August 2009 Odyssey Expedition
Departing on the 2nd of August to take part in a 32 week expedition from London to Sydney...
Singapore and Indonesia
And so we continue...
Singapore, one of the cleanest cities in the world, a few days here was easily filled in with trips to the zoo, the botanical gardens, museums, some more shopping and preparing ourselves for Indonesia.
Bags all packed we catch a ferry to the Indonesian island of Batam where we catch a connecting ferry that takes us to Jakarta. This journey takes us 26hrs and went quickly, we managed to entertain ourselves, lots of reading, and of course there was karaoke!
Spending a day in Jakarta then catching the train down to Yogyakarta, a very touristy town with lots of sights, bars and restaurants. We visited Borobodur and the Dieng Plateau – we’ve hit the rainy season here (but after 7 months of sunshine we cannot complain too much!), but it’s ok if you can time your things around the afternoon showers!
Gunung Bromo was our next stop on Java, with an early start to see the sunrise over the volcano, then some made the trip out to the coast to see the Whale Shark that are nesting just off the shoreline of Probolingo. Tourism Java made us very welcome, with journalists there to interview us for a newspaper article. It was a great afternoon out and getting to see the rare whale shark up close was a truly amazing experience.
Catching the bus and a ferry we make it to Bali and head straight for Kuta beach, where we’ve just spent the last few days relaxing. This is our last stop before heading to Australia so we’re making the most of the hotel pool and beach, and having a few drinks tonight to celebrate the fact we’ve just driven here!
Till next time...
Thailand and Malaysia
Thailand – loads of things to do and good food to eat!
Our adventures here started with a leaving party for Hughie, who is going off to live in China for the next few months, a large night out was had in Bangkok on Koh Sanh Road to send him on his way!
The next couple of days were spent visiting temples, palaces, gardens, and shopping malls – it was definitely easy to spend a few days here. From here we headed to Kanchanaburi to see the site of the Bridge over the River Kwai, and visit the museums around the area.
Then we headed to the beach – Koh Samui for 6 days of doing whatever you could do, a great place for diving, sightseeing, or just swimming and lazing around on the beach! It was a great time for rest and relaxation! Finding it hard to pull ourselves away from the beach in Thailand, luckily our first stop in Malaysia was the resort island of Langkawi – long white sand beaches in the Adaman sea – beautiful! So we spent a couple more days here on the beach, jet-skiing or boatrides around the islands, and a perfect place for Louise’s 40th Birthday! And a nice place for recovery the day after!
A short boat ride back to the mainland and straight down to Kuala Lumpur for a few days, visiting the KLCC building, Petronas Towers, China Town, Little India and of course more shopping!
Making our way south we stop at Melaka, an old fishermans village steep in history from it’s settlement – churches and museums help us to pass the time there.
From Melaka we make the drive to the Singapore border where we say goodbye to our truck before continuing the rest of the way on public transport, one last truck clean and photos of the truck before we head off into Singapore.
We’re here for a couple of days before heading off to Indonesia, 5 weeks to go until Sydney!
Till next time...
Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia
And so we continue...
Luang Prabang was a welcome change from China - 6 weeks of noodles and rice had some of us beat, so arriving in the french settled town of Luang Prabang with its brilliant french food was a pleasant change, some decided to take the slow boat down the Nam Ou River - 6 hours of amazing scenery and a very pleasant way to travel.
Luang Prabang was a welcome change from China - 6 weeks of noodles and rice had some of us beat, so arriving in the french settled town of Luang Prabang with its brilliant french food was a pleasant change, some decided to take the slow boat down the Nam Ou River - 6 hours of amazing scenery and a very pleasant way to travel.
A few days relaxing her before a drive down to Vang Vieng, which is world famous for tubing - a great way to spend an afternoon floating down the river stopping at the numerous bars that are along the river. A great way to spend the day after doing a big truck clean in the morning!
We've started to hit the South East Asian tourist trail now, so getting used to seeing other tourists is a little hard to get used to, but plenty more people to talk to and share travelling tales over a nice cold beer!
Christmas day in the sunshine started with a breakfast on the truck of baked beans and eggs on toast - setting us up for the day for more tubing or just relaxing, a brilliant day enjoyed by all.
We headed straight for the Vietnam border after this, crossing over and heading straight for Hue, and then down to Hoi An - the shopping capital amounst other things. Made to measure clothes and at a fraction of the price back home - every girls dream, even the boys were indulging!
A visit to My Son, the 4th century ruin just outside of town just before jumping on the overnight bus to Nha Trang to see the New Year in. Nha Trang has a reputation of being the beach party capital of Vietnam - and it didn't dissapoint! A great night was had at the Sailing club and carried on into the early hours of the morning for some! A day or 2 to recouperate on the beach and we headed down to Mui Ne, where kitesurfing and sand duning are very popular - not to mention the fantastic beach!
Then it was to Ho Chi Min City for a few days where the hustle and bustle of the city bought us back to real life! Even such a simple thing as crossing the road could seem life threatening at time! This city is buit for tourists so there was never a shortage of things to do - museums, palaces, pagodas, temples, the Cu Chi Tunnels, boat trips on the Mekong, and a spot more shopping...
From HCMC we got our last public bus ride (til Indonesia anyway!) to Phnom Penh where we met James and the truck again. 2 days here was filled in with visits to the Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng museum, more Wats and Temples. Then it was 3 days at the glorious Angkor Temples, an absolutely amazing place that mesmerises everyone. Although hot and busy, it was a great couple of days there. Siem Reap didn’t disappoint on the night life either!
We’re now heading into Thailand and starting our time there with a few days in Bangkok – the list of things to do there is endless!
Till next time...
The rest of China...
And so we continue...
Heading east, still lots of snow around and plenty more cold nights, a stop in Xi’an to visit the Terracotta Warriors before getting on the overnight train up to Beijing.
11 ½ hrs later we arrive in the capital which has plenty of things to keep us occupied. The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, Mao’s Tomb, Summer Palace and lots of bars and restaurants we fill in the 5 days here with no trouble at all! We also said goodbye to our travel buddies Meg and Dave as they go off on their own, their departure will be remembered with a good dress up and plenty of beers!
Back on the overnight train to Xi’an to catch more of the sights there before heading down to Chengdu, where we were caught in major roadwork’s which had us queued for 24hrs trying to get through – not the most fun thing to be doing but we managed to pass the time – lucky for the Chinese business men and women who were delivering food along the motorway – a true Chinese takeaway! Enduring this we made it to Chengdu – the home of the Giant Panda and Red Pandas – so cute!
Leaving Chengdu, stopping in to see the Giant Buddha carved into stone, spending a couple of hours here before moving on further south. We came across more roadwork’s meaning we were lead along some rural roads (or tracks!), although this took us longer than we expected, we did get to see some original villages and some fantastic scenery and give us an insight into how they live, many still without power or running water and being completely self sufficient, it was an amazing couple of days.
We made it to Lijiang, visiting the old city and other sights around, some discovered The Amsterdam Inn, where a great night was had, it was just us UKTOOZ people in the bar so we even had the controls of the music for the night! The very responsible owner made sure we left in time to get back to our hotel for the 12.30am curfew!
We made it to Lijiang, visiting the old city and other sights around, some discovered The Amsterdam Inn, where a great night was had, it was just us UKTOOZ people in the bar so we even had the controls of the music for the night! The very responsible owner made sure we left in time to get back to our hotel for the 12.30am curfew!
Then to Dali, the original backpacker town of China, this place had a great chilled out atmosphere about it, which is exactly what was done! Walking round the old town, in amongst the mountains and pagodas was a perfect way to spend our last days in a Chinese city. From here it was the start of the long drive to the border, stopping at the Stone Forest beside Kunming and bush camping our way out of China.
A total of 40 days in China, it’s an interesting place, so full of many different things, it’s been amazing and also a little bizarre at times, but we’re now in Laos, where we’re beginning to thaw out in the South East Asia sunshine, more scenery, more food, more sights – life could be worse!
Till next time...
Tibet
And so we continue...
Saying a sad goodbye to Nepal we embark on China, the last 15km of road from Borderlands to the border takes us just over 2 hours – there doesn’t seem to be much interest in the upkeep of the roads around this part!
Crossing the Friendship Bridge we meet our 2 Chinese guides, Kevin and Dawa who are here to help us through the next 5 weeks – we’re very pleased to be have someone around to translate the menus for us – a bowl of chicken feet can now safely be avoided! (but of course that’s not the reason we have a guide!) The border takes us a few hours, a couple of checks of our luggage (you would have thought one would be enough...) and we head into Tibet.
A night in Zhangmu to help acclimatize to the altitude we’re heading up to and an early start up the road only open between 8pm and 8am due to roadworks – some say the scariest road so far with a rock face on one side and a sheer drop down the other – but with James’ expert driving we’re through without a scratch and on the road towards Everest Base Camp!
Some breathtaking scenery on the way, one minor problem with the gearbox holds us up, and true team spirit comes into play when we have to push the truck at 5000m altitude, definitely not the easiest thing to do at the best of time but we all pull together and get through! After a few hours, James has the truck as a good as new, so we carry on, a long drive up to base camp where unfortunately the weather doesn’t work in our favour and is cloudy, a bush camp back down the road and we wake with clear skys and fantastic views of the Himalayas. Everyone survived the affects of altitude, the -20 degree nights and long days, and it was all worth it – a once in a lifetime experience!
A stop in Shigatse and Gyantse to visit some monasteries before hitting Lhasa, the home of the Potala Palace, great food and lots of shopping. Plenty of things to keep us occupied here for a couple of days before heading further east and north into mainland China which greeted us with plenty of snow and much colder weather, setting us up with some challenging conditions – our resident chef Martin and his trusty sidekicks has never cooked at -9 degrees before! We’re in Lanzhou now, back down to a normal altitude but it’s still cold and there’s plenty of snow around.
We’re looking forward to the sights and attractions in the few weeks we have left in China!
Till next time...
Nepal
And so we continue...
Everyone has had a great time in Nepal!
The first few days we spent at Chitwan National Park, in a tiny Village called Sarauha, it was a great place to unwind and get used to the Nepalese pace of life. Plenty of things to do around this area with elephant rides, jeep safaris, horseback riding or just sitting and watching the world go by! The most laughs came from those willing to partake in the elephant washing, like a real life gigantic bucking bronco – provided loads of entertainment for the onlookers!
From Chitwan we cruised on towards Pokhara, the first sight of the mountains and the beautiful Lake Fewa. Yet another place for forced relaxation, or for the fitness freaks it was the start of the 10 day treks (or for some not so keen a few day hikes were on order!) It was peak season in Pokhara so the place was full with tourists, and there was plenty of food and drink on offer – the first real chance to order beef and bacon – and it tasted good!! The Peace Pagoda on the top of the hill provided some great views of the town across the lake and for those who took a taxi ride to Saranghot were rewarded with fantastic mountain views.
The 2 week break beginning some decided to stay in Pokhara a little longer instead of heading to the over populated capital. For the rest, we were thrown head first into the madness of the streets of Thamel, and quickly learning the art of dodging the rickshaws and taxis on the narrow streets. Kathmandu leaves you wanting for nothing, good food, streets filled with restaurants, bar and a great place to get cheap winter clothes (either original or fakes – depending on your budget!).
Sam, Dan, Meg, Dave, Joost and Samuel were all off on the Everest Base camp trek – and came back with having completed the trek with success (and sore feet!).
2 weeks away from the truck to do whatever was desired, a good chance to re-charge the batteries and prepare ourselves for the next 5 weeks in China.
And now we’re back on the truck, having a couple of days at Borderlands, just before the Chinese border, filling the days in with bungy jumping, rafting and gorge swinging and all that crazy stuff.
Till next time...
India
And so we continue...
After a couple of well deserved rest days in Amritzar, (and a truck clean of course!) it was up to Dharamsala and Mcleod Ganj where the Dali Lama is in exile, a very laid back place in the hills, where the temperature was cooler allowing us to cool down from those hot days in Pakistan.
Leaving Dharamsala we travelled down to Delhi with some really spectacular scenery, mountain passes and driving through lots of little villages, giving us a real feel for Indian life, it did take us all day to cover 150km but the views were well worth the longer drive!
Arrived into Dehli, staying in Pahar Ganj, an area full of shops and restaurants and very close to all the attractions, a great break with some of us getting to the Champions Trophy cricket matches that were on while we were in town, a great day was had by all (except for the fact that no alcohol was allowed in the grounds!)
On to Jaipur to the Amber Fort and a very nice hotel which for some made it harder to go out sightseeing! But of course we managed, and were treated to a fantastic fort and local markets, along with a night at the cinema to view the latest Bollywood film, although not in English it was still a great night!
Then Agra, the home of the infamous Taj Mahal, a visit early in the morning to try to avoid the crowds, a beautiful sight, and a shock to the senses walking out into the dirty streets of Agra afterwards, amazing how the two extremes can live side by side...
Further east we stopped at Varanasi, where the Hindi’s come to pure the soul and be laid to rest. An early morning boat ride along the Ganges seeing the burning Ghats was really an experience to remember, or try and forget.
From here we’re now heading into Nepal, where our first stop is Chitwan National Park to wind down and get ready for our 2 week break from the truck, we’ll fill you in on the activities when we’re back on board!
Till next time...
Pakistan
And so we continue..
So we made it out of Iran with the lasting impressions of the great drive through the desert and a great bush camp before we hit the Pakistan border.
It took a whole day waiting at the border (but there was air conditioning!) and the first night spent at the customs department – so clearly we didn't make it very far (a taste of things to come)! The girls were glad to get rid of the headscarves finally, quite strange after 2 weeks! The first day of travel with armed guards and the worst roads to date, covering as little as 200km in an 8hr day, so a stop in Dalbandin where it was possible to get hands on Pakistani Beer – something very welcome after the dry spell in Iran!
Arriving in Quetta for a day to spend at the sights & eating the buffet at the posh hotels, news of trouble further into Pakistan came so we therefore had to make the decision to move out of Pakistan as soon as we could.
Put under police escort for the rest of the time, we travelled through some fantastic scenery and witnessed some of the worst driving ever – lucky to escape without a scratch ourselves! We didn't stop too often and stayed in police compounds so not quite the Pakistan we had looked forward to or anticipating... but that's all part of the 'expedition' factor - an easy holiday this certainly isn't!
An overnight stop in Lahore and a visit to the Lahore Fort before heading to the border, and into India! Cold beers at duty free and a couple of hours at the border and joining in with a lot of locals at the border ceremony, a nightly occasion between the Pakistan and Indian sides, a great show enjoyed by all,
Back to Mrs Bhandari’s Guest House for our first Indian curry and looking forward to things to come!
Till next time...
Iran
And so we continue...
We wave Turkey goodbye and enter Iran with Ramadan in full swing, through the border which was quite simple, our first taste of Iranian food at the border restaurant and on the road again (travellers are pardoned from the fasting rules of Ramadan which is lucky for us!) The first night was a bush camp in the middle of no-where with no disruptions, a perfectly clear calm night, preparing us for the dessert camps for later down the road. Iranian hospitality has been at it’s best with a helpful hand at every turn.
The first town of Tabriz for the Blue Mosque, Bazaar and local treats for a day before heading north the Babek Fort, a 9th century ruin, where some took up the challenge of climbing the mountain for spectacular views of the surrounding area, and also surprised to find a donkey living up the top! It was then a stop at the Caspian Sea where our resident swimmer Joost was the only one to brave the water.
Onto Masulah where some chill out time was on order in amongst the mud coloured terraced houses surrounded by mountains and waterfalls, some say one of Iran’s most beautiful villages, a couple of days spent here to recharge the batteries before heading down the road to Esfahan, the city that never sleeps.
Local knowledge helped us find a couple of restaurants that were serving food during the day – a blessing for us to indulge in hamburgers and pizzas! The 3 days here flew, tours around the city and bazaar, shopping – the girls getting down with the latest Iranian trends, and the spectacular attractions around Imam Square.
Bidding goodbye to Esfahan to the south where it got hotter and an afternoon walk around Persepolies and then onto Yazd, the last city stop for us here, a welcome break at the Oasis hotel right in the centre where we were able to join in the celebrations of the end of Ramadan (thankfully!), more mosques to visit and some being welcomed into the locals home for the afternoon, the Iranian hospitality is fantastic! We’re now heading east to Pakistan, through fantastic desert bidding goodbye to one of the friendliest nations around.
Till next time...
The rest of Turkey...
And so we continue...
Oludeniz had some of Turkeys best offerings, there was paragliding off the summit of the 2000m Babadag mountain, a day boat cruise on the med, a lamb on the spit, loads of relaxation and plenty of places to drink and enjoy the nightlife in the town were getting used to this beach lifestyle!
From Oludeniz we followed the coast road around the Western Mediterranean to Olympos, one of the most stunning drives in the world and the last time well see the see until South East Asia so were making the most of it here! More rest and relaxation was on order as well as the local ruins and the Chimaera Flames.
Moving from there to the beautiful Ilhara Valley where we walked a 5km stretch with ruined churches along the way, a great way to stretch the legs after the previous drive day. From there we came to Goreme, the centre of the Cappadocia region, where the opportunity for hot air ballooning was too hard to pass up for some, and early start was rewarded with the most beautiful views of the fairy chimneys and pigeon houses. A Turkish evening with Belly Dancing gave some of us the opportunity to show us (and many others!) their moves, and another chance to relax by the campsite pool for many.
From leaving Goreme, the scenery drastically changes as we enter the barron mountains of Eastern Turkey, camping our way along toward Iran and seeing Nemrut Dagi for sunset and sunrise, then skirting along stunning Lake Van as we headed towards Dogubayzit, the last stop in Turkey before entering Iran, with lots of talk about whats ahead for us there.
Till next time...
Europe to Turkey
And so we continue...
From the beauties of Vienna into further depths of Europe, next stop Budapest where some enjoy the Hungarian baths and a traditional goulash, some even finding a local to show them what the nightlife has to offer here!
Then onto Romania where we followed Draculas footsteps along through Sighasoara, Bran and Bucharest with some fantastic scenery leading the way. Next into Bulgeria with a night in a monastery with the most interesting menu yet, the translations were somewhat misleading but no-one could miss out on the Pungent Chips with Cheese and Tounge Pain that were on offer.
We’ve crossed into Turkey, the first visit to the Iranian Embassy to get out tourist visas, the first chance for us ladies to be dressed in our black outfits we will know so well soon! We had success there so there was plenty of time to get out and enjoy what Istanbul has to offer, the Blue Mosque, Hammams, kebabs and nice cold beers!
We are now heading down the Aegean coast, having visited ANZAC cove and stayed at the infamous Boomerang Bar in Eceabat, then the first taste of the beach at Pamucak at a fantastic campsite, visiting Efesus and having some well deserved R & R at the seaside. The weather is hot hot hot so any chance for a cool down is welcome!
Oludinez beckons with the blue lagoon and loads of activities including boat cruises and paragliding to keep us busy!
Till next time...
And they are off...
And so the journey begins!
30 people from all over the world embarking on the trip of a life time!
30 people from all over the world embarking on the trip of a life time!
We left London after an early start at Hammersmith, onto the ferry and over to France, with the first night spent at a campsite in Belguim.
After bushcamping in Germany on the second night we made it to Prague where we have all enjoyed what is on offer, cheap food and drink, spending a full day in and around the city.
We’ve now made it to Vienna where we’ll be indulging in plenty of coffee and cake amongst other things to see and do.
Next stop Budapest for some thermal baths and goulash! So far we’ve been blessed with the great European summer sun, and looking forward to more of it ahead.
Till next time!