colindn
Colin Newman Joined: June 30th 2008
Logged in: January 17th 2010
Logged in: January 17th 2010
Travel Blog Posts
Great day today - we skipped off work with one of the docs brothers who is visiting from Australia (this was encouraged). We had planned to visit Tembe Elephant Park, but unfortunately the car was not a 4x4 and wasn't allowed in. Instead, we found Ndumo Game Reserve a few miles west. For 40 rand (~7 dollars) each, we could self drive around the game park. The bush is really thick this time of year, but easily saw some antelope, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeests. Heard some hippos in a lake, but were cautious. Saw some very large spiders as well. After the game reserve, we stopped to get lunch at a nearby lodge, which looked fairly brand new (and smelled like fresh paint). We were the only people in the place, and the server looked quite surprised ... read more
(the title is a message on the background of this computer, installed in the doctors lounge at the hospital) Wanted to post an update after talking with my parents, and finding out that my Uncle Gerald was concerned about my lack of communication! We stayed in Durban on Monday night and a small backpacking hostel. We were exhausted, but managed to drag ourselves to a seafood restaurant for some food. The city was beautiful but HOT (especially compared to the temperature regulation of our airport homes). Went back to the hostel, had a few beers and went to sleep. Up early the next day (Tuesday) to catch a "taxi" to Manguzi. Not a taxi in the North American sense, but a mini-van that seats 15 people and probably hasn't been serviced since the second world war. ... read more
Total flying hours = 21.5 Total Airport Hours = 21 Current Status = Tired Movies Watched = The Reader, Star Trek Movies Aborted = Swingers, Public Enemies Video Games Played = Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Books Read = Young Stalin Airport Meals Eaten = Sushi, cappucino, starbucks Airplane Meals Eaten = "beef", muffin, free roast beef sandwich, chicken tikka masala, english breakfast Bottles of mini-airplane wine drank = 4 Women accusing passengers of intentionally tripping her 2 year old son = 1 Degrees in Durban = 29 (feels like 1000000000000000)... read more
At Heathrow with 10 hours to kill. So far, bathroom x2, cappucino x 1, browsing high end stores, internet cafe. 6 hours left until our flight to Johannesburg. Things will get worse before they get better, but really it's been smooth sailing thus far. No more to report at this point.... read more
Umbrella
Back in St John's after an arduous trip back. Something like 30 hours of travelling. Here are pictures from our last couple of days (Ko Samui and Bangkok). Glad everyone enjoyed the blog!... read more
Hammock
I hope everyone appreciates the frequent updates. Today we had to go to two different places, got a virus (i think), got electrocuted (weird voltage through the usb port or something) and had to step over a fat thai lady who was watching weird thai soap operas. Not sure if the pictures will get uploaded, but i'll try So today is our last day on the islands, we fly back to Bangkok tonight at 10pm. Left Ko Phagnan on the 21st, while Mark and Krystle stayed behind so Mark could do his 4 day diving certification. Took a ferry that was definitely beyond capacity for about an hour to this island, Ko Samui. The travel guides list it as a "boutique" island, lots of rich tourists and the like. A bit of a change from the ... read more
Normally we wouldn't feel the need to post twice in one day, but the Ko Samui airport has convinced us otherwise. The whole airport is totally open air - security, baggage, everything. It's like this huge outdoor boutique mall. We're currently sitting in our "terminal", which is basically a huge gazeebo with lushly appointed chairs and couches, free internet and free drinks/snacks. And the planes are landing about 100 yards away. Our flight to Bangkok only cost $60, and we were able to make changes to the itinerary for free (ie. we moved the flight back a day with no hassle whatsoever). So for anyone who thinks that Thailand is an underdeveloped country, keep in mind that their airlines treat you better than Air Canada. We took some pictures, but it seems as though our camera ... read more
Krystle in Poncho
So Colin and I are here in an internet cafe (1 Baht per hour) in the aftermath of the Full Moon Party. Well, what can I say about that party except... we came, we went, we left (early). The party definitely wasn't our scene though we did have fun with all of our friends. It certainly was what we expected - a huge dance party on the beach but I guess I forgot to consider where everyone went to pee (the ocean!) and throw up (also the ocean) and swim/dance (again, the ocean). So, it was a bit of a disturbing event. We left after I realized I was lifeguarding the ocean, watching for people in trouble, and after we saw a guy tipped over in his chair, passed out. That sort of thing is a ... read more
Hi all, AK here. Yesterday we spent the day travelling across the country. We took a two hour ferry ride to the mainland and then a bus across the strip and another ferry to where we are now - Ko Phangnan. Here we met up with a bunch of othe med students who are travelling - Kelly, Jess, Jimmy, Susan, Danielle, Renee and Nik. It was great to see everyone and we had a big reunion breakfast and are heading to the beach shortly to stretch out and (likely) burn some more. We are staying at a really nice resort with bungalows. No air conditioning but we have a very strong fan that seems to be doing the trick. Had a great sleep last night after a big meal (where Colin, Mark and I were brave ... read more
