TravelStream™ news feed for member tomandamanda on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/tomandamanda en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:27:36 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1229376300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1229376300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1229376300/tpod.html Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:27:36 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Point Pleasant, New Jersey, United States

Hours of delay, stupid Air India, could not stop us from arriving home for pizza and hugs.  Home at last, back in the USA.Holidays and cheer, then back off to the west coast, to start anew...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228150980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228150980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228150980/tpod.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:04:33 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium

Ah.. Belgium.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228576380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228576380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228576380/tpod.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:15:28 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hereford, England, United Kingdom

Rainy England
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228510980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228510980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1228510980/tpod.html Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:04:41 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Paris, Île-de-France, France

z
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1226039820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1226039820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1226039820/tpod.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:30:42 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

So, we arrive at Munich airport, and much to our surprise, Luke has not yet shown up.  There was only a loose confirmation via email that he would be picking us up, and we waited around for an hour or so.  Once we felt it had been long enough, and were fed up with waiting, we ventured forth to try and figure our own way to his apartment, which was going to prove difficult because I stupidly did not copy down the very detailed directions that Luke had sent me, because he was going to pick us up.  Then, as we round a corner towards the trains, there the pair of them are, dressed to the nines in their Bavarian wear.  We stopped cursing Luke mid-sentence just in time to throw our arms around the two of them for a big hug.  Everything was perfect.  And after they gave us our gift of pretzels and beer, well, how could we be the least bit perturbed that we had been waiting an hour.  Well, we werent.That night we had a good meal of sausages, pretzels, mustard, and beer.  The best of Bavaria.  And we stayed up as late as we could, but the jet lag creeped on us, and we had an early night.  The next morning I was up at 6 AM, pacing, seeing as it was noon my time.  Once Luke and Judy got up at some sensible hour, we headed down to the flea market, and bought two bicycles off or some shady Romanian guy for 50 Euros.  For the rest of the day, since it was a bright blue sky, even if it was 50 degrees out, we bicycled all over town.  We finished our day out at Haufbrauhaus, one of the old beer halls littered around the old city.  We were invited to sit at an old Munchen table with some real die hards.  We drank a few liters, yes they really do serve it in liters, and no you can not have a half.  At one point Judy tried to give the rest of hers to Lukas and I, and the old Munchen crew very nearly slit her throat for it.  We then went home for our dinner of cured sausages, cheeses, speck, and spatburgunder.  Not to forget the schmaltz, which is basically pork fat which you spread on bread like butter.  It is from heaven.The next day we took the S-Bahn (train) out to Ammersee with our bikes, and toured all around the area, it being another brilliant day.  We found little bike roads running all through the country and farms, and Amanda and I truly admired the autumn that was quickly fading into winter.  Though, it had held on for us.  There was still plenty of brown and yellow leaves about, though the reds and brighter colors had all long faded away with the sinking sun.  Late in the day we made the pilgrimmage up the hill to the abbey of Andechs.  It sits atop a hill completely visable from town, and I am not lying when I say that very nearly every path running through the forest there leads up to this place.  We then treated ourselves to a few more liters of the local brew, as well as the Bavarian specialty of salted pork knuckle.  This thing was massive, and I hurt myself taking it down, as well as hurting Lukas's feelings because I could not take down every last bit of the delicious crispy fat.  It was just endless, and my stomach is not what it used to be, I have been in Asia for seven months.  Give me a break!!  But, I must say, this was one of the most amazing food-beer experiences I have ever had, and no matter how much pain I was in, and no matter how much I upset the olfactory senses of my travel companions on the train, I wouldn't take back one second of it.  All in all, our first few days in Germany have been beautiful and fantastic.  Even if I have eaten more pork fat in that time than I did for the rest of the year prior.  I love it here, though my digestion system doesnt.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1225867140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1225867140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1225867140/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:41:43 -0500 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Bangkok, Thailand

Just a few days more of Asia, and then we are headed back to the west.  Getting my fill of pad thai, thai ice tea, mango and sticky rice and all the other asian things we have come to love.  Busy roads, crazed people and the like.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224933900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224933900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224933900/tpod.html Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:58:03 -0400 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hue, Vietnam

We though we were going to stay in Hoi An a few more days but the rain came down and we were tired of our daily strolls, especially since they began to get so soggy.  Obviously our thoughts of touring around on a motor bike were out so, so we high tailed it out of our comfortable digs early in the morning, hoping for a change of scenery.  Our first mistake was taking the bus, something we had sworn not to do, but the price was right and the train did not stop in Hoi An.  We jumped on a cramped sleeper bus, on its way to Hanoi from HCMC, just before the down pour, thunder and lightning and wobbled our way to Hue, the ancient capital of a Vietnamese Dynasty.  The fields and even the roads were filled with water and the rain continued to fill what remained dry.  Our trip took 4 hours and we arrived exhuasted and wet, giving us no choice but to stay at the hotel we were dropped at.  Our second mistake was roaming around without eating and no map.  We walked and walked, nothing was open and the rain continued to fall.  We bought a poncho and a colorful umbrella to lighten the mood and we finally found a place that was full of people.  We sat down, ordered by just by pointing at another tables food, and suddenly they brought out a boiled and hairless dog, which they then proceeded to hack up right in front of us.  Funny enough Tom and I were not hungry any longer, it did not help that the soup was oily, the place was filthy and the squeal of caged dogs could be heard.  We payed the bill and ran out as quick as we could.  Cant say I am enjoying Vietnam right now.  We have booked our tickets to Hanoi and are hoping for a better time.  We have decided to not wait out the storm here in the center of the country and move north, where the rainy season has moved south.  Tired and hungry in Vietnam. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224586620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224586620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224586620/tpod.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 07:25:04 -0400 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Hoi An, Vietnam

Spent four days wandering the streets of Hoi An.  A small town on a giant river.  It is known for its tailors and we instantly dove in.  Walking from shop to shop getting prices and finding fabrics.  We are on our way to Europe in the next two weeks and we dont have a single thing to wear, not to mention Christmas on the east coast, or thats our excuse anyway.  We found two shops, one with excellent quality suits and another that had been recommended by our hotel.  Our days were spent walking the cobble stone streets, passing the18th century French style shop fronts, in between fittings.  Tom got an excellent quality snazzy suit and we prepared ourselves for winter with jackets and lined trousers.  I think we went a bit crazy, especially with our funds as low as they are but I know I will be happy when I am walking through Munich and I am wearing more than a tank top and light skirt.Even though our days were uneventful, I enjoyed our stay.  Our room had a small patio and even a tub, which we soaked in after a rainy day.  We stopped at many street cafes, eating local cuisine, mostly noodle soup, and drinking local fresh beer, admiring the river front.  It was especially nice as the day came to an end, the lanterns that line the open patios were switched on and the traffic died down.  We sat by the river on our plastic stools, watching the water go by and chatting. The town had a timeless feel to it.  It felt as though many of the trades and market wares had stayed the same through the years and even with the violent history of Vietnam, the people of Hoi An had lived quietly out of the way.  How true that is I am not sure but I was glad to experience it.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224299640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224299640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224299640/tpod.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:55:01 -0400 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

So hear we are in this full on city, enjoying every minute of it.  All day long motos ride along the streets, ignorning lanes, sidewalks, and anything else that may go under a traffic law, that is except the helmet.  Recently there has been a strict 4 dollars fine for not having one.  Great business though.  There are helmets of all different shapes and sizes.  Some with fire ball motifes, some with pink flowers, others with a brim and even ones that look like a sun hat.  There are stores packed full with them.We have started to walk the streets, of this once communist city.  There are colors everywhere, capitalism is running wild.  Every person on the street is selling something or on their way with stacks and stacks of things to sell on their moto, teetering along the small streets making sure never to fully break, lest they cause a traffic jam.  The best part of this over zealous money making is the food.  There is food in store fronts, food on corners, food in the park, food on the road.  Everywhere there is something to eat and somewhere to sit to eat it.We have eaten delicious meat spring rolls, noodle soup galore and some of the best baguette sandwiches on fresh hot bread we have had in all of Asia.  Every time we get tired of walking, we stop at a roadside cafe, sit down to a dark black iced coffee on tiny plastic seats and enjoy the noise and motion of the city.  Every coffee comes with a bottomless cup of light jasmine iced tea.  You chug the tea and sip the coffee, I am in love with it.Our little apartment is above the noise, down a tiny alley.  We have an enclosed balcony, tv, fan and hot shower.  Couldnt ask for more. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224469740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224469740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tomandamanda/tanda/1224469740/tpod.html Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:32:03 -0400 The trip of a lifetime, join us, if you dare...

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Nha Trang, Vietnam

7 hours north on the train and we are in Nha Trang.  The beach, and lots of tourists, we sort of cannot be bothered to deal with it.  After lazy beach for all that time, beaches just dont look the same. 
]]>