http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/MYLO/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from MYLO en-us Fri, 16 May 2008 00:06:55 BST Fri, 16 May 2008 00:06:55 BST First came the tannoy announcement that all flights departing from Beijing would not be leaving at their scheduled times due to the bad weather. They then started handing out food full meals and blankets not the kind of things yoursquod expect for a short delay.We had no idea how long the electrical storms were forecasted to last but we couldnrsquot ask for more than what the airline was a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-273079.html The driver of our brand new coach spent the majority of the eight hour journey weaving in and out of more lorries than I imagined one country could have they must have easily outnumbered cars by at least 501. He did this at times with breakneck speed that amazingly produced only a few hairy moments.We arrived in Beijing just after midnight and getting off the coach we were hounded a rare occur http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/Great-Wall-of-China/blog-272158.html Our second of the two flights that would take us to Jiuzhaigou was delayed due to weather conditions at the receiving airport. However after several hours we were descending between mountains on our approach to Jiuzhai airport some 3500m above sea level it was snowingWe were in the northern Sichuan Province and with no visas being issued at present it would be the closest we would get to Tib http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Pingyao/blog-270239.html In an attempt not to be too negative I had to be persuaded to keep the title of the last blog as 'Good Morning Vietnam' instead of my preferred 'Good Riddance Vietnam'. However as we boarded the train at Hanoi that's kind of how we felt..... BUT there's a lot to be said for the phrase 'better the devil you know' and our relief to be leaving Vietnam was born more out of the fact that we'd es http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangxi/Guilin/blog-268179.html Before we begin grab yourself a FLASK of tea it's a long oneOur passage across the watery border into Vietnam went surprisingly smoothly. We continued to follow the Mekong River for several hours to a place called Chau Doc where we spent our first night in Vietnam before making our way further south to Can Tho. It was here we would encounter our first episode of that struggle we'd hoped to hav http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-262316.html There were 18 of us on the small boat out of Siem Reap and as we picked up a few locals en route things became a little cramped. Once across the Tonle Sap lake and moving down river towards Battambang things slowed up somewhat as we passed through many small communities living in floating villages. Our boat containing mostly Westerners was of great interest to the kids both in and on the water http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Phnom-Penh/blog-259137.html On the 14th of March at 530am we were sat on the train awaiting our 6am departure out of Bangkok. The six hour train journey would take us to Aranya Prathet six kilometres from the Thailand Cambodia border. A six hour ride that for the first three I had some guy sat next to me chanting I felt like I was being exorcised.We had mixed emotions as the train made its way past towns villages and f http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Siem-Reap/blog-256613.html For the next ten weeks or so we'll be travelling overland as we make our way from Thailand to Hong Kong. So this will be the last time for a while you'll hear me bleat on about flights.After the hellish 'flap' from Sydney to Bangkok we thought two flights of an hours duration each Phuket to Bangkok Bangkok to Chiang Mai would be easily negotiated. It's not that I'm a bad flier or up until http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-253013.html The coach journey south was our introduction to some of Thailand's lies and scams. Our VIP coach trip from Bangkok to Krabi which wasn't VIP at all no suprise there promised to depart around 1930 hrs and arrive approximately 0930 hrs the next morning. Now this being Thailand I for one would not expect those timings to be accurate. However more than failing to deliver this trip deliberat http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Phi-Phi/blog-250167.html Our flight from Auckland to Bangkok took us first to Sydney and flying over the Opera House and The Harbour Bridge on a clear afternoon felt like a home coming. But with just three hours in the airport before continuing on to Thailand there was no time for sentimental visits instead we would just view the City longingly from the airport departure lounge.Then followed the worst flight I've ever b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-246884.html Arriving on the South Island via the 'InterIslander' ferry is a beautiful introduction to the more relaxed pace of life in the second half of NZ. You come through the Marlborough Sounds to get to the port of Picton. The Malborough Sounds are previously hilly areas that had been flooded thousands of years ago by the rising sea leaving islands and waterways that are low in population and very scen http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/Marahau/blog-242511.html Flew into Auckland with a somewhat bumpy landing remembering that the next plane we fly in we may not still be on board for the landingMy first impression of New Zealand NZ is that it's like Wales but the fauna is more exotic and the coastal waters are turquoise in colour.We stayed in the city for a night but we'll be back here for a few days before flying to Bangkok so the next day we p http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington/blog-238139.html We had an extremely lucky 'mistake' with our accommodation in Sydney. Whilst everywhere is charging at least 100night with a minimum stay of 3 nights' advance booking we've been wrongly given a room for 10 nights at only 58night 28 pound including New Years Eve.....that's lower than the standard charge for this room. We like to think it's all about Karma and following our windscreen and fl http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Harbour/blog-232673.html Christmas morning was the first morning Jake and Mia the 2 yearold twins had actually made their own way out of their bedroom alone without the guidance of either Jason or Lisa. The fun started at around 730 a.m. with the kids opening their presents. It would be a day of toys everywhere and non stop eating. We won't go in to the minor details of the day as everybody's Christmas is special to t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/Ramsay-Street/blog-232063.html Arrived in Adelaide and soon located our hostel which has probably been our best yet helpful staff clean comfortable room and a good location.....can be a struggle to find all three. Walked into the city several times and had a really nice meal one of the nights Mitch actually found a risotto to match yours How's the back Has it put the golf on hold for a while. The afternoon before bef http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Great-Ocean-Road/blog-231333.html After leaving Ayers Rock I spent the best part of two hours peering down from 35000 feet on the barren expanse that is Australia's 'outback'. As far as the eye could see the parched red soil continued before the view was interrupted by a layer of cloud. We broke through that cloud with half an hour of the flight left to reveal rivers lakes and farmland surrounded by dense rainforest. We were d http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Great-Barrier-Reef/blog-226193.html Due to clear skies we had a good view of both Ayers Rock and The Olgas as we flew in and banked round to land.There's a resort at Ayers Rock which means you don't have to stay and drive all the way from Alice Springs. For all you purists out there don't worry its not built next door you still have a 20 km drive and this is not the USA so it's not lit up with fairy lights at night either.....B http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-224414.html Back in Perth for 3 nights joining Tina Heath and Hudson for the first two before staying in the city for the third after which we'll be leaving the Westcoast for Ayers Rock.Arriving late into Perth we snuck back into our 6 star accommodation that we'd left almost 2 weeks previously while our hosts were sleeping. Felt good to sleep in a cool room with a proper bed instead of our mobile mic http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Perth/Perth-City/blog-224402.html After 36 hours travel including three flights gaining 9 hours to Sydney but then losing 2 we were met by Tina in Perth on the 12th of November just before midnight. Our luxury accommodation for the following two nights was courtesy of Tina Heath and their delightful little boy Hudson who could well be in the running for best behaved kid in Australia. We were made very welcome in this lovely h http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Broome/blog-221325.html From Cape Town to the Eastern Cape and back again.Just over an hour and a half east of Cape Town is a place called Hermanus. One of those fortuitous finds that you're completely unaware of when choosing your main destination until by luck or tip off you're educated on a geographical gem. This small town and our first stop is.....get this THE BEST 'shore based' whale watching location IN THE WO http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Mossel-Bay/blog-217185.html