TravelStream™ news feed for member nikandads2008 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/nikandads2008 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:05:13 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206619200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206619200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206619200/tpod.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:05:13 -0500 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

<i>NEW AUTHOR IN TOWN - WELCOME MASTER IAN PARKER!!Thursday 27/3/08 - Border Crossing into India and 10 Hour Bus Journey to Varanassi! Today was an early start to get us out of our hotel by 7.15am. Baggage was piled into a couple of tuk-tuks, whilst we squeezed into some others for the short ride to the border post at Sunali. Glad we weren't crossing in a vehicle as there was a queue of lorries at least two miles long on the Nepalese side of the border, all bizarrely loaded with gravel - don't they have any gravel in India? - Most of them looked as if they had been there for quite some time, and we saw no movement whatsoever whilst we were crossing into India. Most peculiar border, which the unwary could cross without being aware they had done so, as it just felt like a continuation of the same street with shops etc continuing to trade in the area between the two immigration offices, and no apparent control over who went from one side to the other - our Nepalese tour guide (Krish) came across with us to meet his Indian counterpart (Abhi) without bothering the immigration or customs officers, and presumably managed to return when we had said our farewells! Worryingly the baggage was sent on ahead in a couple of rickshaws whilst we filled out the necessary forms for officialdom, but the system worked and we were all reunited with our bags a couple of hundred yards the other side of the border, where a bus was waiting to take us on the 10 hour drive to Varanassi. Very long day of travel with only a couple of brief toilet and food stops to break the monotony. Mostly rural countryside with small towns and villages that looked very much like those we had seen in Nepal. Arrived at our hotel in Varanassi just before 7pm, checked in, then had a brief 'team meeting' to discuss the itinerary for India, and fill out the inevitable forms for Abhi. After that we had a very nice meal, along with a couple of beers, in the hotel restaurant before we retired to bed for the night.&nbsp;
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1257278453/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1257278453/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1257278453/tpod.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:15:03 -0500 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Ganges River, Uttar Pradesh, India

Friday 28/3/08 - Sunrise on the Ganges! Up at 5am and off on a short coach trip to get as close as possible to the Main Ghat on the banks of the River Ganges in order to watch the sun rise. Paused a while on the bank to see hordes of people arriving to perform their morning devotions - which for many included not only washing in the river, but cleaning their teeth in it as well. We discovered later that this has to be a hazardous exercise, as a local newspaper article informed us that the river water had just been classified as septic! We all then clambered aboard a boat for the obligatory ride up and down the river to view the numerous 'Regional Ghats', and those who wished to launched floating flower candles to add to the overall pollution of the river. For some obscure reason we were then dropped off right by the main funeral ghat, where at least 3 open-air cremations were underway. We were invited to 'step closer for a better view, and to take photographs' - an offer I found it easy to decline. We were then led through some narrow alleyways to a local rooftop restaurant for breakfast, which felt somehow inappropriate considering the sights that had just confronted us, though we did all seem able to manage a little something! On then to briefly visit an area of high tension, where a mosque was sitting right beside (and some claimed on land stolen from) an important Hindu temple - huge security and much barbed wire, to protect two small and apparently insignificant buildings. Surely highly significant, but only if you are either Hindu or Muslim! Back on the bus then for an unscheduled trip to the local silk manufacturing co-operative 'cottage industry' where poverty stricken people work in sweatshop conditions producing beautiful silks that are sold by their 'masters' for enormous profit - none of which finds its way back to the 'workers'. Back to the hotel then for a lazy afternoon, including the most thorough massage I have ever experienced. This was performed by the hotel porter, whose only two words of English were "off" (when I first arrived) and "good?" (when he had finished) and left no room whatsoever for modesty, as towels were apparently only provided for use after the shower at the end of the session! An unusual entertainment, but actually quite invigorating once it was all over. Several of the group then hired rickshaws to return to the Main Ghat to watch the evening ceremony, which involved 7 holy men dressed in orange robes standing on a line of raised platforms performing flowing movements with a variety of flaming devices. This was accompanied by piped music, and numerous people playing drums (following no apparent rhythm) and the energetic ringing of bells by the faithful. Once the ceremony was over we managed to find our way back to the rooftop restaurant we had visited earlier, where we met up with the rest of the group for dinner before fighting our way back through the mayhem to find a group of rickshaws to take us all back to the hotel. One of the rickshaw drivers was so old and frail that Adam actually got out and pushed when he had to go uphill, but we all got back safely in the end and managed a quick beer before bed. &nbsp; Saturday 29/3/08 - Last day in Varanassi in preperation for our overnight train to Agra! Woke to find that Sue had been struck down by the dreaded 'Delhi Belly', so arranged to keep the room on until the last moment before we had to leave, then went for a late breakfast with Adam. Out for a short walk to a totally inappropriate marble and glass shopping mall, which had less people than staff in the whole building - nothing but vastly expensive, air conditioned designer shops (and a Pizza Hut) which none of the local populace could ever afford to buy anything from. Who decides to invest in such projects? Then back to find out if Nic and Adam suffered the same indignities when they had their massages as Sue and I had the previous day - judging from the glazed look in Adam's eyes, I would say his experience was similar! Sue appeared a little better, and had managed to pack her bags in readiness for moving on, so we rested until about 4pm when we got a bus to the local train station.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1261515600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1261515600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1261515600/tpod.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:45:37 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Heathrow, London, England, United Kingdom

to come........................<i>" Reading for the mind, exercise for the body....... travelling for the soul!!!"
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1203249600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1203249600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1203249600/tpod.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:43:54 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

An early 5am start saw us wandering the dark and deserted streets of Hanoi (which was VERY bizarre to see compared to the usual mayhem!) attempting to find one of those 'cheaper than the hotel can provide for sure!' taxi's that we needed, but for some reason none were out! We finally found one 30 mins later and guess what, it ended up being way more expensive than the hotel one so for once we learned our lesson! It was a cool drive though as we passed the local market which at 5.30am was already rammed full of Vietnamese selling all their goods, flowers, and vegetables even in the pitch black! At the airport saw the last 'PHO' soup (Zach this time, we couldn't bear it by now!) being consumed then the valium 3 boarded the plane for our exit from Vietnam onto destination 4, LAOS - Vientiane! 50 minutes later and we arrived to HEAT! Perfect, it was so nice to finally thaw out from Vietnam and was very welcome to say the least! Obtaining visa's was interesting, Zach in true ozzie laid back fashion had not really planned this part so didn't have enough money and what he did was in the wrong currency!, then an old rather upper class English group started complaining (in one of those 'non typical' posh British accents) about the fact that the French paid 5 dollars less than the British.....at that point we cringed about being British and a sudden attempt at an ozzie accent was born!&nbsp; Finally Zach was allowed into the country and we caught a taxi to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The contrast on leaving the airport totally hit us, no beeping of horns, very clean, chilled and laid back and about 10% of the population of Vietnam! On arriving at the capital we couldn't quite believe that this was a capital city! There were hardly any cars or locals, the whole place was like a sleepy rural town, not hectic at all......we could see instantly why people had said they fell in love with Laos and I could definitely see that we were going to too, the quietness was bliss! I suppose a population of 5.6 million in all of Laos had something to do with it! &nbsp;The usual 'no rooms at the inn' saw us ending up in a pretty dull and expensive 25 dollar room, vast contrast to previous prices! We then wandered down to the Mekong, passing loads of old cars which were cool plus the typical tuk-tuk! Here they really went to town though, jazzing them up in different colours and spray paint, just mad! We sat on plastic chairs by the river edge and sat down to attempt our first order for lunch, it was still unbelievably quiet and the sleepy Mekong looked beautiful, at this point the thought of spending the rest of the year in Laos was very inviting - especially as we had just seen on the menu that the beer was 50 pence for a large bottle! They say Beer Lao is the cheapest in the world......sorted! Feeling quite drunk from only 2 beers (must have been the early start!) I dragged the boys along the river and around the Palace, Wats and Royal Temples - Haw Pha Kaew then over the road to Wat Si Saket, built by the king in 1824 where 3000 Buddha's in gold were placed in the walls! On route to the next historical monument, we passed the local shopping mall just in time to see some very dodgy singing contest and lady boy winner........at this point coffee's were needed. &nbsp; Finally we ended up at Patuxai, Lao's own 'Arc de Triomphe' replica which commemorates those in Laos who died in pre-revolutionary wars, and bizarrely was built&nbsp; with cement donated by the USA (to be used supposedly for construction of a new airport!!) It was very impressive to say the least and I sat watching locals chilling and sitting round the fountains whilst the boys climbed the Arc! No cars under this one though! On route back, we randomly passed a local football stadium and decided to have a look in..... This ended up with us then sitting with the locals having another Beer Laos in a very empty stadium watching the army vs Capital! I think us being there amused the locals who on us leaving did not seem too impressed as the army were winning! &nbsp;That eve we wandered along the many cool bamboo style restaurants on the river and ended up having Mexican! Was very nice though and such a chilled out atmosphere! We then decided to visit the bar which in the Lonely Planet is described as 'the place for picking people up', perfect so we thought for single Zach! However it mainly consisted of local Laos women trying to pick up western men in a pretty seedy environment, the only good thing was the view outside and the rather large 'beer towers' you could buy! We didn't stay long...... &nbsp; The next day, Ads and I caught a very expensive (6 dollars to go up the road!) tuk-tuk to Pha That Luang - most important national gold monument and symbol of Buddhist religion/Laos sovereignty in the country. It was pretty amazing and had a 45m high stupa! On route back we passed the dodgiest of taxi's welded together but still falling apart at the seams, saw more old cars and passed the tiniest of children clinging onto parents on the back of mopeds, unreal! That afternoon we then decided to leave the capital and head north to Vang Vien, our first impressions of Laos though were pretty good to say the least!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206385200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206385200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1206385200/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:47:02 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

blog to come.....
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250769325/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250769325/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250769325/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:45:16 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Ghandruk, Gandakī, Nepal

blog to come.....
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250694257/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250694257/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250694257/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:44:05 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Tea House Trail Nepal, Gandakī, Nepal

blog to come...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205931600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205931600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205931600/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:40:55 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Ghandruk, Nepal

Blog to come....DAY ONE OF OUR TREK - Pokhara to Diamir, Ghandruk at 1940 metres!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205672400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205672400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1205672400/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:38:37 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Pokhara, Nepal

Blog to follow...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250684497/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250684497/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/nikandads2008/1/1250684497/tpod.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:35:00 -0400 World Trip 2008 from Asia to Australia, Vegas to Mexico down through Central & South America to the end of the World, then Home...Phew!

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Everest Region, Himalayan Region, Nepal

Blog to come....
]]>