http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/PhilOsman/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from PhilOsman en-us Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:57:50 +0000 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:57:50 +0000 Our trip to Frasier Island was fantastic. We went with an organised group in a 17 seater 4WD truck thing. The company we went with were called Trailblazer Tours and this is the exact tour we did99 of backpackers go for the selfdrive tours and seem to enjoy it mainly because of the cheap prices However with the guided tourAll food cooked for you and included in priceAll petrol included in http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Fraser-Island/blog-11089.html We set off early last Saturday morning from Brisbane heading SouthWest towards Stanthorpe. The 3 hour drive is really nice with some mountains and such like providing a pleasant backdrop.Along the way there are some real country towns like Warwick where we spotted a rodeo ring I was later to learn from someone in work that the Warwick rodeo ring is home to the biggest rodeo in Queensland every http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Stanthorpe/blog-15075.html So we left Siem Reap in Cambodia at 7am for Thai border. Bus eventuallygot going at 8am this is Cambodia after all. Got moving for 1 and a halfhours before the bus broke down overheating. Another bus from the samecompany came along and said they could take 17 of us further up the roadto wait for a new bus.22 of us duly complied to leave this new bus very full. Reached the 'newbus point' and s http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Ko-Chang/blog-8828.html Hi allKuala Lumpur is fantastic a beautiful city with lots to see.We have been here for 4 nights and leave on the night train to Singaporeat 1030pm tonight.Our accomodation was in the Allson Genesis Hotel which was very nice indeed. We paid 165RM a night for a lovely room. The location is also very convenient.Naturally we went to see the famous Petronas Towers here in KL very impressive the 2 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Wilayah-Persekutuan/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-8838.html The Daintree Rainforest is located on Cape Tribulation north of Cairns. We took a 2 day trip to see what the area had to offer.After pickup it was off to the small town of Port Douglas where we stopped for 45 minutes so the hungover passengers amonst us could get some Coke chocolate. As we had booked to spend the 3 nights after the tour in Port Douglas it was nice to get a quick look at the pla http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cape-Tribulation/blog-24595.html Arrived into Cairns last Thursday evening and was completely disorientated when I got off the bus. Couldn't find any Australian people even shop assistants where all Japanese. Shop signs etc all in Japanese as well......weird Eventually found a local who gave us directions to our accommodation Southern Cross Atrium Apartements. A hostel double room was gonna be about 80 and got a studio in th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cairns/blog-23572.html We arrived in Airlie Beach last Tuesday and checked straight into our boat tour which set sail that night.The sailing trip was absolutely fantastic. We went on a boat called Solway Lass. It was about 100 more expensive 429 per person than the majority of the cheaper boats favoured by backpackers but I would HIGHLY recommend spending the extra money as we have heard really bad stories about th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Airlie-Beach/blog-22427.html We arrived onto Magnetic Island via a 5 hour bus trip North from Airlie Beach and a 20 minute ferry from Townsville.As we had prebooked accomodation at Base Backpackers we got picked up from the ferry and taken by bus to the hostel which is situated in Nelly Bay. I should point out that the bus driver was the weirdest fecker I have met in my life.....has to be seen to be believed......about 50 ye http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Magnetic-Island/blog-23571.html Yesterday we made the 1 hour trip to Brisbane to SeaWorld which is located on the outskirts of Surfer's Paradise.The park is cool with plenty of shows. The shows are really aimed at kids but they are still quite good. We went to the Sealion Dolphin and Water Skiing shows during the day.In addition there are a few good rides including a decent rollercaster. The Bermuda Triangle was especiall http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/Surfers-Paradise/blog-19862.html Just back from a great 2 day trip to Byron Bay. We set off early on Saturday morning from Brisvegas and arrived in Byron in less that 2 hours which was a bit quicker than I thought.It was straight up to the top of the hill at the end of the town to the famous lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on a headland that juts out from the cost to make it the most Easterly point in Australia.Such a locat http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Byron-Bay/blog-15927.html We left Langkawi yesterday after a great 3 nights on the island it is truelybeautiful and I hope to go back sometime when i have the money to enjoyit to the full. the season was wrong for scuba diving which was a pity.WE rented a car for one of the days and drove around the island abit. Wentto an Oriental village which was nice and went on the longest Cable Carin the world it was pretty nerv http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Penang/George-Town/blog-8837.html Howdy allLife is tough at here in the East..........the Cantonese is coming alongnicely 3 words counts as fluent rightHave done a fair bit of stuff despite battling jet lag. Went on a nightcruise this evening around Hong Kong. There is a channel that seperatesHong Kong Island from Kowloon Peninsula where we are staying......getyour maps out to check it out.Also the tram upto 'The Peak' i http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-8759.html Hong Kong is dead long live Hong Kong.....HK was great would definatly recommend it as a holiday destination Shoppingwas good except we had no money or spaceAll you punks who slated Bangkok..........u were SOOOOO wrong Arrived thisevening and are staying on this little road just away from Khao San Road.It's great with all these cheapo bars that serve food. I am loving it sofar. DON'T STA http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-8760.html Hi allWell we left Saigon and crossed the border into Cambodia to the capitalPhnom Penh. Not a great city at all quite bland. Stayed 2 nights thereand went to see S21 which used to be a school but was turned into a prisonby Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge after they took control of Cambodia in 1975.Men women and children of all ages were kept there and tortured. Mostwere then taken off to a pla http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-8826.html Howdy allDidn't do alot in our last 34 days in Chang Mai. We did get ourselves organisedthough and sent some unneeded or so we thought clothes off to our manin Brisbane cheers for that Dave Sent on monday 22nd and due to take2 weeks.....we'll seeOn Tuesday we left Chang Mai and 5 hours in a minibus later we were in theborder town of Chang Khong. Guesthouse there was part of the total http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-8807.html Dear DiaryOur 2nd last day in Luang Prabang was spent climbing up this big hill inthe middle of town called Phou Si great view from the top and all thatmalarky.Then in the afternoon we rented our bicylces and did a bit of exploringwhich was grand as the weather was not too hot at all.The following day we set off for Van Vieng VV. Our 9am minivan ended upcollecting us at 940 and by the time http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-8808.html The Laos Experience continues....Well after the great success of tubing in VanVieng despite the injuriesmyself and Ruth went off tubing again the next day No beer this time thoughjust floating along. Weather was 'scorchio'.....plenty of factor 15 didthe trick thoughThe next day Thursday we rented bikes and took a cycle to the local marketto make some minor purchases. Went to these bars dow http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vientiane/blog-8810.html Bless me Reader it has been many weeks since my last communication.My time in hibernation has not been in vain however as I did a little workon my website during my spare time. Be sure to go check it out My WebsiteI'm sure you shall all add my masterpiece straight into your Internet FavouritesWe have been on TVThe 4 of us visited this restaurantLouvreIt was part of a TV programme over here. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-11090.html I have managed to land a 4 week contract working as a Financial Modeller.I will basically be building models in Excel and reviewing existing models.Starting tomorrow Wednesday and there is free booze EVERY Friday after work......We went to the St. Paddy's Day parade here last Saturday it was good craicwith all the Irish coming out of the woodwork. They even had St. Patrickhimself......on the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-8843.html Brisbane life is great. We're well settled into our 2 bedroom appartment.It's very close to the city 7 minutes on a train and the station is withinstumbling distance of the appartment.Andy Anto have been living with us for almost 6 weeks now and everyoneis getting on well. We're all working. My contract is due to finish on Fridaythe 29th but the others are about halfway into 2 month contracts http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-8844.html