Memories Hi my son Adrian worked in Phetchabun and KhonGaen for a year a few years back. We visited. I have never seen so many happy and warm welcoming kids. They obviously are surrounded by love. I was pleased to read your accounts and see the same wonderful things happening for them. Well done . Thanks for the memories too.
Would love to hear your advice... Hi there Dal and Ab,
I am very eager to take a similar trip to Australia and New Zealand to the one that you made in 2006. I am on a gap year at the moment, and plan to start travelling in January, and be back in England by September ready to start University. I have only begun to seriously think about it today really. I am going to Australia anyway (want to be there by around April, possibly earlier) and would love to spice up the journey a bit! And obviously to cut down on my carbon footprint.
I have considered it in the past but just thought it would be a bit of an impossibility for an 18 year-old girl on her own.
Well not an impossibility - of course I could do it! - but I thought it might be more of a stress than a joy? I would love to hear from someone who has done it whether you think you could have done it on your own (with considerably less life experience!)? Obviously you can't assess my character, but I am just slightly wary of the fact that loneliness could ruin the whole experience. Do you think I would be better off holding it back until such a time as I have a travelling companion?
And obviously I would love to know the boring details - routes, how long it would take, visas, costs, which I can't really gauge from a guide book.
Sorry to treat you like a internet query database, as I am sure you get messages like this quite often, but I would really appreciate your thoughts!
Best Wishes,
Tilly
You can email me on glitter.dish@virgin.net
Hey This is an amazing blog! I am looking at doing the same, but again I am hit with hot to get to Australia from the far east... Where did you book this?
thanks in advance, and well done, Chris
DB Booking?! Hi guys, great blog. I found it when Googling 'book trans-mongolian train on DB' - which hints at the question I'm asking.. How do you go about booking the Trans-Monglian with the DB.. how much did it cost etc? Is it better/cheaper than using any other site to book these tickets with? How far in advance did you book? What about reservations, were they separate to book? I'd be very grateful if you could take me through the motions of booking this particular journey (I guess Moscou to Beijing via Ulaamatoor). Thanks again! Steve (please reply to steve_clarkson_29@hotmail.com)
you are both such an inspiration i came across your totally by accident and like a voyeur i couldn't resist reading about your adventures. Your decision to get married in this way will forever hold much weight when in your futures you come across a rocky patch in your relationship. You did this for yourselves without having to worry if you were doing it for your family...or anyone else for that matter. I am inspired!
Congratulations to you both!
Wow. I started looking for option on getting from Asia to Australia on some vague whim tonight, and I got so into your blog I want to do the whole journey now! I laughed quite a bit and I loved your random wedding. Amazing.
Different approach Hi - This was a very interesting blog. I myself am Cambodian and went back there for the first time since I was 4 a few years ago. I did notice the begging and the selling, but didn't really find it any more or less than when I was in certain places in the Bahamas or Mexico, or basically any place where poverty can be seen outright. Also lots of kids asking for money or trying to sell things to you there too. I think the difference could be because I am Cambodian, and although I still look like a tourist, I did speak the language well, and I was with local relatives who knew where to take me and how to barter. Prices I thought were super cheap (I mean $1 US dollar for a full meal!). If you know how to barter right, souvenirs are also cheap as well. I brought back several beautiful paintings from there, each at $9 US Dollars. I found that exchanging $20 US Dollars gave me plenty of money to pass out to beggers. Most of the kids that beg ask for $100 Reils ... which comes out to about less than $0.03 cents US dollar. $1 US Dollar exchanges to $4,000 Reils!!
As for the stomach pains and running to the bathroom ... I don't think it has too much to do with the "khmer curry", but rather that your body is just trying to adjust to new foods, flavors, seasoning, the way things are cooked, etc ... Even though I grew up on Cambodian food, when I was there, the entire 3rd week of my stay was pretty much stomach pains and running to the bathroom, but once my body finally adjusted to the difference, I was perfectly fine and happy and was able to go on as normal for the rest of my trip.
Overall, Cambodia was beautiful with a lot of rich history. I would completely suggest visiting, but definitely do your research and pick out a really good touring company if you don't have local contacts there.
Thanks .... for a great time at the East Cape. Well, what a great blog - very jealous that you have managed to keep this up to date, yet Chris and I back in the UK are slacking behind!!! Not had a chance to sort all our photos out, so was great to be reminded of the fun time we had there.
Can't wait to get back there...one day soon!!!
Hi Hi there - thanks for the shout on my blog. Congrats on making it overland, a very lucky coincidence for Hamish that we all used the same freighter company! Have a great time settling down in NZ and all the best for the future, Andy
Excellant writing! I have read your blog from beginning to end during the last couple of weeks. I have truely enjoyed your views of your destinations and process of travel. Your writing style and senses of humour are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Congratulations as well! Cheers
Hello possums! Hello sweeties, I miss you both very much and wish that you would move back ! Damn those good beaches and lamb chops ! Anyway, just wanted to say hello and that all is good here in Sweden. Coming into spring now so the winter thaw has started. Lots of Love Sarah and Ecke.
Well Done I have been following your journey with great jealousy and i`m really pleased that you made it "home" in one peace.
I wish you both a great new life and maybe one day in the future have the opportunity to get together for one last beer eh Daz ?
Take care - and happy New year
Nidge
Congrats! Congratulations on the end of your trip!! But I have to say, I'm a little sad its over. Over the last few months I've really enjoyed reading about your adventure.
appreciaton I have enjoyed every bit of your blog and I am really pleased you are going to continue - I think your experiences over the next months (and perhaps years) will also be very interesting. Congratulations on completing the journey.
Happy New Year. X Cheryl
Fantastic News Delighted for you both - what a great story it's been! Your blog's been an inspiration and a joy to read all the way through...please keep it going so I don't have to start writing e-mails in return!
well done biggest congratulations on getting to the other side of the world. pleased to hear you're proud because you should be. thanks too for the blog which has provided very welcome diversion from work at crucial times. All the best for future in NZ!! A
Well done darlings! Hello darlings and well done. It was hard to believe that when you first posted your blog that this was going to be a journey for you and so many other people. I've enjoyed your fun and emotional moments and whilst it may be a while before we see you again. You will both have places in Ecke's and my hearts even so far away. Miss you both like crazy, still no snow in sweden! No sun either! Love you both Sez and Ecke
Amazing ! Well done to both of you on (a) reaching New Zealand without cheating (b) alive and still talking to each other! Duncan age 7 and 3/4 cannot get over the size of the ships you've used. Good luck in 2007 and beyond - and do keep sending out the blog reports - it brightens up our wet boring days in GB!
When are you covering the rest of the world? What a fantastic blog..have you guys thought of becoming travel writers? I have really enjoyed reading about your journey. Hope you finally made it home to NZ for Christmas....All the best, love Helen
We're moving to NZ - Abbie going home and Daren bumming along for the ride. No 24 hour flight for us - we're trying to keep our green credentials by going back overland - yep, Europe and Asia by ferry, train, bus but not plane! The journey kicks off on 7 June.
Our current itinerary (and this will change as we discover we can't stick to our budget) looks something like this:
Scotland, Newcastle, ferry to Amsterdam, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany...
AND then the exciting bit:
St ... full info
Diana
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Memories
Hi my son Adrian worked in Phetchabun and KhonGaen for a year a few years back. We visited. I have never seen so many happy and warm welcoming kids. They obviously are surrounded by love. I was pleased to read your accounts and see the same wonderful things happening for them. Well done . Thanks for the memories too.