Question Hi Scott and Anny,
I have really enjoyed following your blog since I came across it a couple of months ago. Currently planning my own trip away with my boyfriend and have a question for you - we will have around a month spare time during which we could explore either Indonesia OR the Phillipines. I don't know how to choose between them! As you've recently been to both do you prefer either country to the other? Where is the food better? Which is cheaper and easier to get around? Just interested to hear which you would recommend more really! Cheers, H
Wartel'? Yet another great tale wonderfully conveyed.
I can usually decipher the rarer words used in your descriptive language but "wartel" (somewhere in para 11) had me stumped - until I Googled it. The resulting text explained it all: "Warung telekomunikasi atau wartel adalah tempat yang disediakan untuk pelayanan jasa telekomunikasi untuk umum yang ditunggu baik bersifat sementara maupun tetap dan merupakan bagian dari telepon umum"! But, of course, I knew that all along didn't I!
Keep up the good work - and, of course, keep smiling!
Hope you are still having an exciting time, and travel burnout hasnt yet hit.
If you have time and information about this topic, would you mind posting on the following thread. :)
http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/28176-1.html
Oh gosh guys... I recited this to Dale and tried to imagine that moment of sheer panic when you realise that the most important things to a traveller are no longer with you!
So happy it all worked out in the end, you have both put up with a lot and this would undoubtedly have tipped you over the edge!
This tale really does go to show that there are some really good people out there which is refreshing to see.
That's a well spun yarn if ever there was one - had me gripped from start to finish and literally cringing when you described those thoughts and feelings beginning to build up after you realised something absolutely terrible had happened - a feeling I and probably a lot of other people on this site are familiar with and you managed to bring to life brilliantly
Wow, what an eventful journey...we bet your money belt didn't leave your sight after that! It highlights, as you say, how people help out of a sense of honour and duty and it restores your faith in human nature. Although this money was a lot for the bemo driver, he was honest and kind enough to return it to you. The Banyak archipelago looks amazing, it's added to our still growing list of places to visit.
Wow, exciting tale Well written-- you had me on the edge of my seat. Glad it all worked out. People around the world are truly kind. The bad ones are few and far between.
Hi Hi Scoot and Anny. I like to see your pictures in West Sumatra. Danau Toba and Pulau Banyak are famous destination also for local tourists. To bad you guys can't visit Pulau Weh at Aceh, seem like more peaceful and beautiful place. By the way, have you visited Sibolga? about 6 hours from Danau Toba to south and beautiful small shore city.
Happy traveling :)
P.S: I like your panorama's picture. You guys have a lot of great times.
Thanks guys. Seems Nationwide, though being an excellent card to travel with, let themselves down massively on customer service. I've never once made an official complaint in my life, but once backin England I shall seek redress.
Thanks guys! Yeas, the hardship of having to spend so long in such a place! We are travelling back there tomorrow to further conserve our meager funds. Bummer! Mister Munkey: I think you'd need a shave where you to visit, the place is seriously hot. Also, the large eagles we constantly spotted may take a liking to a small simian such as yourself! On the plus side, there is much swinging to be done. Sophie and Dale; Thanks for your commiserations though, as you may understand reading this in cold Northampton, thery are not really warranted! And, yes, Nationwide are going to be not liking me very much at all when we return! And Ed: you know you've made the right decision, an adventurer like you would be bored silly on Tailana! Pack your swimming trunks for your upcoming trip and pretend!
Thank you Dear Scott,
I would like to thank you for your interesting write up of your visit to Taman Negara. Your paragraph on one of the salt lick hide was exceptionally concise and I have used it in my academic research on salt lick with reference to your website. The chapter has been accepted and appeared in the WASJ 2010. You can get a copy of the chapter (Tourist Characteristics at Tabing Salt Lick) at this link http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj10(10)2010.htm
Thank you so much
Best rdgs from Malaysia
Ang
Oh my goodness! You two must be livid that you are having to return home because of this whole banking problem. I really hope you get it sorted out and get back out there as soon as you can. We had a few problems with Nationwide but nothing on the scale you have experienced.
anyway...
Loving this blog and the photos are fabulous, Tailana looks like one of those real gem places you never thought you'd find, always better when you have it all to yourselves too :o)
Are you home soon then? Hope you have a safe trip and get it all fixed up.. I really wouldn't want to be working at Nationwide around the time of your arrival!
Sitting here in Moscow and preparing for a trip to the coldest inhabited place in the world while looking at these pictures of the postcard-perfect beaches you were forced to spend 3 weeks on for so little money makes me wonder whether I've chosen the right destination
Well, I have to say your description of how good this coffee tastes is going some ways towards overcomming my reservations about drinking heated sh*t juice. :) I love coffee and hope I will be briefly able to forget about sh*t and pretend it is regular coffee when I am there - a bit like the technique I used to overcome my adversity to drinking fermented horse milk in Kyrgyzstan, because I wasnt so sure turning down the generous offers of it would be wise, especially since I was travelling all alone, making p*ssing people off not such a great move. :)
Cool! This is the next blog I will read. I am going to exactly there in August. :) Thanks for the preview. If you have any advice or comments to add to the following threads, fire ahead. I appreciate all snippets that will prepare me for my destinations. Advice about overland bus journeys in Sumatra is particularly welcome.
http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/27761-1.html
http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/27203-1.html
hi guys Hi there,
I am heading to Indonesia in a couple of weeks, I am currently in Vietnam. Was only going to spend a couple of weeks there but after reading your blog I am interested in this area. I have no time restraints so taking time to get there is no problem. I am meeting a friend in Bali but after that I might look into going to these islands.
Can you please give me a rough guide to getting there from Bali or even jakarta.
Michelle
Flashback... You guys are really taking me back to my trip through Sumatra way back in 1996...sounds like you guys are having a great time, and hopefully you'll make it all the way up to Pulau Weh on your travels there.
anonymous
non-member comment
tailana is great! i stayed there in 2008. we had to carry all stuff including our beds etc...nice