So I have safely arrived in St. Petersburg on the 16th with a belly full of Gastro, and feeling positively horrible, so I managed to crawl into bed and see nothing of the city.
Yesterday however I was feeling a little better and managed to go to the fort for the afternoon in the pouring rain, after getting soaked through I decided to call it a day and went back to the hostel.
Magically today I have woken feeling on top of the world and so off I went seeing the sights. And would you believe now at 19:30 we have perfectly blue skies as we head off for dinner.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Burning Sun in Bukhara
So I am writing today from Bukhara, my plan was to not get on the internet again until St. Petersburg, but it is just so hot here that it is nice to escape into an almost airconditioned building for a while.
Since Osh, we have managed to cross the border to Uzbekistan and make our way to Tashkent for an evening wich was an incredibly long day. There has apparently been quite a bit of tension between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and the border had been closed for a week and it opened the day before we were due to cross, but because of this once we did cross the border, every 30 minutes or so we were stopped by police checkpoints, so it mad the journey a bit longer than usual. We travelled through the Feregana Valley which is relatively close to the Afghan border and a little dicey sometimes so we drove on... at about 140kph!!! Anyway we stopped at a silk factory and learned how the ladies make the silk scarves and carpets from the silk worm cocoons, which was very interesting, then another 5 hours of driving to Tashkent... we were in Tashkent for 2 nights and had a bit of a tour in the morning followed by a wander through the markets in the afternoon. The next morning we were off on the train to Samarkand...
It is amazing how people react to a 3.5 hour train journey in a drain through a desert with no airconditioning, let me just say it was a little warm...
Samarkand however was an sensational city, with such amazing history. It seems anyone who was anyone at some time or another conquered Samarkand, including Ghengis Khan, Alexander the Great and Amir Temur (Tamerlane). There was so much history that 2 days was not enough, but I did see a lot, we had a free afternoon after our 5 hour morning walking tour and I managed to walk another 10km to get out to the astrolab of Uglebek, the astrolab was designed in the 14th century, 200 years before telescopes were developed and yet from this place Uglebek and his teachers and students were able to plot around about 2000 constelations! Sensational.
I also managed to see the mausoleum of the old testament David as well as some of the excavation sites of the old town of Samarkand.
During the tour we also saw the Ragistan, the necropolis and a bunch of mausoleums and mosques, I have taken so many photos to date and I still have 3.5 weeks to go, and from what I have seen so far Bukhara is as impressive as Samarkand, but before that we spent a night in Shahrisab (sp??) A town about 200km from the Afghan border and also so ful of history, along with being the birthplace of the local hero Amir Temur, it too has a lot of Muslim history including a masive palace that now only consists of 2 towers. We spent the night in Shahrisab in a home stay where we were able to take place in a cooking class that consisted of stuffed sweet chilies and cabbage leaves, the food was absolutely amazing and the host family was once again so hospitable and warm to us it was wonderful.
So today we arrived in Bukhara after a 5.5 hour drive through the desert from Shahrisab, it was an interesting drive, but also very hot, so this afternoon has just been a time to flake out, as we have a big day tomorrow, trying to see all the amazing sights of Bukhara in one day... I think I need my rest....
So after today I have only 2 days left with this group and then I am off to St. Petersburg to begin my next adventure with a bunch of other travellers. So until next time, stay safe.
Since Osh, we have managed to cross the border to Uzbekistan and make our way to Tashkent for an evening wich was an incredibly long day. There has apparently been quite a bit of tension between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and the border had been closed for a week and it opened the day before we were due to cross, but because of this once we did cross the border, every 30 minutes or so we were stopped by police checkpoints, so it mad the journey a bit longer than usual. We travelled through the Feregana Valley which is relatively close to the Afghan border and a little dicey sometimes so we drove on... at about 140kph!!! Anyway we stopped at a silk factory and learned how the ladies make the silk scarves and carpets from the silk worm cocoons, which was very interesting, then another 5 hours of driving to Tashkent... we were in Tashkent for 2 nights and had a bit of a tour in the morning followed by a wander through the markets in the afternoon. The next morning we were off on the train to Samarkand...
It is amazing how people react to a 3.5 hour train journey in a drain through a desert with no airconditioning, let me just say it was a little warm...
Samarkand however was an sensational city, with such amazing history. It seems anyone who was anyone at some time or another conquered Samarkand, including Ghengis Khan, Alexander the Great and Amir Temur (Tamerlane). There was so much history that 2 days was not enough, but I did see a lot, we had a free afternoon after our 5 hour morning walking tour and I managed to walk another 10km to get out to the astrolab of Uglebek, the astrolab was designed in the 14th century, 200 years before telescopes were developed and yet from this place Uglebek and his teachers and students were able to plot around about 2000 constelations! Sensational.
I also managed to see the mausoleum of the old testament David as well as some of the excavation sites of the old town of Samarkand.
During the tour we also saw the Ragistan, the necropolis and a bunch of mausoleums and mosques, I have taken so many photos to date and I still have 3.5 weeks to go, and from what I have seen so far Bukhara is as impressive as Samarkand, but before that we spent a night in Shahrisab (sp??) A town about 200km from the Afghan border and also so ful of history, along with being the birthplace of the local hero Amir Temur, it too has a lot of Muslim history including a masive palace that now only consists of 2 towers. We spent the night in Shahrisab in a home stay where we were able to take place in a cooking class that consisted of stuffed sweet chilies and cabbage leaves, the food was absolutely amazing and the host family was once again so hospitable and warm to us it was wonderful.
So today we arrived in Bukhara after a 5.5 hour drive through the desert from Shahrisab, it was an interesting drive, but also very hot, so this afternoon has just been a time to flake out, as we have a big day tomorrow, trying to see all the amazing sights of Bukhara in one day... I think I need my rest....
So after today I have only 2 days left with this group and then I am off to St. Petersburg to begin my next adventure with a bunch of other travellers. So until next time, stay safe.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Oh my gosh, I'm in Osh!
So it's been a while, apparently the blogger website is blocked in China so I have been incomunicado for a couple of weeks now. As you may imagine, I have been a little busy...
The Great Wall of China, although feeling like an eternity ago was an awesome experience, I had a two day hike which lead to massive blood blisters, exhaustion and such amazing views, as well as a most magnificent evening in a Tibetian ranch where I had breakfast overlooking the Great Wall, it was amazing and so completely breathtaking.
The day I did the 10km hike it was such a hot day, it would have been about 35 degrees and I think I nearly died, but luckily my local guide took me on a short cut where I cut off about 8 towers and walked along the valley which was also so cool, and gave me the oportunity to see the wall from a different angle which was great.
So, had another couple of days in Beijing visiting everything I could including the birdsnest, forbiden city summer palace, old city wall and of course the mongolian embasy.
Met my group in Beijing and then we headed off on the tour.
Overnight train to Xian, and then Terracotta Wariors and wander around the city.
Two night train journey to Turpan, SOOOOO hot, about 42 degrees, melting in the desert.
From Terpan another overnight train through the most amazing terain and 29 tunnels to Kashgar. Loved Kashgar, animal markets and other markets, such history, and a really interesting town.
From Kashgar we crossed the boarder into Kyrgyzstan, possibly THE MOST beautiful country I have ever seen, even better than Uganda!!!
The scenery has been completely amazing every day, and so completely mind blowing. First night we stayed in Yerts near Tash Rabat an old Caravanseri on the silk route, just as we arrived there was a massive thunderstorm and hail which remained on the ground until morning. Our host family in Tash Rabat were so lovely and it was a fantastic introduction to the country.
From there we have travelled all over Kyrgyztan and the people have been so welcoming and hospitable and it has just been awesome.
We are in Osh for 2 nights and then it is off to Uzbekestan for a week, I have been given the impression that the internet there is worse than here and so this may be my last post before moscow.
Most of our accomodation in Kyrgyzstan has been home stay which is the best way to see a country and the families have been so entirely wonderful, I definatley reccommend a visit to this country.
I just remebered a very interesting evening we had in the Chichkan Valley. We stopped at a guest house as it was purely a stop along the way, during the day we had passed the president of Kyrgyzstan driving in the other direction and when we arrrived at our accomodation we hound that he had been there, so the locals were still celebrating this amazing event and they invited us to join them, as it turned out there were a few dignitaries still there such as the govenor of this particular area of Kyrgyzstan. He then gave us a toast and we had to do shots of Vodka after each toast, his toast was about the Kangaroos in Australia that he had learnt about in school, so I did my bit for international relations and presented him with a little clip Koala :) He was so impressed!
Anyway I had better go now as I don't want to loose everything that I have just written.
The Great Wall of China, although feeling like an eternity ago was an awesome experience, I had a two day hike which lead to massive blood blisters, exhaustion and such amazing views, as well as a most magnificent evening in a Tibetian ranch where I had breakfast overlooking the Great Wall, it was amazing and so completely breathtaking.
The day I did the 10km hike it was such a hot day, it would have been about 35 degrees and I think I nearly died, but luckily my local guide took me on a short cut where I cut off about 8 towers and walked along the valley which was also so cool, and gave me the oportunity to see the wall from a different angle which was great.
So, had another couple of days in Beijing visiting everything I could including the birdsnest, forbiden city summer palace, old city wall and of course the mongolian embasy.
Met my group in Beijing and then we headed off on the tour.
Overnight train to Xian, and then Terracotta Wariors and wander around the city.
Two night train journey to Turpan, SOOOOO hot, about 42 degrees, melting in the desert.
From Terpan another overnight train through the most amazing terain and 29 tunnels to Kashgar. Loved Kashgar, animal markets and other markets, such history, and a really interesting town.
From Kashgar we crossed the boarder into Kyrgyzstan, possibly THE MOST beautiful country I have ever seen, even better than Uganda!!!
The scenery has been completely amazing every day, and so completely mind blowing. First night we stayed in Yerts near Tash Rabat an old Caravanseri on the silk route, just as we arrived there was a massive thunderstorm and hail which remained on the ground until morning. Our host family in Tash Rabat were so lovely and it was a fantastic introduction to the country.
From there we have travelled all over Kyrgyztan and the people have been so welcoming and hospitable and it has just been awesome.
We are in Osh for 2 nights and then it is off to Uzbekestan for a week, I have been given the impression that the internet there is worse than here and so this may be my last post before moscow.
Most of our accomodation in Kyrgyzstan has been home stay which is the best way to see a country and the families have been so entirely wonderful, I definatley reccommend a visit to this country.
I just remebered a very interesting evening we had in the Chichkan Valley. We stopped at a guest house as it was purely a stop along the way, during the day we had passed the president of Kyrgyzstan driving in the other direction and when we arrrived at our accomodation we hound that he had been there, so the locals were still celebrating this amazing event and they invited us to join them, as it turned out there were a few dignitaries still there such as the govenor of this particular area of Kyrgyzstan. He then gave us a toast and we had to do shots of Vodka after each toast, his toast was about the Kangaroos in Australia that he had learnt about in school, so I did my bit for international relations and presented him with a little clip Koala :) He was so impressed!
Anyway I had better go now as I don't want to loose everything that I have just written.
Monday, May 18, 2009
No Giant Buddha For Me
So today I was planning to get to the airport early, drop off my bag and go visit the giant Buddha on Lantau Island. It worked well for the most part, I was able to check in at the train station before even getting to the airport, and so I was here by about 9:20 for a 14:00 flight, and went looking for a way to get to the buddha, but apparently it is a 45 minute drive to the buddha so I could not go and be back in time for customs etc... so I have had to amuse myself here at the giant airport instead....
Oh well in a few, OK 7 hours I'll be in Beijing on my way to finding the Mongolian Consulate YAY!!!!
Oh well in a few, OK 7 hours I'll be in Beijing on my way to finding the Mongolian Consulate YAY!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Indian holy man fortune tellers, fuzzy hair and the symphony of light
I am making the most of fast and user friendly internet in Hong Kong to get my blog fill before I head into the wilderness of outback china.
So what a day....
I left the hotel at 9:15 this morning and have only just arrived back now at 21:45 and I am buggered!!
So I walked to the metro stop and caught the train to Hong Kong Island and headed up the Peak Tram, I now understand why the girl at the info stand at the Airport's eyes nearly poped out of her head when I asked about walking up Victoria Peak, I would have died I'm sure!! But the tram was very cool, although scarily steep in places, but the view from the top was amazing, the smog wasn't so bad today, as I was able to see the mountains surrounding Kowloon. After finding the Hard Rock Cafe (if I didn't see the ad I would not have gone, but now I have another guitar pin) I went on the Victoria Peak Circut Walk. It is always interesting doing a circut walk when you have no idea whatsoever how far the circut is, in this case it turned out to be a very enjoyable 3km stroll around the peak, surrounded by rainforest and beautiful scenery.
From there it was back down the Peak Tram to Hong Kong Central where I wandered for a couple of hours, had lunch in a massive shopping mall and then found my way to the ferry terminal where I thought for a moment I was in London as there was the Big Bus Company double decker bus tours, so I decided that I should see all the highlight sights of Hong Kong, seeing as I am really only here for one day. The tour around Hong Kong island lasted for 1hour and 15 minutes and we saw most of the highlights I guess, on our travels I noticed a series of escalators going up the hill so I decided that I wanted to find them and see where they go, as it tuns out there is only one escalator on each section and it was going up, this realisation really hit me after 30 minutes of following the escalators up the mountain and I realised that I then had to walk all the way back down the stairs, so although I did not reach the top, I turned around and headed back to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry back to Kowloon.
The lovely comentary on the bus was nice enough to remind us that the humidity was around 80%, like i needed telling, my hair had let me know when I woke up this morning as it had doubled in volume, at it was this point when I realised why my hairdresser was in shock for not being able to straighten my hair....
Anyway once i had made it back to Kowloon I made my way along the avenue of stars, said hello to Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Chow Yung Fat and joined up with the Big Bus Tour of Kowloon, that took us around the major highlights of this side of Victoria Harbour and pointed out the area where I am staying as the true Hong Kong, so there you go...
After another 1 hour and 15 minutes of sitting on the top of an open double decker bus I had truely turned into a beetroot and was feeling a little conspicuous, and as I was walking back along to the avenue of stars I was stopped by an Indian Holy man from Punjab who then proceeded to tell my fortune, aparently I am a lucky person and am going to live a long life, although I am a little worried as he then asked me for $1000 for the privelige of being told my fortune, I ran away after giving him about $180, I am just hoping that Indian Holly Men can not bring curses onto people....
Once I had recovered from that experience I settled into my position to watch the amazing Symphony of Lights, this is a light and laser show that runs every night on victoria harbour, it was very cool and I think I even managed a couple of reasonable photos.
13 minutes later it was all over and I began the walk back to the hotel, I headed up Nathan road past all the night markets and late night shopping, and finally made it back to the hotel.
A most enjoyable day, my only hope is that I am actually able to move tomorrow.
Off to Beijing tomorrow afternoon.
PS. I am using this blog as a journal so I don't have to write it all twice so that is why it is a touch verbose.
So what a day....
I left the hotel at 9:15 this morning and have only just arrived back now at 21:45 and I am buggered!!
So I walked to the metro stop and caught the train to Hong Kong Island and headed up the Peak Tram, I now understand why the girl at the info stand at the Airport's eyes nearly poped out of her head when I asked about walking up Victoria Peak, I would have died I'm sure!! But the tram was very cool, although scarily steep in places, but the view from the top was amazing, the smog wasn't so bad today, as I was able to see the mountains surrounding Kowloon. After finding the Hard Rock Cafe (if I didn't see the ad I would not have gone, but now I have another guitar pin) I went on the Victoria Peak Circut Walk. It is always interesting doing a circut walk when you have no idea whatsoever how far the circut is, in this case it turned out to be a very enjoyable 3km stroll around the peak, surrounded by rainforest and beautiful scenery.
From there it was back down the Peak Tram to Hong Kong Central where I wandered for a couple of hours, had lunch in a massive shopping mall and then found my way to the ferry terminal where I thought for a moment I was in London as there was the Big Bus Company double decker bus tours, so I decided that I should see all the highlight sights of Hong Kong, seeing as I am really only here for one day. The tour around Hong Kong island lasted for 1hour and 15 minutes and we saw most of the highlights I guess, on our travels I noticed a series of escalators going up the hill so I decided that I wanted to find them and see where they go, as it tuns out there is only one escalator on each section and it was going up, this realisation really hit me after 30 minutes of following the escalators up the mountain and I realised that I then had to walk all the way back down the stairs, so although I did not reach the top, I turned around and headed back to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry back to Kowloon.
The lovely comentary on the bus was nice enough to remind us that the humidity was around 80%, like i needed telling, my hair had let me know when I woke up this morning as it had doubled in volume, at it was this point when I realised why my hairdresser was in shock for not being able to straighten my hair....
Anyway once i had made it back to Kowloon I made my way along the avenue of stars, said hello to Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Chow Yung Fat and joined up with the Big Bus Tour of Kowloon, that took us around the major highlights of this side of Victoria Harbour and pointed out the area where I am staying as the true Hong Kong, so there you go...
After another 1 hour and 15 minutes of sitting on the top of an open double decker bus I had truely turned into a beetroot and was feeling a little conspicuous, and as I was walking back along to the avenue of stars I was stopped by an Indian Holy man from Punjab who then proceeded to tell my fortune, aparently I am a lucky person and am going to live a long life, although I am a little worried as he then asked me for $1000 for the privelige of being told my fortune, I ran away after giving him about $180, I am just hoping that Indian Holly Men can not bring curses onto people....
Once I had recovered from that experience I settled into my position to watch the amazing Symphony of Lights, this is a light and laser show that runs every night on victoria harbour, it was very cool and I think I even managed a couple of reasonable photos.
13 minutes later it was all over and I began the walk back to the hotel, I headed up Nathan road past all the night markets and late night shopping, and finally made it back to the hotel.
A most enjoyable day, my only hope is that I am actually able to move tomorrow.
Off to Beijing tomorrow afternoon.
PS. I am using this blog as a journal so I don't have to write it all twice so that is why it is a touch verbose.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Don't eat noodles with chopsticks in a fancy restaurant
Well after all the predeparture dramas, I have finally made it safely to Hong Kong, it was a great flight, amazing to think that after 5 hours we were still flying over Australia, but the desert looked amazing from the air, we flew over Mungo National Park and Broken Hill and then straight across the desert to Darwin, then sea till Kong Kong, well that's what I think it was we were in cloud and being blinded by the reflections of the sun, so I watched movies...
Anyway, arrived at the hotel around 4:30, checked in and went for a walk, I have found my way to the train station so I am ready for my big adventure tomorrow. I asked the girl at the tourist counter at the airport about things to do and when I asked how long it took to walk up victoria peak her eyes nearly popped out of her head, so I guess I shouldn't try that, the cable car is there already anyway...
So I decided with my massively blood shot eyes from the plane, I should have an early night so I booked dinner in the chinese restaurant in the hotel, and yes they do do banquets for one person!! It was so very good too, although the waiter did come and give me a knife and fork half way through, I think he saw the state of the once pristine table cloth. Sorry.
It is a slightly unnerving feeling however to be waited on by people wearing face masks, it was the same on the flight over, some of the flight attendants wearing face masks. I do think however it is mainly people in service industries as most people on the street do not. It is however the first time I have had my temperature checked before being allowed to check in to a hotel!!!
Anyway, I'd better go as I have a big day ahead tomorrow.
Speak again soon,
Marni
Anyway, arrived at the hotel around 4:30, checked in and went for a walk, I have found my way to the train station so I am ready for my big adventure tomorrow. I asked the girl at the tourist counter at the airport about things to do and when I asked how long it took to walk up victoria peak her eyes nearly popped out of her head, so I guess I shouldn't try that, the cable car is there already anyway...
So I decided with my massively blood shot eyes from the plane, I should have an early night so I booked dinner in the chinese restaurant in the hotel, and yes they do do banquets for one person!! It was so very good too, although the waiter did come and give me a knife and fork half way through, I think he saw the state of the once pristine table cloth. Sorry.
It is a slightly unnerving feeling however to be waited on by people wearing face masks, it was the same on the flight over, some of the flight attendants wearing face masks. I do think however it is mainly people in service industries as most people on the street do not. It is however the first time I have had my temperature checked before being allowed to check in to a hotel!!!
Anyway, I'd better go as I have a big day ahead tomorrow.
Speak again soon,
Marni
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Journey Begins.....soon
So I will be offon another journey in less then 2 weeks, and I still don't have my Chinese visa yet, I am not panicing, just slightly concerned that the consulate is on holidays for a week so by the time I can put in my application it will be less than a week till I go, cool, nothing like leaving things to the last minute.
First stop on my journey is Hong Kong, where I will be resting for a couple of days before heading off to Beijing and the Great Wall of China for an overnight stay on an unrestored section of the wall, from there it is on the train, then another train and another and so on. I haven't done a total calculation but there will be over 160 hours spent on trains along the trip, hopefully they are nice trains...
First stop on my journey is Hong Kong, where I will be resting for a couple of days before heading off to Beijing and the Great Wall of China for an overnight stay on an unrestored section of the wall, from there it is on the train, then another train and another and so on. I haven't done a total calculation but there will be over 160 hours spent on trains along the trip, hopefully they are nice trains...
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