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
Photos From Australia / NZ (Nov / Dec 2009)
Posted Monday September 19th 2011
I didn’t write a blog whilst travelling around Australia and New Zealand when I went over there in 2009. I came across the photos recently and thought I would upload a few snaps. Only a couple of years too late!
I went to my brothers wedding in Brisbane before backpacking down the East coast for a month. When I got to Sydney I flew to Christchurch and spent 10 days visiting the South and North Island in New Zealand (far far too short!) before flying back to Sydney from Auckland and continuing on for my flight home out of Melbourne. An amazing trip!
Tags: Travelling
New York Then Home
Posted Thursday February 24th 2011
New York was amazing, not even the bitter February coldness could hide that. Everywhere you look there was something to see – usually something you recognise from a film or TV show! I was having a trouble finding a couch surfing host which is common with big cities so I decided to treat myself to a hotel. I found a reasonably priced place in central Manhattan and having my own space for the first time, combined with five weeks of constant activity with little sleep lead to me crashing mid afternoon and sleeping till morning. Feeling fresh the next day I took in the sights and had the perfect end to an epic trip. Flying home I brought back with me loads of great memories and also excitement about what the future holds for me back in the UK.
Tags: Travelling
Ottawa and Montreal
Posted Tuesday February 22nd 2011
Thumbs up with the Cardiff boys
Although my time in Ottawa was brief it was great to see Pete again, and a few other faces from Cardiff over in Canada for work. Flying in at night I was curious as to what all of the white patches were below me… needless to say once I got off the plane it was very very very cold. I spent the day running between buildings trying to avoid the -11ºC temperatures!
Moving onwards next was Montreal, stepping off of the bus was a bit of a shock as I did not realise quiet how French Quebec was until I arrived. With my limited French I started to think that I was going to struggle the two days I was here but once I met up with my Couch Surfing host Anne-Sophie I realised all was well. Anne-Sophie introduced me to lots of her friends and everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming! My first night turned into a late one – filled with card games, lots of beer, karaoke and a chance to try my laughable French.
Snowy Montreal
My second day and a different Couch Surfing host – Mae and her husband Jesse who were excellent company. We relaxed in cafes and chatted for hours which they seemed expert at. I also spent some more time with Isabelle, a friend I met through Anne-Sophie the night before. A great girl and lots of shared interests who showed me around parts of the city, hopping from place to place to chat over drinks and avoid the cold. My time in Montreal could not have been any better and I hope to return in the not too distant future.
But onwards I must go – New York here I come!
Tags: Travelling
Wet Vancouver
Posted Tuesday February 15th 2011
Granville Island brewery with CSer Jenny
It was hard to say goodbye to Richard and Karina after such a great time in Victoria but it is time to start heading east, with my flight back from New York in just over a week. I arrive in Vancouver to heavy rain and with several hours to kill before meeting Sean, my next Couch Surfing host and carrying my big bag I decided to take shelter at the movies!
My first full day here was spent wandering the city which with a small downtown area was manageable. I did accidentally find myself walking along ‘skid row’ which was a bit of a surprise as it is right next to Gas Town – a very nice part of town. All I could do was make myself look big, get my head down and walk fast! My second day here was spent with another Couch Sufer called Jenny who is travelling writing a food blog. We visiting lots of nice eateries and even did a tour of the local brewery partaking in some mid-day drinking.
Today I fly to Ottawa to see Pete, a friend from Cardiff who now lives out here and I will then be on the correct side of the continent for my flight home! Before heading to New York I am visiting Montreal so I have lots to do!
Tags: Travelling
Victoria And Fun With Ferries
Posted Friday February 11th 2011
Showing the Canadians how the Brits do it - arse first!
I had a a bit of a nightmare getting to Victoria from Seattle after my ferry was first delayed and then cancelled. A 4 hour journey turned into a bus ride up north across the border to catch another ferry making the journey 10 hours in total! The ferry I did go on was a little rough and some of the windows ended up smashing in!
Now here I have had a great time with Richard and his girlfriend Karina seeing the city, hiking and yesterday we went cross country skiing at Mount Washington. Being my first time I spend a lot of time picking myself up off the floor and during our lesson in the morning the instructor told me I was “getting really good and getting up”! The skiing was exhausting and we are all hobbling around today like we have been beaten up! All three of us are in agreement that today is going to be a lazy day!
Tomorrow I head to Vancouver…. on another ferry.
Tags: Travelling
Portland And Seattle
Posted Sunday February 6th 2011
At the top of the Seattle Space Needle
My Couch Surfing host Laura and I had a really nice time in Portland which is a really relaxed place with lots of good beer! Portland was also a good opportunity to catch up on putting my feet up with a film and my running (my 16 weeks of crazy marathon training starts almost as soon as I return home!)
Taking the Greyhound to Seattle I meet up with Andy who I met in San Fracisco who is a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend in Cardiff and offered me a place to stay when I was telling him all about couch surfing. I have been having a really great time in Seattle with a nice mix of seeing the sights and partying. Last night at the house where I am staying they hosted a groundhog day party and later today I will be going to my first super bowl party!
Early tomorrow morning I head to Victoria in Canada by ferry to stay with Richard, a couch surfer that I hosted back in Cardiff over a year ago. Karma works!
Tags: Travelling
Hot And Cold In Yosemite
Posted Thursday February 3rd 2011
At Yosemite Point, with Half Dome in the background
Yosemite turned out to be every bit as beautiful as people had said. On my first day in the park I did the highest hike I was able to (they close a lot of the trails in winter for safety) which was the upper Yosemite Falls trail and on to Yosemite Point (2115m). The weather was beautiful which made for even more beautiful views.
Overnight and through to the next morning there was fresh snowfall so my second hike in the park was completely different and I switched my shorts and t-shirt for lots of layers plus hat and gloves! I stayed at a really nice hostel in the mountains which happened to have its own spa so my last night in Yosemite was spent in the sauna, hot tub and then upstairs for a nice mean in the cafe. Which I thought was well earned!
A 17 hour bus journey then took me to Portland, Oregon where I met Laura my next couch surfing host.
Tags: Travelling
Fun In San Francisco
Posted Thursday January 27th 2011
Taken from Alcatraz ("The Rock") with SF behind me
A 14 hour bus ride from Vegas took me to San Francisco where I am staying with my friend Fidel. SF is an amazing city, with so much to do and so much to see. The city centre is also a lot smaller then LA and Vegas which means getting around is a lot easier and more importantly quicker. I don’t know how people living in these huge cities have time to do anything apart from travel to and from places. With interesting, independent stores on ever corner there is a really warm feel to every street and the crazy hills give the city so much character that combined with the amazing weather I found myself wanting to take a photo at every intersection!
Me and Pauline triumphant after running the bridge (both ways!)
Me and Fidel have been have been doing some quality control of the cities bars every night and I can say that they have all got two thumbs up so far.
Yesterday I ran over the Golden Gate Bridge with Pauline, a french couch surfer who was also in town. It was epic. I’m going to really miss SF but tomorrow I take a bus to Yosemite national park.
Tags: Travelling