#tripindex

[triblondon]

South East Asia 2004

DayLocationSummary2London - Phnom PenhIn which the journey begins, and a sudden realisation causes the author some considerable concern3Phnom PenhIn which the horror of a brutal history is revealed, that must be remembered always, lest it be repeated4Phnom Penh - Siem ReapIn which the author discovers that water is an effective means of transport in the undeveloped land of Cambodia, and first receives sight of the majestic temples of angkor5Siem ReapIn which the majestic temples of Angkor are shown in their full glory, and the author narrowly avoids a third consecutive day of shopping6Siem Reap - BangkokDuring which the travellers complete a painfully slow journey to Bangkok7BangkokIn which the author is reunited with old friends, and bids farewell to a fellow traveller8Bangkok - PenangIn which Thailand is shown to make the usual distinction between the priceless principles of democracy and the business of politics.9PenangIn which a new traveller is introduced, who makes an unexpected admission which threatens to ruin the trip10PenangIn which the author is cautioned against the release of tortoises11PenangIn which the travellers are physically outclassed on a treacherous descent from the highest peak on the island12Penang - Banding IslandIn which the travellers encounter wild elephants13Malaysian JungleIn which certain shocking incidents in the jungle threaten the life of the Author and necessitate an immediate evacuation14Malaysian JungleIn which the travellers bear witness to a scene of devastation, and ward off swarms of predatory creatures15Banding Island - Kota BharuIn which the existence of an exhibition of the utmost triviality is exposed, and a brief history of violent conquest is presented16Kota Bharu - Perhentian IslandsDuring which the author commits a premeditated act of trespass, and an expanse of water is traversed at exceptional speed17Perhentian IslandsIn which nothing of major consequence occured18Perhentian IslandsWhich features all manner of exotic sea creatures, including giant turtles, and a selection of the author's observations about the natives

[triblondon]

Russia 2003

DayLocationSummary1London/MoscowIn transit2MoscowTour by Elina, Metro, Lenin, Kremlin, Faberge eggs3MoscowSpace Museum, tacky souvenirs, statues, circus4Moscow/KostromaDimitri the ex-KGB driver, churches, pool tournament, 'that vodka'5Kostroma - OxotinoWooden houses, birch forest, monestary, forest camp, banya6OxotinoBeach, reading, hailstorm7Oxotino - St PetersburgLong drive, knife throwing, speeding fines, exploring St Petersburg8St PetersburgTour of St Petersburg, Ballet9St PetersburgNew travellers, Hermitage, Naval history, Zoological museums, sunbathing standing up.10St PetersburgPeterhof, intersting lunch. St Issacs, pizza for dinner.11St Petersburg / NovgorodAlexander Palace, film set, exploring Novgorod, swimming the river12NovgorodMore monestaries, pancakes, boat tour, music improving.13Novgorod / Lake MetzExplore forest, boat on lake metz, thunderstorm, banya, russian pool.14Lake Metz / MoscowStopped by police (again), dodgy lifts, GUM15MoscowMuseum of modern history

[triblondon]

Pembroke, South Wales 2003

DayLocationSummary1BoshertonWake up, eat, climb, go to pub, sleep2CardiffWake up, note that it is raining, go climbing indoors.

[triblondon]

South Africa 2002

DayLocationSummary1LondonIn transit2Cape TownVictoria and Alfred Waterfornt3Cape Town and PeninsulaRobben Island, Boulders Beach4Cape TownClimbed Table Mountain, night market5Cate Town / GeorgeOn the road, visiting Caledon and Mossel Bay6GeorgeTransport Museum, Shopping and Internet, Reading7George / Plett. BayTrain tour, drive to Plettenburg Bay8Plett. BayWhale and Dolphin spotting, lots of rain9Plett. Bay / ShamwariOn the road, visiting Jeffrey's Bay on the way to Shamwari10ShamwariGame drives at the Shamwari Game Reserve11ShamwariChristmas, more game drives at the Shamwari Game Reserve12Shamwari / AddoDrive to Addo Elephant park, afternoon and late evening game drives.13Addo / Port ElizabethMorning game drive, evening flight home to London via Johannesburg

[triblondon]

Europe 2002

DayLocationSummary1London / BrusselsIn transit2Brussels / AmsterdamBored in belgium, European democracy and how to buy cheap weed in Amsterdam3AmsterdamA day of education in the ways of windmills and wonky houses, loopy lockers and the art of queueing4Berlin"Eventually, every wall falls"5BerlinWe visited the Bundestag, and I got conned by a pensioner, but the most important thing about today was ice cream7BudapestPoor directions send me on a wild goose chase, but it was worth it for the escalators8BudapestTook a hot thermal bath to recover from a cheesy labyrinth, and finished the evening with some Hungarian folk dancing. Yee-har it is not9BudapestA jammed locker makes for an unelegant introduction to an interesting fellow traveller on the train to Venice10VeniceA stream of immigration officers fails to stop me getting a good nights sleep, and there's a surprise reunion in store11VeniceI watch in amazement as globs of glass turn into horses in seconds, and I'm a little close for comfort when the bells ring two o'clock12Venice / CortinaA ten minute detour costs me almost four hours on the way to Cortina, where the local delicacy looks exactly like a yellow cow pat13CortinaThe dolomites prove breathtaking in more ways than one, as I almost kill myself on a hiking trail14CortinaWaking up above the clouds, I spent the day walking back to civilisation and a train to somewhere less expensive15RomeThe Vatican Museums didn't impress, but St Peters Basilica and the Coliseum provided the necessary wow factor16RomeThe day was in ruins, but only of the Roman kind17RomeA visit to the catacombs and how not to avoid a nasty encounter with an Italian ticket inspector18BrindisiA new traveller joins us as we wait for a boat in Brindisi, while Chris decides first class is the only way to go19Patras / AthensThe benefits of being a student, the delights of the Acropolis, and someone who isn't me falls off a chair20AthensSome more ancient wonders to see, with a modern touch provided by a crowd of football supporters21SantoriniMet an old friend and learnt how to drive a scooter on the wrong side of the road22SantoriniDriving scooter on wrong side of road proves more difficult than it initially appeared. No fatalities, nice sunset23SantoriniVolcano tour. I get to play the hero and miss the boat in the process24SantoriniHaving learnt lessons from scooter hire, we got a car. Driving standards appeared to be improving25Athens / PatrasSome fast connections and a luxury ferry have us speeding our way back to Italy26Ancona / FlorenceA last minute decision has Chris and I on a train to Florence27FlorenceMore artwork than I think I've ever seen before, but there's no substitute for getting really seriously lost. And we did28FlorenceMichaelangelo's David, the Ponte Vecchio, and a long walk in the rain is required29Florence - LondonOn reflection, flying would have been more sensible

[triblondon]

Sailing 2002

DayLocationSummary1Ludham (Hunter's Yard) - Thurne Dyke2Thurne Dyke - Ramworth3Ramwort - Acle

[triblondon]

Thailand 2002

DayLocationSummary1HomePlanning2Dubai - BangkokFlight from Dubai to Bangkok3BangkokWee, Wats, tuk tuks, schoolgirls and spicy food4BangkokCanals, dragonboats, massage, snakes and stones5BangkokGovernment, Jim Thompson, Chinese New Year6Bangkok / AyuthayaBang Pa-in Palace, Ayuthaya, Massage, Happy Ending narrowly averted7BangkokNational Museum, Palm, River of the Kings show8BangkokGecko tour begins, Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho (again)9Bangkok - SangklaburiTrain to Kanchanaburi, Bridge over the River Kwai, interesting room allocations at the hotel10SangklaburiBoat trip on the lake, Mon village, swim in lake, long wooden bridge11SangkaliburiJungle trek, bamboo rafting, bizarre location for a film set12KanchanaburiBus with chicken, huts on stilts, first idiotic mistake, shopping by sign language and pictionary, POW museum13KanchanaburiHellfire pass, kayaking, elephant riding14Kanchanaburi - Nakhon Pathom - TrangTruck to Nathon Pathom, local temple, overnight train to Trang15TrangThale Noi Bird Sanctuary, fishing contraptions, giant caves16TrangJungle trek, rubber plantation, waterfalls, giant cave17Trang - Koh MukMangrove swamps, sea caves, dragonboat to Koh Muk18Koh MukExploring, more creative shopping, hammock engineering19Koh MukSnorkelling on the reef, Emerald cave, swimming in the dark20Koh MukReading, trying not to move, making mental note to wear more sunscreen21Koh Muk - Trang - BangkokBoat and bus to Trang, lunch with Charlotte, flight back to Bangkok, dinner with Palm and Wee22BangkokSkytrain, huge market, dinner with Wee and Palm23Bangkokspent day with Wee, Palm and Bernard (Wee's boyfriend), Zoolander, riverside, taxi to airport24BangkokCaught flight back to London (just)

[triblondon]

Zimbabwe 2001

DayLocationSummary1LondonPlanning2HarareArrival, welcome, dogs3HarareFarmers' meeting, factory tour, political debate4Harare / Reapers OfficeDealmaking, tour of office complex, requirements gathering5HarareLion park6Nyabadza VillageChurch service, meet the family7Rusape / HarareShelling begins, lunch at Basil's farmhouse, withdraw cash from bank African-style10HarareWorking in the office11HarareWorking from home12HarareShopping, Cinema13HarareRestocking Simon's shop14Harare / Reapers officeWorking at the office48Harare / Reapers officeWorking49Victoria FallsRiverboat tour, traditional dance show50Victoria FallsElephant safari, black-market trading51Victoria FallsWhite water rafting52Victoria FallsSwimming, trying to recover from sunburn53Victoria FallsHelicopter tour, flight back to Harare54HarareBack at work