Mark Travels Asia

Exams!!!

2009-08-06T18:14:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately I am on my way back to the UK :-(

I failed some exams which i have to pass so goodbye my Intrepid family who have been fantastic for the last month or two!!! And goodbye Asia!!!

So my trip has finished, and therefore so has this blog!!! I have over a thousand picture (which has cost me a bomb to print) and loads of little tickets or flyers to make my scrapbook/album. So that should keep me busy for a few days!!! LOL!!!

Anyway will be nice to be home in Wales next Thursday, and can't wait to hold my niece!!!

M xXx

Siem Reap & Angkor

2009-08-05T14:57:00.001+01:00

We had 3 nights in Siem Reap, which was great!!! After exploring the town on the first day, we spent the entire second day at the temples of Angkor, which is the main tourist site in Cambodia.

The ancient temples built from 800 AD - 1300 AD we stunningly beautiful. The main temple, Angkor Wat, was massive and has many beautiful carvings of Hindu tales and then also many Buddhist statues which were incorporated later on. I also saw the Bayon, a huge temple showing the 4 faces of God, and Ta Prom (AKA the 'Tomb Raider' temple), which is covered in jungle vines and tree trunks growing through the temple.

Just arrived in Bangkok!!!

M xXx
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Sihanoukville & Kompong Cham

2009-08-04T08:21:00.001+01:00

Sihanoukville (see-an-oo-k-vil) was great, because there were just beaches, beaches and more beaches. We only had a day in Kompong Cham but did a lot in that short period of time.

We had lunch at a local home, which was built on stilts over water. Where we had SPIDER RICE WINE, and played with the live spiders!!! In the afternoon we hired a tuk-tuk to a local Buddhist temple, but on the way we had monsoon rain.

We then travelled to Siam Reap, where the temples of Angkor are.

M xXx
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Odd Food!!!

2009-08-01T05:25:00.002+01:00

OK, since I have been away I have eaten some DIFFERENT foods!!! Quite a few here in Cambodia.

So far...

•Donkey
•Jellyfish
•Chickens Feet
•Pig's Penis
•Snake
•Frog
•Dog
•Ants
•Crickets
•Worms
•Spider

All quite tasty (except the worms, and wasn't a huge fan of spider legs!!!)

M xXx

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Phnom Penh and Chambok

2009-07-28T11:18:00.001+01:00

So crossed the border from HCMC to Phnom Penh on a 6 hour coach. Phnom Penh is such an insane city!!! There aren't as many bikes but instead of taxis there are tuk tuk!!!

While in Phnom Penh I visited the Royal Palace which shows the Hindu influence in the Buddhist country. There are many depictions of Ganesh and Buddha's image resembles that of Shiva in many cases. Cambodia has a horrible past and it is something which cannot be avoided!!! So went to the killing fields and the war museum.

We went to a homestay the day after, in a village called Chambok. We had another night of rice wine and a fantastic meal!!!

Moved onto Sihanoukville which is right by the sea. It has fantastic beaches and is situated right next to a national park, so hope to top up my tan and go hiking in the jungle.

M xXx

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Nha Trang & Saigon!!!

2009-07-24T20:28:00.001+01:00

After a heavy night on the beach in Hoi an, we caught a day train to Nha Trang. We went snorkeling and spent some time at the beach. It was great saw some angel fish, needle fish, and loads of other brightly coloured tropical fish!!!

After getting a train to Ho Chi Minh City (AKA HCMC/Saigon) caught a bus to see the Cu Chi tunnels, where the Viet Cong (VC) hid from the americans in the war. Was very interesting and even walked down some of the 'larger' tunnels. HCMC was the capital of South Vietnam and has a lot of museums/palaces. The best thing is post office!!! Honestly!!! It looks like a huge ornate train station, its beautiful!!!

Off to Cambodia on Monday which I'm really excited about, but my trip with the group (10 of which have been with me since Beijing!!!) is also finishing, which is a great shame!!!

M xXx
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Hue & Hoi An

2009-07-20T10:50:00.001+01:00

Hue is the old capital of northern Vietnam, and in the centre of the city there is a palace inside a citadel, similar to the Forbidden Palace in Beijing. There wasn't an awful lot to do there, except go on a 5 hour boat trip to one of the Emperor's mausoleums, which I wasn't all that interested in.

Hoi an, is a very ancient city. And has some beautiful streets, and the 'Japanese Covered Bridge'.
The big attraction here is getting clothes made to measure in 1 day!!! So as you can guess loads of the girls bought dresses etc. Cycled to the beach one day, and just been relaxing by the pool, which was great because it actually felt as if I was on a normal holiday!!!

Off to Nha Trang tomorrow on a day train, where there are stunning beaches so should be fun!!!
M xXx
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Halong Bay & Catba Island

2009-07-14T14:50:00.001+01:00

We left Hanoi by bus for Halong bay, which is a UNESCO protected archipelago of around 2000 islands. It is so beautiful!!! We took a private boat out. On the sea, and had a seafood lunch. Later we visited this cave, called magnificent cave, and it was!!! With these beautiful rocks which looked like monkeys, or a turtle etc.

After almost leaving the new Swiss couple behind, we went swimming in the sea, and just jumped off the boat!!! After 5 hours on the boat we arrived on Catba Island and went to our hotel, followed by a gorgeous meal in the town.

The next day we went kayaking around the islands and found some secluded beaches, where we swam and sunbathed, and then returned to Hanoi for a day, where some of us had dog for dinner. YES DOG!!! It was delicious!!! Next we are catching the night train to Hue, the old capital city.

M xXx
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Vietnam!!!

2009-07-13T04:49:00.000+01:00

So after a mammoth bus ride of 11 hours from Kunming to the Vietnamese-Chinese border, and then another hour on a bus to get to Sapa, I finally arrived in my next hostel!!!

Sapa is an old french post town, near the border, and is high up in the mountains, making it a very popular base for trekkers!!! We trekked for 7 hours to Ban Ho village, a Tay Kinh tribe, where we ate and drank too much, had just relaxed by swimming in the river near a waterfall!!! After returning to Sapa we got back on the bus to Lao Cai, where we caught our overnight train to Hanoi, the Capital!!!

Loving Vietnam!!! Hanoi is very french; I was expecting it to be quite a large city but its not!!! Saw a traditional water puppet show, and been to a museum!!! We said goodbye to Amy and Jules, and our leader from Hong Kong, Terry :-(. On are way to Halong Bay now, which I'm really looking forward to!!!

M xXx
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Miao Villages

2009-07-05T08:39:00.000+01:00

After leaving Hong Kong, we collected the two irish girls from Guangzhou, and caught a night train to Kaili. Then caught a bus to Maoliao village, which is a small village in the hills, where they dress in traditional Miao clothes and speak a local dialect!!!

After a great evening of rice wine and dancing in a local farmhouse we trekked for 4 hours to the next village, Xijiang, where we saw a cultural show and got to dress in some local traditional outfits!!!

We returned to Kaili today where we had left our large rucksacks and got a bus to the next city Guiyang, where we can get a night train to Kunming!!! Not long left in China now, which I'm sad about because I can't speak Vietnamese, and my Mandarin has been very useful!!!

Still waiting for news from home about my niece's birth, and missed a good fry up after my hangover!!! I don't know when I will get internet again, as I am trekking in an old french post town when I cross the Vietnamese-Chinese border.

M xXx
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Hong Kong is Great!!!

2009-07-01T02:39:00.001+01:00

So, left the Longji terraces for Guilin city, where we caught our train to the border town Shenzhen. Two of the girls didn't get a double entry visa and therefore stayed in China at Guangzhou. We will pick them up later!!!

So I have now completed my first Intrepid tour and am starting my new one today!!! Lost the Swedes Viktor and Kajssa, Avril from Ireland, Bronwyn from S Africa and Brian from USA. However just moved across the road to the new hotel and can't wait to meet the new 5 people (who are all brits we are told!!!) So another new room mate!!!

Chloe has spent the last two day taking me around, which has been brilliant!!! Hong Kong is amazing and it is most definitely a home from home!!!! Unfortunately back into China tomorrow, but then there is Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore still to see!!! Hahahaha!!!

Any ways speak soon!!!

M xXx
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Yangshou & Longji!!!

2009-06-27T15:16:00.001+01:00

So today I left one of the best places I have ever been to and just arrived in another fantastic place this evening!!!

Yangshou was VERY westernised which I didn't like!!! It reminded me of a holiday resort, but the local scenery was beautiful!!! There are these stunning karsts everywhere and we took a bamboo raft river trip on the "Li", which was fun!!!

We then travelled around 15mins further into the countryside and stayed in this fantastic inn, in a small village called Chaolong. I just completely rested there for a few days, and had a swim in the river which was a nice change!!!

Now in the Longji Terraces which are gorgeous!!! Did a 20mins hike from the road to the village, (we were told 40mins but were just too quick) and set off tomorrow on a 4hr hike (let's see how quick we do that one) to our next hostel!!!

Loving it here!!! Will be in Hong Kong by Tuesday, and will lose some of our group which will be sad!!! :-( But also gain some new faces which should be interesting as we have clicked so well!!! Even thou it has only been two and a half weeks with this group it feels like a month!!!

Off to bed now ready for the trekking in the morning!!!

M xXx
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Xi'an & Shanghai!!!

2009-06-22T14:49:00.001+01:00

OK, so in China some web sites cannot be access, one of which is my blog site!!! So if there is no response for a while that is the reason!!!

So Xi'an is famous for the terracotta warriors, which was brilliant!!! The city is the old capital so it has a city wall and some impressive buildings!!!

In shanghai, I spent a day with Yimin who I met in Kyoto, and saw quite a lot of the city including Yu Gardens, the Bund, and tried some local food such as Jellyfish!!! Also went to the museum and to had a foot massage in a spa which was nice (although a little painful in my insomniac region!!!).

On a 23hr train now to Yangshou in the southern China!!! Yes I did type that right!!! 23hrs!!!

M xXx
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Beijing!!!

2009-06-17T03:27:00.001+01:00

So these people I'm with until Hong Kong, and some continue on to Bangkok (no jokes pls!!!).

All good people. I'm the youngest out of the 16 of us. 4 Irish, 1 Oz, 1 South African, 1 American, 2 Swedes, and 7 UK.

Get on with them all, been Great Wall of China, which I hiked a silent section for 3 hrs (which is apparently the fastest group so far, and is usually done in 6 hrs!!!). Been to Tianamen Square and the Forbidden Palace, as well as the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.

Also hate how chinese try to sell crap to you!!! They grab your arm and I was on the edge of flattening 6 little chinese women to attacked me after stepping off an escalator!!! But they love to haggle and got some fantastic bargains!!!

Just arrived in Xi'an after a 12 hour train, off to see the Terracotta Warriors, and will be climbing a section of Hua Shan hopefully, depending on weather and time!!!

Speak soon.

M xXx
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Ni Hao Beijing!!!

2009-06-12T03:33:00.000+01:00

OK so as a explained Room mates in Kyoto were a bit weird? Not in comparison to Seoul!!!

An old Japanese man around 60 who keeps asking about UK politics, a young Japanese guy who is on his way to UK trekking but had no idea hope much ¥ was to £ and therefore a very small amount of money!!! A Mexican who has spent a year in Shanghai learning mandarin. A German who has spent a few months in Taiwan learning mandarin. Two asians who don't speak english at all, and just to top it off a Red Neck Republican American!!!

OMG!!! And this was just night number 1!!!

So arrived in Beijing today so let's see how this one goes!!! Hahaha!!!

M xXx
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Kyoto to Seoul

2009-06-09T07:47:00.004+01:00

So the last 36hrs have been the most interesting so far!!!

On my way out on my second night I bumped into this Chinese guy, who's name I later found out was Yimin, and he was a little lost, and looking for the youth hostel.

For the last two mornings I had spent breakfast talking to two Americans from Washington state, USA. They were leaving the next day so we were talking and found out that they were mother and daughter and that the family were moving over to Japan later in the year.

As we were separating off to go to our rooms, Yimin came in and we started talking. I thought he was my age but he is in his 30's!!! You wouldn't guess it thou!!! So as yesterday was my last day I had a few things which i wanted to see and he wanted to go to the same places, so I spent most of yesterday walking around Kyoto and Nara talking to him. Turns out he is from Shanghai so when I'm there in two weeks were going to meet up and he is going to show me around, which is great as i had no idea what I was going to do there!!!

Once again, quiet late in the day a new arrival arrived!!! From Romania, and what a character he was!!! He was completely honest and said that he had been in Japan for 3 months purely to find a wife so he could get a Japanese Passport!!! Yimin's face was a picture (I wasn't surprised!!!). So I spent most of the night here him talking on about Japanese Women and was glad to leave at 6am this morning!!!

So now I am in Seoul, South Korea!!! (Countries = 2 of 9) A new country, a new language and a new set of room mates!!!

Speak next when in Beijing!!!! Can't wait to try out my Mandarin!!!

M xXx

Kyoto/Osaka!!!

2009-06-06T07:59:00.006+01:00

Hey,

Well after a great trip on the Shinkansen, I am now in Kyoto, in my new hostel which is a little different from the one before shall we say!!! It nothing like my last one, which was almost a 3* hotel!!! This is obviously family fun (as there are four children running around) and has more rules that at home, at least its only 3 nights and I wont be here much!!!

So been walking around in the sun, seen some very impressive temples, and off to Osaka today, which is the nearest city.

Speak next when I'm in South Korea!!!

M xXx

It's raining (apparently)

2009-06-05T08:55:00.002+01:00

Ive seen more rain in a shower!!! For God's sake!!! By every single Japanese person walking around with coats and umbrellas you would think it has been a monsoon!!! Not even drizzle in my opinion (but then I am from Wales!!!).

Anyway, my little rant over!!! :-)

So as I said went to the Royal Palace yesterday. Not exactly what I was expecting shall we say!!! I thought Big, red ornate building with large statues of Gods etc. You know like one of their temples, but more grand!!! Well was I surprised!!! Apparently in WWII the palace burnt down so they re-built it with a few additions, and used some more modern techniques!!! Mｍｍｍｍｍ!!! Not really to my taste, looks like something you would get at IKEA, simple, plain...

Anyway today I went on a little train journey out of Tokyo to Mitaka, to see the Studio Ghibli Museum, very interesting (but wasn't allowed to take no photos :-( !!!)

Off to Kyoto Tomorrow, on the Shinkansen, which sould be fun!!!

Bye for now!!!

M xXx

Konichiwa!!!!

2009-06-03T06:54:00.004+01:00

Hello Japan!!!

So finally arrived in Tokyo at 9am today (that's 1am GMT) after a mammoth trip of a bus, train, plane, another plane, two trains and a short walk!!!

All of the air stewardesses thought I spoke German, so that made the flights a little bit more interesting!!! I know I flew with Austrian Airways but they spoke English to some other Brits on the plane, so obviously I just look Austrian!!!

So just checking in now (at 4pm) so I have spent the now (at 4pm) so I have spent the day exploring the local area and went to a well know Temple and saw some shrines. Off to the Royal Palace tomorrow and to the homeland of gadgets!!!

Speak soon!!!

M xXx

2009-05-29T13:23:00.002+01:00

Hey,

Not long to go now!!! So if you wanna see everywhere I'm going, here is a google map!!!

All 'Blues' are towns/city/villages.
All 'Reds' are attractions which I cant be bothered to label!!!
Everything else is either an airport or Hostel!!!!

If I dont see you before I go, enjoy your summer and DON'T FORGET ME!!!! Hahahaha!!!

M xXx

View Trip in a larger map

Let's explain the point of this thing (for Mum & Dad!!!)

2009-05-01T20:32:00.001+01:00

OK!!! So the point of this blog is for you all to know what I'm doing, where and when!!! (Like a diary!!!) You just type in the web address and all my posts (the stuff I write) comes up!!! Easy!!!
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