Photos
|
 | China (27/05/02 - 09/08/02)
Spent two and a half months in China and loved every minute of it, bargaining, insect infested guesthouses, life threatening bus rides and interesting visits to the local police included! Its vast and varied landscapes are truly beautiful. The people always an enriching experience to deal with. I can't wait for the day I go back there and see some more!
Beijing | Shaolin | Xian | Chengdu | Yunan | Shanghai |
 | Thailand (10/08/02 - 05/09/02)
Here, the water is at 29 degrees celcius, shakes and food are great value, partying options are endless and anyone will teach you how to dive! The only painful things you might encounter in Thailand are a bad Thai massage or a run in with a vicious tuk-tuk driver on a mission to clear out your bank account! Alternatively you can just choose to chill out and spend all your time in a hammock! :)
Chiang Mai | Bangkok | Islands |
 | Malaysia (06/09/02 - 20/09/02)
Malaysia was more of a culture shock for me than any other counrty so far. It sure hosts an amazing mixture of cultures and religions! Still, experiencing new or different things is what travels are for! The tea plantations in the Cameron highlands were spectacular and Tioman a surprisingly wild Island! Next time, if there is a next time, I'm going accompanied though! ;)
Penang | Kuala Lumpur | Cameron Highlands | Tioman Island |
 | Singapore (21/09/02)
I can't really say I know Singapore, I only spend a day there. I definitely gave it the best of my legs and walked from Little India to Chinatown via the main park along the river. It's expensive, feels sterile and 'legoland-ish' as all the colonial architecture has been rebuilt. You won't find any streets littered with gum here as chewing the stuff is illegal! In fact a lot of things seem illegal here!
Singapore |
 | Bali (21/09/02 - 25/09/02)
Again, not a great deal of time spent here but I guess things could have turned fatal if I'd stayed longer!! I didn't like Kuta but really enjoyed driving through spectacular rice fields, authentic villages, temples and quiet little markets on the way to Tulamben. There, the reck dive was a treat! Whilst thriving touristically Bali was still desperate to get as much money out of tourists as possible, I can't imagine how much they are struggling now! :( Bali |
 | Australia (26/09/02 - 06/11/02)
The highlight by far was spending some time with my sis! Sydney was beautiful to see but I didn't find it as engaging and sociable as Melbourne. Still, the Harbour Bridge made a bigger impression on me than the Opera House and Great Ocean Road was well worth getting out of Melbourne for! Oz is huge and since I am bound to go back there regularly, I guess I will discover it a little more on every trip.
Townsville | Sydney | Melbourne |
 | New Zealand (07/11/02 - 14/02/03)
New Zealand is great and it's a shame I have spent most of my time working cos there is a lot to see and do but I have not had the time nor the money! Still managed to do some amzing treks in the countryside and on a glacier, and not trip to New Zealand id complete without a Bungee jump! It's easy to adapt to the kiwi life! It's sooooo relaxed here, eh! :)
Queenstown | Fox Glacier | Auckland |  The Bungie Jump |
 | Mexico (15/02/03 - 25/03/03)
Sun, tequila, chillis, tortillas, Mariachis, Mayan Ruins... There are many things to be enjoyed in Mexico. It's bright, lively, young and full of energy. It has an amazing landscape from coast to coast and the capital is as big and polluted as they say! Mexico, Mexi-hiiiiiiiii-co!
Mexico DF | Oaxaca | Mazunte | San Cristobal de las Casas | Palenque | Valladolid/Tulum |
 | Guatemala (26/03/03 - 12/04/03)
A colourful country where chicken buses are the best way to travel. Although I wish some of them where scheduled to depart after sunrise, the days are long when yo wake up at 4 in the morning! The beautiful markets gave me the only frustration I exerienced in the country: Not being able to buy everything and carryng it back!
Flores | Tikal | Rio Dulce | Lago Atitlan |
 | Honduras (13/04/03 - 21/04/03)
Honduras was still pretty unstable, in Tegucigalpa the atmosphere was 'knife cuttable'. The main purpose of visiting the country was to go and see whale sharks. Unfortunately they didn't show so I qualified as a rescue diver instead with Simone whom I traveled with for a week. I hooked up with Lili again and we did a little stint inland for a few days before parting again.
Honduras |
 | Nicaragua (22/04/03 - 05/05/03)
I really enjoyed Nicaragua starting with Leon and its history splatered all over its buildings, Granada and its colonial look, and most importantly Isla Ometepe where I spent the longest time in the country. Its unusual volvano landscape was hypnotising, the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. The treks and views unforgettable. A natural start to the wind down I was experiencing coming to the end of the trip!
Leon | Granada | Isla Ometepe |
 | Grenada (06/05/03 - 21/05/03)
Grenada was a great way for me to wind down with Yolande and David (the parents of a good friend of mine) as hosts and guides to this wonderful island. I got to meet a lot of their relatives and experienced the Island through local eyes. Grenada is amazing not only for its crystal clear beaches but for all its spices and fruit trees, from nutmeg trees to cashew nut and cocoa trees to an outstanding choice of Mangos!!! Grenada
|
