Thursday, 11 October 2012

Its been a long time

I have been useless at posting and blogging and do apologise for those who are actually reading my blog. Nothing has been updated for a while.But it'll be back on track ASAP. It's been a mental 2 months for me coming back from traveling in Asia and moving into my first home in Edinburgh. I feel there's not been a spare minute to breath let alone blog. But here i am now which is what counts right? Here are a few images from sections of my travels. More shall be added and reflected on tomorrow! .... so for now enjoy....

           There's no such thing as Tesco delivery... more how much one man can fit on his bike.
 On the Elephant , classic tourist attraction. It wasn't as comfy as we thought, especially with 3 on the back ...
               Ellie looking casual on the bamboo bridges waterfall walk.

Thursday, 2 August 2012

ASIA



                                                       Fanny's Ice cream

Just spent the day walking around Hanoi before gap adventures starts this evening.We researched places to eat and ended up in an amazing French style cuisine. We then went for a walk around the lake followed by a Fanny’s founue ice cream served in ice steamed bowels. 



We decide to head to see the Tomb of ho chi Minh which was a ridged grey stone building. We decided to come back, freshen up before we meet everyone on our tour. Unfortunately we ended up nearly getting knifed by a taxi driver and had to run from the taxi. This was our first time getting scammed. This was embarrassing running into our hotel in a tizz trying to explain to the women at the desk that this man could possibly come after us. Which was not the case, we had never experienced a scam before. Brianna who we hadn't met just yet was on the computer and mentioned later on the tour that wasn't the best first impression. 3 girls totally scared shitless and acting like complete freaks over something that happens all the time. Nevertheless we laugh about it now. What Brianna didn't see was Annie in hibernation and shock for the next hour. She was asking me to go out for a fag and when i did scan the streets for a team of middle aged taxi men coming with guns.I have no idea what she was expecting or thinking in here head.But for a moment it was if we where in an episode of the Mentalist. 


Something soon cheered us up, well me for anyways. We had a new member to the team that had moved in that day. His name was Jerry and he was a mini lizard. Ellie nearly squished him in the bathroom door a few times but he wasn't a quitter got back on his feet and carried on scurrying around for the rest of our stay at that hotel.

Last night after dinner we went to the backpackers central and met a few new faces as you do often out here. It got me thinking it’s strange how the English language ties you with people over here.We did try a club but it was the strangest experience packed full of paralytic locals so went to temple bar where we met the Americans.

It's the last night here before we head to the ocean for an overnight boat trip!! Looking forward to the bike ride to the beach for some breeze and sand… We have our first bus ride before hand. Fun times ahead im sure. :)



To the Ocean... Halong Bay





Hanoi

Hanoi -city of sleeping people
Just arrived this morning yet again minimal sleep was required to spend the whole day consuming the strange and hetic lifestyle here.
First impressions it’s MENTAL.The drivers and amount of loot is unbelievable.
Cautious of our tummies and what we have heard about the street food we hunted in the blazing heat to find a suitable place to eat and re-hydrate.This proves to be painful nearly getting knocked over by mopeds,bananas or the sheer smell of the litter filled streets,yea we were far from
Hong Kings health and safety mania.
Finally found a place that has normal styled chairs instead of childrens plastic stools,their was hope for he 3 white girls that looked like ae had been dipped in a one of the frying pans near by.
We had problems with the language barrier but managed to get the shop assistant to navigate us to the lake that we wanted to find.Along with some eatable foot after spending about 10 mins talking to the other lady trying to explain bottled water. Sharades is the game we play here!
Off to supper now and to the backpackers hub for a drink hopefully not going to be swept away by the hetic Hanoi pigs hands that we saw bathing in a bucket on the side of every corner.

Macau

      
Macau- Went to the Asian Vegas!It was the strangest place imaginable,time was easily lost,it could have been night or day there.There were no windows just strange rooms that imitated famous places and themes. We went to the ice world their,this mall styled place was enormous! We got kitted out in huge blue coats and boots for the 8 degree rooms. In the ice rooms lay ice mazes to slides and ice pandas. Then we headed to the hard rock hotel to have a drink and try to win some money, i ended up winning 100 dollars which isn't much but its not a loss hey. Ended the trip with a rocky ferry back to Hong Kong when then on arrival Annie may lost her phone……this yes was a problem and not found but nevertheless has now been sorted!!!!





Last day in Hong kong, - hike to the Big Buddha on the way up we took the Cristal cable car,I would have liked to experience the walk but it was far to hot and not advised. The views from the air showed the shear size and craftsmanship of the huge Buddha! To end the extremely busy week we went to the Peak in the evening to experience the lit up cubes they call Hong Kong,one last time. We then of course had another frozen yogurt ! Overall I’ve had a whole new experience,its hard to explain how to describe this place,it’s busy yet chilled atmosphere has thrown my expectations over board and I’m looking forward to Hanoi tomorrow. Hanoi is expected to be quiet the opposite,cheap,busy and also supposedly no driving rules! good luck to us all.

     


Hong Kong


 Today has been another hectic, hot and busy day. We went to Kowloon by ferry, it was a very different atmosphere, much sunnier and less westernized. We experienced the markets and the Kaowwllon wall park also the Peninsula ( although only went in as the queue was too long for tea) Before the area was a shanty town, abolished in 1992 to make a calm, beautiful park. We met a girl with blue hair and have now been tempted to try it out…. but I’m probably not going too. Seaweed is now my favorite thing to eat out here, as its hot all i have been wanting to do is drink,drink,drink.






Hong Kong




1st day in Hong Kong- eaten the best spring roles made by Nelly, visited the lanes,been to the peak to see an amazing view of Hong Kong, been to a bird sanctuary, seen some turtles too also been riding the local transport (trams etc). Just come back from the country club, went swimming in the rain and plan to play some tennis later this week.  Been overwhelmed  by everything to be honest, everywhere is so clean and the atmosphere is friendly, apart from the lady that didn’t let us take a photo of her egg stall….  Off to Soho tonight, excited to say the least .

Travelling begins- Hong Kong

 Off to Hong Kong with Ellie Wright and Annie-May.  Ill be trying to Keep whoever is interested in the Culture,art and what we see and experience.