http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/blonk/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from blonk en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:26:59 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:26:59 +0000 Flight to Beijing and check into a fine Hotel for the cost of 30AUS per night. First thing we notice about Beijing is its flat not just flat but billiard table flat. The city is divided into blocks these are not just regular blocks but some go for a kilometer. To look on a map what may seem a short distance to walk being a few blocks can turn into a proper day outing with plenty of walking. T http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/Great-Wall-of-China/blog-396097.html We were picked up from the border of HK China by friends and travelled to the industrial area of Guangzhou were we where to spend a few days at a zipper factory belonging to friends from Australia. As is customary apparently in the region we were taken out to eat late at night. The restuarants here can cater for over 1000 people and the foyers look more like exotic pet shops than an eatery. The http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Guangzhou/blog-396064.html Flew to Phu Quoc for a very refreshing few days.Nice place could live there no problems. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/blog-385137.html Made it to Hong Kong Was supposed to travel overland but due to the Sichuan Earthquake and the Olympics no visa.Anyway had a good look around Kowloon on what was left of my budget not much.Seems to be a 7 11 and Macdonalds on every corner http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-385130.html Spend days wandering around Hanoi on a motorbike getting lost meeting people. My Vietnamese by this stage was good enough to hold a basic conversation.Did the usual tourist events plus a few. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-385109.html It was on my list of things to do once in my life and now it is crossed off.Worth every moment though to see this amazing place. Overnighter with kayaking recommended. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Halong-Bay/blog-385118.html We went directly from Na Trang to Danang and straight down to Hoi An.My Favourite place in Vietnam. Were going to stay for a couple of days and stayed for 9 days.Nice http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-385098.html I just wantedto post a short note mentioning Rach Gia as there is not much on here about it. We found it to be a freindly town with 4star accomodation The best we have stayed in yet for 20 a night. Nobody and I mean nobody speaks a word of english so I had to polish up on the vietnamese quickly. We had a great night and watched the sunset over the bay ate excellent food and were treated like r http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/Rach-Gia/blog-291514.html We travelled east to the beach Mui Ne and was fortunate enough to be taken on the way to the Giant Buddha. A cable car ride up through the rain forest for about 5 k's then walk another few hundred meters to what is apparently the largest reclining buddha in SE asia. The cable car had only been in place for the last 6 years and people from all over Vietnam used to make the 7 kilometer pilgramige th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Mui-Ne/blog-286738.html Arrived in Saigon to the more familiar madness of SE Asia had a lift to the hotel booked and settled for the day. Nice hotel great people Blue River Hotel recommended.Was much easier this time to get absorbed into the culture our first experience in Cambodia was somewhat overwhelming but within hours we were in the middle of hustle and bustle and already learning the language. Exceptional food http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-289103.html First night of the trip was overnight in Tapei. Was expecting the same chaos as our first trip to the Far East however this country appears on face value very similar to what we are used to the west.The airline had organised accomodation for us at the Miramar Country Club a golf resort fit for a king.A short bus ride up the mountain and we were there overlooking Tapei.The work that has gone into http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Taiwan/Taipei/blog-289101.html To the beach http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Sihanoukville/blog-261500.html I think the one thing I will never forget about Phnom Penh is the smell of mass humanity. The crowded hurried streets the smiles of the not so fortunate. Did I mention the smell. The eager to please and the bustling utopia it is for those destined to make a dollar and maybe never leave their country. The hopeful the hateful the well to be that drive past starving children in the 200000 lexus http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-261146.html Journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was one of the most interesting parts of the journey. Many villagers gather at the ferry to greet the westerners from the buses. Be careful of your wallets and valuables. I am sure if travellers stayed there for a while they wouldnt be so desperate for money however most get straight of the bus and head to the boat... This leaves them with impending imedaicy fo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Tonle-Sap/blog-260880.html We have spent days cruising around the Angkor Temples and further outlying areas swimming under waterfalls and meeting the locals. We both agree we love the place and would recommend it to anyone. We travelled through the Cambodian rainforest yesterday to check out some amazing carvings that have beem done under the water and were fed an excellent meal by the locals We were both a bit sceptical http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-258706.html I am not sure anything in my life had prepared me for what I walked into in Siem Reap We both arrived safely and in good spirits 15 minutes through customs and out to meet our driver. 38 degrees C after sitting on an airconditioned plane is refreshing and reminds us we are far from home.Our driver Mr. Phansey Ros had organised a 12 seater bus to pick us up because the car was out on another trip http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-257905.html Tonight we leave for the unknown a place I had never even heard of a month ago. I am full of adrenaline and anxiety which I am sure a 10 hour plane trip will dispose of. This time tomorrow night I will be haggling over the price of a Tuk Tuk albiet in Siem Reap.Stay posted.S. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Coffs-Harbour/blog-257326.html