Well it’s almost Xmas again… Have I been away that long…
Well it’s only about 15 months.
Its hard to believe its Xmas. Despite all the decorations in town and the late night shopping’s, my brain just isn’t wired to recognise sunny weather as xmas. I need the cold and the dark for it to register but I’m not complaining.
When I went to the station yesterday to get the train to work they we handing out free coffee and some chocolate covered marshmallows things, they also had a bloke dressed as Santa wandering around but it still didn’t feel like xmas.. I think I must just be getting old..
I have a job now, Although I’m still waiting to get paid, I’ve found a nice place to live and with luck I can start saving the pennies. Not that they are worth much now.
I have no real plans for Xmas or New year but am sure I will sort something out as everyone here takes two weeks of work.. Essentially everything closes down which is something I’m not so used to and also a bit disappointing as its two weeks without work or pay. But I can use the time to update this page and put a few of the photos up on my Flickr site and with luck I can even get away climbing for a few days on proper rock and everything.
Well I hope everyone enjoys Xmas and the New year, hope you have a good en. I think i will make it back to the UK in 2009.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
shirts
Well i'v just spent my Saturday morning in a quest for shirts... i started in Richmond on bridge st, went to several stores all of which promised big discounts in big letters.
However upon closer inspection the prices still made me turn and run. most of the places didn't have white work shirts the options available would make me look like a lump of seaside rock candy.
The prices were not even realistic from about $60 to over $200. I was most offended by the idea that people pay money to look like such plonkers.
After several shops all sporting the same designer crap i started to long for a reasonable shop or department store which would have cheap white plain cotton shirts.
I ended up in smith street after a small detour via Victoria parade which is lined with Asian supermarkets and stores and non of which sell any of the good dofugan.
Disappointed but not disheartened i walked on and after arriving on smith st i found what i was looking for... i got 3 shirts for $45, still no dofugan though... but a small victory and i can now have a shirt for each day without looking too much like a plonker..
Its one of those days as now its raining and my almost dry clothes which i hung out earlier and now very wet again... I do so miss traveling when non of these things really bothered me but work is a requirement these days. At least its not snowing yet and its generally nice sunny weather with blue sky's.
However upon closer inspection the prices still made me turn and run. most of the places didn't have white work shirts the options available would make me look like a lump of seaside rock candy.
The prices were not even realistic from about $60 to over $200. I was most offended by the idea that people pay money to look like such plonkers.
After several shops all sporting the same designer crap i started to long for a reasonable shop or department store which would have cheap white plain cotton shirts.
I ended up in smith street after a small detour via Victoria parade which is lined with Asian supermarkets and stores and non of which sell any of the good dofugan.
Disappointed but not disheartened i walked on and after arriving on smith st i found what i was looking for... i got 3 shirts for $45, still no dofugan though... but a small victory and i can now have a shirt for each day without looking too much like a plonker..
Its one of those days as now its raining and my almost dry clothes which i hung out earlier and now very wet again... I do so miss traveling when non of these things really bothered me but work is a requirement these days. At least its not snowing yet and its generally nice sunny weather with blue sky's.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Back to work lad.. and update
Well what I have been up to... contrary to popular belief I’m still alive and still in Oz.
It’s been a long time since I put a post on here and as you can guess I’ve done a fair bit between Yunnan and getting back to Australia.
I went back to yangshuo to meet up some friends from the time spent there earlier in the year and was happy to find them all in good health and enjoying life as much as when I left. A few have moved on like myself to other things but many of the faces I knew from my previous visit were still around and it was great to bump into Bon, Kev, and Donna who I knew from Hong Kong and whom were in town for a week climbing.
I helped out a bit at china climb and it was good to meet some of the new staff and catch up with friends. A few beers were had some climbing was done and Sonia joined me for a few days and we were able to get out to do a few routes together. Dan and Tyson were still around as were many of my other friends and I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone, I feel this is a place that will keep calling me back, it hold lots of great times and memories for me, and many more yet to come I hope.
Back in Guangzhou I spent a fair bit of time wandering around the city and trying not to get lost which is fairly hard. I think this is the most disorientating city I have been to as many streets look alike and have lots of flyovers and roads all over the place so you can’t see so many of the landmarks for orientating yourself.
Sonia and I stopped in a really nice apartment which she had found and there was even a pool in the building so we spent a few evenings swimming, we went out for dinner a few times with some of her friends and spent Halloween in a Reggie bar called Cunion. This had a really cool band playing and has good music most nights.
We did intend to go and see a free concert but it was rained off and the only thing we achieved was getting soaked in torrential rain & thunder storm that lasted almost an hour. However we did go to the circus which was great fun and worth the 150yuan even if just for the black bear riding a Harley style bike around.
As this was China and Guangzhou is known for its variety of cuisine, (Sonia tells me the only thing that fly's that they don’t eat is a plane and the only thing with four legs they don’t eat is a chair) we spent a good few nights eating out but most of the time cooked in the apartment, lots of hotpot was had and I miss the Chinese food now I’m in Australia. Despite a large Asian and Chinese minority in Melbourne the food just isn’t the same although it’s still good.
I have been back in Melbourne just over two weeks now and have (after sending many e-mails) found a job. It’s not as good or as well paid as I had hoped but this is because of the restrictions on my visa the market downturn at the current time and also because I can only do temporary contracts. However its work and it pays money so I can’t complain.
I’ve got an old bike for $140 that gets me around the place fairly well, although I did get told off by the coppers for not wearing a lid one day, almost told them to stop being so bloody stupid and do something useful for a change, fortunately I remembered that I’m not in China anymore . They have funny laws over here like wearing seatbelts in cars, lids on bikes, only cross the road at crossings and all that stupidness. Phew how can anyone have any fun with all these laws flying about? Next they will ban all walking as you could trip over...
I’ve found some accommodation at last, about 4km outside the city centre (CBD) in a really nice old house sharing with three others. It’s not bad for $800 per month including all bills, its fully furnished etc and is bang next to a train station which can have me within 500m of work within 10 minutes so that a bonus. It’s also not very far from a bouldering gym so I can try and get strong again and rid myself of the bit of a belly that I have from all this good food I’ve been having over the past couple of months.
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks or so sleeping on Maria’s sofa which is comfy but the situation isn’t really ideal even more so now I’ve found work. she’s been really good putting up with me for so long as my only contributions have been towards food, cooking and tidying up the place so I think she will be pleased I’ve sorted out some place, and will be moving Wednesday.
I just hope I can find more work after this contract finishes, and I can save some cash before heading back to the UK for the summer months. I figure after the winter I had last year I deserve a couple of summers in a row. Melbourne appears to be a nice place to spend the time. It has lots of really good markets with local produce and you can’t do better than the sales on Sunday when they clear all the food extra cheap as they don’t open Mondays, last week we got 2kg of sausages for $10, winner.
I guess I will start slowly slipping into a different lifestyle now I’m working but I will try to save as much money as I can.
Firstly as I don’t know how much work I will get in OZ.
Secondly as I don’t know what I’m going to do after returning to the UK and need to build a cushion whilst I figure it all out.
Thirdly I’m starting to think it may just be a temporary return as I have many things pulling me in different directions, there’s still so much I want to see around the world and so many places to go. With luck I’ve found someone who I can go and see them all with... this may just be the start of the adventures.
Now I just need the money to make it happen so if you happen to know the lotto numbers for this upcoming weekly draw do be so kind as to tell me. More posts will arrive as i will undoubtedly feel the need to let you know how sunny it is here whilst you sit in the gloom of a British winter but you have proper ale... however i recall seth saying he found Abbott or somthing of the like over here... lad, please tell me where.
It’s been a long time since I put a post on here and as you can guess I’ve done a fair bit between Yunnan and getting back to Australia.
I went back to yangshuo to meet up some friends from the time spent there earlier in the year and was happy to find them all in good health and enjoying life as much as when I left. A few have moved on like myself to other things but many of the faces I knew from my previous visit were still around and it was great to bump into Bon, Kev, and Donna who I knew from Hong Kong and whom were in town for a week climbing.
I helped out a bit at china climb and it was good to meet some of the new staff and catch up with friends. A few beers were had some climbing was done and Sonia joined me for a few days and we were able to get out to do a few routes together. Dan and Tyson were still around as were many of my other friends and I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone, I feel this is a place that will keep calling me back, it hold lots of great times and memories for me, and many more yet to come I hope.
Back in Guangzhou I spent a fair bit of time wandering around the city and trying not to get lost which is fairly hard. I think this is the most disorientating city I have been to as many streets look alike and have lots of flyovers and roads all over the place so you can’t see so many of the landmarks for orientating yourself.
Sonia and I stopped in a really nice apartment which she had found and there was even a pool in the building so we spent a few evenings swimming, we went out for dinner a few times with some of her friends and spent Halloween in a Reggie bar called Cunion. This had a really cool band playing and has good music most nights.
We did intend to go and see a free concert but it was rained off and the only thing we achieved was getting soaked in torrential rain & thunder storm that lasted almost an hour. However we did go to the circus which was great fun and worth the 150yuan even if just for the black bear riding a Harley style bike around.
As this was China and Guangzhou is known for its variety of cuisine, (Sonia tells me the only thing that fly's that they don’t eat is a plane and the only thing with four legs they don’t eat is a chair) we spent a good few nights eating out but most of the time cooked in the apartment, lots of hotpot was had and I miss the Chinese food now I’m in Australia. Despite a large Asian and Chinese minority in Melbourne the food just isn’t the same although it’s still good.
I have been back in Melbourne just over two weeks now and have (after sending many e-mails) found a job. It’s not as good or as well paid as I had hoped but this is because of the restrictions on my visa the market downturn at the current time and also because I can only do temporary contracts. However its work and it pays money so I can’t complain.
I’ve got an old bike for $140 that gets me around the place fairly well, although I did get told off by the coppers for not wearing a lid one day, almost told them to stop being so bloody stupid and do something useful for a change, fortunately I remembered that I’m not in China anymore . They have funny laws over here like wearing seatbelts in cars, lids on bikes, only cross the road at crossings and all that stupidness. Phew how can anyone have any fun with all these laws flying about? Next they will ban all walking as you could trip over...
I’ve found some accommodation at last, about 4km outside the city centre (CBD) in a really nice old house sharing with three others. It’s not bad for $800 per month including all bills, its fully furnished etc and is bang next to a train station which can have me within 500m of work within 10 minutes so that a bonus. It’s also not very far from a bouldering gym so I can try and get strong again and rid myself of the bit of a belly that I have from all this good food I’ve been having over the past couple of months.
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks or so sleeping on Maria’s sofa which is comfy but the situation isn’t really ideal even more so now I’ve found work. she’s been really good putting up with me for so long as my only contributions have been towards food, cooking and tidying up the place so I think she will be pleased I’ve sorted out some place, and will be moving Wednesday.
I just hope I can find more work after this contract finishes, and I can save some cash before heading back to the UK for the summer months. I figure after the winter I had last year I deserve a couple of summers in a row. Melbourne appears to be a nice place to spend the time. It has lots of really good markets with local produce and you can’t do better than the sales on Sunday when they clear all the food extra cheap as they don’t open Mondays, last week we got 2kg of sausages for $10, winner.
I guess I will start slowly slipping into a different lifestyle now I’m working but I will try to save as much money as I can.
Firstly as I don’t know how much work I will get in OZ.
Secondly as I don’t know what I’m going to do after returning to the UK and need to build a cushion whilst I figure it all out.
Thirdly I’m starting to think it may just be a temporary return as I have many things pulling me in different directions, there’s still so much I want to see around the world and so many places to go. With luck I’ve found someone who I can go and see them all with... this may just be the start of the adventures.
Now I just need the money to make it happen so if you happen to know the lotto numbers for this upcoming weekly draw do be so kind as to tell me. More posts will arrive as i will undoubtedly feel the need to let you know how sunny it is here whilst you sit in the gloom of a British winter but you have proper ale... however i recall seth saying he found Abbott or somthing of the like over here... lad, please tell me where.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Back in China
yep back again. I just can't stop away from the place. After a fine time in Oz and a few days RnR in Melbourne and crashing on Maria's couch, a few beers and some absinthe, it was time to head back to china.
After all i had a girlfriend i hadn't seen in almost four months, a handful of good friends to meet back up with and the promise of a trip to Yunnan and the Snow mountain.
Unfortunately the trip to Yunnan was crammed into a small space of time and we spent most of that on the road getting to and from our destination but it supplied a huge amount of quality vistas for us to feast our eyes upon and a yearning to go back for more. I have just added a number of photos to the flickr site.
We set out from Guangzhou by train to Kunming, unfortunately this wasn't booked far enough in advance so we had no seat or bed or anything reserved, except for the joys of overcrowded Chinese railways on national holidays... I could see this would be a fun journey, although we did manage to find just about enough room to stand for several hours until we finally made it into the dinning car once it opened.
We decided to eat slow and keep our seats. we payed a little extra and spent until near dawn sat drinking beer and dozing in the dinning car until a few free sleeper spots became available and we got some much needed sleep before our afternoon arrival.
From Kunming a couple of buses, fairly uncomfortable buses, took us to Dali when were spent the night in a wonderful hostel and awakened to see the sun rising above the mountains which cast exquisite shadows and reflections in the lake.
We spent the day driving around until our departure via bus and then mad speedy taxi van to take us to Zhongdian. with a brief stop in Lijiang to refresh.
We spent the next two days walking to and from Meili snow mountain Yunnan, i just wish we had time to spend a month here. but everyone else needed to get back to work so with great sorrow we made our way back and this time made sure we had a more comfortable journey and adequate space to relax in...
well besides a mad taxi driver determined to break all land speed records and almost coming undone on one or two of the many corners which would result in a new air speed record for such a vehicle as a several hundred feet drop to a muddy river would await the unfortunate... however the driver would most likely remain unaware of this as he was too busy talking on his phone to pay attention to such trivial things as death. perhaps the next life would be better to him. Personally i like mine as it is thanks.
We also had time to take in the pleasure of the largest buddhist monastery outside of tibet (Songzanlin) .. a most pleasent way to while away a couple of hours.
I'm now sat back in Guangzhou sorting out my money so i can book a flight back to Oz and head off to see some friends in Yangshuo where this out of shape mess i call my body can enjoy some climbing for the first time in several weeks, hopefully it should help get me back into some form of fitness.
After all i had a girlfriend i hadn't seen in almost four months, a handful of good friends to meet back up with and the promise of a trip to Yunnan and the Snow mountain.
Unfortunately the trip to Yunnan was crammed into a small space of time and we spent most of that on the road getting to and from our destination but it supplied a huge amount of quality vistas for us to feast our eyes upon and a yearning to go back for more. I have just added a number of photos to the flickr site.
We set out from Guangzhou by train to Kunming, unfortunately this wasn't booked far enough in advance so we had no seat or bed or anything reserved, except for the joys of overcrowded Chinese railways on national holidays... I could see this would be a fun journey, although we did manage to find just about enough room to stand for several hours until we finally made it into the dinning car once it opened.
We decided to eat slow and keep our seats. we payed a little extra and spent until near dawn sat drinking beer and dozing in the dinning car until a few free sleeper spots became available and we got some much needed sleep before our afternoon arrival.
From Kunming a couple of buses, fairly uncomfortable buses, took us to Dali when were spent the night in a wonderful hostel and awakened to see the sun rising above the mountains which cast exquisite shadows and reflections in the lake.
We spent the day driving around until our departure via bus and then mad speedy taxi van to take us to Zhongdian. with a brief stop in Lijiang to refresh.
We spent the next two days walking to and from Meili snow mountain Yunnan, i just wish we had time to spend a month here. but everyone else needed to get back to work so with great sorrow we made our way back and this time made sure we had a more comfortable journey and adequate space to relax in...
well besides a mad taxi driver determined to break all land speed records and almost coming undone on one or two of the many corners which would result in a new air speed record for such a vehicle as a several hundred feet drop to a muddy river would await the unfortunate... however the driver would most likely remain unaware of this as he was too busy talking on his phone to pay attention to such trivial things as death. perhaps the next life would be better to him. Personally i like mine as it is thanks.We also had time to take in the pleasure of the largest buddhist monastery outside of tibet (Songzanlin) .. a most pleasent way to while away a couple of hours.
I'm now sat back in Guangzhou sorting out my money so i can book a flight back to Oz and head off to see some friends in Yangshuo where this out of shape mess i call my body can enjoy some climbing for the first time in several weeks, hopefully it should help get me back into some form of fitness.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Time to be leaving.
Well after Sydney we headed to the Blue mountains. we went west via Penrith then north to Richmond and along the Botanists way, stopping to partake in some home made apple pie.
After this refreshment we continued on to Bell and then south to mount Victoria and then arriving at Katoomba late afternoon where we sorted out accommodation and I got a few nice photos of the three sisters which i will put up later.
whilst at Katoomba we went to the Scenic park, which has a cable car, Sky car, and funicular railway which is at about 52%, so steep.
A great morning was spent on these which provide access and views of the rain forest below the sandstone walls and the Katoomba falls.
The blue mountains getting their name from the blue hue which comes from the eucalyptus trees.
From the Blue mountains we headed for the great western highway back down to Penrith then to Wollongong.
The the sunny day that heated the car to extremes as we trundled down the highway past pebbly beach which was well worth the 8km detour along an unmade rd through the bush to view the parrots and wallabies playing in the evening light on the grassy fringes of the beach as the temperates dropped to a more bearable level and we made for the picturesque town of Batemens Bay.
I even went for a run around the bay which was nice as it rained a little that evening.
From Batemens we headed via Tilba Tilba, a nice historic town which is almost unchanged for over 100years. We stopped at Lake entrance that night and the following day went past 90 mile beach, then along the Gippslands highway to the Mornington peninsular. and up via St Kilda into Melbourne city.
last night we indulged in a wonderful gastronomic delight on Lygon st, with Melbourne's latest resident and old friend Maria.
Today mum flys home and this time next week i will be in China again, for more adventures although not in an automatic. I need a while off driving after the past 6 weeks and 8000km.
After this refreshment we continued on to Bell and then south to mount Victoria and then arriving at Katoomba late afternoon where we sorted out accommodation and I got a few nice photos of the three sisters which i will put up later.
whilst at Katoomba we went to the Scenic park, which has a cable car, Sky car, and funicular railway which is at about 52%, so steep.
A great morning was spent on these which provide access and views of the rain forest below the sandstone walls and the Katoomba falls.
The blue mountains getting their name from the blue hue which comes from the eucalyptus trees.
From the Blue mountains we headed for the great western highway back down to Penrith then to Wollongong.
The the sunny day that heated the car to extremes as we trundled down the highway past pebbly beach which was well worth the 8km detour along an unmade rd through the bush to view the parrots and wallabies playing in the evening light on the grassy fringes of the beach as the temperates dropped to a more bearable level and we made for the picturesque town of Batemens Bay.
I even went for a run around the bay which was nice as it rained a little that evening.
From Batemens we headed via Tilba Tilba, a nice historic town which is almost unchanged for over 100years. We stopped at Lake entrance that night and the following day went past 90 mile beach, then along the Gippslands highway to the Mornington peninsular. and up via St Kilda into Melbourne city.
last night we indulged in a wonderful gastronomic delight on Lygon st, with Melbourne's latest resident and old friend Maria.
Today mum flys home and this time next week i will be in China again, for more adventures although not in an automatic. I need a while off driving after the past 6 weeks and 8000km.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Latest news from Down Under.
Well after the Great Ocean rd we spent a few days in and around Adelaide. we hired yet another car for two days, this was a little Toyota Yaris,
We went to Mt Lofty and Hahndorf which is a major tourist attraction in the Adelaide Hills est in 1839 and as you can guess by Germans.
We stopped on final night at Mt barker and the following day on the 7th flew to Brisbane.
After two days sampling the delights of this wonderful city we headed down the car in the latest hire car. unfortunately i ended up with an Automatic Toyota corolla. as all the smaller cars with a clutch and proper gears were out. So once again i find myself having to put up with this annoying car without a clutch.
We headed down the coast past surfers paradise, which was once nice but is now a bit tainted by high rise and commercialism. past Burleigh heads, and stopped at Byron Bay, and on departing the following day we visited the lighthouse and most easterly point in Oz, Cape Byron, so I'm told.
We then travelled thorough several national parks, one of which named Guy Fawkes, and visited Ebor falls, then made for Kempsey where we stopped on the night of the 10th.
The 11th was spent driving the remaining 400 or so km to Sydney via the Pacific Highway and Port Macquarie where it would have been nice to linger a bit loner however we needed to get to Sydney where we were splashing out and stopping at the Waldorf, its only $120 or so per night.
We visited the Opera house and Botanical gardens today and then got the ferry over to Manly which was really nice and we had a late lunch of fish and chips. unfortunately the beer wasn't up to much to wash it all down with but the food was great and the views stunning as we came back into the harbour at sunset, getting great views of the bridge and opera house.
Tomorrow we intend to head to the Blue mountains , and then its back to Melbourne.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Back in Oz, The great Ocean road
Well after over 4000km in an automatic in New Zealand i decided to jump back in yet another car....
Thank god it was a manual, otherwise this time i would have driven it into the Ocean. being so close.
After a few days in Melbourne which we saw lots of rain but also some of the great parks and buildings of this historic city, including James Cooks cottage, we decided it would be nice to travel the Great Ocean Road which traverses the south of Victoria into the Southern Territories, taking in some breathtaking views and seascapes.
We headed out of Melbourne on the 1st and went south west before a small detour to Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, we then took up the great Ocean road proper at Torquay and sped along the coast through Anglesea, Airleys inlet, Lorn and onto Appol Bay on the edge of cape Otway National Park, where we stopped for the first night.
The next day was spent going through the national park and up the coast to where the clouds broke long enough for us to see the twelve Apostles. well only seven of them actually, the other were hidden from view.
We continued along dodging rain past two mile bay, the Arch, and London Bridge although these you need to rely on the imagination to see even when the clouds lift as they have log since fallen into the sea, which is eroding the coast at an alarm rate.
We made it to Warrnambool hopeful that we may spot some of the Southern right whales which are visible at this time of the year around the cost but unfortunately we were not to be that lucky.
after a stop of at Port Fairy we headed north and inland to the Grampians National Park, which pleased me somewhat , although unfortunately climbing would be of the cards on this whistle stop visit i could at least check out the area for a return visit.
Thank god it was a manual, otherwise this time i would have driven it into the Ocean. being so close.
After a few days in Melbourne which we saw lots of rain but also some of the great parks and buildings of this historic city, including James Cooks cottage, we decided it would be nice to travel the Great Ocean Road which traverses the south of Victoria into the Southern Territories, taking in some breathtaking views and seascapes.
We headed out of Melbourne on the 1st and went south west before a small detour to Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, we then took up the great Ocean road proper at Torquay and sped along the coast through Anglesea, Airleys inlet, Lorn and onto Appol Bay on the edge of cape Otway National Park, where we stopped for the first night.
The next day was spent going through the national park and up the coast to where the clouds broke long enough for us to see the twelve Apostles. well only seven of them actually, the other were hidden from view.
We continued along dodging rain past two mile bay, the Arch, and London Bridge although these you need to rely on the imagination to see even when the clouds lift as they have log since fallen into the sea, which is eroding the coast at an alarm rate.
We made it to Warrnambool hopeful that we may spot some of the Southern right whales which are visible at this time of the year around the cost but unfortunately we were not to be that lucky.
after a stop of at Port Fairy we headed north and inland to the Grampians National Park, which pleased me somewhat , although unfortunately climbing would be of the cards on this whistle stop visit i could at least check out the area for a return visit.
We stopped at a wonderful place in Halls Gap. Brambuk Backpackers. and the owners were only to happy to inform me of the area and climbing and hikes, they also came up with a few things for mum to do whilst i did a small walk up to the pinnacle viewing point over the valley in which we were stopping and back in time for a cup of tea and to drive via Mt Gambia, which is a town situated on an old Volcano and even has some magnificent gardens in a sink hole,
Today we drove from Kingston to Adelaide which on appearances seems a most pleasant town where we can spend a few days before flying to Brisbane on Sunday the 7th, and most likely some more driving. but providing its not an Automatic i don't really mind.
I will get the photos onto flickr when i get a chance, I have photos of New Zealand on their already.
Friday, August 29, 2008
north Island and back to Christchurch.
well after the south island we headed from Picton to the north Island. on the 20th of august.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.
The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.
From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)
From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.
We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.
We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)
All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.
The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.
There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.
Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.
The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.
From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)
From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.
We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.
We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)
All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.
The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.
There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.
Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
South Island with Mum
Mum arrived at Christchurch on the 11th about 11:30 pm so nothing was done apart from heading to a hostel to sleep.
The following day on the 12th it dawned grey and raining so we just spent the day going around firstly the cathedral, it was only a short distance from where we were stopping and built using local stone and timber it took some 50 odd years to complete ( due to lack of funds) from when the few settlers established the town back in 1850's to about 1906ish, and then after a cup of coffee we got on the old Tram, after a bit of a high step to get on, and set of at the wonderful speed of about 20kph around an inner city loop. We got of to have a look around some craft shops and then took the tram back to the quaint little regent street and walked back just avoiding the latest downpour.
On the 13th we left Christchurch and headed down the banks peninsular to a beautiful little place called Akoroa, which has some wonderful old building and a picturesque lighthouse, for which it seemed to remain sunny. After elevenses we got back on the road and headed south to Dunedin, where we arrived late and had to search around for a hostel eventually finding the YHA which was converted from an old hospital build in the 1800's and designed by some architect who's apparently built many similar buildings around the town.
Also this is home to a cadburys chocolate factory and a magnificently grand and ornate train station.
the next day was a much more pleasant dawn and we left Dunedin heading south again down the east coast to the Catlin's, an area of great beauty which runs across the south coast to Invercargill. As far as towns go this one should probably be avoided except for its only apparent redeeming factor, the beautiful Queens park and botanical gardens.
From Invercargill we headed north and slowly climbed the foothills and up the valleys to Te Anau, a most attractive town by a crystal clear lake, with snowy peaks, and unfortunately snowy roads which prevented us from making the journey onwards to Milford Sound.
We stopped at a modern and well equipped hostel and waited around on the 15th hoping for an improvement from the snow which much to our disappointment didn't happen. When the road was closed for the 3rd day this being the 16th we packed up and headed to Queenstown where i meet back up with a friend to reacquire some climbing gear that had been misappropriated due to mutual error and I took mum to explore the little settlement of Arrowtown which was established in the gold rush when many Chinese migrated to test their luck and their fortunes, most of these came from Guangdong so must have had a real shock when they experienced the cold and snowy winters which must have been a real hardship when one looks at the shacks and the remains of the little village they setup just outside the main town. A late lunch was had in Arrowtown and we headed back to Queenstown hoping for the clouds to rise so we could get a view of the town by going up the gondola, this unfortunately wasn't to happen and to insult us a bit more it decided to snow.
The 17th dawned and we headed north Past the much quieter town of Wanaka and up highway 6, and with the aid of chains to get through some snowy sections of road we made it to Haast after some spectacular views from the snaking road of the lakes and surrounding countryside and it appeared that on the west coast we had well and truly left the bad weather behind us and made our way over to the Franz Joseph Glacier which unfortunately isn't a patch on what it used to be but then what glaciers are nowadays.
We left the Frans Joseph behind us and headed up what is apperently one of the most scenic sections of highway on the south Island heading past "the road kill cafe" at Puka as the locals call it. Renowned for its possum pie. Yum Yum.
It was a bit to early for lunch but i picked up a pair of trousers for the princely sum of $1 (bargain) and we headed up to Pancake rocks which is well worth seeing. we were then left with a good few hours of driving to go before getting to the north coast at Motueka, where we spent the night and today went to the Able Tasman National Park, we were once again blessed with beautifully sunshine and spent the better part of the day heading by boat up the coast past sandy beaches clear waters granite boulders, one in the shape of a split apple, and also fur seals and cormorants, which were sat sunbathing not a care in the world.
Tonight we are stopping at Picton before getting the ferry across to the north Island tomorrow. It must be mentioned that the Hostel is one of the best yet, it even has free chocolate pudding and ice cream, gets my vote although with all this driving and sitting around I'm liable to start getting fat. mind you i could have a shave and a hair cut which would probably make me a few pounds lighter.
Well thats the first week traveling with Mum, an Automatic car (which im growing to hate) and about 2500km. will this car survive... i may just have to dump it in the ocean..
The following day on the 12th it dawned grey and raining so we just spent the day going around firstly the cathedral, it was only a short distance from where we were stopping and built using local stone and timber it took some 50 odd years to complete ( due to lack of funds) from when the few settlers established the town back in 1850's to about 1906ish, and then after a cup of coffee we got on the old Tram, after a bit of a high step to get on, and set of at the wonderful speed of about 20kph around an inner city loop. We got of to have a look around some craft shops and then took the tram back to the quaint little regent street and walked back just avoiding the latest downpour.
On the 13th we left Christchurch and headed down the banks peninsular to a beautiful little place called Akoroa, which has some wonderful old building and a picturesque lighthouse, for which it seemed to remain sunny. After elevenses we got back on the road and headed south to Dunedin, where we arrived late and had to search around for a hostel eventually finding the YHA which was converted from an old hospital build in the 1800's and designed by some architect who's apparently built many similar buildings around the town.
Also this is home to a cadburys chocolate factory and a magnificently grand and ornate train station.
the next day was a much more pleasant dawn and we left Dunedin heading south again down the east coast to the Catlin's, an area of great beauty which runs across the south coast to Invercargill. As far as towns go this one should probably be avoided except for its only apparent redeeming factor, the beautiful Queens park and botanical gardens.
From Invercargill we headed north and slowly climbed the foothills and up the valleys to Te Anau, a most attractive town by a crystal clear lake, with snowy peaks, and unfortunately snowy roads which prevented us from making the journey onwards to Milford Sound.
We stopped at a modern and well equipped hostel and waited around on the 15th hoping for an improvement from the snow which much to our disappointment didn't happen. When the road was closed for the 3rd day this being the 16th we packed up and headed to Queenstown where i meet back up with a friend to reacquire some climbing gear that had been misappropriated due to mutual error and I took mum to explore the little settlement of Arrowtown which was established in the gold rush when many Chinese migrated to test their luck and their fortunes, most of these came from Guangdong so must have had a real shock when they experienced the cold and snowy winters which must have been a real hardship when one looks at the shacks and the remains of the little village they setup just outside the main town. A late lunch was had in Arrowtown and we headed back to Queenstown hoping for the clouds to rise so we could get a view of the town by going up the gondola, this unfortunately wasn't to happen and to insult us a bit more it decided to snow.
The 17th dawned and we headed north Past the much quieter town of Wanaka and up highway 6, and with the aid of chains to get through some snowy sections of road we made it to Haast after some spectacular views from the snaking road of the lakes and surrounding countryside and it appeared that on the west coast we had well and truly left the bad weather behind us and made our way over to the Franz Joseph Glacier which unfortunately isn't a patch on what it used to be but then what glaciers are nowadays.
We left the Frans Joseph behind us and headed up what is apperently one of the most scenic sections of highway on the south Island heading past "the road kill cafe" at Puka as the locals call it. Renowned for its possum pie. Yum Yum.
It was a bit to early for lunch but i picked up a pair of trousers for the princely sum of $1 (bargain) and we headed up to Pancake rocks which is well worth seeing. we were then left with a good few hours of driving to go before getting to the north coast at Motueka, where we spent the night and today went to the Able Tasman National Park, we were once again blessed with beautifully sunshine and spent the better part of the day heading by boat up the coast past sandy beaches clear waters granite boulders, one in the shape of a split apple, and also fur seals and cormorants, which were sat sunbathing not a care in the world.
Tonight we are stopping at Picton before getting the ferry across to the north Island tomorrow. It must be mentioned that the Hostel is one of the best yet, it even has free chocolate pudding and ice cream, gets my vote although with all this driving and sitting around I'm liable to start getting fat. mind you i could have a shave and a hair cut which would probably make me a few pounds lighter.
Well thats the first week traveling with Mum, an Automatic car (which im growing to hate) and about 2500km. will this car survive... i may just have to dump it in the ocean..
Saturday, July 26, 2008
New Zealand.
well I made it to New Zealand, after another night in another airport, i love thermarests.
i made it to Christchurch late evening on the 22nd, where i spent two nights and a rainy day wandering around before i got a cheap rental van, $5 per day plus $15 booking fee and spent two days traveling south, i was fortunate enough to meet a Korean lad who was happy to share the fuel bill ($130) and we set off to Queenstown via some stunning scenery which had us stopping frequently to take photos, (will upload when i find a machine which recognizes my hdd),
This appears as the home of extreme sports, although they are fairly extreme on the pocket as well. A 45m bungee jump costs about $160, that's probably over $50 per second, a bit too much for my wallet although i may be persuaded to go skiing if i can find any reasonable prices. I'm not holding my breath.
Well Wanaka was on the way so we headed past there for a few more vistas of snowy peaks and rolling hills and lakes. Its all starting to remind me of a cross between the lakes Scotland and Norway, shame that the prices are no better. however in land of over 40 million sheep and just 4 million people I cant complain too much, the vistas are great the towns are not that intrusive and I have found proper beer, but can't afford to drink it.
Hobgoblin and Black sheep are $8 a bottle. ouch. and other beer is about $6 a pint.
I spent today, my forth day in New Zealand, wandering up a Via Ferrata that leads to the top of queens town hill, it took just over 1hr and I recall seeing a sign that said something about private land and that i wasn't aloud beyond a certain point to access the Via Ferrata.
They obviously didn't realise that an 8ft high fence and a bit of barbed wire wasn't going to stop most folks and as this was 15 minutes up the path so i wasn't prepared to head back down. besides i figured if anyone asked i would pretend i was German and didn't speak english.
Well no one asked and I enjoy a fine view from the 900m summit, across the town below and the lake beyond to a horizon on snowy peaks.
A pleasant stroll led back down to town through the Douglas fir, the familiar smell of pine and resin reminded me of adventures past, the alps, dolomite's, Scotland, Norway, and in many ways this land seems so similar, i would like to just set off into those hills and keep walking, climbing and absorbing the wonders of the hills once again.
Tomorrow i plan to head up the Ben Lomond track, although some of it is supposed to be closed and from my view early today i could see plenty of snow above 1000m so i probably won't take the summit track as i unfortunately i have no winter gear and I'm not about to start spending money for it here.
Will upload the photos later and with luck will get a few good shots tomorrow.
i made it to Christchurch late evening on the 22nd, where i spent two nights and a rainy day wandering around before i got a cheap rental van, $5 per day plus $15 booking fee and spent two days traveling south, i was fortunate enough to meet a Korean lad who was happy to share the fuel bill ($130) and we set off to Queenstown via some stunning scenery which had us stopping frequently to take photos, (will upload when i find a machine which recognizes my hdd),
This appears as the home of extreme sports, although they are fairly extreme on the pocket as well. A 45m bungee jump costs about $160, that's probably over $50 per second, a bit too much for my wallet although i may be persuaded to go skiing if i can find any reasonable prices. I'm not holding my breath.
Well Wanaka was on the way so we headed past there for a few more vistas of snowy peaks and rolling hills and lakes. Its all starting to remind me of a cross between the lakes Scotland and Norway, shame that the prices are no better. however in land of over 40 million sheep and just 4 million people I cant complain too much, the vistas are great the towns are not that intrusive and I have found proper beer, but can't afford to drink it.
Hobgoblin and Black sheep are $8 a bottle. ouch. and other beer is about $6 a pint.
I spent today, my forth day in New Zealand, wandering up a Via Ferrata that leads to the top of queens town hill, it took just over 1hr and I recall seeing a sign that said something about private land and that i wasn't aloud beyond a certain point to access the Via Ferrata.
They obviously didn't realise that an 8ft high fence and a bit of barbed wire wasn't going to stop most folks and as this was 15 minutes up the path so i wasn't prepared to head back down. besides i figured if anyone asked i would pretend i was German and didn't speak english.
Well no one asked and I enjoy a fine view from the 900m summit, across the town below and the lake beyond to a horizon on snowy peaks.
A pleasant stroll led back down to town through the Douglas fir, the familiar smell of pine and resin reminded me of adventures past, the alps, dolomite's, Scotland, Norway, and in many ways this land seems so similar, i would like to just set off into those hills and keep walking, climbing and absorbing the wonders of the hills once again.
Tomorrow i plan to head up the Ben Lomond track, although some of it is supposed to be closed and from my view early today i could see plenty of snow above 1000m so i probably won't take the summit track as i unfortunately i have no winter gear and I'm not about to start spending money for it here.
Will upload the photos later and with luck will get a few good shots tomorrow.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Still down under
well its been a while so this is what iv been up to.
After four nights in Sydney and wandering around some of the beaches and a day at the climbing wall i jumped on a bus and headed north in search of Dan and Jo.
Last message i had from them is that they were up at surfers paradise so i thought this would be a good place to start. I was wrong, they weren't their and despite a very nice beach and what i assumed were good surf conditions the place didn't have anything really worth seeing and seemed a bit like a cross between a tacky 18-30's holiday location and somewhere which long ago lost its beauty to make way for the exploiting capitalism and souvenir's shops. I decided to head on to Brisbane and check out the city.
It was a good choice but still no Dan or Jo. However i did spend a couple of relaxing days in the city, walking around the green areas and even doing some climbing at Kangaroo point, which is a hidden little gem as far as inner city climbing goes but not a patch on the grit or sandstone of back home and fairly tame. I wasn't discouraged and spent several hrs soloing around on the rock and traversing almost its full length.
But as always city life is expensive and this was more than enough excuse i needed to return to the road, I had also received news that Dan and Jo were up in Childers looking for work so that determined my next stop and a day on the bus followed. After a couple of days we meet up and drank a few beers whilst running through the highpoint of our travels thus far. for Dan and Jo that didn't include waiting around in this poky little town waiting to pick mandarins but after a week of fishing and a day spent climbing on some lose lucking and friable sandstone in which dan seemed to have some strange that it would deify all odds and stay where it was, which to my non to reassured surprise it did. Wow.
After a bit of a drive we ended up at Harvey bay, the stop off point for Frasier Island and we got wonderful weather and had two great days driving a Toyota Hi-Lux around the sandy tracks and beaches. ate BBQ stake and enjoyed some wonderful scenery.
It was then time to turn north, my fellow travelers had plans to go sailing in the Whitsundays and for me a flight to Melbourne and then onto New Zealand awaits, So after a few days traveling some uneventful fishing and great sightseeing we parted ways a little wiser a littel older and somwhat more hungover than planned. All in all a successful month.
See my flikcr site for many more photos.
After four nights in Sydney and wandering around some of the beaches and a day at the climbing wall i jumped on a bus and headed north in search of Dan and Jo.
Last message i had from them is that they were up at surfers paradise so i thought this would be a good place to start. I was wrong, they weren't their and despite a very nice beach and what i assumed were good surf conditions the place didn't have anything really worth seeing and seemed a bit like a cross between a tacky 18-30's holiday location and somewhere which long ago lost its beauty to make way for the exploiting capitalism and souvenir's shops. I decided to head on to Brisbane and check out the city.
It was a good choice but still no Dan or Jo. However i did spend a couple of relaxing days in the city, walking around the green areas and even doing some climbing at Kangaroo point, which is a hidden little gem as far as inner city climbing goes but not a patch on the grit or sandstone of back home and fairly tame. I wasn't discouraged and spent several hrs soloing around on the rock and traversing almost its full length.
But as always city life is expensive and this was more than enough excuse i needed to return to the road, I had also received news that Dan and Jo were up in Childers looking for work so that determined my next stop and a day on the bus followed. After a couple of days we meet up and drank a few beers whilst running through the highpoint of our travels thus far. for Dan and Jo that didn't include waiting around in this poky little town waiting to pick mandarins but after a week of fishing and a day spent climbing on some lose lucking and friable sandstone in which dan seemed to have some strange that it would deify all odds and stay where it was, which to my non to reassured surprise it did. Wow.
After a bit of a drive we ended up at Harvey bay, the stop off point for Frasier Island and we got wonderful weather and had two great days driving a Toyota Hi-Lux around the sandy tracks and beaches. ate BBQ stake and enjoyed some wonderful scenery.
It was then time to turn north, my fellow travelers had plans to go sailing in the Whitsundays and for me a flight to Melbourne and then onto New Zealand awaits, So after a few days traveling some uneventful fishing and great sightseeing we parted ways a little wiser a littel older and somwhat more hungover than planned. All in all a successful month.
See my flikcr site for many more photos.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Of to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of OZ
Well i made it to Oz, no yellow brick road to follow but a few golden beaches. which is where I'm off to today.
Got into Sydney on the 22nd and have been stopping at the blue parrot hostel in Potts point, right next to the red light area of Kings cross.
I did the whole sightseeing thing, walking around taking photos, chasing a rainbow around Archibold fountain in Hyde park and trying to get a good shot of St Mary's cathedral. almost worked. (see my flickr page) also walked round the botanical gardens and down to see the Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge.
Yesterday meet up with a few folks I know and went climbing to the local wall, its expensive and not as good a as the walls back home but after not climbing for about a month i decided the exercises was required and after a 4hr session my arms started to feel the burn but I'm not too disappointed with my performance as i did some of the harder routes and boulder problems in there. Still only climbing around 7a ish tops.. boo.
Am thinking off heading up towards surfers paradise to see if i bump into Dan and Jo, if not am sure fun can still be had and it will be a little warmer there, although it feels a bit like a British summer in Sydney and despite it going dark early and the lack of rain i could easily be fooled into thinking it was.
Will put some extra photos on here soon, Later folks.
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email.
Got into Sydney on the 22nd and have been stopping at the blue parrot hostel in Potts point, right next to the red light area of Kings cross.
I did the whole sightseeing thing, walking around taking photos, chasing a rainbow around Archibold fountain in Hyde park and trying to get a good shot of St Mary's cathedral. almost worked. (see my flickr page) also walked round the botanical gardens and down to see the Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge.
Yesterday meet up with a few folks I know and went climbing to the local wall, its expensive and not as good a as the walls back home but after not climbing for about a month i decided the exercises was required and after a 4hr session my arms started to feel the burn but I'm not too disappointed with my performance as i did some of the harder routes and boulder problems in there. Still only climbing around 7a ish tops.. boo.
Am thinking off heading up towards surfers paradise to see if i bump into Dan and Jo, if not am sure fun can still be had and it will be a little warmer there, although it feels a bit like a British summer in Sydney and despite it going dark early and the lack of rain i could easily be fooled into thinking it was.
Will put some extra photos on here soon, Later folks.
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Macau
Wow, Shame its been raining non stop since i got here, but then again that appears to be the story all over china at the moment, The work up near Shanghai was washed out and apparently Yangshuo has suffered from some flooding, a few bars and cafes have been paddling pools over the past few days with the added problem of power cuts, glad I'm not sat in Yangshuo right now.
Macau is a funny old mix of quaint buildings with new fancy casinos and hotels popping up around them. They drive on the left and have some great food, Egg tarts are wonderful plus proper coffee again.
I have a week in town before i leave for Australia so with a bit of luck i will get some nice weather and i can get some good photos and explore the town a bit more, although walking around in the rain isn't a problem as it's still very warm, as i haven't had a warm shower for a week I'm tempted to strip off and stand outside with the shampoo. not sure if that would get me arrested though.
I went to a few of the casinos yesterday and wasn't able to work out how to gamble, most of the games are Chinese so it's hard to figure out how they work so after a few attempts on the slot machines which are still fairly confusing, last of the of the big spenders I gambled all of 20 Patacas, about 2 pound and broke even, so i guess gambling doesn't work for me.
Just as well as most of the tables have a minimum bet of 100 pacatas, however non of the casinos will accept the local pacata so you need to bet in hong kong dollers,
Well that's all for now I'm off to find some more egg tarts, yum yum,
Macau is a funny old mix of quaint buildings with new fancy casinos and hotels popping up around them. They drive on the left and have some great food, Egg tarts are wonderful plus proper coffee again.
I have a week in town before i leave for Australia so with a bit of luck i will get some nice weather and i can get some good photos and explore the town a bit more, although walking around in the rain isn't a problem as it's still very warm, as i haven't had a warm shower for a week I'm tempted to strip off and stand outside with the shampoo. not sure if that would get me arrested though.
I went to a few of the casinos yesterday and wasn't able to work out how to gamble, most of the games are Chinese so it's hard to figure out how they work so after a few attempts on the slot machines which are still fairly confusing, last of the of the big spenders I gambled all of 20 Patacas, about 2 pound and broke even, so i guess gambling doesn't work for me.
Just as well as most of the tables have a minimum bet of 100 pacatas, however non of the casinos will accept the local pacata so you need to bet in hong kong dollers,
Well that's all for now I'm off to find some more egg tarts, yum yum,
Sunday, June 1, 2008
O I do like to be beside the seaside.
Well i have spent the past week in Sanya, which is on the southern tip of Hainan, China. The weather has been, well tropical sunshine, which is what you would expect, and only a little rain on two days.
With a combination of swimming and teaching the girlfriend to swim, she didn't drown so that's a bonus
Surfing (falling off a floating object into the sea then trying not to drown)
Diving, fun but unfortunately a bit murky on that day, got to see the rare and lesser known rusty beer can, but also lots of fish, non of which i could identify.
We went for a stroll with a few others from china climb and some locals we know up to Wuzhishang, (five finger mountain) from which we saw a beautiful view from the inside of a cloud. some tree crabs and a sort of beetle about the size of my little finger which rolls up into a pefect sphere when frightened. the height gain is about 1000m and the path rather than meandering around heads straight up the mountain with staircases of nature formed by tree roots holding back the clay soil, eroded by weather and man, who also deposits a fair bit of trash, but thats china. Not forgettingto mention the odd ladder or six to ascend the steeper parts.
Hanging around on top in a thunder storm wasn't the best plan so a retreat to safer ground for lunch and then the walk back down to find little leaches had attached themselves to our feet and ankles and were mid way through their own feast.
Whilst were on the subject of food, I dined on some good sea food and a bit of Russian food also as this is a big tourist destination for the Russians during their winter months.
Well i now have a 16hr bus ride to look forward to in order to get back to Nannning then on to Yangshuo which will take a further 5 hrs but will leave that until Tuesday i think.
Well photos to follow when i get time but as I'm working from the 7th until the 13th and then you may have to wait until around the 15th depends on how expensive the Internet cafes are in Macau.
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email.
With a combination of swimming and teaching the girlfriend to swim, she didn't drown so that's a bonus
Surfing (falling off a floating object into the sea then trying not to drown)
Diving, fun but unfortunately a bit murky on that day, got to see the rare and lesser known rusty beer can, but also lots of fish, non of which i could identify.
We went for a stroll with a few others from china climb and some locals we know up to Wuzhishang, (five finger mountain) from which we saw a beautiful view from the inside of a cloud. some tree crabs and a sort of beetle about the size of my little finger which rolls up into a pefect sphere when frightened. the height gain is about 1000m and the path rather than meandering around heads straight up the mountain with staircases of nature formed by tree roots holding back the clay soil, eroded by weather and man, who also deposits a fair bit of trash, but thats china. Not forgettingto mention the odd ladder or six to ascend the steeper parts.
Hanging around on top in a thunder storm wasn't the best plan so a retreat to safer ground for lunch and then the walk back down to find little leaches had attached themselves to our feet and ankles and were mid way through their own feast.
Whilst were on the subject of food, I dined on some good sea food and a bit of Russian food also as this is a big tourist destination for the Russians during their winter months.
Well i now have a 16hr bus ride to look forward to in order to get back to Nannning then on to Yangshuo which will take a further 5 hrs but will leave that until Tuesday i think.
Well photos to follow when i get time but as I'm working from the 7th until the 13th and then you may have to wait until around the 15th depends on how expensive the Internet cafes are in Macau.
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Still in China
Well hi folks,
It's been a while since i last posted, Iv been busy and have slowly settled into life as a guide in Yangshuo.
The job is great fun and i find myself travelling around the local area with family's and school groups teaching climbing, kayaking, abseil, back country trekking and a host of other activity's. I've just got back from a few days of fun running activity's for 100 or so grade 10 children up in a place called Nambeihu, which is near Shanghai, so have been away for a week including travelling there and back by train.
The pay is rubbish if you look at it from a money perspective but the payoffs, spending days outside and teaching people new skills in a great environment make good rewards in themselves.
I now get to enjoy a few days off before the next groups come in so i hope to get out climbing and catch up with the girlfriend who has been down in Nanning finishing her final paper.
Life is much different here than i first imagined and a layed back approach is taken to daily life, although herding groups of children around can be fairly intensive and i find myself having to restrain myself from swearing at them occasionally.
I hope that life for everyone back home in the UK is good and hope your all well, I miss the peak district from time to time but know i will be coming back there a more fulfilled person and hopefully with a bit more focus and direction in life.
I still have another couple of months here, providing i can get my second visa extension next month, I will then be off to Oz where i will have to get back into the traveling frame of mind and with luck will find many more adventures to add to the ones I'm experiencing in China.
I think i will be back in China later in the year as I'm having so much fun here but as always that menacing aspect of money creeps up on you and i may need to earn some proper money in Oz before retuning.
I will try to post more often and give you a better idea of what I've been doing in Yangshuo which if you've not been is a crazy town but very addictive.
It's been a while since i last posted, Iv been busy and have slowly settled into life as a guide in Yangshuo.
The job is great fun and i find myself travelling around the local area with family's and school groups teaching climbing, kayaking, abseil, back country trekking and a host of other activity's. I've just got back from a few days of fun running activity's for 100 or so grade 10 children up in a place called Nambeihu, which is near Shanghai, so have been away for a week including travelling there and back by train.
The pay is rubbish if you look at it from a money perspective but the payoffs, spending days outside and teaching people new skills in a great environment make good rewards in themselves.
I now get to enjoy a few days off before the next groups come in so i hope to get out climbing and catch up with the girlfriend who has been down in Nanning finishing her final paper.
Life is much different here than i first imagined and a layed back approach is taken to daily life, although herding groups of children around can be fairly intensive and i find myself having to restrain myself from swearing at them occasionally.
I hope that life for everyone back home in the UK is good and hope your all well, I miss the peak district from time to time but know i will be coming back there a more fulfilled person and hopefully with a bit more focus and direction in life.
I still have another couple of months here, providing i can get my second visa extension next month, I will then be off to Oz where i will have to get back into the traveling frame of mind and with luck will find many more adventures to add to the ones I'm experiencing in China.
I think i will be back in China later in the year as I'm having so much fun here but as always that menacing aspect of money creeps up on you and i may need to earn some proper money in Oz before retuning.
I will try to post more often and give you a better idea of what I've been doing in Yangshuo which if you've not been is a crazy town but very addictive.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Yangshuo & birthday
Well I turned 29 last week and a celebration was had in chinaclimb the day before on Saturday the 8th.
As per tradition in china a fair amount of cake ended up in my face, and their was a large quantity of alcoholic beverages consumed which led to something of a hangover but fortunately the only work i was required to do was to head to Xinping Sunday night in preparation for a school group from Hong Kong who we have spent the past week trekking climbing and Kayaking with.
Today again is my rest day and i intend to do as little as possible (mostly catch up on some reading) but will no doubt be out climbing most of the coming week.
China and Yangshuo are starting to grow on me and iv been having a great time in this land of Karsts. with a bit of luck i can even get out to look at a few new routes over the coming weeks and perhaps even lose the belly that appears to have grown over the Xmas and New Year periods. I hope everyone is having as much fun as me this year and thanks for all the birthday wishes.
As per tradition in china a fair amount of cake ended up in my face, and their was a large quantity of alcoholic beverages consumed which led to something of a hangover but fortunately the only work i was required to do was to head to Xinping Sunday night in preparation for a school group from Hong Kong who we have spent the past week trekking climbing and Kayaking with.
Today again is my rest day and i intend to do as little as possible (mostly catch up on some reading) but will no doubt be out climbing most of the coming week.
China and Yangshuo are starting to grow on me and iv been having a great time in this land of Karsts. with a bit of luck i can even get out to look at a few new routes over the coming weeks and perhaps even lose the belly that appears to have grown over the Xmas and New Year periods. I hope everyone is having as much fun as me this year and thanks for all the birthday wishes.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Hong Kong, East v West
Hi all
Well i made it to hong kong on Friday and spent the weekend climbing with some friends,a few of whom i met when i was back in yangshuo over the Xmas period.
Am just about to set of to apply for the China visa this morning which will probably take the until the end of the week to process.
I'm stopping with a lad call Bon whom lives out on the Island of Lamma, which despite being a fair size the Island is sparsely populated in comparison to Hong Kong, perhaps it because it has no cars and better still no McDonald's, KFC or any of the other big name monstrosity's which appear to exist on every street corner in Hong Kong and on the mainland here, makes for a wecome change.
Well im off to sort out the visa and wander around town, take care all and a happy chinese new year. which was great back in yangshuo.
Well i made it to hong kong on Friday and spent the weekend climbing with some friends,a few of whom i met when i was back in yangshuo over the Xmas period.
Am just about to set of to apply for the China visa this morning which will probably take the until the end of the week to process.
I'm stopping with a lad call Bon whom lives out on the Island of Lamma, which despite being a fair size the Island is sparsely populated in comparison to Hong Kong, perhaps it because it has no cars and better still no McDonald's, KFC or any of the other big name monstrosity's which appear to exist on every street corner in Hong Kong and on the mainland here, makes for a wecome change.
Well im off to sort out the visa and wander around town, take care all and a happy chinese new year. which was great back in yangshuo.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Back in Guilin
Well i have the essentials.... Beer and somewhere to sleep.
After the fun of Qingdao is said by to Craig who was heading via ferry to Korea then home to England's and caught a train to Shanghai.. the metropolis wanna be with neon lights and skyscrapers. the latest of which looks like a large bottle opener.. (photos to follow)
I had the surprise of finding myself in the same hostel and dorm as Mark who i met in yangshuo who had recently travelled up from the warmer climates of Hong Kong. The plan was formulated and we spent most of the day wandering around the back streets of the old town getting very curious looks from the locals, who probably couldn't understand why we chose to wander around what was to them the old poor and deprived part of town but which for us was a welcome contrast to the high rise landscape which is slowly reinventing Shanghai's skyline.
A stroll along the Bund which is a must for anyone visiting the city made for an amusing afternoon and is like a walk through the changing fortunes of Shanghai. The mile or so stretch next to the river passes the commercial heart of the town full of consulates, museums, banks and businesses which are housed in the imposing architecture of the stone fronted, art deco buildings which would be suited to any of the major city's of the world, but looks out of place when you look across the river to the 80+ story skyscrapers such as the Jinmao tower with its no climbing sign (which i was itching to climb as its just pure jug pulling all the way up) and its neighbour the great big bottle opener which is still being completed.
You can see how this imposing avenue now sinking due to subsidence would have marked the wealth and prosperity of the city like fleet street or wall st it makes a dramatic backdrop to this montage of cultures and society's.
After a day walking the streets we headed out in search of good food which is almost impossible not to find in Shanghai, street vendors, noodles, dumplings are all available in large quantities, for very little money you can eat until bursting, and then afterward we went in search of nightlife which on a Tuesday night proved fairly elusive but after a hike about town sinking a few beers and pool balls was managed and the day after i headed via Huaihua in Hunan province to Fenghuang. after a 23hr hard seat on a train and a few hours on a bus. I've had Novocain that left me with more feeling than sitting on a poorly padded seat for 23hrs.
Fenghuang is about as far from the neon and glitz of Shanghai as you could imagine. This picturesque riverside town home to Miao and Tujia minority's has loads of charm and meandering the streets of the old town absorbing the views with houses supported by stilts hanging over the river was a great but very cold way to spend a couple of days, made even more fun by a power cut and a hostel that had no heating no hot water and then no electricity. but such is life. food was good beer was had as was rice wine and i had a great but very cold time.
If arriving in the town was hard, then leaving proved to be something of a hazard. There were few buses running and the one i got on heading south to Huaihua ended up heading north to Jishou due to road closures. (perhaps they should take a look at some of the roads in Russian then ).
When we got of the bus and found that the train station was closed so five of us squeezed into a taxi and headed south to Huaihua where after getting out and pushing a few times and after some frantic overtaking we arrived alive and in one piece. much to the surprise of some.
Unfortunately on inspection and lots of waiting in queues i discovered there was no possible way of leaving the town that day so i spent the night at a cheap hotel and then with he help of a local medical student whom i meet the day before i managed to get a train to Guilin which involved 11hrs on the wonderfully hard seats in he cheap section of the train, however at least this time the carriages which were designed to seat 118 people didn't have 170+ people in them unlike the trip from Shanghai where the train staff literally keeps pushing people onto the train until you felt that the sides of the carriage would burst open.
Well the good news is that iv just about finished my first drink and will soon be ordering another, not that i need it to aid me sleep but i relieve's the discomfort that i now feel from such a luxurious method of transport over the past few days.
Well its time for the second beer. photos will follow but beer is of a higher importance at this time.
After the fun of Qingdao is said by to Craig who was heading via ferry to Korea then home to England's and caught a train to Shanghai.. the metropolis wanna be with neon lights and skyscrapers. the latest of which looks like a large bottle opener.. (photos to follow)
I had the surprise of finding myself in the same hostel and dorm as Mark who i met in yangshuo who had recently travelled up from the warmer climates of Hong Kong. The plan was formulated and we spent most of the day wandering around the back streets of the old town getting very curious looks from the locals, who probably couldn't understand why we chose to wander around what was to them the old poor and deprived part of town but which for us was a welcome contrast to the high rise landscape which is slowly reinventing Shanghai's skyline.
A stroll along the Bund which is a must for anyone visiting the city made for an amusing afternoon and is like a walk through the changing fortunes of Shanghai. The mile or so stretch next to the river passes the commercial heart of the town full of consulates, museums, banks and businesses which are housed in the imposing architecture of the stone fronted, art deco buildings which would be suited to any of the major city's of the world, but looks out of place when you look across the river to the 80+ story skyscrapers such as the Jinmao tower with its no climbing sign (which i was itching to climb as its just pure jug pulling all the way up) and its neighbour the great big bottle opener which is still being completed.
You can see how this imposing avenue now sinking due to subsidence would have marked the wealth and prosperity of the city like fleet street or wall st it makes a dramatic backdrop to this montage of cultures and society's.
After a day walking the streets we headed out in search of good food which is almost impossible not to find in Shanghai, street vendors, noodles, dumplings are all available in large quantities, for very little money you can eat until bursting, and then afterward we went in search of nightlife which on a Tuesday night proved fairly elusive but after a hike about town sinking a few beers and pool balls was managed and the day after i headed via Huaihua in Hunan province to Fenghuang. after a 23hr hard seat on a train and a few hours on a bus. I've had Novocain that left me with more feeling than sitting on a poorly padded seat for 23hrs.
Fenghuang is about as far from the neon and glitz of Shanghai as you could imagine. This picturesque riverside town home to Miao and Tujia minority's has loads of charm and meandering the streets of the old town absorbing the views with houses supported by stilts hanging over the river was a great but very cold way to spend a couple of days, made even more fun by a power cut and a hostel that had no heating no hot water and then no electricity. but such is life. food was good beer was had as was rice wine and i had a great but very cold time.
If arriving in the town was hard, then leaving proved to be something of a hazard. There were few buses running and the one i got on heading south to Huaihua ended up heading north to Jishou due to road closures. (perhaps they should take a look at some of the roads in Russian then ).
When we got of the bus and found that the train station was closed so five of us squeezed into a taxi and headed south to Huaihua where after getting out and pushing a few times and after some frantic overtaking we arrived alive and in one piece. much to the surprise of some.
Unfortunately on inspection and lots of waiting in queues i discovered there was no possible way of leaving the town that day so i spent the night at a cheap hotel and then with he help of a local medical student whom i meet the day before i managed to get a train to Guilin which involved 11hrs on the wonderfully hard seats in he cheap section of the train, however at least this time the carriages which were designed to seat 118 people didn't have 170+ people in them unlike the trip from Shanghai where the train staff literally keeps pushing people onto the train until you felt that the sides of the carriage would burst open.
Well the good news is that iv just about finished my first drink and will soon be ordering another, not that i need it to aid me sleep but i relieve's the discomfort that i now feel from such a luxurious method of transport over the past few days.
Well its time for the second beer. photos will follow but beer is of a higher importance at this time.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
North Again
Well after a relaxing time in Yangshuo with much climbing and drinking over Xmas and New Year I left my climbing stuff with a newly acquired friend who works at one of the climbing companies (China Climb) and headed north with Craig, a lad from New Zealand whom I travelled from Xi'an down to Chengdu with.
I'm now in Qingdao for some well ernt beer, and from where Craig gets the ferry over to Korea for his flight home, The town feels more European than Chinese which is more than likely to do with the legacy left behind by the Germans whom it was leased to in 1898 until 1914 when the Japanes held it until 1922 and then later it was a marine and naval base for the US from 1945 to 1949.
Craig and myself left Yangshuo on the 3rd and headed north to LuoYang in Henan, where we went to see the Longmen Caves, the hostel we were at had some fairly cheap Chinese Baths, giving me the chance to relax for a few hours in the evening after sweating in a suna etc...
On the 5th we headed to Kaifeng which has a large and wacky night market full of great food which we wandered around for dinner after having visited the Iron Pagoda (not made of Iron).
Where we were fortunate enough to witness a spot of fishing.
Where we were fortunate enough to witness a spot of fishing. Then it was off to Ji'nan and Tai'an so as to go up Tai Shan, the holiest mountain in China and after all 6660 steps from 250M to 1545M and now after passing through the gate at the top I'm a celestial being... According to the book (lonely Planet).
The route has many small temples and lots of chinese writing on the rock faces one section in peticular is 25m high with 1m characters.
I'm now in Qingdao for some well ernt beer, and from where Craig gets the ferry over to Korea for his flight home, The town feels more European than Chinese which is more than likely to do with the legacy left behind by the Germans whom it was leased to in 1898 until 1914 when the Japanes held it until 1922 and then later it was a marine and naval base for the US from 1945 to 1949.
The plan is to then head down to Shanghai and then head back to Yangshuo via Hunan province, probably stopping at Fenghuang. not sure of any other stops yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)