http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Shelby76/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Shelby76 en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:57:14 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:57:14 +0000 20th March 2008We landed at heathrow back to 7 degree weather it was 6.30am and after 13 hours we were very tired indeed. we were picked up by a taxi company and finally got home about 8.30am. My dad was there but my mum was at work she didnt know we were coming home it was a surprise. Once in and after a nice hot bath I headed straight round to my friend Zoe none of my friends new I was co http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Essex/Southend-on-Sea/blog-276551.html 17th 19th March 2008Well we went back to KL station and got on our train to Singapore the journey was about 5 hours and seemed to go relatively quick we got ourselves tickets for the 1st class seating cant remember the cost but wasnt much. Once we reached the border of Malaysia and Singapore we waited on the train and immigration staff boarded and squiggles in your passport I assume this was l http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Geylang/blog-276550.html 15th 17th March 2008Well we arrived at Kuala Lumpur Central Station about 6.30am grabbed our bags and headed out of the station outside we got a cab to take us to the hotel we had booked. He charged us 15 ringgit which I tried for lowere but he wasnt having any of it. Couldnt complain too much it was only 2.50. as it was so ealry the roads were empty and we got taken straight to our hotel http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Wilayah-Persekutuan/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-276538.html 13 15th MarchWe got a bus early in the morning on the 13th to take us to Trang and then onto Hat Yai. To get off of Lanta by car you have to go on the car ferry. With that and the other crowds it can take a long time. We were picked up at 7.30am and by the time the van was full and we were on our way it was 8.20. Onto the first car ferry and across onto Lanta Nok the northern Island then we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Southern-Thailand/Hat-Yai/blog-272209.html 7th 13th MarchWe left Phi Phi by ferry and headed to Koh Lanta the last of the beaches of our travels the ferry took about an hour so not too bad. I had booked us into the Lanta Garden Home on Khlong Dao Beach luckily they were at the pier so we got a lift to the guesthouse the place was nothing special. I had booked a hut for 500 bahts a night but for some reason it wasnt available so sh http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Lanta/blog-272202.html 4th 7th MarchWe left early in the morning of the 4th from Tonsai to get the ferry to Koh Phi Phi. The ferry took about and hour and half to get there and was a good journey. Once arrived with the usual manic at piers. We got a long tai boat to take us round to Long beach where i had booked the PP Hill Resort for 3 nights. When we arrived we had to climg up a walkway to the bottom of the res http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Phi-Phi/blog-272198.html 28th 1st MarchWell we left Koh Pha Ngan during a lovely load fo rain we left the guesthouse and jumped on the ferry at Haadrin Pier to Big Buddha Beach was a little bit of a rough journey with the rain and big waves but after an hour we were on Koh Samui. We jumped into a taxi to Chaweng and was dropped off at our guesthouse Baan Rom Mai. First you have to walk through which looks like a car http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Samui/blog-272187.html 17th 26th february 2008We left Koh tao and jumped back on the catamaran to Koh Pha Ngan the trip took about an hour and a half to Thongsala. Once there we found ourselves a taxi which would take up to the north of the island where we could get a boat to Bottle beach after a few arguments by people in the taxi as it was costing us 200 bahts each we finally set of to Chakalom once at Chakalom P http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-268660.html 12th 17th February 2008Well we arrived in Koh Tao about 9.30am we found a taxi to take us to Sairee Beach which cost 200 bahts which is relatively expensive we went to Sairee Cottages where I had hoped to find a room. When we got there all they had was rooms that were 1300 bahts a night and with our budget at 500 totally out of our price range Matt stayed with the bags and I headed up and http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Tao/blog-268658.html 9th 11th February 2008 Well we headed back to bangkok and back to the Asha Guesthouse punishment as those beds are like stone but as it was so close to the Weekend market it would be good for 2 days. well 90 later after 2 days of shopping quite a bit of shopping we boxed up all our gifts and sent them home to England. We also booked our trains tickets from Hua lampong to Chumpohn. On Monday http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-268651.html 69th FebruaryWe flew from Luang Prabang Airport which is tiny and only has about 10 flights a day if that. We flew with Vietnam airlines as hadnt heard great things about Laos Airlines. It only took about 1hr 15 mins to Siem Reap so for me that was ideal and 'Pink' kept my mind off things on my ipod Once we landed we hand to queue up and get our Visa's one queue to hand in your passport a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-268649.html 30th Jan 6th FebWe arrive at Luang Prabang around about 5.30pm from the slow boat with our backpacks on we headed out with Paul Shelley the couple we met on the boat for a nice place to stay some places were full already but we came across Namsok which was nice we had a triple room with hot shower for 15 a night a little over the budget but after 2 days on the boat I was giving my poor bu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-243517.html 27th 29th Jan We left on a nice VIP bus from Chiang Mai for a 3 hour journey to Chiang Rai with the comfortable seats snack and a drink I was happy chilling out on the bumpy road up there. It seems a lot of the road it being re done so pretty much the odd dirt track along the way. But with my ipod on it was a few ours to catch up on some sleep. Once we reached Chiang Rai straight away hound http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Rai/blog-242051.html 21st 26th JanWe were picked up from Chiang mai station by the Guest house so didn't have to worry about getting a tuk tuk we are staying at Ben Guest House its slightly outside the main city but only a quick walk across the river and 5 minutes from the Night Bazaar and 10 mins from the main city. The guest house is really nice the rooms are a nice size with en suite and hot shower the bath http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-239310.html 14th 20th Jan We arrived in Bangkok on the 14th Jan after a good flight from Melbourne we landed about 8pm getting through immigration and customs was very quick indeed and we were on our way in a taxi to our hostel 'The Green House Guest House' on Thanon Rambuttri near koh San. We checked into our room which was a Double Room with EnsuiteHot shwr for 589 bht a night. It was a great littl http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-239305.html 5th 14th Jan 2008 MelbourneWe left Sydney and headed on our overnight greyhound to Melbourne another 12 hour stint but not too bad and the driver was good not like some of the others who have teh coach bouncing all over the place. We had booked into the Hotel BakPak now called Hotel Discovery. Once finding the place as it was only 8am we had to wait to check in till gone 10 so we just sa http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/City-Centre/blog-236991.html 27th Dec 2nd Jan We left Bondi and headed to Kings Cross to be a little bit closer to rhe CBD for NYE. We are staying in the D'lux hostel which is an ok hostel quite big with a roof garden with good views over the city. Location is good for walking to the harbour the botannical gardens. Kings Cross is a very busy area with clubs bars stripper clubs and the odd lady of the night hanging ar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Kings-Cross/blog-231841.html 20 27th DecWe left Katoomba and headed back on the train to Sydney and headed over to Bondi Beach we was booked into Lamrock Lodge for a week and was nice to settle for a few days. Lamrock Lodge was nice we had a double room which came with TV fridge microwave and sink so was nice to have your own space and save some pennies by staying in a few nights to watch TV. The kitchen facitilies http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Beach/blog-231840.html 17th 19th DecWe headed from Manly back to Central station to get the train to the town of Katoomba which was a 2 hour journey and only 12.20 for single journey It was a nice train ride as the views are lovely as you start to hit the mountains. We was staying at a fabulous little guest house called No.14 www.numberfourteen.com who we highly recommend beautiful little guest house with http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Blue-Mountains/blog-231839.html 14th 16th DecWe arrived early morning in Sydney from Central station where the greyhound drops you off. We jumped on the train to Circular Quay and the ferry to Manly. We were booked into Manly Backpackers for 3 nights. Thankfully it was only about 500 metres from the ferry wharf so not to far to walk. We arrived at 9am just as reception was opening and checked into what became hell for 3 ni http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Manly/blog-231837.html