http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/honestpete/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from honestpete en-us Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:49:17 +0000 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:49:17 +0000 Well Irsquove put off writing this all day as I didnrsquot really want to accept that it was over. And believe it or not I donrsquot just mean the trip I mean the blog too. A lot of people have asked me why I wrote it and especially why I put so much time into it. I guess the simple answer is that I really enjoyed it far more than I expected to. I enjoyed sitting down and describing wha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-360315.html So the evening of New Yearrsquos Day was a bit quiet. Koh San Road was pretty tranquil a rare event Irsquom sure as normally itrsquos really bustling. I wandered about had a beer or 2.I met a couple of lads from Doncaster who were pretty funny. Theyrsquod been to Koh Samui for NYE at one of the famous Full Moon Parties. They told some pretty wild tales of excesses it sounds like the nor http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-359774.html Dec 30 31st Jan 1stIt wasnrsquot so easy to leave Richmond. Irsquod had a great time with my folks and family met up with lots of old friends most of the ones I was expecting and a few I wasnrsquot. For once Yorkshirersquos weather had been kind to me very kind in fact and it had been a good stay.But Dec 30th was the day to leave. Mum and Dad gave me a lift all the way to Manches http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-359004.html After a good day on Boxing Day December 27th was a quiet affair. The wider family was on its way so there was tidying up to do general motherly fussing about the house but no big deal. Some general pottering about and then cousin Richard and wife Deborah and Aunty Lynda and Uncle Robert all turned up.After dinner we headed for the Georgian Theatre one of the oldest functional theatres in th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/North-York-Moors/blog-358350.html Yorkshirersquos weather continued to behave wonderfully for me the 24th no different. The dayrsquos first job was a stroll to the Marketplace to see lsquoThe Horsersquo a bizarre medieval tradition maintained by some old friends.The Deighton family lived across the road from us when I was born in a village near Richmond. John has always led the musical charge and this year he was only http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/North-York-Moors/blog-357584.html Yorkshire did me proud and I woke up to a perfect clear blue day albeit a touch brisk but as lovely as could have been hoped for. I jumped in the car and headed off to some of my favourite Richmond spots to take some photos.Richmondrsquos a very picturesque and historical place.First Stop was Easby Abbey just a mile or so down the road. It was built in 1150 but has been in ruin for a very lo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/North-York-Moors/blog-356743.html Having stayed up so late with Bree on Friday Saturday morning was a bit sluggish to say the least. In fact I passed on the morning completely and went straight through to the weekend. Bree was also struggling but at least managed to venture outside even though it was only for a manicure.I guess I was struggling it had been quite a run of busy days starting with the overnight flight from New Yor http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Walthamstow/blog-356346.html Friday morning was a real high point of the trip. I awoke in my hotel room but immediately decided that was my first mistake. Not feeling too clever it was a lsquoNurofen and waterrsquo morning lying in a dark room. Mental note to self Guinness and Curry is not a good mixture.The only thing I really had to do was get to Breersquos office on Tottenham Court Road for midday to drop my bags http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Walthamstow/blog-355912.html Tuesday started with lunch with Scouser Steve George. I hadn't really expected to see him but he lives in Chiswick not far from Andy and Dee and so I dropped him a line. As he also works in Chiswick he was able to pop out for a lunchtime snack by which I obviously mean pint.He worked for Verizon in Sydney until a couple of years ago when he decided to move home and start a family. Hersquos w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Kensington/blog-355648.html Next spot quiz name the band and album quoted in the title.Well done to Gabs Browning for correctly identifying that Geoff Woad's 20lb head was a reference to 'Withnail and I'. Your prize such as it is coffee with the author and a signed first edition of the next post tomorrow in Reading.Anyhow. London. Very strange to come back here after so long. By the time I woke up Dee and Hosko were http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Hammersmith/blog-354757.html My last day in New York Friday. Had to pack my stuff up get organised check out pay the lovely bill. New York is proper expensive. I wanted to take the boat to the Statue of Liberty but the weather wasn't really behaving. It was beautiful and sunny totally clear but a touch brisk and pretty windy. Several locals had said that if itrsquos windy in the city donrsquot bother with the i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Hammersmith/blog-354272.html Wednesday and ThursdayThe temperature had jumped dramatically overnight. It was much much warmer when I emerged on Wednesday. So warm in fact that but for the torrential rain you wouldnrsquot even need a jacket.If yoursquove read all my entries to date then yoursquoll realise that Irsquom a bit of a walker. I donrsquot think therersquos any better way to get your bearings and thought http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-353686.html Monday again was a bit slow getting started. The corner shop outside the hotel is my morning stroll for coffees. We wandered north up Lexington and headed for a look at Central Station which is a very impressive building. I tried to get all arty with the shutter speed.Then it was onwards north up Madison Avenue breakfast at Caf Metro very good and it wasnrsquot long till we got to the south http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-353070.html As planned Friday night was a couple of beers in a hotel with Alex and one of the other guys and he dropped me back at the station. By then it was getting seriously cold. I stood on the platform shivering and swearing under my breath. The train was easy enough but it took me an hour to get to Penn Station thankfully the hotel Wolcott wasnrsquot far from there so I walked. Lots of delis resta http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-352473.html So itrsquos a bit brisk here in Sunny Piscataway. But right now itrsquos not the arctic circle or anything. It was quite nice and sunny when I got up and the walk from the hotel to the office was only marginally longer than my usual walk to work in Sydney.Itrsquos a couple of big buildings a lot of VZB people here in a big suburban business park. At least they donrsquot all work from ho http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/New-Brunswick/blog-351584.html Monday was a day in the office. It felt pretty odd getting up at 730am to get myself organised especially after a long day of Thanksgiving eating and drinking.I hope I expressed enough gratitude to Gareth and Sally. It really was a bit of a lifesaver to spend 5 nights with them be made to feel so welcome to be shown the sights and sounds and on top of all that not need to part with lots of c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Austin/blog-351090.html I need to write this every day Its all got a bit blurred. Saturday we got up and like so did some stuff. The photos on this page are a bit jumbled some are from the day before but no matter.I just sat and stared at the screen eventually memories of Saturday came to me short term erm thingummyhellip..you know. We made a brisk start to the day by popping down to a bar called Bagpipes as http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Austin/Hill-Country/blog-350441.html Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We started in The Horseshoe Lounge' The Shoe. As mentioned previously itrsquos a really cheap and dirty dive and a total blackout inside. Reminded me of London during the blitz.Theyrsquod put on a turkey dinner which was OK but Irsquom pretty sure it wouldrsquove made Gordon swear. There were ants on the table that were enjoying it more that I did.We was http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Austin/blog-349541.html So......I....and didn't it......Couldn't it have been......and then..... brilliant Accidentally oops. All covered in hair. Running towards me. A fireworks display in the village. 1 girl was very badly burnt.This post is logded in honour of Rowley Birkin QC who has been a trusted friend and mentor to me for many years. It's 1.45am and has been a quite considerably long day. I intend to elabora http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Austin/blog-349281.html I thought I'd best elaborate a little on yesterday I was a man of few words by the time I got home.Was a bit sad to leave San Francisco it really is an interesting place and I think my kind of town no gay jokes please. But checked out of the Queen Anne and headed to the Airport for a nice easy 11.15am flight to Austin about 4 hours and 2 time zones away.A few days ago I mentioned a guy sitt http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Austin/blog-349170.html