http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Simon--and-Alex/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Simon and Alex en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:01:40 +0000 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:01:40 +0000 After the excitement of safari the second half of the honeymoon didn't start as smoothly as planned. We had already had our flights changed not long before the wedding and instead of flying directly from Nairobi to Mauritius we had to get up early to fly down to Johannesburg before catching a connecting flight to Mauritius. All was going well until the connecting flight was cancelled due to pro http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Mauritius/Grand-Bay/blog-396757.html Day 1After our overnight flight which had been largely incidentfree we arrived at Nairobi International Airport and were transferred to Wilson Airport for our flight to the Masai Mara. The flight took just 40 minutes although Alex at least was unable to appreciate the views as she promptly fell asleep following several sleepless nights of excitementnerves in the runup to the weddingWe arri http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Rift-Valley-Province/Masai-Mara-NP/blog-394603.html Sunday 20th April 2008No chance for a lie in this morning. We were rudely woken by the alarm clock at 5.30 in order to catch the early train from St Pancras International. Needless to say we were early to the station which gave us plenty of time to get into the holiday spirit and to enjoy a croissant and a coffee before boarding the Eurostar to Brussels. Two hours of reading and dozing on the t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/West-Flanders/Brugge/blog-269945.html It has been a while since we graced these pages but after a brief jaunt across the Irish Sea we couldn't resist the chance to fill you in on our lovely holiday even those bah humbugging who have been at work for the past two weeks. So it has to be sure been a lovely holiday in the Emerald Isle one which we have largely spent enjoying beautiful scenery and large meals interspersed by pints http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Northern-Ireland/Armagh/blog-198081.html Photos to follow.Thursday 18th JanuaryWe made yet another early start for the airport having successfully squeezed all our last minute souvenir shopping and newly tailored clothes into our bulging rucksacks. After spending a few minutes badgering the taxi drivers to provide us with seatbelts we were soon away through central Bangkok already gridlocked and then out towards the airport on the e http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-120970.html Wednesday 10thDue to the early escape to bed the previous night we woke up early. We managed to drag ourselves the few yards to the sea for a prebreakfast swim which was nice and refreshing. The weather was rather cloudy but we decided to hang around our guesthouse Seaflower for the day. We passed the day playing volleyball with two English guys and generally relaxing on the beach. The afte http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-119249.html Wednesday 3rd JanuaryWe got up and had breakfast with Clem and Becky before seeing them off to work and then watched some more cricket while packing. We then had an incredibly long trip to the airport including train bus and finally taxi after which we felt even more grateful for having been so well looked after during our stay.Our first flight to Singapore was extremely turbulent throughout i http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Western-Thailand/Kanchanaburi/blog-116971.html Friday 29th DecemberWe had one last day before flying on again and decided that we should really explore Melbourne a bit after spending several days in the area but not really exploring. The first stop of the day was a short walk to the Victorian market. The place was huge and sold everything from food to didgeridoos. We had a good wander around and Alex bought herself a fancy looking hair pin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Perth/Perth-City/blog-115303.html Saturday 23rd DecemberWe made an extremely early start and were at the airport by 5am although several delays awaited us. Eventually we were on our way and had an uneventful flight to Melbourne albeit with a slightly bumpy landing. After spending what seemed like hours queuing through passport control and customs we caught the skybus into the city. As our train out to Hamilton in western Vi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-114175.html Well it's our last night in Auckland and after five months exploring this fantastic country we thought we'd better have a round up of all the best bits take note those of you planning a visit We have enjoyed ourselves so much here and done so many unique things it's been unforgettableAction and activities Gliding high above Lake TaupoWhite water rafting on the WairoaBlack water raftin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-112552.html Monday 18th DecemberNo early morning start much to our relief. We left the campsite on foot heading just around the corner to the Hururu falls. They weren't spectacular compared to what we've seen in the past and so we didn't loiter in the vacinity long. We set off along the track towards the area called Waitangi passing through a mangrove forrest on the way spying some crabs in the mud as http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Paihia/blog-112548.html Sunday 10 DecemberWe left Cambridge and followed the mighty Waikato river north along SH1 until the anal probe otherwise known as the Sky Tower came into view to herald our arrival back into Auckland. Finding our way easily back to Queen Street we checked back into the Kiwi International and had some lunch before filling the afternoon with the internet and scouting the Backpackers' Car Market in http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Paihia/blog-112542.html Sunday 3rd DecemberWe left our campsite and drove back down the road into Thames itself. The town apparently has the longest main street in New Zealand but we didn't bother stopping and browsing the shops as they were all closed due to it being a Sunday. Instead we drove inland to a place called Kauaeranga as we were hoping to have a walk around an area called The Pinnicles. We didn't find o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/Whitianga/blog-109673.html MondayWe drove back into New Plymouth for a look around the Art Gallery which had an interesting display by the local artist Michael Smithers at least I thought so It seems Simon and my opinions of art are at opposite poles. After this we headed north on SH3 stopping for lunch at a pretty little cove signposted as 'The Three Sisters' though we weren't sure what they were as it was high tide. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-107546.html Mon 20th Wed 22nd NovemberWe arrived back in the town of Tua Marina on Sunday night where we previously stayed with a Dutch family to do some wwoofing. Seeing as the food and bed had been good as well as a nice family to chat to we had decided to ring them up again and organise another stint of work on our way past. 12 hours of gardening each was a small price to pay to relax for a few days http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Egmont-National-Park/blog-106173.html Sunday 12 NovemberAfter breakfast we made a reasonably early start on our walk up the Hooker Valley after getting well kitted out in coats hats and gloves. It certainly isn't a wonder that a third of the Mount Cook N.P. is covered by permanent snow and ice Our first stop was the Alpine Monument which was dotted with numerous little plaques commemorating lives lost in the area and a testament http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-103962.html Bit of a cheesy title but you'll be able to see why as the report progresses if you can't guess already that is. I could have used Rock Bottom Down but not out or anything of a similar nature.Sunday 5th NovemberLeaving our camp site we started south for what will probably be one of the last mornings of our travels here in NZ. As we've become accoustomed to recently the journey was partaken http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Dunedin/blog-100940.html Monday 30 October Have we really been away 4 monthsAs we fell asleep again to the sound of heavy rain drops plopping onto Max's roof we prayed that the weather gods would bring some sunshine the next day and sure enough today was dry if extremely cool and blustery in patches. Despite conditions in Max being incomparably favourable to life in a tent we occasionally see crazy people on bikes http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fiordland-National-Park/blog-100157.html Monday 23rd OctoberAfter surviving the onslaught of biting sand flies at our DOC campsite in Lyell we set off on a short walk to the old cemetery. The cemetery was in use from 1870 to 1900 and still is I suppose by a few people but was left to nature as the town deminished after the gold rush. There were still several graves including a lady from Gainsborough for all those Lincolnshire folk http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/West-Coast/blog-97222.html MondayWhile everyone else at the camp site presumably got up early to catch the 3am ferry why we had a leisurely breakfast and a return trip up Mt Victoria for some decent views over Wellington since the previous two days had been so cloudy and windy. At around 11.30 we headed to the ferry terminal to check in and load up before our 1pm departure. Most of the people lined up to board were o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/West-Coast/Greymouth/blog-95892.html