TravelStream™ news feed for member yfjell on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/yfjell en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:19:07 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1167326460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1167326460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1167326460/tpod.html Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:19:07 -0500 Around the world 2006/2007 - follow my journey through selected countries in Africa and South America

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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires from 14 December - 28 December

Buenos Aires is a fantastic city, with so many things to offer. Huge as nothing, but still beautiful and structured, a metro and bus system that really lets you see all you want to see. for me Buenos Aires was much about taking spanish classes, doing touristy things, watching some movies, eating tall steaks and partying with good friends from Che Lagarto.

Also met up with Ditte in Buenos Aires, we went to La Brigada to have a good bottle of Cava de Weinert and the most tender steak so far on the trip! Must find a place that can beat it.

Stayed for the first 3 nights and Tango Inn in San Telmo, but was not too impressed. Moved to Che Lagarto in Venezuela 857, stayed most of the time in the room at top. Called orphanage...because it looked like one and we did behave like kids most of the time.

Took Spanish course with Buenos Aires Spanish School in Rodavadia 1559. 12 USD per hour for private teacher. Learned so much! Knew only little Spanish before I came, but
after a week it was possible to have a simple conversation with people.

Also met a Norwegian guy there, Thomas. He stayed at Che Lagarto, but moved to an apartment up in Moreno. Penthouse kind of thing with 30 sqm roof terrase, so we had a few parties up there.

Loved BA, but had to move on. Otherwise the days would have been the same, with very much focus on going out. Palermo, Brasilian places, Opera Bay etc are all fine, but not what I want to do too long. So Jeff, a guy from the US, and I decided to take the 13 hrs bus to
Mendoza. Cama Ejecutive is not bad! 3 course meal and breakfast, and a totally flat bed. Like Business Class on planes. Love it!

Hung out a lot with Wilbert, Alegria and Sabrina towards the end. Hoping of course to see them later on the travel.

Arriving Buenos Aires when you are not feeling well does not give the best first impression. And I must admit it took me 3 days to really find out why everybody loves Buenos Aires. In the beginning it was only a new big city. But you just end up loving it. From the so different neighbourhoods, via amazing steaks, a very structured transport system, the incredible clubs to the numerous tango shows. I could have stayed there longer than the 16 days I stayed there, but like to be on the move. And my Spanish course only lasted 7 days.

Stayed first at Tango Inn at Piedras. A hostel that is kind of streamlined, but not my type. Too organised, the bar downstairs was too dark and the guest too young. Decided to move to Che Lagarto after a few days, a very good choice it turned out. Also a party place, but it
happens more naturally...initiated by the people who stay there.

The buses of Buenos Aires are fantastic, much more flexible than the metro. You buy a guide called Guia T, that has maps of the whole city and explains exactly where the buses go. Pay less than a peso to travel anywhere. I loved them! And the drivers all think they are Ayrton
Senna, and does not like to come to a complete stop before passengers go off. Brilliant! The metro is quicker, but you don't see as much as on the buses.

A neighbourhood I found a bit overrated was Puerto Madera. Yes, they have some amazing restaurants but it has no charm. Would rather spend much more time up in Palermo, which was my favourite area. Next time I will stay there, and enjoy the restaurants and bars at Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as Plaza Serrano.

Took Spanish course as well. Had a private teacher through Buenos Aires Spanish School (BASP). Paid USD 12 per hour, was very happy with that. At least went through the basic grammar, which has really helped. And given me confidence to talk.

Met a lot of good people in Buenos Aires, and had some very long nights out. That amazes me still, that some nightclubs only pick up after 3am! Like Xmas eve, when we went to Opera Bay at 4am in the morning, and keeping it going until 07.30!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805720/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:03:46 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Singapore, Singapore

Yes...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805600/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:01:30 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Dhaka, Bangladesh

Grameenphone...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1196805480/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:59:23 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Colombo, Sri Lanka

Red bananas...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139090220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139090220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139090220/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:58:16 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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New Delhi, India

...and Pune
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1025816100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1025816100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1025816100/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:56:05 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nice...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139089800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139089800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/1139089800/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:51:46 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Bangkok, Thailand

One of my favourite countries ever...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/992206140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/992206140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/general-travels/992206140/tpod.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:50:36 -0500 Various travels undertaken in my life...

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Tokyo, Japan

Lost in Translation indeed...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/serbia_2007/1184928540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/serbia_2007/1184928540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/serbia_2007/1184928540/tpod.html Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:04:28 -0400 Exploring Beograd...and hopefully others parts of Serbia

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Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Landed after a pleasant flight from Oslo via Munich. Was picked up at the airport and taken to the Telenor office. Always fun to see advertising for my company in other parts of the world, creates a good family feeling :-)

During the next few days Pål Rune and I explored some parts of Belgrade, but work took most of the time. The last evening we had the opportunity to visit the pedestrian street, Kneza Mihailova and have a very medium tasting pizza down in a touristy street, with nice cobbled stones though. Name has escaped me.

Also visited Strahinjica Bana, a street with lots of bars and good nightlife. Spent some time on bar called Pastis, recommended.

But more in future entries, when I know the place more.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1160010000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1160010000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/yfjell/sabbatical-2006/1160010000/tpod.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:57:48 -0400 Around the world 2006/2007 - follow my journey through selected countries in Africa and South America

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Lüderitz/Luderitz, Namibia

Today the most amazing drive started, clearly the top in my short life. The drive from Cape Town up along the west coast to the border is fantastic. You drive a lot and fast, but still you absorb the changing landscapes around you.

We finally found the N7 heading north and Phil did the driving today. The Opel Corsa surprised us by suddenly only going FULL speed!!! A bit scary, but when you remembered there is something called clutch...things went better. Managed to fix it at the side of the road. Or more correctly, Phil did...

Passed through Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, where the Cedarberg should be visited. But not on this trip for us. Then we stopped in Klawer, where we tasted some quite medium wine before continuing. Not the driver of course, only the lucky passenger.

Stayed over the border at Oranje River Lodge. Nothing to write home about, except from a world class T-bone steak. Fantastic!

Next day we started our adventure on gravel roads. (Please do not let the rental company read this.) Visited the hot springs and then had a stunning scenic drive to Fish River Canyon, the second biggest in the world. 12 USD to get into the park, but worth it to see the canyon. Or just drive next to it and enjoy. After that we headed for Luderitz (or Lüderitz) on the coast. Almost didn´t make it because we forgot to fill the tank, only 2l left when we got there.

One of the most unbelievable things happened through the 100km trip through the desert from Aus to Luderitz on the coast. Collision with birds! Happened both ways. Horrible, we must have killed 150 small birds by crashing into them. They stayed on the road and did not fly away when the car came. Even when we honked and slowed down they kept on sitting there. Imagine how the front of the car looked like when we came to the petrol station. The guys working there was just laughing. Horrible!

Also passed Kolmanskop, the ghost town close to Luderitz. Fascinating.
Had a great evening, visiting the Yacht Club, the Barrel´s and Butcher´s Shop & Grill. Got help from a guy at the Yacht Club, called Rocko. The Barrel´s is a nice pub and Butcher´s Shop & Grill serves a gigantic seafood platter. Yummy!
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