BootsnAll Travel Network



Sunrise at Poon Hill

October 22nd, 2007



Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

The Himalayans at daybreak isone of the most awe inspiring moments. I keep having trouble just getting a handle on how massive the mountains are in comparison to everything else. I have now completed another trek, this time for 10 days into the Annapurna Sanctuary. That is the valley leading to the base camp of the 8th highest mountain in the world. This trek was less difficult due to the altitude only getting to 4200M, but more difficult because of all the straight-up-the-side of mountains stone staircases. Also I trekked carrying my own pack this time, which weighed in at about 9KG. My knees ached too much, but I just kept telling my younger friends that I was an old man so I was allowed to bitch. I’ll try and post more pix soon, but it was a bit slow in Kathmandu and I had to abort the rest of the loading. I am leaving tomorrow for 6 more days on the Bodi Koshi river to do more rafting and try and learn how to river kayak. That should be way big fun again. NEPAL ROCKS

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Triumph at Mt Everest

September 25th, 2007



Triumph

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

After completing the most challenging 9 days of my life I have arrived at the top of Mt Kala Pathar. At 5545M it is the highest point, as well as the best view of Everest, of my 14 day trek to Mt Everest Base Camp. Absolutely an amazing feeling. Check out the picture link on the side for even more great shots.

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Easy Riding in Vietnam

August 16th, 2007



Get Your Motor Running

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

Five days of cruising the Central Highlands and the HO Chi Min Trail with Easy Rider Tours was just the ticket to see the “real” Vietnam. Most travellers stay on the coast road from Saigon to Hanoi and never venture up to the hills. That’s where Easy Riders come in. The opportunity to meet local minority villiagers, eat food that never appears on an English menu, visit sites and factories that most people never see, and cruise on a twisting, turning mountain road that reminded me of the Blue Ridge Parkway. What a great experience. Pictures have been posted for all to see if you click on the link. This trip followed a few days of beaching and SCUBA in Nha Trang, and a few crazy days in Saigon. I am in the World Heritage town of Hoi An at the moment, with a few more weeks left in Vietnam. Enjoy the shots.

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Disneyland-Siem Riep, Cambodia

July 22nd, 2007



Angkor Wat-Sunrise

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

After 3 weeks travelling around Laos I have arrived in Siem Riep, Cambodia. Laos was another of the very surprising places that I didnt figure on being so wonderful. The people are very friendly, the sights were quite good, and the scenery is beautiful. I took at least 10 boat rides on the Mekong, from the 2 day slow boat from the Thai border to Luang Probang, to the tubing trips (had to do it twice) down the bar-lined banks with zip-lines into the river in Vang Vienne, to the ferry’s back and forth to the islands in the south, to the long boat rides between some of the islands. The Mekong really is the lifeblood of Laos. So many tiny villiages line the river that are accessible only by boat. The French Colonial towns like LP and Ventienne that still have the French architecture and food leftover from the past 2 centuries. Plus BeerLao, the national drink and the best beer in SE Asia so far. Beautiful, friendly, cheap and HOT best describes my time in Laos.
Now I am at the tourist Mecca of Siem Riep, home to Angkor Wat and the surrounding temple complexes. These are the crown jewels of Cambodia and as such it attracts tourists from everywhere. I’ve seen more Westerners and Japanese/Chinese here than anywhere since Bangkok, and since this is a much smaller city, we are everywhere. Of course that leads to a pricier city, earning Siem Riep the nickname of Siem Ripoff among us travellers. But it is still pretty cheap compared to anywhere in Aus/NZ, so you just pay your money and deal with it. Besides, this is where Angkor Wat is and you wouldnt come here without seeing the amazing temples. Check the photo site for lots of recent pix. That’s all the news for the moment. Penom Pehn will be next up in a few days, then the beach areas down south before heading into VietNam.

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On to Laos

June 30th, 2007



View of Laos

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

After 32 days all over Thailand, I am now in Laos. I’m travelling with three Israeli guys for about a week until they head toward VietNam and I go toward Cambodia. I am in the old Frence city of Luang Probang now, having finished a 2day/1night slow boat ride on the Mekong River. The green hills and fields contrast sharply with the brown water. Lots of tiny little villages accessible only by boat dot the edge. 80 westerners on a boat for 60 add to the atmosphere. But beautiful and cheap is still a good combo anywhere.

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Real Old Thailand

June 15th, 2007



Ayuthaya Ruins

Originally uploaded by Flackattack

After enjoying 17 days of sun, beach, SCUBA, snorkleing, kayaking and good clean partying fun on the Parhentian Islands of Malaysia and Koh Pha Gnan in Southern Thailand, it is time to get back to “travel mode.” 4 days in Bangkok was plenty to get a feel for that crazy, but fun, place. Now I have been to both of the ancient capitals of Siam. Sukhothai was the capital from the 11th-14th centuries and Ayuthaya took over until the 17th century. Both were eventually overrun by the Burmese and/or the Khmer (Cambodia) dynasties. The ruins from these places are sacred places with lots of temples, wats, chedis, and sculptures of the Buddha. The carvings and frescos show excellent craftsmanship. And the architecture of the buildings is filled with style and symbolism. And they were being built while Europe was still in the Dark Ages.
Up next for me will be some jungle trekking to see some of the local hill tribes in N Thailand, who are trying hard to balance the modern world with it’s technology and it’s pull on their children, with their traditional and simple way of living. Waterfalls and white water rafting are also coming soon. Hope everyone is doing well. Till next time. Cheers. Or Chokdi, as they say here in Thai.

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Big City Malaysia

May 16th, 2007



Petronas Towers

Originally uploaded by Flackattack.

I just left Kaula Lampur this morning after 3 days of sightseeing and sweating. Have I mentioned it is HOT near the equator? It is, but so be it. I’ll be drinking more water and less beer for a while. It probably wont kill me. This is such a contrasting place. Malaysia is a combination of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and English influences which all appear in the language, architecture and food. The Petronas Towers and the huge KL Tower representing the modern world. Then the colonial period when the British built some really impressive structures. The Chinatown and Little India areas representing the earliest imports. And the tiny slums and street markets that are everywhere. Throw in a mid-city rain forest and a bunch of gardens and you can start to see what I mean. For heat relief I am now in Kota Raja in the Cameron Highlands area of central Malaysia. It is at 1500M and it is much cooler here. This is the area where the great tea plantations are located. I’ll be taking a tour of them and of a mossy forest glade tomorrow. Plus doing a bit of hiking in the next few days. The twisting road up here has over 600 turns in it (I didnt count, that is a Lonely Planet figure), and it is about 4 hrs from KL. Thats all for now. Hopefully I’ll be on some amazing white sand islands by next week. Cheers.

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Oceania Ending

May 6th, 2007



Florence Falls

Originally uploaded by Flackattack.

Well here it is, my last day in Australia. Almost nine months down under and it has been everything I thought and so much more. The people, both locals and fellow travellers, have been mostly wonderful. The sights, sounds and activities have taken my breath away more than a few times. And tonight I leave for Singapore and SE Asia, where there awaits who knows what. But I’m ready. Let the games continue.

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Auckland Sky Tower From Below

March 26th, 2007



Sky Tower From Below

Originally uploaded by Flackattack.

Hi again. I know it has been a while since I made a blog entry, but I hope you have been following along on my trip through the posted pictures and video links at the side. A freaky set of coincidences happened to me in the past two weeks that I thought I would share. First I was in Mt Maunganui, a small beach town on the north side of NZ, east of Auckland, where I met a woman from Florida who grew up in Philadelphia. Turns out she grew up in NE Philly, and went to the same high school-George Washington- as me, only 11 years earlier. It’s a small world right? Yesterday I was in Paihia, a small beach town on the northern peninsula, north of Auckland, where I met a girl from Boston who had been living in Greensboro for the past 4 years. Turns out she just graduated from Guilford College in 2006. Absolutely crazy small world, especially considering how tiny a school Guilford is. Weird but true. I am now down to the final week in NZ before heading back to Aus for another 4-6 weeks. Hope everyone survived winter ok. My tan is pretty good. Check the pictures if you’d like. Howard

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Glacier Country

February 15th, 2007



Southern Alps From the Sky

Originally uploaded by Flackattack.

The past two days have found me hiking on Fox Glacier, and then flying all around glaciers in the Southern Alps. Let me tell you, in a trip that so far has been amazing, the past two days stand out. Walking around on the glacier, with the guide ice-picking steps and footholds, was totally unique. Then to take a small plane flight around the southern alps. Well…just click on the picture link and check out some shots. I took so many pictures on these two days that I burned out a set of camera batteries that were new yesterday. Anyway, thats the word from the road for this entry. Hope all is well with all readers. Cheers. Howard

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