Simone's blog #2

Blog #2

Today I visited a small Fijian school on one of the islands, the boat ride was much more relaxed than the one to the resort which was a relief and we had a really enjoyable day. When we arrived on the island we were greeted by the school children who sang a traditional welcoming song.

Afterwards we had a tour around the school led by some of the older children it was astounding to see how similar their school was to ours but also the differences that we have to them. One of the astonishing things was how knowledgeable the children were on Australia when many adults overseas think we ride to school on kangaroos! Because they have so much space they could spread out the class rooms and had eight portable rooms with two of them being bedrooms for the schoolkids one for the boys and one for the girls, they slept on mattresses in rows and didn’t have much room to walk around. It was almost like a boarding school but most of the kids went back to other islands were their parents worked over the weekend, on a Friday afternoon they would be allowed to go swimming at the beach which was just 100meters away from them and would be amazing to go to school near.

 I wasn’t expecting the school to be so organized and similar to the schools in Australia. Once we had left the island we went visiting Octopus Island and snorkelled around their amazing coral, the colours were beautiful and there were so many colourful fish. On our way back we had dolphins jumping out of the water and swimming right next to our boat they were so close you could of reached into the water and touched them. I’m going to another Island tomorrow called Castaway Island and I can’t wait. Bye for now!

BLOG 1:

I landed in Indonesia I was so tired because I was in the plane for 7 hours. I stepped out of the plane and felt the fresh air at 5am in the morning; the weather was perfect. I booked at the Hai Tide Huts in Java and as I entered it was the most amazing accommodation I have ever seen. I quickly put my luggage into my spectacular hut and wanted to go sightseeing straight away.

The first place I visited was Magelang Borobudur Temples. There are many of them. They are all ancient ruins. One of the temples was a built in the ninth century. All though they were all built at different times the temples are similar in size, structure architectural.

The second place that I visited was a remarkable mountain called mount Bromo it is an active volcano in East Java. I was a little bit scared at first to climb get near the mountain so I saw it from a far and the view were so beautiful. The last time it erupted was January 28th 2011.  This is the most beautiful mountain in Java with its spectacular views across all of Asia.

The last place I visited was the Museum Nasional. The museum was built in 1862. The museum has an enormous collection of cultural objects of various ethnic groups. It has costumes, musical, instruments, model houses and many more. The museum is astounding. All the objects look antiquities that have been well preserved for hundreds of years. When looking at them you are transported into another beautiful era.

After, I ate my dinner and I went back to my hut. I was so tired that I fell asleep straight away. I had a lovely day and would do it all over again. 

BLOG 2:

I decided to go to the beach. The beach was called Pangandaran beach. It was dry season in Indonesia and the temperature ranged from 34C. It was a very hot day so I decided to relax and enjoy my hut and the beach.

I went to this beach bar and a lovely Indonesian man made me an amazing tropical drink it was so nice and cold after I drank it I felt refreshed. I was lying on the beach and enjoying the sun and the waters.

I went back to my hut got changed and when I was walking out I came across a Lillo, chair it was so soft I couldn’t resist lying on it. When I lied down it had this astonishing view of the beach and nature I felt immeasurable. I was so relaxed that I was lying there looking at view and resting for a couple of hours.   

When it started getting dark I went to the huts restaurant. I didn’t know what to order so I asked. They said there most popular dish was called satay. It was served with peanut sauce, Ketupat, cucumber and onions. It was so delicious I would recommend it to anyone who goes to visit Indonesia. In Indonesia Food is eaten with the fingers or with a spoon and fork. When eating with the fingers, Indonesians use their right hand only.

I then finished my amazing dish and went straight to my hut and fell asleep my trip to Indonesia was impeccable that I had a marvellous time I was looking forward to go home but I was going to miss the Indonesian climate, culture and traditions.

By Jacqueline Kotsovolos.  

New-Zealand the place to be, all the things you can do here is amazing. i love it here. i cant wait to come back and tell you all about my time in this wonderland. this place is believable.

Yesterday night i went to go to my very first international rugby match. it was Australia vs. New-Zealand. it was a great game until the 64 minute because when new-Zealand starts taking the lead they are very hard to beat. Australia started to crumble and so was the crowd. we where 3 try's and 2 conversions behind.we had 4 minutes remaining. we scored a try, the crowd went wild and so did i. we where now 2 try's behind, and then we scored another and another and then it was our turn to score the conversion. Cameron (the goal kicker) lined up and shot for goal. the ball soared though the air, everyone was holding there breathe. we hit the post and missed. in the end we lost by 2 points and we where devastated. 3 people jumped onto the field to hurt one of New-Zealand players. but i wasn't there to see it. i was on my way home because i was so upset of New-Zealand winning.

the next day i went to a garden. it was so amazing to be in it because you can smell all the flowers and the poland, and it smells so good.  had a picnic with a girl i met at the rugby. he name was christina she had blond hair and blue eyes and she loves Australian rugby. when i get home i am going to share all about my time in this amazing garden. there are so many things to do here in the garden that i am in. one you can look at all the flowers, two you can stand at the lake, where you can sit and eat.And over all you can just relax and have fun.

i love my time here and if i had the chance i would live here and never come back. there is so much to do, you would never get bored. i cant wait to tell you all about my adventures in this wonderland.

I have been in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, for three days now. The city is incredibly dense people are crammed in every possible corner. At night the city explodes with light and voices. It’s an experience of its own. I’ve planned a number of activities which I hope to talk about in my next blog. But I’ll tell you what I’ve done so far.

I guess I’ll start off with shopping as it was the first thing I did. I started by taking a taxi to green hills shopping centre, at first glance it’s a flea market full of items with questionable legitimacy. But as I took a better look some of the things I found were quite impressive. The noise of the market takes a little getting used to but I came out of the market very happy. After my day I went with a couple of my friends to a restaurant called Ziggurat, which was a very relaxed atmosphere and a great way to finish my day.   

I woke up the next day tired from the night out but got up quickly when my friend told me about a golf course just down the road. I had not planned on it but I was very happy to play. The place was called Club Intramuros Golf Course. We showed up without booking but they were perfectly happy to let us on at such short notice. They quickly gave us our clubs and we were off. The course was really well kept and over all we had a great day.

Walking around manila is quite amazing and breathtaking but like any other city (I’d say even more) there are many things to avoid. I’ll start off by saying avoid any crowds or groups of people late at night especially in the main parts of the city. The outer suburbs are safe at day but certainly avoid slums.

 I have planned to go hiking at Taal volcano in a few days I’ll write about that in my second blog. 

: When I hopped out of the taxi at Ueno Zoo the man driving said something to me and, from my brief knowledge of how to speak the Japanese language, it sounded like he was telling me that I was going to love the zoo. I had to assume he was stating it was really good compared to most of their zoos. When I got to the gate there was a very big line zigzagging around towards the entrance and at this point I was wondering if the taxi driver was being sarcastic. After waiting in the line for a couple of hours in this massive line I finely got inside the zoo and there were people everywhere. It was even more packed then the line outside!

It was very odd comparing it to Melbourne Zoo as it was so packed that I couldn’t even see the animals because all the people where blocking my view. Whereas, in Australia, no matter where you were, if you found this amount of people in one place, it would seem insane.

After a little bit of walking around I found a gap in the crowd of people leading to the tiger exhibit. When I got to the glass wall blocking me from the tigers, I must admit the Ueno Zoo tiger cage was a bit bigger than the one back in Melbourne. However, with all the sound and people just staring at them they seemed more sad compared to the ones back in Melbourne. It made me think how all the other animals were reacting, for the tigers had probably the least amount of people viewing them, so the other animals would probably be terrified.

After seeing a few of the other exhibits I got really frustrated  at how crowded the place was so I decided to leave but the line to get out was just a big as the line to get in. The day wasn’t too bad; however, it still could have been better. I did prefer the visit to the game convention.

 

One Short Day

After just a few days here, I seem to already be operating on Taiwan time – having arrived in Taipei, the capital, six hours after I planned to.  After spending 3 days in the hospitable city Taichung, I became a little more confident in my ventures. As I carried on through Taiwan to Taipei, I got off the bus wherever I pleased. I stopped by temples, forests, local food streets and villages. The food I’ve sampled over the past few days makes my stint at the Feng Chia Night Market look safe at best. Living, eating and travelling with the locals has given me a deeper understanding of living in Taiwan. It’s far less populated than its neighbour, China, which makes leisurely travel and time outdoors nicer. Taiwan is one of the less populated Asian countries, so the people are considerably nicer and time runs similar to that of island resorts.

This morning, I visited the Yehliu Geo Park – the first of many stops in this exciting region. Essentially, it’s a large rock formation a couple hundred metres off the shoreline. It’s strange shape is the result of sea erosion and the ever changing landscape of Taiwan - due to it’s Asian location, subject to movement and weathering. The park, nicknamed the “Yehliu Turtle” by locals,  is constituted by limestone and wave-cut rock. I spent time exploring the island, if you like - similar to Australia’s long and ranging sandbars at low tide. Towards the end of my experience, I learnt of an old game that was once played underneath a footbridge, imaginatively titled the Sea Groove Bridge, somewhat similar to the Three Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale. In this area, the “naughty kid cave”, tourists would play with local children by throwing coins into the shallow water under the bridge. The kids became so engrossed in finding hidden treasure under the water that their parents had to roam the park yelling; “You naughty boys! How dare you play around and forget the time to come home for dinner!”. Another legend of the island dictates that a small turtle-shaped rock at the furthest point of the park would spit out white smoke whenever the weather was about to change. Stories like these prove the cultural significance of areas in Taiwan. 

In each of the destinations I’ve visited, I’ve heard personal stories and had authentic experiences. Unlike other Asian countries complete with manmade structures and glossy malls, each region of Taiwan has originality. Despite spending only one week here, I feel very close to Taiwan. The locals have opened up and shared their experiences with me, and I can now ally myself with Asia. My time in the richest quarters to the poorest parts of this country have put me well on my way to becoming a global citizen. I wish to travel more, and consider that my status transcends political and geographical divides. 

*photos not working, will upload 4/9

Blog #2: What to do whilst in Singapore?

After we had been in Singapore City for a few days, we decided to be a bit more adventurous and visit Sentosa Island. Whilst we were in Sentosa Island we decided to go to Universal Studios. This experience was so fun and it almost felt like I was a young child again. My favourite rides were the Canopy Flyer and the Mummy Ride; they were both so thrilling and exciting. Another handy thing to do while you’re there is to buy the express ticket which helps you cut queues, but these tickets cost and it may not be worth it. It is also better to go on a weekday as it is less busy and the queuing time is shorter. The food at Universal Studios was alright, they mainly sold salads and wraps. You are also allowed to bring your own food which might be a good idea. Another thing to remember when you go to Universal Studios is to pack a set of spare clothes as you can get wet of some rides.



Skypark Observation Deck

The next day we went to the Singapore Skypark. The Skypark is fairly new and it is absolutely spectacular. It was very interesting to see the whole of Singapore from a bird’s eye view. My friends and I decided to just buy the ticket for the Sands Skypark which doesn’t include the arts museum. The unfortunate thing about going as a visitor to the Skypark is that only the guests that stay at the Marina Bay Hotel get use the Infinity Pool. That is why I would recommend staying at the Marina Bay Hotel as it is an experience of a life time. Tickets are available of the Singapore Skypark website and can be booked up to a month in advance.

I definitely enjoyed visiting Singapore and found it a very informative experience. I will definitely be visiting again!

Blog part 3: Gokyo Lakes Trek

Day 1: Had lunch at Places Restaurant & Bar (vegetarian again) and then met up with the company World Expeditions who are hosting my journey. They gave me a long—and at times tedious—information session. I then transferred to Radisson Hotel to stay for the night and meet my fellow trekkers.  So far I’m finding them all intensely boring don’t particularly like any of them.

Day 2: We flew to Lukla first thing this morning to commence out journey (by the way, Lukla airport is one of the most dangerous airports in the world so it’s a massive relief that we made it this far). Despite obvious poor quality of the plane, it was one of the most enjoyable flights I have ever experienced because of the magnificent views of some of the highest peaks in the world. As we touched down, the majority of us were overcome by the colossal mountains that surrounded the miniscule village around all sides. Wasting no time, we quickly assembled into a group and traversed down to a river named Dudh Kosi. The in the local language this translates to “milk river”. When we reached it I could see why. The river has its origin from enormous glaciers at the summits of various mountains and the nutrients trapped within these glaciers as well as on the mountainsides give the river a distinct creamy hue like milk. We then followed a wide and well-marked track to a permanent camping site owned by World Exhibitions in place called Ghat.

Dudh Kosi

Day 5: We have now been lightly hiking for quite some time and now have a rest day in a delightfull little lodge just above the village of Namche. There are many mountains surrounding us such as Around us are Taweche (6542 m), Thamserku (6808 m), Kantega (6685 m), Ama Dablam (6856 m), Nuptse (7896 m) and Lhotse (8511 m) and, the greatest of all, Mt Everest (8848 m). While many people did the shorter walk over to the village of Khumjung, a fellow adventurer named Daniel and I trekked higher to the Everest View Hotel which, as the name suggests, allows some of the best views of Mt. Everest. The trek was quite straightforward apart from a minor incident with a large, brown and white spotted snake as I was lagging behind to photograph an interesting rock formation on the way back. There didn’t seem to be any wound and I decided to not tell the tour guide anything about this attack as I feared it would simply worry them and they might make me stay behind. I really want to complete this trip as so far it has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. The view from Everest View hotel wasn’t quite all it was cracked up to be and I wish I had gone with most of the others down to Khumjung. I’m feeling quite nauseous now so I think I’ll go to bed early.

Day 5½

It’s the middle of the night and I have just woken up from incredible chest pains. My lungs seemed to have collapsed on themselves and I can’t gather enough air to call out for help beyond my one-man-tent. I’m completely paralysed from the waist down and I’m scared for {notes illegible from here}

Greetings faithful readers! I've just awoken to inform you of the fantastic afternoon and night I had yesterday. After my adventures inside Bodnath Stupa, I experienced the famously vibrant area of culture around it first-hand! After I had taken the traditional clockwise walk around Bodnath, I decided to view the various shops around the area. Although many were overpriced and purely targeting tourists, there were countless stores and stalls selling all manner of genuine and traditional hand made goods. In the end I decided to use my limited spending money to buy a traditional Tibetan singing bowl from Himalayan Singing Bowl Centre. This purchase did cost a fair sum of money but it was worth it for the beautiful chime of the bowl. After this trip around the shops, I went on tours of various monasteries in the area (the Dilyak Monastery, Kopan Monastery Shechen Monastery, Thrangu Monastery). The highlight of my monastery tours was the Thrangu Monastery (formally called the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery). This was the only tour that lasted more than a few minutes and it revealed all manner of monks learning each-others jobs and participating in intellectual activities. Many of the monks are under 18 and lots of them are from rural areas of Nepal. While here, one of the monks shared with me the incredible story behind Bodnath Stupa. The legend is a bit lengthy to put in this blog but it does involve the Perfect Buddha laying down his own body to help a tigress with her young. After the cultural tour, I went to eat in the Stupa View Restaurant, which offered a great view of the stupa (duh) as well as serving great vegetarian food. It was very expensive though.

I will spend the rest of this morning and afternoon preparing for the main event of my trip: a scenic trek to the Gokyo Lakes. Although it isn’t linked with any Buddhist pilgrimage, this is still quite a well know hike for viewing the unspoiled landscape of the Himalayas. I won’t have internet while on the trek but I will be taking notes of what happens and upload them afterwards.
Bodnath Stupa side temple interior. 

Neiafu Island, Tonga

Blog #2

Blog #2

Agra, India.

I have been in Agra for two days and to say the least it has been a roller coaster with many turns, dips and heightening falls.

Today, I visited the Taj Mahal that I began to explain in my previous blog, the luxurious castle built in the 1500-1600’s by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The entry to the palace through the gardens was an adventure in itself! The Great Gate (Darwaza-i rauza) that lead to the grounds surrounding the palace was unforgettable, made of red sandstone with imposing archways and intricate marble work. Then passing through the Great Gate archway which opens up into the gardens surrounding the colossal mausoleum. The view of the Taj Mahal from the main entrance is that snapshot that you've seen a thousand times, the classic old time postcard favorite which I of course also photographed.

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My favorite part was standing on a balcony, feeling the air whip against me and staring down into the never ending land that surrounded the Taj Mahal. I could feel the history and past of the castle soak into my pores and infiltrating my senses.  As lunched approached I followed my nose and made my way to the large cafeteria that was located next to the gift store. Scanning the food I found that everything seemed slightly dodgy except for (Atukula Laddu) Beaten Rice, a dessert. I purchased one and instantly fell in love with the sweet and smooth flavors that exploded in my mouth! With the flavor still in my lingering I bought another and have it stashed it in my bag (I’ll be indulging in some more when I finish this post). Once I had satisfied my growling stomach I progressed on through the castle and was eventually kindly asked-multiple times- to leave the stunning mausoleum by the guides.

The Taj Mahal is an experience I will hold forever, in my memory and in the hundreds of snaps I took of everything and anything. This will be a treasured memory and after my experience I would encourage everyone to visit the Taj Mahal one day.

Mia.

Blog #2

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv has so much more to offer than I originally thought. I must admit, I probably did not partake in enough research on the stunning place, but I think it has been better this way. I managed to have a relatively comprehensive conversation with a taxi driver named Asher on the way from the airport.  He gave me some idea of what to do once I dropped my bags off at the hotel. Although I found his husky accent difficult to understand. It seemed that the first place to visit on his list was Jaffa and the old port. I decided it was best to delve strait into my experience in Tel Aviv and I only stopped for a few minutes in my hotel. I asked Asher to wait for me outside in the car park as I quickly dropped of my bags. My hopes were relatively low for the place as Asher’s descriptive language was limited, but I was pleasantly surprised upon my arrival. Each and every building was made from an astonishing stone that looked old, but had still weathered well – becoming almost shiny due all the people who had travelled along the paths prior to me. The streets turned and reviled lovey jewellery shops and art galleries that exhibited a wide range of eye catching items. 

Jaffa from the pier

As night fell upon the city, if anything, Jaffa became even more wondrous; opening the doors to a whole new experience. I had been making my way through the city for hours and was almost entirely lost. My worries had not set in yet and I was more focused on finding some food. I stumbled upon cute little restaurant that was covered by vines and I enjoyed all of the Middle Eastern flavoured dishes. Inside it was wonderfully decorated, it occurred to me that perhaps I had discovered one of the best restaurants in town. I was hoping to return to it the following night, although I was unable to find it. As I tried to make my way back to my hotel I soon became lost in a sea of stone buildings that all looked the same. Each turn I got more and more lost and I soon came to an area littered with cats. I have honestly never seen so many felines in one place. They popped out of bins and small crevices and looked at you curiously. Surprisingly they seemed healthy enough and were not dirty or skinny. Soon enough I gave up on finding my way out alone and decided to hail a taxi on the largest road I could fine and I soon returned to my hotel. 

The cats

It was a massive relief to be back at the hotel and finally rest my surprisingly sore fear.  It was the first time since I arrived in Israel I was staying in conditions much like those at home. As I entered my room I was astounded by the intricate well thought through designs that littered the whole room. I must say, I had the best night sleep I had had in a long time; especially because of the lack of company.  The staff members were kind, although not overly welcoming and annoying. The man at the door however was quite strange and abrupt, although I had since discovered he had quite serious hearing problems. I was almost sad that morning when it was time to leave the stunning hotel to go and enjoy the sights Tel Aviv has to offer.

My hotel bed 

The next morning I was fortunate enough to have blue skies and a 30 degree day. Although I have since discovered that these conditions are normal in the city. I had decided the previous night that I would venture to a more modern section of Tel Aviv. I visited the Carmel market, which was about to burst with the phenomenal amounts of colours that were consuming its narrow paths. There were overwhelming calls from stalls asking you to come by their produce and locals bartering in foreign languages to get better prices.  The feel of the place was so energised, people were constantly pushing past you, and it was as if time itself had been sped up. There was such a wide variety of stalls that covered everything from pets to food. I managed to buy myself a few things, such as spices, halva and a swim suit. It only took an hour of walking before the heat truly sank in. I then slowly made my way to the beach in hope of a relaxing swim. The water was so much warmer than I expected, it required no shivering to get into and I could stay in for hours. There was a large stone water break that I could sunbathe on without getting smothered in sand, and it was beautiful watching people slowly pack up and go home as the sun set. 

Sunset on the beach 

Tel Aviv has so much more to offer than I originally thought. Although sometimes the Israel can be quite confronting, with poverty, solders and the constant threat of terrorist attacks; surprisingly it has a very comfortable feel. Even though standing next to a strong man holding a big gun in army uniform should be horrifying, it almost makes me feel safer. Israel is incredibly different to anything I have experienced. It is certainly a place that is worth visiting at least once. 

Blog #2 Hello again,

A week ago I took a bus from Thimphu the Capital city of Bhutan to a smaller city called Phuntsholing. After my amazing experience in Thimphu this can hardly compare to it. With a lot of poverty and unfortunately I have had my wallet stolen.  My motel that I am staying at is two stars which is almost top of the range. The food is the same with Thimphu though; red rice is not used as much.

One thing that I really dislike about Phuntsholing is the amount of military and police personal; in fact they search your bags and cars for anything suspicious. The reason for this is how it is right on the boarder of India so there would be a lot of illegal immigrants coming and going from both Phuntsholing and India. As I said before, I had my wallet stolen. The story behind this is I was exploring and just having a stroll through on of the night markets when I was approached by this suspicions looking gentleman. He asked me where I was from and what I was doing in Bhutan and then suddenly walked of. I took no notice of it but when I was going to pay for something, I realized my wallet was not there. I also remembered the gentleman very gently feeling my pocket. 

From almost any were in the city, you can see the road to Thimphu which is a narrow road that snakes around a mountain. There is beautiful trekking around the road and on my way back to Thimphu I hope to go exploring and do some trekking. I’m guessing that is where all of the beautiful wonders of Phuntsholing are.  Another great thing about the city is the street food, with the narrow streets coming alive at night with lots of vendors selling their different types of exotic food.  In Phuntsholing, there are lots of markets which are both god and bad. The good thing is that I can buy lots of their native foods and the bad things are that considering I am a tourist, the people will corner me in and try to get me to buy their things which some of the time I don’t want to buy.

Phuntsholing is an interesting place with lots of poverty. But I absolutely loved the street food and the markets. About next week, I hope to take the bus back to Thimphu where I will stay for another fortnight.

By For now. 

Blog #2

trekking through Nepal

Yesterday was my last day in Kathmandu city, I checked out of my hotel and quickly bought some of the local food. I had a dish  called sel which resembled a donut but was made out of rice flour. Soon after I met my guide, who would take me all around the Himalayas. He’s name is Nischal which is one of the most popular names in Nepal. We caught a bus to BesiSahar. I was a bit reluctant to get off the bus because I was  a bit nervous because I was about to experience one of the most amazing experiences I have ever done, but also one of the most  tough and excruciating things I will do in my life. Nischal lead me to a small building, or a shed were I was told about a few rules , tips and I had to sign some forms. I re packed my bag, pulled on my hiking boots and was ready to go within an hour of being in BesiSahar.

I met another four people just before I left who were going to trekking  with me for the next thirty days. These people came from all over the world, America, China, England and Brazil. I just knew that we were going to have a great time. Our first destination was Ngadi Chuli. Ngadi Chuli was our first mountain that we were going to hike through. I was quite scared but could not wait to get to the top. Sel guided us up the mountains and forests, keeping us interested by telling us traditional stories and facts about this amazing mountain.  This mountain was 7871m high and as we got higher and higher, I could feel the altitude changing. After a while I started to struggle with each step getting harder and harder. The sun was harsh and we were all perspiring so much that we needed to be careful of our dehydration. I could feel the hot rocks under my feet and my legs were about to give way onto the loose rocks when I heard the words that I had been waiting for the whole day, “we’re here”! The lodge was cosy and very comfortable and I was very happy with it till the next morning were I found that I was sharing my bed with something else….. bed bugs!

 Our next trek was from Ngadi to Jagat! Even though the weather was hot, I enjoyed this trek. We encountered many yaks, poor folks and a few trekkers. Everwhere I looked I was greeted to little houses and shops, people, animals and just pure nature. the  further we walked the thicker the  flora got. By the end all of us were feeling the strain. Our feet were sore, and we were exhausted.  We were all glad to get to Jagat by around 5pm where we got fed and went straight to bed! 

 The next four hikes, which took four days were exhausting but were worth it. The sights we saw were absolutely amazing. We trekked from Jagat to Dharapani, to Koto and then to Pisang. We would eat together, and there was no T.V. or internet so we would rejuvenate our bodies and all go to bed straight after dinner. We all got round 10-11 hours of sleep so that we were ready to trek the next day. 

The next ten days were very enjoyable and the treks were getting easier or we were getting used to them. Most villages that we trekked through, were poor and very isolated so when they saw us foreign people many of the villagers would come and greet us. The village would turn from a quiet peaceful village to a place filled with  people shouting “Namaste” “Khana khannu bhaiyo?” “Tapaiiko naam ke ho?” I had to decline many kind offers because of our schedule but was tempted many times to see more of the village and the villagers. By the 13th day of trekking we had got all of the way to base camp. We felt very accomplished, but we still had 17 more days of trekking to go. The next 17 days of trekking were better because we were getting closer to our destination, the Himalayas! We trekked back to BesiSahar through a different route. The quality of the air was impeccable, and gave me the strength to take each step. On the last day of trekking we trekked from Ngadi to BesiSahar to the Himalayas.

I was sad yet happy to finally meet my destination, this trek could possibly be the hardest thing I have done in my life, but I had made friends from all over the world that I would not be able to see regularly but will definatly stay in touch. When trekking into the Himalayas

my legs were aching, I could feel the sun burning my skin and I was so hot I thought I was in a sauna. I felt like giving up, but I couldn’t on the last hurdle. I had gotten used to the altitude and it did not affect me as much.  The mountains and hills were so high that the ground was nearly touching my nose, and the rocks were sliding from under my feet , I was ready to faint when I heard the familiar words that I had heard every day for the last thirty days, “we’re here!”. I could not believe I had accomplished such a task! This had been a gruelling achievement but when I looked out onto the view, I was hypnotised with the beauty of the landscape in front of me. We all stood there for at least 15 minutes taking in this amazing sight and recapitulating on the last thirty days.

 

My visit to Chiang Mai

Hello again,

I have recently arrived in Chiang Mai, which is the largest and most culturally significantly city in northern Thailand and this old city holds lots of rich heritage and culture. One of the first things I did after settling into my new hotel, which is the Yantarasri resort was wake up early the next day and go for an early morning hike up Doi Suthep. Many people in Chiang Mai consider Doi Suthep a holy mountain. At the foot of the mountain there is an entrance to a stairway, which has craved serpents running up the stair as a hand rail. After a tiring hike up the mountain I found myself at the entrance to a Buddhist temple, the temple over looks Chiang Mai and offers amazing views over northern Thailand. The temple has beautiful gold Chedi and according to legend the temple dates back to 14^th century.

After the hike I was very hungry so I decide to go to Huen Pen, which offers spicy foods that include Burmese and Chinese spices. The restaurant was packed, mostly full of taxi drivers digging into steaming curries. While I was there I had a khao Soi, which is a delicious mix of creamy curry, crispy egg noddles, slices of pickled cabbage and bits of shallot and lime. The dish was exquisite as well as extremely hot.  After lunch I decide to walk around Chiang Mai and found myself at a spice market for dinner. I had a spicy squid salad which had an interesting flavour. But looking around I saw students discussing Buddhism and other foreign people such as Frenchmen.

The last thing I did in Chiang Mai was head down Nimanhaemin Road, a major design drag,  for boutiques that sell pottery, textiles and other crafts, Chiang Mai has become a design laboratory with foreign and Thai designers blending traditional styles with minimalistic ones.  I saw art students wandering the streets and occasionally whipping out note pads. There were stores that sold lamps made out of mulberry paper, bamboo furniture stores and much more.

I have had an excellent time in Thailand and I hope to be back soon.

BLOG 2#  

I have been in Tokyo for three days now and they have been extraordinary. I have enjoyed the sights and weather but most of all the food. The culture of the Japanese food is fresh and colorful  From Sushi, Miso to Ramen and sashimi  I can’t seem to stop eating. It’s all so succulent and yummy. I have been out every day, twice a day and I have found some amazing restaurants.

My favorite restaurants have to be the Hinokizaka in my hotel (the Ritz Carlton hotel), Keyakizaka and my very, very favorite is the Takazawa.

The tawakawa is one of the fanciest and expensive hotels I had ever been to. The food is mind blowing and the ambiance is stylish and very modern. I loved this experience very much and even though it was very expensive and I will be eating rice for the rest of my time in Tokyo. It is worthwhile to treat yourself once in a while

I was running low on money and I was sick and tired of eating plain rice with Soya sauce. I had to find another alternative and I did Ushio sushi. This amazing restaurant looks expensive but is the opposite. For a big bento box of sushi just 8 Australian dollars.the ambiance is amazing and it has such a friendly feeling.  

I am so happy I have found this restaurant I and I am guessing that there are many more restaurants like Ushio out there, and I am on my to find them.   

Mongolia Blog 2

I was greeted back to Ulaanbaatar by a cold wind, a reminder that winter was not far away. Mongolia has some of the coldest winters on the planet, reaching to below -30°c. Fortunately for me, the temperature is still above 10°. On the way back to the hotel, I stopped off at the eminent Genghis Khan Statue Complex. After my time in the country, the crowds and tourists proved more annoying than I like to admit (then again, I am one of them). Either way, it was a very impressive statue, well suiting its monarch. Genghis Khan (also known as Chinggis Khan) was a Mongolian Emperor in approximately 1200 AD. He brought together all the Mongolian tribes of the time under his militaristic rule. He is said to have killed up to 40 million people, mainly tribes from neighbouring countries. I’m just glad he is only a statue now! Even so, Khan was an important historical figure and heavily influenced Mongolia toady. This was a very interesting and informative experience for me.

My next few days went in a blur. I would wake every morning to the Ulaanbaatar skyline, full of tall buildings and bustling streets with mountains lining the background. The contrast it not something I’ve seen before, of dusty structures against desert background, dead and empty. I still sit amazed at the feel of remoteness even in such a capital.

It all came as quite a contrast to the outback that I was previously in. Of the approximate 2 million people in Mongolia, nearly half reside here in Ulaanbaatar. That being said, it is quite a busy place. Even though I am trying to learn about the local culture and not just be a ‘tourist’, it is hard not to be on edge. Previously, the easy going Nomads showed very little interest in modern societal life. Here, one has to be very careful about pick pocketing and other petty crimes, even being followed (especially for a female). Already I have had a set of bracelets that were in my back pocket go missing. Nevertheless, even with this at the back of my mind, I strove to enjoy the atmosphere and attractions of Ulaanbaatar that I could, while I was here.

The food in the city is quite cheap, and although it is apparent that no one travels to Mongolia for its cuisine. There is a range of Asian and Western options, so I have not been particularly adventurous. I had my exploration of local cookery in the nature reserve in the first part of my trip, so I am treating myself to more familiar cuisine.

All good things must come to an end, and far too soon. I leave Mongolia tomorrow, heading homeward. My time here has been eye opening, and I do recommend a visit for and travellers. I didn’t fully realize how different two places could be, and this journey will stay with me.

 

Blog #2 - Langkawi Island

I am nearing the end of this incredible journey in Malaysia. My precious time here is depleting at a rapid pace and yet, it feels like I have only been here for a short period of time. The bustling city of Kuala Lumpur has left quite an impression on me but I felt like I was ready to experience a completely different side of this wonderful country. I decided to escape the city scene and chase the sun. My strength is definitely not planning my trip to the last detail, so I had to find the next destination during my time in Kuala Lumpur. My arbitrary yet effective travel method of asking a local stranger led me to the first place which escaped from their lips, Langkawi Island.

The opportunity of taking a plane to the island arose but reaching into my pockets, I felt I simply couldn’t afford the luxury of a 32 minute flight. So instead, I hired a tacky rental car and began my 5 hour journey. Considering my driving skills are not at all exceptional, I was extremely lucky as Malay people drive on the left hand side of the road. The serene road trip was not at all as expected. Unlike my vision of a hectic drive and trouble on the road, the trip was quite pleasant. I hesitantly will admit, the musty odour from the previous owner of the car made me feel overwhelmingly light headed and there was a stage in the journey where I needed to stop and soak up the fresh air a fair distance from the vehicle. Although this was the case, the scenery and thought of the beautiful island awaiting me made me persevere.

Wholly drained by my experience in the rental car, I continued my journey to my hotel, the Berjaya Langkawi Resort by the water. I instantly fell in love with the charming huts and although, I will confess, the welcoming bed was almost too tempting to refuse, but I fought all of my desires and headed for my first tourist destination, Langkawi Sky Bridge.

The Sky Bridge is situated on the top of Mount Machinchang, 100m above ground level. To access the bridge, a sky cable is needed. It was an exhilarating experience ascending the mountain in a small cable car and I found myself in awe of the tranquil environment around me. After reaching the cable station, I began my short trek along the suspension bridge. Although the bridge is only 125m, I found the walk lengthy, full of suspense and anticipation. The end of the bridge revealed the surreal view of the Andaman Sea and all of the surrounding islands Malaysia has to offer. This was a truly special moment which I will treasure and remember for the rest of my life.

My time in Malaysia is coming to a close and although there is so much more of the country I would love to explore, the final region of Malaysia I visited was the perfect way to finish a much needed journey of a lifetime. I am completely satisfied that I have made the most of my time in this country and hope to return to it someday in the future.  

blog 2

Since my week up to this point has consisted of me having problems with the overcrowded and bustling streets of Tokyo so now I must find something fun to do I thought to myself so I goggled it. I found the first thing to do go to the tsukiji fish market which happens to be the biggest fish market in the world and runs all day and night. I am not a huge fan of fish but I thought while I’m here why not. Once I arrived at the market with what seemed to be thousands of people in a massive sweating and stinky room I turned right around and got a taxi to my next destination. Shibuya crossing which is apparently the shopping central and I wanted to see what shopping was like here and I’m 100% that it’s going to be a crowded waste of time I still wanted to see what I could discover. I found a toy Obama action figures with ninja stars, dolls that you can get your face put on and live rhino beetles that kids would buy and make fight other rhino beetles which is what inspired Pokémon. They told me to go to karioky but I will not embrace myself or anyone else by attending. So then I went to a few famous chery blossom parks such as yoyogi park and that was nice peaceful and decerlet I soon retired to my hotel after a meal and had a long sleep so that tomorrow I could board the death trap and fly back to Australia.

My Time In The Limestone Forest.

Blog #1

I’m having a great time in Hunan Mountains in China This is in the city of Zhangjiajie a few hours west of Shanghai, This drive took so long and we got lost a couple of times, we had to get directions from a man who didn’t speak enough English to get good directions. The trail was tricky and long, I had to bring lots of water as I got dehydrated quite quickly, but we got to rest a lot along the way to the rock, but once we got there it was worth the dehydration and blisters. The Zhangjiajie stone pillars are a natural wonder, it looks magnificent, even during the horrible monsoon and foggy mornings as the mist rolls through the pillars and the stone heads protrude through the fog, and the valley floor disappears beneath the mist and it just looks amazing as the giant stone pillars stab through the thick fog. As a result of the heavy mist covering the city streets, many tourists found it hard to find the bus or opted to stay inside. This meant there were very few on the mountain today.

The amount of tourists today is not much as most of them stayed inside as the mist covered the city streets making it hard to find your way through the town, and some tourists couldn’t find the bus.

 

Now, about the pillars of rock, these rocks are all natural and look like pins in the Earth as the mist rolls through the valley. It feels so surreal, as nature has carved this over millions of years. When there is fog, it’s almost impossible to see the floor of the valley from up here and the rocks seem to jab into the crust of the Earth for kilometres. This tour didn’t last long but tomorrow I heading into a new city to see another one of nature’s wonderful creations.