TravelStream™ news feed for member catters on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/catters en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 15 May 2008 18:44:01 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719860/tpod.html Thu, 15 May 2008 18:44:01 -0400 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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Tullin, Estonia

The streets of Estonia's capital Tallin are beautiful, actually the whole old town and its people are amazing.

It was just wonderful place to stroll the beautiful streets of this amazing town, the locals always so friendly and willing to tell you a little bit about their home.

Indeed it was with some sadness that I left Tallin, knowing that staying any longer would make leaving even harder. Either way I am back, no more down times, no more Benzo hazes. I think more than anything meeting such people, just makes you realise how many good, truely inspiring people there are in the world.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169343240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169343240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169343240/tpod.html Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:03:51 -0400 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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Santiago, Chile

Alive and well... with a few more stories, none involving the police or robberies

Lazy days in Valparaiso living like a local, returning to Mr Egg and enjoying one of the best beaches in the World. After such a brilliant yet slightly exhausting week camping it has been a slow down in Valparaiso, staying an extra few nights with Pauli's wonderful family and enjoying leisurely strolls around the colourful streets.

Renaca beach, just north of Valparaiso, is an amazing beach. The DTs got another public showing, caught a few waves and enjoyed more than a few beers... all while surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery. Over four years ago I was in Valparaiso for a couple of nights, the first of which involved 4L beers in a huge club, Mr Egg, and more than a few adventures including meeting Pauli. As a laugh we returned and attempted the 4L beers and once again had a few adventures - I still suck at salsa and walking around the dodgy part of town at 3am is still not a great idea!

Yesterday it was time to move onto Santiago after a couple of brilliant weeks. Pauli, after keeping in contact over all those years it has been wonderful to see you again, to meet your family, jump in a car and get away from it all in your country and do a few of those things we had chatted about. Thanks bella for showing me your city and navigating me through your country (and nearly into Argentina) I look forward to returning the favour one day.

What can I say about Santiago... The hostel has a "pet" marijuana plant called "Bill" that gets walked out into the courtyard each afternoon for some sun, thats funny. Have had a few quiet nights trying to recover from the pace of the last few weeks and seen the sights that really havent changed in four years!

Tomorrow its off to Mendoza - wineries, sun, swimming pools and, if you believe what nearly every bloke has told me who has ever been there, the best looking women in the World. Sounds like fun!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169256600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169256600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1169256600/tpod.html Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:31:12 -0400 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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La Serena, Chile

Once again, it is so nice to be shown around a city by a local, Pauli thankyou so much.

Arriving in Valapaiso, in no time I had an apartment in nearby Viña Del Mar only two good drop punts from the beach (ok, three if your kicking style resembles Paul Northeast's). I love the whole South American beach atmosphere, people wandering the beach selling everything from icecreams to beer, from hats to grilled cheese and in Rio apparently the goods include drugs and girls, although I dont know how they fit in their bag... We spent an afternoon soaking in the atmosphere and the sun and then the next day recovering from our sun burn - all worth it. I must mention the food, with Pauli pointing out all the best spots, the time in Valparaiso and Viña have been one "very very good" meal after another.

A few days of relaxed apartment living and it was time to hit the road again and the urge to rent a car too great. Driving in South America is an experience, driving on the narrow heavily sloped streets of Valparaiso ridiculous. Armed with a tent and a not so reliable airbed we set off road trippin.

It has been such a good few days. A sunset mission to find the beach at Mineral De Talca resulting in hours of dirt roads, candle lit villages, abandoned mines and eventaully getting a little lost was an adventure and a great start. The beaches of La Serena so long and splendid. We have been up the worlds biggest cross, raced quad bikes on sand tracks and continued the run of delicious food. We managed to travel onto the charmingly hippie village of Pisco Equi, the home of Pisco in Chile, which is not quiet as close to the Argentinian border as we travelled after a long wrong turn. Driving has been such an experience - The Equi valley simply beautiful, a glimpse of green in an otherwise bone dry desert landscape full of cactus riddled mountains. Camping has been brilliant, the campsite last night being simply unbeatable. We had our little tent looking straight off the sand dune on to a long deserted beach and a picturesque bay, brilliant.

Unfortunately my "perfect" record for rentals has continued. Firstly the scooters in Thailand with Jon coming off and us splitting the small bill. Secondly, the French dent with "The Chad's" road trip. This time I have managed to blow a tyre on the gutter - but this time I didnt even attempt to get away with it...

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1171725960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1171725960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1171725960/tpod.html Sat, 17 Feb 2007 10:28:34 -0500 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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Porto Iguazu, Brazil

There are many ups and downs in travel, but even in the somewhat turbulent months I have enjoyed yesterday stands out as one of the biggest swings...
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La Paloma, Uruguay

My mother always said "Good things come to those who wait" and now I know it is true...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1157719320/tpod.html Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:54:57 -0500 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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Moscow, Russia

Well today was a tuff day of travel, disappointing news from home and a little bit of shock following. I doubt I will ever be more disappointed with someone in my life. Might take a few days to prime myself up to keep on having a good trip. Oh well the highs and lows of travel hey...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1152843900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1152843900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/catters/world_trip_06/1152843900/tpod.html Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:20:54 -0500 Wondering Around the World 2006/7

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Ko Pha Nang, Thailand

The full moon party of Ko Phan Ngan has every right to be known as the biggest beach party in SE Asia, maybe even the world. Absolute belter of a night.

Started off with a few beers back at the resort and at 10ish (pm) then loading 15 people into the back tray of the taxi ute for the hour drive along the 30 degree plus inclines and declines to Haad Rin. 15 000 people awaited us on the beach with a kilometer of beach front bars belting out tunes of all sorts. Everyone has a bucket - 1L plastic buckets which are filled with a half bottle of dodgy Thai whiskey, a bottle of the lethal Thai red bull and a dash of coke. It doesnt tkae many to get (2 at most) to get the night swinging.

Danced my ass off for a few hours having a good laugh with John and Claire then we decided to wonder up to the 'quieter' end of the beach and check out the bar on the hill, appropriately named the mushroom palace. Their specialty was 'special shakes' and that was when the night got funny. The pact was made at the starty of the night to have maybe one of these 'special shakes' but no more - which is how it started. After a quick return to the pumping beach littered but this time (4am'ish) with people passed out. In all honesty it was a bit of a meat market, so the logical step - more special shakes!!! Three special shakes later and the world was a different place, I was convinved I now had wide angle vision. Chatted with a bunch of Irish Lasses as we watched the sun come up over a still pumping beach.

Come 10am, although there had to have been still 5000 (very messy) people still on the beach it was time for an hour taxi home - would have been nice if the bloke didnt drop the three of us 15km from our bungalows! Dont worry mum hitch hiking in Thailand is safe.
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Punte del Este, Uruguay

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Montevideo, Uruguay

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Beunos Aires, Argentina

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