http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Oldmate/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oldmate en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:09:11 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:09:11 BST Imagine that there existed two swords weighing in at around 500kgs each. Imagine that 6 sets of these swords happened to run at approximately 40kmh and were attached to the front of particularly angry animals. Imagine who would be stupid enough to voluntarily run in front of these beastsThese were the exact thoughts running through my head as the crowd started to get pushed BACK towards the star http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Spain/Navarre/Pamplona/blog-75118.html There is one place in the world that without a doubt easily lays claim to single handily having the most profound effect on the way we live and think today. As the incubator of western civilisation this country of great gods and goddesses poets and philosophers politicians and athletes has bequeathed modern civilization with the building blocks of our society. I was always aware that English w http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Greece/Thessaly/Meteora/blog-64509.html Bonjour Before I begin A word of warning. This post contains hideous dreadful generalisations that are truly an outrage. It dribbles on and makes tonnes of condescending statements. Read on only if you have thick skin and a sense of humour.So after 3 months pluggin away in Reading working for the man billg I finally got the opportunity to pack everything into the backpack and head off for a http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/-le-de-France/Paris/blog-37979.html After spending some time in Austria we jumped on a bus and made the quick 3hrs journey down to Budapest. Easily the most fun city I have visited in my European travels. We arrived at the central bus station and jumped on the very efficent tube into town and then onto a soviet era tram to our hostel the coolest hostel ever We stayed at backpacker which was recommended to me by a friend who had http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Hungary/Budapest/blog-16801.html Of all the places I have visted thus far in Europe Hungary is the one that still bares so many scars of history in both it's buildings and in it's people's collective memory. Hungary for me is really like the inspirational kid from the wrong end of town a tough childhood but determined spirit through it all who has pulled himself up by the boot laces and is about to shine. There's something http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Hungary/Esztergom/blog-16793.html After exploring the lovely Prague Brettles and I departed for Wien the home of the Wiener Snitzel Although it is reportedly known for other cultural achievements. Sorry if this next historical bit bores you but I just find it all riveting. I've learnt so much about European history since I started traveling. I also spent a while in Vienna so I have much to write.Vienna has been of huge histori http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-15810.html After another night of hostel action which included meeting a clown quite literally and having sword fights with swords made from balloons we finally managed to get to the train station and make our way out to Kutna Hora 75Kms from Prague. Upon arrival we all ate at the local pub which cost for all of us the same as it would for one meal in Prague. Kutna Hora at one point in time rivaled Prague http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Kutna-Hora/blog-15118.html WowThere is plain and simply no other way to start an entry about this fairytale city of ancient castles cathedrals and bridges. Broadly the modern Czech republic is comprised of germanic like bohemia in the west and the wine loving slavic Moravia in the east. Whilst only established as an independent country in 1993 Czech has a deep and magic history that still reverberates through the centre o http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Prague/blog-15110.html Once again we all woke up feeling sorry for ourselves and headed off and just like the previous day it started raining. After trekking for about 2 hours we finally reach the end of the jungle and got in the back of our pickup truck. Sad as it was our minds were already on our next activities for the day Elephant riding and bamboo raftingSo after a quick bite to eat we headed off to the elepha http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-10413.html The day begun as you can imagine with us all feeling just a little sorry for ourselves. The two Chilean girls left an hour or so before us so the group was now reduced to 8. The two Danes were very quiet and didn't interact with the group that much so really the group became the Poms Spanish us Australians.After lots of toast fresh fruit and chinese tea we got ready to head off. The weather c http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-10410.html Hi All After chilling out for 4 days doing nothing except getting baked on Lamai Beach in Koh Samui we headed up to Chiang Mai for our 3 day jungle trekk. Getting there was pretty hectic and involved an overnight bus trip back to Bangkok which arrived at 530AM then hanging around Bangkok until 740PM for our overnight train ride up to Chiang Mai. That was all good actually because I got to see http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-10399.html After recovering from our huge full moon party experience Pete and I decided to rent motor cyclessorry mum and discover more of the island. We quickly learnt a few disturbing things about riding motor bikes on the island.1. Only about 14 of the island's roads are actually asphalt. The rest being dirt steep and down right dangerous.2. The maps don't make much senseSo with our mid20's pffftt a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-10339.html Hey All after doing two huge nights in Bangkok it was time for us to head out to the Full Moon party on the island of Ko Pa Ngan which is in the south east of Thailand. We left at 530 in the afternoon in a luxury double decker bus and headed over night to Suratthani a port then a 2.5 hour boat trip first to Koh Samui where some people got off and then onto Ko Pha Ngan.The bus trip was quite http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/South/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-9676.html