Gavin’s Gone A-wandering

novembre 2022 - febbraio 2023

Escaping winter, visiting a few bucket-list places, catching glimpses of paradise.. Leggi altro

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Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 25 nov 2022, 15:08
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitudine: 13 m
- Kuwait Muḩāfaz̧at Ḩawallī As Sālimīyah Ra’s al Arḑ 29.339565, 48.09287329°20’22” N 48°5’34” E
1
Giorno 8
Last day in Kuwait
25 novembre 2022, Kuwait ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Lazy day before leaving Kuwait. The flight goes via Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu - effectively overnight. I’ll be a tad nackered when I get there, but it’ll be worth it.
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Viaggiatore Have fun Gav
26/11/22Risposta
3 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 26 nov 2022
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitudine: 1.306 m
- Nepal Madhyamanchal Kathmandu District Thamel 27.716696, 85.31236327°43’0” N 85°18’45” E
Giorno 9
Arriving in Kathmandu
26 novembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Pretty spectacular flight into Kathmandu. Got my bags and grabbed a taxi (short bargaining session). Well, two taxis actually. Got dropped off and then got a bit lost, so I had to get a 2nd taxi to get me nearer the place I’m staying for 5 nights. (Ugh! Grotty.)
Kathmandu has made up for my not getting to India this time. It’s just as grimy and chaotic as anywhere further south.
Sadly, the nightclub nearby made sleeping a hard won thing.Leggi altro
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3 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 27 nov 2022, 21:38
- 🌙 12 °C
- Altitudine: 1.304 m
- Nepal Madhyamanchal Kathmandu District Thamel 27.716469, 85.3122127°42’59” N 85°18’44” E
Giorno 10
Lalitpur nr Kathmandu
27 novembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Took a mad risk and got a motorbike taxi to Lalitpur today. The lad was helpful and skilled in avoiding all the other mad so-n-sos on the road. We made it😵
Lalitpur (also known as Manigal) feels part of Kathmandu but is a separate city.
It’s best known for being one of 7 UNESCO Monument Zones on the World Heritage List. The top attraction is Patan Durban Square - so I spent a fair amount of time there, before returning (by a bit more comfy taxi) to Kathmandu.Leggi altro
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6 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 28 nov 2022, 23:19
- 🌙 11 °C
- Altitudine: 1.303 m
- Nepal Madhyamanchal Kathmandu District Thamel 27.7142, 85.314527°42’51” N 85°18’52” E
Giorno 11
Kathmandu, Bagbazar-Baktapur-Nagarkot
28 novembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
After an hour's walking, I found the bus stop to take me on the first part of a two-bus journey from Kathmandu to Nagarkot. My reasoning for making this journey at all was that I'd learnt that Nagarkot is an interesting place in itself and offers a good view of the Himalayas - on a clear day. The classic advice is to stay overnight in Nagarkot and rise early for the expected clear sunrise. My bus arrived there around midday.
I got chatting to a Welsh feller and his Nepali mate, and we stuck together for most of the day. Thankfully, the Nepali lad knew the territory and was a huge help.
Even caught a local wedding procession before jumping on the bus in Baktapur.
The bus rides were hilarious: the traffic was manic in the towns and the road surface was absent in much of the hilly areas. But, we got there.
The worst bit - a hike of 1 1/2 hrs from Nagarkot to the viewing platform at the top of the mountain.
The best bit: even with a misty view, seeing the Himalayas was a bit special.Leggi altro
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4 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 29 nov 2022, 18:40
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitudine: 1.045 m
- Nepal Pashchimanchal Bhanumati Buchakhani 28, 8428°0’0” N 84°0’0” E
Giorno 12
Kathmandu, Around Durbah Square
29 novembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
After a hearty breakfast of 'some kind of spicy soup, a butter roti, and a milky tea/char' it was off on a stroll down to the Durbah Square in the centre of Kathmandu. I'd been warned that there are security officers patrolling the perimeter of the square, requesting an entrance fee of 1000 Nepali Rupees for foreigners wanting to move through the square. The standard response is to explain you're only going around the square - it works. Not sure where the money goes anyway.
It's a fascinating area; bustling with a steady stream of hawkers, carriers. and assorted Nepalis going about whatever it is they do. The sight of Buddhists ringing bells and offering flowers as offerings at a 'stupa' is picturesque. It's intended as 'a representation of generosity and to show the beauty of enlightenment.'Leggi altro
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4 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 30 nov 2022, 16:34
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitudine: 1.303 m
- Nepal Madhyamanchal Kathmandu District Thamel 27.7142, 85.314527°42’51” N 85°18’52” E
Giorno 13
Last Day in Lalitpur
30 novembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I liked it so much, I went back. Lalitpur is smaller than Kathmandu city, but the ancient buildings and people there are still fascinating.
Another reason I wanted to return was to see more of the old area called the Durbah Square. Kathmandu has one, Lalitpur has one, and there's another that I can't bring to mind. Patan is the name for the historic old city in the centre of Lalitpur. I didn't go into the Golden Temple and museum complex again. It was a bit of a let-down actually. Another reason to come back was to find one of the hawkers who I'd nearly bought something from the other day. He was a grand old chap and his photo is attached here beside his shop display. Yep, I bought a couple of things from his shop: one from him in Nepali Rupees and one later in US dollars. The second time a woman (his wife?) had be found to translate. I got a nice prayer wheel (photo incl.) and a paper prayer mantra that the monks use. Should look smashing framed - and it's light to carry.Leggi altro
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Viaggiatore Looking like a local already!
30/11/22Risposta
You can’t fool me it’s 003 1/2 disguised as Virgil off thunderbirds [Stevo]
01/12/22Risposta
6 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 1 dic 2022, 14:55
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitudine: 1.336 m
- Nepal Madhyamanchal KathmanduN.P.Sinamangal Tribhuvan International Airport 27.699896, 85.35664427°41’60” N 85°21’24” E
1
Giorno 14
Travel Day - Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur
1 dicembre 2022, Nepal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Bag’s packed, and we’re off again.
Today’s a travel day, so I dropped the key off at what looks like a bomb zone, but might be reception with the wallpapering nearly finished. What’s not finished is the paving outside: amateur job with dozens of lads apparently employed.
Had breakfast at a cheap place I’ve used before (photo) with chicken chow mien and milky tea (chai).
Taxi to airport - 500 N. Rupees (£3:30). Survived again!
This is a small, shabby but easy to use airport.
As I’ve managed to almost use up my rupees, lunch was a plate of ‘mo mo’ (warm dough parcels filled with chicken?) and milky tea.
Mo mo - 125-130 rupees = 50-60pence.
Milky tea - 25-30 rupees = 22-15pence.
Litre bottle water = 30 rupees.
Daylight robbery. I should feel guilty 😬
* Something I’ve noticed: the non-Nepali backpacking, hiking hippie-types don’t usually acknowledge each other (me). There’s an avoidance of eye contact, no “hellos”. They mustn’t want to spoil the authentic vibe by being reminded they’re just tourists by another name 🙄Leggi altro
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Viaggiatore Great photos Gav. Keep ‘em coming.
01/12/22Risposta
5 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 2 dic 2022, 18:08
- 🌧 26 °C
- Altitudine: 54 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Chinatown Bukit Nanas 3.149829, 101.698963°8’59” N 101°41’56” E
1
Giorno 15
First Day in Kuala Lumpur.
2 dicembre 2022, Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
Bit nackered after not sleeping in the plane overnight. (That plan’s never worked.) And no meal on Batik Airways - budget Malaysian carrier 😏
Well, K.L. Is certainly an impressive city alright. As consistently modern in its architecture as anywhere I can remember. It seems to be a fully formed 21st century metropolis. Where are the old bits?
Lunch (photo - £1:00 ish) and then check in for a one-night stay in Chinatown before travelling north.
It’s a funky little place with an odd, indoor/outdoor swimming pool.
The gentle stroll to The Petronas Towers wasn’t gentle enough - it’s humid & sweaty 😟
The panoramic shot of buildings features the Masjid Jamek Indian Mosque where the river Klang splits into two and they spray yet more moisture into the air, very close to where I'm staying.
More Chinese food for dinner - cheap and delish.Leggi altro
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Viaggiatore Great place Gav. I really enjoyed it.
10/12/22Risposta
Viaggiatore Thanks so much April. Glad you enjoyed it too. It wore me out. Tell Gary there's more beaches to come (he was asking).
10/12/22Risposta
5 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 3 dic 2022, 20:02
- 🌧 25 °C
- Altitudine: 46 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur WP. Kuala Lumpur Salak South New Village Salak Hill 3.077414, 101.7102053°4’39” N 101°42’37” E
Giorno 16
Last few things in the K. L. area
3 dicembre 2022, Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
Today’s been mainly taken up with checking out and a visit to the Batu Caves complex of Hindu temples.
As I reckon the photos show, it’s a pretty impressive collection of gigantic statues, shrines and whatnot - impressive enough without being situated in a group of huge caves.
Then it was back to my flop house in K.L. to collect my (still just as heavy) rucksack.
Off I went again on the K.L. trains system to the main bus terminus, to get my ticket for the long distance bus to Kuala Perlis. It’ll be a luxurious overnight sleeper, I’m sure. As this will take me to the early morning ferry for the island of Langkawi, I’ll pick up this theme tomorrow.Leggi altro
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3 mi piace
Viaggiatore Gavin’s Gone A-wandering
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- 4 dic 2022, 12:05
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitudine: 11 m
- Malaysia Johor Taman Chempaka Puteh Parit Panjang Seberang Panchor 1.8791, 102.99641°52’45” N 102°59’47” E
Giorno 17
Arriving in Langkawi
4 dicembre 2022, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
After the stunning Batu Caves, it was a chilly bus ride from Kuala Lumpur, north to Kuala Perlis. The air-con was blowing out cold air with a vengeance. The drivers (2; one to drive and one to sleep) weren't either able to, or wouldn't, turn it off or down. Oh well, a bad sleep again.
I got chatting to as guy (Amman from Jordan) in the queue for ferry tickets. He's a researcher in sports psychology or health a wellbeing, so we had a good natter and shared the journey.
The ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi Island was at 7am and took 1 1/2 hrs - Nice arrival. Amman and me shared a taxi to the place I'd booked. Unfortunately, they'd had a water leak after the rain, so my room wasn't available. I'll stay here for the first night, then move elsewhere.
Need to explore a but after catching 40 winks.Leggi altro
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3 mi piace