http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ihathecat/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Ihathecat en-us Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:07 BST Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:07 BST Emma writes After the stinky crammed buses Matt wrote about further north in this land we decided it might be a better choice taking what's known as a tourist VIP bus on our journey south to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang. We thought the whole extra pound spent would mean more comfort a speedier five hour journey and maybe a bit of aircon or at the very least enough seats to go round. We pai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/blog-294726.html Matt WritesHalong Bay is a World Heritage site that is made up of thousands of limestone karsts. A true natural sight to behold and one of the expected highlights on our Vietnam itinerary. We carefully shop around to establish a fair price against comfort and hopefully the legitimacy of the company we decide to go with.We leave Hanoi at 8am crossing the Red River and sampling hundreds of music http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Halong-Bay/blog-282467.html Matt Writes And so after relaxing in Laos it was time to make our way to the frantic Hanoi.There is a bus from Vientiene to Hanoi but economics verses sanity would decide for us to take the 1 hour plane ride as opposed to the 24 or so bus ride. I think we have done our fair share of busses by now.The small Laos Airlines prop driven plane with dated upholstery wasn't as bad as we had been pre http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-282413.html Emma Writes After a fond farewell to our camper van we'd become very attached to it over the past month the next leg of our journey involves a quick trip to Oz to visit friends. First of all in Melbourne at the Four Floors of Whores to meet Sam and Doona and then up to Hervey Bay to see Damo Denise and finally meet baby Deia. But first of all we wanted to see Auckland and meet our Aussie fr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-276883.html Matt Writes We hit good fortune as we arrive in Wellington chancing our arm at the ferry terminal we get put on a standby list and with our names called we are on the Ferry to the South Island. As with tradition on these things a horn is sounded and observing on the top deck we leave Wellington majestically in the timeless fashion that you can't help but feel on a large ship leaving a city http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/blog-276432.html Matt writes The Tongariro crossing is one of the most spetacular walks that can be done in New Zealand. The range of mountains containing over 12 volcanic cones recently one best actor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy starring role Mount Doom. With fires stoked sorry from what we had seen in South America we couldn't resist a little fix of siesmic landscape as we passed the active slopes http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-276421.html Matt Writes We have spent the last two days driving through Northern Thailand. Two long bus journeys from Chang Mai to Chang Rai then to Chiang Khong where we stamped ourselves out of Thailand and crossed the Mekong in a longboat wobbling from the wieght of our backpacks into Laos.Our next aim is to continue North to get deep into Laos.We are up early to decide whether to catch the renowned http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/North/Luang-Namtha/blog-276185.html Emma WritesThe mighty Asian Elephant now numbers less than 30000. No longer used by the legal and illegal logging trade to haul huge trees decimating their own natural environment the remaining workers have mostly been turned into tourist attractions. These symbols of strength now carry mostly western tourists around on spine breaking seats perform demeaning tricks begging on the frightening http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-274710.html Matt Writes Melbourne was always going to be very different from the other places we had so far visited. For one we were meeting friends there and would only have three days to cram in sight seeing along with three years of catching up. Secondly the friends who were to play hosts to us have been known to be...how can I say... rather decadent So the prospect of seeing this vibrant city whilst http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-274369.html Emma Writes After a good few nights out in Melbourne it was time to visit Harold. Bishop that it. Yep we were fulfilling a dream we'd only just thought up when we requested a visit to the infamous street from Aussie stalwart soap opera Neighbours. Sam and her stunt driving skills obliged. Into the Silver Swift we went driving brake neck speed for half an hour we arrived at Ramsey Street w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-272445.html To our dear Nephews and Nieces Travels have been going well for Auntie Em and I and now we are in New Zealand which is very very far away. So far away in fact that the sun shines here while you are still tucked up in bed. The other day we got on a real pirate ship with ropes creaking and 3 big sails flapping. The ship's cook had scraggy hair a scruffy beard and ran around shouting at people http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/blog-271730.html Matt Writes Due to inconvenient timings and Brisbane airport being out of town our journey to Thailand from our friends Damian and Denise's house would have been a logistical nightmare lasting at least 36 hours. But Beryl Norm Denise's folks were superstars and we were picked up from the train that had brought us south from Hervey Bay fed and watered and given a bed for the night to break http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-269877.html Matt Writes At 8am we leave the fantastic Lake Titicaca town of Copacabana in an awful minibus heading for the Bolivian capital of La Paz a sprawling city in a basin surrounded by mountanous ranges the highest capital city in the world. Only after arguing with the bus driver does he stow our backpacks into the boot of the bus and not on the roof rack in the pouring rain. Even the locals are h http://www.travelblog.org//blog-267934.html Emma writes The West Coast of the South Island is no stranger to rain. So to get away from the shockingly bad weather we booked onto the Monteiths Brewery Tour which apart from drinking the stuff it seems it's the only thing to do in Greymouth. 15 each got us a tour of the brewery and processes and more importantly a tasting. But somehow it was my turn to do the driving. Brew shmew... onto http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Greymouth/blog-267912.html Matt Writes Most people spend Sundays nursing hangovers eating oversized breakfasts while reading equally large Sunday supliments others may attend church. Our Sunday was to veer ever so slightly to the side of unorthadox ways to spend the day of the Sabbath.Up at 7.00 for a quick breakfast because by 8.30 because we were once again squeezing ourselves into damp wetsuits this time with boo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/King-Country/Waitomo/blog-266991.html Matt WritesWe had mentally prepared ourselves for our epic 17 hour journey by relaxing around the pool with a beer. I added some momentos to my travel scrap book while Emma read a novel. Our coach was luxurious enough but being stuck in here for that amount of time is trying to say the least.The landscape was heavily wooded with logging trucks carrying their harvest being the most frequent pass http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Buenos-Aires/blog-266895.html Matt Writes 7am and we are off along a dirt road following a creek. The canopy is dusted with sunlight as we cross the Coromandel Range and its corresponding forest park. Our destination the idylic beach of Hahei where we prepare a great breakfast of cereal bacon sarnies fruit and tea. I can't help but notice the envious glares of the 4 surfers cramped into an estate probably where they http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/Hahei/blog-261822.html Emma writes Firstly we must apologise for the lack on content over the past few weeks. This is mainly due to internet costing an incredible 5 pounds an hour in some places in New Zealand. When we look back to some of the places we visited in South America with their satellite links working marvels through the bad weather but where we only paid around 20 pence an hour it does make you wonder http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-259393.html We were lured into today's activity by a beautiful website bikesandwines.com have a fantastic logo of a man on a bicycle with glass of wine in hand. So with visions of wobbly cycling home we got ourselves on the 171 bus to Maip a wine producing giant of Argentina. Here we were promised you can hire a cruiser bike and well cruise around the tree lined avenues visiting various vineyards and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Mendoza/Mendoza/blog-252873.html Matt Writes And so we leave Calafate slightly burnt from the tourist pricing but still overwhelmed by the sight of the Glacier Perito Moreno.We now start on our first leg of Route 40 inspired by our previous visit to Cuba and the legendary tales of Che Guevara. We longed to make this journey under our own steam but with car rental prices in excess of 1000 for 3 days our dreams of following th http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Santa-Cruz/El-Chalten/blog-252364.html