Hanoi & Halong Bay, Vietnam
Posted Friday February 17th 2012
It was nice arriving in Vietnam to find that it is alot cooler here. The traffic in Hanoi is CRAZY with motorbikes everywhere the best way to cross the street it to just keep moving and trust that the hundreds of bikes will avoid you. I took a trip to Halong Bay and after a tour of the area and a look at some pretty impressive caves I stayed the first night on a boat.
I also did some kayaking around the bay. The weather was not the best but it did not spoil the trip at all. Actually it was a nice break from constantly consuming water and applying sun cream! I am back in Hanoi now – tonight I take a night train to Sa Pa in northern Vietnam and then on Monday I fly to Luang Prabang in Laos.
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Posted Thursday February 16th 2012
I was staying right in the centre of KL in the old town. This is the Twin Towers at night. You can’t help but say “wow”.
Batu Caves north of KL. There was rubbish everywhere and monkeys all the way up the stairs (just under 300 of them) trying to steal people’s bags.
From KL I flew to Hanoi in Vietnam.
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Penang, Malaysia
Posted Saturday February 11th 2012
During my train ride to Malaysia I changed my mind and decided to get off early at Hat Yai and head for the West coast of Malaysia (sitting on a solid wood bench for 8 hours may have also had something to do with it) I eventually arrived at Georgetown, which is just off the coast on the island of Penang.
Georgetown is busy but still has a relaxed atmosphere. On my second day I ventured to the North West corner of the island to walk in the national park. At one point I heard something above my head and looked up to discover wild monkeys right above me head! The fact that I was walking towards Monkey Beach should have been a bit of a clue but it actually took me by surprise.
I managed to blag a free boat ride back out of the park with an Australian family I met along the way.
There is a funicular railway up to Penang Hill with a great view over Georgetown and on to the mainland. I think I would have melted if I had tried to walk up – I have sweated more in the last 11 days than my whole lifetime!
Tomorrow I need to get up early to grab a ferry back to the mainland and then a train to Kuala Lumpur. I am flying from there to Hanoi in Vietnam on the 14th.
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Koh Phangan and back
Posted Tuesday February 7th 2012
I didn’t get any sleep at all during my overnight train journey from Bangkok down to Surat Thani – I am only 5’10″ but was still to tall for the bed. So by the time I got to Koh Phangan I was a little tired. Unbeknown to me when I booked the train/ferry I was arriving just before the famous full moon party so finding accommodation was a little tricky. Though I eventually found a nice set of bungalows overlooking the water in Haad Rin (the area where the party takes place) but hidden away around the corner from the madness. Mine was the one on the far right – where I made good use of the hammock on the balcony 
I spent two days mostly relaxing and catching up on sleep (and where better!) but did go down to the beach one night with a couple of girls from London I met to see what all the fuss was about. The whole beach turns in to one big party with everyone drinking cocktails out of “buckets”. I had a good time but had pretty much decided before I had arrived upon seeing the amount of flocking people I would not stay for the full moon party. The area was what I imagined Ibiza or Mallaga to be like which really isn’t me. Very beautiful though.
I am now back in Surat Thani for the night before getting an early train down to Su-ngai Kolok on the Thai-Malaysian border. I am aiming for Taman Negara national park in Malaysia which I hear is worth the journey alone but I haven’t quiet managed to connect all o fthe dots for the journey yet so I don’t really know when I will arrive!
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Bangkok via a surprise trip to Sri Lanka
Posted Friday February 3rd 2012
Due to a miscalculation on my part I had an unexpected overnight stay in Columbo, Sri Lanka – which was fine by me as the airline put me up in a beach side holiday resort! I spent the day with a lovely Polish couple on the beach who I also joined on a tuk-tuk ride around the local area which was exhilarating to say the least! The Sri Lankan roads are crazy and the only rule everyone seems to agree on is honking their horns. Great fun and a really nice surprise to start my trip.
I arrived in Bangkok to very heavy rain which seemed to temporarily flood all of the streets. On the train from the airport into central Bangkok I also watched lightning hitting the skyscrapers! I checked in to my hotel which was already a treat to myself only to find I had been upgraded. The suite is amazing! Although tired I braved crossing the city and made it to china town. After being a little shy at first I tried some street food which was even cheaper than I had been led to believe. One dish I had was a big bowel of noodles with dumplings for around 60p. Although I have just arrived my first impressions are that the city is huge, hot and crazy! Time to relax on the balcony with a beer!
Today I visited some of the Bangkok temples with an Australia girl called Lauren who I met on the train. Really impressive but very crowded. I also wasn’t dressed correctly (I wasn’t originally planning on going to the temples today) so I had to hire some trousers!
Tomorrow I am heading down towards the Koh Phangan island, Thailand on an overnight train. Hopefully I will be able to upload some more photos soon.
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Packed and ready to go
Posted Tuesday January 31st 2012
In preparation for my upcoming Southeast Asia trip I aimed for lightweight and 25L turned out to be plenty… I even have empty pockets. Hopefully I haven’t forgotten anything (I usually take around 80L of gear)! Take care everyone and I look forward to seeing you all when I get back. Joe
Tags: Photo Blog • Travelling
Rolling With The Tiger Bay Brawlers – Newport
Posted Sunday October 9th 2011
Tags: Photo Blog
Breakfast – D.C Style
Posted Saturday October 8th 2011
2 x Eggs
3 x Bacon
2 x Sausage (1 pork & leek, 1 italian)
3 x Hash brown
2 x Black pudding
1 x Toast (dragon bread)
1 x Fried bread (dragon tiger bread)
Tomato (grilled)
Mushrooms
Baked Beans (overcooked to perfection)
… and a whole lot of heart!
Tags: Breakfast • Photo Blog
There is a cat on my computer!
Posted Saturday September 17th 2011
Tags: Photo Blog
Wales v England – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Posted Sunday August 14th 2011
Tags: Photo Blog