Ben and Becks around the world in 126 days
In and around World
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler BenandBecks
-
1
-
2
Mumbai madness
After 3 days in Mumbai we're getting ready to move on, whilst feeling like we're kind of getting to know the place. We feel like we've covered a go... Continue reading »
-
3
On the beach
We landed on Benaulim beach after a hassle free night train from Mumbai. Beautiful beach, hot white sands and cloudless skies, our peace spoiled on... Continue reading »
-
4
Hot days in holy town.
Having arrived hot and bothered and late after a 2 hour delay on a 2 hour train journey south from Goa, we set out to find a place to stay. First plac... Continue reading » -
5
Big bad Bangalore
We arrived bleary eyed after our 12 hour 'sleeper' bus from Gokarna. Turns out there's not much sleeping to be had. Imagine a coach with no seats,... Continue reading »
-
6
Chillin' in Cochin
We arrived on the overnight train from Bangalore, having left late the previous evening. Another good night's sleep, lights out on the train by 10:... Continue reading »
-
7
All happy in Alleppey
After our stay in Fort Cochin we made our way down to Alleppey on a local bus. Unsure as to whether we were on the right bus, we asked a couple of fel... Continue reading » -
8
Varkala spectacular
Excerpt from Ben's diary:
Next day we're off to Varkala from Alleppey bus station. Bus is once again fairly manic, using addresses on shop fr... Continue reading »
-
9
Temples and touts
Excerpt from Becks' diary:
Wake up in Madurai. Busy city, though not as unbearably hectic as the book made it out to be. It is not really a t... Continue reading »
-
10
Pondy
Excerpt from Becks' diary:
The next morning we are off to Pondicheery via Villupuram on the train. Busy train and Ben and I don't have a view... Continue reading »
-
11
Chennai
Chennai is big, very big. After a scenic trip on a rickety old bus along the east coast road, we are dropped off at Chennai's main bus station, sti... Continue reading »
-
12
Singapore Thing
A surprisingly short 3 hour flight overnight brought us to Singapore airport from Chennai. The contrast between Chennai aiport (which felt more lik... Continue reading »
-
13
KL ma belle
An early morning introduction to KL sees us arriving at confusingly (or not) signposted Sentral Train Station (another continuing theme there). Our... Continue reading »
-
14
Pangkor Island
A four hour journey by bus took us from KL to Lumut - in relative luxury compared to the last few buses we've been on! We stepped off the bus virtu... Continue reading »
-
15
Hanging in Penang
Our journey to Penang began on a boat from Pulau Pangkor, an aft-deck providing us with fresh air on the journey this time. We crossed our fingers... Continue reading »
-
16
Crowded Koh Tao
Having decided to get the train to Thailand we left Penang the next morning and took the ferry to Butterworth station on the mainland. We were aiming... Continue reading » -
17
We love Bangkok
Bus to Bangkok took a long long time... and made us determined to take public rather than tourist transport wherever possible in future. We did manage... Continue reading » -
18
Angkor What?
5.55am train from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet on the Thai-Cambodian border. 6 hours past paddy-fields and water-buffalo. On arrival in Aranyaprathet w... Continue reading »
-
19
Phnom Penned
Excerpt from Becks' diary:
An early bus to Phnom Penh, past the large market on the outskirts of Siem Reap. After two hours of the four hour... Continue reading »
-
20
Bokor Birthday
Wednesday morning. Our bus from Phnom Penh bounces and shudders its way past palm trees, paddy fields and wooded hills on the four hour trip to Kam... Continue reading »
-
21
Well Kept
Becks' diary: Tuk-tuk along the coast to Kep. We find out that the boat to Koh-Tonsay is $20, which seems excessive for just one night (we're not u... Continue reading » -
22
One night Cham
Up early the next morning to hail the bus to Phnom Penh from the road above the guesthouse. Half-way stop on the bus and more fried spiders and locust... Continue reading » -
23
Banlung
Ben's diary: We had planned to go to Stung Treng, as a base from which to creep into Lao. On the bus we get chatting to an Aussie guy on his way to... Continue reading » -
24
Lazy Mekong Days
Ben's diary:
This is the day for crossing the officially closed border between Cambodia and Laos. First we re-trace our steps along the road... Continue reading »
-
25
Phou, Wat a view.
Ben's diary:
Wat Phou is the reason for choosing Champasak as our next stop, around 50km south of Pakse. We decide that hiring a motorbike is... Continue reading »
-
26
Pakse part 1
Becks' diary:
The following morning we are up at 6am to get the bus to Pakse. Catch the songtheaw at a street corner and it takes us down to... Continue reading »
-
27
Motorcycle diaries - Part 1
Becks' diary - Pakse to Tat Lo
We set off feeling like Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boarman (with fewer cc!) - bikes loaded up, all set for the... Continue reading »
-
28
Motorcycle diaries - part 2
Becks' diary:
5k out of Tad Lo on the main road and we turn right onto the 30km dirt track that leads up onto the Bolaven Plateau. We get a f... Continue reading »
-
29
Motorcycle diaries - Part 3
Ben's diary:
An even earlier start this morning as we have much off-roading to do. It's bitterly cold once we are moving, we are both visibly... Continue reading »
-
30
Sundown in Savannakhet
Becks' diary.
Buses in Laos never leave on time. Our 9.20 local service to Savannakhet departs at 10.15ish. We are loaded up with people, chi... Continue reading »
-
31
Lao Bao nightmare
Ben's diary.
Faced with the choice of local bus that night or hanging around for a day to wait for the a/c bus. Not worth it! The local bus l... Continue reading »
-
32
Hooray we're in Hue
We check into our hotel after a short xe om ride into town, past the citadel for which Hue is best known. They don't know where out hotel is and tr... Continue reading »
-
33
In `da Nang
Becks' diary:
The train to Da Nang is breathtaking, along the "Reunification Express" line - there is only one line so slower trains spend a... Continue reading »
-
34
Ho Ho Hoi An
Ben's diary:
We're at Hoi An and check into a cheap place for the first night, before moving to a nicer hotel for Christmas. First impression... Continue reading »
-
35
Overland overnight: Da Nang to Saigon
Ben's Diary: Our train is from Da Nang, so from Hoi An we bus it back there on the local bus again, though this time the sense of urgency we experi... Continue reading » -
36
Jazz and Rooftiles
Becks' diary: I immediately love the feel of Saigon which is the greenest city we have visited so far. Many of the streets are lined with tall tree... Continue reading » -
37
Journey South: Rach Gia
Beck's diary: We left Saigon early the next morning to catch the bus down to Rach Gia, from where we could take the boat to Phu Quoc Island. The bu... Continue reading » -
38
Another year another island
Up early for the 8am ferry to Phu Quoc Island. The 2 hour journey is a non-stop Bruce Lee film fest, but at least the action on the big scree... Continue reading »
-
39
Miss Saigon? Yes we do.
Ben's diary:
On landing again in Rach Gian there is a scrum for our money and we have plenty of hassel from moto-drivers who will not take us... Continue reading »
-
40
Viva Macau
Ben's diary:
Saigon airport is new leaving us thinking this leg of the trip behind us is a different experience to leaving India - the last t... Continue reading »
-
41
Bonkers about Honkers
Part 1; Becks' diary...
The hydrofoil to Hong Kong from Macau is more like a plane than a ferry; you check in at a desk, proceed through pass... Continue reading »
-
42
Where is everybody?
Becks' diary: The stat that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand seems less impressive when you realise that the population is only 4 mi... Continue reading » -
43
Mites, tites and worms
Becks' diary: The lady at the rental office wanted to confirm with us that we had chosen the "Breezer" campervan, and did we know it was the smalle... Continue reading » -
44
Rottenrua
We are on our way early for the drive to Rotorua. Most of the way we are driving through thick forests - wide clearings cut for the road. Either side... Continue reading » -
45
I thought it was summer!
Ben's diary: Early start the next morning, before finding a layby with a clearing beside a river to cook up a French toast and baked bean breakfast... Continue reading » -
46
No wellies required
Becks' diary: The long drive south starts early out of sight of the high Mt Ruapehu and south through one horse towns towards Palmerston North. We... Continue reading » -
47
Boozy Blenheim
Becks' diary:
The ferry from Wellington to Picton on the South Island was cross-channel style but took 3 hours so it must have been a fair di... Continue reading »
-
48
Right royal ramble
Ben's diary: We drive back north to Picton to get some info on the Queen Charlotte Way - We're keen to do some walking after the weather conspired... Continue reading » -
49
Gliding high
Ben's diary: Nobody else is up when we leave our campsite. It's chilly and we skip breakfast for one on the road. It's more than an hour before we... Continue reading » -
50
Tasman tramp
Becks' diary.
Full of the joys of the NZ summer we left Nelson early, planning another "tramp". This time we were heading for Abel Tasman, on... Continue reading »
-
51
Fox Glacier... mint!
Becks' diary.
The 400km drive south to Fox Glacier started slowly, winding through mountainous scenery. We stopped briefly at the Buller Gorg... Continue reading »
-
52
Hell Haast no fury
Ben's diary:
Another long drive is ahead of us, but again the foreboding and spectacular coast is enough to keep us occupied until a lunchtim... Continue reading »
-
53
Joining the jetset
Becks' diary:
Our road atlas, which highlights Lord of the Rings sets with little yellow camera symbols, is awash with yellow on the Queensto... Continue reading »
-
54
Sights and Sounds
Becks' diary:
The Routeburn track is a 3 day tramp from Glenorchy nr. Queenstown, to "the Divide" near Milford. We don't have the kit for the... Continue reading »
-
55
Return to Middle Earth
After a long and very scenic drive back to Queenstown we decided to spend the afternoon doing something we haven't done much on this trip so far: a... Continue reading »
Would you like to comment or ask a question?