sipi

It's literally a month at 5 words a day. The average reader can read 240 words per minute. You can do the math, I can't be bothered.

That's on another hard drive. Hang on.......

March 1 Breaky at Metro Hotel. Taxi to Bangkok international airport. Depart Bangkok 10.45am Thai Airways TG311 to Kathmandu. Flew beside Himalayas. Landed Kathmandu 1pm local time, 3 hour flight. Booked into Kathmandu Guesthouse and talk to Encounter Overland (EO) reps. Went for a walk. Beef steak for lunch/ tea. Bed early 9pm. 2 Taxi to Ganesh Temple (monkey temple). Steak for tea. Bed early. Quiet day. 3 Breaky, lazed around. Pre-departure meeting 6pm. 4 Prepared for trekking. Gear hire and bought cold weather gear. 5 Trekking tour leader (Robin from Australia). Bus to Pokhara. Dep Kmandu 8am, 1 hour lunch, arrive 3.30pm. Cake and coffee at store. Tea at lakeside tourist camping grounds. Rum and cards. 3500' ASL. Cold. Sherpas and porters from Laura tribe. Bed 8.30pm. 6 Up 6am. Bus to Shining Hospital. Walk through Kali Gadahi Valley. Lunch in paddy fields at Suiket. Climb to Dhampus 6000'. On sinus pills. Bed 8pm. 7 Breaky 7am. Walk to 8000' along Annapurna range through birch, hemlock and pine. View Mardi Khola 4000 below. View og Machhapuchture (23490'). Bed 8pm. 8 Breaky 6am. Walk to Pun Hill for lunch and onto campsite 10000', snow at 9000'. Snow fifgt. Bed 8pm tired. 9 Up 7am. Attempted 15000' along Annapurna South. Snowed in at 12000', snow to chest. Snowman and back to camp. 10 Walk down 7000' to 5000' through Siding. Arrive at camp beside Mardi Khola 3pm. Bath in river, built dam to catch fish. Water freezing. Bed 8.30pm. 11 Walk down Mardi Khola valley over suspension bridges to Mardi Pul. 12 Walk to school on the Seti Khola Valley. Camp back at Mardi Pul. Band-aids on every toe. Wedding band played at camp. 13 Up early to photograph mountains. Walk to Pokhara. (Total trek 130km). Hired bikes for 1 hour. Played volley ball with grade 9 school kids. Drinks. Hire rowing boat for 1 hour 24R. 14 Bus along Raj Pass to Kathmandu. Booked river rafting. Bistro for tea. Went to Marine Bar till 1am. Fosters beer, excellent music. Bed 4am Trekking food. Breaky; Tea, porridge, muslie, honey, eggs, pancakes. Lunch; baked beans, chips, cheese sandwiches, fruit juice (hot), orange, tinned fruit, tea, biscuits, chicken, bread. Tea; tea, coffee, chocolate, rice, veges, chicken, fish, apple pie, cake, tinned fruit, soup, popcorn, bread 15 Breaky ay Bistro Vegemite. Hired bikes 1 day 10R. Went to Hindu temple to see bodies burnt and Buddhist temple. EO house for coffee. River rafting meeting. 16 Booked on Mt Everest flight but cancelled. Quiet day. 17 Commence white water rafting. 18 Re EO brochure.. 19 Up Set rapids 20 21 White water rafting finished. Left raft trip at Mugling to meet EO Overland group at Chitwan National Park. 22 Up 6am for jungle walk. Washed clothes in river (Bufallo smell). Stick-dancing display. Meat out with EO. 23 Elephant ride from 7am to 8.30am. Left Chiywan park at 9.30am. Crossed Nepal/ India border at 3.30pm after 3 hours. Slept in school yard. Cool. 24 Drove to Veranasi via Pahrendra and Gorahphur 8 hours. Cathy birthday. Coloured dye for Lord Shivas birthday (Holi). Stayed in tourist camp. Bed 2am. 25 Up 5.30am. Boat trip along Ganges. Monkey Temple, Mother of India Temple etc. Cool. 26 Holi Festival. Drove towards Khajuraho. Camped 80 km short. 27 Towards Agra via exotic drawings at Khajuraho Temple. Dep 10.30am, arr Lauries Hotel Agra 9pm. Hotel room, bed 1.30am. Cool. 28 Up 5am for Taj Mahal at dawn. Haircut and massage at hotel. Go to Amber Fort 5-6pm and Taj Mahal 6.30pm. Free admission on Fridays. Full moon. 29 Up 6am for Jaipur via Fatehpur Sihkri 9am (deserted Mughal city). Hot. 30 Up 4am. <deleted> and spews. Sick all day. 31 Short drive to Amber Palace to Delhi. Arrive Delhi tourist camp 3pm. Tea at Nuruiles. Hot. April 1 Went to Australian Embassy for “Letter of comfort”. Went to Iranian Embassy for visa, shut. Bought $1000 AM travellers cheques. Shower and bed 11.30pm. 2 Up 5.30am for 7am dep through Punjab to Kashmir. Bush camped just inside Kashmir. Lot of Sihk temples. 3 Up 5.30am. Drove to small town before Kashmir Valley. Beautiful scenery. Beers with Brian. Very cold. Bed 12am 4 Up 5.30am to cook breaky. Left for Shrinigar 8am. Beautiful drive through snow & mountains to Kashmir Valley. Arrive houseboat “Sunflower” for lunch. Went to Air India to book flight to Delhi. Chicken and rice for tea. Played cards and drank beer. Bed 10.30pm. 5 Guided tour of wood calving factory. Bought hand for 125R. Roy and I to Air India to conferm flight.Everyone sick in stomach. 6 Wash. Sunk canoe from houseboat. Went to wood calving factory in old part of Shrinigar. 7 Quiet day. Mohamids birthday fireworks. Cool. 8 Flew from Shrinigar to Delhi. Dep 3.15pm, arr 4.30pm. Bus to Connaugh Place and tuk-tuk to tourist camp. Tea and bed. Hot. 9 Apply for Iranian visa. Hot. 10 Washing. 11 Went to old delhi city with Roy. Delhi railway station. Steam trains. 12 Iranian embassy to pick up visa. No worries. Feeling sick. Hot. 13 Violently sick. 14 Up 5.30am. Tuk-tuk to Cornaugh Place at 11am. Taxi to International Airport. Had 2 heinican beers. Dep Delhi 4.40pm, arr Lahore Pakistan 17.45pm. Slept at International Hotel. Tea and bed. 15 Stayed at Hotel. Sick. 16 Drove from lahore to Ralphwindi and onto Islamabad. Camped just outside town. Anti-biotics. 17 Drove from Islamabad to Ralphawindi. Coffee shop 8am to 10am. Drove to Peshawah arr 2pm. Lunch. Tuk-tuk to old bazaar markets and back again. Stayed at Tourist Hotel. 18 Peshawah. Went to old markets. Meal out EO. 19 Dep Peshawah. Drove 4 days straight. Bush camping in the desert. Excellent scenery. Unusual shale folded/ fingerprint mountains. 20 Went to gun factory at Darra. 21. Drove. Desert. Dusty and rough roads. Cold. 22 Drove from Lorelloi to Quetta. 23 Quetta. Stayed at Bloom Star Hotel. Prepare for Iran border crossing. Shirt dyed for free. Went 3up on Vespa (Brian, Khalid) to cinema projection box. 24 Drove from Quetta to desert camp. 25 Drove to 13km from Iran border. Desert camp. 26 Left camp 7am. Arrive Pakistan border 8am. Passed imigration 11.30am. Syayed in customs building. Full moon. Cold. 27 Dep custons compound 9.30am. Playing card confiscated. Drove all day through Zahaden to bush camp. Excellent roads. Right hand side. 28 Wake early. Drive all day. Cold. 29 Up 5am. Dep 6am for Persipolis via Shara. Arr 1pm and visit ruins. Dep 3.30pm. Arr bush camp 7pm. 30 Early start. Dep 6.30am 300km to Esphahan. Sick stomcah. Very cold, frost. Booked into esphahan Imai.. May 1 Jiardia. Went to Esphahan Square, mosque and bizzaar. Bought picnic rag for 3000 rials/ $5. Tea at Tourist Hotel, 4 courses 1000 each / 42. 2 Esphahan. 3 Left Esphahan for Turkish border. Taking lomitol. 4 Drive. Anti-biotics. 5 Drive to Iran/ Turkey border. Arr 3pm. Through border by 8pm. Camped at base of Mt Arrarat just below snow line. Drink Baileys and Drambui. Bed. 12.30am. Very cold. 6 Drove halfway to Gorimie. Camp beside creek just below snow line. Cold. 7 Drove to Goremai. Went to underground bar, drinking wine. Very good. 8 Goremai buildingd cut into rocks Church refuge and penis rocks. Underground bar for group meal. Rain and cold. 9 Drove Goremai to Siliphki beach. Snow in morning. 10 Washing. Tea at seaside restaurant, chicken kebabs. Warm and sunny. 11 Beach. Rain and cold. Start of Ramadam. 12 Drove to Syria border. 13 Drove to Damascus. Warm. 14 Demascus. Explored old city, mosque, palace and bazaars with Brian and Cathy. 15 Dep Demascus for Jordan border. Arr 11am. Camped near Amman after jerash ruins. Hot springs. Cold in morning. 16 Drove to Dead Sea via Amman. $00mtrs below sea level. Swimming. Hot. 17 Drove to Amman. Apply for Egyptian visa $35. Drove towards Petra. Cold. 18 Petra. Warm. Drove to castle on top of hill. Explored secret tunnels. Slept in open air on roof, windy. Clea skies. 19 Drove to Aquaba. Beach. 20 Nice relaxing day at beach swimming. Warm. 21 Ditto. 22 Dep for cairo. Drove to Aquaba port. Customs etc. Boat left for Cairo at 5pm. First class lounge and tourist class cabins. Went to engine room. No alcohol allowed. 23 Visas captain on bridge. Arr Suez 10am. Customs and imm, change $150. Camped just inside Egypt. 24 Drove to Cairo. PO to collect mail.Stayed at Salone Campgrounds across road from sadats near Pyramids, Gaza area. Went to excellent light and sound show. 25 Truck to Memphis and sahara stepped pyramids and back to gaza pyramids. Climbed pyramid. Shopping at food markets. Drinking beer. Bed 2am. 26 Cairo. Full moon. Applied for new passport and letter of comfort for Sudan visa. Applied for Kenya visa but passport full. Group meal, drinking, playing games. Good night. Bed 2am. 27 Cairo. Breaky at Meridian Hotel. New passport, Sudan visa. Mosquitos. 28 Got kenya visa. Roy and I went back to pyramids to look inside and photo sphinx. 29 Camel ride pyramids with Roy, Sue and Mike. Great. Bus to Talaeha Square. Bought $1000 AmX. Cholera vacination at continental Hotel. PO, shopping. 30 Sheradin Hotel for breaky. Hot. 31 Dep Cairo for El Alimein. Went to War museum and cemetry. Camped beside the beach Nt coast of Egypt. June 1 Left El Alimein for Alandria. Went to museum. Dep for Suez. Camped in school grounds. 2 Played soccer and frizbee in schoolyard with kids. Dep for Suez. Went through tunnel mid-afternoon. Camped in Sinai desert beside the beach. Windy, bonfire. 3 Dep for St Katherine Monistry arriving lunch time. Looked through monistory and scull room. Had lunch and climbed Mt Sinai, 2 hours. Sunset and bed. Cold and windy. 8000ASL. 4 Woke up 2am. Up 4.30am to watch sunrise. Walk to truck, breaky. Left for Red Sea coast 8am. Lunch and shopping at El Tul. Drove towards Suez, camped at beach. Swimming. 5 Dep 1.30pm. Under Suez canal 4pm. Camped near mine field near Holghada. 6 St Pauls monastry for lunch. Camped beside beach on oil company land near Holghada. Oil rigs off shore. 7 Drove to Holghada. Colourful celebrations for last day of Ramadan. Stayed at Moon Valley tourist camp, swimming. Beer and wine. 8 Boat 2 hours out of Holghada Red Sea diving. Excellent vis and goos coral, fish. Beer. Windy and hot. 9 Went to Sheriden beach, swimming. Red Sea restaurant with group. Bed 12.30am. 10 Dep to Luxor. Stayed YMCA. Crowded and mosquitos. Hot. 11 Luxor. Karnak Temples. Booked shakara for Nile trip. Went to light and sound show. 12 Valley of the kings and queens. Luxor museum. Tout-anhk-amons tomb. Hot. 13 Drove to Isna. Felucca to Etfu. Camped beside the Nile. !8 Egyptian pounds each for 3 days. 14 Etfu temples. Felucca up the Nile, camped in the middle of the river. <deleted>s. 15 Felucca to Aswan. Taxi to campsite. 16 Hired felucca for 5 hours. Visit Elephant island, botanical garden, low dam. El Shati restaurant for lunch and tea. 17 dep for Abu Simble. Very hot. Dead camels. 18 Abu Simble to Aswan. 19 Washing etc. Very hot. 20 Aswan. Couldn't get tickets for ferry. 21 Aswan 22 Aswan. Got ferry tickets. 23 Customs at Aswan high dam. Ferry. 24 Boat arrived Wadi Halfa Lombon 11am. Customs etc. Taxi truck to wadi Halfa. Booked into Nile Hotel. Slept outside, crowded. Drank chai and ate beans. Full moon. Hot. 25 Food markets. Got 3rd class train tickets. On train 11.30amDep 5pm. Dirty and dusty, 3 per seat. 26 Train. Stopped 3am for 2 hours for wash in Nile River. Carriages derailed. Stopped 2 hours, left them there. Engine died. Stop to wait for another. Very crowded, dusty. Horror. Lots to see along the Nile. 27 Arrive Khartoum 8.30am. Booked into Taka Hotel. Went to PO with Brian and Roy, closed. Rested. Shower. !st proper foor in 5 days. Air-con room. Motel caught fire 5am (junction box ground floor), evacuated. 28 Breaky at Taka House. PO. Rest up. <deleted>s. 29 Washing. Readied for tomorrows flight. 30 Up 3am. Taxi to airport for 6am flight. Dep Khartoum 8am. Arr Nairobi 12pm. To Safari park camp ground. Few beers. July 1 Drove into Nairobi for others to apply for passports. Dep Nairobi 1pm Arr Tourist Lodge 4pm. Pleasant. Disco, rege music. Saw girraffes, deer, large birds. 2 Left at sunrise for Mambassa. Arr 1pm. Lunch. Parked outside Fort Jesus but too dear to go in. Went to bazaars. Drove to beach and camped at Twiga. Beers. Rain and wind. Saw girraffe and monkeys. 3 To Mombassa to change money, shop etc. Lazed around beach. Slight rain. Vool, muggy. Lots of monkeys. 4 Der early for malindi. Large detour through small villages. Interesting people. Arr malindi 4pm, swim in sea. Stayed Silversands camping ground. 5 Dep Malindi for savo national park. Bogged. Arr 4pm. Drove till 7.30pm. Saw lions, deer, lots of elephants. Camped. 6 Dep National park for Nairobi. 7 Nairobi to get Letter of comfort for Zaire visa. Apply Rwanda visa. Shop at woolworths. Dinner; lots of meat, pork, beef, antelope.. Tops. 8 Shopping. Moved to Grosvenir Hotel. Whorehouse. 9 Washing etc. Buffalo Bills Bar, left 11.30am. Let in for half price at Star Light Night Club. Walked home 3am. 10 Dep Nairobi for Massai village. 11 Masai village, dancing. Lunch Lake Tahaha. To Lake Nahuru. 12 Lake Ahuru game reserve, national park. Giraffe, pink flamingos, monkeys, zebras, babboons, gazelles, wart-hogs, water buffalos. Heavy rain. 13 Dep Lake Nahuru for Nairobi. Lunch on mountain ranges. Buffallo Bills Bar till 11.30pm. Walked to Halocan Nite Club . Dep 4am, rege. 14 Nairobi, walked around. Dep 6pm. Drove till 1am, 60km from Ambuseili NP. 15 Arr ANPearly. To Lake Ambuseili (dry). Saw Zebra, waterbuck, gazelle, elephants, rhino, monkeys, ostriches, giraffs. Drove ahter lunch till dark to bottom of Mt Killimonjaro. Perfect view. 16 Deo Ambuseli 6am for Tanzania border. Arr 12pm, though 2pm. Namanga, border town. Lunch and drove Hotel Tanzmite camping ground, Arusha. Cold. 17 Arusha souvinees shopping. Zoo. 18 Dep Tanzanite for Kibo Hut, via shopping in Moshi. Wash clothes, prepare for climb. 19 registered at Kilimonjaro NP Marango Gate by 12pm (1860 mtrs). Porters, guides dep 12pm. Arr Mandora Hut 4pm, 2690 mtrs, 8 ½ km walk. Tea and bed. Tree line 11000 ft. 20 Dep for Horombo Hut 12 kms, 3750mtrs. 21 Dep for Kibo Hut 4740 mtrs, 5 hours. Soup and porrige for tea. Bed 5pm. 22 Up 12am. Cup of tea and bikkies. Dep for Gillmans (5700mtrs)1am. Slowly, resting. Arr 5.30am, -15C. Sunrise. Dep 8am for Horombo. Tea and bed 6.30pm. 23 Up 5.30am. Breaky. Dep for Marango Gate 6.30am. Arr 11.30am. To Kibo Hotel, wash clothes. Beers with porters. 4 course group meal. Cards and wine with Roy bed 11.30pm, tired. Full moon. 24 Dep for Moshi and Arusha. Shopping at Arusha. Camp in schoolgrounds. 25 Dep Arusha after market shopping towards Ngorongoro Crater, camp in quarry. Jardia, anti-biotics. 26 Sick all night and morning. Playing with kids in quarry. Dep for crater, dep into base to campsite. Guide talk about animals. 27 Up at dark to crater lake. Lion, jackal, hyena, hippo, rhino, elephant. Lunch 2pm and out again. Very cold. 28 Dep for olduvan Gorge excavations. Went to museum then onto Serengeti Game park. Animals. Light rain. Camped at campsite near lions. 29 Serengeti NP game viewing. Wilderbeast migration. Museum. Silver servive group meal. Roast wilderbeast. Bonfire, drinking red wine, konjaki beer. Bed 2am. 30 Dep for Mwanzai, bush camped. 31 Drove to Mwanza. Market food shopping. Camp show-grounds. Aug1 Mwanza, washing, haircut etc. Bed 1am. 2 Dep for Rwanda border. Quarry camp. Solid <deleted>. 3 drove 12 hours to another quarry close to Rwanda border. 4 Rwanda border early, no problems. Kigali, shopping. Camp at drop-zone. 5 Dep for Kasine. Slept in hall. 6 Swim Lake Kivu. Through Zaire border ok. Onto Gomo camp grounds. 7 Dep for gorillas at Bahari. Nice scenery along lake Kivu. Camp beside lake. <deleted>s. 8 Gorillas (bahair) excellent. Quarry camped. 9 Dep for Gomo. Camped Lake Kivo. 10 Late start. Wash clother and bath in Lake Kivo. To Goma and onto Virangin NP to prepare for volcano climb. 11 climbed Mt Nyiragonga in Virangu NP. 12 Up 5.30am. Drove towards equator. Lots of hippos. 13 Crossed equator near Lubero and drove towards Beni. 14 Through Beni towards Mambasa. 15 Through Mambasa. 16. Pygmies. <deleted>s again. 17 Pygmies. Saw okapi animal. 18 Drove, quarry camp. Taking lomitol medication. 19 Towards Kisingali. 20 Arr Kisangani. Changed money. Played with monkeys. Tried to arrange barge trip but decided against it. Olympic Hotel camp area. Bop City disco. Bed 2.30am. 21 Up early. Towards kasala. 22 Towards kasala. Quarry camp. 23 Towards Lisala through Buna. Camp in abandoned cotton gynery. 24 Towards Boomba. Ferry crossing over Congo. Rain. 25 To Boomba, markets. Towards Lisala. Village camp 6km from Lisala. Hot. Mosquitos. 26 Lisala, towards Geroma. 27 Towards Geroma. 28 Through Geroma towards Banghi. Ferry crossing. 29 Prepare for Central African Republic border. Truck robbed 1am. Drove to Zongo (CAR border). Through customs, couldn't find ferry captain to cross river. Camped outside Zongo police station. 30 Ferry crossing to Bangi. CAR immigration. Post office, markets, onto Tourisr Welcome centre campground. Shower. 31 Catching up washing etc. rain. Sept1 Public holiday Bangi. Resting. 2 Bangui to apply for Nigerian visa and shopping. Red wine at pub. Bed without tea. 3 Bangui. 4 Up 3am <deleted>s and spews. Into town to get Cameroun visa and post letters. Jardia spewing. Taking flagyl tablets. Couldn't get Nigerian visa. 5 Dep through Bossembele towards Younde. Bad storms all night. 6 Early drive towards Younde through Boula. 7 CAR/ Cameroun border crossing at Beloko, towards Younde. 8 Towards Yaounde. 9 Ditto, camped just short of Yaounde. 10 Arr Yaounde. Apply Nigerian visa. Explore town. Coffee and pasteries.Presperterian campsite. Headlice. <deleted> solid. 11 Pick up Nigerian visa and shopping. Towards Dualla. Quarry camp. Heavy rain. 12 Camped Victoria beach past Dualla. Black sand. Lovely weather. Post office. 13 Swimming. Made pizzas. Heavy rain. 14 Through Yaunde, camped school gorunds. Mud-matting. 15 ditto 16 Cameroun/ Nigerian border 17 Towards Kano. Quarry camp. Rain. 18 Up 4.30am. Drove 600km. Arr Kano 10pm. Central Hotel camp ground. 19 Washing. Chinese for tea. Bed 2am. 20 Kano. Markets, dye pits, camel market, palace, mosque and museum. Went to flying club. !am curfiew (crime). 21 Kano. Heavy rain. Pick up Niger visa 5pm. 22 Nigeria/ Niger border 5pm. Camp at police station. 23 Late dep towards Agadez. Bush camp at Maradi. 24 Agadez Tourist camp. Desert. Hot and dry. 25 Agadez markets. Bought Agadez cross necklace. Few beers. Apply for Algerian visa. Very hot. Passport stamped at police station. 26 markets. Pick up Algerian visa and dep Agadez through Aibit to camp on runway at uranium mine. Nose bleeds and head cold. 27 Dep Niger, through Niger border towards Algerian border. Pills for cold. Got lost between border posts in desert. Sand-matting. Dehydrated, <deleted>s. 28 Algerian side of border at Assamaha. No problems. Towards Tammanrasset. 29 Drove all day. Arrive Tammanrasset late pm. Too late to change $. Booked into Dassine campsite. 30 Tammanrasset. Change $150US compulsory. PO. Oct 1 Write letters, wash etc. Hired 4wd to go to Hogah Mountains. Dep 1.30pm arrive Assahren (Horar Mountains) 5.30pm. Walked up mountain for sunset. 2780Mtrs. Bed. <deleted>s still. 2 Up 5.30am. Up mountain for sunrise. Back for breaky. Dep and arrive dassini Camp Tammanrasset 12pm. Post card writing. 3 Walk to town, eat ice-cream. 4 Ditto. Taking Bagram for <deleted>s and cold. 5 PO and markets. Went to Hotel Tahaitare for chai. Went to see Ciel et Ciel at cinema. Walk home. Bed 11pm. 6 Market 9am. Dep 12pm. Drove till 12am. 7 Through In Salah towards El Golea until 1am. Sandblasted.. 8 Through Timinoun towards Beni Abbes until 12am. Wind and rain. 9 To Beni Abbes. Sand-dunes. 10 To Bechar. Windy. 11 Algeria/ Morroco border. Ok Algeria side but held on Morocco side (insurance) 12 Day at border post. Walked to fiqui to get passport stamped. Talk to border guards. 13 Dep border post past Fiqui towards Marakech. 14 ditto 15 Marakesh square to see dancing etc. Coffee. 16 Marakesh square markets. Photo women etc. 17 To Fez. 18 Fez tour Emperial palace, burber station, medina, carpet factories. 19 Walk 6km to town, bus to medina. Explored. Turkish bath (not good). Restaurant Nfassal in old Medina. Excellent food/ show. Acrobats, belly dancing, Very good. Roy broke tamberine. 20 Dep for Tatoun. 21 Tatoun. Apply for Spanish visa. Dep for border crossing at Centa. Ferry to Gibraltar 1 ½ hours. Late arrival. Cold. Drinks and bed. 22 Through Gribralta to Granada. Went to Moorish castle for 2 ½ hours. Camped in forest near lake. Very cold. 23 Madrid. Alpine campsite 5pm. Tea and bed. 24 Madrid, apply for French visa. Beers. Pick up visa 4pm. Left for San Sebastian. 25 Spanish/ French border. Arrive Sas Sebastian 4pm. Through Bordeux towards paris. Wet, rain, cold. Bamped Sth of Bungos. 26 catholic Cathedral of St maria at Bungos. Onto Tours. Head and chest cold. 27 Shamps Cathedral in Tours. Bush camp. 27 Calais 28 Ferry crossing to Dover. Bus to London. Hunters House Earls Court 6pounds/ night. Bed 1am. 29 London Nov 8 Up 5.30am. Tube to Heathrow. Dep for Athens 1 hour late Pan Am 9.30am. Arrive Frankfurt 12pm. Missed connection. Put up at Ramada Hotel. Went into town, not much fun. Bed 12.30am. 9 Breaky, dep Hotel 8am. Dep Luthansa flight to Athens. Dep 9.20am. Arr 12.30pm. Bus to Syntagma Square. Walk to Georges Guest House. Into square for beer and to Plaka. Bed 12am 10 Move to Hotel Tenbi 550Dr for 1 night. Went to apply for new passport at Tourist office, but shut. Accropolis for sunset. Jardia. Anti-biotic. Went to English pub till 3am. 11 Australian embassy for passport. Confirmed island flights and England flights. Ploughman pub. 12 Hilltop restaurant for tea. 13 Aust Embassy. Reservations for Hotels. Got 25000Dr on MC $300A 14 Ploughmans pub and William of Orange Pubs 15 Walk to Amonica and Stanlet Hotel, train station. Bed early 16 Washing... 17 ditto 18 ditto 19 Look around Plaka. Ditto 20 Ditto. 21 Move to Hotel Hempies. 22 Changed $100us 23 Bus to terminal. Dep Athens Olympic Airways 8am to Crete. Arr 8.50am. Hotel Petra. 2500Dr. Palace of Maria at Knossis. Tea at open air markets. Rain. Cool. 24 Dep for Rhodes (Lindos) 7.30pm, Arr 10.10pm. Hotel Spartalis 3883Dr. Bus to Agios Nikolaos. Open air markets. 25 Rhodes 26 Dep 7.10am, Arr Athens 8.25am. Buss to Aust Embassy for passport extension. Ok. Dep Athens 1.40pm, Arr Mikinos 2.30pm. Hotel Leto. 27 Dep Mykonos 5.20pm. Arr Athens 6.10pm. Taxi to Kalifate. Cold, windy. 28 Japan Visa Application. 29 GoTour Corinth, Epeolivas, Naples. 30 Plaka, Temple of Posidon. Dec1 delphi. Held up in potatoe farmer blockade. 2 Athens. 3 Brit-rail pass, got Jap Visa. Hotel Aphrodite 2000Dr 4 Dep 8.15am for London arr 12pm. Stopover Frankfurt 2 hours. 5 Breaky Earls Court. Hired car. Dep London 12pm. Drove to Bourenmouth arr mid-pm. Went to Westbourne to nice pub for tea. Cold and wet. 6 dep for Exeter. Look at Anglican abbey. Warm, sunny. Drove Sth to Torquay along coast. B7B, tea at cafe. 7 Torquay/ Exeter inland route to Caerphilly castle. Onto Brecan Crossed 3 mile bridge into wales. Nice, green and brookes. 8 North to devils Bridge, to Aberystyth and through lakes district to Dolgellan. 9 Towards Carnarfor through Llanfachreth and Barmouth over Mawddach River. Onto betres-y-coed and Caenaffor to Prince of wales palace for 2 hours. B&B, bed.

I've ordered one just now. It's compelling reading, I can't put it down. Google books just gives you a taste. Thanx again.

Oops sorry OMF. I wasn't wearing my glasses and thought it was Dr Zheuss Green Eggs and Ham. I'll have to look for it. Edit. Found it for free on Google books. I'll start reading. Thanx Not sure if the link will work... https://books.google.com.au/books?id=ArpUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT120&lpg=PT120&dq=roger+Critchley+the+long+winding+road+to+nakhon+nowhere&source=bl&ots=5-lUyPRh23&sig=ACfU3U0XS7UfieNT_YI9EIuL2kGo1Hxrhg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh-7q7ioiCAxWpZmwGHYXTDowQ6AF6BAgYEAI#v=onepage&q=roger Critchley the long winding road to nakhon nowhere&f=false

The movie was much better. Except for the scenes of Dorothy buying her eels from the wet market. They should have used 50mm Kodak technicolour with studio back lighting.

Is a threesome still called a "Vegemite sandwich"?

You're really hurting my feelings. When I posted this I was thinking "I'll do this just for Bob Smith". But then I remembered he can't read.

Scroll on....

Back in the days of "Travelers Cheques".....

I stumbled across this diary entry on an old hard drive. It's basically an unedited diary from my first trip to Thailand starting on 4 January 1986. We took off to Malaysia for a bit in the middle to attend a wedding, but I'll leave that part in. It's lacking in detail, but it's all I've got. These were the days before the internet and smart phones, and photography was very expensive, So I don't have any pictures. Please remember, I was young (ish) and naive. Enjoy... JAN 4 1986 Depart Brisbane 11.20am Thai Airways flight TG988. Arrive Sydney 12.35pm. Depart Sydney 2pm. Movie “American Flyers”. Arrive Singapore 8pm local time. Arrive Bangkok 10pm local time. Airport Hotel 11.30pm. Picked up at airport in Mercedes by Judy (Vanunec Tungsatit) taken to Airport Hotel. Organized Temple Tour and City Tour. Bed 2.30 local time. 5 Up at 6.30am. Met Judy after breakfast. Aircon Merc from 9am to 10pm 350baht ($19.50). Check in at Krit Thai Mansion 380 baht, across the road from Siam Square. Went first to solid gold Buddha (5 tons), Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kapo, Wat Po, reclining Buddha, Marble Temple. Tea at Siam Center 20 baht. Picked up by Judy 5.30pm. Went to Floating Markets and fortune teller, red light district for 1 hour. Home 10pm. Hot. 6 Up at 7.30am. Had burger for breakfast at Siam Center, 72 baht for 2. Caught tuk-tuk 35 baht to TAT. Info on Chiang Mai, River Kwai. Eat at Chinese restaurant 210 baht for 2, excellent. Beer garden off Siam Center. Met 3 Aussies, (Terry, Stuart, Phil). Beer 90 baht for 2 large bottles (Kloster). Beef, vegetables, prawn, crab meat. (What did the queen buy 3 20cent balloons for...60c) Bed 12.45am. 7 Sick in head and guts. Roy gets <deleted>s and spews. Stay in hotel till 12pm. Waited for bus for 45 minutes. Walk and tuk-tuk to Southern Bus Station. Bus to rose gardens. Very touristy and expensive. 1 hour Thai show. Cock fighting, sword fighting, dancing, wrestling etc. Feeling sick from smog. Home 6.30pm. Tea at hotel. Bed 11pm. 8 Up at 8.20am. Bought sand shoes at Siam Center 169 baht. Packed for Chiang Mai. Put packs in security storage at Krit Thai Mansion. Walk to railway station past incense factory. Train depart for Chiang Mai 6.10pm. Tea rice on train. 2nd class lower sleeping compartment. Very comfortable. Bed 9pm. Throat cold. 9 Up early. Cold on train. Had breaky and just looked out train window. Arrived Chiang Mai 8am. Taken to Rama Guesthouse. Walked around Chiang Mai until 10am. Back to Rama Guest House 60 baht twin with hot shower. Very pleasant. Walked over to old part of town and to post office. Had bread and pineapple for lunch. Went to Lek Guesthouse for tea, buffalo steak & veges 55 baht. Booked 3 days 2 night trekking trip North of Chiang Mai 1300 baht. Bed 9pm. Cool. Bought throat pills, gargle and vitamins. 10 Up early to commence trekking. Guide Sam. Left passport in safe. Bus to Chiang Rai. Longboat to Karen via Buddha Cave up the Kok River. Went to Karen catholic missionary village. Took photos, played soccer with young kids on river bank while parents looked on. Great fun. Challenged to soccer match at school by older kids and got thrashed. Sam cooked tea in the bamboo hut. Egg, chips and soup, yum. Clear sky. Locals gathered around TV to watch videos. Freezing. Bed 10pm. Wayne and Barbara (Sydney) Paul (USA) Tracey and Dean (Wales). Stayed at Mr Do's house. Akhas only change clothes on new Year Day. 11 Up 7am to photo elephants crossing river. Egg on toast for breaky. Depart Karen 8.30am. Arr Yao village 11am. Waterfall 12pm. Lunch, go swimming, cold. Walk 1 ½ hours uphill to Akha village Ban Adu. Locals smoking dope and opium. Wild animals. I went through the floor of bamboo hut. Local women wearing costumes and crushing grain. Veges, rice and freshly killed chicken for tea. Sat around fire with Sam and talked. Bed 10.30pm. Children have short hair with one long part from crown to keep demons away. Town protected from spirits of dead by wooden man and woman <deleted> at town gates. Teeth red from berries. Sang and danced with kids. Massage 5 baht. Great time. Sam's offsider “Nid”. Stayed at Mr Adu's house. Cool. 12 Up 6am to photo village. 7.30am walked back to waterfall, to other village to see poppies and opium, walked back to waterfall. Waited for truck for 2 hours. Truck to Chiang Rai. Lunch. Truck to Chiang Sean and Golden triangle. Walked into Burma. Truck back to Chiang Mai. Froze. Hot shower. Bed 12am. 13 Bread, bananas and pineapple for breaky. Quiet day recovering from trek. Washed clothes in shower. Wrote letters. Stayed at Rama GH. Went to night bazaar. Tea at American cafe. Cold shifted from throat to chest. 14 Minibus to Doi Suttep. 1000Mtrs above Chiang Mai. Disappointing. Met Danny (Aust). Minibus back to CM. Looked at Wats and prison. Met a teacher and students at Wat Phra Singh. Had lunch under a house, spicy hot. Students took us to Wat Chedi Luang. Taken into excavation work under chedi by laborers. Chedi smashed by earthquake. Met monk and went to his room. Walked back to Rama Guest house. Steak, veges and donuts for tea. Bed. 15 Up early. Washing etc. Went 2 up with boss from Rama Guesthouse to silver factory, wood calving, umbrella factory, silk factory. Bought silk. 2 ply 4mtrs blue and 3mtrs pink @ 190baht/ mtr. Back to Rama. Tea at restaurant and went to night bazaar markets. Bed. 16 Quiet day. Sick. Night markets. <deleted>s. 17 3am up <deleted>ting. 7am breaky at Rama Guest house. Minibus to bus terminal. Left Chiang Mai 10.30am 1 ½ hours late. Coke supplied. Bus videos “The nude bomb” “Truck stop women”. Lunch supplied, chicken leg and bikkies. Arrive Bangkok North Bus station 7.30pm. Bus to city, got lost. 2 ladies helped us out. Caught correct bus to Krit Thai Mansion. Tea and bed 12am. 18 Hot shower. Went to Post office to send clothes home and pick up mail. Back to Krit Thai mansion. Fried rice and beef for lunch. Bus to PB Guesthouse Bangkok, 80 baht twin. Bus to railway station to book tickets, closed. Bus to park at National Gallery to relax and write letters. Kids flying kites near Grand Palace. Walked to PB Guesthouse. Caught head cold. Went to Sheraton Hotel (2000- 18000baht/ night) 26th floor to view Bangkok. Bed 11pm. 19 Up early. Bus to railway station to buy ticket to Ko Samui. Bus to Post office. Bus to PB Guesthouse, played with monkey. Breakfast and lunch nearby at “Hello restaurant” Bus to Bangkok Noi railway station. Met Shimo, he bought us drink and talked 1 hour. Train to Kanchanaburi. Train depart Bangkok 2pm, arrive Kanchanaburi 4.45pm. Met friendly Mr Porntip on train. Talked non-stop for 2 hours. Met at train station by rickshaw driver “Samson”. He and Roy got in back and I peddled to River Kwai Hotel. Full. Booked into Prasopsuk Hotel 90 baht. Tea at Isans restaurant 40 baht beef and veges in oyster sauce. Bed 9pm. Bad head cold. On pills. 20 Up 3am with <deleted>s. Breaky at guest house 7am Walked to TAT for info about Nam Tok and Kancanaburi. Went to POW camp and war museum. Walk to Japanese grave yard, and Allies grave yard and memorial. Walked to Bridge on River Kwai (Kwai Yai River) and over bridge to Japanese memorial. Played kick-ball with 10 or 12 locals on the way back to guesthouse. Bad head cold. Tea across road from guesthouse. Bed 9.30pm. Pleasantly hot. 21 Up 6.30am. Samson took us by rickshaw to a bakery for breaky. Shouted him breaky 120baht for 3. Rickshaw to Chulkadon Pier (musical bells on rickshaw & wheelstands). Cross river on ferry. Hitchhiked by truck to Wat Tham Manghon Thong. No floating nun. Sugar cane truck back to weir. Walked along river. Lunch at floating restaurant. Ferry and 3up on motorbike to Allied war cemetery. Walked to Wat Than Khao Poon and Kaopoon caves. Joined up with young Thais & shown through caves by monk. Cake and water with Thais, very friendly. 2 girls wanted “vegemite sandwich (sex). Got a lift 18km back to Kanchanaburi with Surakit from Thai Electricity Authority in comby van. Back at hotel 4pm. Shower etc. Met Surakit at Sunjas restaurant for tea at 6pm. Went 2up on Suzuki 8occ for tour of Kanchaburi. Tea at Sunjas. Went by rickshaw to concert at school. Walk home. Head cold. Bed 11pm. 22 Up early. Head cold better. Breaky banana pancake at Sunjas. Lift to bus station. Caught bus 10am to Erawaw waterfalls. Very nice. Swam with locals. Walking. Bus back to Kanchanaburi. Walked to soccer field but no-one playing. Very worn down. Tea at Sunjas. Home 7pm. Shower, bed 10pm. 23 Breaky at Sunjas again. Walked to Kanchanaburi train station. Met up with Tony and Tracey from Sydney (met in Chiang Mai). Took train to Nam Tok. Depart Kanchanaburi 10.45am, arrive Nam Tok 1pm. Train to Nakon Pathom arrive 5pm. Booked into hotel near train station 120baht. Snacks in chedi grounds. Drinking sprite and talking till 11.15pm. Bed. Kept awake all night by trains. 24 Went to Nakon Pathom Chedi. Bought bananas and mandarins for breaky and lunch. Bus to Bangkok depart Nakon Pathom 1pm, arrive 2pm. Bus to Post office. Bus to Bangkok railway station 4.30pm. Train to Surat Thani 6.45pm. Excellent tea on train. 2nd class sleeper 369baht. 25 Arrive 6.50am. Bus to port. Boat to Ko Samui depart 8am, arrive 10.45am. Taxi to Weekender Bungalows 50baht. Lunch, swimming. Met up with Jewish couple we met in Chiang Mai (Bob and Joyce). 26 Lazed around Ko Samui. Swam. Seafood for tea. 27 Started walking to Big Buddha. Picked up by water bottle truck & coconut truck. Walked to restaurant on Buddha Beach for lunch. Swimming. Taxi to town. Seafood tea at restaurant . Taxis finish at 6pm so walked to Ramoi beach. Picked up by Suzuki 80cc. Went to another seafood restaurant. Talked till 12. Bed 12.30am. 28 Read up on Malaysia. Swam. Walked to Grandma and Grandpa rock. Seafood. Full moon. Watched video “Police accademy2”. Bed. 29 Up at 5.45am. Caught taxi at 6.15am to Ko Samui port. Ferry 7.15am to Surat Thani. Bus depart Surat Thani 11.15am. Arrive Phuket 6.30am. Share taxi to Kata beach 25baht each for 4 people. Book into Kata Tropicana Bungalows 100baht/ night. Beef steak for tea.. Bus from Surat Thani to Phuket very pleasant, Lots of mountain and caves. Bed 10pm. 30 Swimming at Kuta beach. Caught and killed a cobra on the beach. Watched videos “Silkwood” & “Never say never again”. Talk to Tom from Sweden at Judies Pub at Kata Tropicana. 31 Up at 7.30am. Breaky at bungalows. Snorkeling with Roy and Tom at Karon and Kata beaches. Drink Mekong whiskey and watched videos “Romancing the stone” & “The gods must be crazy” Feb 1 Up at sunrise. Breaky. Made 2 spear guns from bamboo and reinforcing steel rod from a construction site. In the water 9.30am. To late for crayfish. Lots of jelly fish. Out of water 10.45am. Lunch and a nap. Back in the water 4.30pm. Lots of crayfish but too small to catch. Excellent diving, no jellyfish. Good visibility. Out of water 6.14pm, cold. Had tea with Tom. Bed. Hot weather. 2 Up early to go to bus station by taxi. Depart Phuket 8.40am, arrive Haad Yai 4.30pm 90 baht. Booked into the Wang Hotel 90baht for 3. Checked bus and train tickets to Penang. No trains on a Monday. Bought share taxi for 200baht each. Fried rice for tea, few beers. Bed 12.30am. 3 Share taxi to Penang. Depart 8am, no border problems. In Malaysia 10.30am. Arrive Penang 3pm. Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch at Butterworth. Phoned Philips David. Bus to his parents place. Had beers and tea at philips place. Met his family. Charles; Simon and greek wife; Rubin and Trish; Rod and Leanne; Diane; Mum and Dad. Nice night. Bed at Eng Aun Hotel 11pm.Hot. (Swiss Hotel full) 4 Went to PO to post letters. Breaky at the Tye Ann hotel. Sight-seeing in Penang. Went to Tourist Office. Fried rice for lunch. Tea at Hong Kong Restaurant. 5 Banana porridge for breaky. Bus to Penang Botanical Gardens. Lots of monkeys. Looked around shopping complex. Quiet day. Went to Philips and to markets for tea. Excellent. Back to Philips home. Bed 11.30pm. 6 Bus to chinese temple Kek Lok Si. Bed 3am. 7 Philips wedding. Met Joe from SP, Abel from Ipoh. Excellent night. Went up Pearl Hill with Vincent and Joe. Drinks at pub with Diana, Rod & Louise, Charles, Rubin and Trish. Bed 2am. 8 Went up Penang Hill. Chinese New Year, went to esplanade for celebrations, disappointing. Tea at philips house with family. Bed 1am. 9 Bus to Sungei Petair. Picked up by Joe (Joe and Anginina from KL) and taken to his brothers place at Aloe Setar (Peter). Aloe Setar is Violets home town, 3 days of marriage celebrations. Bed 2am.Hot 10 Drive and boat with Dan, Joe & nephew,& Roy to Lankowie Island 36km North of Aloe Setar. 9 people drowned and 13 ok in boat sinking at island jetty.Out for tea with Dan. Bed 12am. 11 Left Aloe Setar by bus with Joe, Angelina and Roy. Joe and Angelina got off at Sungie Petani. Bus to Butterworth & onto Ipoh. Lift with cop to Topak. Taxi to Cameran Highlands. Tea. Booked into bungalows. Bed 12am. Cool. 12 Bus to Kampong Raja Village. Hitchiked to Blue Valley Tea Estate. Met Mr Krishnan & family. Very friendly. Looked around tea fields and factory. Played badminton and pool with factory staff. Tea and talk with Mr K. Bed 12am. 13 Up 6.30amLooked around tea fields and factory. Arung aboriginies hunting with poison darts. Games with staff. Cool. 14 Went to Buddhist temple with Mr Krishnan. Bus to Tapah. Express bus to Rawan. Local bus to Sringhai Chow Rubber Estate. Left Comeran Highlands 1pm. Arr SCRE 6.30pm. Badmitton. Few beers with Jody and family. Bed 1.30am. 15 Went to rubber plant with manager and assistant. Met Ganasin at Jody's for lunch. Ganasin took us around town to meet and chat with locals. Went to English class at school & played soccer. Watched soccer game KL vs Sringhai Chow. Badmitton. Beers with ganasin, Jody, Logga, Stanley and Vijay (brother in law). Good music on sterio. Raja wasn't home. Stayed at Rajas and Vijays house. Raja not home. Bed 2.30am. 16 Up 6am to go tapping rubber trees. Tour of palm oil trees. Indian for lunch at Anginina's. Slept from 3pm to 5pm. Tour rubber factory. Back to Jody's for tea. To Vijays and Ganasins for smoko and music. Bed 12am. Hot. 17 Stanley drove to estate. Drove to KL dep 11am. Went to AmX to buy $900US travellers cheques. Drove to Batu caves & onto Malaka. Looked for Stanleys uncle at army barracks but not allowed in. Stayed at Majestic Hotel $22 for 3. Went to Plaza Hotel at 11pm after driving around all night looking for a decent band. Band at Plaza called “Freedom”. Finished 1am. Very good heavy band. Spoke to singer and went to “downunder” disco. Left and bed 2am. 18 Explored Malaka, red square, chinese temples, christ church etc. Drove to KL and went to Red Rooster, closed. Then to the “captains table” for a drink and onto “rainbow”. “search” and “headwind” played till 3am. $25M entrance and $10/ beer. 2 of Malaysias best bands, excellent heavy metal. Bed 4am. Hot. 19 Up 9.15am. Went to top of skyscraper 33 floors with Roy and Stanley. Walked around KL. Indian for lunch. Back to Stanleys to collect bags. Bus back to rawan dep 3pm. Sprained ankle at KL bus station. Bus to Sungkai Choh Estate. Plaster cast from local Dr made from eggs etc. Drink beer with Raja, Jody and Roy. Bed 2am. Hot. 20 Bus from Rawal to KL. Express bus from KL to Kota Bahru. Taxi to Pahi. Met Raja and went to Change-Mans place for his daughters wedding reception. Went back to the palm oil staff club house for a few beers with Raja, Edward etc. Chinese with Mr Changmar. Bed 2am. 21 Slept in. Went to palm oil factory to weigh trucks. Chinese lunch at KK. Went to waterfalls for swim. To Krishnas for tea. Hot. 22 Factory in morning with Murphy & then to Kota Baru by bus to buy sorongs. Bought bus tickets. Social club with Edward for tea, bed 12am. Rain. 23 Bus from Kota Karai to Kota Baru to Penang. Hong Kong restaurant for tea. Booked into Yeng Keng Hotel $13M. 24 Booked train ticket Penang to Bangkok. Bus to Mr and Mrs Davids. Left reat there. Went to town for haircut. Back to Davids. Talk etc. Bed 11pm. 25 Washing. Went to Penang airport to see Mr and Mrs david off. Shopping in town. Hot. 26 Train Penang to Bangkok. Depart 7.55am, arrive 7am. A few Mekong whiskeys. 27 Rest up from train trip. Went to post office. Early night. Full moon. 28 Rest. Write postcards. Get ready for flight to Nepal. Last day in Thailand.

I live in Isaan. For some, 3 days in Isaan is too much. For me, 3 days in Bangkok is too much.

I don't even know what I'm talking about, how do I expect you to keep up? Something about being prescribed glasses and wondering where it all ends.

You dropped your purse.

I could rename this "what do you carry in your manbag" But English is my second language, and I'm guessing a wheelchair won't fit in your manbag.

They might learn about proper thoughtful music, instead of being sheeple.

I'll add nail clippers and hair comb to today's machines. I guess CPAP machine is something else to look forward to.

Apparently "Pink Floyd Welcome to the machine" is age restricted. God help us..

I'll put this in the pub section, because that's where I feel most comfortable. So, I have been wearing prescription glasses for a while. I should be wearing hearing aids, but I'm too stubborn. However, I did buy a machine that blasts water between your teeth to remove the crap before brushing and flossing, and I quite like it. Then I bought a "nasal irrigator". Well that's different, but it blows all the crap out of your head. I guess it's just a matter of time before I need a walking frame and a colonoscopy bag. So what machines do you use, other than the bum gun and tooth brush?

I drilled a hole in my peg bucket to let the water out.

Sticky rice with green papaya salad and bbq chicken, and a hot bottle of Chang in a plastic cup, sitting cross legged outside on the concrete.

I don't have an accent. Everyone else does.

"There's" a cup of water. My cup of water is here.

Run up and down the fence line on your hands and knees, barking. Guaranteed she won't be back.