http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/NatF/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from NatF en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:22:17 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:22:17 +0000 10509 A day at the local beachGreat sleep ready for breakfast. Breakfast involved trek to supermarket today so up changed and off we tramped. Few blocks up and stocked in on the usual ingredients fruit muesli and yoghurt still waiting for this whole bananas repelling mosquitoes thing to kick in but 2 weeks in Irsquod say itrsquos not looking good Ate in the nice but dirty kitch http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cozumel/blog-429701.html 9509 A snorkelling trip on CozumelUp early today ready for bus and boat trip to island of Cozumel. Spent a few hours at work on free internet this hostel really had been great then had the last of the great breakfasts. Packed up and checked out by 930 then off to bus station. First part of journey to Playa Del Carmen not far away. Got our 30peso ticket for shuttle bus and did our less http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cozumel/blog-429700.html 8509 A beach day in CancunBrilliant sleep aside from the crazy bright sunshine flooding through the window and onto my face at 8am. Debs up and about like a spritely Snow White I rolled around like a sunlight dodging vampire. Eventually gave in at 830 and went to check out the amazing breakfast Deb was yabbering on about. Wowhellipit was good. Fruit yoghurt muesli toast all included w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cancun/blog-429698.html 7509 The Chichen ItzaHad to get up early todayhellipand by early I mean 7am. Really begrudge it these days itrsquos such a chore even though we are getting up to do something amazing. Dread to think what it will be like when go home and have to get up for work Even ended up awake at 630 so put an hour in at work before had breakfast work blog. Restrained self to just 2 slices of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Chich%E9n-Itz%E1/blog-429417.html 6509 Cuzama CenotesWish never had to wake up this morning one of those rare days that could sleep forever. Trudged off for toast to wake me up 4 slices did the trick then got ready for day visiting lsquothe cavesrsquo. Both caves and Chichen Itza reopened as of today . Got ready and headed off to bus station at 10am. Bus was just first part of journey today would be a day of m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Merida/blog-427869.html 5509 Progresso BeachGood sleep despite the sweat provoking heat and woke up at 830 with desire to sleep forever. Only the lure of fresh bread and 4 slices of it toasted got me out of bed . Chichen Itza still closed due to dreaded flu and the second best thing underground caves also closed. Had to go for the third thing on the listhellipProgresso Beach. Been a while since had a beach da http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Progreso/blog-423865.html 4509 A chilled day in MeridaSurprisingly slept really well on way to Merida nearly all of the 9hrs. Of course woke up when the doctors got on to do their swine flu inspection but then barely blinked as the armed police got on later in the journeyhellipsomewhat worryingly am getting rather used to that now Arrived at 730 and jumped straight into a taxi that charged us 40peso to get to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Merida/blog-423863.html 3509 An unexpected day in PalenqueArrived in Palenque at 7am with no hostel booked and no knowledge of where any hostels were hindsight is a great thing Wondered up a nearby street in search and then had to return to bus station unsuccessful only option to wait it out at station until 89ish when everything opened. Lucky for us the French couple who also caught the bus here were still a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Chiapas/Palenque/blog-423852.html 1509 A church and stormy day in Oaxaca Actually had a half decent nights sleep only ruined by the bitten body I woke up to...my body that is Been really lucky in Mexico so far not even seen any mosquitoes but they got me good and proper last nighthelliparms...legs... back...everywhere Curse my tasty blood Skipped out for the tasty eggs and toast breakfast had seen advertised only to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-412174.html 30409 V.scary arrival in OaxacaAnother bad sleep. Still awake when a guy came in just before midnight and then kept awake when same guy fell asleep instantly and snored for rest of night. Donrsquot need to reiterate how I feel about snorers Did the halfsleep thing until 8am then got up packed up had breakfast and headed out just after 930 to visit Zona Archeological Cholula a churc http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-412170.html 29409 A day of visiting churchesAnother bad nights sleep. Took ages to drift off and even when did woke up every hour or so. Got up at 7am at rash on leg has gone. Is now just a scar a bit like the remains of a jellyfish sting. Another text from a friend about Pig Flu seems to be a much bigger deal at home than it is out here and headed down for not so tasty toast but very tasty cereal http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Puebla/Puebla-City/blog-406599.html 28409 The Beautiful PueblaGot up early today at 730am in preparation for early set off to Puebla. Got changed packed and had breakfast at 8am. Not the usual awful toast but a toasted cheese sandwich and a yoghurt instead things had left over from yesterday. Finished packing process then and checked out at 9am for walk to tube station. Walk never bothered me before but with 20kg bags it http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Puebla/Puebla-City/blog-406595.html 26409 An organising day Worst sleep ever if I even slept at all. Really not dealing well with jetlag. Woke up at 11pm convinced it was morning and hungry for breakfast. When realised it wasnrsquot even a new day closed eyes and spent next hours tossing and turning wide awake. Eyes were actually stinging when tried to close them. Then at 3am door to room opened light poured in and notic http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Estado-de-Mexico/Teotihuac-n/blog-403840.html 24409 A painful flight to Mexico Oh no. Terrible terrible sleep if any at all. Woke up just after midnight with an awful feeling in legs fluctuated between pure burning pain and an unbelievably painfully sensitive itch. Itchy like 1000 sandfly bites all clumped together in one spot. Got out of bed in darkness and rushed to put more savalon. Was in dimly lit bathroom that noticed how bad http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Distrito-Federal/Mexico-City/blog-403837.html 210409 Hula dancing and a Pub CrawlWoke up bright and breezy today with plans to go to Hanauma Bay and do the lsquobest snorkelling in the worldrsquo. Sounded good. Not so good when went to office to check bus times and found out that Hanauma Bay closed. Something to do with damage limitation and preserving coral and marine life it is closed every Tuesday. Bummer. Good idea though I suppo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/Waikiki/blog-402860.html 190409 A walk up Diamond HeadHad another really good nights sleep. Hawaii is shaping up to be the country of great sleeps. Snoozed until 9am then got up met Deb and had breakfast. Got to watch morning TV whilst having breakfast loving the TV here and then got changed and ready for walk up Diamond Head Volcano. Set off at 10am for 45min walk. Was a boiling hot day but a really nice walk. Ca http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/Waikiki/blog-402855.html 180409 A trip to Pearl Harbour and the Kings VillageHad a great sleep and didnrsquot wake up until 9am alarm brilliant. Really needed a good sleep. Already decided to visit Pearl Harbour today so got up had cereal and went to catch bus to memorial. Had a long wait but at least no bus lady and knew what to d when got on. Bus journeys in Ohau a flat rate of 2 no matter where you go. Go http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/Waikiki/blog-402849.html 17409 Groundhog Day arriving in Hawaii.So it all gets a little confusing from here. Got off the plane at 6am Hawaii time on the same day that we had just woke up in Fiji and gone to the mud pools. Had gone back in time by a whole day to relive the same day all over again like Groundhog day. Pretty wierd. V.v.v.v sleepy as trudged off to collect luggage really shouldnrsquot have watched fi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Hawaii/Oahu/Waikiki/blog-402846.html 16409 Back to where it all began...Nadi.Woke up v.itchy with yet more bites. I hate you mosquitoes I'm sure they actually like the taste of my insect repellent...maybe it was labelled wrong and is actually mosquito food. Got changed and headed for breakfast with diary diary just in case food took so long to come. Ordered toast once Deb had come down 2 portions...feeling extra greedy a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Nadi/blog-402162.html 14409 Reunion and the capital city of SuvaWoke up after a brilliant nights sleep. 830pm until 6amhellipthatrsquos impressive even by my standards Snoozed for a while well yoursquove got to make the most of it then went for breakfast at 730. V.grey and gloomy day today totally pouring with rain. Even had to put rain macs onhelliprain macshellipin Fiji En route to breakfast http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-399289.html