Lauralee - Laura

I'm intrigued as to what the world has to offer. The bizarre, cheesy, breathtaking and absolutely tourist oriented sights are worth pursuing. I don't think I'll ever stop exploring... or travelling. The blog is a quirky take on what unfolds around me. Some entries are factually accurate and others are simply my impressions at the time. I do appreciate comments, corrections and feedback but please do not post a link to your web blog as a correct example of how I should interpret/understand a particular place along my travels.
Travelling next to: Cross-Atlantic Cruising. Europe. London. Ireland. SE Asia. Southern China. New York.

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Joined on: December 19th 2004
Last Login: June 26th 2009

Blog Entries: 93
Photos: 602
Recommended by 3

TB Code: [blogger=1294]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Lauralee, order by Date newest first.

By Lauralee
June 26th 2009

In need of remedial bike lessons Asia » China » Guangxi » Yangshuo

Here in Yangshuo, one of the tourist highlights is renting a bicycle and checking out the countryside and karst limestone formations in a leisurely fashion. My first and last real attempt at riding a bike: 6 years ago at a festival in the Nevada dessert. It was either learn how to cycle or walk in the sweltering heat across the miles of playa. Flash forward: 1 month ago in Copenhagen. It was a bit of a stressful situation trying to re-learn how to ride a bike at 10pm on the way to a bar in Central Copenhagen (note: no alcohol involved [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
June 24th 2009

In the Wind and Rain Asia » China » Guangxi » Chengyang

Most of you (including myself) would be surprised that I ended up back in China since my last visit didn't leave me with a burning desire to go back (it may have had to do with the 40 degree heat and the all city tours). I wanted remote China and this trip through Guangxi (southern China) gave me just that. No other foreigners in sight for days and it was delightful to be able to stare blankly at touts when they tried to talk to me only in Mandarin. Highlights: Hua Shan: Checking out the remote Hua Shan area a few [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
June 15th 2009

Eating my way through Saigon Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City

Any money earmarked for museums and tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh went to eating instead. Not out of any sense of traveller poverty but because I could eat, and eat well. I delighted in eating breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon snacking, and dinner. There is a wide variety of food choices - ranging from the plastic chair street food stalls, french-influenced bakeries and western-style restaurants favoured by ex-pats. The time in between eating could easily be filled by sipping a cool Vietnamese iced coffee while watching the world pass by (incidentally, they taste just [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
June 9th 2009

Same same but different Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh

Aside my never-ending complaints under my breath about the heat, I had a really good time in Cambodia. It was a brief visit hitting up the highlights in Angkor Wat and in Phnom Penh before taking a speedboat to Chau Doc in Vietnam. Life was a bit more laid back in Siem Reap as it was a smaller urban centre (and also low season for travellers) so taking tuk-tuks was a pleasure comparatively to Bangkok where you would fill your pollution quota in no time and potentially experience a near-death encounter from traffic/go deaf from the use of car horns as [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
June 2nd 2009

So sorry it's closed Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok

Having fallen for the the "so sorry temple closed... you will like nice gem shop" Bangkok delight last time around, I was determined not to believe any person that came up to me on the street. This would seem obvious but your guard is lowered when everyone around you is friendly and appears genuine or helpful + the intense heat + profuse amount of sweating. As a result, I got a nice farmer's tan while wandering around randomly lost until I eventually found my way. I was pleased find my way back to the hotel in four hours via river ferry, [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
May 19th 2009

Potatoes, potatoes & more potatoes Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Killarney

Potatoes
on the way to becoming great mashed potatoes

I admit that I've turned into a neurotic eater and the potato has fallen victim to this. A summer of eating nothing but bland boiled potatoes has turned me away from this starch... with the exception of mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are something of an elusive craved dish as they have never been made at home... not even when growing up. They're just not a Chinese thing to make. Friends are aware of this and the dish forms a substantial part of my birthday dinners and they slip me doggy bags of it from other events such as Thanksgiving or Easter [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
May 14th 2009

With love from Rotterdam Europe » Netherlands » South Holland » Rotterdam

bridge

It was like the prodigal son had come home when the Ms Eurodam sailed into Rotterdam. Although the headquarters of Holland America are now in Seattle, there is still a strong tie with Rotterdam and the cruise. The cruise terminal we docked at was located on Holland America Avenue/Street and the old headquarters of the company were located nearby (now turned into an upscale hotel). As we sailed off into the sunset, crowds of passerbys stopped to cheer and wave from the waterfront parks. I think the warm welcome and send off had something to do with fact that the cruise [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
May 13th 2009

Bilbao-Castro Urdiales Europe » Spain » Basque Country » Bilbao

Castro Urdiales

It was a really cloudy day for our stop in Bilbao but the day was still enjoyable nonetheless. We didn't have a chance to stop but passed the Guggenheim museum along the way to the Casco Viejo - old town area. I felt like one of those ridiculous tourists who becomes trigger happy pointing and clicking at anything that comes along my way. We wandered through old town and sadly I didnt' really listen to the guide's explanation of the Cathedral and spent most of my time with my nose pressed against the shop windows drooling over Spanish made shoes (Campers, [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
May 13th 2009

Sao Miguel-Lisbon-Obidos Europe » Portugal » Azores

Sao Miguel

I was ecstatic that Portugal was the warmest place of all our port stops. Unfortunately our time at these places was brief so the blog is mostly about the pictures and not so much on profound experiences I've had with this country. Sao Miguel, Azores The island of Sao Miguel was our first port stop and break from crossing the Atlantic. Ponta Delgada was a cute town with black and white mosaic cobblestone streets. I can understand now where the black and white style of the Serenado Square in Macau came from. It was a quick coach bus tour of the [View Full Entry]

By Lauralee
April 24th 2009

Cruising: Going to the dark side of travel North America » United States » Florida » Fort Lauderdale

Ft. Lauderdale waterways

Many would probably shake their heads at me … first the Mexican all-inclusives, then the Vegas trips… and now cruising. I was initially skeptical and would sneer at those who chose these travel options. Its still true that I don’t believe that you have “seen” Europe by cruising alone but it’s a great way to have a tastes of Europe and determine what you’d like to see more of the next time you go back (on your own). Having said that, it is a relaxing way to travel that involves not living out of your suitcase/backpack, fantastic food, 300 thread co [View Full Entry]

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