TravelStream™ news feed for member bigusredus on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/bigusredus en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:08:50 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1212385140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1212385140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1212385140/tpod.html Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:08:50 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

WOW, amazingly we have made it to continent number 7 (seven) and everyone thinks we're not playing with the full set.Having covered a fair part of the atlas it seemed only fitting that we arrive at our final destination by flying in over the High Atlas mountains, and what a view it is, we certainly got our just 'desserts'This place is totally crazy and it seems like anything and I mean anything goes. The main square, the Djeema, is full of nutters of every description..........glass eaters, snake charmers, story tellers, acrobats, donkey carts and an eejit singing You'll never walk alone......everything is very BazaarWe stayed in the old walled city, unchanged it seems in centuries and a total rabbit warren maze like labyrinth.......funny we ended up staying in the Maze out in the Marra-Kesh, we felt like Morrocco mole ha ha haWe had a real ball here.............we rocked the Kasbah, enjoyed the Funky cool Medina and enjoyed the Souqs in the City. The Sultans we met were full of swing and the Sultanas were, well, very tasty.Our last day is also our wedding anniversary, number 8. It's great that during our 7th year our only "itch" was our itchy feet :-)As another oul crooner once said............."and now the end is near".......we have to make our way to the Marrakesh express and it's homeward bound.Next stop: That's Belfast, you call to me......See youse all soon,Mr and Mrs Dun-Wanderin
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211953020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211953020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211953020/tpod.html Wed, 28 May 2008 03:47:11 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Venice, Veneto, Italy

Our wee meander has taken us to 3 brilliant and totally different hot spots.We bartered with Merchants in Venice, met a couple of Gentlemen in Verona and Milan was well, Much ado about Nothing!!!Venice is, to borrow The Blob Shop's slogan, "Exactly like....Nothing else" The canals are simply amazing, the alleyways, old shops and cafes are spellbinding. It has to be THE best place in Italy, ESTUPENDO!The icon of Venice is a lion with wings which we promptly nicknamed a Flion ha ha. The only thing which got on our wick was you had to pay a euro to use the bogs! (just like Helsinki) It must a Euro-pee-an thing! We had to resort to going to McDonalds for a McP, or if challenged by a member  of staff a McP with lies.Just watching the gondolas cruising up ad down conjures up romatic images and of course that old advert for Justa one cornetto, give ita to me...... It also reminds me of the time Belfast council considered using gondolas to go up and down the Lagan to clean it, during the debate a councillor, the boul Johnnie I think, said why dont we get 2 and mate them!!! (no joke)While in Venice I remembered about the time I was in the shower and the doorbell rang, I shouted "who is it?".....yer man replied "its the blind man"........I thought i'll not bother with a towel, and opened the door........and yer man says...."did you want rollers or venetians" boom boomMoving on swiftly, we headed to Verona. This place is home to the legend of Romeo and Juliet and is considered to be Little Rome. It is really a picturesque wee town and you could very easily fall in love with the light ...............as it breaks through thon windy over there!!Next on the Italian trail was Milano, fashion capital of the world, I think people imagined we were modelling a new grunge range. The Cathedral here is an amazing feat of engineering, craftsmanship and shows just how much money those Romans emperors had!!! Apart from the Cathedral, palace and football stadium, Milan is a big industrial working city. It has a good atmosphere and always loads going on. We have really enjoyed our wee Italian expedition and we will be back. We have plenty to talk about with the McC's down in Southern Italia in Montecalvo.Next and LAST destination.........Marrakesh, in shake, rattle and Morroco roll
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211519460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211519460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211519460/tpod.html Fri, 23 May 2008 00:34:09 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Talk about a green country! On the flight into Ljuby the fields were almost luminous, yet another reminder that we are homeward bound. Part of us can't wait to get home and see everyone again and another part thinks if we had unlimited spondooleys we could keep going.Slovenia is a relatively new comer on the European stage and it still retains it's rustic charms, long may it last. The people are great and really welcome foreigners with a smile, not like some places who just want your loot. Most of the blokes here look like either extras from "Bread" or like they just stepped out the KGB training school, you know the type...........square neck, built like an "outside toilet", busted nose and a "wadda-ya-think you're up to look"Most things here are reasonably priced which is great as we are almost at the point of unleashing my "Carricks got talent" style busking prowess ;-)The old town of Ljuby is super quaint, cobbled streets by the river, snaking alleyways and wooden shutters over the windows.............just as well really or it would have been curtains for everybody ha ha haNext port of call: Venice, Italia
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211174040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211174040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1211174040/tpod.html Tue, 20 May 2008 01:13:17 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland

Well, we are now in continent,or sorry should I say ON continent number 6 (in true vidiprinter style S I X) of our escapade!!! It is strange being back in Europe again a lot of things are recognisiable, including the prices ;-(First impressions of Helsinki as we flew into Finn air, are that it is really clean, even the forests have been spruced up.Arrived at our digs and everything was finntastic, thanks to the help of one of our LFC comreds, we will call him Q.WOW, talk about expensive!!!!! just to give you an idea about how much things cost...........to spend a penny it costs one Euro!!! Everything is mega extortionate.The locals are very friendly and always full of finn and support you through thick and finn.To add to the list of strange things we have eaten on the trip I decided to go for some pan fried Rudolph!!! It was double deer............reindeer and flaming dear!! Reindeer is a locally reverred dish and comes mainly from Lapland (thats the place famous for Santa, not the dancers).Apparently virtually every home in Finland has a sauna and it is THE traditional thing to do, so we deided we would give it a go as the hotel we stayed in is famous for its saunas. A TV series was filmed here where politicians and famous people discuss the issues of the day while in the sauna. We got one to ourselves and then you go into the communal plunge pool to cool down, after all the heat I was in like Finn. It was brill and probably the cleanest we have been on the whole trip.It was great to visit but the bank balance is breathing a sigh of relief we are moving on.Next stop: Ljubljana in Slovenia
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210953720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210953720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210953720/tpod.html Tue, 20 May 2008 00:50:43 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Beijing, Beijing, China

We arrived safe and sound at the brand spanking new airport, everything is ship shape and shiny, a bit like my dome I suppose, also it still has a few bolts needing tightend:-)Everything is geared towards the Olympic games, starting in August. I think they still have a lot of work to do, there are 3 metro lines which are still not completed, including the line out to the stadiums (or is it stadiiii?)The main stadium, known as the Bird's nest due to it's radical design is a top class piece of workmanship. Apparently it's Ying complements the aquatic centre's Yang??We hit the star attractions straight away, the Forbidden city is just amazing, a labyrinth of palaces and temples which for centuries were off limits to us poor people and the home and playpen of the emperors and their concubines. Then it was on to Tianemen Square, the largest public square in the world and very strictly marshalled. You daren't put a foot out of line or you would be like an Olympian...........for the high jump!! Most of the square is closed off at night, just after the flag lowering ceremony, exactly at sundown. The bottom part is open and this is where the locals like to hang about and literally fly their kites every night.They are very resourceful here, the youngsters trousers have the backside cut out of them so they can just 'go' wherever they please, why didn't we have them when I was a wee lad?? We had a brill time dandering around the old Hutongs (alleyways) where it looks like time had stood still for years. A bit like discoteques in Carrick:-) There is still a great community spirit among the hutongs, many of which don't have plumbing and everyone uses the communal bogs on the corner!!!! These people must be socialable, hole in the floor toilets and no doors or cubicles, you can just imagine the banter in there on curry night:-(In the run up to the games the authorities have been dishing out "manners classess", teaching the Beijingers not to be mingers. Boy do they need the lessons!!! Everyone just barges you out of the road, young and old they all get the elbows into ye. Although the main problem is spitting, they gob, ying and hackle their way through everyday. All you hear all day is people hawking up a big greener or doing a Carragher style snatter canon......Yuk!!!We did an incredible hike along part of the great wall...........WOW absolutely mind blowing!!! We covered 8 kilometres of extremely undulating wall and towers, most of it seemed vertical and we now have calfs on us like Mary Peters:-) We even got to set foot either side where it has crumbled, so we were in China and Mongolia on the same day. I know you can see the wall from space and I'm pretty sure yesterday you could also see my tomato-esque coupon.We have sampled loads of unusual grub here, most of it I DON'T want to know what it was!!!! On one visit to the night market I sampled a pretty rare dish........Not wanting to be constricted by the norms, I slithered over and asped yer man how much they cost..........well, I didnt want to get my eye viped you know. It wasnt dear so I thought I would give it a rattle, watching the calories though as it all adders up!!!! (can ya tell what it is???)We were out for a nice meal the other night and I noticed a pot on one of the other tables and every so often the lid would lift and you could see 2 big eyes looking out, then the lid went back down. I called the waiter over and asked him what it was..........................................................wait for it  ...........................................................................................He says " Oh that's just the PEEKING DUCK"Well, time to head to the continent where we set off for a wee waltz around, then it's over to Morrocco..............................then it is HOME time ;-)Next stop: Helstinki, Finland
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210081080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210081080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210081080/tpod.html Tue, 13 May 2008 23:08:45 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan

Just a short hop over to Taipei, capital of Taiwan and thankfully no dramas on the big iron bird. One point of note on the flight though..............the Captain was from Whiteabbey!! how about that on the other side of the world:-) He said to tell you he was asking about you all.It is VERY hot and humid here but not really sunny, so the tan is fading and we are sweltered all the time..............I have reverted to my traditional "Swan Vesta" look.We visited the world's TALLEST building, Taipei 101, or if your are from the Maiden city, Taipei wan-o-wan. At over half a kilometre tall it is fair to say it is a skyscraper. It also has the worlds fastest lift, just for good measure.The markets here have to be seen to be believed, particularly the food stalls. It really is a game of what is that? and what animal did it come off!!! Especially down "snake alley" where they skin, garotte and basically beat up snakes live in front of the crowd.........yuk!!!Mandarin&nbsp;is a bit easier to pick up than Korean, so we can do a wee bit more chinwagging, a bit less "give us a clue" ha ha ha.A lot of the other sights revolve around ancient temples, most of which are interdenomonational, so any Tao, Buddha or Harre can join in.The royal museum here is classified as one of the best in the world, and rightly so, it has some amazing stuff spanning centuries. They have artefacts from all of the famous dynastys (and not a shoulder pad in sight). A lot of it is described as Minging, but I thought it was nice................boom boom We met a guy on the way to the museum, who not only showed us the way but also paid our bus fare!!! nice touch. They also had items covering all of the main periods of history from Iron to Bronze age, so coupled with my <i>silver tongue and <i>brass neck, I reckon we had all bases covered ;-)Well time to hit the road again........across the sea to Kowloon.Next stop: Hong Kong Phooey
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210390080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210390080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1210390080/tpod.html Fri, 09 May 2008 23:39:42 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Our Asian hip hopping continues and it is great.Hong Kong is an amazing smorgasbord of cultures, races and identities, from the high roller financial types to the Chinese living life as it has been for centuries.The Kong is an amazingly densely populated concrete jungle filled with people, neon and massive tower blocks......and it NEVER stops! Everything operates 24/7 and the traffic is constantly chock a block. There are so any high rise apartment blocks it makes Rathcoole look like a country club!!!!We have been enjoying dandering round the markets, eating the local grub and windy shopping. I even got myself a new suit, wadda-ya-mean about time too???? Custom fitted no less along with a couple of trendy(new adjective for me) shirts and ties!!!!It is also very humid here so you have to do the odd "student shower" every now and again to keep the flies away:-)We have been here before and our favourite activity is crossing between Hong Kong and Kowloon on the famous Star ferry, for a few pennies you get history, atmosphere and people watching, grrreat.We went on a JUNK-et............. did a wee harbour spin on an old Junk ship, a fantastic way to conjour up images of how the harbour would have been in it's heyday.Unfortunately I didn't have to visit the Russian embassy here............but there's always next year (YNWA)Next stop: Faster, higher, stronger..............it's Beijing
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1209608700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1209608700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1209608700/tpod.html Wed, 07 May 2008 23:54:51 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Seoul, Seoul, Korea Rep.

Once we had dried our gurning eyes after leaving Sydney it was all systems go and we boarded the flight ready willing and aunty Mable to take on Korea.......... continent number 6 on the trip.............so far!! A good "Korea" move i'm sure you'll agree:-)The first leg was a 9 hour flight to Hong Kong, 2 hour gap, then on to a new plane for the 3 hour skip to Seoul. All was going well until the pilot uttered those fateful words "well folks looks like we will be arriving ahead of schedule" DOH!!!Cue thunderstorm, lightning and Barry's big dipper style wobbles. The International airport was then closed with us doing loop-de-loops up above. Because of the rollercoaster effect loads, and I mean loads, of passengers started calling for Hughie and Ralph...........Yuk, they even ran out of hughie bags.........double Yuk Yuk.So we diverted to the smaller airport, landed and were then told, velly solly but you no get off here!!!! At this point things started getting a bit raucous. The cabin crew couldn't understand the Korean announcements, the people on the flight are going bonkers (99% of people preferrred to get of at Gimpo), people started shouting, smoking and generally causing a bru-har-har.So after an hour of mayhem the pilot says, we are going back to Incheon airport and could everyone sit down. Well, it was like a scene out of Spartacus.............everyone started standing up and as the stewardeses got one to sit down someone else jumped up!!! Crazy. Then what I guess was a rendition of "we shall not be moved" was belted out............minutes later the doors opened and everyone piled out:-)Luckily we got someone on the plane to wite down our address in Korean as it was total chaos outside the hairyport trying to get joe maxis as everything was closed (including the ATM, it shuts at 10 oclock).After all that we got a god nights kip and headed out on the streets. Seoul is really clean and really safe. Shops had REAL mobile phones outside on display, stores all left their doors open and unattended and everywhere generally had a feel of easy going-ness. The lingo was a bit hard to pick up, but we did our best. The few utterances allowed me to do impromtu lessons in Eng-er-ish with some of the school kids as we went about the place. It s amazing if you just relax in the main square or temple ground, loads of locals come over trying to make contact and speak a few words. They are really mega pleased when you speak back in Korean, an nyong ha se yo!There is a great sense of old and new integrated in Korea, sparkly skyscrapers sit beside centuries old temples and designers stores are next to dingy markets. Unfortunately the only designer thing I have is my stubble.The Olympic torch was there for part of the relay and talk about inflaming passions! There were protests galore with thousands of Chinese flown in to "show support" for the Beijing olympics, orchastrated rent-a-mob supplied with flags and banners. There were also a plethora of protest groups, Tibet, north korea, japan.......most of whom ended up getting lamped by the Chinese!!! One bloke tried to set himself on FIRE in the middle of the road luckily the feds got to him and dampened his enthusiasm.We also took a trip to the DMZ De-militarised Zone and North Korea. Talk about stepping back into the Cold War, we had a long list of things we could and couldn't do, what not to wear and what not to say. It was a great trip and amazing to see this live theatre played out in front of your own peepers. The DMZ is a 4km wide strip that runs for 280 km coast to coast, the gap has become one of the worlds best spots for wildlife as their is no human interaction at all in this zone.Food here is very important and is the main focus of the day. As you know they eat some different things including mans best friend! although they say the grub was really pedigree, we didn't paws at those stalls, we just went walkies on past.We really enjoyed Korea but now it is time to head on."Popped in, Seouled out"Next stop: Taipei
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1207813140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1207813140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1207813140/tpod.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:53:06 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Geelong, Australia

Well hard as it was to leave Sydney it was time to head Outback, but we will return for one last time.First stop on the road was Canberra, capital of Oz and in it's own terrtory, Australian Capital Territory. So if you are rumbled doing anything here you could say you are caught in the ACT boom boom.Canberra was selected as the site for the ozzie capital, because they couldn't decide between Sydney and Melbourne. So they basically picked a place, at mid point, and built a city via a competition. It was Blue Peter for grown ups, send in your design and we'll get the lads to throw it up for you. Think corn circles and straight lines and you have it.The main attractions are the Parliament, no not that type, a government Parliament and the national war museum..........for tourists. For locals the relaxed drug laws are a why they call it home.Because the parliament is based here the place is full of public servants, nicknamed <i>pubes by some wag ;-) So a bit of a home from home for us. We almost got trampled in the stampede at quitting time of the big house, even the massive fountain knocked off at five o clock.After a brief pit stop in Canberra, it was back in the saddle of the greyhound and off to Melbourne. Magnificent place and constant rival of Sydney. We love both but lean toward old Sydney. If rugby league is the be all and end all in NSW then here in Victoria is is most certainly Aussie Rules football. Everyone talks about it, the news and papers are like me, full of it and it's hard to find someone who isn't expressing an opinion on it...... it's a bit like living in David Dunseiths programme in real life!! I went to a few games, including one at the famous MCG, 80,000 fans going mental at a game that should really be called aussie NO rules. I met some really nice people at the games, always keen to have a chat and ask what I thought of THEIR team.The hostel was great, although the owner, let's call him Rigsby, was always just there..............you know a "only meeeee" type shadow. We met a really sound bunch here and had a lot of great nights fun and frolics of the interational variety.It is alao a bit strange in this state because every type of architecture is ...............wait for it.................Victorian boom boom.After the excitement of the footy we headed out to the goldfields of Ballarat and site of the infamous Eureka stockade battle, a forerunner for union and civil rights for the diggers. Loads of old fantastic buildings, displays of grandeur but alas nae gold :-( They also have a reconstructed gold rush town, a bit like the museum at Cultra, great fun for kiddies (yeah that does include us)Next stop: the island state of Tasmania
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1208914980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1208914980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bigusredus/neverwalkalone/1208914980/tpod.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:00:43 -0400 The fantastic journeys of PHILeas Fogg and JULES Verne

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Potts point, Australia

Back to Sydney for possibly one last time and just enough time to savour the flavour of our fave city.First day back and we met an Arsenal guy who we had Christmas dinner with in Santiago Chile!!!!! He was really shocked then remembered oops these guys support Liverpool, great banter and yet another brilliant night out. We stayed in Eva's again, nice spot but a nightmare to try and cook dinner in. Firstly you have to wash everything BEFORE&nbsp; you start, then battle, Indiana Jones style around people, hot stoves and jaggy implements to try to russle up some gourmet beans on toast, any wonder we've lost weight;-) We had a few fantastic nights in the common room of the hostel with people from all corners.As we are staying up "the cross' there is always some type of street theatre going on, on one day alone I got propositioned by 3 prostitutes (female I think) and then a couple of transvestite blokes, think Jonah Lomu in high heels and a tutu, not a pretty site. The stripper joints and naughty stores also add a little bit of neon to the scene, as do the junkies, hallions and of course backpackers.We have had good neighbours here, showing a little understanding, always there for one another, and that's why those neighbours have become goooood friends ;-)Well like the words of the famous ozzie ballad....."the last plane outta Sydney's almost gone"Next stop: with a teary eye it is off to South Korea and Seoul
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