 Matthew Lee - mattylee | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 17th November 2009 Sarah | They eat at home! - From: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi Wow, for only 1 week you did a decent job of capturing the spirit (or sometimes lack thereof!) of this city. I've been here a year and agree with much of what you've written. However, Lebanese food IS Arabic food - it is a regional cuisine. And as for where the locals are and what they eat, the true locals, as in UAE Nationals, tend to eat at home in very large family groups. Having been to one of these dinners, I can report that this is where most meals are taken, and the dishes are typically Syrian, Egyptian, and Lebanese variations on standard Arabic favourites, along with an Indian style Biryani rice dish which reflects the long trading history across the water. Many Arabs and Africans married into UAE families or settled here originally, and just like the US or Australia, the family table is informed by migrants bringing with them their own dishes. The streets of Abu Dhabi don't really reflect the 'life' of the city. Most of that happens behind closed doors. |
| 14th November 2009 Paul Rubin | Worse airport in the world?? - From: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria Charles de Gaulle a worse airport than Heathrow or LAX!?! I don't know about that . . . |
| 13th November 2009 Scott | An Inconvenient truth? - From: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria Hey Matty, Sleep better knowing that there is no scientific evidence that climate change is killing polar bears. You may even want to chase down the report from the British High Court judge about the 9 "Significant Errors" in the film and the liner notes provided to children in the UK so they know which bits are true and which bits are 'embelished'. Good to see you didn't get ransomed by any pirates (as much as I was looking forward to seeing you next to a guy wearing an eye patch). |
| 12th November 2009 Erna Iceland | - From: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria I was to move to Nigeria. |
| 4th November 2009 mattylee | hmm - From: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi Sorry, the movie quote was to do with the small line "... but that's true", not the stomach part. Nevertheless, I didn't know that was a book quote anyway, I figured it was just an old saying. |
| 26th October 2009 The Winner | 1 to Nothing! - From: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi The way to a man's heart is through his stomach - book quote, not a movie quote . . . haha, I win, you lose, 1 to NOTHING! |
| 19th October 2009 bill | Not there yet - From: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi What you have to remember is that Abu Dhabi is a work in progress - even if nobody is quite sure what the final result will be. What IS sure is that in 5 - 10 years it will be the new Dubai (minus some of the quirky charm that has managed to survive the bulldozers in Dubai). It really is just a big facade (well, they both are). But whatever you think, you have to admit its pretty amazing what can be done with desert sands and too much oil. I suppose there is a heart and soul there, but not sure where. |
| 6th September 2009 Ed | Helpful - From: Intermission I'm an english guy living in London, UK, I'm thinking of continuing my academic career at UoW. Thanks for the insight into Seattle. Sounds like my kind of place. |
| 2nd September 2009 Johanna | Nice Blog ! - From: Intermission It has been a pleasure reading your reflections on life after travels. Thanks for sharing your very insightful thoughts...cheers ! Jo :) |
| 2nd September 2009 Kelli | Agreed - From: Intermission As a Seattle native I can completely agree with you about the "Seattle Freeze", until I moved away and came back I didn't realize that we rarely let outsiders into our groups. That is until I started dating an outsider, who always told me how hard it was to meet locals. I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Washington and will continue to read up on your future travels! |
| 1st September 2009 bill | intermission - From: Intermission Yes, Seattle is a bit ambiguous. Abu Dhabi is a whole different animal, as I am sure you will discover!! I was there 18 months ago, but I am sure I wouldnt recognise it even now. |
| 29th June 2009 tuba | when? - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal thanks for your detailed blog.So you it'sbetter to go in september?No musson rain?i want to go in september. and also i read your trip in istanbul.if you're still here i can give you some other advice |
| 28th June 2009 AnnaAdventuring | - From: Europe, Asia, or Something Even Better? A wonderfully interesting and informative blog. I love the photos of the interior of the Aya Sofia - very atmospheric. |
| 28th September 2008 Andrea | awesome blog - From: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside Hey your blog is awesome wonderful content and pictures. keep working in that way . Andrea Farah |
| 28th September 2008 Kiwi Steve | - From: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside Yet another great write up Matty. Keep em coming !! :) |
| 20th September 2008 barrygahan | Amazing pics... - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal ..and a great blog. I've painful memories of going above 5000m but I'd love to try this hike to Base Camp someday. Though perhaps not in December! |
| 26th August 2008 jambaa | I know it - From: A Month in Mongolia Matty said true.You will be feel like Matty's saiyng |
| 13th August 2008 Tiffany Jean | - From: English Wanderings OMG Matty, I've been following your travels since.... Cambodia and vietnam. How are you still travelling??!!? When do you finish??? |
| 8th August 2008 Keep Smiling | Macabre - From: Even Without the Brazilians and Iranians They Could Tell I Wasn’t French Another great tale Matthew - but, hey, if you enjoyed the catacombs, you'd have loved the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. Fascinating graves of the good and great - from Oscar Wilde, Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Isadora Duncan to Modigliani, Bizet, Chopin and Marcel Marceau, among hundreds of others (no Aussies though). You're young but you must have heard of at least some of them. Keep smiling! |
| 25th June 2008 AnnaAdventuring | Great blog! - From: Farewell London A very amusing blog! I love your descriptions of the changing of the guard, and it appears you were in England for our freak Spring snow! Well April is still early spring and the weather can be unpredictable. Come to England in June- September and I assure you sunbathing is possible! (It is honestly!) I look forward to reading your further travels. |
| 12th May 2008 drbexl | Great Entry - From: English Wanderings Ah, you had me laughing all the way through. I rarely read other entries, but as you were on the front page and I'd been nearly everywhere you've been in England, thought it was hilarious to see it from a non-Brit's perspective - you should turn this into a magazine article!! |
| 10th May 2008 Annika | - From: English Wanderings Did you know that Jane Austen hated Bath? Thought I would add that to your rhapsodizing about it. |
| 2nd May 2008 Isaiah | looking forward to it - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal Hey, entertaining blog, man! I'm headed up to EBC in monsoon season and you've really made me excited about it. |
| 20th April 2008 Lindsay | Re: The Queen - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/07/woz207.xml |
| 18th April 2008 mattylee | Pedro and a Compass - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It Yes Paul, in India you couldn't figure out which was was north even when given four attempts. |
| 18th April 2008 PedroElPedro | The Queen's Ultimate Power - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It Hmmm, so the Queen has ultimate power over you if she ever chose to use it? I think I'll leave that one alone . . . however I can assure you that it is most definitely possible for one to get lost in central London. I can attest that even when I was no more than two blocks away from my hotel, I still didn't have the slightest clue how to get back there . . .though I will admit that your sense of direction is substantially better then my own. |
| 17th April 2008 Annika | no pub crawl... - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It I beg Matty not to take a pub crawl because, if he does, we might never see him again... remember what happened to Lister? |
| 16th April 2008 will | proper food! - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It if you get the chance you've gotta get up north, everyone is much more friendly and the food is loads better, if possible get to York in Yorkshire for some proper Yorkshire puddings!! then on to Newcastle where the weather is awful but the people are amongst the nicest in England, if you an understand their accents!!! |
| 14th April 2008 Scott | - From: After 14 Months I Finally Made It Hey, have you organised a Monopoly pub crawl yet? One drink from every street on the board with photo's of each drink should do it :) |
| 14th April 2008 Joel | I have to push the pram-a-lot - From: You Can't Leave the USA Without Seeing New York, Supposedly Hope you enjoyed Spamalot and bought one of those novelty trebuchets with the assorted animals. Also, several days in a woman's appartment and no pictures of her? I am thoroughly disappointed. |
| 23rd March 2008 Brandy | Autumn - From: Trying, but Failing, to be Normal ".... was completely out of the question during Autumn in that part of the world" I thought it was closer to Spring? |
| 17th March 2008 Fred Judd | Where are you? - From: Taj Hi Matty: There have been no reports since January. Are you working? Brandy |
| 3rd March 2008 Scott | Juicy Bits - From: Taj Eagerly awaiting the next installment of "Adult's only Travel Blog" I'm sure with Paul there you guys have got something worth reading. ps. I think you like the Taj Mahal just a little too much.... |
| 27th February 2008 AnnaAdventuring | - From: Taj Great blog! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!! Lovely photos too. :) |
| 18th February 2008 Wildacad | Pondicherry - From: Welcome to French India! great bog, I had the same feeling about this place.. however the fruit and vege market was certainly one of a kind!!! |
| 14th February 2008 PedroElPedro | The Tipi Experience - From: Israeli Ruins and Indian Dancers in Jew Town You forgot to mention the other bizzare aspect of the Hampi Tipi experience, the fact that the locals there were playing didgeridoos! What a night indeed . . . |
| 22nd January 2008 prof.dr.s.damodaran. | about india. - From: What Does It Take to be a Bollywood Star? you are correct about india.your blog is quite interesting and i followed you upto nepal.welcome to south india esp tamilnadu.i don't know whether you have visited already.anyhow thanks a lot for your photo gallery. |
| 20th January 2008 PedroElPedro | The India Adventure - From: What Does It Take to be a Bollywood Star? Good sum up of our experiences in the first section, India was definitely a mixed bag, but a great time was had nonetheless. No need to keep referencing my photos though, let's just accept all the good ones are mine eh! :) |
| 12th January 2008 Doma Kali in Nepali | Brilliant blog - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal I was there in November and even then, the temperature plummetted to -17 degrees at night time. It was just insane! Great pictures you have here, reminded me so much of my previous trip. |
| 11th January 2008 tannismc | Amazing - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal Stunning photos. Almost makes me want to go in December... |
| 9th January 2008 Ali | Great blog and photos! - From: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal Hindsight always 20/20 - another true cliché... congratulations on surviving the Himalayas in December! |
| 2nd January 2008 Pedro | Great Blog - From: Rafting and Paragliding around Pokhara Wow, congratulations on your shortest blog entry, I enjoyed it immensely, best post yet! |
| 27th December 2007 TOG | Angermanagement | Bridge Broken - From: Team HAC Takes On 300km of Nepali Flat Have just heard that one of those bridges you cross has collapsed.. Understand it is a bigger one but due to the name and location in the news I could not recall if you were in the area.. Stay safe.. |
| 23rd December 2007 annika | "the bee didn't stand a chance" - From: Team HAC Takes On 300km of Nepali Flat Matty, you must be desperate for a MATTY IS FAT comment, re: sitting on a bee. A half-dozen situation-appropriate jibes spring to mind immediately and I never even got into the whole thing. I can only imagine how many more opportunities the situation presents for the highly trained Matty-is-fat commentators. Have a great Christmas etc...! |
| 22nd December 2007 TOG | AngerManagement | Nothing compaired to Tazzy - From: Team HAC Takes On 300km of Nepali Flat Top story... I am sure that we will all hear from Ben how he saved the day on more than one occasion.... I can hear all the Donkey stories now.... Some one needs to take some round up for those weeds... looks like an infestation. Stay safe and merry X-mass to all. |
| 20th December 2007 TOG | AngerManagement | Gut Wrenching - From: You Are Cordially Not Invited To. . . Matty, I am looking forward to the Annapurna trek report, however I have scanned your stories from the beggining to " you are cordially not invited" , which I read indepth. It is X-mass here and I can only hope that my own son, in the future can experience half of what you have, and have your positive outlook and drive. Wipes tear from eye .... Take care of Ben your Dad and anyone else... Your Dad will treasure the experiences with you, regarless of what the future brings... while others whill have there lives enriched.. if only for a fleeting moment. Stay true to your dreams, and pay it forward where ever you can.. To be fond of learning is to be at the gate of knowledge. - chinese proverb. PS. BEN, I am alone in the Armory, playing Paul C's music... Ask me about it some time. |
| 1st December 2007 Lindsay | - From: You Are Cordially Not Invited To. . . Holy crap I need to shave. |
| 28th November 2007 annika | nostalgia - From: You Are Cordially Not Invited To. . . Ah, Matty, I'm so glad to see you getting nostalgic over Townsville... and finally admit that there are multiple things there that are worth living there for! |
| 3rd November 2007 lloydy | faults.. - From: Following the Yellow River matty, you are a tourist. you cant be somewhere and the place be totally devoid of tourists. second complaint...steve irwin is dead!! |
| 1st November 2007 Annette from Tropicaltravel.net | Great insight - From: Following the Yellow River I loved reading someone's personal take on a trip through these places. It helped me get an idea on how it would actually be, rather than the travel specialist's take on things. Can't wait to read more on your travels. |
| 18th October 2007 Kiwi Steve | - From: A Month in Mongolia Very Pretty, and I don't mean you Matty ! |
| 18th October 2007 Joel | Wall of text - From: A Month in Mongolia TLDR!!1 Ps Are you emo now? |
| 2nd October 2007 Engelbert Humperdinck | There's more to this oblate spheroid than Asia. What about Azerbaijan? - From: Ulaan Baatar So this little jaunt around the world is it 5/6 the way through? Better get your shit together and see the rest in a blur of trannies, hookers and lepers. |
| 13th September 2007 JC | - From: Ulaan Baatar Where's all the ugly pictures? |
| 13th September 2007 annika | - From: Ulaan Baatar Matty - I'm beyond jealous of you! Also, if you get to play polo using a goat's head before I do, I'll never forgive you. However, I take comfort in the fact your riding skills probably aren't up to scratch yet.... |
| 11th September 2007 Lindsay | HAY GUYZ WUTS GOING ON - From: Hello Confucius Isn't Confucius the dude who writes all those cookie fortunes? |
| 9th September 2007 greg | annika: you're fat in a fat way - From: Austr(al)ia Hits Hong Kong DO NOT MIX |
| 3rd September 2007 JC | - From: The Most Beautiful City in China and a Date With a Beauty in China So where's some pics of the 6 new friends?!?!?! :) |
| 3rd September 2007 annika | - From: Hello Confucius Hi Matty - fascinating history, but how do you spell a place with lots of trees? |
| 30th August 2007 harry potter | - From: How To Make the Best of a Bad Situation hey matty! been watching this space for quite some time now, but still no news about your shanghai date... have fun, wherever you are, and keep us posted! the one who looked "same same harry potter" |
| 28th August 2007 JC | - From: Cloudland Great view! Have you been showin' da ladies your shapely glutes now? Haha! :) |
| 28th August 2007 Kiwi Steve | Go For It !! - From: How To Make the Best of a Bad Situation Perhaps 'Brother' has plans for you to become 'Son' ???? Great writing, Keep it up ! |
| 23rd August 2007 bruno | great blogs - From: Chinese Cities That You Have Never Heard Of, And Neither Had I: Part 2 great blogs, keep'em coming |
| 18th August 2007 Bill | china - From: Chinese Cities That You Have Never Heard Of, And Neither Had I: Part 1 You will still be there for the Olympics at this rate! Not to mention the Shanghai World Expo in 2010!! Nice pics! Bill |
| 18th August 2007 Franco | - From: Chinese Cities That You Have Never Heard Of, And Neither Had I: Part 1 Wow, Toulou-fic photos! |
| 16th August 2007 harry potter | - From: Austr(al)ia Hits Hong Kong yo matty! we hope to see you sometime in vienna... i'm glad we kidnapped you, as we had a very good time in hk! harry potter, otherwise known as joe or simply joseph |
| 16th August 2007 annika | you're insane in a bad way - From: Austr(al)ia Hits Hong Kong Hi Matty - I cannot believe you on a half-dozen counts. You travel with a guy who really does looks like Harry Potter (!?), stay in the worst place possible (drug-dealing ChunKing Mansions), and go to Hong Kong a week before I get there? Odd, insane, and very sad, respectively- DO NOT MIX THE ORDER UP. |
| 15th August 2007 mattylee | Handling Denmark - From: Bludging in Beijing Felix, in answer: badly, and yes. They found the song mildly humerous. |
| 12th August 2007 Felix | Team Denmark - From: Bludging in Beijing sooo.. the team denmark.. how did you handle that.. and did you sing then a lovely danish song ? ;) |
| 7th August 2007 mattylee | Thanks "Mama" and "Baba" - From: The End of My Family Adventure Your comments mean a lot to me. |
| 7th August 2007 mattylee | Yes Joel - From: Juggling Family and Friends We had our time Joel, and you threw it all away when you got married! You and Elissa are more than welcome to come and visit me, have you ever thought of Mongolia? |
| 7th August 2007 Joel | Only missed your dad? - From: Juggling Family and Friends You only missed your dad? Do all those nights in the thesis room mean nothing? |
| 7th August 2007 Christine and Dad | Thanks to a great tour guide. - From: The End of My Family Adventure We were so grateful for your departure from your travel rules, your sacrifice for our benefit made our travel so much easier and enjoyable. Sorry our rushed itinerary caused you this problem. We now know why you like Yangshuo so much. Settled in such picturesque surroundings it is both lively and relaxing at the same time. Yes leaving was an emotional time for all of us. This was a wonderful bonding experience for all three of us. We really missed you in Hong Kong. West street shopping markets were the best. I had so much fun and they say I drive a hard bargain! It's not that we just missed your company in Honkers. We missed your charm, wit ,trivial comments abut the sights, Your sense of finding the most delicious cuisine to appreciate, your cute smile, patient mandarin language tutor, and the overall "good boy" who took care of his "Buba" and "Mamma" and showed them the best time ever in a country that "Mamma" was a little apprehensive about to say the least!!!! |
| 7th August 2007 Dad | Magical Shanghai - From: The High Society of Shanghai Shanghai was great, no egos needed rubbing. The gardens are fantastic but The Bund was my highlight. During the day it is full of life, but at night it really comes into its own. It fills so much, teaming with locals and visitors, the lights are so close and so much brighter than the photos show. It is a magical precinct. |
| 7th August 2007 Christine | Some pick-up! - From: The High Society of Shanghai See what happens when you let the "Lee men loose" They get into all sorts of situations. I think it really did a lot for some egos. Matthew also forgot to tell you all about the photo with the two chinese (young) girls hanging off dad's arm. The tea gardens were the highlight for me in Shanghai. The shopping was also o.k. But I was disappointed with it's dirtiness unlike the rest of China. |
| 7th August 2007 Dad | Our version - From: Note to Self: Put Parents on Leash Lesson x for tour guide. Never leave travel arrangements to the very last minute. Quick 5 minute email??? After 15 minutes, 10 minutes after boarding commenced and all other passengers having entered the gates to the platform we decided some action was required. Lugging all our and Matthew's gear onto the train was the only logical thing to do. Tour guide does get overall tick of approval. Train trip excellent and in cabin food service provided by guide was very much appreciated. |
| 7th August 2007 Dad | Correction No.1 - From: Juggling Family and Friends "Family Photo" says it all. Fantastic time had by all. Yes the taxi was a rip off, but it was an AUDI. The leather seating, extra leg room (compared to a VW) and good aircon was very welcome after the heat at the Summer Palace. Yes we took the cable car to near the middle of the wall but that stilll left a considerable climb. Christine doesn't think it made the climb any easier{unfortunately}. All said and done it was a fantastic experience not to be missed, maybe Mao was right. |
| 6th August 2007 Erna | Leo hostel is the best hostel - From: Bludging in Beijing I see you took my advice. I miss Leo Hostel! I see they have new covers on the chairs and new tables. The pole didn´t happen to be at Kai Bar? |
| 6th August 2007 Bill | Beds and birds nests - From: Bludging in Beijing Yeah the birds nest is looking good - glad you could see it through the pollution. Hope Dad and Christine can get you out of the hostel and into a proper bed somewhere for a few days. Dont get run over by the bicycles, enjoy the Wall et al, and have a great time whne you get to Shanghai! Bill |
| 14th July 2007 Felix | Thanks for this time - From: A Collection of Chinese Short Stories Hey Matty :D Thanks for the two weeks we travelled around, it was awesome! I hope we'll meet at Roskilde next summer!?! :D /Felix |
| 10th July 2007 Joel | Coherent writing - From: A Collection of Chinese Short Stories Most people when writing tend to make it fluent and easy to read. Your approach is somewhat to be desired in the area of easy reading. Those 13 weeks in effective writing were wasted.... :( |
| 9th July 2007 Chris | tl;dr - From: A Collection of Chinese Short Stories can you add an abstract next time |
| 9th July 2007 mattylee | Yes, I Do - From: Longji Photographic Phrenzy But not to his face. |
| 8th July 2007 Scott | Felix the house cat. - From: Longji Photographic Phrenzy Hey man nice photo's. I was just wondering if you call Felix "Felix the house Cat"? |
| 6th July 2007 mattylee | Mugged? Are you alright? - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam Sorry Brandy, I had no idea. I'll be back in HK sometime, either in early August or early September. |
| 6th July 2007 Brandy | Mugging - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam Hi Matty: Sorry I missed you. I was mugged on the way to the restrooms. If you are back in HK, let me know, |
| 3rd July 2007 mattylee | What do you expect? - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam Yes, they do mistreat the food dogs here in China, but they also mistreat the chickens, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, snakes and pretty much every other animal we eat. I haven't checked, but I wouldn't be suprised if even the eggplants are mistreated in this country. What do you want me to do? Starve? |
| 2nd July 2007 Mandy | - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam I can't believe you ate dog Matty- I'm really disgusted. What they do to them in Asia is horrific. |
| 28th June 2007 Erna | Lucky you - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam I didn´t find the dog district in Nanning! I walked all over the city dying to try the hot-dog-pot. Sigrun and I just had dog in Shanghai with red peppers. I too love dog...meat. |
| 28th June 2007 Nuonuo | - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam I think you are a excellent photographer and good writer. |
| 28th June 2007 JC | - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam So dog tastes similar to rabbit eh? Who would have thought... |
| 28th June 2007 Scott | Comment Title - From: Back in Good ol' Vietnam This update started with so much promise! Pole-dancing, girls on beach chairs, amazing feats of drinking candles! Imagine my distress when I realised that it was 1,500 words on a waterfall. This blog needs more hilarious anicdotes and less sightseeing. |
| 28th June 2007 anonymous | - From: Living the Hard Life: Lazy Tropical Days Yes! Beach photos!?!? *looks around* |
| 25th June 2007 Scott | What Bloody beach photo's - From: Living the Hard Life: Lazy Tropical Days I came for the beach photo's and was sadly dissapointed. |
| 25th June 2007 Kiwi Steve | YES - From: Living the Hard Life: Lazy Tropical Days very jealous. NOW SHOW US THE BEACH PHOTOS !!!!! |
| 21st June 2007 JC | - From: The Low Quality Chinese Substitute for Hawaii I wasn't aware they had orb-weaver spiders over there. And that Papillion looks quite interesting too. Poor monkeys. :( |
| 19th June 2007 Tiffany | - From: Normalcy, Insanity and Two Chinese Cities Hey, wow you definately do like to look around. i was in HK in Jan. Looking through your pics brought back alot of memmories! I miss how the walk way for pedestrians where above the streets. Did you get hackled to go to Stanley markets at all? -alot of people highly reccommended it, the biggest tourist trap ever - with no bus on the way back.. well not until late in the evening. |
| 18th June 2007 Scott | Monkeys! - From: The Low Quality Chinese Substitute for Hawaii Good to see the monkeys are getting what they deserve. I have seen Planet of the Apes, and I think we need to assert our dominance to avoid this terrible future. Also, big props for putting in a pic of a good looking chic and bringing the phrase "willy nilly" back into popular usage. |
| 11th June 2007 PedroElPedro | Dancing and Donuts - From: Normalcy, Insanity and Two Chinese Cities Mmmm . . . those were some good donuts. And just to clarify, Pedro can definitely dance . . . |
| 5th June 2007 JC | Where's the beef? - From: A Day Dedicated to Food I agree - the rear half of that Chendu Woman is rather attractive. Hehe. :) |
| 4th June 2007 Everyone from Townsville that reads this | We know everything except maybe this: - From: A Day Dedicated to Food "Matty wants to sleep, Ory too, maybe together." err... ? |
| 4th June 2007 Joel | - From: A Day Dedicated to Food Since when were you afraid to name a girl after what she looked like / sounded like etc. Remember Jubblies |
| 3rd June 2007 annika | - From: A Day Dedicated to Food just to re-iterate: Matty, that is disgusting, and you are a fat pig. Urgh. |
| 29th May 2007 Bristol2Bombay | Destinations are for tourists - From: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong Very true, when youre in a one road town in Qinghai, you do wonder "why am I here". You're idea of the river as a theme of your trip almost is a great one, what a wonderful idea of the varying people and events which surround that river as it runs through Asia. To address three points; 1)Kangding has a nightclub (not sure if you know this or not), we visited on what must have been nappy night, lots of friendly high school kids. 2)Your guide in Dege, had the same one, that really all he says 3) Really understand when you describe trying to get a departure time or destination. You say you speak mandarin. It's often not the language, just the complete cultural chasm- western logic is rarely understood! |
| 23rd May 2007 Bristol2Bombay | t(¦ - From: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong ¯Œã>„É—ñ;Í—ï Translation; I've just left Quinhai and i loved reading your stories. I didn;t see many a white face at all. In fact only one. It's an amazing place as you and very few others are fortunate enough to appreciate. |
| 22nd May 2007 Kiwi Steve | WOW - From: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong Mate, when u publish all your blogs in a book (and i think you should) let me know, so I can get a copy. Keep up the great writing !! |
| 22nd May 2007 Elinor | Mei Li Xue Shan - From: Northern Exposure Hi Matt, I was wondering about Mei Li Mountain north od zhongdian. Can you tell me how long it took you to drive there from Zhongdian and where you stayed? Also did you use a guide for your trek, if so can you give me their phone numbe or email address. I'd love to hear more about that part of Yunnan. My email is elinorburford@hotmail.com Thanks, Elinor |
| 22nd May 2007 Chris | - From: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong So you didn’t get a single picture of a monk with ducky on their head? I’m disappointed… |
| 20th May 2007 Rohan | Sweet Mary Jane - From: Northern Exposure Nice stuff Matty! It is good to see that your linguistic skills have not diminished with your absorption of Chinese culture. Or has it.... |
| 19th May 2007 John O | woah - From: Northern Exposure E tu Brutus? |
| 16th May 2007 John. Tractor | Nice one mate - From: Northern Exposure love the pics..... Im still here, drunk.... hope all is well.. |
| 16th May 2007 Chris | - From: Northern Exposure Change your heart because I'm already spoken for |
| 9th May 2007 John O | photos - From: Northern Exposure Those photos are awesome! |
| 7th May 2007 Bill | pics - From: Northern Exposure Beautiful pics matty - glad its going so well for you! |
| 3rd May 2007 Scott | I Got High in Dali - From: I Got High in Dali I see what you did there. |
| 2nd May 2007 Alex | - From: I Got High in Dali Wow, congrats on conquering your first mountain, it sounds like it was an excellent adventure. Let's see more photos of the city and its locals (preferably the female ones). |
| 19th April 2007 Lloydy | - From: Happy New Year, Dai Style Matty, good to see you are listening to your audience. more photos of danish chicks and less photos of butterfly loving signs... |
| 19th April 2007 Scott | Massage - From: Happy New Year, Dai Style Was it a full body massage as in a "Full body massage?" and what's up with taking your shirt off in a disco and not taking a chinese bird back to the guest house :p Good to see some females in the updates mate. |
| 19th April 2007 Joel | - From: Happy New Year, Dai Style I do not understand! What is the standards? |
| 18th April 2007 Franco | - From: Happy New Year, Dai Style Looks like lots of good clean fun. |
| 17th April 2007 Erna | Tips for China - From: First Impressions of China In Shanghai stay at Hiker Hostel, good location and great people. in Beijing stay at Leo Hostel it has the best location, it's only 750m from Tianamen square and close to everything, if feeling frisky there is a "massage parlor" next door and the people you meet at Leo are just the best people, Sigrun and I had so much fun there. And the beer is only 5 yuan!! Hard sleeper in trains are best but be prepared for 1-14 hours delay. Take Care |
| 17th April 2007 Alex | Black & White = artsy? - From: First Impressions of China Good to see your finally in china matty, although I'm not sure if joining a tour group is the best way to get away from tourists. |
| 17th April 2007 Scott | Waving the red flag - From: First Impressions of China Hey mate, good to see you haven't been run over by a tank yet. I seriously expected lot's more red buildings then I've seen so far. Also, I've heard stories about Chinese people spitting on the sidewalk, and on the floor of restaurants. Have you run into any of this cultural charm in the world second biggest nuclear power? |
| 16th April 2007 Joel | - From: First Impressions of China I am still disappointed with the level of hot young asian birds in your posts. Try to remember us reading at home and post some pics. |
| 16th April 2007 bill | stone - From: First Impressions of China Cute boy??? *cough, choke*. Well, it sure aint Mt Rushmore, but nice try! |
| 10th April 2007 Scott | Sexuality woes - From: What to do in Hanoi Dude I am seriuosly getting worried about the lack of lady action in these updates. However that doesn't disturb me as much as this single sentence "Asger and I spent an afternoon shopping for cool hats, chocolate cakes and cappuchinos". |
| 6th April 2007 Bill | Speed of light - From: Unshowered and Unshaved in Un-Sapa Well that was quick - Hanoi to Sapa in about an hour (as my computer flies). My friend in Hanoi (a local) has been complaining about the cold days they have been having. Oh, and travellers guide 101. Smart traveller arrange visa before depart home ;-)) Bill |
| 5th April 2007 annika | two points - From: To the Mekong Once Again, and then to a Bar First, Queen Bee Milk Extract is used in some expensive shampoos and cosmetics (the price of being high-maintence). Secondly, steets named "Hang Man" and especially "Hung Guy" could be subtle ads of a very, very different variety. Don't you think? |
| 3rd April 2007 Scott | Hey Ladies! - From: To the Mekong Once Again, and then to a Bar Good to see you still have the pulling power Matty. I wouldn't be too worried about the 17 year old, all Asian girls look like 12 anyway. AMIRITE?? Still a bit worried about the lack of photos with hot chicks in your updates though. I challenge you to get your photo taken with at least 3 females for the next update! |
| 2nd April 2007 Scott | Ever Present Eye? - From: HCMC: The Conglomerate City of the South Sounds to me like the Cao Dai should be worshipping Tolkein. ps. Lisa Kraz says hi. |
| 2nd April 2007 Bill | Nerd! - From: To the Mekong Once Again, and then to a Bar You spend more time on the computer than I do!!!! Get back out there and do stuff!! (But its great to read of your great adventures, and see the pictures. I appreciate the time you are taking to share all of your wonderful experiences!) |
| 23rd March 2007 mattylee | Kafeh Lao Wins - From: Following My Nose Through Vietnam Even with condensed milk the coffee here tastes bad. Only in Laos can they get it right. |
| 22nd March 2007 anonymous | coffee - From: Following My Nose Through Vietnam Vietnamese coffee is very tasty and probably one of the best on the world, but of course they probably got yours from a dirty sink, LOL. Mext time ask for cafe sua~ da' (ice coffee with condense milk). |
| 22nd March 2007 Alex | - From: What Did You Do Today? It's called a sea urchin Matty. You know, those things you think are starfish. |
| 22nd March 2007 annika | your 'thing' - From: What Did You Do Today? I can't believe you don't know what your (marine) 'thing' is... the shame! |
| 21st March 2007 anonymous | - From: What Did You Do Today? And you still have the top of your head. |
| 19th March 2007 Scott | - From: Following My Nose Through Vietnam I reckon you should've punched the director of Big Brother in the face. Actually better still. Slap him with a copy of the book, then punch him in the face. Also, this blog needs more updates from Jeff. |
| 19th March 2007 anonymous | - From: Following My Nose Through Vietnam omg the part returns |
| 17th March 2007 anonymous | - From: Enter Vietnam Let me send you a Vietnam Airlines domestic timetable ;)) Bill |
| 13th March 2007 Alex | Happy B-day - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country How did I know you would spend your entire birthday shamefully stuffing your face with cake and cappuccinos. |
| 13th March 2007 Chris | All your ladyboys are belong to matty - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country Hey Matty Can't be bothered to read it all but looks like you're having a fab time. lol |
| 12th March 2007 Sigrun | greetings traveller - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country Hi! Sigrun the stalker from Cambodia here! Love the Chewbacca :D Take care now, Laos sounds like a......uhm.....an interesting place :D Best regards Sigrun and Erna |
| 12th March 2007 Scott | Happy Birthday - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country Hey Matty, Happy Birthday. I also have a vague recollection of another person witha hilariously retarded bowling action :p |
| 12th March 2007 Joel | OMGWTF... - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country The wall of text crits you for 428275495723505! You die! |
| 11th March 2007 mattylee | Vietnam is full of fruit - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country There is quite a lot of fruit around Hue and I'm trying to improve my diet. I don't think they import apples from NZ though, perhaps England? |
| 11th March 2007 shelley | still going - From: Vientiane: Sleepy Capital of a Sleepy Country glad to see that you are still out there having fun and have not piked like Jeff. It doesn't sound like you are getting a lot of fruit in your diet, have you been eating enough new zealand apples? |
| 6th March 2007 Lindsay | HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You fat bastard. - From: The Loop You're probably too drunk to read this, but I hope you had a good one and didn't do anything you'll regret. You MUST tell us all about what happened, though. |
| 5th March 2007 Scott | Crazy ducks!! - From: The Loop Hey dude, I heard on the news some old woman from Laos got bird flu and carked it. KEEP AWAY FROM THE CHICKENS!!! |
| 4th March 2007 Lindsay | Born to be Mild - From: The Loop Crazy update Matty. Looking forward to more extreme scooter adventures! |
| 2nd March 2007 Erna and Sigrun | Still stalking... - From: The Loop hey there, yup it's us those pesky Icelandic girls you met in Cambodia. Just wanted to wish you all the best on your travels, we are now in China getting ready for over-priced Japan, and you think Serendipity is over-priced. Take care, hati2 yah! |
| 2nd March 2007 Scott | - From: The Loop Loving the updates Matty. You have inspired me to start naming my stationary. I just need a name for my sticky tape. Oh, and "spent the whole day watching Thai TV". lol. More like "German Booty!" (See what I did there). Looking forward to seeing the un-censored photo collection sometime in the future. |
| 2nd March 2007 Joel | - From: The Loop You didn't name your bike this time? The ladyboys must have straightened you out, or maybe it was Sandy. I'm sure she knows what you were doing those 2 days. |
| 23rd February 2007 Lindsay | Matty loves the cake. A lot. - From: Offroad in Ratanakiri I was chatting with Noro the other day. Apparently, he had to do all the work while Matty just sat there. I tell you what, he wasn't happy. |
| 23rd February 2007 Greg | It's just a bike - From: Offroad in Ratanakiri Hey Matty Good to see you updating again. I am worried about your bond with Noro - maybe you need to meet some more ladyboys. |
| 21st February 2007 christine | Loved the red dust - From: Offroad in Ratanakiri Hey! Matthew , Have just logged on and the country looks great . not what I imagined as for your red face mask/ mud pack , now we know what you will look like in 30 years time?????? |
| 21st February 2007 Lloydy | - From: Offroad in Ratanakiri matty, devastating news... noro is just a bike. you sound like tom hanks with wilson in castaway... |
| 19th February 2007 mattylee | Thanks everyone. - From: One of the Good Days Thanks for all the positive comments everyone, especially you Bronwyn. You are far to complementary of my writing. Sorry scott, I had to miss first training, I'll try to make it to the second one just after my graduation ceremony. Or I could go to Savanakhet... hmm... Oh, yellow shirts appear to be worn as often as possible in Bangkok now as a tribute to the king. It's the pink, red and blue shirts which still puzzle me though. |
| 16th February 2007 Browny | - From: One of the Good Days Looks like you're all having a super time. Keep it up.... Johnny Depp. |
| 12th February 2007 bronwyn | blown away - From: One of the Good Days Well guys, against every grain of my heart and soul, I am a busy person, and since you had sent this to a previous e-mail address, only got around to digging into your blog today--have been laughing outloud all afternoon. Matty, you are a brilliant travel writer. I read an entire entry to Ken as a bedtime story, he is likewise very impressed by your writing skills. Do not abbreviate for others, keep it up, we will read every word and travel vicariously with you, you lucky buggers! You could submit this to a travel magazine, I swear! In fact, do not tarry anywhere too long, Zack and Dylan are ready to get on a plane and catch up with you. Of course they already have the scooter skills from Vientienne. The daily massage quest brings back hilarious memories of the six of you on the Intrepid trip. "Where you want me rub?" (Anton) |
| 12th February 2007 bronwyn | yellow attire - From: Sergio Leone Takes on Bangkok Did you figure out that on Mondays all Thais are wearing yellow shirts to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the King ascending the throne? or is it his 80th birthday? One or the other. It is part of the "We love the king" celebration, in fact the writing on the shirts says just that. That event occurred in 2006 (I witnessed it in September 2006), but I guess they all have the yellow shirts now, so what the heck? |
| 8th February 2007 Lindsay | That's not art deco. - From: One of the Good Days It was only a matter of time before Matty found the Hawaiian pizzas. That's why he travelled 6000km from home, wasn't it? |
| 8th February 2007 Lindsay | - From: One of the Good Days Hey guys Can't be bothered to read it all but looks like you're having a fab time. Like the beard Jeff :) Lindsay |
| 8th February 2007 PedroElPedro | Corrections - From: One of the Good Days Great journal Matty, just feel the need to point out a few things for fellow readers. Bangkok's not that great (and not that clean), 5 million locals in Bangkok are not dead-set drop-dead perfect to look at, fantasgreat is not a word, a 100c scooter is not a motorbike, Australia is not part of Cambodia (refer to world map) and as I've been to hawaii I'm qualified to say "there's no such thing as a super-hawaiian pizza". Apart from those, all good, though how about trying to keep the journal in chronological order? Reading things out of sequence confuses me. Also, I'd recommend taking photos of everything but "truly photogenic scenes" . . . that's what postcards are for! |
| 8th February 2007 Scott | - From: One of the Good Days First hockey training is tonight (8 Feb) at 7:30pm. See you there Matty. |
| 8th February 2007 Scott | - From: One of the Good Days Hey guys Can't be bothered to read it all but looks like you're having a fab time. Like the beard Jeff :) Scott |
| 7th February 2007 Kiwi Steve | Get Out - From: One of the Good Days Matty mate, you're spending way to much time in internet cafe's. But then again, we love your Blogs ! |
| 7th February 2007 Joel | Real coffee? - From: One of the Good Days You seem to refer to drinking this "real coffee" substance several times during your travels. It seems to me that your definition of "real coffee" is a substance, assumably drinkable, provided at restuarants in some of the poorest countries of the world which you delight in paying minimal amounts of their pathetic legal tender. So what you're really actually consuming is dirt right? |
| 7th February 2007 Roger | The promise of Laos - From: The Search for a True Beach Matty, time to cut the losses and get to Laos. There you will experience the real Asia, not the "Hollywood versions" you have so far written about. |
| 6th February 2007 Mandy | - From: The Search for a True Beach Hey guys Can't be bothered to read it all but looks like you're having a fab time. Like the beard Jeff :) Mandy |
| 4th February 2007 Scott | - From: The Search for a True Beach I thought you would have been excited about a beach with sailor-esque bars Matty? Also dissapointed at the lack of ladyboys in this update 3 stars |
| 3rd February 2007 Kiwi Steve | Kampot - From: The Search for a True Beach Head off to Kampot if u get the chance. Great National park with ruins on the tops. Well worth the visit !! |
| 2nd February 2007 Lindsay | Typo-fest 2007 - From: The Search for a True Beach Hey Matty, all of those pesky tourists are wearing clothes. You should travel naked, like a true pioneer. |
| 31st January 2007 Joel | - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition Is it just me, or did you go to Asia to meet Asian people, not ones from America or Iceland. /agree with Scott. They are too chunky. |
| 31st January 2007 lloydy | - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition Ladyboys, gay bars and annoying girls?? is there some info that we all need to be privvy to boys?? |
| 30th January 2007 Greg | - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition Jeff: your beard is looking good. Matty and Alex: you are as ugly as ever. Nice journal Matty. |
| 30th January 2007 Merrin | Piow piow - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition Matty, I only want to look at the pictures. Can you please write considerably less and have more photos? Think of it as a challenge. Your next post should be like a flip-book. |
| 30th January 2007 Clive Burger | - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition It is intuitively obvious that you love the lady boys matty |
| 30th January 2007 Scott | - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition So was the cambodian girl too chunky or just not Asian enough? |
| 30th January 2007 Joel | Fastasgreat? - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition I do not understand! What is the star? |
| 29th January 2007 Lindsay | Matty loves Alex - From: Siem Reap, the Ultimate Juxtaposition I also can't believe how all of those unfortunate people are living in such squalor, even when you yourself spent a whopping fifty dollars there! Good job saving money though. Remember: everything's a scam, unless you're doing it to them. |
| 27th January 2007 Anthony | Anti-semite bastards!!! :P - From: Sergio Leone Takes on Bangkok Stop contributing to the conspiracy against jewish nationals, father abraham would be shaking up a fist storm right about now. Nice post. Suggestion for next title: Once upon a time in the East? haha |
| 25th January 2007 Bill | Bangkok for the nearsighted - From: Sergio Leone Takes on Bangkok Matty, Matty, Matty!!! Havent you learned yet that the prettiest Thai girls started life as Thai boys?? And some still are. But they are good table tennis players. They dont even need bats. Or didnt you stay that late at Patpong?? But I agree - the Palace and temples are worth almost a whole memory card by themselves! Keep enjoying yourself. Bill |
| 25th January 2007 Lindsay | Sweden. It's spelt S-w-e-d-e-n. - From: Sergio Leone Takes on Bangkok Seriously. Ice cream and ladyboys? I'm beginning to worry about you, Matty. |
| 24th January 2007 John O. | yeaa - From: One Night in Bangkok (everyone uses that Matty) Blog on Matty. Effective Writing is really paying off for you now! |
| 24th January 2007 Roger | World's best Dunny - From: One Night in Bangkok (everyone uses that Matty) Without a doubt the best view of any dunny in the world is in a little restaurant overlhanging the Mekong River in Luang Prabang. After negotiating the winding staircase downstairs you are enthroned above the river with a 180 view and a vertical drop!!!! |
| 23rd January 2007 Scott | - From: One Night in Bangkok (everyone uses that Matty) I eagerly await more updates on toilets you visit across the globe!! 10/10 Will read again! |
| 18th January 2007 Bill | Full benefits? - From: One Night in Bangkok (everyone uses that Matty) Matty, for those of us who understand what the "full benefits" of a Thai massage entails, you may want to rephrase. And the best dunny view in the world is actually from the Business Class toilet of a Thai international A340-500 enroute from New York to Bangkok, immediately over the North Pole - I dont care WHAT Lonely Planet says! Continue having fun ;) Bill |
| 18th January 2007 Tim | - From: One Night in Bangkok (everyone uses that Matty) I knew Matty would be straight into thoughs "Thai massages". Have fun matty. remember dont be a fool wrap your tool. |
| 17th January 2007 Tim | - From: Chance Encounters and the Beginning Good luck man, also say hi to jeff for me when u see him. I also second lindsay's post. |
| 17th January 2007 j-roc | you know what i'm sayin - From: Chance Encounters and the Beginning dawg dont update this thing unless you got something better to say, you know what i'm sayin |
| 16th January 2007 Bill | Just do it! - From: Chance Encounters and the Beginning Matt: Get out of the country and get moving!! We West Australians already know all about being rich and famous and modest and handsome ;p And as for the cancer sticks, it will at least prepare you for Bangkok again. Have the best time evr!! When we meet again it will hopefully be somewhere more interesting than Townsville!! Bill |
| 16th January 2007 rebecca parnell | i love you - From: Preparations please dont leave me alone, i really miss your hair |
| 2nd January 2007 Jason | Hurry up.... - From: Preparations Oi hurry up and get to Gladstone. Gotta go see baby turtles and stuff. Danita misses you. |
| 1st January 2007 Scott | duck and cover - From: Preparations hey kids. Hope you guys are staying out of cafe's :p http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand |
| 28th December 2006 PedroElPedro | Comment #2 - From: Preparations Since my first comment appears to have been censored, I assume for my use of the 'b' word, I thought I'd try again. Just wanted to wish you all the best guys and second Lindsay's motion that Matty is indeed fat. |
| 27th December 2006 Kiwi Steve | Matt and Jeff - From: Preparations is it Matt and Jeff or Mutt and Jeff, i could never tell.... Good luck on ya travels and i look forward to all the updates |
| 22nd December 2006 Lindsay | Allow me be the first to say... - From: Preparations ...Matty is fat. |
