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Nacho Libre - Nacho Libre

These are the journals from a year-long trip I took between June 2007 and June 2008. At the age of 32 my quest to satisfy the wanderlust itch took me through Central and South America, round New Zealand, on to brief stops in Fiji and Australia, through some of South East Asia and finally round some of the highlights of China.

I didn’t set out to change my life - just to learn a lot and see something of the world. Mission accomplished - and very successfully at that even if I do say so myself - the time travelling was everything I expected and more. At times humbling, challenging, relaxing, exhausting, exhilarating and on occasion uncomfortable and sickening. But at all times educational and ultimately inspiring. I’ll remember it as a trip with no regrets and plenty of nice surprises along the way.

I’m now back in the UK picking up the pieces of my former life, enjoying factoring in some welcome changes and looking forward to a period of stability again. As for the wanderlust - well I’m sure it’ll be back! I have no doubt that I’ll find the time, resources and inclination to travel again in the future - and who knows... when I do I may just end up taking a camera and a pen with me again.

Happy Travels!

Nacho.
Summer 2008

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Joined on: October 18th 2006
Last Login: October 28th 2009

Blog Entries: 29
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Nacho Libre, order by Date newest first.

By Nacho Libre
June 8th 2008

Day 365 - Happy Endings Asia » China » Beijing

A Terracotta Warrior of Shi Huang Di (the First Emperor of China)
These terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Well thankfully I’m pleased to report that a jaded traveller I’m definitely not - after the flat experience that turned out to be my time in Vietnam I have absolutely loved being in China - even if I have been travelling alone again. It’s a vast and varied country with stunning scenery, sprawling cities, friendly locals and such a different culture to my own that, though I was left bewildered and amazed on many occasions at both what the country once was and how it is today, I couldn’t get enough of it. I decided when leaving Vietnam to head straight [View Full Entry]

Beijing acrobatics and opera performed at the Summer Palace, Beijing.

Detail from Nine-Dragon Screen in Bei Hai Park, Beijing.

By Nacho Libre
May 15th 2008

Day 341 - Good Riddance Vietnam? Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Hanoi

Rice paddy near Sapa, Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon as they used to call it before reunification) is without doubt one of the craziest cities I’ve visited… anywhere. I don’t know if anyone has actually counted, but I’m guessing it must have the highest number of motorbikes/scooters (or motos as they’re known here) per capita of any city in the world - they’re everywhere and coming at you from all angles! I’d heard that crossing the street in Saigon required nerves of steel and, given it was the first challenge we were presented with, I can now confirm it’s true! Standi [View Full Entry]

Colourful clothing at the Floating Market in the Mekong Deltta.

Motos parked up in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

By Nacho Libre
April 24th 2008

Day 320 - ancient temples and heart wrench in the land of the fallen domino Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh

Stony Faced
One of the 216 giant faces that stare down from the towers of the Bayon Temple in the Angkor Thom complex near Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Over the course of this trip I’ve found that I’ve particularly enjoyed and been inspired by spending time in those countries at the lower end of the affluence scale and therefore, on paper, Cambodia should be my perfect travel destination - it ranks as having just about the lowest income per capita of any country I’ll visit. Of more significant note though is that, above all other countries in south-east Asia, it has such a rich culture and history woven through and scarred upon it that, despite efforts to progress, life for its people still bears constant reminders to the co [View Full Entry]

Incense sticks smouldering at Angkor Wat.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

By Nacho Libre
April 13th 2008

Day 309 - some inspiration from the Elephant Woman Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok

Asian Elephant - The Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai Province
The Asian Elephant is officially classified as an endangered species, numbers in Thailand are estimated to be 3,500. Around half of this number are domesticated, the remainder living wild in National ... [more]

Crossing the border from Laos into Thailand reminded me of stepping from Nicaragua to Costa Rica - literally a line in the ground, or in this case the Mekong River, marks a noticeable increase in wealth and prosperity. My entry point in Thailand was Chiang Khong, a relatively unremarkable river-side border town in the north-east corner. I’d gotten up early to make sure I could catch the boat across the river and get myself to Chiang Mai (the main city in Thailand’s northern provinces) in time to meet up with Sarah who was, in a somewhat more glamorous fashion, jetting in [View Full Entry]

Wat Phrathat, Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara above Chiang Mai

Elephants playing at The Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai

By Nacho Libre
March 23rd 2008

Day 288 - loving and loathing in Laos Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang

Novice Buddhist Monk overlooking Luang Prabang, Laos.

Of any country I’ve considered visiting on this trip I think Laos is the one that I’ve heard the most mixed reactions about … and they always seem to be at one of the extremes - it’s either loved or loathed. Peaceful Unspoiled Paradise or Impossible Communist Backwater. The really annoying thing is none of this had helped me make my mind up on whether or not to go… But with just over a week apart from Sarah whilst she was meeting friends in Thailand, and concerned that I might just miss out on something if I didn’t go for a [View Full Entry]

Sunrise over the River Mekong - Pak Beng, Laos.

Detail on ruined building, Kuang Si Waterfalls, near Luang Prabang, Laos.

By Nacho Libre
March 13th 2008

Day 278 - the leeches turned me into a cross-dresser Asia » Malaysia » Wilayah Persekutuan » Kuala Lumpur

The Wild Man of Borneo
Once found throughout Southeast Asia, the orang-utan ape now survives only in small populations across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The Bornean species is highly endangered and only 55,000 are e... [more]

There’s such a well trodden backpacker / tourist trail around much of South East Asia now that escaping the crowds whilst still managing to visit interesting areas is a difficult if not impossible challenge. One place that still seems to be slightly less discovered than the rest though, is the island of Borneo. When I think of Borneo I see David Attenborough in black and white, trying to be very reserved and, well… English, but clearly struggling to cover up his excitement as he talks excitedly in that slightly breathless, hushed voice of his. It conjures up images of impenetr [View Full Entry]

Proboscis Monkey, Bako National Park, Malaysian Borneo.

A few of the estimated 4 million bats that most evenings can be seen streaming out from the Deer Cave in Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

By Nacho Libre
March 1st 2008

Day 266 - 10 nights in only 2 beds… quite possibly a record in the last 9 months Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Sydney

Detail from Sydney Opera House.
Designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, the Sydney Opera House is now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Well this is just a token blog to completely cheat and colour the whole of Australia red on my blog map when all I’ve really done is spend 4 days in Melbourne and 5 days in Sydney. When I bought my round-the-world ticket for this trip I wasn’t sure what I was going to be doing after New Zealand, but with some free flights included in the price it made sense to put Melbourne and Sydney in there… even if has only ended up being for a flying visit - the rest of Australia will have to wait. Fortunately Sarah and [View Full Entry]

Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia.

By Nacho Libre
February 21st 2008

Day 257 - it seems that newspaper editors are right: a scandal always sells! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Skydiving over Queenstown, New Zealand.
As you can see I'm completely at ease - nothing scary about hurtling towards the earth with a smug Hungarian strapped to your back.

Ha ha - the revelations in the last blog certainly resulted in a fair few messages from various people for which I’m really grateful to you all. Thanks for the good wishes… things are still going well! It also resulted in that particular blog getting something like 400 hits in a week which is pretty incredible given my highest ranking blog to date (Peru) has only had 700 hits in 5 months! So thanks - I’m chuffed… and a little shocked! Who are you all?! Anyway enough of the personal life. I feel over exposed! So how do I sum up [View Full Entry]

Kayaking at day break on a blissfully still Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park, New Zealand.

Juvenile Yellow-Eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Horseriding on Sandy Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand.

By Nacho Libre
January 31st 2008

Day 236 - Boy meets Girl Oceania » Fiji » Yasawa Islands » Nanuya Island

Sunset at Nanuya Island, Fiji

I’ve been considering over the last few days whether or not I should let you all in on a secret… and I’ve decided, in the interest of being as honest as possible in this blog (and because you'll probably realise sooner or later!), that I really should. You see when I wrote my last New Zealand blog I was at Auckland airport waiting for a flight... but I didn’t specifically mention where to. I’ve actually spent the last week in the tropical paradise of Fiji… and the reason: well it was because of a girl. But I guess I ought to [View Full Entry]

By Nacho Libre
January 22nd 2008

Day 227 - so exactly how long do you reckon it’ll be before someone mentions The Lord of the Rings? Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Detail on the Maori Tamatekapua Meeting House in Ohinemutu - a Maori village on the edge of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand.

To be honest I left South America feeling a bit low. It was such a big part of the trip and was the original reason that I’d decided to travel, so for it to suddenly be over seemed to leave me slightly depressed. I was basically suffering from a state of “I’m not ready to finish up yet but will anything on the rest of my travels impress me as much?!”. But if there’s a place that can completely wipe away any such blues with its amazing scenery, relaxed and friendly locals and thrill-a-minute activities its got to be New Zealand [View Full Entry]

Sunrise and sandstorms at East Cape, New Zealand

Detail from Rongomaraeroa the Maori marae (meeting house) Te Hono ki Hawaiki in the Te Papa museum in Wellington.

Clint and I in front of Mount Doom itself - Mt Ngauruhoe in the Tongariro National Park near Taupo.

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