Blogs from Asia - page 13037

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Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu March 10th 2007

With 9 coaches rolling away in the early hours of the 7th March, the first of our three phases is now underway. Teams are in regular daily contact with Fieldbase which is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fieldbase will be relaying any messages, ensuring that each team has what they need, helping with any medical issues and providing support in an emergency. We wait with anticipation to welcome everyone back and to hear all the stories in three weeks’ time! ... read more
Deploy Phase 1
Deploy Phase 1
Deploy phase 1

Asia » China » Beijing » Tian'anmen March 10th 2007

Arriving in China was our first major culture shock of our trip, until then we had spent most of our time staring out of train windows at snow or living it up in the largely European style Moscow. The train station alone was massive - with waiting rooms to accomodate up to 14,000 people, the majority of which seemed to be amassed outside in a giant mob, of which were two of the most hyperactive girls I've ever met who showed us to our hostel. We were staying in an old style 'hutong' (traditional alley neighbourhood) where the atmosphere was constantly buzzing with music and street sellers (and the smells of the sweet sweet Chinese food). Having been to various Chinatowns across the world it felt strange to actually be living in the real thing ... read more
Mao-tastic
Forbidden
Wall

Asia » China » Beijing March 10th 2007

Hey , sorry if you have not been getting updates. Travelbolg was having some problems but they fixed them now. I was really glad to read everyones comments. So if you are interested back up a few blogs to catch up. As for this week well..... I always get this way. Effete. After my birthday I got depressed with my life that I am older and not doing anything with my life blah blah blah. I had an amazing time in Shanghai and then a great time with they guys for New Years but all my Chinese friends were away with family and I was alone. I started getting really homesick and depressed. I have come to realize that it’s important to do things with people and not just what you see. Because touring around ... read more
Doors
View of the city
view forbidden city

Asia » China » Shandong » Qingdao March 10th 2007

These will just be pictures as I try to keep up. We are at a German-owned resort now and I may relax too much.... read more
Venue for 2008 Olympic Water Games
Living Quarters for Athletes
Olympic Site

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 10th 2007

Ok, je dois des excuses à Koh Samui. Marc et moi sommes revenus de Koh Tao jeudi et nous devions dormir à Koh Samui la dernière nuit pour prendre notre avion vendredi matin de Koh Samui pour nous rendre à Bangkok. Nous avons décidé d'éviter la plage Chaweng ou nous étions la dernière fois et avons opté pour Lamai Beach, toujours sur l'île de Koh Samui. Nous sommes resté au Amity Beach Bungalows. C'était SUPER! Beau bungalow sur le bord de la mer, relaxe, pas trop de monde, encore des beaux restos super charmants sur la beach mais pas trop bondés de touristes, c'était merveilleux! J'ai vraiment adoré. Sauf... petite (première en fait!) péripétie désagrable de mon voyage.... Le guichet m'a bouffé ma carte de crédit! Oui oui! C'est l'fun au boutte! J'ai sorti des sous ... read more
Marc et moi quelques minutes avant son départ
Marc et les tuk-tuk drivers!
Tentative de photo prise de moi sur Kao San road!

Asia » Cambodia » North » Siem Reap March 10th 2007

So we're in our final country of S.E.Asia... Cambodia (ahem, before going back to Thailand anyway). But we're getting ahead of ourselves now as Saigon came first. After getting (yet another) bus there, we found a fairly cheap room..the downside being that it was up 50 flights of stairs as well as being on top of a silk clothes shop which we had to walk through everytime we wanted to access our rooms. It seems the powers that be are wanting us to spend all our money...pure evil. So in our full day in Saigon we went to the war remnants museum which is fairly harrowing - plenty of very graphic photos and awful accounts of the Vietnam war. We also went to the Reunification Palace. In case anyone who reads this goes to Saigon, don't ... read more
End of day one... Heloise has had enough
Laura was wondering where to find the big vat she was reading about...
some random kids...very cute though!

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 10th 2007

Left Chiang Mai at noonish. At the airport in CM there is a section for Muslims to pray, and a section of carved teak chairs and rugs where only monks can sit. Wish we were that accomodating. Bangkok new airport is a long way from the center -but I was prepared for it. Nice tazi driver who got a bit lost, but we made it to the New Siam II (thanks to David Mayers) and it's pretty close to the hippy, backpacker area. Funny to see these young kids, dressed in their gear from India; dreadlocks, baggy linen pants, long shoulder bags,......come to think of it they look straight out of a Big Sur Party! Then there's the odd "older traveler" like me who looks like they've been on the road since I left in the ... read more

Asia » Malaysia » Melaka » Melaka City March 10th 2007

Well, what started out as just a 3-day visit has now turned into a complete 8-day pig out session. There is just way too much food in Malacca. Our time here has disappeared as we explore back alley noodle shops, roadside dim sum, and grand restaurants full of spicy Nonya dishes. With all of the options hiding in a maze of 500 year old streets, we just had to stay longer. The Village Noodle House, right down the street from our guesthouse, was our most pleasant surprise. Looking for some quick (and cheap) eats for lunchtime, we poked our heads in and found heaven in a bowl. The super steamy bowl of soup was packed full of lttle goodies. Chinese sausage, enoki mushrooms, carrots and scallions, all swirling around a pile of handcut homemade noodles. They ... read more
Capitol Satay
Boiling Satay Pit
Portuguese Feast

Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh March 10th 2007

HELLO! I wasn't going to write a blog after just one day... but I don't want to disappoint my loyal readers! ;) thanks again for the comments! I even have a fan in Belgium now! merci por ton message... I don't have all that much to say since its just been 24 hours since I last wrote you, but some stuff has happened. Although I loved the temples, I left early and didn't do Day 3. It was mostly because the lady Violeta that was sharing the tuk-tuk with Barry and I, was a BIT on the depressive side. EVERYTHING was always wrong. Even the towel at the nice hotel! That was the line... so i decided, i'm GONE! That's the nice thing with traveling on your own! I didn't have to ask anyone... I just ... read more

Asia » India » Maharashtra » Mumbai March 10th 2007

So here we are safe and sound in Mumbai! We arrived via Heathrow with very little sleep at 11:30am yesterday. The airport at Mumbai is quite modern and clean, no big surprises first out of the gate. We wandered through long hallways under construction, smelling similar to any tropical location, a slight mildew smell from the humidity and air conditioning. We went thru immigration hassle free and then had our bags x-rayed as we left the airport…a little odd since they had just been on the plane with us?!? We walked out and looked for a man that was to greet us from the airport with my Mom’s name for the hotel. Sure enough there he was we were escorted outside to the parking lot to our driver. My first taste of a Bombay street child, ... read more
In Transit
No Sleep in London
Our room




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