Ooops! Hi Mike,
It appears you have had a name change :) Due to the vagaries of technology and some difficulty posting my comment, appears there was a mental bloc involved. Still enjoyed your blog, just the same. :) Keep travelling! Cheers, Jan
Ha ha that did confuse me, you must have been as tired as me from my flights home! Yes was a great trip and really interesting although now I wish I had visited when you did so I could see the contrasts, but maybe I'll just have to go back in 10-20 years time and see the difference for myself. Thanks for reading and glad you enjoyed, keep on travelling yourself , Mike
Interesting memories Hey Tim,
Was fascinated to read you blog which brought back some interesting memories of China from when we were last there in 2008, just after the Olympics. It was fascinating to see the contrasts from our first visit in 1983 and again 25 years later. Absolutely poles apart with Beijing being almost unrecognisable. Back in '83 there was no high-rise; the only vehicles on the road were government-owned (trucks, buses etc) as individuals couldn't own cars back then but, thousands of bicycles everywhere with the total population still wearing their Chairman Mao tunics. Everything was drab, dreary and grey. Back in 1983 China had not long opened to tourism so, everything was very basic. You couldn't even leave your hotel without your personal guide; there were no western-style stores; tourists could only shop in the purpose-built Friendship stores for tourists only and we even had our own "tourist" currency. There was no independent travel of any kind and, forget wandering around anywhere under your own steam. Just didn't happen and wasn't allowed. Sounds as though you have done a very similar trip to ours in 2008 so, thanks for the walk down memory lane and of places visited. Like you - I think it will be interesting to see what happens with China over the next 20 years or so. Cheers, Jan
Bucket list Sincerely loved your observations and the questions you had to ask your self about the reality of life in Russia vs media vs secretly is it there? Enjoyed hearing about your spa adventure,ha. " It was one of those trips that reminded me of why I travel, not only to see historical sights but also to find out about a country for myself and not just take in everything that I've been led to believe, besides I've read somewhere, you've got to beware, you can't believe everything you read". Great stuff Mike....keep on travelin'
Trans Mongolian Hey Mike,
Interested to read your blog as we have just come back from spending 3 weeks across Russia and Mongolia via the Trans-Mongolian/Trans Siberian but, did it the other way around - Beijing to St. Petersburg. What a fantastic trip!! Like you - we also had a great group but, did it with Intrepid Travel and also like you, agree that, unless you have a command of the Russian language - it's too hard to do it on your own. Definitely with a tour is the way to go. Border crossings ... a bit of a test of patience but, still fun to see how they change the bogeys between China and Mongolia. Also agree, that next time ..... have to do it in the winter months! :) Cheers, Jan
Glad to see you blogging again We loved our time in Morocco and felt something you did not but that is ok. Each of us find interest in different places. Glad to have read your perspective and glad to see you blogging again. You have to go to these places to figure out which are your favorites and which ones are not. Happy travels.
i loved your post Mike. it was worth reading. i never saw that amusing view of Marrakech. all those pic collections were self defining and wonderful. specially Oasis, Dades Gorge... thanks for sharing :)
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It's your wry musings... that resulted in your HoF. We look forward to reading more from you. But stooping to an organized tour!?! My daughter wants to visit Morocco and I advised her to take an organized tour. Worst of all, we are taking one next week when we visit Peru and Bolivia...our first multi-day tour ever!
Outstanding blog Really enjoyed your humor and impressions. Still on our top 10 list so hopefully we will get there sooner than later. Thanks for sharing.
Great conclusion... with appropriate philosophizing. Are you headed home? My son will be attending Bangor University starting 23 September so I now have a personal Welsh connection, in addition to some fellow Tb'ers from Wales.
Hey mike
glad you still safe. You really should put all these blogs into a book one day. you're an amazing and very funny writer. Anyhow keep travelling safe and enjoying. See you soon Angela xxx
you're much funnier than Lenny Henry I loved this blog!... it made me laugh so much that my Dad came in the living room asking what was going on!... I wish he could understand English so he could read it as well :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!! Great writing! I was wondering where you had been and so delighted to see you pop up in Tanzania as I poured my coffee this morning. For the first half of the blog, I had myself convinced that this was something I just HAD to do. By the end, I was content to be at my current Illinois altitude. Anyway, I loved your descriptions and humor and humility. And just fyi, I hate Diet Coke too.
Well done!! This is indeed a life time achievement! and that feeling of keep going and achieve something you thought you couldn't do is one of the best feelings ever!!
Well said! What a great experience! The felucca sailing was great! Will definitely travel to Egypt again! Felt more save in Egypt as in my own country!
Independent travel takes a rest Many of us have had the same mental struggle and thoughts about independent travel and some sort of tour. We are always surprised when the tour turns out to be pleasant and not the fright that we imagined. You may want to try a private tour. You and your father could arrange a customized tour in many countries and you would not feel so herded. We have done that is Morocco, Peru, Iceland, Burma. Give it some thought.
Sorry you missed out on your balloon ride.
You've learned the power and importance of water. Thanks for sharing the end of the beginning.
You made it! I was delighted to see this post last night! You made it to Egypt after all. Sounds like you had a good time and I agree with you about having the guide in Egypt. Its one place where "winging it" isn't ideal. I had a similar thought as you, regarding the Egypt of today versus the imposing prosperous Egypt of 5000 years ago. King Tut would roll in his tomb.
Hi all, I'm Mike, a teacher from Wales and travelling plays a key role in my life. I am fascinated by the endless variety this world has to offer and the people who inhabit it, I live to travel to faraway places to seek out as many experiences as possible.
"If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It's lethal." - Paulo Coelho. I suppose it's a desperation to avoid the norm of home, that feeling that life is mundane and unfulfilling. I don't want to be like the majority, stuck in the rat race working all day and sat hunched over a smartphone checking Twitt... full info
SkiSet
The Ds
Ooops!
Hi Mike, It appears you have had a name change :) Due to the vagaries of technology and some difficulty posting my comment, appears there was a mental bloc involved. Still enjoyed your blog, just the same. :) Keep travelling! Cheers, Jan