Jennie and Davids Blog on RealTravel

Tortuguero National Park journal: Time Out in the Jungle

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:33:59 GMT

One of my very favourite places in Costa Rica is Tortuguero National Park, a maze of canals and jungle on the Caribbean Sea Coast. Dubbed by some as ‘the Amazon of Costa Rica’, the only means of transport in the park is by boat along the canals or by very small plane. To get to the canals we drove across a bumpy, dusty farm road to it's very end. Then it was a 2 hour fast boat ride along the main canal to the village of Tortuguero and our home away from home, Tortuga Lodge. Three days later, we left in a friendly Twin Otter plane, one of Nature Air’s fleet that ferries people all over Costa ...

Tortuguero National Park journal: A guided boat trip in the small back canals in Tortuguero is an absolute must for any visitor to this park.

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:21:18 GMT

Tortuguero National Park journal: See how the locals live and enjoy meeting them

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:14:30 GMT

Tortuguero National Park journal: WE were so impressed that we adopted a sea turtle

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:13:17 GMT

Tortuguero National Park journal: A great escape in the wilderness

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:29:47 GMT

San Jose de la Montana journal: La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:00:35 GMT

La Paz is a true gem!

What a difference a day makes! Today I woke to the sound of a generator and workmen building an extension to the hotel here in San Jose. Planes rumbled overhead at intervals and we knew that we were back in the city. Our view - the new building site – our task is that of overseer!

Yesterday I woke ever so peacefully and the first sound I heard was the hum and whir of a hummingbird’s wings as it addressed a feeder right outside our window. I did not even have to stir to enjoy the sunlight gradually filling the valley with a wonderful view across the forest to ...

Costa Rica journal: Costa Rica Adventures

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:55:39 GMT

La Paz Waterfall gardens - the jewel in the crown of beautiful Costa Rica.

Puerto Varas journal: We were a bit late for the best show in this 'city of roses'

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:14:02 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Another place to meet the locals

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:12:47 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Late afternoon this is the place to meet, see the locals

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:11:12 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Fairytale architecture, light, bright, delightful; gardens needed work

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:09:15 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Central, good views, friendly service, good food

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:06:12 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Great views, good for breakfast, forget dinner!

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:05:20 GMT

Puerto Varas journal: Puerto Varas - 'City of Roses'

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:03:49 GMT

Puerto Varas - a place billed in the brochures as a top tourist destination in Chile and a "city of roses". Roses - I love them and that was one reason for breaking our journey in this town. Many cities bill themselves as a "city of roses" - some have every right to that accolade and some do not. We would see!

Cabanas de Lagos, our hotel in Puerto Varas, seemed to climb its way up the hill from the waterfront. Our room had an excellent view across Lake Llanquihue to the snow-capped volcano Calbuco, which rose majestically in the distance, its peak lightly touched by a white cloud. Out in ...

Puerto Montt journal: Fish Markets of Puerto Montt

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:56:11 GMT

It took just half an hour for the bus ride down the Pan American Highway from Puerto Varas to the port city of Puerto Montt. Our main place of interest here was the fish and craft markets at the far end of the bay.

This meant a long walk from our hotel taking in the sights as we went. Following the main streets we found that this city of around 130,000 inhabitants does have some interesting churches, many department stores and lots of small sidewwalk shops and market stalls. Christmas was in the air but without all the hype we have to put up with at home. There were only a few ...

Bariloche journal: Bariloche - Chocolate Heaven

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:41:59 GMT

What a magical place is Bariloche! It’s known as 'chocolate heaven’ but it’s not just the chocolates that are unbelievable - the scenery is out of this world. Snow covered mountains make a perfect backdrop to the blue of the huge lake with white horses dancing across its surface. Green conifers and silver birch trees loom above hundreds of brightly coloured flowers; red spidery flowers of embothrium, yellow broom, purple lupins, white daisies, pink hedge roses and the delightful long golden tresses of laburnum. Many of the houses are very Swiss in their architectural style - not surprising ...

South America journal: Sailing Across the Andes

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:39:41 GMT

The brochure said ‘Sail Across the Andes’. How! The brochure said that we could go by bus and boat quite literally across the lakes and over passes with fantastic scenery and stunning views of both mountains and volcanoes along the way. That was an invitation not to be turned down.

To get to the starting point, we flew from Canberra to Sydney, to Auckland, to Santiago in Chile and finally to the small town of Bariloche, just on the Argentinean side of the Andes.

Puerto Varas journal: Magic views, about 15 minutes walk along the lake from the town

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:58:03 GMT

Petrohue journal: Across the Andes to Chile

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:25:03 GMT

At the border post at Lake Frias, Eduardo took over as our Chilean guide even though technically speaking, we were now neither in Argentina nor yet in Chile. We would be ¨stateless¨ until we had crossed the pass to the Chilean border post on the other side of the Andes range. Eduardo was a very effusive young man who made us all feel most welcome. We clambered on board a 4WD bus that was exceedingly noisy and definitely not dust-proof. It ground its way up and round and over the rough road - well, in truth, that road at times was not much more than a track! Eduardo shouted above the noise and ...

Puerto Blest journal: Bariloche to Frias

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:08:49 GMT

Leaving the Eidelweiss Hotel in Bariloche at around 09.45, we drove along the road that skirts the large Nahuel Huapi lake for about half an hour, passing by some beautiful homes and gardens in one of the most stunning settings in the world - looking out to islands and snow-covered mountains across blue waters.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the tiny port of Panuelo set in a tranquil inlet just off the main lake. On a hill above the jetty, stands the Llao Llao Resort, an impressive looking hotel set in lawns that sweep down to the water's edge. Great swathes of golden broom border the ...

Bariloche journal: Clean, comfortable and central

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:28:24 GMT

Canberra journal: Time to go home

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 03:19:18 GMT

Friday 7th July 2006

Home soon...

After another enjoyable shower, just as good as last night’s, the ball was set rolling for the day. I had done most of my re-organising and packing last night so it was just a final check and tidying up before a walk down the street for breakfast. And my feet knew just where to go – straight to the ‘New Orleans’ where, by now, we had made quite good friends with the staff. A big bowl of muesli, mixed fresh fruit and yoghurt followed by two slices of brown bread toast, butter and jam, washed down with two muggaccinos. Very good! It cost nearly as ...

Kodari journal: Dhingri to Kodari on Nepalese border

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 03:09:26 GMT

Thursday 6th July 2006

Dhingri via Zhangmu and back to Kathmandu

Last day on the trail

Woke at 0430 – best night's sleep since my I left my own bed. I actually managed to stay in bed until 0500 when we had our early morning call – a bang on the window. Unfortunately, I needed to squat again. Hoped last night was to be the last until in a place with a decent, clean western loo, but you cannot trust your bowels in this country from one hour to the next, let alone overnight.

Breakfast followed which for all but me, consisted of a boiled egg sitting on top of a pancake. ...

Tingri journal: Lhatse to Tingri (Dhingri) incl. side trip to Everest Base Camp, Tibet

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:53:37 GMT

4th July 2006

Lhatse to Rongbuk

I did manage to sleep until midnight, then again until around 0445. The roosters started at 0503, so, as we had to be up at 0530, I decided at that point that I might as well be first to the smelly loos. A quick splash followed in one of the enamel basins with some of the still quite hot water from the Thermos in the room.

Our drive this morning followed a river, so the going was quite steady – but on dusty unsealed roads. As usual, they are working on it! Lots more stops and starts. The road wandered up and down between passes - Gyatso La at ...

Lhatse journal: Shigatse to Lhatse

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:37:59 GMT

Monday 3rd July 2006

Shigatse to Lhatse

Breakfast this morning was in the hotel’s restaurant. On most days we have gone out for breakfast, as it is cheaper, usually open earlier and being out in the town presents more opportunities for meeting different people. But today we ate in-house. This hotel restaurant was over-the-top with Tibetan (and Chinese) motives and patterns all over the walls and ceiling - even chandeliers. The buffet breakfast included lots of very traditional things but as I don’t have a cooked breakfast by choice at the best of times, the 50 yuan seemed a little ...

Shigatse journal: Gyantse to Shigatse

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:30:18 GMT

Sunday 2nd July 2006

Gyantse to Shigatse (3,900m)

Last night I just fell into bed dead tired but didn't sleep well at all - that's two nights like that in a row now. Don't know why, too hot, too cold, too whatever!

This morning we took time out to have a look around Gyantse, a town which seemed to have much less Chinese influence than Lhasa. The main sight in this town is the Palkor Chode Monastery (spelt variously Palkor, Palkhor, and on the old sign at the entrance, Palchoi). It's surrounded by a long red earth wall that snakes its way across the hillside rather like a mini ...

Gyangtse journal: The Tibetan High Plateau from Lhasa to Gyantse

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:23:09 GMT

Saturday 1st July 2006

Lhasa to Gyantse (3,950m)

An early rise this morning, a quick breakfast and we piled all our bags, cameras and ourselves into three Land Cruisers for the road journey back to Nepal. But, no more than 10 minutes down the road and one of our supposedly 'trusty' 4WDs conked out with gearbox trouble. Looked as though that group would have to go back before they'd begun! Now, this was on the main road out of town towards the airport, a hazardous bit of road at the best of times. No one in their right mind would attempt a U-turn. But where are we? Tibet! As the ...

Lhasa journal: Lhasa - not as it once was - unfortunately

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:07:43 GMT

Tuesday 27th June 2006

Here in Lhasa safely, a bit headachy but otherwise OK. The flight with China Air in an Airbus 319 was uneventful. Scored a window seat on the left side which is the preferred side as the plane flies in Nepalese air space to Everest then hops up and over the range to proceed to Lhasa. The weather was cloudy but the higher peaks poked through. Got some good footage.

So, what am I hoping for in Tibet?

Clean, clean airMagnificent mountains thrusting upwards into an azure skyTinkling temple bellsLots of different browns and greys of the Tibetan PlateauSerene ...

Kathmandu journal: Kathmandu - Capital of Ancient Himalayan Kindom

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:39:04 GMT

Saturday 24th June 2006

Greetings from KTM, no longer the Royal Kingdom of Nepal, since the recent changes. Nobody here seems to know what the official name of the country is! Howard, the tour leader, is a very likable fellow, and that’s a really good start. He’s been here a number of times and seems to know the ropes. I'm impressed with the preparation for the trip and the helpful info, given to each one of us, such as what has to be done where and how - all before the event - e.g. How much money in which currency is needed for what and where? Before leaving the airport, he gave out a ...

Asia journal: Kathmandu to Lhasa and Back

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:12:28 GMT

In late June 2006 I set out a group of nine fellow Australians to Kathmandu. From there we flew to Lhasa in Tibet and after four days of sightseeing there, we began the 1200 km drive back across the dry Tibetan High Plateau passing Chomolangma (Mt Everest) and back to Kathmandu.