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Round the World
  • Hywel Johns
  • Hywel Johns

Round the World

Un’avventura di 110 giorni di Hywel Leggi altro
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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Gamcheon Cultural Village

    15 giugno 2016, Corea del Sud ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    The main reason I came here is because I read that there was a scavanger hunt. It's basically slums that have been painted by students and art that I don't neccessarily get, put around town. It is nice, but better with a scavenger hunt.

    I met some people who had just finished uni in Middlesbrough and we did the hunt together. It was a good fun way to finish the day.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    2

    Hiking between temples

    18 giugno 2016, Corea del Sud ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Did some hiking today between 2 very important temples to Korea, however, I've just seen so many now...

    The first is one of the 'jewels of Korean Buddhism', and one of the oldest temples. I then followed the convincing sign, luckily it pointed towards the mountain I was after. Then the second was much smaller, but still nice.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Moved to Jeju-do

    19 giugno 2016, Corea del Sud ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Eventually managed to get from Suncheon to Jeju-do. Wasn't as easy as I had hoped, also all flights were booked so I was on stand-by for a while. But I'm here... just as the rain is arriving.

    Did manage to go see a waterfall, not that amazing, but it is the only one in Asia/South East Asia?, that falls directly into the ocean.

    Also saw a relaxed but hungry bunny.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Rain + Scooter = cold and wet Hywel

    20 giugno 2016, Corea del Sud ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Rented a scooter today to visit some of the sites, which seemed like a good idea...

    I did persevere, and visited Seongsan Ilchul-bong, which is a classic tuft volcano, apparently. All I know is that I walked up a hill, not even that high, and I got the classic South Korea view of clouds/mist.

    I continued on for a while, then had to abandon ship and jumped under a bus shelter as the rain was getting a bit heavy.

    I then carried on after it calmed down a bit to some lava tubes. If it wasn't so cold (it didn't help that I was soaked), I would have stayed longer. It was very impressive, much bigger and more dramatic than the one we walked through in Hawaii.

    After that, despite being next to a maze park that I was looking forward to, I gave up and started heading back to the hotel for a hot shower. It was still 2 hours away.

    I love driving scooters, but tiny drops of water smashing into your face all the time kind of hurts. I think it's a sunny day thing. It's a pity, because the island looks really nice. But it's going to rain for a few more days here, and I've got relaxing on my mind.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Wat Pha Kaew & Grand Palace... Thailand

    23 giugno 2016, Tailandia ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    I've moved from rainy South Korea to equally rainy Thailand.

    Visited Bangkok before but didn't really do the sights...

    This time, visited the main temple and palace and it was amazing. Everything was grand and exquisite. Pictures don't do it justice, just surrounded by gold and shiny stones with so much detail.

    Saw the famed Emerald Buddah, no pictures of course. The room it's in, and the pyramid it's placed on were so impressive, but it meant the Buddah itself was so far away and was quite small compared to everything else.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Reclining Buddah, Chicken and more rain

    23 giugno 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After the palace I visited Wat Pho which had a ridiculously sized reclining Buddah and more Buddhist buildings (including a thai massage building).

    Then Wat Arun after a 6p boat trip across the river, although it was being renovated so couldn't climb up it.

    Ate some chicken street food, don't think the umbrella was neccessary.

    Then I got soaked while riding a motorbike again as the rains started.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    2

    Koh Samui

    5 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Because I can, I decided to spend another few days doing nothing but on a different island.

    Equally as relaxing, a bit nicer and a bit more expensive. But it gave me time to read the rest of the Thailand book and now I am ready to travel again and I think I know where I want to go.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Hua Hin, false start

    7 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    So I was going to try and get my sightseeing going again in Hua Hin.

    Unfortunately I got ill, and wasn't able go do anything but lie in bed. Was planning on having a round of golf here, maybe a kitesurfing lesson. Instead I made it to the beach and spent too long watching tiny crabs organise their tiny balls of sand??? and I saw the train station.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Amazing looking cave + temple ruins

    10 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Travelled to a cave just north of town, after running the monkey gauntlet, it was so picturesque.

    It was a cool looking cave, but with the Buddhist statues and the light coming in through a hole in the cave and the smoke from the incense. Made it look amazing.

    Pictures don't really do it justice. Also saw how the locals keep the monkeys off their cars...

    Then visited old ruins of a temple, on the grounds of a working Buddhist temple.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Erawan Falls

    12 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Rented a scooter again today and travelled to Erawan National Park with Floortje who I met yesterday near the bridge.

    There are 7 'levels' to the waterfall and you can swim in each level. It was really pretty there, and the water was really nice and cold after doing the hiking to get to them. We swam in levels 7 and 5 I think. Even got a free foot spa from the fish. Could have happily spent longer but needed to change location today.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Ayutthaya

    13 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The next few days are going to be about visiting old temples from back in Thailand's history. It's interesting seeing the similarities with those we saw in Cambodia a few years ago.

    Managed to get to 3 of them today on my rented bicycle before the rain started.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Lopburi

    15 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Went to see an old palace and another temple, but also the famous monkey temple.

    It's known as a bit of a monkey town with them running all over the place. But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was prepared to defend my backpack, but didn't need to in the end. Sure they were all over the buldings, under cars, and running around and fighting. But it was only in the central area, it was easy enough to get away from them.Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Sukhothai

    17 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Last day of ruined temples in Thailand, and it was a good one. Didn't have much time and the sites are spread out in a few different areas so got another motorbike to help.

    Weather was really good, sunny, and while riding the bike it made a nice breeze.

    Really liked it here could have stayed longer, but the clock is ticking on my Thai visa. Apparently spent too long relaxing.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    2

    Chiang Mai

    18 luglio 2016, Tailandia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Had an interesting trip into Chaing Mai, the bus was running an hour late and I was sat next to an old guy who kept thinking it was his stop and standing up. Then after he finally got to his stop I was sat next to a Thai kid who was learning English as part of his university course. Spent over an hour just having him read to me and helping him with some of the words. It was like having a child. Had to take a picture.

    Walked around Chang Mai the next two days to see all the temples I wanted to see, they have many. Also visited some of the markets, museums, but didn't get the time to do everything I wanted to do outside the city.

    Leaving Thailand and heading to Laos for about a week on the last day of my visa.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Luang Prabang

    21 luglio 2016, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Arrived in Laos, first impressions are that it is quite undeveloped, mostly jungle everywhere. Luang Prabang is how I expect a small Thai town to look, but this is one of the main places in Laos.

    Much like Chiang Mai, there are temples everywhere, apparently they are all needed, and once again I went to see the ones I wanted to see. Including crossing the Mekong on a little boat, it's an impressive river.

    Got a tour of a cave from 3 friendly children too, the cave wasn't impressive, but it was fun. Of course they asked for a tip after it, but I was expecting that. They only wanted 50p each.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Vientiane

    24 luglio 2016, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Travelled to the capital of Laos for a few days before leaving the county. Would like to stay longer, there are other things I want to do in Laos, but I don't have Malaria tablets, and there's an awful lot of mosquitos around, so not going to risk it.

    Went to see some more temples, presidential palace, the Laos arc de triomphe (patuxay), and an interesting museum on Laos history.

    It's mostly recent discoveries because nobody has investigated the ancient sites. It was all good and factual until it got to the US inteference and the rise of Communism in the country. Then it got a little more opinionated rather than giving facts. To be expected I guess. There was a lot of mentions of the Imperialist Americans and their puppets during their Secret War.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore

    Last day in Laos

    25 luglio 2016, Laos ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Didn't have much planned today, except booking flights and hotels for the next part of the holiday.

    Very hot but beautiful day today. Visited a big golden stupa which apparently has a piece of Buddha's breastbone buried underneath. Walked past the Arch again, the not symmetrical fountains were on.

    Then went for a jog along the Mekong while the sun went down. It was very pretty, but still a little hot for running too far. Was good to see everybody out though, just walking, some running, there were also a couple of aerobics classes going on.    Leggi altro

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  • Hywel JohnsRound the WorldViaggiatore
    1

    Kuala Lumpur

    26 luglio 2016, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Visiting Kuala Lumpur for a few days as Laos wasn't exactly a travel hub, so needed to go somewhere before moving on.

    It's hot here too, but I haven't noticed and been cold at times as most things are air conditioned and indoors.

    Got a nice view of the Petronas Towers from my room. Visited a few malls, things are so much easier in the future. Had a TGI's because I could. But different with it being a muslim country, ribs were beef, and no JD sauce!    Leggi altro

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