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From Hull to Everywhere Else

My trip from Hull heading eastwards. The aim is to reach Turkey overland, then into the 'Stans. Thence to India and further east. . After that who knows? But I'm not overplanning. Just going to see what happens. Leggi altro
  • Siem Reap

    16 feb–2 mar 2025, Cambogia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Crossed the border into Cambodia. Heading for Siem Reap and Ankor Wat, Border crossing was a little bit of a chore because I had been silly enough not to get an evisa in advance and didn't have dollars with me at the border - only pounds. the visa had to be purchased at the border and you had to pay in dollars. So I wasn't sure if I would make it through. I found myself in the same boat as Keelan, an American, who thought that there would be an ATM at the border. There wasn't. So silly me. But eventually one of the officials, changed my money so was able to get through (although the exchange rate I got was not good). I also paid the balance for Keelan who reimursed me at the earliest opportunity. On arrival we were all tuk tucked (for free) to our nearest hotels and hostels. I'm staying at Vplus hotel for 4 nights. This gives me three days to explore Ankor Wat complex.

    After a day's rest I booked a tuk tuk tour of the `ankor Wat complex along with Keenan

    We went to: -
    Angkor wat
    Angkor Thom
    Bayon
    Baphun
    Terrace of elephant
    Taphrom
    Krovan

    Very very not - 35 degrees or so. Started at 8am and finished at about 2.30. Many people go at 4.30 for the sunrise, but I've been travelling long enough now to care more about sleep than sunrises.

    Anyway, I bought a three day ticket for the complex and on the second day hired a bike. Went back to Ankor Wat to get some better photos - I wasn't happy with the ones I got yesterday and a number of the other nearby temples. Long day but enjoyable. Discovered that I'd gradually got further and further away from the hotel, so by the time I decided to return I was about 20km (12 miles) away. Normally on a bike that wouldn't bother me at all but after a full day in the sun at 35 degrees, that ride back was a bit of a chore. Made it to the nearby source cafe where I had a lovely vanilla shake. Great for recovery.

    In the evening of this day (or maybe it was yesterday) I went to restaurant/cafe called Chubby Gonzo's and met with Keelan where they do excellent tacos. Nearby there was a very good gelateria where I had chocolate / lime and mint ice cream. Sooo good.

    The following day was a rest day for me then had the third day in the complex. I rented a scooter so was able to go further afield. Visited the butterfly museum and the land mine museum in addition to a number of of temples:
    Pre Rup
    Eastern Mekong
    Ta Som
    Butterfly centre
    Landmine museum
    Banteay Srei
    Banteay Kdei

    That was enough. Came back. Had to swap hotels for one night as Vplus was booked up and discovered a nice restaurant called Sambos next to my new hotel. Went there two nights in a row. The second night I had Amok Fish which is a Cambodian dish - kind of a fish-mousse soup. Tastes better than it sounds.

    Returned to Vplus where I'm stopping for a week to do a little work.

    = = =

    2 March

    Am now on my last day here. Planning to leave tomorrow for Vietnam. Have managed to get a bit of work done although never as much as one would like. Lovely city Siem Reap although it would be better if it wasn't quite as hot and humid.

    Other than a walking tour yesterday, haven't done an awful lot since Ankor Wat but that is fine. You can't be full on all the time
    Leggi altro

  • Don Det

    13–16 feb 2025, Laos ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    So I spent a couple of days here. Was at Mr Phao's which was a room to myself on stilts with only a fan but no a/c which given how humid it was, was a bit unfortunate. Hired a cycle (for 1 dollar) and cycled around the island. On the second day I had booked onto a kayaking day where myself an and a Dutch girl joined a group of others kayaking round this island and adjacent ones. By the end of the day we were hot and exhausted. Another first for me: we stopped at a waterfall and cannoned through the rocks to a point where we could all jump into the water from the rocks. My first time doing that. Wasn't especially high but fun nonetheless. To be repeated later on in the day when we stopped at a rock formation in the middle of the river which apparently was technically Cambodian territory.Leggi altro

  • Vang Vien

    4 febbraio 2025, Laos ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Hired a motorbike today. Dodgy Chinese thing 150cc. It kinda had some brakes. More or less. Went on a tour round what are called Blue Lagoons, numbered 3,2 and 1. Had a great time. There were caves at the first one I visited (Blue Lagoon 3). There was a cave behind the lagoon which necessitated a fantastic scrambly climb through the jungle. All hands and feet on rocks and vines - checking the vines to make sure they weren't snakes :) Didn't actually find the cave - at least initially. But a brilliant climb right into the depths of the jungle. Went the wrong way. Had to descend and come back the way I came and eventually found it, but the cave was too cavey to do without a proper light - only had my iPhone torch - so had to give it a miss. Was absolutely dripping with sweat by now, as Laos seems to have forgotten it's the middle of winter. Felt like a real Indiana Jones outing (without the Nazis). Went through Lagoon 2 and then on to Lagoon 1 which also had a cave. Here you could rent head torches (although not helmets as far as I could see) and the cave was huge. Apparently it goes on for 4 km. Decided not to explore that far it as I didn't have sufficient food or water (and it was getting on a bit). But I really want to do some bigger caves. Bring on Vietnam!Leggi altro

  • Vang Vien

    1 febbraio 2025, Laos ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Travel from Luang Prabang to Vang Vien. Six hours by taxi but only an hour by train so took the train. Very highly efficient. I suspect Chinese involvement. For some reason the railway station at Laing Prabang was half an hour outside the city. Not that big a city so no idea why. But then I guess Stansted airport isn’t exactly near London 😂Leggi altro

  • Luang Prabang

    25–30 gen 2025, Laos ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    30 Jan

    Still feeling quite rough so decided to stay here to recover. So moved from Tony hostel to Nocknoy hotel for some alone time. It’s taken longer than I had thought but finally feeling preppy recovered now. Fortunate this is a very nice relaxed city. Have yet to explore it but plan to remedy that over today and tomorrow.Leggi altro

  • Chiang Rai

    17–24 gen 2025, Tailandia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Planned to stay for just a day but came down with what turned into quite a bad cold/flu/covid (who knows?) so was forced to stay longer than I had wanted. Met up with Georgia and Eva but didn’t see as much of them as I would have liked due to being ill. Was great to see them though. After they left spent a few more days at the hostel - Grace Hostel - lovely host. Before moving on to LaosLeggi altro