TravelStream™ news feed for member faces on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/faces en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 16 May 2002 07:27:05 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020681480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020681480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020681480/tpod.html Thu, 16 May 2002 07:27:05 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

London, United Kingdom

THE SHOWDOWN...

Well i have finally made it to the end of my travels.
It's been a rollercoaster journey which by and large has been very suscessful. Heres a few statistics...During my 194 days on the road, i've passed through 7 Countries converting my US$ into the Thai baht, Khmer reil, Vietnemese Dong, Lao Reil, Indonesian rupiah, Australian dollar, and Hong Kong dollar.
I've travelled 49,730kms, (12,380kms overland) thats had me sitting patiently on busses, planes, motorbikes, boats, and rickshaws for 505 hours (thats equivelant to over 3 weeks continuosly)
Theres been 11 flights, and i've travelled 47 times from one town to the next.
Iv'e scuba dived 30 times which adds up to 1,457 mins (or 24½ hours with my head underwater). Having lugged around over 10kg worth of photographic equipment with me, i've snapped my way through 4,830 photos (or 134 rolls of 36 exp film).
So thats the statistics out the way, you've got to ask yourself why do it? Why leave home for 7 months, job, nice car, to slug it around the world.
Well apart from the obvious...7 months of drifting around with no worries about work, and escaping the bitterly cold winter, there's surprisingly more to it than that.
I've been fortunate enough to have met some truly warm and genuine locals, and to travelling through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam has taken me on a educational journey of the 'real world' that no discovery programe or book could ever give me.
To me it's been a challenge.
Whether it's coming face to face with the Karen long neck hill tribe, jet boating down the Mekong River, witnessing over 200 monks collecting alms, or diving amongst sharks below the Coral sea.

I've been fortunate enough to live out one of my dreams...And that's to travel around the world from place to place capturing some truly magical moments on film above and below the water.
I hope the photos from my portfolio, and this travelougue capture the amazing journey i took.

**I will be downloading travel pictures of the trip as they become available, so be sure to check them out at: http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=84828








]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019458380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019458380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019458380/tpod.html Thu, 16 May 2002 07:20:32 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Coral Sea, Australia

Pictures from below the coral sea.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020598980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020598980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020598980/tpod.html Sat, 11 May 2002 17:43:30 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

Small selection of pics from Hong Kong
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020388740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020388740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020388740/tpod.html Sun, 05 May 2002 07:39:07 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

During the last few days i ventured out to Cheung Chau Island, which mainly consists of a large fishing population.
The harbourside is mainly full of fishing boats, and sampans that the locals live on.
In the past, the island used to be home to a number of pirates that used Cheung Chau as a centrepoint to rob passing cargo ships, then stashing the 'booty' in the nearby caves on the southern part of the island.

I also visited Aberdeen on Hong Kong island. Mainly a abandoned fishing village, it's now full of sampans bobbing up and down in the water, to ferry the local people around.
Taking a sampan boat ride, i braved the choppy waters to get a closer look at the local community that lives on the surrounding boats.
The little old lady that steered the boat was on some sort of death wish as she weaved around the big fishing boats that passed by...(at one point i though we were gonna colide with one, closing my eyes and saying a prayer!) Theres no life jackets on this boat...
Every man for himself if you had to abandon ship.
But luckily with the grace of god, and the skill of the little old dear, i made it safetly back onto dry land.



The Cantonese eating habbits...

Before travelling to Hong Kong i looked at the do's and dont's to do while there.
It mentioned nothing about the locals bad eating habbits, so it came as a surprise to me when i found myself in a restaurant sitting opposite a local man that spent most his time burping out aloud!!
It turns out that to burp out aloud is a way of saying that you are really enjoying your meal. So feeling slightly left out i thought i would immerse myself into the local 'culture' by taking a few big swigs of my diet coke then letting rip to let the man opposite me know that i too was enjoying my big mac and large fries!!!!!!!


Confusious says: "Man with one chopstick go hungry!"
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020224280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020224280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1020224280/tpod.html Mon, 29 Apr 2002 23:52:17 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

The last few days had been spent out and about around Hong Kong.
The first evening i took a tram up to Victoria peak. The tram system that takes you to the stop has been running since 1885, and was comforting to know once riding to the top that there has never had any incidents in the years it has run.
Once at the summit i was rewarded with some of the most fantastic sights of the Hong Kong skyline.

The next day i took a train north into the new territories to Sha Tin.
I visited the nearby Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. It meant climbing over 400 steep steps to the monastery where there were actually 12,800 minature buddha statues lined along the whole wall of the main temple.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019724120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019724120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019724120/tpod.html Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:06:25 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong

After a 6 hour flight from Cairns i was touching down on the outskirts of Hong Kong.
The new airport is about as far away from Hong Kong island it could possiably be situated on the bottom end of one of the outlying islands some 33kms away from downtown.
Once i cleared immigration, luggage, and customs i wandered out into the huge arrivals hall. Chek lap kok airport is only a few years old, costing HK$157 billion to build, and consists of 8 levels, 120 shops, with over 2,000 information screens, and can cope with a annual volume of 87 million passengers.

After i eventually found my way out of the airport, I jumped on the local air conditioned bus and froze my ass off travelling to central Kowloon, crossing the largest road/rail suspension bridge in the world. (2.2kms)
Once in Kowloon i managed to find a room barely big enough to swing a cat in.
It's costing US$18 a night, and the comminual toilet/shower looked like a bit of a laugh.
I know space in Hong Kong is limited, but this was cutting it fine.
I think it was designed for the local residents.
You had to be no taller than 6'2, and weigh no more than 14 stone to fit in there.
The ONLY way to shower is to sit (or stand) on the toilet seat, because the box is barely big enough to fit anything else in there.

Once i unloaded my luggage i wandered down Nathan rd that's lined with bright neon lights and crowds of people, including Indians standing along the street corners trying to get you to buy a new suit, or fake rolex watches.
I wandered down to the star ferry port overlooking Hong Kong island, amd was amazed to see the brightly lit skyline stretch the whole legnth of the coast.
It was truly a fantastic sight to see at night.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019194140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019194140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1019194140/tpod.html Wed, 24 Apr 2002 02:53:06 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Coral Sea, Australia

My 6 days in Cairns was spent doing nothing much exciting, apart from renting a car with 2 other travellers and driving up to the tablelands to get some waterfall/rainforest pics.

Today i boarded the Taka dive boat for the 5 day trip out to the coral sea.
The first night we travelled over 100kms north to the world famous 'Cod Hole'
The first day's diving was splendid.
Diving amongst potato cod that was well over 1.5 metres long, and extrmely bulky.
We were slightly unnerved when the cameraman on board showed us what happened to him the last time he dived here. While the feed was underway, the vicious female cod took a chunk out of his right arm, and smashed its head into his $6,000 camera housing breaking the seal and flooding the case and camera completley.
Luckily on our dives the cod were fairly calm, allowing us to stroke their huge heads.

During the second night we travelled over 150kms out to the coral sea.
Sea conditions during the night were really bad, having around 8 divers hanging on the back deck, looking as white as ghosts, and vomiting into sick bags.
Most got little sleep, as the boat swayed from side to side almost chucking us out of our bunks.
By morning time we were mooring up at the coral reef, and was rewarded with a spectacular sunrise, and a greasy fry up breakfast!!
Luckily i wasn't sick, although the sea sickness tablets had started to wear off by morning feeling slightly unsettled until i got into the water for my first coral dive.
Because the coral reef is so far from land, the visability is always around 30 metres.
The first dive was set along a long coral wall that dropped down to over 1,000 metres!
Saw a variety of large and small sharks swimming around in the deep blue, and once the dive was over i was told how another diver spotted a hammerhead pass by.

The next dive was the 'SHARK FEED'
This is where the instructor on the surface places 7 large tuna heads through the centre of a long metal chain and lowers it into the water to let the sharks 'feast'
We were all sitting nearby around 10 metres away as the feed was lowered.
Suddenly from out of nowhere about 18 sharks appeared (Whitetip reef/ grey whaler/ bronze whaler/ blacktips ) from everywhere and the frenzy started. Some of the sharks were massive, and the biggest ones muscled their way into the front of the queue to get a bite of the tasty tuna. Awesome!
Once the feed was over, we swam out to the remaining sharks that were circuling below the boat to try and get some good shark pictures.

That evening we made our way back towards ribbon reef (along the Australian coastline) and fortunatley the weather conditions wern't as bad as the trip out, although there were still a few 'crook' divers onboard.

The next 2 days we dived along the ribbon reefs, which had a huge variety of marine life, and hard and soft corals.

Pictures of the dives (including sharks/cod) will be posted in a few weeks time.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018751580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018751580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018751580/tpod.html Sun, 14 Apr 2002 23:52:26 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Cairns, Australia

Left early to catch the morning shuttle bus to the airport.
As it was a domestic flight, i headed to the domestice terminal.
After entering the chaotic Quantas terminal with no real directions for passengers, i approached a 'churpy' looking Quantas staff member.(>joke)
After showing her my ticket, she told me that i had to check my luggage in at the 'international' terminal. (But it's a domestic flight???)
She recommended i catch a taxi to the distant terminal (around $5)and said that she was sorry but there was nothing more she could do. (Typical Quantas service!)
After telling her about how messed up the check in procedures were i managed to re-board the shuttle bus and get a free ride to the terminal.
As i finally checked in (some 45 mins later) the man that checked me in looked gob smacked as i told him what happened to me at the domestic terminal.
He said that they COULD have checked me in at the terminal, and given me a free transfer to the international terminal! >No surprise there.
I boarded the crumbling 747 for the 2 half hour flight north to Cairns.
You really know your travelling economy class on Quantas flights.
All the Quantas airlines ive travelled on haven't upgraded their economy sections in well over 16 years. Seats are tightly compacted together, most of the headphone sockets didn't work, and the crackly tv screen that showed the movie was so far away that they should have issued binoculars!
Whereas on Cathay pacific, and B.A, and Singapore airlines, economy class passengers usually get the luxury of their own 12 channel touch screen t.v, wider seats with more leg room, and a choice of meals.

We landed at Cairns airprort at 1.30, and i headed into town where i checked into a local no frills hostel.
The weather in Cairns over the last week has been hot and humid with plenty of downpours. The coming week is supposed to be overcast with thunderstorms.
It seems that the wet season in Cairns has gone on longer than usual.

Once i unpacked i wasted no time in getting down to the centre of town to check out a few dive operators, and package deals.
I was looking to spend 5 days/4 nights on a dive boat diving the outer barrier reef.
The first shop i came to reccommended the Taka II 5 day trip, with a $30 discount off the recommended retail price.
Deciding to check a few other places out, i was surprised to walk into another shop that offered exactly the same trip with Taka II, with a AUS$220 discount!!!!
Being such a great offer i couldn't resist. Ivé booked to dive with them this coming Friday, and includes diving at the famous Cod hole, totaling 14 dives (2 night) to the outer barrier reef that also includes a shark dive!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018514040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018514040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1018514040/tpod.html Wed, 10 Apr 2002 04:57:24 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sydney, Australia

The last week in Sydney has been fairly full on.
Even though it's officially autumn here, the weather's held out with clear blue skies.
Over the week i've visited the local Zoo, Bondi beach, Manly beach by local ferry, as well as covering most of central Sydney on foot.
Most evenings have been spent down by the harbour putting my tripod to good use by getting some sunset/ night shots either side of the brige overlooking the Opera house.

*One day left before i leave for Cairns.

I suppose i should get some laundry done before i leave Sydney!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1017886380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1017886380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faces/faces_2002/1017886380/tpod.html Wed, 10 Apr 2002 04:29:14 -0400 Only for the Hexperienced!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sydney, Australia

Well after a long wait at Denpasar airport, and a overnight flight i arrived at Sydney airport at 9am.
I was surprised how cool it was compared to Bali.
Daytime temperatures hover around 25oc.

I caught the airport shuttle bus downtown costing me a whopping A$7.
I'm now in the land of corked hats, XXXX beer, kangaroos, shrimps, bbq's, bruces, sheilas, and the killer red back spider...Yup, Sydney, Australia.
The streets are almost empty with traffic, and the walkways and pavements are miraciously clean with trimmed gardens, and parks.
I guess i've just got used to dangeriously crumbling pavements, and excessive traffic over the last few months.
But im amazed by how the locals in the centre of town calmly stand at a traffic light junctions, waiting for the green 'walk now' light to illuminate, even when the roads are empty with vechiles. At almost every cross junction there would be a crowd of pedestrians all waiting for that 'green light' to show!!

I managed to find a small room in the Kings Cross area. (the red light district)
This is one of the budget areas of Sydney, and there is never a dull moment on Darlinghurst rd. (the centre of Kings Cross)
Down and outs loiter on the surrounding streets drunk and drugged out their heads.
Of a day prostetutes (really dodgy looking) stand outside the sex shops swaying back and forth in skimpy underwear, layering the face with make up, and picking fresh spots!!
Most are probably drugged to the eyeballs.
Pubs are open 24 hours, and was slightly unnerved when i visited the bank on the main street, and asked the lady behind the desk if the area was safe.
"Oh no you've got to be careful. They will rob ya anytime of the day, just advoid the side roads" I absorbed her advice she gave me and left the bank tightening the strap on my money belt!
I've also noticed quite a few drunken aborigionals stumbling (or laying) along the main street. In the evening most would get into loud screaming fist fights with eachother, while the rest of them would be sitting in the corner drinking excessively.

I have 9 full in which to get plenty of pictures of the opera house, and surrounding areas of Sydney.

more soon...
]]>