http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Jen-and-Nick/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Jen and Nick en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:48:16 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:48:16 +0000 Another month and another blog. Wersquore still in India and Jenrsquos foot is still in a cast. We left Varanasi Indiarsquos holy city and travelled north to Rishikesh. The Beatles put the place on the map in the 60rsquos when they stayed at the ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The town is considered the yoga capital of the world so we too stayed at an ashram and did twice daily yoga http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Punjab/Amritsar/blog-409727.html It seems like wersquove done so much since our last blog After the Everest trek we took a few days to travel to Pokhara stopping at the beautiful out of the way village of Bandipur where we were pummelled by two whopping big storms. We know itrsquos a clich but the hailstones really were the size if golf balls we got caught in an open field and they hurt like hell. 2 hours later when we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-405104.html We last wrote to you on our way to peninsular Malaysia. We had planned to spend 3 or 4 weeks there but it was incredibly hot and humid and not that interesting. There are a few photos at the bottom of Melaka and Kuala Lumpur but basically we left Malaysia 2 weeks early and what we really want to tell you about are the last 3 fantastic weeks in Nepal.We arrived in Kathmandu in the Middle of April http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Kathmandu/Thamel/blog-397922.html Thought wersquod give you a quick update on the past few weeks in LaoshellipAs you know we did southern Laos on our bikes and we loved it so much that we thought wersquod come and see northern Laos too. Itrsquos more developed than the south and consequently gets more tourists so wersquove been more like regular backpackers since the last update.We crossed the ThaiLoas border at Houay http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vientiane/blog-388436.html Wersquove flogged the bikes We did everything we wanted to do with them so we emailed a couple of cycle tour holiday companies in Krabi Southern Thailand and sold them to a chap named Vern. Hersquos just starting a new cycling business with his Thai girlfriend and we hope theyrsquove gone to a good home. Krabi has beautiful countryside and limestone karsts and is world famous for itrsqu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Rai/blog-384027.html Wersquore still alive 3 countries and god knows how many miles wersquove rode or strange beds wersquove slept in since we last updated the blog We left you in Nha Trang Vietnam where we enjoyed some RR time off the bikes. We did proper tourist things and even had a mud bath to cleanse the Vietnamese road grime away. Nick claims it took years off him yeah rightFrom there we escaped to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Krabi/blog-377796.html Itrsquos been over a month since our last blog update and this reflects the small out of the way places wersquove been staying at on our cycling tour good internet connections have been scarce. We bought our bikes in Bangkok and cycled Northeast towards Laos stopping in places like Ayuthaya Lop Buri and Nang Rang. We saw many crumbling old temples one of them overrun by monkeys who jumpe http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Qui-Nhon/blog-363699.html It seems ages since we last wrote to you and wersquove covered several countries since our last update. We flew to Singapore on Nickrsquos birthday and celebrated with a few inflight Singapore slings. The city was predictably hot humid and occasionally sterile but we also saw a different side. With Krishna temples in the middle of Chinatown Buddhist temples in Little India huge sky scrappe http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-352365.html It wasnrsquot that long ago that we told you about Australia and now that wersquore about to leave for Singapore we thought wersquod finish the Australian leg of the tour with an update of the last couple of weeks. We arrived in Alice Springs to be greeted by 34 degree heat buzzing pesky flies and the French and Irish friends we met on the East Coast.Alice is slap bang in the middle of th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-346460.html So we last updated you from Hervey Bay when we were about to leave for Frazer Island the largest sand island in the world. We got together with 8 other random backpackers and hired a 4x4 between us complete with all the camping gear. The Island has no tarmac roads and it didnrsquot matter who was driving we got stuck in the sand and often had to get out and push. That was all part of the fun http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Alice-Springs/blog-342159.html We last updated you about New Zealand but wersquove moved on and have been in Australia for over 3 weeks. We first arrived in Sydney and spent nearly 2 weeks with Nickrsquos Auntie Jeanne and family. Being so far away wersquod only met a couple of times before and it was great to get to know them better. They really looked after us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. Thanks very http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Hervey-Bay/blog-331259.html Our last update was from Taupo on NZ's North Island which is a centre for adventure activities. Spolt for choice Nick did a bungy jump over the Taupo river 47m high plunging head first up to his waist into cold water below. It was over in a flash but he loved it He now has the Tshirt to prove it it's possibly the most trendy piece of clothing he has on tour.We then drove south east to Napier http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-323687.html We've been in New Zealand over two weeks so it's about time we told you what we've been up to.We arrived in Auckland on the 12th and stayed a few nights in a fantastic hostel. It was initially built for the Queen of Tonga and so it was very posh for a backpacker's hostel. We then collected our motor home and we've since been driving around the North Island. We first made our way to the very nort http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-315451.html I know we've given you a summary of the Cook Islands but we need to give you a further update.....We mentioned that there were gazzillions of wild chickens and roosters roaming the Island and then we found out that it's OK to eat them but you have to catch them first. Well that was it the hostel went on a mission. 2 guys in particular Sean and Gareth set off on the motor bike armed with stale http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-314876.html So we got here Monday morning after a 10 hour red eye flight from LA. We're staying at the International Backpackers and the bunch there are more friendly than in America. We thought we'd walk into town to get our bearings only to find 2.5 hours later that it was a bank holiday and everywhere was closed The Cook Island is a small sleepy tropical Island in the South Pacific. The Islanders are f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-310259.html Arrived in L.A on wednesday afternoon feeling tired after a long but ok flight. Staying at the Venice Beach Cotel first impression was how hot it got as we went higher up the stairs we were staying on the 3rd floor. Room itself ok bathrooms shared but clean enough.L.A. particularly Venice Beach is full of extremes. Filthy rich and destitute calm spaced out hippies and impatient frantic nee http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Venice-Beach/blog-308795.html Nick and Jen have a few well behaved leaving drinks in town... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-304278.html A night out at Bella Roma with work colleagues and some very funny moments Thanks to all who came along and thanks for the gifts. I especially loved the Whizz http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-301906.html Still loads more to do No packing done yet and no plans to do it yet when it will be done who knows Any one fancy helping to pack two rucksacks your more than welcome http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-300894.html test nessage to see if it works... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-297948.html