Belfadt City to Aughnacloy
Pick up with Roy and Carol and fast journey home. Holland clan waiting to greet us at the end of 85 days which went so fast.
Heathrow to Belfast City
Tablets starting to work so feeling a bit better. Watched Ireland on smart phone with Chris Farnell playing. He had a good game. Flight boarding was early with Air Lingus and good flight home.
Dubai to London Heathrow
8 hour flight and I am very rough. Up 6 times last night. Security etc was a real problem. Val managed to get some gut anti bacterial tablets which helped. But not looking forward to 3 hour stop over at Heathrow.
Dubai
Val always wanted to see Dubai but with me spending much of day in bed she did not see a lot! Very expensive. £32 each for breakfast then £50 for a very simple lunch!! Hotel was fine but could not enjoy. Quick walk to beach. Unbelievable now some westerners dress considering the country. Asking for...
Singapore to Dubai.
Val not feeling well as we head off on 7 hour flight. Not helped when our taxi does not turn up and I spend an hour on phone. Had to take own taxi and then check in was very slow. Val feeling OK but I am starting to feel bad. Early night.
Singapore 2nd part
After reasonable breakfast off to Botanical Gardens. Fabulous place all free. Though Orchid garden in centre has a small charge. Really interesting and relaxing to walk around. Taxi back to Chinatown and then discovered relatively close to walk back to hotel. Set off and stopped of for lunch at fast...
Mandalay to Signapore
Out of Myanmar after a great but tiring 10 days. Flight late afternoon so had a lazy morning after lunch at Unique Myanmar before heading to airport. Airport is relatively new but provides no Internet access and I could not go online myself as no signal. Flight with Silk Air was good. They provided...
Mandalay tour
Day out to visit loads of different pagodas. First visited gold beating workshop and silk weaving workshop. No real hard sell. Sagaing Hill where the views from the top pagoda was awesome. Lunch at the Sagaing Hill resteraunt was just OK. Then of to Royal Ava after ferry crossing. Tour by horse cart...
Bagan to Mandalay
Rather than take a boat we had a 4 hour car journey through the countryside. Interesting. Arrived at hotel Yadarnarpon Dynasty and then straight out for a boat trip up the river to Mingun. As usual the sights, sounds and local people going about their daily work was mesmerising. Back down river in r...
Bagan tour
By the light of day the hotel at Tharabar Gate is great. Breakfast was great. Visits then to 3 key pagodas with a good guide who spoke fluent English in the morning. All were interesting and different. Home for siesta in temperatures of 37C at midday. Then back out to a couple more pagodas, one with...
Ngapali to Bagan
Screwed up day when flight direct to Mandalay was cancelled and we had to go via Yangon. Effectively 4 hours lay over at Yangon most spent with luggage as could not check in until 1400 Bagan is interesting and hotel seems fine. Had a quick bite and some cheap cocktails after we arrived when it was a...
Ngapali on the beach
After breakfast straight into the sea. Even at 830 was warm.a walk along beach was disappointing as at a local village the beach was littered with detritus. Very sad. At 6.00 at the resort staff had been out cleaning the beach in front of suites etc. Then lazing around between dips until after 1300....
Inle to Ngapali
Early morning departure in pouring rain on an open boat. Boatman had capes and umbrella waiting for us and with the warm rain journey was OK. Then on to car for trip to Heho airport. It is antiquated in that it reminds me off Liverpool airport in the 1970"s! Very crowded and you have to be aware to...
Inle lake tour
Out in morning with boat trip to village market. Nothing artifical there! Then on to an old temple complex. Thousands of stupa. Some being restored. Fascinating. Back to boat for trip to get lunch which was OK beside a large monstery. Then on to see some silversmiths work and finally the Kayan tribe...
Yangon to Inle lake.
Delivered to airport by driver and uneventful flight with KBZ. Drive to Inle showed the amount bring spent on infrastructure with work ongoing on new roads. Few tools for road making but hard labour from women and men. Very built up and poor. Then we stopped and were deposited on a river bank. Did n...
Yangon tour
Guide picked us up and first went down into the old town centre for a walk around. Lots of derelict buildings. Some grand old buildings. After military rule governments now have a heritage fund to improve over time. Sampled some betel leaf!!!! Then on to circular train which showed the worst side of...
Signapore to Yangon
After a bit of confusion manged to catch up with Chris and Megan again for a very expensive airport pint! They then left for Thailand. Flew with Silk Air which was actually quite good despite old plane. Guide Myo was waiting when we arrived.... In more rain. Yangon was old capital but no spend on in...
Singapore
Busy day. Out at 9 to walk to shopping precinct. Already hot and sweaty. Walked down Orchard Road but shops did not open to 10. Really surprising to find so many shops in an underpass to cross a road. Went whole way then uber to Bugis Market. Interesting but tatty stuff. Walked on to Chinese temple...
Perth to Singapore
Went to Megan's cafe for breakfast.... After Val went to beach for more shells!! Flight quite relaxed but arrived in pouring rain. No point in walk tonight. Two cocktails in hotel bar cost £25!!! Hotel Grand Copthorne Waterfront is 5 stars. View is fantastic from floor 24. Hotel room is more 4 stars...
Perth day 5
Day out to Rottnest island particularly to see the Quokkas. Too last minute to book an adventure tour on jet boat so took the hop on hop off bus around island. Stopped to see fur seals etc.
Perth day 4
Tour off Fremantle prison was interesting. Unbelievable sentences for minor offences, (swearing), not that long ago. Conditions for prisoners pretty poor. Only closed in 1991. Down into Fremantle for late lunch at Monks and then some shopping. Very warm at 37C
Perth day 3
Megan took us out to Swan Valley and a little town called Guilford. At one time it wanted to be the capital. Sleepy and some nice houses. Nice walk. Then of to wine tasting at Mandroon followed by Lancaster cheese and wine. Stopped of at choclate factory which was interesting then lunch at Penny's k...
Perth day 2
Down to King's Park for a walk around the gardens arranged in different Australia regions. Across the glass walkway and great views over the city. Great place to walk around. Back home and then out for evening dinner to Freemantle. Big port and one of oldest towns in the region. Watched sun going do...
Perth day 1
Out for walk to beach early morning. Only abt 10 to 15 mins away and beautiful. Temperature already creeping up to 27C and hot sun. Stopped at Drift kitchen for coffee and snacks. Really good. Back home and day degenerated into alcoholic haze in the back yard. Seemed like a good idea.
Auckland to Perth
Late morning flight so at airport for 8.00. Flight then delayed 4 hours!!! Interesting as this flight was changed by 1 day and time and suddenly it is back to original time, though a day later. Flight was OK some excitement with a passenger taken ill but they did not divert. Flight though reduced by...
Christchurch to Auckland
Clear out car and get afternoon flight to Auckland. Uneventful. Sandi met us and then off to Jetpark hotel. Meal and drinks were good on last night in NZ.
Christchurch
After a morning waiting to see a doctor and to get malaria pills, final cost $595, not much time to sightsee in Christchurch as had to go back to collect tablets. Decided just to visit Quake City so set off to park in town. Unbelievable what the city is like 6 years after earthquake. Huge voids ever...
Mount Cook to Christchurch
Approx 5 hour drive today.... Much of which we could still see Mount Cook! Leaving delayed by road closure due to film crew doing an ad. We offered to be extras! Stopped of at Lake Tekapo for the most photographed church to find it besieged by Chinese. Carried on to Geraldine. Quiet town on a Tuesda...
Mount Cook
Full day here. Off on Glacier Explorer to see largest glacier in NZ the Tasman. Difficult walk in 3kms for me because of pace of leader!!! Some surprising facts. A lake 7km long did not exist in 1973 and is growing fast. Great to see. Back for lunch and a siesta then out for another walk of 2km. Mou...
Queenstown to Mount Cook
Made a very early start as Val was up at 5.30! Drive to Cromwell retraced some of route we arrived on. Then down through a gorge though not spectacular. After that nothing but farmland for abt an hour. Stop for coffee at Wriggly Ram was OK but shop was extremely expensive. Captive audience I suppose...
Queenstown
Walked into town from apartments along the lake side then through the gardens. Took 1.5 hours but level. Had a coffee then went walking. Not a big town and lots of people half our age! Val got her hair cut...... I found a Vodafone shop... Girl from Strabane!!!!!
Te Anau to Queenstown
Easy drive back today. No rain so saw sights we missed first time round. Beautiful. Call at Arrowtown on way which was a beautiful and quaint old gold mining town. Then for the views at Coronet ski fields at Skippers Road. Boy the road is scary! Accommodation in apartment at The Oak Shore is superb....
Milford sound
Day trip with Trips & Tramps! Super host in Neil who was very informative. Small group travel which was good. Journey down through the mountains was awesome and the cruise actually underwhelmed after that. Back and actually dined in on lamb soup.... A nice change!
Wanaka to Te Anau
After a good breakfast a relatively short drive today. Great views but poring with rain. Luckily we will see most views again when we return later in week. Sleepy little town quite a surprise. Accommodation at the Croft was a full size cabin very well equipped and a great host in Jane. Recommended K...
Fox Glacier to Wanaka
Early 6.00 start to go and see reflections in Lake Matheson. Walk for 1.5 hours through forest and around the lake. Then back for a hearty breakfast and conversation with Karen. Interesting lady. Set of late and spent most of day stop/starting at the views/waterfalls/lakes etc on road which were sup...
Greymouth to Fox Glacier
Greymouth is an old town. The whole coast has lots of gold and some coal mines. Absolutely pouring down for first time in nearly 8 weeks. Stopped at Hokitika, too wet for beach, so walked around jade and glass shops. Nice town. Drove off to Harihari for coffee. Val had a very good quiche in a little...
Nelson to Greymouth
Long drive today of 4hrs 51 mins. Some windy roads in middle section but good views. Visited seal colony at Cape Foulwind. How they use the rocky ledge in rough waters is beyond me. Apparently numbers are dropping. Then on to Punakaiki and the Pancake rocks. This deserves to be up with the Giants Ca...
Abel Tasman National Park
Day trip from Nelson. Is about 1 hour away. Can only enter park by water taxi. We had Wilsons booked at 9.20 who dropped us of at Awaroa Lodge at 11.15 and picked us up from Tango Quarry at 14 50. After lunch, OK but expensive, we set of on 4.7km walk through the bush to pick up point. Told it would...
Wellington to Nelson
Not too much driving today as 3 hour ferry crossing on Interislander. Fabulous scenery. Then 140 km to our accommodation in Nelson. At first glance the town is not interesting. Accommodation is quaint and quirky overlooking the sea. Since self catering out to supermarket to stock up for two nights.
Whakapapa to Wellington
Longest journey to date.....340kms and 5 hours 13 mins. Not much to see on way down after the mountain scenery. Lots of farms with huge herds of cattle and sheep. Stopped of at a beach which was all pebbles and driftwood. Two folk were whitebait fishing which was interesting. Then some glorious ice...
Rotorua to Whakapapa
Fairly easy drive today. Left about 930 and before Taupo stopped of at Huka falls which was quite impressive. Taupo itself was quite nice and we collected lots of pumice on the lake shore. (good for scrubbing feet!!!) This was where the largest volcanic eruption was in last 70000 years. On then to C...
Rotorua touring
Up early and out to visit the Wai-o-tapu thermal park. Geyser blows every morning at 1015, with some help, but is approx 40 mins away. Very impressive to see.... pity Val and I could not keep our feet!!!! Went for all 3 walks which took 90 mins and was very impressive what nature can do. Called at m...
Hahei to Rotorua
First stop was hot water beach which was entertaining trying to find a spot. Was a real surprise. Consequently late in setting off. 270 km in 5 hours. Road lots of corners!!! Still some beautiful scenery. Stopped in a couple of small villages and at the large Martha's Mine, now closed, where gold wa...
Hahei second day
Lazy day after travelling yesterday. Quick drive around area in morning to visit mercury bay and cook beach. Both linked to Captain James Cook in 1769. Very beautiful area. Then off on Hahei Explorer boat trip. Really worth while and interesting. You get to see into sea caves inaccessible from land....
Auckland to Hahei.
Up at 6 and with washing machine/dryer in apartment we did the laundry!! After a good breakfast in hotel left at about 9.30 for 270 km to Hahei on Coromandel peninsula. Stopped of in Thames which was a lovely town where we felt young!! Has a good gluten free coffee shop Food For Thought. Next stop w...
Santiago-Buenos Aires-Auckland
Wednesday midday flight to Buenos Aires after goodbye to Louise etc. 1500 arrival then wait to Thursday 0005 for flight to Auckland which would be 13.5 hours!!!! Also losing a day with crossing date line arriving Friday at 5.30. Mostly OK until Val was very sick on Auckland flight!! Only an hours sl...
Last day in Santiago
Last day and hectic getting packed etc. Morning spent getting sorted out then afternoon walked back to funicular to hill top. Cable car was closed. Nice views but some obscured by trees. That area is very bar orientated and crowds were gathering at 1900 when we got down. Walked back through mistral...
Thoughts on Bogota, Quito, Lima, Buenos Aires and Santiago .
Surprisingly, given I had a bag stolen, is Santiago. Fantastic setting surrounded by the Andes. Second is Quito it has an old world charm and friendly people. However difficult to walk around because of the hills it is built on. Good start point for Jungle visits or Galapagos visits. Hotel was reall...
Day 4 Santiago
Only a few days left so a relaxing day just walking around
Day 3 Santiago
Bank holiday today so 90% shops shut. Took Elena for a walk and ended up back at the playground. Long way for such small legs and she was shattered when we got back.
Day 2 Santiago
Sunday and town is relatively quiet. Went on a walking tour. Quite nice in area where the large washing line was and walked through to Plaza Armes. Took tube a couple of stops towards the funicular. When we got there queues were horrendous so decide to go back some other day.
Day 1 Santiago
Very depressed after what happened yesterday. Not feeling like bothering with Santiago but life has to go on. Made a few more phone calls then Chris and I had to go to police station to report the theft. Eventually found and necessary documentation received. Wasted a morning though. Would have strug...
Viña del Mar to Santiago
Decided to get bus. Station was further away than we thought to have to haul our cases! However was a cheap way to travel and very comfortable. Got to Santiago and found my bag had been taken from the rack above my head and none of us had saw anything!!! Credit cards, some money, driving licence and...
Day 3 Viña del Mar
Valance I took Elena out for morning as Louise not well. decided to go out of town to gardens described as no 1 attraction in Viña del Mar. When we got there we found no cafe or anything like but is definitely nice to walk around. Cactus house was interesting. Unfortunately it started to rain so we...
Day 2 Viña del Mar
Whole family on buses to Valparaíso a port city about 30mins away. Very busy area around station and not very nice. Walked up a couple of streets which were dodgy to say the least. So went back to Plaza Sotomayor to start again after some coffee. Lots of finicular railways.... If you could find them...
Day 1 Viña del Mar
Out for morning walk around the town. Along promenade to Wolf castle, actually built 1905, but was closed for refurbishment. However gate was open to let us go to viewpoint looking all along the coast. Very like Alicante. Busy coast road. Then visited the floral clock and walked back home. Afternoon...
Viña Del Mar Chile
Mid morning flight so up early leaving Buenos Aires. Nice airport with good facilities. Flight via Sky A319 was good as well. At Santiago airport we were going to get a number of buses taking 2.5 hours to get to coastal town of Viña del Mar where we had an Airbnb apartment booked for 4 nights. Got a...
Day 15 Last day Buenos Aries
Packing and tidy up day as Louise etc leaving with us for Chile. Luch out at La Continental which was OK. Best part was the playroom they have for kids. In evening Louise, Chris and kids out to meet the families for last time. Early to be as 6am start tomorrow.
Day 14 Buenos Aires
Visit to Casa Rosada the presidential palace. Quite nice inside but not as ornate than expected. Took some photos of journalist seats for Andrew only to find he had been there with Obama! As usual the centre city streets were closed for festival. This time celebrating Columbia food. Stage with music...
Day 12 Buenos Aires
Another lazy day. Elena took Grannies to some new parks whilst I caught up with some paperwork. In the evening Louise and Chris went out for some drinks/tapas with some friends as a leaving do. Leaving us looking after the kids...... Or was it the other way round.!!!. Needless to say it was a late n...
Back to Buenos Aires for day 11
Mid morning ferry back. Much bigger ship and capable of carrying cars. Lazy afternoon and evening with the kids especially for the boys as the girls went out to a vegan restaurant and did not come back to late!
Colonia del Scramento
Up for breakfast which was a worry after last night's meal. However it was absolutely perfect with a wide range of food. Faith restored in Radisson. Cold and windy as we headed out for a walk around the historic centre. It was very interesting. The cobbled streets are actually just massive stones. N...
Colonia del Scramento Uruguay
Caught the mid day ferry Colonia Express. Terminals were quite modern but ship was a lot smaller than expected and quite cramped seating. However with a journey time of 70 minutes you can put up with it. Similar distance as for Larne to Stranraer but with no vehicles. Lots of travellers joining buse...
Day 10 Buenos Aires
Out with family via bus to the suburbs to visit a market with cowboys etc. Held every Sunday it was like a huge car boot sale but had dancers on stage etc. Lunch out with a typical Argentinan barbecue which was great and more than we could eat. Long journey back after problems getting the right 180...
Day 9 Buenos Aires
Day following he tourist trail. First down to Museum del belle artes which on ground floor was quite good. First floor was mainly argentina artists and was more modernist. Not as good. Walked to Recoleta then for coffee after which we went to cemetery. No entrance fee but 40 pesos for a guide book w...
Day 8 Buenos Aires
Elena's birthday a big 4. Into her school for party at 10.30. Cakes from Chris/Elena and Val, as one wee boy is celeagic. Out then for lunch followed by some shopping and coffee.
Day 7 Buenos Aires
First day of heavy rain. Need a day's rest anyway. Lazy day all around though afternoon saw cake making for Elena's birthday tomorrow.
Day 6 Buenos Aires
This morning it's Chris's turn. Walking tour of La Boca. The original port of Buenos Aires and where immigrants still come. Interesting fact in the 10 years from 1880 population grew of Argentina from 1.5 million to over 6 million. 50% of increase was Italians. Tour is sanitised a little but well wo...
Day 5 Buenos Aires
In the morning went shopping for cake icing and present for Elena on her birthday on Friday. As usual Louise's walking, 20 mins there and 20 mins back turned into 2 hours walking!!! In afternoon decided to do a free city walking tour of city centre with Louise. Off course it is not free they expect...
Day 4 Buenos Aires
Elena back to school so Louise and Val left her there and then went shopping. Chris left holding Arlo and me!! Out for short walk to free up legs from yesterday!!! After lunch took Arlo to park and played in sand..... Surprisingly he did not try to eat any..... Everything else goes straight to his m...
Day 3 Buenos Aires
Out easy to go to San Telmo market. Chris ill so with Louise and kids. Took metro very good and cheap. Only problem is steps with the stroller but.... When we got to Plaza del Mayor the roads were closed and a Brazilian day was going on with food stalls and a stage with dancing. Good fun. Moved then...
Day 2 Buenos Aires
Not to early up with kids. Then down to plaza Republic del Peru for a gluten free festival!! Lots of produce but unfortunately the bread does not taste any better than at home. Buenos Aires quite a nice city and the traffic moves very freely in a one way system with wide avenues. In the evening out...
Day 1 Buenos Aires Argentina
Nice to have a chilled out breakfast and planning what to cook after 9 days of hotels and eating out! Elena left to school then food shopping and looking around the local area. Sleep in afternoon when kids are must be getting old!! Relaxing and chilled out evening.
Dsy 14 Lima to Buenos Aires Argentina
Family time for a month. Pick up early and then flight again via Avianca A321 this time. Jam packed only 1or 2 seats free. On time arrival where Chris's friend Ivan was waiting to pick us up. Stress free this time. Evening with Louise, Chris, Elena and Arlo.... He has grown some since we last seen h...
Day 13 Lima self visits
Self touring today so no early start.
Day 12 Lima guided tour
After yesterday a new day. Temperatures in mid to high teens but very dank and grey. Apparently it is like this all the time in Lima. Tour pick up saw us with 7 Spanish. But guide spoke good English and was funny. Traffic in Lima is always bad with grid lock but drive into town was OK. Quite a nice...
Lesson 1
Do not book late afternoon flights. It wastes time in an area where you have already seen the sights and have insufficient time to do anything else! Better to fly before noon and have some evening time in new destination.
Day 11 Quito to Lima Peru
Flight out to Lima not to late afternoon so morning free. Did not feel like going out again to view any sites as quite tiring walking. Flight will not arrive to 20.50 tonight in Argentina. Catch up on this travelogue and TripAdvisor ratings for hotels and restaurants. Check out at 12 and went for lu...
Day 10 Quito self guided tours
Leisurely day planned with visits to museums etc. Being Sunday everywhere was extremely busy so very time consuming to get to attractions. One cross town journey took 1.5 hours as some streets were closed off for a cycle event. First visit was to Capilla del hombre in which some of the drawings were...
Day 9 Quito city tours
Great breakfast in hotel. Very helpful and friendly with reasonable English, especially when we could not open safe or work tv!! Went to nearby hotel for tour pick up at 8:15 left at 8:40, as they waited for two people who did not turn up. Down into city centre on old trolley bus which dropped us of...
Day 8 Bogotá to Quito Ecuador
Late morning departure from hotel for short flight.should have been an easy travel day but.... Taxi arrived 30 mins early. Had to check out quickly. Then after 15 mins journey driver turned back! Andrew to the rescue on phone. Apparently someone else was supposed to take us. Back at hotel changed ta...
Day 7 Bogotá Coffee Plantation visit
Decided to take a day trip out of city to visit a coffee plantation at Fusugasato. Booked on TripAdvisor via Viator. Expensive but includes an English speaking guide. Andrea explained that few speak English in columbia as the lessons are expensive but that government are trying to promote greater to...
Day 6 Bogotá City tours
The Pope followed us so everything was a little chaotic!! Not a particularly nice city but has a buzz about it. Apparently the population has grown by 20% in last 2 years with the problems in Venezuela. Suffering a little from altitude sickness so left Montserrat out. Did not get into cathedral but...
Day 5 Washington DC to Bogota Columbia
First ever flight with Avianca. Gate announcements were a problem, only in Spanish? Aircraft was Airbus A319 very new. Good flight on time. Val had a very good gluten free meal supplied. Mine not so good but OK. Long walk to pick up luggage on arrival and very slow to arrive. Good money exchange at...
Day 1-4. Washingtonn DC Grand-daughter time!
Do not see them often enough. After arrival from Belfast via London relaxing evening. Next day went to American history museum. Eva especially liked the invention section. Out for meals and wakened at 5.30 every morning with a 5 & (nearly) 2 yo bouncing on the bed. Amelia starting to say words. (ref...