http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Margot RTW/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Margot RTW en-us Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:53:57 UTC Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:53:57 UTC Well I'm finally home my dears and having been off line since I returned unable to get this out.I spent a final week in Boston USA with another dear and distant relative mainly resting and recovering from the long journies of the past few months. Taking up my mother's hobby of connecting with relatives feels very positive and fun to make connections with those in distant parts. We did t http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/blog-286156.html Howdy folks.....Yesterday I left Canada and moved into the great US of A....so here's the remainder of the Canada storycorrecting my previous entry of course I was in the western side last time I wrote I completed my islands trip staying with more wonderful 5W members as I went and using a little hitching on safe islands to get about. It can be done on public transport takes quite a lot of http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Niagara-Falls/blog-276333.html Hallo from East coast Canada After a gentle week staying at my 2nd cousin's house in west Vancouver I'm now exploring some of the Gulf Islands off Vancouver Island.It was wonderful to be able to relax in a family home after my 13 hour flight from Auckland. That's the longest flight I'll ever do I think and still very sad that I had to fly when I nearly had a place booked on a freight vessel http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Salt-Spring-Island/blog-269350.html Hiya I'm pleased the photos worked getting to grips with all this techie stuffSo The Magic Bus swept me from Pahia on the east coast of the Northland to the Hokianga harbour region on the west from the tiny village of Rawene across the harbour by dear old ferry to Kohukohu where I was collected by my next hostel host Phil. We called into the village for a few locally grown supplies briefly http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/blog-264160.html Halllo again.I've really enjoyed moving at my own pace for the past few days visiting friends one highlight was seeing 2 old flatmates from Oxford maybe 35 yrs since we last metAnd now back to staying in hostels I have moved up to Paihia in the Northlands warm sun lovely beaches. another fab dolphin cruise this time to watch them play in the bay along with a baby one they came real http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Paihia/blog-258997.html Hi there folks this is my 2nd attempt at this blog yesterdays disappeared so now I have no photos with me to try and will see what I can remember of the past 2 and half weeks in the South Island. We the tour arrived at Picton after a picturesque ferry ride through Marlborough Sound calm waters and sunshine. Even a craft market to greet us in Picton before boarding our new coach which to http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Nelson-Region/Nelson/blog-255665.html I reached Auckland last Saturday and we have been blessed with all sorts of mainly warm weather here in NZ since then. On my first day I met up with Gaby my travel companion and another friend and off we set on a ferry for a nearby island and beach afternoon. I love to do that arrive in a big city and immediately escape to somewhere nearby from which to be able to look back.I'm now with http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-249476.html Well unexpected stuff in Australia I so enjoyed seeing some bush lots of eucalypts and strange birdnoises bell bird parrots v. loud in the tall trees. A generous distant cousin Richard took me to a very special place up high on a ridge where our ancestors would have taken timber for the sawmill. We found some old caves and I was easily transported to another time just sat and drank in t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-247465.html Hi y'allOur last morning in Quy Nhon after taking last min. photos I spotted a gathering with music near to the v. poor fishing area had to investigate they were most welcoming people dressed in white gathered round an altar v. traditionallooking triple drums a sort of trumpet amazing music can't describe just felt really so authentic. only after a cup of green tea and tries at talk http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-244387.html We are on our last days at the fishingseaside town of Quy Nhon little mentioned on the tourist trail and yet so rich and full. thanks to Lonely Planet for the suggestion. I've completely got over my difficulty with Vietnam and am now loving it and full of admiration at how people here are so resourceful and manage their lives best they possibly can. Nothing is wasted everything is sorted http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/Hue/blog-242073.html hey ho.... I have had enough of this supposedly sweet little town. First I get a nasty tummy bug then it rains for 2 days continuous then I go out and have a nice time and get my purse nicked I did get to the sea on a bike but several days later than expected due to the tum. The seaside was rather strange lovely sand backed by palm trees under which sat more traders than punters were on http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-239937.html Halong BAy was a great experience a minibus of us 15 were driven out of Hanoi through yet more smog and haze towards the sea but driving through one more town the air was black really am v. upset at the horrendous pollution in this country as well as China and worse that they don't get it are still building lots of factories with tall chimneys to put more smoke up into the atmosphere. h http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Ninh-Binh/blog-237632.html Beijing was v. interesting. I visited lots of marvellous temples pagodas incl. the Forbidden City and Ming Tombs Palace of Heaven and braved the Great Wall on a tour so I've walked up hundreds of steps past several watch towers my legs took several days to recoverI managed to get the hang of the metro system v. proud of that. very few chinese speak English surprisingly seem to be qui http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-236409.html wow it's cold here in Beijingthe journey so far despite dire warnings of train strikes on new yrs eve all went well and I travelled via eurostar to Brussels then to Berlin overnight all OK. met with my travelling companion Gay at airport and we flew to Moscow on N yrs day. thankfully she'd arranged a transfer from the airport to station cos my Russian wasn't up to much despite several le http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Beijing/blog-234291.html AM in total panic mode too much in my bag still trying to pack up house for housesitters and leave all my admin sorted. just had my neighbour translate my German info for Transsiberian rail trip and entering Russia and scared I will get something wrong or point camera at something not allowed....or my visa will be dated incorrectly I have more days booked in Russia on my visa than I am a http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/blog-231265.html So much to do before leaving I've got friends staying in my house while I'm away so I'm clutter clearing as well as continuing to research various ways to travel.Hurray for Real RUssia I've got 4 visas in my passport returned safely to me with the least amount of hassle for me.Have just discovered I need to have a ticket out of NZ before they will let me in Had been hoping to get that sorte http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/blog-226509.html History I joined a womens travel organisation and in July discovered a tour of New Zealand planned for early 2008.With my Green principles I wanted to travel as far as possible overland. After reading Barb's blog the woman who travelled overland to a wedding in Oz from CAT last year I discovered The Man in Seat 61 seat61.com they have been my chief inspiration suggesting how to do this. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-216890.html