Saturday 16th October...Arose to a bright cold sunny day. We can see the landscape more clearly and its like an Alpine heaven especially with the log cabins dotting the edge. We'd read that The lake's shores are inhabited by many minority ethnic groups such as the Mosuo Norzu Yi Pumi and Tibetan. The most numerous of them all are the Mosuo people also spelt Moso people said to be a s
In the mountains
Here we are in Tilcara. It is a small town high in the Argentine mountains. Today was sooo amazing. We got the bus early after not at all enough sleep which is becoming the norm. At around 7.15 it picked us up with all our luggage as we scoffed down some breakfast. Off we took on what would prove to be stunning. At first there wasnt heaps to see some mountains and lots of mining going on. Soon
Vanuatu Luganville and Port Vila
We made it to Vanuatu after a great day at Dravuni. Our first stop is the island of Espirito Santo and the city of Luganville. Not much of a city really. Most of the construction was done by the US during WWII. The dock still had some of the original quonset huts.The town had about 11000 people. We had set up a shore excursion from the boat to go in a Dugout Conoe up the RIRI river to a Blue
Cats and the City
Some people said said Lima would be boring and a waste of time how wrong they were. Lima has a nice vibe it's the only capital city in South America that sits on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and like Santiago the Andes sit right behind it. We took a taxi from the airport through the colourful shanty towns and set up in a hostel in Miraflores that was more like a house and we were the only one
AntiJapanese feeling running high
Hi AllWell we went for a day out into the city. We wanted to see a church and a mosque but unfortunatly both of them were closed so we only saw them from the outside which was a shame.Whilst we were walking around we stumbled upon an antiJapanese demonstrations. The people demonstrating seemed to be mainly students and it appeared to be in good humour. I can't tell you what they were shouting or
Blueskin Bay
Hey Made some photos of the Blueskin Bay. Unfortunately I was forced to cycle back pretty soon when a storm emerged. Anyway a few nice pictures from the Bay and some chicken vs. peacock ones.CheersStefan
Recovering from Orlando only 5 days to go
It has been a while since the last posting but it has been go go go. To recap The trip from Long Beach to Orlando went like this I let Jules sit in wider leg room seat and I got stuck next to a family with a baby land in Texas Jules still has good seat I got a fresh family and you guessed it with a baby. I thought noise cancelling headphones cancelled noise not true or baby proofed but e
The King and I
I'm fortunate that I've been able to travel relatively easily throughout the United States the past couple of weeks but I'm unfortunate not to have grown up with the icons and progressive climate of the 50s and 60s. Today has been a lesson in American cultural and political history. I didn't realise how much good music had it's roots here in Memphis epitomised by the extraordinary life of Elvis.
Week one in Quepos
What a week it has been and I havenrsquot even made it to the national park yet the namesake of the region. I arrived last Sunday and after a small mixup interbus was an hour and a half late delivering me to my destination after arriving an hour early to Monteverde this was very surprising I was with my host family. I can only try to explain the living situation however Irsquom not so s
Foreign teachers in hot water
Photos Photos from the National Day Holidayhellip..with a contingent of a dozen or so Chinese teachers I am on the school bus on the way to a restaurant no one seems to know exactly where to celebrate Suzy's wedding. Roger a Chinese English teacher who speaks very good English I have guitar cases I am also carrying a bedspread my wedding gift. It appears the most usual thing in China
LA
We booked the USA hostel in LA and it was in Hollywood off Hollywood Blvd right near the Kodak Theater and the Chinese Theater where they hold all the movie premiers. The hostel was really big with loads of great people staying there.Wed 13th Oct We walked down the Blvd and back looking at all the gold stars on the ground handed to people for directing acting in movies or stage TV and radio. So
Going to Gwada
I found out in May this year that my application was successful to work as an English Language Assistant in Guadeloupe a French dpartement in the Caribbean. My contract began on the 1st of October so to kick things off I flew over a couple of weeks beforehand to get everything sorted before starting work. My previous experience in France had taught me that getting things sorted can take time a
October 16 2010
What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.Helen KellerI read this in a tourism magazine during my trip back from Antigua today. My parents had been here since Tuesday and we stayed in Antigua last night for them to catch a shuttle to the airport. This quote really resonated with me following their visit in my beloved Guatemala I am so thankful
Leigh is 60 today
Today Leigh is 60 years young We had a great weekend. A big thank you to Ben Joseph and Patrick for coming up from Hamilton and Auckland for the weekend it was great to have your company along with George and Beb. And what a surprise to see our lovely friends from Tauranga Sally and Ian many thanks for driving up for a BIRTHDAY SURPRISE.On Saturday afternoon we met at the Petanque Court i
Munich to Vienna and finding a Red Elephant
I was awake before 9 for a change without an alarm so was at breakfast at 9.30. It was already starting a little with the light rain. Altho Marienplatz was closer for the Ubahn and likely thru heavier Sat. morning shopper traffic decided on a slighty longer walk back past my previous Pension to the Ubahn station which I already know in terms of end of line names etc just in case times were tig
Day 25 July 8 San Giminano
Irsquoll admit it. I was getting tired of travelling. I was still loving Italy loving everything we were seeing and doing but walking into the luxury hotel at San Giminano enjoying their buffet breakfast knowing that the town was so small we didnrsquot have to rush to anything it made me realize I was kind of tired of roughing it and kind of tired of sightseeing and kind of tired of th
Day 26 July 9 a hiccup in the plan
As I said not every moment can be peaceful or every day perfect. The key is to roll with the punches and not let it bother you something I assure you I am not well practiced at although my husband is a master.We had been planning to head out of San Giminano before noon hoping to hit Venice before 4pm. We slept as late as taking advantage of the delicious buffet breakfast would allow then he
Day 26 July 10 Wandering Venice
Breakfast was served in our room at 9am a simple fare of coffee croissants and jam. We ate it and our remaining fruit looking out our window to the Grand Canal. Then we set out to do what we had heard was the best thing to do wander the streets of Venice.Our hotel had provided us with a perfect little pocket map to Venice which we used to navigate for the next six days and which I wish I had
Day 27 July 11 Secret Itineraries Tour
I had booked us the famed ldquoSecret Itinerariesrdquo tour of the Doges Palace. This was also the first time we would see San Marco up close. We were switching hotels today and before we checked out I made Sam run up on the Academia Bridge and take my picture from our window so I would always remember how close I had stayed to the bridge and to the Grand Canal.Hotel Galleria held our bags
Fun in Fiji
This morning we woke up ridiculously early and were picked up by our taxi. We headed to the airport where we checked in and got ready to head off to FIJI The three of us boarded our plane and off we went. The ride was short and sweet and before we knew it we were at the hotel. The hotel is really quite lovely and our room is fantastic With just two beds Meghan and I would be sharing one an