Grinningmans Blog on RealTravel

Hong Kong journal: Curry and Rugby (Kind Of Last Weeek)

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 16:47:00 GMT

Mon - run on machine

Tue - pissing down with rain, dinner with jonny and Simone at ..., play a couple of games of pool, enlightenment about Yuen Long.

wed - TV arrives, set it up,

Thur - run on the machine,

Fri - ESD cook turkey, mash, corn, etc, feast after school, beer in Tin Shui Wai with Chris and Jacki, dinner at Red Forest, home to bed

Sat - school in the morning for mini-open day, Yum Cha - squid and beer, snooze on the coach, a little computer games, rugby Japan v Korea, dinner at food couart in Causeway Bay, home

Sun - french toast, shopping at parc ...

Hong Kong journal: The best of Nepal tucked away in Yuen Long

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:57:40 GMT

Being talked up as "the second best restaurant in the World" Shangri-La certainly had big expectations to fulfill. It didn't disappoint with it's superb food. From the plate of complementary fiery topped poppadoms to the succulent tandoori chicken and jugs of cold San Migual I was impressed. Many of Hong Kong's Nepalese population, a legacy of the Gurkha regiments of the departed British forces, live around Yuen Long and they added an air of authenticity to the atmosphere. If I was looking for a fault I would probably say washroom needed a touch of cleaning, but all up a fantastic ...

Hong Kong journal: Rugby and Curry

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 23:43:46 GMT

Tue - run

Wed - shopping in Tuen Muen, buy bed sheets & summer doona, dinner at Korean Restuarant,

Thur - run

Fri - Try all the food at school lunch in practise for mini-open day. Train to Tuen Muen, taxi to Gold Coast, beers in Breakers Bar, Jump fence, buy jewllary, Dinner at Med Star, taxi home

Sat - Borretoes for breakfast, train to Central, bus to Stanley, coffee, wander market, beer and nibbles in Smugglers Inn, bus to central, star ferry from new terminal, shopping - buy TV, go to rugby ... meet up with kEVIN, watch HK v Japan 52-3, drink beer at HK Rugby ...

Singapore City journal: Nice Enough

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:25:16 GMT

With the whole array of "last minute, bargain, ultra cheap, simple as" accommodation booking services available on the internet you think it would be pretty easy to get a hotel with a few days to spare, but oh no. With not many options, no local knowledge and a lack of time the Elizerbeth Hotel was kind of booked because they answered the phone and had a room.

The Elizerbeth was pleasant enough: the room was nice, the facilities looked good and the lifts running down the exterior were a cracker. The S$160 we paid was a good price, but I was left a little confused as to what extra I was ...

Singapore City journal: A Weekend in Stormy Singapore

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:06:43 GMT

Fri - fly in, arrive late, taxi, bed

Sat - sleep in, wander looking for breakfast - find toast place in shopping centre, MRT to City HAll, be a little lost, wander to river, watch dragon boat races, piss down with rain, shitty sandwich, Museum, home, Arab St, Egyptian dinner, drink

Sun - bus, breakfast at zoo, zoo, Little INdia - beer, shop bracelets, spice, hotel, Borders, hotel, Chinq Town, dinner - Hawker market, DVDs, magician

Mon - Orchid Garden, walk through batanics, secondhand books, pack, taxi to Newton Hawker Centre - kind of weird, nice juices, bad prawns, curry ...

Hong Kong journal: Exams and a Gold Medal

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:59:59 GMT

Mon - Exam week ... Yum Cha - including some good pig intestine,

Tue - Supervise first exam, sushi at Sun Yueng, train to Kowloon Tong - Page One, Taste, Jog, pastries

Wed - Exams x lots, Yum Cha, staff meeting for ever, dinner at Italian with Craig, Jacki and Chris

Thur - Staff Development, meeting with electronic pointer, afternoon of graduation photos, staff training - basketball and football, swim with lots of dudes, pack pack jobs jobs

Fri - Sports day, football at lunchtime, race with 1B girls and priamry guy with good English

Hong Kong journal: A Bucket of Beer and a Little Twitch

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:52:23 GMT

Tue - first swim

Wed - run

Thur - swim

Fri - Drinks in Tin Shau WAi - Jacki, Michelle, Chris, Marcus, dinner at Coconut Island

Sat - Bird watching at Moi Po with Sammy and Winnie, lunch at Red Forest Cafe, cake, coffee, flight booking, train to the Fong, drinks with Kev, watch rugby, bus home

Sun - a little sleep in, bus to Lantua Island, shopping at outlet centre, buy gortex jacket, watch fisherman - ferry to Tuen Muen, travel agent, Craig's for a drink, tram home

Hong Kong journal: Shopping for a Home, Amongst all the Pretty Festivals

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:50:13 GMT

I was a little disgruntled ... I was sick of students talking, sick of being interrupted and sick of kids snoring in class. While Hong Kong students are meant to be 'good' the reality is every student has an absolute, inbuilt passion for talking in class. Even the 'good' students whisper and mutter, they just do it at a lower volume. Facing a class of 44 chatting students Hong Kong teachers often resort to a 'karaoke style' approach. Very few teachers enter the room without a microphone - some prefer the hand-held 'rockstar' style, while others walk around with a telesales style headset ...

Macau journal: A Great Weekend Away

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:11:51 GMT

Sat - train to Ginza, bus to Kowloon, Chris and Jacki no passports... Andrew and Naomi to Macau on ferry, watch Hong Kong's islands drift pass, ask at tourist information ... wrong bus! Second bus, walk to hotel, leave bags, walk t square, lunch at foccaia joint, look in furniture shops, up hill to church ruins ... photos, climb to fort, back to hotel, meet Chris and Jacki, showermove in, stroll to casionos via square and main ST, wander Wynns, dinner, Star World Casino, stroll home

Sun - breakfast at excellent Portugese cafe, up fort via furniture shops, museum - excellent, fruit juice, ...

Hong Kong journal: Peter on the Couch

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 22:58:22 GMT

Mon - work

Tue - 'sick' ... airport, home, train to Mong Koc, walk down goldfish St, Flower Market, Bird Market, cake, Bamma Mammas, rejected from Penninsula, Star Ferry, the Fong, dinner at roast goose restuarant

Wed - Dr, Yum Cha, shopping at ... superb coffee, star ferry, big escalator, walk through gardens, peak tram, iced coffe, walk along track, get changed, bus to Happy Valley, beg to get in, dinner, beer, betting, wander lost looking for last train home.

Thur - big bacon and egg sandwich, train to Tuen Muen, walk along promanade, ferry to Lantua, coffee, 360 skyrail, ...

Hong Kong journal: Walking to Work

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:54:02 GMT

Mon - walk to work, gas man, crazy run (around river, lots of birds, barking dogs, thin trail, village houses, boat ride), ring mum, chicken curry

Tue -

Wed - jog in morning

Thur - Chris and Jacki around for drinks ... show around appartment,

Fri - Go to Bamma Mamma for drinks, noodles @ ...,

Sat - EMB course, lunch with Kevin at Olympic, meet in IFC for coffe, bus to Aberdeen, drinks on ....... junk, dinner at Jumbos, bus home to Yuen Long

Sun - relaxed day ... park n shop, pancakes, shopping for beds,

Hong Kong journal: Our New Home

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:48:35 GMT

Tue - go to gym for a run

Wed - Sign lease, change lock, pack stuff, dinner in Yuen Long

Thur - move stuff, back for dinner with Jacki and Chris at Coconut Island

Fri - hotel for gym (towel) mission, move last stuff, train, noodles for dinner

Sat - EMB training day - absolute load of shit, went for a shop etc, coffee at pizza hut, festival walk - buy books, coffee,

Sun - supermarket, relax, computer games, spagetti for dinner, movie - Rob B Hood,

Hong Kong journal: Is this good service I see before me?

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:27:57 GMT

After an exhausting evening organising our new home cooking was out of the question and it was time to check out the tastes of our new neigbourhood. Located amongst the bustle of the Sun Yuen Long Plaza, the Red Forest Cafe offers a stylish, modern retreat. The restaurant's booth seats are particularly intermit, though the view of the bus terminus and a construction site is not the best. The menu is heaped with Western and Asian classics, the serves are big and the presentation excellent. Name enjoyed a generous plate of tasty New Zealand lamb chops, served with an exciting melody of ...

Hong Kong journal: Of Islands and Drains

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:51:28 GMT

School is getting into full swing. I not sure what effect last week's sharing session had on relieving stress, but everyone seems to be getting tied. Teachers were getting fatigued and getting sick. Naomi despite being brave and heading to school Tuesday was sent back home ill. She retired to bed for a couple of days with a sore throat and terrible cough. With nothing to watch but a constant bloody stream of horror films on the so called 'movie' channel, boredom and extra strong Strepsils both equally seemed to help in her recovery. My week as a teacher was interrupted by the odd ugly ...

Hong Kong journal: Fine Friday boozing

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:32:30 GMT

Nestled on popular Knutsford Terrace in TST Bahama Mama's offers a great location for a quite Friday night beer or seventeen. In contrast to it's pretentious and overpriced competition it offers a relaxed environment in which to unwind. During the extended 'happy hour' drinks are a bargain - we were able to buy tasty $28 strawberry dacaries right up until nine. The food on offer is a mix of Mexican themed snacks and typical pup grub. The fish and chips I indulged in were marvelous. The breadcrumbed fish fillets were plump and juicy, while the crisscross fries were fresh and crisp - a ...

Hong Kong journal: Exciting Week B

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 22:59:07 GMT

Well another week had began, but this wasn't just any old week ... this was 'Week B' . The two week timetable structure at school means that I was facing new, unseen classes. Some like 1A were lovely, while others such as 2C kind of reminded me of the naughty scumbags of Christmas past. The week passed in a blur of classes, planning and meetings. It's strange teaching in a job when some days I have been meetings then classes.

Friday was a little different though, Friday was a curriculum day. The late start meant I was able to wave Naomi away and still have a relaxed hour to read ...

Hong Kong journal: Tropical Thai delights in down town Tin Shui Wai

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:32:45 GMT

'Perfect 4s' ... not bad for down town Tin Shui Wai. Honestly this is probably about as good as it gets for a cheap Friday night eat in the outer New Territories. A modern, spacious setting is polished with the class of a hypnotizing mirrorball. On Sunday nights this glamorous Coconut Island theme is taken to another extreme with a cheesy two-piece band whipping up soppy tunes on the perfect combination of a base guitar and keyboard. Service is good and a friendly manager is happy to translate, make suggestions and pass around free desserts. The grub is fantastic with fresh serves of ...

Hong Kong journal: Fantastic, authnetic, local cusine.

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:40:38 GMT

It was cool

The ambience was shattered a little by the humming TVs that were stratigically spaced around the place. While each dish was served in particular

The meal felt like a feast as a progression of marvoulous dished appeared one after the other. It real is worth mentioning the spread in full. Small tasty treats - tofu, smoked duck, preserved oysters and roast squid. .... soft shelled craps covered in batter , abolonie with lettuce, two critter soup - frog and chicken cooked together because I'm told their Chinese name is the same and therefore according to a strange ...

Hong Kong journal: Meeting people at meetings

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:27:48 GMT

Week of staff orientation

Monday morning meeting - spoke to all staff, long meeting with 'smallgroups', bible reading, singing, COMPUTER SHOPPING

Tuesday - no school, computer, coffee, reading

Wednesday - School, hangingout, Dinner at Restuarant in Yuen Long

convenently above everyones church ... smells. walking back to Long Ping and seeing bars, like actual real Chinese bars

Thursday - no school, evening drinks with team

Friday - Students started on Friday - rockstar assembly

Saturday - Ikea?? Causeway Bay???

Sunday - walled town, Causeway ...

Hong Kong journal: I'm a teacher again

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:40:29 GMT

Today it was cold ... after rainning yesterday somehow things have become pleasant

Monday - Lessons with 1E all week

Tuesday -

Wednesday -

Thursday

Friday - first day of classes, Japanese

Saturday - shopping at Festival Walk, rain, Mariner's Club, out in town with Marcus

Sunday - yum cha, dinner with chris jackie and craig at Li Lai Bistro

Hong Kong journal: Delightful, but slightly confussing Japanese.

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:39:23 GMT

Convenient location, stylish restaurant and friendly staff made Ita Bashi Sushi an excellent choice for a relaxed Friday night meal. The extensive menu, illustrated with lush photos and accurate English description made ordering dream. I enjoyed some succulent sushi followed up by a filling udon and seafood hotpot. Naomi however was a little confused when she received a serve of "chicken bone on stick" to start. Assuming that word bone was a misprint she was expecting chicken skewers, but oh no someone had bothered to thread tiny pieces of bone onto a stick and then cook them ... we gazed ...

Hong Kong journal: A Week of Wet

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:04:49 GMT

After a wet weekend it was still wet. Pissing and pouring rain, washing away the heat and filling gutters. Thinking to avoid the worst of the rain I boarded the light-rail tram and made my first mistake for the week. Squashed in tight with soggy commuters and being stabbed with dripping umbrellas I was a little disgruntled. The rain continued for another few days and brought the temperature right down. While everyone was getting excited about pulling out jumpers, I became obsessed with monitoring typhoon and storm warnings. A 'red' storm or 'level 8' typhoon warning means no public ...

Hong Kong journal: Tasty treats hawked by Elvis.

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:02:22 GMT

When climbing the stairs from the bustling bars of Lan Kwai Fong to the cramped dinning strip of Wing Wah Lane one is accosted by a hoard of hawkers flapping menus and offering "special deals". Our choice was simple - go with the bloke sprouting the very cool, very big Elvis hair and sideburns.

The rich, flavoursome Malaysian fare that greeted us in Good Luck House was worth the punt. A delicious assortment of chicken, beef and calamari curries were only let down by disorganised delivery. The chicken marsala was particularly impressive, it's authentic flavoured and finely spiced ...

Hong Kong journal: School Glorious School

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:38:37 GMT

Well I started work legally from Moday afternoon ...

Monday - EMB Course, School meeting, Immigration Tower to get visa

Tuesday - EMB half Day

Wednesday - school for Drama

Thursday -

Friday - school for Drama

Saturday -

Sunday - School for parents day / drama

Hong Kong journal: The First Week in Forms

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:36:25 GMT

Well we had arrived ... it was hot, steamy and full of paperwork

Monday - waiting at airport for a long time, early night

Tuesday - Immigration Tower for NW

Wednesday - go to school - meet principal, Wilson, lunch, Immigration Tower for AD

Thursday -

Friday - EMB course, meet Craig, NESTER meeting at Mariner's Club

Sat

Sun

Australia journal: Two Weeks at Home

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:30:14 GMT

If Vietnam Airlines couldn't stop us nobody could ...

Melbourne journal: Excellent value cusine, just hard to get a glass of water

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 01:21:03 GMT

Located in bustling Victoria St, Richmond Binh Minh has the distinct advantage of being located on the extreme city end

Launceston journal: Comfort fit for a nine year-old

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:34:40 GMT

Purple paint, a thousand pillows and lots of little shoes. The comforts offered by Jess' Room were a real surprise packet. With Jess off at Cub camp Naomi and I enjoyed two lovely nights accommodation. A comfortable, but perhaps slightly small bed; scenic location with Dartmoor views; and friendly service make Jess' Room a recommended stop for the weary traveler. The Harry Potter books next to her bed were a beautiful touch to round off a beautiful stay.

Launceston journal: The Eternal BBQ that is the English Summer

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:34:40 GMT

"Goodbye Granny". It's always hard to say, but especially so when we were leaving for Australia. The taxi driver helped out by speeding off at such a speed that Granny quickly disappeared into the horizon. Work restraints and a cub camp meant that my cousin Jen couldn't come down so instead we said farewell to the winds of tight, cramped Cornish lanes at excessive speeds cramped in a taxi with a driver who wouldn't get off the phone. At least any sadness at leaving Granny were pushed out with the sheer terror of blind corners and oncoming tractors.

The sun was shinning ...

Exemouth journal: Days With My Aunt

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:18:10 GMT

After consuming one of the greatest bacon sandwiches of my life an hour later I was at my Aunt's facing roast beef. Maureen did us proud, and at the request of my cousin had served it "Australian style" - with a crisp fresh salad rather than the usual mountains of soggy boiled vegetables - yet somehow I was feeling a little full. I was exhausted: exhausted from a strenious morning's eating, exhausted from the BBQs, beers and sly playstation of Launchston and perhaps even a little fatigued after four months on the road. The only sensible thing was to snuggle up with a book on the couch, ...

Barcelona journal: Barcelona I think

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 06:39:13 GMT

I´m going to alk about trains. Not in the sense of one of those anorak wearing, shuffling geeks I´ve seen at gasping in packs as the 12:18 from Lincoln pulls into to Doncaster Station (sorry Australian readers these fellows ... could there possible be female trainspotters? ... these fellows are purely a UK creation). No I´m going to talk about trains in a winny, wingy way that critercises the French so much it will make my English family proud ...

Waving goodbye to Christelle, Lina, Soulene and bungalow that had been our home for the last two weeks we drove into Lodeve and

The ...

London journal: Great value tainted by a questionable location.

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 05:23:22 GMT

Any place were you can stare at the big man and wonder with envy how he has managed to take all that weight from his arse and add it to his bulging mussels has to be a good place to stay, right? Having previously spent at lot of quality time on Maina's couch I'm happy to say the company is as good as ever. Having upgraded from Big Al and my brother to the lovely Kristy (a lady whom everyone agrees is much to good for him) the charms of his London residence are further increased. The couch cushions al floor were comfortable and the only disconcerting event was the pair of Maina's used jocks ...

London journal: Leaving London

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:24:22 GMT

The sun was once again making a rare apperance and sparkling in the English skies above. Making the most of the weather we sadely kissed Granny goodbye and jumped in my Aunt's Peauget for a hour long trip to my favourite of all places Exeter bus staion. I'm not sure if it was saying goodbye to Granny, the prospect of five hours on a National Express bus, crowded and expensive thoughts of London, concern about were we were spending the night or the inch thick layer of Smudge's hair the was slowly preventing me from breathing, but somehow I felt a little sad on leaving the familair comfort of ...

Europe journal: European Vaction

Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:49:17 GMT

df dslf

Cat Ba journal: Relaxing With All The Little Islands

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 06:51:17 GMT

We said goodbye to our tour group and feeling a little like stoaways were put ashore on Cat Ba Island.

What a great place to chill, cheap rooms, cheap food, friendly people and dramatic scenary.

Today was the day we were exploring Halong Bay under our own steam, having organised to rent a sea kayak through the good people of My Ngoc Hotel. We were ushered down to the harbor on the back of a couple of motorbikes and shown our fine vessell. I'm not claiming to be an expert on sea kayaks, but this old fella didn't look to be the best ship in the fleet, one clue I think ...

Cat Ba journal: Friendly, helpful and great value!

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 04:02:57 GMT

Situated on the Cat Ba sea front, this great little hotel offers superb value for money. We got a bargain room for $5 US a night with a excellent balcony view of the harbor. The staff are friendly, helpful and can help you sort out all kinds of stuff. When traveling on to Ninh Binh on a local bus, Mr Lo, the English speaking manager, even had a fight on our behalf, over the phone with the bus conductor who was trying to rip us off. What a bloke! The My Ngoc is a definite a recommendation for travelers seeking value for money.

Halong Bay journal: An Awesome Adventure Afloat

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 03:45:45 GMT

Checking out of out crappy lodgings we again mounted our packs and trudged further along the seafront to Halong City's 'tourist harbor'. Stepping from the regular hustle of Halong City to the harbor was a shock. The usual 'moto' blokes (motor bike taxis which sit on every corner and continually offer rides by saying "moto?") and jingling bread sellers (the bike mounted hawkers who cruise Vietnam advertising their tasty baguettes by playing prerecorded messages through loud speakers) had gone. Instead we were greeted by a mighty swarm of tourists. Straggling groups, wobbling under the ...

Halong Bay journal: Nature at it's finest

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 03:43:28 GMT

Spending a night amongst Halong Bay's dramatic scenery is certainly a recommended outing. The Bay itself is spectacular and would be fantastic to explore at your pace, though the package tour we jumped aboard offered convenience at reasonable price. While some of the sites certainly have that conveyer-belt feel, enough of the trip was spent peacefully isolated from other groups to make it worth while. A highlight was definitely waking up to sunrise amongst clear water and sparkling limestone crags.

Halong City journal: Out and About In Halong City

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 03:15:44 GMT

Sometimes travel by public transport is fun. You meet the locals, save money and soak up a bit of culture. Sometimes it's not so much fun. The train back from Lao Cai to Hanoi was different to the sleeper we got up there. On the way up we had a crusty 2cm mattress, on the way back we had a 1mm plastic mat. On the way up we chattered, read and slept, on the way back we rolled around choking in a pool of cigarette smoke. On the way up we arrived at Sapa at 7am on the way back we arrived at Hanoi at 4.15am. Staggering from train to taxi, we somehow managed to get to the right coach station ...

Halong City journal: Don't trust these people!

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 01:57:12 GMT

We made a mistake and turned into the first hotel we saw instead of looking around properly. These guys had the extremely annoying habit of turning off the hotwater every time you left the building, so when ever you wanted a shower you had to go down stairs remind them to turn it back on then wait for it to warm up. I am also very suspicious of the staff. We had lots of strange people knock at our door and when ever we left the room it seemed somebody came in and looked through our stuff, though we think nothing was taken. Don't bother wasting your time.

Sapa journal: A rattly bike, awesome views and excellent servie

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 01:37:53 GMT

Go to the proper motorbike hire shop, not a guy off the street - it's the same price. The friendly bloke who runs the shop provided helmets and a driving lesson , but most importantly he gave us a map. He spent about 20 minutes drawing us a route, pointing out petrol and lunch spots and showing us photos of what to expect. We completed a spectacular 100km round trip, saw heaps and had our best day on tour so far.

Compare this to a mate of mine who hired from a guy on the street. He ended up with the bike breaking down, nearly getting fined by the police for not having a helmet and ...

Sapa journal: Smogless and Scenic - A Mountain Escape

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 01:34:40 GMT

An overnight train trip is never really all the fun it should be. In Vietnam they have all sorts of different tickets, we took the cheapest; 'Hard sleeper, top level'. For some strange reason sleeping on the top is least expensive, followed by the middle with the bottom being a fair bit more. I'm not sure which is the best. On top you bang your head and get suffocated with clouds of stale cigarette smoke and hot air, but their is a big handy space above the door for your bag. Sleeping in the middle means you get tickled by the smelly feet of those climbing the ladder above you and whacked ...

Sapa journal: Nice enough, but no clean towels!

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 03:32:33 GMT

Not a bad Hotel for the $6 US we were charged. The view out the window was spectacular and it was centrally located just a short, steep staircase from the tourist hub. The family who ran it were generally lovely, with two very cute kids. The only hassle was the 'hotel guy', who was everywhere around town and beyond and would not let up on the hard sell. He keep pushing second rate tours and bikes which became just a little annoying. We also didn't get any clean towels.

Hanoi journal: Sweet, satisfying lounging

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 03:31:15 GMT

Baguette & Chocolat is one tasty place. Located in Hanoi's 'old quarter' it is touted by the Lonely Planet as assisting disadvantaged youth, but it also assisted us to fill in a long, wet Hanoi afternoon. Having "moved out" of our hotel in the rain and killing time waiting for the overnight train to Sapa; Baguette & Chocolat offered us a place to relax and read while sipping on delightfully rich hot chocolate and nibbling on sweet pastries. We spent over three hours here!

Sapa journal: They really were friendly!

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 01:02:12 GMT

Snuggled between Mimosa and Gerbera Restaurants, both Lonely Planet recommendations, was this cheap and cheerful family run eatery. The relaxed atmosphere, beautiful views and friendly staff (though the smallest perhaps should have spent more time at school) all helped make this place our budget winner while staying in Sapa.

Melbourne journal: Get Me Out of Here

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:36:03 GMT

I've said before that you never really have time to be sentimental before leaving somewhere. It's not that you wont miss your loved ones or that your not thinking back over all the great times, nor is it that your not a little scarred and apprehensive about the upcoming trip. What really happens is most of us are just too bloody busy to be sentimental.

It's the day before Naomi and I depart for a five and a half month trip. It's also the day we picked up the tickets, spent a fortune on a new camera and received our passports back from the Vietnamese Consulate (a situation that could ...

Vietnam journal: Stop-over Vietnam

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:36:03 GMT

Starting work in Hong Kong in March was an exciting prospect. It would have been a fantastic new challenge, but somehow March changed. A tough video- conference with Hong Kong's "Manpower" organisation in mid-February finished with the classic line "it'll take them ages to process you and hopefully they'll start you at the beginning of the school term in August ... you haven't quit your jobs have you?"

So what do you do when you have a few spare months to spend, but not much cash to spend during them? Well of course you flee Australia; escape rent, bills, petrol and all that expensive ...

Hanoi journal: Fun, entertaining and the odd splash

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:24:04 GMT

Advertised in every 'travel agent' and guesthouse in Hanoi the traditional water puppet show has every appearance of being a traditional tourist gimmick. On our second afternoon in Hanoi we joined the bus loads and were shuffled into the theater, just near .... Lake. Booking in advance is a must, paying for a front seat was definitely worth while, though paying for a camera is probably not - we didn't and took pictures anyway. The show started with the tweaking of traditional music to which two dragons emerged from the dark pool in front of us. These fantastic beast withered and whirled ...

Melbourne journal: It's a shame about Mat.

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 03:51:57 GMT

Centrally located in leafy Balwyn and close to Aquila St, 'Wayne's spare room' is always a favourite place to stay on visits to the big smoke. The man himself, Co is a friendly host who can usually be persuaded to partake in a cold beer or two - I also hear he looks extremely good with his new haircut. The only problem is his housemate - 'the Fat Italian' Mat Natoli, a creature so vile he missed my going away drinks because he had to watch the OC. It really, really is a shame about Mat.