Page 4 of TouristTim Travel Blog Posts


Asia » China » Shanghai September 15th 2010

This is the second chapter of blogs about the resistance to travel. I have now traversed 14 independent nations not including autonomous regions. Out of each region comes a people, all with different traditions, cultures and ways. As a traveller it is one of the greatest joys to see and experience these from cups of tea to shots of vodka. Man can be divided into two categories; The good and The bad. As you travel, one makes a classification for every encounter based on very little. However unfair such judgements seem they are essential to complete even the simplest of tasks. For example, do I pay with exact change or not? Do I get in this car or the next? Do I stay here? Can I leave my luggage here? Is this a fair price? Is ... read more
Fans of the Chinese
Monk at Mati Si
Thanka and Artist

Asia » North Korea » Pyongyang August 28th 2010

So have you guessed where it is yet? 5 Days - Maximum time on budget spent in the country, the length of my trip. So you should be able to gather that it was an expensive country to visit. 4 Names - Kim, Lee, Pakh and Chai These 4 names make up 95% of the population’s surnames. A question I found important to bring up was if everyone has the same name what happens to the post? There isn’t so much personal correspondence as it turns out. The names should indicate East Asia. 3 Adjectives - People’s, Republic, Democratic As a great traveller(his Travel Blog is His Dudeness) and great man(Ralf) once told me , the more political adjectives a regime had to fill its title with the more evil the regime was reputed to be. ... read more
At the Metro
Spot the Blue One!
Normal Wellies and Bags

Asia » China » Beijing August 1st 2010

Alexander the Great is said to have dreamed to reach the Eastern Ocean. Only a few days ago I achieved his dream. The only difference is that Alex wore a shiny helmet, and of course he didn’t make it! I completed my trans-Eurasian crossing at Shanhaiguan, where the Great Wall meets the sea. The water was slightly choppy but the sand is of good quality and I sit and watch the swell rise and fall with the sounds of donkeys ee-aw-ing in the background. (a touch like Blackpool, don't you think?) This is however a sidenote to a series of three blog on the theme of obstacles of the modern traveller. There are those obstacles that have existed throughout the ages, physical barriers of passage. I have crossed the High Pamir and Tian Shan Mountain Ranges, ... read more
Hawfrost on the Trees
Quality Roads
The Fog Descends

Asia » China » Gansu » Dunhuang July 26th 2010

Dear all, In similar recurrence to our adventures in the high Pamirs, we have ventured to remotest China. A note; Remotest China: Instead of there being lots of overpopulated villages in between the vast metropolises there are vast tracts of inhospitable lands. One such tract is the Taklamakan Desert, which I suppose like all blogs on such a place I feel a necessity to tell you that it, in the ancient language of these parts, means “He who enters does not leave”, a nice sentiment that really brings out the intrepid/stubborn mindedness inside me. So, these days the Han Chinese have quite put an end to the claims of the ancient peoples by being not one but two highways across its width. So when crossing such a desert, one would generally advise another to take ... read more
Tuk Tuks in Yarkand
Coccooned Technology for Years
An Intrepid Explorer

Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Kochkor July 5th 2010

During the time of heightened tensions between the two great superpowers, Russia and Britain, agents were sent by both sides to the lands sandwiched between their ‘spheres of influence’ to gather intelligence of the regions and to thwart the efforts of their counterparts. Such agents on the British side were military men on what was referred to as shooting leave so as to be able to disown them in the event of their capture. But other men, civilians, who were not constrained by foreign policy made important steps in intelligence and reconnaissance. This was a time when courage, determination and resourcefulness were attributes to a man’s character and especially useful in these often precarious and politically charged situations. After making the long overland journey from Arabia a British independent traveller arrives in Asia. He left Beirut ... read more
The Aftermath of a Revolution
Mooning the Ex-President
Tash Rabat Caravanserai

Asia » Tajikistan » Dushanbe May 15th 2010

So I have ventured South for a brief forray into the Persian sphere of influence and of course have been met with unfathomable hospitality, all the mulberries I can eat and a sense of comple incomprehension as to what I am doing there! -------------------- When travelling to Tajikistan down the remote Pamir Highway it is suggested by locals not to hitch as trucks do not come every day, maybe you may spend weeks waiting. Of course if you do then it is less advisable to walk out of Sary Tash, the last settlement of notable size and whilst waiting for a truck walk up to the military listening station/artillary depot (think Memwith Hill) and ask for some tea and jam sandwiches. If the guard walks off to find out, then do not run off at full ... read more
The Pamir - Alichur
Harford-Cross's of the World Unite - HO!
The Postcard Worthy- Geisev Valley

Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Bishkek March 25th 2010

Hello All, So work life is soon to be over, and I will go back to being a travel bum. I can't wait, how does everyone find the motivation to get up just to sit behind a desk all day. Here there has just been the 3rd celebrated new year. If you recall there is Western, Russian Orthodox and now Noorus (Turkic), celebrated at the equinox. And one thing I have been really excited to see here is the traditional game of Kok Boru. So for all those who either, 1) Interested in the origins of Polo 2) Like cultural sport 3) Hate goats then read on. Kok Boru begins with the teams riding out and touching their goal, and blessing themselves by running both their hands down their face simulataneously (also done after eating), which ... read more
A Restart (hence why only 2 riders)
Teamwork
The Ball

Asia March 16th 2010

Hello All, I am sorry it has been so long since my last exciting installment, and I think it is about time for another one. Alas the wheel of fortune has been turning and hasn't landed on exciting adventure. Not to say that life isn't great, only that I'm still in the same place. My day is work daily 9ish to 6ish, normalna - that's russian for normal! Go to russian lessons or the pub in the evening, normalna odd days go climbing at the gym or skiing in the mountains pop off for a day in the countryside Same as in England really. The party of five is now three, Emrys has pootled off on his bike, braving blizzards, avalanche, wolves and the like, whilst Dan has gone seeking warmer climes in Iran. Margreet is ... read more
Sunset Tango
Snowy Slopes
Mureal

Asia » Kyrgyzstan January 29th 2010

Hi Everyone, My stagnation continues here in Bishkek, where the President has Decreed that we must all work Saturdays till mid Feb - just what everyone needs to get over the winter blues right! Anyway I thought instead of writing like I usually do I would simply quote a selection of lines from my journal (for those that have travelled with me in El Salvador and in the Caucasus - yes you might know this as my book of thoughts and feelings). 25th Dec - "Sat up chatting with Emrys by candle light - beer and wine bottles of the previous weeks making for candle holders" 26th Dec - "Have a bucket shower whilst trying to avoid tripping over a stray goose" 27th Dec - "Have a rotten apple fight half way up a tree" 28th ... read more
Diplomatic
Face at Arslanbob
Sauna Time

Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Bishkek December 25th 2009

So it's Christmas Day, I'm at work but there is nothing in particular I'm meant to be doing and the boss is out. What should one do except of course, prat about on the net! Firstly I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas from me to you whereever you may be in the world. Also blog wise this is quite exciting as I am moving from Blogspot to Travelblog, mainly because the old one is a rubbish layout and it is doesn't work in about 80% of computers outside of Europe and the US. It is a beautiful sunny day here, with a good 10-15cm of new snow having fell last night. There are practically no christmas decorations except those I put up in my house this morning and it is quite serene. I ... read more
Marx and Engels
Manas
Grenade!




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