travellers being scammed from the moment they depart the aeroplane to their arrival at the wrong hotel because the one they wanted was 'fully booked'. We left the airport climbed in the waiting Vietn http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-406103.html After a 9 hour bus trip which was not high up on the list of most comfortable bus journeys taken we finally arrived in Vientiane Laos Capital. We paid extra to travel on the 'VIP' bus the main difference between the VIP bus and the aircon buses transpired to be the presence of a toilet which didn't flush All in all a long journey on a very hot day with not the best AirConWe spent the first http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vientiane/blog-402564.html A whole week in Luang Prabang and we're finally starting to relax into the pace of life here in Laos. We've visited the markets on several occasions and found them a delight to wander round compared to the chaos of Bangkok where vendors almost chase you down the street for a sale if you are spotted giving their stall even so much as a sideways glance Here you are greeted by the stallholder then http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-401604.html After possibly one of the smoothest border crossings ever we made it in to country number two on Wednesday. The Mekong River forms the northern part of the border between Thailand and Laos and there is no bridge between the two border towns. No problem though as we quickly got our passports stamped on the Thai side then hopped carefully in to a long tail boat for the 2 minutes whizz across t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-399074.html We are now nearing the end of the Thailand leg of our journey.On 9th May we endured a seven hour long and hot bus journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong near the border for Laos. The plan being to spend a few relaxing days in the far north of Thailand before continuing to Laos.We have a lovely bungalow with a balcony overlooking the Mekong River and Laos perfect for chilling out.Yesterday we hi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Northern-Thailand/Chiang-Khong/blog-397569.html A lot has happened and a few miles travelled since our last blog.We spent a few days at the Generation Journey project which turned out to be not quite what we were expecting Their website was somewhat misleading shall we say That aside we came away with the knowledge and skills of how to make mud bricks and lots of them. Something which we may consider when doing our next house project Gayle w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-396633.html Thailand is an interesting place which goes from opposite extremes in every sense When walking the streets of Bangkok the only place to look is down at the floor as you dodge open manholes pot holes 2 foot high curbs whilst listening out for the motorbikes using the pavement as a footpath. However in the same city cross the yellow line on the skytrain platform and receive a ticking off from http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Western-Thailand/Sangkhlaburi/blog-393897.html What a chaotic few days so much for getting away from it all and relaxingMonday was mad we had to find the one office in Bangkok where we could change our flight tickets which turned out to be right next to a train station so was easier to find than we thought. The lady in the travel office was lovely and altered our tickets without hassle. Job one done and in good time.Next we had to head to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Western-Thailand/Kanchanaburi/blog-392576.html