TravelStream™ news feed for member andyfreshwater on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/andyfreshwater en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:35:52 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1256631814/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1256631814/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1256631814/tpod.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:35:52 -0500 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Just when you thought you'd heard the last from us! We were all set to search for that new job and re-enter the UK labour market when we were requested to travel to Hobart to dog and house sit for our good friends. Well what could we do, they were heading to work in China and needed a trusted source to care for the dear little pooches! Having spent a couple of months in Cyprus with Blackie (A rescue dog from Cairo) and Heizi (A rescue dog from Beijing) we were more than pleased to foster them for a few months, especially as we could escape the cold northern climes. That said I understand they are having an Indian summer just now! Well hopefully we will have one long summer down here too! As the trip was a bit last minute Julie and I had to travel separately. At the end of September, I flew the twenty two hour flight via Bangkok to Sydney where I had eight hours to kill before my final two hour hop across the Tasman Sea to Hobart. Although I had visited Sydney a couple of times before I thought I'd catch the train into the city rather than sit bored in the terminal. I booked my bags onto my final flight and caught the train directly from the terminal. The service is very good, and within 20 minutes I was walking through the botanical gardens watching the sulphur crested cockatoos as they frolicked in the warm spring sunshine. The gardens looked spectacular and were a welcome sight after sitting in a seat on the aircraft for all those hours. I headed down hill and could see the blue waters of the harbour sparkling in front of me. On turning the corner I was welcomed by what must be one of the world’s most iconic sights. The Sydney Opera House with the mighty arch of the Harbour Bridge looming behind. I would have joined the bridge climb, but ahh I just didn’t have the time today, one day! There was a really eerie feeling about Sydney today, although a week day it seemed very quite. Then I guess the last time I sat in this very spot on the green lawn above the Opera House, it was New Year Eve 2005 and there must have been a million people vying for that special spot from which to view the amazing fireworks. I spent a few hours taking in the sights before heading back to the airport. On arrival at Hobart, all felt quite familiar. We had visited Tasmania three years ago and really enjoyed our trip. Apart from taking the wrong road on exiting the Hobart Bridge, and looping the botanical gardens a couple of times! the thirty minute journey went smoothly. The countryside around Hobart is quite hilly and still very green from the record breaking winter rains. The city is framed on one side by the wide expanse of the Derwent estuary and is backed on the other by the majestic Mount Wellington, which was still dusted in snow. Julie followed on a couple of weeks later, I’d already been on a couple of airport runs so had no problem finding my way out to pick her up. On meeting Julie in the arrivals lounge she looked remarkably alert given her journey, with layovers in Singapore and Melbourne, had taken her the best part of 40 hours. We made our way back and after a couple of reviving cups of good old PG tips and a large slab of home made lemon drizzle cake (Made from fresh lemons scrumped from the neighbours tree!)  she was raring to go! We enjoyed a walk down to the local beach with the dogs and wheezed our way back up the steep hill to the house. We have been fortunate to make many new friends over the past weeks and have enjoyed entertaining them and also enjoying their kind hospitality too. The house where we are staying has the most amazing views across the blue waters of Storm Bay. It has floor to ceiling windows which feels like you are living outdoors. Our time as been pretty productive, we have been busy building and planting a raised veggie garden, and after just a few weeks are already enjoying salad leaved straight from the earth. On a Saturday they hold a large craft and local produce market in the centre of Hobart, at Salamanca. We have really enjoyed our trips here, buying organic fruit and veg and lots of plants for the garden. The locally crafted gifts are very tempting but we must abstain! We have various family members coming over in January, we are sure they will love the experience. We have enjoyed a few trips out, mostly around the coast line and to the many mountain side parks. The scenery is beautiful and of course the obligatory visit to a local winery just adds to the local experience! On our walks with the dogs we have enjoyed many sighting of the local parrots, which come in all shapes and sizes. It’s wonderful to see them flying around rather than being cooped up in small cages. More tales from the travelling nomads in due course! All the best for now, do keep in touch. Andy & Julie x
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1242173640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1242173640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1242173640/tpod.html Wed, 13 May 2009 11:25:15 -0400 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Cyprus&nbsp;We made a very brief stopover in the UK, and gee that was a culture shock in more ways than one, especially after the tropical delights of Bali! &nbsp;Still, we mustn't grumble as the weather was very good for March! &nbsp;After a whistle stop tour of the family and a few friends we headed once again for warmer climes. &nbsp;We boarded one of the first flights on EasyJet's new route from Gatwick to Larnaca in Cyprus. &nbsp;All went well and on schedule, and just over four hours later we emerged into the manic crowds lining the Larnaca Airport arrivals hall. &nbsp;There, amid the throng of bodies was our good friend Mary. &nbsp;After we managed to beat our way through the crowds we scuttled off to the car. &nbsp;On our way back Mary announced Hugh is in hospital. &nbsp;We thought it was strange that he didn't come to greet us, most unlike him. &nbsp;It turned out Hugh had decided, in his infinite wisdom, to borrow a mate's angle grinder and have a go at cutting a chunk out of the patio, in which he was going to plant a shrub. &nbsp;Well, needless to say, he hadn't quite joined the ends when the power tool blatantly attacked him! &nbsp;The saw took a big chunk out of his arm; luckily a kind neighbour whisked him off to the local hospital where they managed to sew him up.&nbsp; Mary was with a friend at the time visiting Northern Cyprus so was not around to assist. &nbsp;She had only had time to drop off her shopping, make a quick visit to the hospital to check Hugh was OK and then had to come straight to the Airport to pick us up, so there was no time to clean up the mess. &nbsp;When we entered the house it looked like something out of the chain saw massacre! &nbsp;There was blood everywhere! &nbsp;The trail led up the path to the door, right through the house, splashing up a few cupboards along the way! &nbsp;And then led out into the back garden to the scene of the crime! &nbsp;It took us three days to clean up.&nbsp; Every time we thought we'd cleaned it all, we'd spot another drop! &nbsp;Anyway, not to worry, Hugh came out of hospital the next day and has since made a full recovery, with just a splint on his arm to get a tiny bit of sympathy from passers by!&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;A little inforamtion about Cyprus, then! &nbsp;Known as the island of Aphrodite, Cyprus lies at the crossroads of three continents, where east meets west. &nbsp;You will find it floating on the waters of the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, pointing longingly towards the shores of Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. &nbsp;Whilst parts of Cyprus have been overrun by keen developers if curiosity draws you out of the resorts, you'll discover small country villages and some lovely near deserted beaches. &nbsp;Walking in the gorgeous Troödos mountains you can inhale the scent of the citrus groves or climb to the medieval castles with their shimmering island views. &nbsp;Having visited Cyprus several times before, we spent much of our time in the Famagusta area in the east of the island. &nbsp;When we arrived in early April the countryside was awash in a sea of wildflowers, a kaleidoscope of colours covered the island, it was a real sight to behold. &nbsp;Our base was in the village of Ayia Thekla, situated on the coast, and we have the luxury of being able to open the garden gate and dip our toes in the blue Mediterranean. &nbsp;A track runs for miles in each direction and makes for a pleasant stroll along the seashore. &nbsp;I prefer to cycle most days, and have enjoyed the 28k round trip to Cape Greko, which marks the eastern most corner of Europe. &nbsp;The views from the top of the cape are stunning.&nbsp; Looking back along the rocky coast the sea shimmers under the warm sun, glowing in hues of blue and green. Along the coast are the large hotels of the tourist resort of Ayia Napa. &nbsp;It's quiet now, but I understand in high season the place becomes Europe's clubbing capital. Inland villages provide most of the necessities required by the large expat community who reside here favouring the pleasant year round climate. &nbsp;&nbsp;During our visit the farmers were harvesting the potatoes; &nbsp;I have to say the Cypriot new potatoes are probably the best potatoes in the world. &nbsp;It must be the rich, red soil around these parts.&nbsp; &nbsp;We visited Nicosia, just over an hour away from Ayia Thekla on the very well-maintained dual carriageway. &nbsp;Nicosia is known locally as Lefkosia and is the world's last divided capital. &nbsp;The barbed wire and guard towers of the Green Line cut the town in two, with the northern side being the capital of the self-proclaimed Northern Cyprus and the southern half being the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. &nbsp;The division occurred following an attempted coup to unite the island with Greece in 1974 which led to a Turkish invasion. &nbsp;On 3rd April 2008, as part of efforts to reunify the island, a symbolic wall dividing the two communities at Ledra Street was opened. &nbsp;We took the opportunity to cross the border here. &nbsp;The crossing is very simple if you are a EU citizen.&nbsp; You just have to have your passport on you, complete a simple form at the security counter and off you go. &nbsp;Over the border you will find a selection of eateries, markets, shops and some historic architecture. &nbsp;The minarets climbing into the blue sky will let you know you have arrived in Turkish Cyprus. &nbsp;The local currency is the Turkish Lira but don't panic as Euros are widley accepted too. &nbsp;Our visit made for an intresting few hours exploring the labyrinth of small lanes and alleys but just make sure you know how to get back to the border crossing! Whilst Cyprus is an island much celebrated by tourists, who return time after time, there is a dark side of the island tourists are rarely aware off. This is the plight of the island's dog population.&nbsp; It is horrific.&nbsp; Most Cypriots are not kind to their dogs. Many hunting dogs are released to fend for themseleves at the end of the hunting season once they have served their purpose.&nbsp; Other dogs are dumped as a matter of course once their owners become bored with them. The result is dogs are either killed on the roads or end up starving to death or dying from thirst. &nbsp;There are few dog shelters on the island but they just don't have the capacity or funds to cope with the number of dogs being brought in or picked up. The Sotira Dog Shelter near Ayia Thekla is run by a Cypriot lady called Eleni. &nbsp;A London-trained opera singer, she has devoted her life to helping these animals. Unfortunately for many of the dogs their lives are only extended for a couple of weeks after arriving at the shelter.&nbsp; If they are not rehomed fairly quickly, as is often the case, they are put down because the space is needed for the constant flow of new arrivals. There is no public funding for the shelter and Eleni relies on the odd donation, plus her pension cheque to keep the shelter going. There are a few wonderful volunteers who support Eleni in keeping the kennels clean, one of whom is my good friend Mary. &nbsp;I have visited the kennels a few times on my visit to help out with chores and general maintenance but is not for the faint-hearted. &nbsp;These dogs are so lovely, giving you unconditional love even when they are in poor health. &nbsp;On one visit I witnessed the selection and loading of eight dogs who were being taken to the vet to be put to sleep. It is a really heart-breaking experience. To find out more about the dog shelter, or if you can spare a few pounds to help these beautiful dogs please visit, <i>http://www.eleniscyprusdogs.com&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1238240640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1238240640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1238240640/tpod.html Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:01:28 -0400 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Tuban, Bali, Indonesia

Bali&nbsp;We flew down to Bali from Borneo, via Singapore. The flights were fine but the connection was a bit of a pain. Flying with Malaysian Airlines to Singapore and then Singapore Airlines down to Bali meant we were unable to book our baggage all the way through. This resulted in us having to queue up for 30 minutes to clear passport control in Singapore and then collect our baggage. Next we came out of arrivals and back into departures on another floor, as if we had just started our journey! We did get a bit of a funny look when we went back through passport control as we had only stayed in Singapore for 15 minutes! &nbsp;&nbsp;We landed in Bali about 7.30pm.&nbsp; It was dark, very hot and humid. We queued to pay for our visa on arrival. The cost of this is now $25 per person and the process was extremely efficient, no form filling other than the landing card you complete on the plane, which is standard. As we came out of the airport there were heaps of hotel representatives holding up names on boards. We had arranged a transfer with our hotel but could we spot a board with our name on? No! We were accosted by several taxi drivers but managed to fend them off! Luckily after walking the gauntlet several times and after about 10 minutes we spotted our driver, phew! We arrived at the hotel 5 minutes later! So a very convenient spot! The runway at Bali Airport is built on a strip of land which is expanded into the sea, this&nbsp; is due to the peninsular being very thin at this point. The advantage is planes come in and take off over the sea so there is no aircraft noise experienced in the immediate neighbourhoods.&nbsp;Bali is located within a string of volcanic islands which flow eastwards from the main Indonesian island of Java, and sits just north of Australia. Being just 8 deg' south of the equator Bali has a year round tropical climate. There are just two seasons, wet, which runs from October to March, and dry, which runs from April to September. Most of the tourist resorts are located along with the airport in the gently sloping south of the island. The majority of Bali's three million people live mostly in tight village communities with large extended families. With the majority of Indonesia's population being Muslims, Bali is unusual in that 90% of its population are Hindu, however this is very different from the Indian variety. The Balinese are very religious and pray on average three times a day, offerings to the gods is a way of life. Our visit in March was a great time to visit if you want to witness a few festivals. Just keep in mind that one of the ceremonial days is Nyepi (day of silence), when the Hindu's have to stay at home. There is no trading or transportation. No electricity or fires and no entertainment of any kind. Tourists have to stay in their hotels, windows are blacked out with paper and silence is requested. Julie was very good she didn't say a word for the whole day.......................no of course I couldn't keep quite! &nbsp;Our home for a couple of weeks was in the resort of Tuban, just on the edge of the main resort of Kuta which was the first resort set up in the 70's. The beach here runs around Kuta bay and extends for miles. Surprisingly Bali doesn't have the best beaches in the world, but they are nice to walk along and at least there is a nice breeze when you're near the waters edge. The sea is bath warm however the waves are so strong you have to be very careful of the current when swimming. These huge waves are the very reason the Aussie surfers come to these parts. I guess the rest of Australia comes here due to its close proximity being just a few hours flight and the fact that the cost of living means your holiday money goes a lot further than in western countries. Of special mention is the bakery, Bread Talk. This is located in the Discovery shopping mall, they make delicious bread and cakes, Julie can speak from experience! And says the bread and butter pudding is the best she has ever eaten. Our hotel the Green Garden was exceptionally good value, just £18 a night. The hotel rooms were spotless, with air conditioning and flat screen TV's as standard, and the price even included breakfast! There was a lovely pool surrounded by exotic foliage, airport transfers were free, plus 2 hours per person complimentary massage at their near by spa resort, beat that! &nbsp;There are various ways to discover Bali but the best way by far is hire a car and driver, at just £21 (350,000 rupees) a day it's excellent value. Our driver, Made (pronounced maa - dee) was recommended to us by a fellow traveller. He was not only a great guy but was a good guide too. If you are planning a trip to Bali keep Made's details safe, madesukarma@yahoo.com or 081 835 4088.&nbsp;Away from the beach resorts Bali takes on a very tropical air, there are no main roads just small lanes criss-cross the island. The good news for Brits and Aussie's is that they drive on the left! Not that I would recommend you drive yourself, apparently the traffic police stop westerners and impose on the spot fines at regular intervals. Vibrant green rice paddies spread as far as the eye can see, often planted on steep terraces, all with a network of water canals flowing in all directions. Tall palm trees laden with coconuts dominate the landscape. Every so often we would drive through villages, where nearly all homes have their own family temple, these are decorated in colourful offerings to the gods, and statues are cloaked in checked black and white cloths, which represent good (white) and bad (black). &nbsp;We travelled to the northeast of the island, to the active volcano, Mt Batur. Often shrouded in cloud, it is advisable to visit in the morning. We were lucky enough to visit on a clear day and the view stunning, with Lake Batur a shimmering crater lake at the volcano's base. Although still active, there have been no eruptions since the 90's. For the more active! I'm told the 3 hour hike to the top of the volcano to witness sunrise makes for an amazing experience, be ready to leave your hotel at 2am though! For the less active a downhill bike ride makes for a thrilling experience too. Near by you can find the Agri-tourism centre, here they have examples of Bali's coffee and cocoa plants as well as vanilla and other spices. The speciality is Luwak coffee; this little cat/mongoose like creature is fed just coffee beans. Its digestive system processes just the outer coating of the bean. The rest is passed out and the bean poo is then ground down and made into very expensive coffee, we understand it's very tasty, well I'm not much of a coffee drinker myself!&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ubud, in the centre of the island was once a small village. Located in the hilly region of Gianyar, these days it has grown into a very large village and is marketed as Bali's artistic and cultural centre. There are hundreds of craft shops selling local and imported handicrafts as well as some nice restaurants too. The market is excellent and is worthy of an hour or so, if you're into shopping! It is here in Ubud that the once powerful Balinese Royal Family reside. You are able to take a tour around the palace, with the exception of the royal families private quarters. Ubud has an interesting Monkey forest but we were a bit monkey-ed out! So we gave that a miss. There are many spa hotels in and around Ubud and it certainly worth spending a couple of days away from the beach to enjoy this tropical hillside retreat.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;There are literally thousands of temples around Bali; some bigger than others, the one with probably the best setting is the temple at Tanahlot. Sitting on a rocky outcrop just off the west coast, this makes the perfect setting for watching the famous Balinese sunset. With waves crashing in on the rock below, plus a rock bridge just along the coast it is a photographers dream. Not such a dream is the multitude of market stalls which have sprung up along the route from the parking lot to the temple, unless of course you are into shopping, and as you know by now I am not!&nbsp;In all we had a great stay and Bali makes for a great stopover if visiting Asia or if on route to Australia. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236996660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236996660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236996660/tpod.html Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:37:56 -0400 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah - Borneo&nbsp;Known as "The Land Below the Wind" due to it being geographically below the typhoon belt. Sabah has a population of 2.5 million that consist of 32 ethnic communities; it is the second largest state in Malaysia. The City of Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah. Sitting on the west coast of Sabah it faces the South China Sea. &nbsp;Sabahans are very friendly and if you need help getting around, you can just stop and ask someone and you will be greeted with a big smile. The locals are always interested to know where you are from and what you think of their country. In my opinion it is a well ordered state with very little crime, where the people are really courteous and well behaved, there is no graffiti and teenagers treat elders with much respect.&nbsp;For part of our visit we stayed on the beach east along the coast from KK, at the Shangri La Rasa Ria. This is a wonderfully managed resort set on a white sandy beach, and serves delicious food. This of course is not our main reason for visiting! It was to have access to their special Orangutan sanctuary. Here they take in very young orphans aged below five years old. This is their first stage of rehabilitation; their second stage will be spent at the world famous Sepilok sanctuary situated about 250km away before they are finally released back into the jungle.&nbsp; We were lucky enough to make three visits to watch these fascinating creatures, the experience is just amazing. One of the orangutans was particularly friendly and spent much of his time clinging to the warden's leg, we were told he stills sleeps in the nursery so is still attached to his keepers, his name was Gembira which means happy in Malay, he was such a show off, showing us his climbing and swinging skills.&nbsp; &nbsp;We spent some great days walking along the beach and watching the stunning sunsets in the evenings, they really were quite amazing here, I guess it's due to the tropical clouds which float in the sky and reflect the colours as the sun goes down. The tale of the missing Flip Flops! This will make you laugh, on one of our walks along the 3km beach, we took our flip flops with us because it burns your feet when you cross the sand to get to the waters edge. I put my flip flops on the back of my back pack. We walk 3km down the beach and 3 km back! I went to put my flip flops on when we got back only to find they had fallen off my back pack. Oh damn I said to Julie, I'll have to walk back along the beach and try and find them. So off I walked, all 3km back along the beach, asking people on the way have you seem a pair of flip flops, no they all said. I walked 3km back, no sign of the flip flops, then I had a thought, when we went to leave the beach we were just short of where we had entered, I walked about 10m further along the beach and there sits my Flip flops. Bugger, I had walked 6km to look for them, if only I had gone a little further along I'd have saved myself the walk! Still the exercise was good for me, but I was absolutely dripping after walking 12km in the 34C humid heat! We enjoyed a great trip up to the UNESCO world heritage Kinabalu Park. The park is well-known worldwide for its tremendous botanical biodiversity, with high levels of species which are found only within Kinabalu Park and no where else in the world. It has one of the world's richest orchid populations with over 800 species, and over 600 species of ferns (more than in the whole of Africa). The park is also the richest place in the world for pitcher plants, five of the thirteen are again found nowhere else on earth and reach spectacular proportions. Kinabalu Park stands in the shadow of&nbsp; the mighty Mount Kinabalu. Standing at 4,095.2m (13,435ft) tall, it is one of southeast asia's highest peaks. Visitors are able to participate in the 2 day hike to the summit, on this occasion we gave that a miss! Poring Hot Springs are located just a short distance from the Kinabalu Park. Here you are able to soak in the hot sulphuric mineral springs, there are also the not so hot, in fact freezing cold pools too. These are actually quite refreshing, if a little shocking to the system! after wallowing in the hot pools. Above the pools, and not for the faint hearted are the jungle canopy walkways. After a steep climb up the cliff we were able to walk along suspended rope bridges which are over 150m long and hang 40m (approxinmatley 100ft) above the ground. It is an experience swinging this high up as you walk through the canopy of Menggaris trees (Kings off the jungle).On one of our trips into the Borneo jungle we were lucky enough to come across the rare Rafflesia. This is a genus of the parasitic flowering plants. It was first discovered in the Indonesian rain forest by an Indonesian guide in 1818, and was named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition. The plant has no stems, leaves or true roots. The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower. In some species, the flower may be over 100&nbsp;centimetres (39&nbsp;in) in diameter, and weigh up to 10&nbsp;kilograms (22&nbsp;lb). The flowers look and smell like rotting flesh, hence its local names which translate to "corpse flower" or "meat flower". The vile smell that the flower gives off attracts insects such as carrion flies, which transport pollen from male to female flowers. The flower can take up to 12 months to grow and then only lasts for 5 days. Another one of our adventures took us to the Kilas River wetlands south of KK, here we took a small motorboat along the maze of waterways, as they cut through the mangroves and palms. Tall trees spring up on islands and it is here we caught our first climps of the Proboscis monkeys. These are adorable creatures that look just like little old men with their big noses and flat ears. We were not guarenteed a sighting as after all these are wild jungles, but were over the moon at the number we were able to spot, at least twenty. Luckily we were able to hire some really good binoculas which made it feel as if we were within inches of the wildlife. In addition to the Proboscis, we saw two other types of monkey too, the rare Silver Leaf monkey which have stickying up hair which we belive David Beckham copied! And the michievous macques monkey which dangle their tails into the river and catch crabs! After a beautiful sunset over the jungle and river, we were mesmerised by the flickering lights of the fireflies, they looked like chrstmas lights flickering against the night sky. &nbsp;We have had a great time in Borneo and would recommend it to anyone who likes to combine a well earned rest with the luxury of having unique wildlife on your door step, you'll never want to return to mundaine holidays again! &nbsp;Budget wise prices at the deluxe resorts will be similar to those in the UK, outside the resorts it is extreamly reasonable about one third of UK prices. We went to the cinema to see "Race to Witch Mountain" and it cost us the grand price of £3.64 for the two of us! Oh and the bucket of popcorn was 70p!&nbsp; &nbsp;Travellers Tip: Save money by staying at the 1Borneo centre for a few nights, this is located just outside KK and has four hotels, hundreds of shops, restaurants and a multi screen cinema. We stayed at the 4* Novotel for an amazing £30 a night, the furutistic rooms have LCD TV, DVD, free internet and a fridge. It has a nice outdoor pool on the 7th floor too. The centre provides a free shuttle bus if you want to go into KK city, plus a free shuttle to and from the four hotels and the airport.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236085920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236085920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1236085920/tpod.html Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:54:51 -0500 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

We flew to Sarawak from Thailand via Singapore, there is one consolation when you don't get a direct flight if you're on a budget, you get two meals! Silk Air was excellent and the food was delicious too. Our flight over from Singapore was virtually empty, we were wondering if Borneo had closed down and no one had told us!? Still our bags came straight of the plane, we cleared customs, jumped a cab and were at our lodgings in no time at all, the whole journey went really smoothly.A bit of background on Sarawak for you, now pay attention! The state of Sarawak is located in the northern strip of the Island of Borneo. It is the largest state in Malaysia and houses one of the world's richest and most diverse ecosystems. Despite its growth and development, the state of Sarawak still maintains its reputation as the most exotic state in Malaysia and Asia 's best kept secret. Rainforests of Sarawak are among the oldest in the world, boasting the Rafflesia - a plant the size of a coffee table, snakes that fly and bearded pigs and of course one of the main reasons for our visit is because it's home to the orangutan.Kuching - Cat City of the World. Our base for the three days we are here is Kuching, in the national language this means cat. This is highlighted by dozens of cat statuettes around the city, we only spotted two real ones and one of them was missing a tail! This capital city of Sarawak was famed in the early days as a river port ruled by legendary White Rajahs. As the largest city in the state, Kuching is now a rapidly developing city, boasting a population of almost half a million. In the city itself, one can find bustling shopping hubs and buildings that consist of a mix of modern and post-colonial architecture. We stayed at the Singgahsana Lodge. This is a great place to stay, set up by two passionate travellers, who's dream it was to own a little sanctuary which reflected Sarawak culture, where they could host fellow travellers and share travel tales with them, 'Singgahsana' is the fulfilment of their dream. Strategically located along Temple Street the lodge is in the heart of Kuching City, in a great location only 20 steps from the famed Kuching Waterfront and 15 steps diagonally across from the oldest Chinese Tua Pek Kong Temple, all very nice unless you happen to be here on a Sunday evening when they are singing over the microphone, eek it sounds like a cats being strangled! Being straddled between the old and new quarters of the city, we spent many hours just walking along quaint narrow alleyways in old Kuching where tinsmiths noisily go about their work and spice and textile traders sell their merchandise. This is in sharp contrast to the other side of town where we would wander around modern air conditioned shopping malls, overlooked by luxury hotels and western chain eateries like, McDonalds and KFC. We enjoyed some great food in Kuching, Laksa is world famous from these parts, it is a bowl of noodles and seafood or meat, seeped in a rich curry soup made with spices and coconut milk, and can be purchased from most cafes for around 80p a bowl! Another great if unusual place to eat is the Top Spot Seafood Court, this is a collection of eateries situated, wait for it........ on the top of a multi-storey car park! It was so strange to see coaches arriving with customers dressed to the nines only to watch them disappear into the car park! The seafood is excellent, all caught fresh from the South China Sea. You basically pick the fish raw, they weigh it and then cook it however you want it, expensive by local standards but we can't complain. We had an enormous King prawn which was the size of a lobster! And half a sea bass barbecued and served with sautéed vegetables and rice plus Tiger beer all for the bargain price of £10 for the two us!Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary. The highlight of our trip was to visit this amazing place. Set deep in the jungle the orangutans live here wild, however twice a day for an hour food is placed on a feeding platform and the orangutans sometimes make their way there to pick up some additional fruit. The sighting of the orangutans is not guaranteed even during the feeding times but we were really lucky and were joined by six of them during our visit. Two were just babies, one only two weeks old, aaah it was so cute. We were also very privileged to get a visit from Richie the largest orangutan in the area, boy he was big and weighed an estimated 20 stone, that's more than I weigh! (No comments, thank you!). This was an amazing experience, one we will treasure in our memories for years to come, that said we plan a visit to another sanctuary when we get to Sabah at the other end of the island, fingers crossed!&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1235552040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1235552040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1235552040/tpod.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:53:27 -0500 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Krabi, Thailand

After our final overnight train ride, (this one didn't even have air con!) from Bangkok we jumped on the back of a pick up truck and made our way toward the beautiful Raja Phraba Lake. We arrived at the jetty and waited in the heat of the day for what seemed like an age, we then boarded a longtail boat and headed an hour and a half over the lake, cutting through amazing limestone karsts to our floating raft houses where we would spend the next two nights. The setting was just beautiful, so peaceful and unspoilt. Our bamboo raft houses were very simple with just a thin mattress and a holey mosquito net, but the setting made up for the lack of amenities. The lake was as warm as a bath and lovely for swimming and washing in!&nbsp; On our first afternoon we explored caves, not by walking but by swimming into them with just one flash light to light the way, it was often pitch dark and made for a really scary experience along narrow passage ways. On our second day we trekked to the top of a very steep hill, the last bit was a scramble over very sharp rocks, but the view from the top was well worth the climb. Coming down was pretty airy though! Julie didn't join me on this sweaty experience as she had managed to damage her foot by treading on a nail. Instead she decided to take herself off on one of the canoes. When I arrived back from the trek a couple of the group who didn't do the trek said Julie was missing, she'd left on a yellow canoe 2 hours ago with no sun screen or water and hadn't arrived back. Amy our tour leader asked one of the local lads to take the boat around our small island and see if he could find her. He arrived back about 10 minutes later and hadn't spotted Julie. Amy said we'd join him and go further a field, they were just serving lunch and I was having to miss it to go and find her, this was getting serious! We took off again, you have to keep in mind that this is a big lake with many island and water arms going of in all directions and it's 95F. After about 15 minutes we spotted a BLUE! Canoe in the distance and as we got nearer we could make out the mad English woman paddling like the clappers, luckily in the direction of our island. When we approached her she was smiling and saying I only meant to paddle around our island but after a couple hours realised it was awfully big! It should have only taken 20 minutes to go around the island! Never mind we got her on board and apart from a patchwork tan, she was safe and in one piece. I tell you I can't leave her alone for an hour before she's getting into mischief! And yes they did cook us some lunch when we got back! Gee that's was close, I nearly missed a meal!!Khao Sok National Park. This area of Thailand comprises some of the most dramatic scenery we have encountered. Regimented rows of rubber trees and mangosteen orchards are set against the wildness of vegetation growing from the sheer cliff faces of the limestone karsts. It is a region of waterfalls, wildlife, temple caves, tree houses and thick jungle. The park is an area dominated by spectacular forest-covered limestone crags rising as high as 1,000 metres. Here we explore virgin rainforest and learnt about the wonderful wildlife from our local guide. Apparently where the forest is most dense a few tigers still roam and the park is also home to leopard, golden cat and clouded leopard, but they kept well hidden on our trip. Elephant, Malay sun-bear, tapir and wild pig roam the forest floor while gibbon, langur, macaque and over 180 species of bird live in the canopy above. Khao Sok is also the place to find the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia. We spent the night on the edge of the National Park in fantastic jungle houses. In the afternoon we enjoyed floating along the local river in inflatable canoes, rowed by local men. All we had to do was lie back and enjoy the scenery and wildlife, it was absolute bliss. Although this was interrupted occasionally by the guides floating us under the branches of trees to admire the cobras resting on the branches above our heads, I really don't want to think what would have happened had one lost it grip and landed in the canoe! The next day we transferred to Ao Nang near Krabi. Surrounded by more limestone outcrops and mangrove shorelines Ao Nang serves an important role as the embarkation point for some of Thailand's most well known islands with their &nbsp;beautiful white sand beaches, emerald sea, lagoons, kayaking, snorkelling and stunning views. We enjoyed a few days here visiting some of the islands by longtail boat, these are very easy to charter for the day, I joined a few of our group for the day, it was very relaxing and the snorkelling was excellent.Soon it was time to bid our fellow travellers a fond farewell, after 37 days together, for some of us, it was sad to say goodbye but we have been incredibly lucky to have shared the company of some wonderful people. Our final destination in Thailand is Phuket. We took the ferry from Krabi which took about 2 hours. As we have come to expect that nothing quite goes to plan in Thailand. We arrived at the jetty and the boat wasn't there. We waited a few minutes and were told the ferry wouldn't be coming to the jetty as the tide was out! We were then told to carry our cases across the beach where we would board longtail boats. We were then taken a mile out to sea where we waited for the ferry to arrive. The next procedure was to climb up the side of the Ferry onto the deck. Now can you imagine doing that on the Dover to Calais ferry!!? Oh we just take it all in our stride now! The crossing was smooth and the cabin air conditioned so it all turned out well in the end. Our hotel is set up in the hills, I purposely booked it that way as this is where the Tsunami hit four years ago, I know there is little chance of it happening again but you can't be too careful! We are only 500 yards from the beach so it's no hardship, and we could do with the exercise! Phuket is 95% covered in rain forest with a mountainous interior, but they have spoilt some of the coastline by building bustling resorts, you will find all western creature comforts such as Starbucks, McDonalds and Burger King but we stick to the good old Thai staples of Green Curry and Pad Thai! Although prices by international standards are low, they are much more expensive than the other parts of Thailand we have visited. There are lovely white sand beaches and the sea is like a bath, so you can see why the tourists pack the place out, it just seems a little strange to us after not seeing western faces on mass for such a long time.&nbsp;&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1233992220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1233992220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/andyfreshwater/1/1233992220/tpod.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:45:27 -0500 The Freshwater's Global Explorer

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Siem Reap, Cambodia

CambodiaWe travelled by bus from Saigon to Phnom Penh. An early start, 4.30am we arrived at lunch time. Crossing the border the journey was quite a contrast from Vietnam, here the houses are mostly built on stilts and the temples are much more like Thailand, the countryside is much drier too with cows grazing and not so many paddy fields. Cows and water buffalo seem to wander across the road as they please causing the bus driver to swerve sharply from time to time!Phnom Penh is a city full of character and contrasts. It's a wonderful place to explore from the back of a tuk-tuk, enjoying the city's old world charm. Tuk-tuk's only cost a couple of dollars and will hold 4 people, although the locals can get 8 on them! It's amazing these little motor bikes have the power to pull the trailers around! We took time to explore the Phsar Thmei, central market which you can't miss as it's a huge bright yellow custard pie looking building! They sell everything from fresh food to jewels, watches and clothes. The odour is pretty bad when you get near the meat an fish stalls!Legend has it that Cambodia's capital was founded when an old lady named Penh stumbled across four Buddha images on the banks of the Mekong. She placed them on top of a nearby hill and the town that emerged became known as Phnom Penh - 'Hill of Penh'. Phnom Penh is now more famously known for its turbulent 20th century history. After Cambodia became embroiled in the Vietnam conflict, the city's population swelled from 500,000 to more than 2 million, most of whom were refugees. The Khmer Rouge took the city on April 17 1975 and immediately forced the entire population into the countryside, instituting its shocking Year Zero social policy. Many of Cambodia's intellectual and political community did not survive, and nearly a quarter of the population was wiped out in the resulting genocide. The Vietnamese intervention in 1979 forced the Khmer Rouge to flee to the west and Cambodia began its long struggle to return to the international community. We visited Tuol Sleng and The Killing of Fields of Choeung Ek. This is a hard place to visit, but an important one if you are to understand the total madness that enveloped Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. At the Killing Fields a huge tower of human skulls have been sensitively displayed on various levels inside a temple, these have been excavated from the many mass graves in the immediate area. Women, children and men were brutally murdered. Tuol Sleng was the high school turned torture camp 'S-21', where it is believed that over 17,000 Cambodians were imprisoned, tortured and transported to the extermination site at Choeung Ek. Today Tuol Sleng is a museum and, together with the Choeung Ek killing fields, serves as a horrific testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot's regime. We enjoyed a guided tour of the Royal Palace, the buildings inside the palace walls are truly exotic, very similar to the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Water serpents guard the entrance to most buildings, one of which houses a emerald Buda and many other precious artefacts carved from gold and silver with embedded jewels. The palace grounds are kept immaculate and if you keep a close eye you can spot a few monkeys roaming the grounds too. Siem Reap, is a fairly non descript town which serves as the gateway to the ancient Angkor ruins. That said there are some very good restaurants and the town has some great markets, it's just not a particularly hansom town. Still they Cambodians are pleased to have it as they fought hard with Thailand to retain it back in the 16th century and just to rub it in they renamed the town Siem Reap meaning, Siamese Dafeated! Love thy neighbour!!We were up at 4.30am and on the bus to be in time to enjoy the sunrise over Ancient Angkor. When arrived the stars were shimmering in the sky and we couldn't see a thing. Slowly the sky lit up to reveal a silhouette of exotic towers reflecting across a mirror lake. It wasn't the best of sunrises but it was certainly a magical setting. Many people think of the city of Angkor and Angkor Wat as one and the same. In fact, Angkor Wat is just one temple, albeit a magnificent one, within the site of Angkor, the ancient capital of the great Khmer Empire. Only rediscovered by French archaeologists in the 19th century, many of the temples in the mystical 'lost city' have had to be reclaimed from the lush vegetation of the jungle. There are over 400 structures in total built between the 9th &amp; 13th centuries, scattered over a large area. In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the city of Angkor a World Heritage Site. Many refer to it as the eighth wonder of the world and I would agree the whole area is breath taking with amazing detail.Angkor Thom, has the spectacular Bayon temple which stands in the centre of the universe, or at least this is what the god-kings of Angkor believed. Bayon surpassed our expectations, with 54 towers, each one holding 4 huge faces of Jayavarman VII. This 'city within a city' is entirely surrounded by a wall and a 100m wide moat running 3km on each side. Today, within the walls of the magnificent Angkor Thom are the remains of causeways, royal terraces, ceremonial halls, pavilions, ornamental pools and towers, all exquisitely decorated with fine carvings depicting Hindu deities and epic tales as well as scenes portraying the might of the king.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand

Cambodia to Thailand - Up at the crack of dawn, we boarded the public bus from Siem Reap to the Thai border, what an experience! Parts of the road were very rough and only made of dirt, apparently this was a vast improvement! Up to a few weeks ago we would have had to only been able to drive to the border in the back of a pick up truck. Along the way we had to dodge cattle, pigs, dogs, pedestrians and bikes, all pulling to the path of the bus without thinking to stop! Crossing the border was a right performance too, firstly we had to get off the bus and carry our luggage across the Cambodia border. We then walked a few hundred yards across "no mans land" to the Thai border where we queued for one and a half hours, plus they tried to extract another $100 from Julie. As you can imagine having already paid for the visa at the Thai embassy in Australia she told the guard in uncertain terms that she was not paying twice, he backed off quite quickly! Once through the border we squeeze onto Tuk-Tuk's, covered by our luggage! We were then driven 6km at break neck speed to the bus station. We jumped onto another bus for a few more hours, before we finally arrived at Bangkok bus station. From there we took a taxi a further 45 minutes to our hotel. In all a twelve hours journey, not for the faint hearted!Bangkok is a city of contrasts, quite a contrast to Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a both a modern urban sprawl and a series of small side streets known as sois. It's a cosmopolitan city, with Arab, Indian and Chinese areas where you can be fitted for a suit by an Indian tailor, hear the call to prayer from a mosque or dine out in restaurants serving every conceivable kind of food. We enjoyed some great food at the cafes and street stands. The public ferryboats that cruise up and down the Chao Phraya River are a great way to get around the city as are the Klong (canal) ferries. They are really chaotic but we love them, and have always used these on the several trips we have made to Bangkok, so much quicker than a taxi in the busy traffic. The amazing Grand Palace is a must-see, as is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the reclining Buddha. To us Bangkok is just how you expect the Far East to be, oriental buildings, steamy heat, hectic activity on every street with exotic smells floating on the air at every hour of the day or night.&nbsp;We took a very slow night train north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (15 hours). We awoke to spectacular scenery of the Ping valley, lush hills and rice paddies. Chiang Mai is home to the Lanna kingdom and is often referred to as the 'Rose of the North'; and is a national treasure to the Thai people. The city is only a fraction the size of Bangkok and is easily accessible both on foot and by songthaew, the local taxi. We stayed just outside the 700 year old city walls; these are framed by a moat which comes alive with colourful lit fountains at night. On most peoples to do list is the night market, here we found rows and rows of handicrafts as well as fake designer goods and of course many food stands, it's not a bad way to spend a few hours, if you like shopping, personally prefer eating! And I can definitely recommend the banana pancakes; topped with condensed milk they are simply the best. A special mention must go to the Baan Bakery on Suriyawong Rd, close to the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel, they sell the most wonderful bread and pastries as well as excellent Coffee and English tea. We stocked up on sandwiches and cookies for the train journey back to Bangkok.Whilst up in the north we spent a few days trekking in the hills, a couple of hours drive away by pick-up truck, we first visited the beautiful Mok Fah Waterfalls where we took a much needed wallow before starting our trek right into the heart of Northern Thailand, to visit the remote hilltribe villages. Here the lifestyle has changed little in hundreds of years. The Karen, Lahu and Lisu semi-nomadic peoples began arriving in Thailand at the end of the 19th century after being pushed out of their native Tibet, Myanmar and China by civil war and political pressures. The hill tribes are truly unique, differing linguistically, ethnically, culturally and religiously from each other as much as they do from the Thais. It is often mistakenly believed that the hill tribes lead simple yet idyllic lives, unaffected by modern advances and global or even national concerns. In fact, they suffer from a lack of education and healthcare while competing pressure on land is drawing them into the Thai market economy. Our visits to these villages provided us with some measure of support to the hill tribes, both financially and practically, whilst affording us the opportunity to witness and learn about a fascinating culture first hand. On one of our days trekking between villages we rode on Elephants, these are magnificent creatures, so graceful as they zigzagged their way down the river. Our trip lasted for about 90 minutes, after which our backs were really aching, mind you I'm sure the elephants felt the same way! In recent years, the area around the Mae Taeng valley has been terraced and irrigated to improve agricultural production, creating an attractive contrast of landscapes. Towering mountains slope down to green valleys where rivers and paths lace through the rice fields and water buffalo peacefully graze. The telltale 'thwack' of the women pounding rice and chickens scratching in the dirt let us know when a village was near. We enjoyed the experience and in the evening sat outside our hut, weary after a five hour hill trek, the river burbling away beneath us, local children playing, old women smoking pipes, pigs squealing in the mud and everywhere the beautiful aroma of wood smoke and vegetation. As night fell we huddled around a campfire, night temperatures fall sharply in the hills, while listening to our guide quietly strum his guitar. The village would go quiet and a dazzling canopy of stars unfolded overhead, no electricity here so certainly no light pollution to spoil the view. On our way out of the hills we boarded bamboo rafts and floated down river, passing riverside villages of Karen, Lahu and Shan tribes along the way. This took a couple of hours and was so peaceful, although you do need to have good balance when passing through the rapids!
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Mekong Delta - Making its way from the plateau of Tibet through China, Laos and Cambodia, the Mekong fans out as it reaches Vietnam, originally forming nine tributaries that gave the delta region its Vietnamese name 'Cuu Long' (meaning nine dragons). We travelled a few hours southwest from Saigon to reach Vinh Long, in the centre of the delta. Our journey was very slow as this was the first day of the new luna year and millions of Saigon's population were heading out of town for the holidays. When we arrived we boarded a little wooden boat and found ourselves in amongst the water highways that are used to transport everything from schoolchildren to mountains of rice. The delta supports a mass of cottage industries and at every turn there are people making rice paper, putting pots into smoking kilns and bashing out tools for harvesting the plentiful supply of rice. After chilling out in a hammock over lunch we jumped into a sampan rowing boat and donned a conical hat for a peaceful trip downstream with the aid of an experienced rower!Our home for the night was courtesy of a local family, we stayed in a house on the edge of the river. Our host family's hospitality was wonderful, after exploring the local area we feasted on an excellent dinner washed down with rice wine. We slept in a dorm in army-cot style beds under mosquito nets, unfortunately I didn't get much sleep as the dogs barked all night, aided by the cockerels and then a loud speaker came on about 5am belching out music and broadcasting to the peasants, I assume this is a wake up call to get the farmers back out into the rice paddies to work? Cu Chi Tunnels - Cu Chi was the military command of the Viet Cong troops during the war with the Americans in the 1960's. Here there are a series of underground tunnels where the Vietnamese used to hide in the daylight hours to avoid the B52 bombings. There are over 200kms of tunnels on three different levels. These tunnels have to be experienced to be believed, they are so small, hot and humid I just cannot believe people used to live down there, baby's were even born down in the tunnels. We were able to experience crawling through a section of the tunnel, I can tell you it was a very harrowing experience, we couldn't wait to get back above the ground, it was really claustrophobic. As part of the tour we were shown the various cruel but ingenious traps the Vietnamese made from very basic materials, and had the option to shoot an AK45 assault rifle, we passed that one by! The War Remnants Museum (Saigon) was an excellent place to visit, but also a very sobering experience, unbelievable to think something like the Vietnam war could happen only a few decades ago. The museum was opened to the public in 1975, its role to display exhibits of war crimes to remind the world what went on in the hope that it will not happen again. Graphic pictures and horrific accounts of the atrocities of this war are incredibly moving.&nbsp; Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - Before we came to Vietnam the name Saigon conjured up many images and it wasn't long before this buzzing city had us under its spell. From first light the streets gradually fill with early morning exercise fanatics, pots of pho noodle soup bubble away ready for the breakfast rush and by mid-morning the wide tree-lined boulevards are packed with thousands of motorbikes. The smell of Vietnamese coffee seeps from street cafés and as the day progresses, men sit drinking tea and playing frantic games of Chinese chess. Evidence of the colonial past can still be seen as baguettes and coffee are served outside crumbling French villas. Saigon as it is popularly known despite being renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975, has lots to offer: from wartime history in the War Remnants Museum or the former government buildings of the Reunification Hall to the stunning pagodas of nearby Chinatown and the chaotic local markets that sell everything from chopsticks to chickens. Chuc Mung Nam Moi or Happy New Year! The Vietnamese sure know how to celebrate; the holiday goes on for a week. There are many activities in the streets the dragon dances being very popular, people burning mock money too, its supposed to bring them prosperity. At night the fairy lights light up the trees, streets and buildings, it is like another world. There are people everywhere, huge flower arrangements adorn the boulevards and music blasts at you from every direction, it is a hectic and crazy scene but intoxicating, we were so lucky to have timed our trip for this special event. In summary we would really recommend a trip to Vietnam for a unique adventure, much better than sitting on a beach sipping cocktails!
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Hoi An, Vietnam

We travelled due south from Hue along the coast to Hoi An, the weather is starting to heat up a bit now and every where you look the rice paddy fields are a beautiful emerald green dotted with coconut palms. The journey by bus was an experience, the country roads are dotted with hundreds of cyclists, motor bikes and coaches, all vying for their slot on the road. In between the vehicles there are chickens, oxen and pedestrians, the movement of animals, people and stock is just endless. We passed through Danang, Vietnam's fourth largest city. This is where the Americans had their base in the Vietnam War in the 70's. China Beach just on the outskirt, ranks as one of the worlds best beaches and was used by the Americans for their R &amp; R during their time here. We left Danang and climbed the steep Ocean Cloud Pass, which gave us some spectacular views out to the South China Sea and the surrounding mountains, before finally arriving in Hoi An.Hoi An has a very easy to settle into pace of life, in this beautiful town it's as if the place was caught in a time warp from the 16th century and people still attend to the simple ritual of life in such a diligent way. We were lucky enough to visit just before the Tet Holiday. (Chinese New Year) lanterns were being lit in the streets and all the house owners were busy spring cleaning their homes. Rows of flowers and mandarins bushes lines the streets in readiness for the celebrations, it really was a colourful sight to behold. Hoi An is known for its many tailors - you can order a whole new wardrobe for a fraction of the cost at home, have a pedicure, manicure and massage in Tran Phu Street or visit many fantastic art galleries around town before finally heading to one of the bars or cafés for a drink overlooking the water. The food here is wonderful, we have had no choice but to over indulge! Especially with town having the most delicious French patisserie! As the land is very flat around these parts we enjoy a great day of effortless cycling, we went out to the coast and along through a couple of traditional fishing villages. This really is like going back in time, with tiny make shift shops, barbers and stand alone petrol pumps. The children are just beautiful, they all run out into the street as you pass, with their cute little faces grinning, waving their hands ands shouting out hello. &nbsp;Whale Island - After a couple of days in Hoi An we travelled for 11 hours to the tropical Whale Island, this was a real treat away from the noise and activity of the mainland we were able to enjoy complete rest and relaxation. Development on the island has been limited to one lovely little resort, so it easily retains the feel of a real island hideaway. It's a wonderfully peaceful place to wander, or find a quiet spot on the beach to relax and swim in the warm waters. It all comes back to food! And again we spent our time here feasting on the superb cuisine served by our French and Vietnamese hosts as well as soaking up the tropical atmosphere. Still we did endure a tough trek around the island, scaling the steep slopes to enjoy panoramic views of the island and near by mainland, so that should have burnt off a few calories!&nbsp; In the evenings we relax on our bamboo chairs, drinking the local Larue beer in the waterside bar, as we watched the magical sunset over the South China Sea, we didn't want to leave.
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