TravelStream™ news feed for member alohatravels on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/alohatravels en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:14:58 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/summer_2005/1149794700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/summer_2005/1149794700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/summer_2005/1149794700/tpod.html Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:14:58 -0500 A slice of Persia found in Canada. A great buzz aquired at Bonnaroo, in Manchester, TN.

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Manchester, Tennessee, United States

bonnaroo 2005MUSIC.FREEDOM...TRUE PURSUITE OF MELODIC HAPPINESS AND MIND ALTERING EXPRESSION.Camping in a bog. fireworks
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208681640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208681640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208681640/tpod.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:58:48 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Darjeeling, India

soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208520900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208520900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1208520900/tpod.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:18:27 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207993080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207993080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207993080/tpod.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:12:57 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Bakkali, India

So, Akash explained to us that this weekend was the Bengali New Years Weekend. Woohoo, we love a celebration! Because of this holiday and because we all got along so well, the three of us decided to go to Bakkali, a beach village 132 km south of Kolkata and on the edge of the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, just bordering Bangledesh. The trip started off with a bang: we were told by the ticket office to get to the tour-bus stand by 6:30am (when it opens) to buy our tickets to get to Bakkali and that there wasnt any advance purchases possible. Well, at 6am, we get there to be told that they are all sold out. WHAT? ok. well, what to do? THE LOCAL BUS!!!! We get a nice hard seat in the very back and are on our way. Two buses and one ferry ride later, we get to Bakkali, concidered to be "Interior India" and where they see Western tourists only once in a blue moon. Seriously, we would never even have known to come to this place if it wasn't for Akash and another CS friend that was vacationing here with his family. Anyways, when we got there, finding a room was very hard for us: no one would rent a room to the three of us- It was illegal in that town for 2 men and 1 woman to be in a room together, even if the couple was married. But we finally were able to find a place that didnt know about any local laws in the village, and that didnt have a problem with Akash sleeping on the floor.  With the room situation settled, we were able to explore Bakkali. Bakkali is part of the world's largest delta and is covered with the world's largest mangrove forest. To get around Bakkali, you sit on the back of a cycle-rickshaw that just has a flat platform in the back as a seat. This is pretty cool, as you can see everything (despite the bumpiness of the ride). Another thing we noticed was that the village was made out of mud/clay. VERY COOL TO SEE! We had elecricity for part of the day (it was a guesthouse) but the homes had only candles. It was so hot during our stay, a mud house seemed VERY appealing and practical. We also noticed that some home owners took more pride in there clay homes than did others (just like everywhere else, I suspect). The village is beautiful and the people are quite nice (and shy). We spent our days playing dominos, exploring the very long beach (as far as you can see on both ends), eating fried trout and local dishes, and visiting another CS friend who was also vacationing here. The beach is vrey special as it is covered in mangrove forests (you see waves crashing into stong-standing trees)! One night, since Akash wanted to learn to spin fire, we decided to put on a show at the beach. It was so much fun, and the locals that were viewing it were having a great time, and were quite impressed with our skills. They had their children come up and talk to us, impressing us with there English and all the little facts they know concerning the USA; and the parents would tell us about Indian stars that have gone to dance in the States. Along with enjoying the beach scene in Bakkali, we also enjoyed the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, which is a World Heritage site and just a 40 min cycle-taxi away. The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve is home to one of the largest tiger populations on the planet. These bengal tigers actually swim through the mangroves of this large delta! Anyways, we got a flat tire on the way there, but got a lot of nice pictures! We didnt see any tigers either, but have great pics of the tree tops of the famous Sunderbans.After this great weekend, on  our way back, we decided to take the local bus to the train station. Here, Akash lost his phone to a deaf person, and finally got it back just in time for us to jump onto the train. The train ride was beautiful and we love it so much! Enjoy our pics of West Bengal!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207814160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207814160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207814160/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:22:25 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Kolkata (Calcutta), India

One night we met a few young Kolkatans, and they wanted to take us out for the day. COOL!So, the next day, they took us to Nicco Park (an amuzement park). Not too many rides, but we werent expecting much! But, hey, we can say we went to an Indian Amuzement Park!Not only did they show us around town, and again proved the greatness of Indian hospitality, but they also opened up our minds to a lot of issues of which we had no idea (for instance, not every likes Ghandi). We were truely ignorant on this matter, but its true: not everyone likes Ghandi. Anyways, I am just throwing that one out there. If you would like to know more about that issue then just ask us, but We need SOME things to tell in person when we get back!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207729140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207729140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207729140/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:15:19 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Kolkata (Calcutta), India

Many days would be spent wandering through the parks of Kolkatta. We took lots of pictures. The Indian Museum was a joke - it looked like it haden't received any funding since the raj left, although its has the prestigious title of being the biggest museum in India! Its falling apart. Oh well.Amyways, enjoy pics of Victoria Park and others....  
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207655460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207655460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207655460/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:10:12 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India

We arrived in Kolkata after a short flight from Bangkok. We shared a cab from the airport with some other travellers heading in the same direction as us: the "traveler's ghetto", Sudder St. Our first glimpse of India from the cab ride was fascinating: everyone drives the same car (white for personal cars and yellow for cabs, but we found this only to be true in Kolkata); cows WERE everywhere, eating the scraps off of garbage in the streets; children were being bathed in the gutters; crows attached themselves to everything, chickens and roosters were chained to bricks, and the ride took FOREVER (about 1 1/2 hours) because of one of MANY strikes that go on all over India at any givien time. Because we were idle for most the ride, many children would stick there hands in the car, asking our names and telling us theirs. Finally, we got to Sudder St. and the road was not a road, but one big construction mess (with men, women, and children digging, making bricks, and scattering it around to form layers of road). Once we got out of the cab to see this mess, and no sooner than we got our bags on, we got run over by 125 sheep. No joke. And we loved it. So, this is India. We found a place off of Sudder St which, although it was no jem, it was WAY better than many of the scuzzy options available in the area. And the area was hard to take at times: people telling us that they have malaria and need help, or that they are living on the streets with there older parents, or that they just got layed off of work because of strikes that go on, well, the list is endless, then you see the children begging for water or people without any limbs (most often from polio). Its heartwrenching. At the same time, just as you see the people begging at the feet, there are just as many well-off Indians as well walking right past with there cell phone in hand and a fat wallet. Its a mix of so much.... Anyways, fortunatly for us we had CouchSurfing and have already been in touch with a fellow couchsurfer and Kolkatan resident, Akash. Akash tipped us on how to get from the airport to Sudder St, where to stay and even suprised us on our first morning by showing up at our hotel and making sure we were setteling into his city just fine. Over the days, we became true friends, with him taking us out almost every night, introducing us to other couchsurfers and walking us around his entire city. He tought us how to use the underground metro (a challenging feat, sharing your space with 14 million other train riders!)- but we mastered it!, he took us to the best of the best chai shops (chai is hindi for tea, and this chai shop seasoned their tea with saffron!), he also took us to the best sweets shop (kolkata is FAMOUS for great sweets!), and he even had us try Ice Pan. We were honored to meet his sister and mother and father and also went to the house of his extended family where we were bestowed gifts and much food. Akash's family is wonderful and they really showed us great Indian hospitality. We went to his father's business (which is in the craziest/busiest part of the city!) and Akash also took us to the Jain temples. His family is Jain and he explained the beliefs of Jains (for one, very strict vegans), and guided us around the beautiful temples - and do I mean beautiful (white marble and jewels)! Besides roaming around Kolkatta with Akash (and we did that a lot), we found ourselves escaping the heat by watching movies at the theatre or running into air conditioned malls. We also met some other locals who took us out to Nicco Park, and we also roamed around many of Kolkatta's parks, temples and museums. Although Kolkatta was INTENSE, we loved it, thanks to Akash of course. He really gave us the "insider's view". We ended up staying in Kolkatta over 2 weeks! Kolkatta will always have a place in our hearts!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207482060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207482060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207482060/tpod.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:54:35 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Bangkok, Thailand

So, if you have been keeping up with this blog, then you know that the roads are in worse shape (non-existent) in most of Cambodia. Well, we have to get from Siem Riep to Bangkok and catch a flight to India on the 8th, and the road from Siem Riep to the border of Thailand is suppossed to be the worst of all! (Rumor has it that the airlines are keeping the road from being impoved). So, not wanting another bad "travel day", we decide to share a taxi to the border with another couple, just a few kip more and 8 HOURS saved. Once we reached the border, the 4 of us ate lunch and was feeling great, so we got another cab to Bangkok! Totally not our style (to go in style), but that cab ride was a lifesaver! Cheap and direct! So, we took a cab from Siem Riep to Bangkok - how "pimp" is that? :D THE GOOD NEWS: made it to Bangkok in half the time expected with 2 nights day to explore the city and give it a second chance.BAD NEWS:  Nilu got really bad food poisening at the border and was vomiting all over the streets of Bangkok till Mathew found her a nice room to sleep it off. bummer. So, we didnt see anything new in Bangkok - but why oh why is Thailands' food so ill making? (at this moment i type, Thailand has been the only place we have gotten REALLY sick.....) oh well, INDIA HERE WE COME!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207308660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207308660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207308660/tpod.html Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:39:33 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia

Because our camera died the first time we vistied Ta Prohm, we went again just for sunset to take some great pics with less people. Going at sunset was AMAZING - we had the entire temple to ourselves besides one other couple in the beginning. The shadows in the temple, the birds chirping in the trees and beauty inspires many adventerous thoughts  - king of like an Indiana Jones flick! TA PROHM constructed mid 12th century is by far Mathew's and my favorite. This temple is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk cotton trees grom from the towers and corridors offeringsome of the best "tree-temple" photo ops at Angkor. It has dark corridors and open plazas. Many of the corridors have strange holes in the walls -  perfect location for booby traps and poisoned darts! We really felt like we were walking through "lost temples" just found by us. It was an amazing experiece!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207132020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207132020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alohatravels/round_the_world/1207132020/tpod.html Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:32:00 -0400 We are realizing our journey: traveling new roads, seeing new sites, and meeting new people...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia

So, today was Nilu's Birthday and it was such a treat to be able to see Angkor Wat!!We woke up bright and early to be at Angkor Wat by sunrise (when the light is beautiful and lesser crowds). We toured on a rickshaw the entire day and took pictures of the temples we saw. At night, we went out for a proper birthday celebration for Nilu. (our first time having a birthday without the friends/family!poop.) Let me tell you a little about the pics you are seeing:  Angkor means Holy or Capital city and refers to the capitol city of the Khmere Empire between 802 and 1432 CE. At its height, the area contained more than 1 million people, Khmere kings constucted vast waterworks and grand temples, and was dominant militarily, economically, and culturally over much area of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Since that time, it was visited by explorers, missionaries and in recent years, tourists. To this day, it is the largest religous temple in the world . ANGKOR WAT, constructed early-Mid 12 century CE is visually architecurally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive 3-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus like towers rising 65 meters from the ground level. This Wat is the centerpiece to any visit to the temples of Angkor. This was to be in the form of a "temple mountain" dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu. It is surrounded by a moatand an exterior of 1300meters X 1500meters. The temple itself is 1 kilometer squared and consists of 3 levels surmounted by a central tower. Nearly 2000 carving depict stories and characters from Hindu mythology and the historical wars of Surayavarman II. The visul impact of this place is amazing. ANGKOR THOM, constructed late 12 century CE, is a 3 km squared walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. There are 5 entrances (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal point, each gate leading to the ROYAL PALACE area. Some of Angkor's greatest temples lay behind these gates, and each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces (which makes it looks like he is always watching you!) PHIMEANAKAS, constructed late 10th century and is an impressive laterite and sandstone pyramid. It is the tallest scalable building in Angkor, providing great views from the top! This place served as the kings temple. Legend has it the the golden tower crowned the temple ans was inhabited by a serpent, which would transform into a woman. THe kings of Angkor were required to sleep with this serpent every night, lest disaster befall him or the kingdom. TA PROHM constructed mid 12th century is by far Mathew's and my favorite. This temple is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth. Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk cotton trees grom from the towers and corridors offeringsome of the best "tree-temple" photo ops at Angkor. It has dark corridors and open plazas. Many of the corridors have strange holes in the walls -  perfect location for booby traps and poisoned darts! We really felt like we were walking through "lost temples" just found by us. It was an amazing experiece!Unfortunatly, that was all our camera battery could take that day so thats is all we saw, but we revisited TA PROHM the next day to take some cool sunset pics in the forest temple.
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