mattylee's Guestbook
Comments
Date: 12th August 2010
Fantastic Writing
I just wanted to leave a comment noting that I thoroughly enjoyed your blog. It is not often that a travel blog is so informative and engagingly written, so as Kiwi Steve noted some time ago, please keep me in the loop when you publish a book.
From Blog: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong
Fantastic Writing
I just wanted to leave a comment noting that I thoroughly enjoyed your blog. It is not often that a travel blog is so informative and engagingly written, so as Kiwi Steve noted some time ago, please keep me in the loop when you publish a book.
From Blog: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong
Date: 3rd June 2010
Comments on Rd.8 Lak Xao
I enjoyed your comments on Lak Xao Road. I happened to be member of the International Consultant team (SWECO) for construction supervision of the project.
From Blog: The Loop
Comments on Rd.8 Lak Xao
I enjoyed your comments on Lak Xao Road. I happened to be member of the International Consultant team (SWECO) for construction supervision of the project.
From Blog: The Loop
Date: 10th May 2010
It was really a treat to go through. I still cherish the memories of a visit to the Jews Street at Cochin.
From Blog: Israeli Ruins and Indian Dancers in Jew Town
It was really a treat to go through. I still cherish the memories of a visit to the Jews Street at Cochin.
From Blog: Israeli Ruins and Indian Dancers in Jew Town
Date: 30th March 2010
guide
No, he was Rajkumar Basnet. Sorry.
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
guide
No, he was Rajkumar Basnet. Sorry.
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
Date: 9th March 2010
guide
Was your guide Rajesh Shrestha?
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
guide
Was your guide Rajesh Shrestha?
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
Date: 1st January 2010
thanks for the heads up man!
im of in 2 weeks to thailand loas oz and nz and was looking for something like this to get my teeth into!! sounds amazing.,... and yeah those pesky moaning tourists scared of a bit of danger! haha Anywhere else you particularly recommend in laos?? Ryan
From Blog: The Loop
thanks for the heads up man!
im of in 2 weeks to thailand loas oz and nz and was looking for something like this to get my teeth into!! sounds amazing.,... and yeah those pesky moaning tourists scared of a bit of danger! haha Anywhere else you particularly recommend in laos?? Ryan
From Blog: The Loop
Date: 27th December 2009
serxu to yushu
i'm amazed at your comment " a short bus ride" from serxu to yushu. I did this journey in the other direction in 1997. i did it by bike, because there was no traffic over the pass - the road tailed off on the way up and i only saw one army jeep in the two days it took me to do the crossing. i enjoyed reading your account - brought back some good memories.
From Blog: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong
serxu to yushu
i'm amazed at your comment " a short bus ride" from serxu to yushu. I did this journey in the other direction in 1997. i did it by bike, because there was no traffic over the pass - the road tailed off on the way up and i only saw one army jeep in the two days it took me to do the crossing. i enjoyed reading your account - brought back some good memories.
From Blog: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong
Date: 17th November 2009
They eat at home!
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
They eat at home!
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
Date: 14th November 2009
Worse airport in the world??
Charles de Gaulle a worse airport than Heathrow or LAX!?! I don't know about that . . .
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
Worse airport in the world??
Charles de Gaulle a worse airport than Heathrow or LAX!?! I don't know about that . . .
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
Date: 13th November 2009
An Inconvenient truth?
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).
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
An Inconvenient truth?
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).
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
Date: 12th November 2009
I was to move to Nigeria.
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
I was to move to Nigeria.
From Blog: Guns, Millitants and Big Oil: My Week in Nigeria
Date: 4th November 2009
hmm
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
hmm
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
Date: 26th October 2009
1 to Nothing!
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!
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
1 to Nothing!
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!
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
Date: 19th October 2009
Not there yet
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
Not there yet
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.
From Blog: The Odd Place That Is Abu Dhabi
Date: 6th September 2009
Helpful
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.
From Blog: Intermission
Helpful
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.
From Blog: Intermission
Date: 2nd September 2009
Nice Blog !
It has been a pleasure reading your reflections on life after travels. Thanks for sharing your very insightful thoughts...cheers ! Jo :)
From Blog: Intermission
Nice Blog !
It has been a pleasure reading your reflections on life after travels. Thanks for sharing your very insightful thoughts...cheers ! Jo :)
From Blog: Intermission
Date: 2nd September 2009
Agreed
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!
From Blog: Intermission
Agreed
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!
From Blog: Intermission
Date: 1st September 2009
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.
From Blog: Intermission
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.
From Blog: Intermission
Date: 29th June 2009
when?
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
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
when?
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
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
Date: 28th June 2009
A wonderfully interesting and informative blog. I love the photos of the interior of the Aya Sofia - very atmospheric.
From Blog: 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.
From Blog: Europe, Asia, or Something Even Better?
Date: 28th September 2008
awesome blog
Hey your blog is awesome wonderful content and pictures. keep working in that way . Andrea Farah
From Blog: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside
awesome blog
Hey your blog is awesome wonderful content and pictures. keep working in that way . Andrea Farah
From Blog: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside
Date: 28th September 2008
Yet another great write up Matty. Keep em coming !! :)
From Blog: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside
Yet another great write up Matty. Keep em coming !! :)
From Blog: The Benefits or Trans-Continental Golf and the French Countryside
Date: 20th September 2008
Amazing pics...
..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!
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
Amazing pics...
..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!
From Blog: Poorly Planned Seasonal Tourism: Winter in Nepal
Date: 26th August 2008
I know it
Matty said true.You will be feel like Matty's saiyng
From Blog: A Month in Mongolia
I know it
Matty said true.You will be feel like Matty's saiyng
From Blog: A Month in Mongolia
Ngeaw Swee Leng
non-member comment
Xin luhai, tibet
This is a best place to mediatate and to enjoy the beauty of the nature! It is the most memorable place that I ever forget!!!
From Blog: Backdoor Banditry, and the Source of the Mekong