http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Luke-and-Frans-world-tour/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Luke and Frans world tour en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:02:58 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:02:58 +0000 Well what can is say about the GOR What an experience.. we tried to get hold of a camper to do the three day trip but couldnt get one at such short notice so hopped into a car instead.Headed out of Melbourne city really quickly... didnt take long and gives you a real idea just how small the place is.. The weather starts off really cool but my word the midday sun is scorching and my drivers arm a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Great-Ocean-Road/blog-43190.html We made it to real life Ramsay Street You can clearly see the kennedy's drive and the archway at toadies house Yes i know we're sad but it had to be done.... you would have too http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-44955.html Wel gday folks Weve finally arrived in Kangaroo land and loving every secondThe day of our flight from Singapore was absolutely awful though Got to the airport a few hours early to check in and relax with some shopping. After a couple of hours we were promptly told that our tickets were not valid as some of the writing on them had dissapeared Can you believe it. Each ticket had an individual b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-42096.html Wow what a cityIts been a hell of a journey so far but we finally made it to Singapore. Flight from Borno went smoothly and the bus transfer between malaysia and Singapore really quickly. Have had to be carefull checking our luggage over and over again before crossing the boarder as so many stories of drug plants and considering the death penalty over here its worth the effortAfter a little seek http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-40499.html After a whole days driving cramped up in a smoke filled minibus we finally reached the seaside port of Semporna.. gateway to the top diving setting of Pulau Sipadan.Semporna is not a nice place It is crowded with many people who dont seem to do much but crowd the streets and will shout out at us as we walk around... hence the reason we didnt go out much People are really rude here and it didnt http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/blog-39774.html 6 hours after leaving KK we arrived in Sepilok 6 hours on a bus talking to the most boring Dutch couple in the world This is suprising because all the Dutch people we have met have been absolutely fantastic. The journey was a reminder of the extensive logging going on in Borneo all you can see fro miles are palm oil trees in place of virgin forests. It so sad and really has to stop. Anyways we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/blog-39639.html Well we're back and feeling rather shattered. We can hardley move especially when going up or down stairs... god it hurts To make matters worse for me.. when we got back i noticed that my left toe was black and blue and that ive lost my nail Its hanging on at the min but im covering it with a plaster to protect it.Weve come back to the youth hostel we were staying at before climbing the mountai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/Kota-Kinabalu/blog-38409.html It took us about 4 hours to get to K.K from Brunei but the journey was really easy going. A one hour ferry from Brunei took us to the Malaysian tax free island of Labuan and then we grabbed another ferry that took us all the way here. K.K is a modern beach city and the main point of call to arrange accomodation before making your way to the Base Camp of Mount Kinnabalu the highest mountain in SE http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/Kota-Kinabalu/blog-37119.html So we made our way to Kinabalu Park HQ readying ourselves for the big climb early the next morning HQ is about 2 hours bus ride outside KK and high up itself and very chilly as we jumped off the bus we realised just how chilly it was and made us a bit concerned about how cold it would be at the top Feeling very excited and slightly apprehensive we checked into our accomodation... a shared 10 b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/blog-37871.html After a marathon 6 hour 4 bus change to get to Bandar we finally made it As you enter the city you cant help but gaze at the sultan's huge palace. Its only open one day a year but there are various spots for a great view.Our digs for the next few days are in a local sport youth center come hostel. The place has a really nice swimming pool that needs to be tested out but the rooms are seperated s http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Brunei/Bandar-Seri-Begawan/blog-36768.html After jumping on the airport express train from KL Sentral we made it into Miri on Borneo 3 hours later The train was of course very modern and runs all the way into the airport you can even check your luggage in at the train station before you get to the airport we didnt do this although when we did finally check our luggage in lukes bag weighed 33kg......double the luggage allowance and doubl http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sarawak/Miri/blog-36767.html So we arrived in another capital city. Kuala Lumpur... or K.L as everyone says here is a great city. Very modern with fantastic transport links give plenty too do On arriving we were met by a crazy guy who dragged us to his Chinatown guesthouse 'wheelers' . Considering every other guesthouse had got a crap write up we followed him apprehensively but it turned out to be a wise choice Box rooms b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Wilayah-Persekutuan/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-35790.html Its amazing isnt it... one week your on a tropical island paradise and the next sipping tea and munching scones high in the mountainsThe Cameron Highlands is best described as the Malaysian Lake District or known to the locals as 'Little England'.As we approached the Cameron Highlands driving higher and higher into the mountains the cloud grew and grew until we were totally surrounded in cloud. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Pahang/Cameron-Highlands/blog-35247.html So we made it into Malaysia really quickly and rather easily Being two countries close together we thought that Malaysia would be similar to Thailand but how wrong can you be... so different as soon as you cross.We arrived in Pinang sometimes Penang at bout midday. The place is buzzing and seeing the place used to be owned by us Brits i thought i might go and slam a flag onto the beach and clai http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Penang/blog-34658.html We stopped in Krabi considering whether to stay or go straight to Hat Yi. Seeing as we have spent a lot of time on the beach recently and are both ready to move on from thailand we decided to catch another bus to Hat yi so we can then cross to Malaysia. The bus was full so we had to stand for an hour.....the idea is to cram as many people on the coach as possibleSeveral girls sitting on seats off http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Southern-Thailand/Hat-Yai/blog-34199.html The morning we were due to leave ko Phi Phi its rained....and rained but somehow managed to stop by the time we got on the boat. The Journey to Ko Lanta was very quick during which we agreed to stay at some accomodation provided by a tout on the boat. Luckily it was so much cheaper than on Phi Phi We arrived on Lanta which is so big it really doesnt feel like and island The hut we were staying http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Lanta/blog-34194.html Happy new year everyone http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Phi-Phi/blog-33407.html Koh Phi Phi.... so weve arrived on the island that the whole world raves about and that every backpacker you meet swears on pain of death you must see. On arrival we're not dissapointed. PP is stunning The journey over from Phuket harbour only took 1 and half hours and was the smoothest ride going... you really wouldnt even know we were on a boat You approach PP from the West side and all you c http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Phi-Phi/blog-33405.html Were in Phuket Heard so much about this place... now its time to find out for ourselvesArrived in at bout 8pm on the bus and roamed round Phuket City looking for somewhere to stay Everywhere pretty booked up because of christmas and the tsunami memorial but found a backpackers hostel near the market Next morning we made our way to the Southern tip of Phuket on the local bus. Nai Han beac http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Phuket/blog-32821.html Happy Christmas everyone Just to make u feel that much better we're on a beach swimming in crystal clear water and eating lots of pineapple Its scorchingLove to everyone.... have a great one.LFxxx http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Phuket/blog-32687.html