Maurice y Siobhan
Maurice & Siobhan O´Brien Joined: November 28th 2006
Logged in: November 15th 2010
Logged in: November 15th 2010
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Travel Blog Posts
August 12th 2007
The Big Rig heading for the doctor
To see our route click on this link Our route for the 1st four weeksBarcelona and aroundWell with the few days in Tossa to familiarise ourselves with the workings of the campervan, Monday morning came and we knew we better get going if we were to see any of Europe. First we had a rendezvous in Barcelona with our wedding photographer, so south we drove stopping along the way to pick up a new battery. We were forced to seek help and get a jumpstart in the campsite that morning as our battery was truly dead when we went to start the “Big Rig”. We had considered dropping into a garage and getting them to change the battery but in the end cost considerations prevailed and I decided that I’d do the job myself the next ... read more
The "Big Rig"
Life in the “Big Rig” Well Friday the 13th of July came and it was off to Barcelona to pick up the ‘Big Rig’ as it was affectionately named by Maurice’s friend ‘The Dill’ in it’s early days in our hands. After our 7.30am flight we finally arrived back to the scene of the crime - Tossa de Mar - at about 4pm. Maurice left me and an Estrella Damm beer at the bus station and got a taxi to pick her up! To be fair she was in great hands, our man had washed her, charged up the battery and kept her in pretty good shape for us. He did say our battery wasn’t great so that was the first thing on our shopping list. We decided to stay in Tossa for a few days ... read more
Not a good time for a holiday then!
IRELAND - Wed 20/06 to Fri 13/07 We arrived back into Dublin airport about 12pm on Wednesday, my sister, mother and nephew were kindly coming to collect us - Maurice was particularly looking forward to the emotional airport greeting. The excitement was too much, we walked into the arrivals hall anxiously searching for our arrival party, left, right, left again - no definitely not there! Feeling a little deflated we realised they must be stuck in traffic so rather than have them park and have to pay I said a quick phone call would allow collection from the set down area (obviously still in cost savings mode). Phone call made and as we expected, traffic - on the M50, could you believe it we were only back in the country 5 minutes and all ready that ... read more
Sheikh O'Brien & his 1st wife
DUBAI CITY - Sat 16/06 to Wed 20/06 We had an uneventful flight from Hong Kong - 9 hours or so & arrived in Dubai at about 8 PM on Saturday evening. We were met by my cousin Yvonne who has been living in Dubai for nearly 2 years & had very kindly offered for us to stay with her. She also informed us on arrival that we had missed the weekend & that Saturday night was just like a Sunday night at home which was just as well cause we were wrecked after the flight and wouldn't have been up to much!! When we stepped outside the terminal we were met by an unmerciful blast of heat - Yvonne explained that this was the norm & that in June even at night the temperatures remained ... read more
Hong Kong skyline from the ferry
HONG KONG CITY - Tue 12/06 to Sat 16/06 1st Night We flew to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and having heard they are considered one of the best airlines in the world we were really looking forward to it. At this point, having flown with many airlines, it’s fair to say we have plenty to compare them with, unfortunately, they really didn’t impress us, the staff were quite rude and the service and food were nothing to write home about. Quantas and Lan Chile are still on the top of the list for us in terms of airlines. We arrived in Hong Kong and got the bus from the airport to Hong Kong Island, first impressions of Hong Kong were very good. Looked like a really advanced city but full to the brim with people ... read more
Palm trees with sunset colours in the background, Ko Lanta
KO PHANGAN (Gulf of Thailand) - Sat 19/05 to Tue 22/05 From the Malaysian border we took a bici-taxi to the train-station. We were feeling dead guilty for the poor lad in the intense morning heat but weren't as bothered when his 3 KM estimate turned out to be less than 1 KM, we really could have walked it. The scamming had started - we really were in Thailand. We checked on the times of trains & had 30 mins to spare before the 11.30 AM & so set off to grab something quick to eat. We found a busy spot with a table of Buddist Monks & another with four or five Thai soldiers, so with that mix of clientele, we thought it can't be a bad spot. We had chicken rice - which turned ... read more
Petronas Twin Towers
KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia's Capital City) - Sat 12/05 to Mon 14/05 After going through all the border paperwork from Singapore to Malaysia which included a severe warning on our entry cards in big bold letters that 'DRUG TRAFFICKING CARRIES THE DEATH PENALTY', we were back on our bus. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur about 3pm on Saturday, we didn't have any hotel booked but since Chinatown was pretty good in Singapore we decided to try it out again in Kuala Lumpar. We walked to Chinatown with our big rucksacks on our backs and found a pretty good hotel at a reasonable price. When we walked through Chinatown there were a few stalls at the side of the street selling fake T-shirts, watches etc. Once we checked in and cleaned up we decided to go for ... read more
Tiger Beer
SINGAPORE - Thu 10/05 to Sat 12/05 After quite a short flight from Perth - 5 and 1/2 hours - we arrived in Singapore, the airport is so clean and pristine - everything shines! On our way to collect our bags we noticed a free internet kiosk & took the opportunity to check our mail. Once we left the airport the heat just hit us, it was menacing, like someone had just grabbed you around the neck - so hard to breathe but the humidity was the worst part. Luckily enough we got into a lovely air conditioned taxi so we savoured that while it lasted. Our first impression of Singapore was of a very well run, regimented city - everything seemed to work like clockwork. Singapore gained it's independence from England in 1959 and ... read more
Painting the Coogee Rock Pool
url='/Videos/3195.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3195.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' A Koala in the bushurl='/Videos/3225.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3225.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Coogee Beachurl='/Videos/3224.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3224.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' The 3 Sisters & the Blue Mountainsurl='/Videos/3226.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3226.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Kangaroos WA MELBOURNE (Victoria) - Fri 13/04 to Sun 15/04 A little worse for wear after the previous night's revelry, we got a ferry back to Auckland, dropped back our corolla & made it to the airport in time for our flight. We had a grand flight & were well impressed with Qantas, we had heard some bad reports but everything went perfect which was great as we had 4 more flights... read more
Stunning views around the Abel Tasman Track
url='/Videos/3191.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3191.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Bungy 2url='/Videos/3192.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3192.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' A young HAKA !url='/Videos/3197.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3197.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Bungy 1url='/Videos/3198.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3198.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Fox Glacier AUCKLAND (North Island) - Wed 14/03 to Fri 16/03 Well we arrived in Auckland at about 5am on 14th March, a little disoriented but our first impressions of this land were definitely positive. There were cheery Kiwis everywhere welcoming us and in English - what a bonus - no more grassyass for us, although it did take us a while to adjust. There was one friendly Kiwi even offering us free coffee. Some ... read more
