jnk106 - James Kilby

Here is my blog: "Notes From a Trans-Continental Journey". Initially I tried to write it as I went along, as a message to my family and friends at home, but I'm way too behind for that, so instalments will come as and when I have time to write and upload photos (it takes ages).

Out trip will take us through Europe, Russia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, (Thailand again), Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. We are travelling overland all the way by train bus and boat and car with the exception of the flights to and from Australia.

Note - check out Ross' blog at www.mytb.org/rogan j
Hes got loads more photos and they're much better

Nick now has a camera and has loads of cool photos up at www.mytb.org/nicky-s j

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Joined on: February 21st 2007
Last Login: August 19th 2008

Blog Entries: 15
Photos: 120
Recommends 4

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Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by jnk106, order by Date newest first.

By jnk106
April 22nd 2007

Mekong Delta Asia » Vietnam » Mekong River Delta

Mighty Mekong

Instead of just getting a bus from Sai Gon to Phnom Penh (we'd had enough of buses by now), we went by boat via a trip to the Mekong delta. The bus took us to the delta, where we got our first glimpse at the mighty Mekong river (actually just one of the many branches) - it was massive and very muddy. We were taking a day trip around the delta before going by bus the final several hundred kilometers to Chau Doc where the boat would take us the next day to Phnom Penh. Not particularly much of interest [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
April 21st 2007

Sai Gon Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City

Reunification Palace

On the basis of our previous 12 hour bus journeys I was expecting another night of uncomfort and torment as I boarded the bus for Sai Gon in Nha Trang. It appeared my fears were being quickly realised when immediately the woman in front of me fully reclined her seat into my legs. "Excuse me, I don't mind you reclining your seat, so long as the seat next to you is left upright - my legs dont fit in the space" I explained. Whether she misunderstood or was simply pure evil I will never know, but she then fully reclined [View Full Entry]

Uncle Ho watches over the post office (and everywhere else)

By jnk106
April 19th 2007

Nha Trang Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Nha Trang

Beach

Out of the fifty or so seats on the bus, only two are above the wheels. I was in one of them. Things wouldn't have been quite so bad had the girl in front not insisted on reclining her seat fully, so that my legs physically (and I'm not joking) didn't fit in the space intended for them. Nick suffered the same torment. Twelve hours later I couldn't feel my feet, and at 6.00am, tired and delusional after the journey we followed a tout to his guest house. Nha Trang - described as the "Miami of Viet Nam" rates as [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
April 10th 2007

Hoi An Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Hoi An

Beach on the way to Hoi An

In stark contrast to our previous adventure by bus, the short four hour trip to Hoi An was a pleasure. We wound for hours along the coast and mountains, receiving views of beaches in one direction, and cloudy peaks in the other. We arrived feeling great. Hoi An in a small town in South Viet Nam, famous for its old (world heritage status) centre, where traditional architecture is the style and tailoring is the business. In every business that isn't a bar, restaurant or souvenir shop, lurks a hopeful local, armed with tape measure and smile, keen to measure you [View Full Entry]

Zander gashed his finger open again in the pursuit of fruit

By jnk106
April 7th 2007

Hue Asia » Vietnam » North Central Coast » Hué

Big flag a'flyin

Since the bus cost about 5 times less than the train and was actually faster, we decided this was how we would travel Viet Nam. So we set out one April evening in Hanoi to embark on our first 13 hour overnight bus journey. I will say now that I am never amazed at the compassion of foreign drivers. This kind man, realising we were British, went out of his way to accomodate us by driving as often as possible on the left side of the road. Not only that but he also drove at breakneck speeds, in all lanes [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
April 4th 2007

Ha Long Bay Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Halong Bay

Toot

Hanoi was hot, like really hot (near 40 degrees, heatwave or something). No longer did I sweat, it was my body crying from the heat. This led us all into a sense of false security, since Ha Long Bay was no warmer than a cool British October, we were underdressed at best. This was our first experience of the "tour group" - going it solo would have cost countless times more and involved chartering a boat for a few days. It did mean however we got to meet some interesting characters including Jimmy from Australia, ex army lad who was [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
April 1st 2007

Hanoi Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Hanoi

Hanoi

We got off the train in Hanoi shattered from a 3-5AM border crossing and set off on foot to find somewhere to stay. Over were the days of hostels and reservations, from now it would have to be guesthouses and hotels, and turning up unnanounced. For even cheaper than the hostels in China we were now lording it up with air conditioning, and cable tv (and privacy). We stayed in the old quater of Hanoi, which to any visitor essentially is Hannoi. All the streets are tree lined and most of the buildings are left over from colonial times, painted [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
March 23rd 2007

Yangshuo Asia » China » Guangxi » Yangshuo

Atop Moon Hill

Yangshuo Crossing the border back to China we ran into a little difficulty with the passport control woman who was convinced that the photo of Ross when he was 15 was actually me and that we must have swapped passports or something. She actually called the supervisor who proceeded to check Ross' alternative forms of ID to prove himself. My tolerance of Chinese music (especially on trains where you cant turn it off at 8AM - with the speaker above your ear on the top bunk) was past wearing thin. I cant describe in words how truely horrific it truely [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
March 20th 2007

Hong Kong Asia » Hong Kong » Hong Kong Island

Sights from the Star Ferry

Hong Kong Again on our journey to Hong Kong, the other occupants of our carriage did their best to avoid us (or our feet). When we stepped off and the heat finally hit us. Up to this point it had still been necessary to wear a hoodie - now it was hot! We found our hotel in the Miradoor Mansion (sister to the also infamous Chunking Mansion next door) - a massive crumbling block stuffed with everything from mobile phone shops to textile workshops. The ground floor was home to a motley crew of pimps and dealers and people offering [View Full Entry]

By jnk106
March 17th 2007

Shanghai Asia » China » Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai Parting ways with Zander; the 3 of us took a slightly less enjoyable train journey (hard class - lights out at 10pm, music + lights on 8am) to Shanghai. Within 5 minuts of us arriving in our bed area (there are no doors to the 'cabins') and taking our shoes off, the Chinese family within had all fled and been replaced by the guard with a new set of unlucky passengers (I believe money changed hands somewhere). We crossed the Yangtze and arrived in Shanghai - a mix mash of British and French colonial style buildings and massive new [View Full Entry]

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