RTW 080808
In and around World
Hello all. This is our blog of our trip and seems to be the easy / lazy way of letting you all know where we are and how we're doing.
We will be checking our emails regularly so please use that to keep in touch (ignore the comments thing on this site - easier just to send emails direct - you'll have the email addresses we're using from when I sent you this link).
Suspect we'll update this approx once a week on average - so just have a look from time to time as/when/if you're interested.
D & J
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler D&J
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Day 1 - Airports & Calgary
Haven't yet got anywhere interesting or anything interesting to write (as I'm guessing you don't want to hear about my complaints re BA for the day... Continue reading »
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Day 2: Hwy1 to Banff
Adventure starts today after a dull days travel yesterday - fair to say we can't wait - hence between that and jetlag we're up early and ready to d... Continue reading »
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Days 3&4: Lake Louise & Banff
Day 3 - Awake to discover the damage from yesterdays mossie pests - the bite on my jaw line particularly unattractive after a run in with my razor.... Continue reading »
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Days 5&6: Rocky Mountaineer Train
The adventure of rail travel today and in an odd way seeing several huge cargo trains going by the station whilst waiting for our train at Bannf st... Continue reading »
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Days 7-10: Vancouver
We really love Vancouver, within minutes you're convinced its a great place to live with so much going on and to do, plus the weather has been fant... Continue reading »
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Days 11-13: Ketchikan
All aboard the Norwegian Sun for 7 days of cruising fun. Beautiful day weather-wise as we set off for cooler climbs up North, settle in with a few... Continue reading »
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Days 14-17: Juneau & Skagway
Next port of call was Juneau – couldn’t really be bothered with the early start that morning so with now excursions planned or booked we had a lie... Continue reading »
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Days 18 & 19: Vancouver (Round 2)
Back in Vancouver, pouring with rain and we're a little hungover after indulging on our last night on the cruise. On the bright side its anot... Continue reading »
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Days 20-24: New York
New York city - yeah baby!
So much to do, see, love and tell you about. Sports first:
Yankees vs Red Sox (Boston... Continue reading »
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Days 25-27: Buenos Aires
Hotel and area (Plaza de Mayo)
Our hotel is really nice, big rooms and only a couple of blocks (all be it dark and graffitied blocks)... Continue reading »
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Day 28: Colonia De Sacramento
Today we went across to Uraguay to visit the world heritage site of Colonia, basically a 17th century port & fort which has been pre... Continue reading »
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Days 29 & 30: Buenos Aires
Todays fun is a day out at Fiesta Goucha, some sort of ranch based entertainment we booked months ago in the UK and which we realise now neither of... Continue reading »
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Days 31-33: Iguazu Falls
Arrived in Iguaçu in the evening rather than mid-afternoon as planned, and as such missed the finale to the Murray vs Nadal game - courtesy of LAN... Continue reading »
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Days 34 & 35: Lima
Our night time taxi ride from the airport (after a day spent at airports and in the air) was interesting as we seemed to drive ever deeper into sha... Continue reading »
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Days 36-38: Arequipa
Casa Arequipa, our abode for the next 3 days, turns out to be as pleasant as the top rating on Trip Advisor suggested. Given a barrage of informati... Continue reading »
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Days 39 & 40: Colca Canyon
The next 2 days excitement is our private 4WD trip to Puno across the Altiplano with an overnight stay at Colca Canyon. “4WD it is a bus”, “the bus... Continue reading »
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Days 41 & 42: Lake Titicaca
With a mixture of excitement and concern we board the bus to the dock to head out on our 2 day, 1 overnight ‘home-stay’ islands of Lake Titicaca... Continue reading »
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Day 43: Andean Explorer (Puno - Cusco)
Yet another early start for our train from Puno (where we’ve been based on the shore of Lake Tiiticaca) to Cusco. We’ve splashed out on the firs... Continue reading »
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Days 44 & 45: Cusco & Sacred Valley
The next day passed by quickly after a little bit of a lie in, finding a laundry, a few hours dealing with finalising the trek to Machu Picchu (... Continue reading »
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Day 46: Inca Trail
Guess whether we were up (a) early or (b) not early – yes, you got it A. Meant to be on a 6.25am ‘Vistadome’ train part way up to Machu Picchu b... Continue reading »
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Day 47: Machu Picchu
Up on the mini bus to the ruins, still accompanied by Cesar, to visit the site properly having rushed through it post trek yesterday. When we ar... Continue reading »
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Days 48 & 49: Cusco
Last couple of days as our merry quad spent our time :
- Shopping for tourist nic-naks (and buying many)
- I survived... Continue reading »
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Days 50 & 51: SanPedro De Atacama
Friday
Said our fond farewells to Ric & Vicki at Lima airport where we went our separate ways, them for 24 hrs in Lima before head... Continue reading »
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Day 51 (Con't): Moon Valley (Atacama)
Saturday Afternoon – Valle de la Luna
Later on Saturday we went out to Valle de la Luna around 4pm which, as you might have guessed from the... Continue reading »
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Days 52 & 53: Taito Geysers (Atacama)
Sunday
Early start today (4am for 4.30am departure from hotel!) to get out to Taito Geysers, the highest in the world, as they are at... Continue reading »
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Days 55 & 56: Auckland
Arrived at 5am on Wednesday in New Zealand, Tuesday having been lost due to the international date line. Despite not having the best seats / bed... Continue reading » -
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Day 58: Waitomo
After numerous and lengthy deliberations over which tour(s) of the Waitomo Caves – famous for its glow worms and the reason for this hamlet of j... Continue reading » -
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Day 59: Rotorua
Arrived early evening at Rotorua and spent the night in our cosy campervan listening to the wind and rain outside – more and more this place feels... Continue reading »
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Days 60 & 61: Taupo & Napier
After the ‘Thermal Wonderland’ we had driven onto Taupo, on the banks of NZ’s largest water Lake Taupo, to pull up for the night. Rain still pourin... Continue reading »
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Days 62 & 63: Wellington
Only kidding mum, no danger here.
The drive down to Napier proves to be an endurance test, with winding roads that may have been fun in my Po... Continue reading »
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Day 64: Wellington – Picton - Kaikoura
This morning we boarded the ferry to Picton, leaving the North shore (and its rain hopefully) behind us and commencing our tour of the South. This... Continue reading »
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Day 65: Kaikoura - Christchurch
Breakfast served on the balcony in our room, having been upgraded – another spectacular view of the sea and the mountains. Today’s big event is wha... Continue reading »
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Days 66 & 67: Christchurch
From the first few minutes wandering around Christchurch it feels very comfortable and homely, somewhere you could happily live. The city has a ver... Continue reading »
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Day 68: Transalpine to Franz Joseph
Another scenic train ride, this one claiming to be one the of the world’s epic train journeys. Some great mountains and canyons on show, but not a... Continue reading »
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Day 69: Franz Joseph
Disaster. Poor visibility (fog and pouring rain) cancelled the 9.15am, 11.45am and 2.15pm flights, so no Heli Hiking today. Very disappointing as t... Continue reading »
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Day 70: Fox Glacier and Haast
No heli-hiking again this morning. We headed onwards to Fox Glacier (about half an hour drive) and got ourselves on a half day hike up to the glaci... Continue reading »
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Day 71: Haast to Queenstown
Start the morning with a river safari on the Haast.
Pleasantly surprised to find we’re the only passengers on the 27 seater jet boat. Cruise... Continue reading »
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Day 72: Queenstown (Combo)
So many action packed things to do here we’re initially too dazzled to pick something first, but over the course whilst wandering around town we ge... Continue reading »
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Day 73: Queenstown (4WD)
Today we’ve booked an afternoon of learning to off-road in a 4WD tour, having rejected just being driven around and talked at in favour of somethin... Continue reading »
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Days 74&75: Milford Sound
We’d booked a trip down to Milford Sound in Fjordland, travelling by bus through the national park to Milford and then spending late afternoon thro... Continue reading »
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Days 76-81: Sydney
Having left a very pleasant day in Queenstown, we arrived in a very wind and water swept Sydney, where snow had fallen only days before and they we... Continue reading »
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Day 82: Blue Mountains
For our last day based from Sydney we took an early train out to spend a day in the Blue Mountains. Getting off the train at Katoomba we bought a p... Continue reading »
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Days 83-85: Port Douglas & Great Barrier Reef
Having arrived into Cairns and transfered to Port Douglas on Wednesday evening we happily spent Thursday lying around the pool at our appartment co... Continue reading »
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Days 86 & 87: PortDouglas - Daintree Rainforest
Saturday was another lazy day – lie in after the mini pub crawl around downtown Port Douglas the night before and took the opportunity to lie aroun... Continue reading »
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Days 88 & 89: PortDouglas - Ballooning over Mareeba
Had been toying with a balloon ride in a couple of places so far, so when we found out(if you believe the literature at least) that Mareeba just up... Continue reading »
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Days 90-94: Hong Kong
Arrived on Wednesday evening and left Monday morning having done little of ‘tourist’ merit, having spent our time eating and drinking with friends... Continue reading »
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Days 95 & 96: Macau
Macau is rightly described as Asia’s Vegas, and with a recent influx of over-sized casino resorts including many US based companies such as Wynn, S... Continue reading »
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Days 97 & 98: Beijing - Forbidden City
After a very uneventful day (spent on or waiting for planes, trains and ferries) we arrive in an already dark Beijing. Hotel full so we score a roo... Continue reading »
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Day 99: Beijing - Summer Palace
Today we ventured to the outskirts of Beijing to visit the Summer Palace, one of the Emperor’s summer retreats (having another one a whole days tra... Continue reading »
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Day 100: Beijing - Hutons, Tea, Temples & Duck
Day 100 - wow. Getting far too used to this eternal holiday lark, returning to work is looking more and more of a killer!
Venture... Continue reading »
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Day 101: Beijing - Great Wall
Today we arranged for a car and driver (John Ping – Ping driver, excellent) to take us out to the Great Wall, or “Long City” as the correct transla... Continue reading »
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Day 102: Beijing - Temple of Heaven
Our final day in Beijing sees us off to the one remaining ‘must see’, the Temple of Heaven. In short it’s a large park just south of Tian’an Men Sq... Continue reading »
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Day 103: Xi'an
Arrive late into Xian in style. Taxi driver first takes us to a similarly named, but different, hotel; thankfully Jane’s still awake enough to be p... Continue reading »
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Day 104: Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors
After another joyous night in our hotel we head out early into the bitterly cold morning to find a bus to the Terracotta Warriors, our goal to get... Continue reading »
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Day 105: Li River to Yangshuo
After a quick overnight stop in Guilin (proper hotel with duvets and pillows and everything) we’re picked up by bus to head out to the ferry pier f... Continue reading »
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Days 106-7: Yangshuo - Moon Hill
Today we hire some bikes from the farmer at the bottom of the hotel’s drive for the massive sum of £2 and set off for some exercise, assured by the... Continue reading »
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Day 108: Yangshuo - Cooking & Theatre
Sunday is cooking class day, which as its the off season turns out to be a private lesson for just the two of us. Our teacher, Sally, picks us up a... Continue reading »
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Days 109-12: Shanghai
Here in Shanghai for 4 nights and a little underwhelmed to be honest. I think we were expecting something more like Hong Kong in terms of hustle bu... Continue reading »
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Days 113-15: Hong Kong II
A slightly more sedate weekend this time with less people generally and more time with Darryl, Shelley and Murray. Stay at Chez Hood this time rath... Continue reading »
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Days 116 & 117: Hanoi Pt I
First day of our last full calendar month sees us arrive in Hanoi late at night having flown from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh and then north to here –... Continue reading »
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Days 118 & 119: Halong Bay
This morning we depart early for a several hour bus transfer to the coast and sea east of Hanoi, the beautiful Halong Bay. This area, in the Gulf o... Continue reading »
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Day 120: Hanoi (Hoa Lo & Puppets)
Back in Hanoi for 3 more days, now having extended our time here, and time to start ticking off the various attractions in the guide book.
F... Continue reading »
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Day 121: Hanoi (Museums and Mausolems)
First on the list for today was a trip out to the Ho Chi Minh complex. For those of you that don’t know Uncle Ho was the revolutionary communist le... Continue reading »
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Day 122: Hanoi (Army Museum)
Our last day in Hanoi today so we head of to the Army Museum, after a much needed long lie, following a recommendation from Jo & Jamie who’d be... Continue reading »
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Days 123-26: Hue
Arriving in Hue (pronounced Hway) after an uneventful flight we decide to have a lazy remainder of afternoon catching up on emails, booking the rem... Continue reading »
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Days 127-30: Hoi An
Catching the train for the 3 hour trip to Da Nang provided a chance to ride, at least part, of the Reunification Express (running the whole 2 days... Continue reading »
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Days 131 & 132: Nha Trang
Arrive in nice weather, having left Hoi An in the rain. After checking in we quickly head down to the Louisiane Brewhouse for lunch, this looking a... Continue reading »
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Days 132 & 133: Ninh Van Bay
Gone upmarket for two nights as we’ve a voucher for accommodation from Jo & Jamie, who won it on their honeymoon whilst at a sister resort last... Continue reading »
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Days 134 - 137: Ho Chi Minh
Picked a hotel in the backpacker area to get a cheaper hotel and be in a more lively area and after changing rooms several times - annoyingly in th... Continue reading »
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Seasons greetings from Saigon
Since we're a little late to send Christmas cards to everyone (it really sneaks up on you abroad) a festive, well wishing entry to the blog seems v... Continue reading »
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Day 138: Saigon – My Tho - Cai Be
Our main concern about the Mekong cruise we’re today embarking was what the rest of the guests would be like, particularly their age. However, we q... Continue reading »
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Day 139: Cai Be - Vinh Long – Chau Doc
Other than relaxing on board, drinking the complimentary local beers (333 pronounced ba-ba-ba proving a favourite for this cruise) and waiting for... Continue reading »
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Day 140: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
This morning we board another boat for today’s 5 hour excursion, this one being an odd mix of traditional wooden boat but with leather airplane sea... Continue reading »
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Day 141: Phnom Penh
Full day of land based excursions today, starting with the “Happy Morning” in central Phnom Penh, before the “Sad Afternoon” at genocide museums an... Continue reading »
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Day 142: Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham
First excitement of the day came as we pulled in at the bank next to the small village of Chong Koh and the crew begin leaping off a make shift gan... Continue reading »
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Day 143: Kampong Cham
If you’re paying attention to the map you’ll have noted that we’re back-tracking today (having gone Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham and then back to Phn... Continue reading »
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Day 144: Phnom Penh - Kampong Chhnang
Leaving our mooring just east of Phnom Penh we glance by the capital in the early morning, get back to our main south to north route and sail the T... Continue reading »
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Day 145 & 146: Siem Reap (New Year)
Leave our boat today. Due to the low water levels, apparently typical at this time of year but having only fallen in the last 10 days or so,... Continue reading »
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Day 147: Angkor Temples I
First thing to note about the temples of Angkor is that there’s just so many. Before this trip we, like most of you I assume, had heard of the magn... Continue reading »
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Day 148: Angkor Temples II
We begin the day, once again in the trusty hands of Mr Na our tuk-tuk driver but now acting as quasi guide too having saved the $25 today, with sun... Continue reading »
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Day 149: Siem Reap
Decided to give any more temples a miss for our final full day here in Siem Reap, and indeed anywhere on our travels. Instead its a lazy day... Continue reading »
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Day 150: The End
I had been hoping to see 2 birthdays within an hour due to the 00.10 timing of our flight from Bangkok and its relative position to the next time z... Continue reading »
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