tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84082594128431135762024-03-14T12:41:24.683+00:00Phil's Round The World TripHave put the office grind on hold for a year & am off for a bit of a wander with Dave. Should be a blast. I'll try to keep this up to-date with some pics and random thoughts.
You can get me on philipwalsh@gmail.comPhilip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-21105890352439944642008-02-01T22:07:00.004+00:002008-04-05T17:18:25.208+01:00Argentina...steak, vino and spanglish!<div align="left">After a hectic few months of non-stop travelling in Australia, New Zealand and Chile I fancied chilling out in one place for a while and spent 10 days in <strong>Bariloche</strong>, the gateway to Patagonia. While I was there I managed to take in a week`s spanish lessons at La Montaña which gave me a good grounding in the basics and let me start to learn more on my own. Although I was far too lazy to go on any of the treks or venture south into Patagonia I was able to soak up some of Bariloche`s amazing views from the relative comfort of the beach...even by South American standards it`s a really pretty town.</div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em>View of Bariloche from cable-car (obstructed by gimp in novelty t-shirt)<br /></em></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3utt2zA1-I/AAAAAAAAByE/lZVvQ24jCKM/DSCN4083.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3ut72zA2CI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/ElgvcvcoH1o/DSCN4100.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3utqmzA19I/AAAAAAAABx8/5ejQpAKVYlI/DSCN4081.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><br /><div align="center"><em>New Years Eve bash in Tango Hostel with Sven and las Argentinitas</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3ut-2zA2DI/AAAAAAAABys/CBuQ-Q-OrTM/DSCN4107.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div><p align="center"><em>I got hauled up on stage for a few drunken tunes to ring in the new year...(I thing this pic of me destroying Hotel California)</em> </p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3uuOWzA2II/AAAAAAAAB1M/iItNH0SA82g/DSCN4133.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><p align="left">After Bariloche I sampled for the first time on the famuosly ridiculously bling Argentinian buses. For $60 I travelled the 20hr journey to <strong>Buenos Aires</strong> in style with 3 movies, 2 meals and free champagne...how bad? BA definitely lives up to the hype. The steaks are to die (or kill...or kill and then blame someone else) for, the women are the most beautiful on the planet (..not counting some obscure parts of West Cork), La Boca one of the most colourful little boroughs you`ll ever visit & the rest of the city is so full of more turbulent history than you can shake a stick at (..if shaking sticks is what floats your boat).</p><div align="center"><em>Seconds before devouring the best steak on the planet with Barry McDonogh in La Cabrera (...odd lesbian couple at the next table kindly took this pic for us...cheers dykes)</em></div><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R6IgfWHvWlI/AAAAAAAAB9w/XDc0g8g8Rm0/DSCN4193.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><em>Downtown BA<br /></div></em><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R6ImiGHvWqI/AAAAAAAACE4/CCUtCau2W28/DSCN4264.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><br /><div align="center"><em>La Casa Rosada...home of Evita`s stirring speeches & Madonna´s inane warbling </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><br /></div></em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R6IggmHvWnI/AAAAAAAACAc/gmjp17O6Q7c/DSCN4248.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Colourful working class district of La Boca</em><br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R6ImkGHvWtI/AAAAAAAAB-4/4JW3FraOWGk/DSCN4285.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><em>Diego Maradona, Evita & a.n.other salute La Boca<br /></div></em><div align="center"> </div><br /><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R6ImjWHvWsI/AAAAAAAAB-w/zRKnl9HkTQE/DSCN4282.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><em>Quality Boca Juniors mural, La Boca</em></div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><em></div></em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R6Imk2HvWuI/AAAAAAAAB_A/IGJc3oMaFys/DSCN4286.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <p>After Buenos Aires I took a monster 20+ hrs bus up to <strong>Iguazu Falls</strong>, a truly immense collection of powerful waterfalls (dwarfing Niagara Falls) on the border with Brazil. Apparantly the negative ions generated by the waterfalls contribute to giving people a feeling of giddyness & euphoria, who knows. I´m no Scientician.</p><p align="center"><em>Iguazu Falls...the money shots!</em></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R4vYoGzA2cI/AAAAAAAACKc/ObhctUe659U/DSCN4365.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R4vYpGzA2eI/AAAAAAAAB6c/f65yjcYJYM0/DSCN4370.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Garganta Del Diablo...aka The Devil`s Throat</em><br /></p><p align="center"><em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R4vXd2zA2WI/AAAAAAAACCs/hDI-8gIyaQw/DSCN4348.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" />Post-waterfall boozing in Iguazu hostel</em></p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R4vZNWzA2iI/AAAAAAAAB7A/5EGVguvbb6Y/P1010153.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p><br /><p><strong>Cordoba</strong> is a great little University City (8 in total) with great nightlife and....er....ok, I mainly just went on the lash. There. I`ve said it.</p><p align="center"><em>Great afternoon session with Lyden on the bongos in Tango Hostel</em></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R6C4OWHvWkI/AAAAAAAAB9E/P_V9DAvKvV0/DSCN4486.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R6C4OWHvWkI/AAAAAAAAB9E/P_V9DAvKvV0/DSCN4486.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Lashing it up in some random Cordobesan nigtclub with Richard (..the day before he was robbed at gunpoint!) & Lyden - link below</em></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R6C1eGHvWfI/AAAAAAAAB8U/vmIzHQ2ZN44/DSCN4458.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></em></div><br /><p align="center"><em>Here`s a spanish newspaper report of friends of ours who were robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight..they made it onto the Argie equivalent of News at Ten afterwards! - <a href="http://edimpresa.diariouno.net.ar/2008/01/26/nota171099.html">http://edimpresa.diariouno.net.ar/2008/01/26/nota171099.html</a></em></p><p align="center"><em>Polo lesssons in Cordoba...lovin´ it!</em> </p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R6Cz02HvWeI/AAAAAAAAB8M/y-9X5NAVuto/CIMG8629.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R6Cz02HvWeI/AAAAAAAAB8M/y-9X5NAVuto/CIMG8629.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Mendoza </strong>is a great city in the wine-growing region of Argentina (...its Malbec is world famous) and is no slouch on the partying front with loads of great party hostels & clubs scattered around the city. My highlight was definitely cycling around the wine region for 6 hours getting lashed on 101 different wines and stumbling back home to continue the messiness, drinking some lethal local concoction from a giant babies bottle!<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>At Puenta del Inca (created by the interaction of ice and hot springs) with Frederico (x2) on Mendoza road trip<br /></em></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TLsXoszDI/AAAAAAAACBw/txKzOibWbgo/DSCN4520.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TLsXoszDI/AAAAAAAACBw/txKzOibWbgo/DSCN4520.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Cerro Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas</em><br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TLtXoszEI/AAAAAAAACE8/9YwK8rUVWic/DSCN4540.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TLtXoszEI/AAAAAAAACE8/9YwK8rUVWic/DSCN4540.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TOg3oszFI/AAAAAAAACCI/sK1kG7KzzvM/DSCN4558.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TOg3oszFI/AAAAAAAACCI/sK1kG7KzzvM/DSCN4558.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> I <strong>WANT</strong> one of these for when I get home...no more drinking out of a cup for me</em></div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TOhXoszGI/AAAAAAAACCQ/Hj2TlV1QzaY/DSCN4563.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TOhXoszGI/AAAAAAAACCQ/Hj2TlV1QzaY/DSCN4563.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Mendoza`s famous vineyards up close<br /></em></div><div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TQoXoszHI/AAAAAAAACCc/8Yiz7pqIGHQ/DSCN4581.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TQo3oszII/AAAAAAAACCk/UGchhtNmT1c/DSCN4593.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7TQo3oszII/AAAAAAAACCk/UGchhtNmT1c/DSCN4593.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>Sampling some of Mendoza´s finest produce...</em></div><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XORXoszJI/AAAAAAAACDQ/M12qC1tPmfg/DSCN4619.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XORXoszJI/AAAAAAAACDQ/M12qC1tPmfg/DSCN4619.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Racing Vs Independiente (F.T. 0-0)...promised much but was probably the poorest match (..that I haven`t taken part in myself) for many a long year</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQnHoszKI/AAAAAAAACDc/zg6-XObFdlM/DSCN4680.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQnHoszKI/AAAAAAAACDc/zg6-XObFdlM/DSCN4680.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Monster session in Break Point Hostel for our last night in Mendoza</em></div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQnnoszLI/AAAAAAAACDk/SXTMU98aUfs/DSCN4694.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQnnoszLI/AAAAAAAACDk/SXTMU98aUfs/DSCN4694.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Salta </strong>was a bit boring really...didn`t really see what all the hype was about. Far too sleepy for a big city & the weather was pants. If I told you the highlight of my time in Salta was sneaking into a 2 movies for the price of one that should give you a good idea of my opinion of it.</div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em>Boozing it up in one of Salta`s messy night spots (the Argentinian girl far left is close to being clinically insane)</em><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQpXoszNI/AAAAAAAACD0/aCVVQkAb5SY/DSCN4730.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQpXoszNI/AAAAAAAACD0/aCVVQkAb5SY/DSCN4730.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQo3oszMI/AAAAAAAACDs/NnAx9Hu9KbI/DSCN4721.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R7XQo3oszMI/AAAAAAAACDs/NnAx9Hu9KbI/DSCN4721.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-59269350128123376822008-01-04T15:48:00.000+00:002008-01-11T02:06:39.830+00:00Chile...(I know it`s not pronounced "Chilli" but I sound like a gimp when I say "Chil-eh")..help me!Due to <strong>Chile</strong> having something vaguely resembling a developed economy and quasi-western prices a lot of backpackers tend to limit their stay in Chile to a night or two in Santiago before a long-haul bus into Argentina. Because I`m a glutton for punishment I decided to take the financial hit & explore Chile a bit more and I`m glad I did. It`s a country of vastly constrasting environments (from modern cities to desert to glaciers), super-friendly people and more than a few interesting sights along the way...I liked it so much I ended up spending Christmas there although spending Christmas day on a beach in 30 degrees was a slightly unsual experience.. <div><br /><div>This monument in <strong>Santiago</strong> is dedicated to the "Pueblo Indígena" (Indigenous people), who originally populated Chile and has been quite a contraversial piece as it shows the broken face of a Mapuche man symoblising the bravery of Chile`s native people.</div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb72zA1MI/AAAAAAAABo0/LPTffxIJPMA/DSCN3783.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div><p align="center"><em>As you can see, in Santiago Christmas is brought to you exclusively by Coca Cola...</em><br /></p><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb7WzA1LI/AAAAAAAAB20/q-JC2M1HHXg/DSCN3780.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div><div>After a couple of days in Santiago I fancied a few days at the beach and caught a bus up to nearby <strong>Valparaiso</strong> (Chile`s Cultural Capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and <strong>Viña del Mar</strong> (a seaside resort town which has attracted huge investment in recent years)</div><br /><div align="center"><em>View of Valparaiso from above (..well from as high up the hill as I was willing to walk)</em></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4NWzA0_I/AAAAAAAABl4/rb_TjGEtLfI/DSCN3746.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <em>Vina`s "ascensores” (basically urban outdoor lifts used by locals to negotiate Vina`s many hills) which date back to 1883<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4L2zA08I/AAAAAAAAB28/l1vudnwriGQ/DSCN3741.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4L2zA08I/AAAAAAAAB28/l1vudnwriGQ/DSCN3741.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4MWzA09I/AAAAAAAAB24/l2cKShBYWM0/DSCN3743.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4MWzA09I/AAAAAAAAB24/l2cKShBYWM0/DSCN3743.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4M2zA0-I/AAAAAAAABlw/PY2aaTLzFqA/DSCN3744.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4M2zA0-I/AAAAAAAABlw/PY2aaTLzFqA/DSCN3744.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Valpo`s local scouse population open up for business..<br /></em><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A4LWzA07I/AAAAAAAABlY/4exgUxrXDrE/DSCN3730.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <em>Vina del Mar, the garden city<br /></em><br /><div><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GZwGzA1II/AAAAAAAABoQ/tddp9yMfz-Q/DSCN3763.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GZwGzA1II/AAAAAAAABoQ/tddp9yMfz-Q/DSCN3763.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Testing out the camera`s timer function in Vina with Sole & Connie</em></div><div><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R30ulmzA2SI/AAAAAAAAB1s/R3G5Q17uQxU/n501954683_217418_4193.jpg?imgmax=512" border="0" /><em>The beach at Vina..looks lovely but your wobbly bits will not thank you one bit if you take a dip...it`s fuppin freezing!</em></div><div><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3A6cmzA1BI/AAAAAAAABmM/bfowTL7W_qY/DSCN3752.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><em>"Big Wave" Surfing with Blake in <strong>Pichelemu</strong><br /></em><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb8mzA1NI/AAAAAAAABo8/BNVh_MuWnyw/DSCN3797.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb8mzA1NI/AAAAAAAABo8/BNVh_MuWnyw/DSCN3797.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> At the foot of Mount Villaricca, <strong>Pucon</strong>..8am. If only I knew then what I know now..what a tough day`s trekking<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb9WzA1OI/AAAAAAAABpE/A4Iqi69nWsM/DSCN3800.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3Gb9WzA1OI/AAAAAAAABpE/A4Iqi69nWsM/DSCN3800.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Views as we ascend...and ascend and ascend...</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GhRWzA1UI/AAAAAAAAB2w/XrKx9UpLXIU/DSCN3820.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GhRWzA1UI/AAAAAAAAB2w/XrKx9UpLXIU/DSCN3820.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GfM2zA1RI/AAAAAAAABpk/Kv0nXAzZSAs/DSCN3811.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GfM2zA1RI/AAAAAAAABpk/Kv0nXAzZSAs/DSCN3811.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>At the summit...finally, fit to drop at this point</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GlpGzA1YI/AAAAAAAAB2o/dmsBk3f5YSk/DSCN3833.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GlpGzA1YI/AAAAAAAAB2o/dmsBk3f5YSk/DSCN3833.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><strong>P.S.</strong> The highlight of this trek was actually the descent where we were able to slide down 90% of the mountain on your arse at a ridiculous speed on a piece of plastic vaguely resembling a skinny hot water bottle..I`d highly recommend it (although be prepared to find ice and snow in some very unusual places afterwards)</div><div> </div><div></div><div><em>View of a lovely mountain (the name of which I have no clue)</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div></div><div><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GsNWzA1cI/AAAAAAAABrQ/S0-4sRWc0sc/DSCN3875.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GsNWzA1cI/AAAAAAAABrQ/S0-4sRWc0sc/DSCN3875.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Hate the game, don`t hate the playa...<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GxU2zA1eI/AAAAAAAABro/oz756uvK5og/DSCN3884.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3GxU2zA1eI/AAAAAAAABro/oz756uvK5og/DSCN3884.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Celebrating Colo Colo`s 4th Championship win with some crazy, boozed up locals...some things are just universal<br /></em><br /><div><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urHmzA1hI/AAAAAAAABtU/aJ4FGrM_xDM/DSCN3910.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urHmzA1hI/AAAAAAAABtU/aJ4FGrM_xDM/DSCN3910.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urLmzA1iI/AAAAAAAABtc/vvyZlRINixs/DSCN3912.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urLmzA1iI/AAAAAAAABtc/vvyZlRINixs/DSCN3912.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> The fish in Chile is savage...<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urPWzA1jI/AAAAAAAAB2k/0ZX09qPOwaA/DSCN3936.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urPWzA1jI/AAAAAAAAB2k/0ZX09qPOwaA/DSCN3936.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> "Don Sergio" our lady-charming (apparently according to the man himself there are "many ladies who call me the Don", sausage-c0cked, wannabee-restaurantour bus driver...A legend</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urZWzA1mI/AAAAAAAAB2g/VbmmpAWawBw/DSCN3944.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urZWzA1mI/AAAAAAAAB2g/VbmmpAWawBw/DSCN3944.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Sampling the huge Christmas feast Sergio prepared for us in Puerto Varas</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urdGzA1nI/AAAAAAAABuE/NCGFP1nP3RE/DSCN3948.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urdGzA1nI/AAAAAAAABuE/NCGFP1nP3RE/DSCN3948.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div>P.S. "The Don" has his sights set on opening up a Chilean restaurant in Dublin so keep an eye out for him..the man can cook!</div><div> </div><div></div><div><em>The Don doesn`t let some giant lemon slices get in the way of telling us how many chicas he has had in the last 2 weeks and just how fertile he is..</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urgGzA1oI/AAAAAAAAB2c/-ORkEZ24SWs/DSCN3950.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urgGzA1oI/AAAAAAAAB2c/-ORkEZ24SWs/DSCN3950.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em></em></div></div><div>Just for the record I did spent the majority of Christmas day on the phone to home listening to various version of "The Fairytale of New York" on a loop...sob</div><div> </div><div></div><div><em>Puerto Varas...30 degrees...Christmas Day...surreal </em></div><em></em></div><div><em><div><br /></div></em><div><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urqWzA1rI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/tkuDl8i3ws4/DSCN3970.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3urqWzA1rI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/tkuDl8i3ws4/DSCN3970.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> En route to Argentina...just some pesky border guards left to outwit</em></div><div> </div><div><div></div><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usYGzA10I/AAAAAAAAB2U/SV5_X4IYJjY/DSCN4049.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usYGzA10I/AAAAAAAAB2U/SV5_X4IYJjY/DSCN4049.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>Views of the Andes from a Bus..perhaps the most visually stunning bus trip I`ve ever taken (I`ve yet to get the no. 3 bus out to Ballyphehane but it`s on my to-do list)</em> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3ur3WzA1vI/AAAAAAAABvE/tQkJPnJVu4M/DSCN4004.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R3ur3WzA1vI/AAAAAAAABvE/tQkJPnJVu4M/DSCN4004.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usj2zA14I/AAAAAAAABwo/fuMpGQVwCT0/DSCN4059.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usj2zA14I/AAAAAAAABwo/fuMpGQVwCT0/DSCN4059.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usm2zA15I/AAAAAAAABww/G1qUdk_KgfI/DSCN4068.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usm2zA15I/AAAAAAAABww/G1qUdk_KgfI/DSCN4068.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usa2zA11I/AAAAAAAABwQ/x0dDPj4PJaE/DSCN4052.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R3usa2zA11I/AAAAAAAABwQ/x0dDPj4PJaE/DSCN4052.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-30738242061415921592007-12-11T03:33:00.000+00:002007-12-16T23:46:53.088+00:00New Zealand...not a bad way to burn 6 weeks<a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R14ogICiBjI/AAAAAAAABko/6sZMCdY2wbo/IMG_0462.JPG?imgmax=912"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R14ogICiBjI/AAAAAAAABko/6sZMCdY2wbo/IMG_0462.JPG?imgmax=912" border="0" /></a> My time in <strong>New Zealand </strong>got off to a shaky start. As you can see below the local law enforcement were eager for me to "help them with their enquiries"...being the genius that I am I took off my black hat quickly dumped my silver or grey mid-sized car & to throw them off the scent...its replacement? The big orange <span style="color:#ff9900;"><strong><em>Stray</em></strong></span> bus which ferried us around New Zealand, as far North as Auckland and as far south as Stewart Island.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkr56MIp3I/AAAAAAAABjI/WWnoMxV8c98/DSCN2988.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkrlqMIpsI/AAAAAAAABjk/LXmZn3jekvE/DSCN2895.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></div><br /><div>New Zealand is the home of <strong>Adreneline sports</strong>. You name it and they've jumped from, off and in to it...so when in Rome....</div><br /><div align="center"><em>Skydive with Reno, Taupo - From 15,000 feet & over 1 minute free-fall!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142567484727100962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilG9xO9sNPa7j-rKY2knxzcowQo69DTbDqQVifs_VGeOgm2DIoDhmrVSpWti-RxHIGw7DbvRdyTA_ONZuYx8uJcfkvG0Shqd_wOJHRyInIWgCiWRb9q4x4Y467ZOdlyp7FIYEFQOebiuE/s320/n586185538_607436_3449.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Canyon Swing, Queenstown - Over 100m high, 60m freefall @ 150kph</em></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SizfIZevqls7uO6tSUaYi_vMwDCinPUXdt9wic2WnMdj_HRFvjW7ysx0evXYUVxDjjY3D3TZnvbr_aeWumxgWFsv0KUW4UBe0PeENyu8RngyXASNTXkutvlXaFiQAaTmqpEEF882y1A/s1600-h/n586185538_654405_7440.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142567420302591506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SizfIZevqls7uO6tSUaYi_vMwDCinPUXdt9wic2WnMdj_HRFvjW7ysx0evXYUVxDjjY3D3TZnvbr_aeWumxgWFsv0KUW4UBe0PeENyu8RngyXASNTXkutvlXaFiQAaTmqpEEF882y1A/s320/n586185538_654405_7440.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A6vXkevN4ZGsmXYNVB71cMJTPsxZElwkVVAt5OeCRbV2aKDyelbJup7MZ8BCxAk_tH2JNBD8DfZCxWUGLUGN7v0CopSTKLzJyoSbBSB05resPcDJCsp9lPE_i3dl6LSRx__cOtLl_kc/s1600-h/n586185538_654406_7873.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142567334403245570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A6vXkevN4ZGsmXYNVB71cMJTPsxZElwkVVAt5OeCRbV2aKDyelbJup7MZ8BCxAk_tH2JNBD8DfZCxWUGLUGN7v0CopSTKLzJyoSbBSB05resPcDJCsp9lPE_i3dl6LSRx__cOtLl_kc/s320/n586185538_654406_7873.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo66GJQgHtkW-IqeqU_Ft6WOUWf-X2H42GLuoenalCpCgCNQTaIbFHu66Ae3XGJnl-Vlko_pJsVpxHvXLfhQf2OiZjzcdE7HlgHmAv_LP1USbJVEtCwU-uHOV6BhIllnXXIW95Y_m-nY/s1600-h/n586185538_654407_8263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142567261388801522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo66GJQgHtkW-IqeqU_Ft6WOUWf-X2H42GLuoenalCpCgCNQTaIbFHu66Ae3XGJnl-Vlko_pJsVpxHvXLfhQf2OiZjzcdE7HlgHmAv_LP1USbJVEtCwU-uHOV6BhIllnXXIW95Y_m-nY/s320/n586185538_654407_8263.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfs4tRKYwT7kbfr6QZb1f0vmOXtOElhjc1JGbWNPRsAaBgODYzrT_WakLs1STjAZui5Xn8pu-7GpHWnLNBoqfhmO8BNKKZ1opZadAwpVSLOLdkczR6CTJ65hAHctl9YDxWaEbkk7g6R0/s1600-h/n586185538_654408_8656.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142567128244815330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfs4tRKYwT7kbfr6QZb1f0vmOXtOElhjc1JGbWNPRsAaBgODYzrT_WakLs1STjAZui5Xn8pu-7GpHWnLNBoqfhmO8BNKKZ1opZadAwpVSLOLdkczR6CTJ65hAHctl9YDxWaEbkk7g6R0/s320/n586185538_654408_8656.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9pYCiBHI/AAAAAAAABfM/Vf31tlM03TU/DSCN3476.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9qoCiBII/AAAAAAAABfU/JR2TzIvRfxA/DSCN3478.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><br /><div><em>Damian & myself bask in the post-Canyon Swing relief...</em></div><br /><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9oICiBGI/AAAAAAAABfE/wI5GdQ7Rrvs/DSCN3471.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><div><em>Agrojet, Rotorua - 0kph to 100kph in under 4 seconds!</em></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkqGKMIpoI/AAAAAAAABTg/4PAQ6xEbRDQ/DSCN3074.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><br /><div><em>Swoop, Rotorua - ..once you pull the ripcord you hurtle towards the ground at 130kph</em></div><br /><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkqBaMIplI/AAAAAAAABTI/pFdnAGKt_Aw/DSCN3053.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkqCqMIpmI/AAAAAAAABTQ/yfhTA9IC9_o/DSCN3054.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><div><em>Zorbing, Rotorua - Rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball full of water...Why? Why not?</em></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkp76MIpiI/AAAAAAAABSw/Ad82WUk60Us/DSCN3044.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><br /><div><em>Quad-biking, Waitomo</em></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkpsqMIpYI/AAAAAAAABRc/eLoquLbMKT4/DSCN3000.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><br /><div><em>The Luge, Queenstown</em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9jICiBDI/AAAAAAAABes/mmo8rjyDPhc/DSCN3443.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></div><div><em>And now for something completely different - Golfing in Wanaka</em></div><br /><div align="left"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9fYCiBAI/AAAAAAAABeQ/O6PfRCa7xjk/DSCN3398.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" />New Zealand has some of the most spectacular sights of natural beauty that I've ever had the pleasure to come across. It gets to a point where it's nearly too beautiful and it's hard to take it all in...here are some of the highlights:<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><em>View from Franz Josef Glacier</em></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkI62-OaI/AAAAAAAABb4/TkQ_CMfWf-4/DSCN3338.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkI62-OaI/AAAAAAAABb4/TkQ_CMfWf-4/DSCN3338.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em>Franz Josef Glacier</em></div><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkB62-OVI/AAAAAAAABjc/4WfbdX2X2ZI/DSCN3332.JPG?imgmax=640"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkB62-OVI/AAAAAAAABjc/4WfbdX2X2ZI/DSCN3332.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></a><br /><em>The start of our all-day hike of Franz Josef Glacier<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkDq2-OWI/AAAAAAAABbY/qzpdczKdW6o/DSCN3333.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R0UkDq2-OWI/AAAAAAAABbY/qzpdczKdW6o/DSCN3333.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em> Random tree growing in the middle of a road - Otago Peninsula</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D-A4CiBYI/AAAAAAAABjY/7pNoWypwnT4/DSCN3626.JPG?imgmax=640"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D-A4CiBYI/AAAAAAAABjY/7pNoWypwnT4/DSCN3626.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></a> <div><em>More Glacier action...not even sure which one this is!</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9y4CiBOI/AAAAAAAABgE/1Orjlf5Eiu0/DSCN3506.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9y4CiBOI/AAAAAAAABgE/1Orjlf5Eiu0/DSCN3506.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>Mmmmmmmmmmountains, just for a change..</em></div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9v4CiBMI/AAAAAAAABf0/vuwSjnVauQI/DSCN3501.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9v4CiBMI/AAAAAAAABf0/vuwSjnVauQI/DSCN3501.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a> <em>Mirror Lakes, Te Anua</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9uoCiBLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/mPvAqmPkyI4/DSCN3494.JPG?imgmax=640"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9uoCiBLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/mPvAqmPkyI4/DSCN3494.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></a><em>Marlborough Sounds, Picton </em></div><div><em><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Pc262-OMI/AAAAAAAABZE/VBBJm7L54co/DSCN3150.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Pc262-OMI/AAAAAAAABZE/VBBJm7L54co/DSCN3150.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em> View (obscured by gimp) from Wellington look-out<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Pc1a2-OKI/AAAAAAAABY0/KaKwWonHq0U/DSCN3136.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Pc1a2-OKI/AAAAAAAABY0/KaKwWonHq0U/DSCN3136.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>The Best of the Rest...</strong></em></div><br /><div><em>Relaxing in the Adelphi's hot tub, Kaikoura<br /></div></em><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzksk6MIp5I/AAAAAAAABWc/uzac9dzt1Hs/P9140464.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzksk6MIp5I/AAAAAAAABWc/uzac9dzt1Hs/P9140464.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em>Baboons have the ugliest asses in the world, fact - Wellington Zoo</em><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkr26MIp1I/AAAAAAAABVk/R_fQjJtEHKc/DSCN2961.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkr26MIp1I/AAAAAAAABVk/R_fQjJtEHKc/DSCN2961.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em> I'm not sure why but I love this picture!<br />- Random ostrich, Rotorua</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkqH6MIppI/AAAAAAAABjM/-wLYN_1ZIdE/DSCN3078.JPG?imgmax=640"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RzkqH6MIppI/AAAAAAAABjM/-wLYN_1ZIdE/DSCN3078.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></a> <em>Maouri evening at Uncle Boy's place, Maketu<br /></em><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkp3KMIpfI/AAAAAAAABSY/g8-NzWofMnE/DSCN3036.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkp3KMIpfI/AAAAAAAABSY/g8-NzWofMnE/DSCN3036.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em></em></div><div><em>"The Haka", Maketu</em></div><br /><div><em><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rzkp0qMIpdI/AAAAAAAABSE/YZflxx-3gkY/DSCN3020.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" />Baldwin Street, Dunedin - the steepest street in the world!<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D-FICiBbI/AAAAAAAABio/RLH5nFSrnas/DSCN3647.JPG?imgmax=640"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D-FICiBbI/AAAAAAAABio/RLH5nFSrnas/DSCN3647.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></a> <em>Pulling pints to beat the band at the Speights Brewey, Dunedin<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D97ICiBUI/AAAAAAAABg4/W9e1_K_eta4/DSCN3581.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D97ICiBUI/AAAAAAAABg4/W9e1_K_eta4/DSCN3581.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>Another successful smash & grab operation at the Cadbury's factory, Dunedin</em></div><div><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D-HoCiBdI/AAAAAAAABiA/Cbojh0sWL3M/DSCN3657.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /><em>I heard somewhere that feeding the object of your obsession full of drink is supposed to work...<br /></em><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D90YCiBPI/AAAAAAAABgM/yb4-ndkgGEc/DSCN3513.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /> <em>Hey presto, before she knew it I was on top of her giving her a right proper shaving - Tuatapere<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D914CiBQI/AAAAAAAABgU/DgRWm-4F0zQ/DSCN3527.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D914CiBQI/AAAAAAAABgU/DgRWm-4F0zQ/DSCN3527.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><em>Fancy dress party in Barrytown...maybe the messiest night of the lot?<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9boCiA-I/AAAAAAAABeA/lvn66OIdVTo/DSCN3308.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R1D9boCiA-I/AAAAAAAABeA/lvn66OIdVTo/DSCN3308.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a> <em>Keep rollin' rollin' rollin' - Abel Tasman National Park<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Ph_62-OSI/AAAAAAAABZ8/B8xkP5z7kro/DSCN3187.JPG?imgmax=800"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/R0Ph_62-OSI/AAAAAAAABZ8/B8xkP5z7kro/DSCN3187.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>As a special bonus here's the best video taken during my 6 weeks in New Zealand...a baboon in Wellington Zoo going for a slash & then having a sniff of his wee..classy!</em></div><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycviNjhDbUjHUL8stibEh7cwwKOb4Gv2MBbGhdBna0VjHhXMh6iAmMkmzZOHWDB711uo_dnmEF5GHxYrungQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-77925502857560183542007-10-29T07:56:00.000+00:002007-11-21T07:36:36.629+00:00Australia (a.k.a. How to blow as much money as is humanly possible in 6 weeks!)After 5 months acting the fool in Asia we decided that the Australians would be our next victims. We flew into Darwin and spent a few days chilling out there & venturing into the bush (...it was Dave's first encounter with the bush so understandably he was a little nervous).<br /><br />From there we flew to Cairns and hit as many spots as we could along the east coast until we hit Sydney. After drinking like fishes for 8 days it was time for Dave & myself to part - him for his flashy new job with a marketing company & shiny new apartment, me for 6 more months of boozing, scrounging and generally acting like an under-financed backpacker-type around New Zealand and South America. Bring it on!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvygh8XcM6I/AAAAAAAABDU/Mm2-M5twzng/Aus%20ass.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>This was one of the first sites that greeted me while strolling around in Darwin..not too sure the paintjob will help the re-sale value though!</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RvyZ9sXcM0I/AAAAAAAABCE/PPbZVitcWwM/DSCN2275.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RvyZ9sXcM0I/AAAAAAAABCE/PPbZVitcWwM/DSCN2275.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Enjoying a well-needed free steak dinner & all-night free bar tab after winning local 5-a-side tournament in Darwin<br /></em><br /><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RvyaQ8XcM2I/AAAAAAAABCY/7j8M4Lpk4E4/DSCN2289.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RvyaQ8XcM2I/AAAAAAAABCY/7j8M4Lpk4E4/DSCN2289.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Sampling life in the bush in Litchfield National Park<br /></em><div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RvykysXcNBI/AAAAAAAABEU/xWuxxy-VNg0/DSCN2326.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RvykysXcNBI/AAAAAAAABEU/xWuxxy-VNg0/DSCN2326.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvyk6sXcNCI/AAAAAAAABP8/p-xn-ky6DZ0/DSCN2327.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvyk6sXcNCI/AAAAAAAABP8/p-xn-ky6DZ0/DSCN2327.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Quick tip...standing next to the two palest people in Australia can do wonders for your tan<br /></em><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RvylkcXcNGI/AAAAAAAABFA/P4uoDXPKAGU/DSCN2344.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RvylkcXcNGI/AAAAAAAABFA/P4uoDXPKAGU/DSCN2344.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Learning to do the "Bloods" sign during a bus pub crawl in Cairns..well pleased with myself </em></div><div><em><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvyl8cXcNJI/AAAAAAAABFY/agfDfnQovRs/DSCN2363.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvyl8cXcNJI/AAAAAAAABFY/agfDfnQovRs/DSCN2363.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Stopping off for a breather during a lung-busting bike ride in 30 degree heat in Magnetic Island...living like a slob for 5 months really didn't pay off that day!<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHB1WJOI/AAAAAAAABGo/zbze9-qTOIM/DSCN2404.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHB1WJOI/AAAAAAAABGo/zbze9-qTOIM/DSCN2404.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Even I have to admit that this fella is cute, Magnetic Island National Park</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHR1WJPI/AAAAAAAABP4/g9TJv3-nWF8/DSCN2429.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHR1WJPI/AAAAAAAABP4/g9TJv3-nWF8/DSCN2429.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>En route to Brisbane on the trusty old Greyhound<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHx1WJQI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Vp6rlvDDrDU/DSCN2439.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXHx1WJQI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Vp6rlvDDrDU/DSCN2439.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Our vessel for our Whitsundays voyage...Habibi<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXIB1WJRI/AAAAAAAABP0/7zT74XWaFM0/DSCN2442.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXIB1WJRI/AAAAAAAABP0/7zT74XWaFM0/DSCN2442.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Drunken shenanigans aboard Habibi...having to spend 30 mins in a dirty bin full of the day's leftovers was a tad harsh punishment though..<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXIR1WJSI/AAAAAAAABPw/1TN8IFwi64U/DSCN2456.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RxLXIR1WJSI/AAAAAAAABPw/1TN8IFwi64U/DSCN2456.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> Managed to convince a girl to be in a picture with me. After 5 months of trying this was a huge moment for me<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRrcJabIMI/AAAAAAAABJE/QJNeXj0MiBM/DSCN2457.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRrcJabIMI/AAAAAAAABJE/QJNeXj0MiBM/DSCN2457.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> The two of us putting spandex back to the forefront of fashion<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRrcZabINI/AAAAAAAABJM/bfVA_2tIyfk/DSCN2470.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRrcZabINI/AAAAAAAABJM/bfVA_2tIyfk/DSCN2470.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Group photo no. 168 on Fraser Island</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtQZabIPI/AAAAAAAABJg/RHXnBqMIpV0/DSCN2495.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtQZabIPI/AAAAAAAABJg/RHXnBqMIpV0/DSCN2495.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> WALSHY!! Left...no, not that left the other left you tool!</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtQpabIQI/AAAAAAAABJo/mJJyAgwYcvg/DSCN2497.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtQpabIQI/AAAAAAAABJo/mJJyAgwYcvg/DSCN2497.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtRZabISI/AAAAAAAABJ4/bNMLVM9O9yE/DSCN2511.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtRZabISI/AAAAAAAABJ4/bNMLVM9O9yE/DSCN2511.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>Local aboriginal tries in vain to teach us to start a fire using only wood & a coconut husk</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtRpabITI/AAAAAAAABKA/5i81ICmnEn8/DSCN2533.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyRtRpabITI/AAAAAAAABKA/5i81ICmnEn8/DSCN2533.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Quiet session on the guitar turned into a mini-gig when 40 extra people rocked up from another camp..I'd have been lost without the head torch!</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR1XJabIVI/AAAAAAAABKc/z8GKQJwdAr4/DSCN2553.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR1XJabIVI/AAAAAAAABKc/z8GKQJwdAr4/DSCN2553.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR1X5abIYI/AAAAAAAABK0/Gw2A_b_XRN8/DSCN2572.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR1X5abIYI/AAAAAAAABK0/Gw2A_b_XRN8/DSCN2572.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Our van decided to pack it in just as we were about to board the ferry back to the mainland..<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5SJabIZI/AAAAAAAABLE/PzFxgUHgCEs/DSCN2577.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5SJabIZI/AAAAAAAABLE/PzFxgUHgCEs/DSCN2577.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Re-united with the Deloitte girls in Noosa<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5SpabIaI/AAAAAAAABLM/UyVgUVFkAmk/DSCN2587.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5SpabIaI/AAAAAAAABLM/UyVgUVFkAmk/DSCN2587.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em> I loves the goon..<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5S5abIbI/AAAAAAAABPI/dk5JbjTOpqU/DSCN2589.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5S5abIbI/AAAAAAAABPI/dk5JbjTOpqU/DSCN2589.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Some lovely rocks...</em></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5TZabIdI/AAAAAAAABLk/tCLKSx74HUw/DSCN2622.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyR5TZabIdI/AAAAAAAABLk/tCLKSx74HUw/DSCN2622.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>A close encounter with a frickin massive lizard, Noosa Heads (..just after our unfortunate encounter with a nudist beach full of wrinkly old men!<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-0JabIfI/AAAAAAAABPE/LHU-aRPb3bI/DSCN2628.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-0JabIfI/AAAAAAAABPE/LHU-aRPb3bI/DSCN2628.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>At a "Waifs" gig in Brisbane, great show..check them out if you haven't heard of them<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-05abIhI/AAAAAAAABMo/xwFTqZKf9vo/DSCN2671.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-05abIhI/AAAAAAAABMo/xwFTqZKf9vo/DSCN2671.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-1JabIiI/AAAAAAAABMw/MY9-mttAMVc/DSCN2692.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyV-1JabIiI/AAAAAAAABMw/MY9-mttAMVc/DSCN2692.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>The view from our hostel in hippy Nimbin..this place is paradise. Could've easily spent 2 weeks there instead of the 2 days we could spare<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWBlJabIlI/AAAAAAAABNQ/MbPQ51bq4IQ/DSCN2702.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWBlJabIlI/AAAAAAAABNQ/MbPQ51bq4IQ/DSCN2702.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWBk5abIkI/AAAAAAAABNI/XuyZAi6Ztz8/DSCN2698.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWBk5abIkI/AAAAAAAABNI/XuyZAi6Ztz8/DSCN2698.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Re-united with the fellow backbackers we met in Vietnam - World Bar, Sydney<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWCfpabIqI/AAAAAAAABN4/mgQ-MDUvCFU/DSCN2788.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWCfpabIqI/AAAAAAAABN4/mgQ-MDUvCFU/DSCN2788.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Two gimps ruin perfectly good photo of Sydney Harbour Bridge<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWDhJabIvI/AAAAAAAABPA/HUGLG-pb4_c/DSCN2826.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWDhJabIvI/AAAAAAAABPA/HUGLG-pb4_c/DSCN2826.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Not a patch on Cork Opera House but at least they're making an effort..<br /><br /></em><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWDhZabIwI/AAAAAAAABOs/0JsZ6b1wDss/DSCN2830.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RyWDhZabIwI/AAAAAAAABOs/0JsZ6b1wDss/DSCN2830.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-28070131248997986562007-10-15T03:44:00.000+01:002007-10-21T09:20:32.218+01:00Bali...surfing takes a back seat to debauchery...in a word Bali was messy. For what was supposed to be a chill-out section of the trip there was a horrendous amount of alcohol consumed which did interfere quite a bit with our ambitions to turn pro-surfers overnight. For every wave we caught about 100 of them caught us, they caught us baaaaad.<br /><div></div><br /><div>After being on the road for 5 months it was great to see some friendly (if somewhat disfigured) faces in the shape of Dave Cahill, Eoin Barry & Richard Kelly. As they have little opportunity to dispute it I'd like to lay the blame of the messy boozefest squarely at their door although my insistence that we regularly re-fuel with shoulders of dubious local rum (...the infamous Mansion House) may have contributed to the alcohol haze...slightly.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><em>View from Dreamland beach..beautiful, quiet secluded spot with absolutely monstrous waves which threw me around like a rag doll..</em></div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RukUr_lLa7I/AAAAAAAAA6c/96fbkrlfg58/DSCN2032.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RukUr_lLa7I/AAAAAAAAA6c/96fbkrlfg58/DSCN2032.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>Normally I'd have no issues with Walshy jumping into the pool fully clothed..this time though I was a bit miffed that he decided to use my clothes...I did repay the favour later on that night/morning though<br /></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-p8flLbYI/AAAAAAAABH0/M1_IXv7bGyg/DSCN2158.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-p8flLbYI/AAAAAAAABH0/M1_IXv7bGyg/DSCN2158.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Late night/early morning drunken pool-based shenanigans, tom-foolery and all-round hi-jinks</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-qGflLbZI/AAAAAAAABAA/fNTQA6iKtwo/DSCN2159.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-qGflLbZI/AAAAAAAABAA/fNTQA6iKtwo/DSCN2159.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-p1_lLbXI/AAAAAAAABHw/K3qtQp8g5b0/DSCN2150.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-p1_lLbXI/AAAAAAAABHw/K3qtQp8g5b0/DSCN2150.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>Yards from the lads' villa we stumbled upon a secret cock-fighting ring...on this evidence cock's have a hard life</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em></em> </div><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-nKPlLbEI/AAAAAAAAA88/6g9JrkplMRo/DSCN2047.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><em>Bubbles shares some of his top-rate deep-throat techniques</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-pdflLbUI/AAAAAAAAA-8/ihPVVML9Yzc/DSCN2144.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-pdflLbUI/AAAAAAAAA-8/ihPVVML9Yzc/DSCN2144.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>Dave Cahill and myself gatecrash a local newlywed couple's romantic beach-front photo shoot (...just prior to this picture the bride pinched my ass..I kid you not)<br /></em><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-o9flLbQI/AAAAAAAAA-c/RTP_HWfrapM/DSCN2115.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-o9flLbQI/AAAAAAAAA-c/RTP_HWfrapM/DSCN2115.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><em>The strain of all-day boozing starts to take its toll on some..</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-oG_lLbMI/AAAAAAAAA98/blc-nk3SE60/DSCN2077.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-oG_lLbMI/AAAAAAAAA98/blc-nk3SE60/DSCN2077.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <em>The lads' ridiculously bling MTV cribs-style villa..."Villa Kebun"</em></div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-n8_lLbKI/AAAAAAAABHs/2NyUsMM2caE/DSCN2062.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-n8_lLbKI/AAAAAAAABHs/2NyUsMM2caE/DSCN2062.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-nuflLbII/AAAAAAAAA9c/glyziXk7n1M/DSCN2057.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-nuflLbII/AAAAAAAAA9c/glyziXk7n1M/DSCN2057.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-nVvlLbFI/AAAAAAAAA9E/stfQLeurJIU/DSCN2054.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Ru-nVvlLbFI/AAAAAAAAA9E/stfQLeurJIU/DSCN2054.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Quotes of the holiday -</strong> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">1. <em>"Come here to me Walshy...I reckon these birds are kosher"</em> - Bubbles (..upon discovering a rare gaggle of local ladies that WEREN'T looking for payment in return for services rendered)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">2. <em>"Hey...how about you f**k me and then I f**k you?"</em> - Random local ladyboy offers Bubbles a present he just about manages to turn down</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-20010046581357610002007-09-26T07:27:00.000+01:002007-09-28T07:49:38.801+01:00Island hopping in Thailand<div align="left">After doing the ring of south east Asia (Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia) we found ourselves back in Thailand where the times are good, the beaches are quality & the buckets are rocket fuel. Each day melted into the next with afternoons spent chilling in cafe's watching movies and nights spent strongly reinforcing the Thai drinks industry.</div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="left">Here are a few of the highlights...</div><div align="center"><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvygh8XcM5I/AAAAAAAABDM/Q4VWqngg6mE/dive.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rvygh8XcM5I/AAAAAAAABDM/Q4VWqngg6mE/dive.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong>Koh Tao </strong>was really cool. We managed to brave the 6am starts and do a load of scuba diving & gain PADI certification...reckon a few dives along the Great Barrier Reef next month are definitely on the cards.</div><br /><div align="left"><br />We found the most bizarre shop known to man, <u>Mr. J's</u>. Mr. J is most likely clinically insane. He has his bizarre philosophies on life printed out & laminated for all to see in his shop. Among his many pearls of wisdom is the view that if sportspeople don't give at least 70% of their earnings to charity or they'll be re-incarnated as kangaroos. This nutter also sells his own brand condoms (..essentially durex condoms with a Mr. J sticker placed on the outside) complete with 20 year guarantee & half-empty bottles of suntan lotion and moisturiser...in short he's got a bunch of screws loose. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Mr. J's take on the birds and the bees...</em><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RtGZMdy5WbI/AAAAAAAAA1c/Ghe_liyOsmc/DSCN1895.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <em>Can't find a fault with this at all...no way, is this guy a total nutjob</em><br /><br /></p><p> </p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RtGZL9y5WaI/AAAAAAAAAw4/3jof9VGA78Y/DSCN1893.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><br /><strong>Koh Phangan </strong>was a heady mix of chilling on the beach, panning out in cafes watching movies and getting horribly drunk on buckets of sangsom whiskey. all the nights kinda blend into one, it's a very hard place to leave<br /><br /><br /><strong>Full Moon Party Mayhem</strong>...it's rare that such a massive night actually lives up to the hype but this one really did. It was a monstrous session which kicked off at 9pm and finished off at 6pm the next day when we finally called it a night...we were still broken men 5 days afterwards, anyone on for it next year?!?!<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtai1dy5WkI/AAAAAAAAAy8/odIeNwQ91Mg/DSCN0077.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtai29y5WlI/AAAAAAAAAzE/B2_zWMjaJ88/DSCN0084.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtahmty5WcI/AAAAAAAAAx8/mVPV0vE7iSM/DSCN0047.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtah4ty5WdI/AAAAAAAAAyE/rDnFUOFTYq0/DSCN0048.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtaizdy5WiI/AAAAAAAAAys/RMI9-hTKLk0/DSCN0072.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rtah8ty5WgI/AAAAAAAAAyc/FlGMgCtz3ig/DSCN0065.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><br />I managed to pick up some pretty nice injuries on the way home from a club in Thong Nai Pan, really wish they'd look into those pot-holes & maybe even invest in some street lights..it's not much to ask!<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RsmQO9y5WQI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/uaZKK5EaUNM/DSCN0026.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><br /><br />After a brief stay in the uber-tacky resort of <strong>Phuket </strong>we hopped across to <strong>Koh Phi Phi</strong>, the setting for much of the film "The Beach". Phi Phi is a cool, beautiful little group of islands where once again the buckets were out in force..we were raging we could only spend 2 days there but we had a connecting flight to Singapore to catch, would definitely like to hit this spot again.<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Rt6Vldy5W3I/AAAAAAAAA3o/ervzVssP_T4/DSCN1945.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rt6Vkty5W1I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/KMBN-Rj05fw/DSCN1939.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><em>Ray and myself successfully spitroast and unsuspecting statue of a lion..it didn't know what hit it..job done</em></p><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RukSw_lLa2I/AAAAAAAABDA/n3Vqj4ivI0g/DSCN1954.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RukSI_lLa0I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/gV5jWf36jlc/DSCN1914.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></p><p></p><p>...and one last thing. We came across this shop in Phuket, any thoughts on just what a BJ souvenir might be? Answers on a postcard..</p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RukRzvlLazI/AAAAAAAAA5I/a-n47TETJl4/DSCN1912.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></p>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-90826745699646793392007-08-22T13:46:00.000+01:002007-08-26T16:21:45.828+01:00CambodiaAll the reports we'd heard from friends who'd been to Cambodia pretty much amounted to - "You <u>HAVE</u> to go to Angkor Wat" and "Cambodia is poor as fcuk"...from our 5 day jaunt I think they were spot on. The journey from Saigon to <strong>Phnom Penh </strong>was a bit of a struggle because once we crossed the border the roads almost instantly turned from fairly decent roads to dirty, bumpy roads...welcome to Cambodge! <div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmPxuNikjI/AAAAAAAAAs0/o0GzwsTCFl8/DSCN1779.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /> <div>We found ourselves a cool little hostel near the lake which was choc-full of backpacker comforts - DVD player, Bar (50 cent a beer), Restaurant, Internet Cafe etc. We organised for a tuk-tuk driver to bring us on a day-long tour of the city including trips to the Killing Fields, S-21 Prison and the Rushian Market but he got really stroppy when we declined his invitation to go to a shooting range where you can fire rocket launchers and grenades (at $200 a pop) at cows ($50 a pop which you need to purchase from a local farmer) - after firing an AK-47 in Vietnam I think our bloodlust was satisfied enough. </div><br /><div>The Killing Fields are a bit grim to be honest. What would astound as much as the piles of skulls & bones is the reasoning Pol Pol provided for killing an estimated 2 million of his own people. You were killed if the Khmer Rouge didn't like you, if you didn't work yourself to the bone, if you were educated, if you spoke Vietnamese, if you had a Vietnamese friend...it looks like you had to try pretty hard just to stay alive!</div><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmKseNikVI/AAAAAAAAArE/sOcsx6sgu9w/DSCN1598.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /> <div>The notorious Tuol Sleng prison (known as S-21), an old high school converted into a prison to house, interrogate and torture prisoners (prior to them being sent to the killing fields), is a pretty bare, run-down site which shows little signs of the horrific acts which went on there. The most interesting sight there is probably the room full of hundreds of photos of men, women and children who passed through the prison on their way to the killing fields. </div><div></div><br /><div>Because we needed to make it back to Bangkok by the 10th August to collect our stolen credit cards (kindly brought over to us by Walshy's buddy Mark) we could only spend 5 days in Cambodia so we belted on to <strong>Siem Reap </strong>pretty quickly. The only sight worth getting off your lazy ass for in Siem Reap are the temples at Angkor, built in the 12th century by the Khmer empire, Angkor Wat is the the worlds largest religious building and some of the minor temples have been used in the tomb raider movies. I did spend 8 hours trying to track down a seat that Angelina Jolie may have sat down on after a particularly sweaty scene but no luck..</div><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmNNuNikaI/AAAAAAAAAwc/sXWEXbWKl2k/DSCN1701.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmKt-NikZI/AAAAAAAAAwY/9OXTLKEFpzo/DSCN1693.JPG?imgmax=640" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>What may even surpass Angkor Wat is the <em>Angkor What?</em> bar, it's a great spot for a ridiculous session & practically every available space is covered in graffiti, a touch of class.</div><div> </div><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmNQONikeI/AAAAAAAAAsM/xCzy5SFeWUo/DSCN1751.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmPweNikfI/AAAAAAAAAsU/tw-4mcB_Ihk/DSCN1756.JPG?imgmax=800" border="0" /><br /><div>The journey from Siem Reap to the Cambodian-Thai border was hell on earth. Crappy little bus, no air-con, non-stop bumps and a monster hangover..horrible stuff. We'll never learn though, the urge to get hammered ahead of a 12 hour bus trip in the sun is always too much for us...it's time to hit the beaches of Thailand & get re-acquainted with an old friend, buckets of super-strength whiskey & coke.</div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-39389594564956918072007-08-01T17:34:00.000+01:002007-08-08T11:10:40.802+01:00Good Morning Vietnam!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After the madness of Beijing, Hong Kong & Shanghai we didn't think we could find a more crazy city but <strong>Hanoi</strong> definitely tops the lot. It's the only city we've been in where you are <a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmRPeNikkI/AAAAAAAAAtA/i1fYmDRKjuM/vietnam_flag.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmRPeNikkI/AAAAAAAAAtA/i1fYmDRKjuM/vietnam_flag.jpg" border="0" /></a>genuinely taking your life in your own hands every time you cross the road, it's lunacy. There are 3 million people in Hanoi yet there are 5 million motorbikes so you can imagine how crazy the streets are. That said the old quarter, where were stayed, is really lively with loads of bars, restaurants, copied DVD shops (where I had a bit of a splurge on box-sets..) and little makeshift road-side bars selling the local brew, Bia Hoi for 2,000 VND a glass (about $0.12) - at that price you can't go far wrong. </span><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR6yeNijfI/AAAAAAAAApA/yaq0sBq_AYU/DSCN1251.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR6yeNijfI/AAAAAAAAApA/yaq0sBq_AYU/DSCN1251.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7OeNijiI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GEDc51MDDbg/DSCN1262.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7OeNijiI/AAAAAAAAAjs/GEDc51MDDbg/DSCN1262.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> We visited the Hoa Loa prison (also known as the "Hanoi Hilton") which was interesting as much for the blatant propaganda as much as anything else. The prison, built by the French at the turn of the century, previously held many Vietnamese political prisoners and they really went into minute detail on the abuse they suffered at the hands of the French. Fair enough, can't begrudge them that but they go overboard on how well they supposedly treated the American POWs with hugely exaggerated pictures of them cooking, playing guitar, reading letters from their loved ones and attending lessons in the prison. It has since emerged the prison was a site of numerous acts of torture, beatings, broken bones and teeth, dislocated limbs and medical neglect of infections. Although you do occassionally meet some really nice locals here I wouldn't trust most of them as far as I could throw them...on average they try to rip you off 5-6 times a day. I can understand that even a few $ here or there can go a long way for them but it gets on your nerves after a while..my tolerance of their sneaky ways varies depending on how drunk I am..<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Walshy & myself are "shackled"...<br /></em></span><br /></div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7l-NijlI/AAAAAAAAApQ/WZEejV3Abyo/DSCN1282.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7l-NijlI/AAAAAAAAApQ/WZEejV3Abyo/DSCN1282.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7suNijmI/AAAAAAAAApU/JnpcGwDKlhE/DSCN1283.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7suNijmI/AAAAAAAAApU/JnpcGwDKlhE/DSCN1283.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7y-NijnI/AAAAAAAAApY/Z-NHunCOjq4/DSCN1293.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR7y-NijnI/AAAAAAAAApY/Z-NHunCOjq4/DSCN1293.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />We managed to grab tickets (..by paying over the odds as usual) to the Asian Cup quarter final between Australia & Japan. Even though the ref had a dodgy game the biggest mistake of the evening was made by the tournament organisers who criminally underrated the drinking capacity of the Aussies, the place was literally drunk dry before the game had even kicked off! The game eventually went to penalties with the Japs running out as deserved victors. We had 2 near crashes on our motorbike ride back from the stadium, Vietnamese motorbike drivers are like Valentino Rossi rushing to get to the toilet!<br /></span><br /><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR8U-NijqI/AAAAAAAAAks/xgAZVBJyf3M/DSCN1318.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR8U-NijqI/AAAAAAAAAks/xgAZVBJyf3M/DSCN1318.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR8HuNijpI/AAAAAAAAApk/tA-zUD7vx08/DSCN1305.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR8HuNijpI/AAAAAAAAApk/tA-zUD7vx08/DSCN1305.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />While in Hanoi we went on a 2-day cruise of the beautiful <strong>Halong Bay</strong> which is inhabited by nearly 2,000 limestone islands (several of which are hollow with enormous caves inside). We spend the two days kayaking, diving into the sea off the beat and getting lashed with a load of Aussies who were in Vietnam for the game. Money well spent I reckon. Halong Bay is now in the running to be one of the new 7 Natural Wonders of the World (up against the likes of the Great Wall of China, Mount Kilimanjaro & the Great Barrier Reef) - as nice as it is I reckon it'll struggle to make the cut - </span><a href="http://www.natural7wonders.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.natural7wonders.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR9p-Nij0I/AAAAAAAAAl8/8Wg7gC-DJTI/DSCN1373.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqR9p-Nij0I/AAAAAAAAAl8/8Wg7gC-DJTI/DSCN1373.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After Hanoi we hopped on a 12hr night bus to <strong>Hue </strong>(mainly because we didn't have the stomach for the 18hr bus directly to Hoi An!). The best thing we did in Hue was to hire a local fella, Tu, drive us around the countryside on his motorbike taking in as many sight as possible the best of which was probably an old US Army bunker at the top of the highest hill in Hue which has a great panoramic view of the city...he also took us on the lash with his buddies and we ended up screaming the night away at a local karaoke bar. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RqskPeNij1I/AAAAAAAAAmM/hdt54j71wjE/DSCN1382.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <em>Boozing it up with Tu (far left) and his cronies<br /></em></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqskP-Nij2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/ydFDLnjxcFM/DSCN1396.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RqskP-Nij2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/ydFDLnjxcFM/DSCN1396.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>View from US Army Bunker, Hue<br /></em></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqsmtuNij6I/AAAAAAAAAm0/ouCrd3eLzFo/DSCN1426.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RqsmtuNij6I/AAAAAAAAAm0/ouCrd3eLzFo/DSCN1426.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqskQONij3I/AAAAAAAAAmc/7HrjW4cJcDs/DSCN1420.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqskQONij3I/AAAAAAAAAmc/7HrjW4cJcDs/DSCN1420.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqsmuONij8I/AAAAAAAAAnE/EgVx3eeGF9M/DSCN1432.JPG?imgmax=512"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RqsmuONij8I/AAAAAAAAAnE/EgVx3eeGF9M/DSCN1432.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></span></a><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After Hue we headed on to <strong>Hoi An</strong> (only a 5hr bus..nice wan) where we spent 3-4 days chilling on the beach, getting suits made and getting lashed. Hoi An was a bit more chilled out than the rest of the places we visited in Vietnam and was probably my personal favourite.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once we got kitted out with our suits (I ended up getting a load of stuff made but at those prices you'd be a fool not to) and got them shipped home we hopped on the bus to <strong>Nha Trang</strong>. Yet again it was a 12hr night bus but this one was a little different. We had the worst seats on the bus (they didn't even recline) and were hitting bumps that would lift you out of your seat every 10 minutes...horrible stuff. I guess if you only pay $22 to travel over 1,000km you'll get what you pay for. Nha Trang was a bit of a disappointment to be honest, mainy because we were looking forward to a few days on the beach but it was overcast or raining the entire time</span></div><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmDOONikMI/AAAAAAAAAtY/rqOb4vfQuDg/DSCN1532.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After Nha Trang we continued down the coast to <strong>Ho Chi Minh City</strong> (although still largely known as Saigon to the locals). After trawling the narrow backstreets of Pam Ngu Lao (the main backpacker area) we eventually found a guest house that had two beds the only downside was that we had to lug our gear up 7th flights of stairs & there was a smell of stale cheese in the entire building..luckily we didn't have to pay extra for this feature. After a messy night in a club called Go2 (where they had no problem with us drinking a bottle of vodka bought from a 7-Eleven as long as we bought mixers there) we rose bleary-eyed and headed out to the Cu Chi tunnels which, during the Vietnam War, was the makeshift residence for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese eager not to have their bits blown up by over-zealous US bombers. As ever the Vietnamese are mad to cash in on increasing tourism and have actually widened the tunnels to allow for more "robust" western frames. You really get a feel for how tough it must have been for them to live down there for months on end. With even a couple of people down there the temperature is really high mainly due to body heat & they are really claustrophobic. After checking out the tunnels we went to the shooting range where we both shot an AK-47 although at $1 a bullet our budgets couldn't stretch to trying out the rest of the guns on offer.</span><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5uNikRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/uDb-Nw8YbRI/DSCN1557.JPG?imgmax=576"></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF4-NikPI/AAAAAAAAAqY/wWZWRGG-Wak/DSCN1551.JPG?imgmax=576"></a><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5uNikRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/uDb-Nw8YbRI/DSCN1557.JPG?imgmax=576"></a><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmDO-NikOI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/kNNF0CApwiE/DSCN1545.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmDO-NikOI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/kNNF0CApwiE/DSCN1545.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5-NikSI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/EIOTHd2819E/DSCN1561.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5-NikSI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/EIOTHd2819E/DSCN1561.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmDOeNikNI/AAAAAAAAAtU/ZV9W6vLPwOg/DSCN1542.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmDOeNikNI/AAAAAAAAAtU/ZV9W6vLPwOg/DSCN1542.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5uNikRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/uDb-Nw8YbRI/DSCN1557.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF5uNikRI/AAAAAAAAAqo/uDb-Nw8YbRI/DSCN1557.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF4-NikPI/AAAAAAAAAqY/wWZWRGG-Wak/DSCN1551.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/RrmF4-NikPI/AAAAAAAAAqY/wWZWRGG-Wak/DSCN1551.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-11737184026437378882007-07-18T13:35:00.000+01:002007-07-18T14:41:28.298+01:00Laos - for Beer Lao we are truly grateful...As with most people on a bit of a tight budget we made our way to Laos via a 3-day-2-night slow boat from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. From speaking to a few people who'd done it in previous years I was expecting hell on earth but it wasn't half as bad as we'd feared. For once we didn't go on the rip the night before and parts of the trip were really nice - floating down the Mekong river, sun beating down, Beer Lao flowing, tunes being belted out on the guitar. The second day was a bit of a drag (due to large hangovers & the lack of any seat other than the wooden floor) but it's definitely a cool way to see a lot of the Laos countryside (...not quite sure what qualifies as countryside though as 75% of Laos is officially forrest!) and meet loads of people that we've been running in to again in other parts of Laos.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvbfPaQhI/AAAAAAAAAhU/viJuiDEgthg/DSCN1174.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvbfPaQhI/AAAAAAAAAhU/viJuiDEgthg/DSCN1174.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvbvPaQiI/AAAAAAAAAhc/nI0aMTVfh4g/DSCN1175.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvbvPaQiI/AAAAAAAAAhc/nI0aMTVfh4g/DSCN1175.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a><strong>Luang Prabang</strong> was our first stop in Laos and despite the 11:30pm curfew (we heard rumours of an all-night bowling alleys that serves booze but we never managed to actually make it there) it's a really nice town with a strong French influence in the architecture & local cuisine. One of the highlights was a trip out to the Kuang Si waterfalls which are really nice but the best part is a really cool rope swing that you can use to launch yourself into the air (and eventually the water). We made a stab at it but were shown up massively by a 12 year kid who was pulling off some crazy moves that wouldn't look out of place in a circus...I'm trying to track down a video of it & if I can I'll post it..the little fella is a legend. Aside from getting drunk Walshy & myself did muster up the courage to scramble up to the top of Mount Phousi (the dirty-minded amongst you may find the name amusing) in the 35 degree sun and were rewarded with some amazing panoramic views of the city. You'd get a good idea of what I'm talking about in the photo below if there wasn't a gimp in shorts in the way...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvcfPaQkI/AAAAAAAAAik/s8Q87ktJ9cE/DSCN1186.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/RphvcfPaQkI/AAAAAAAAAik/s8Q87ktJ9cE/DSCN1186.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx1fPaQmI/AAAAAAAAAh8/AkY9SKBfz3s/DSCN1203.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx1fPaQmI/AAAAAAAAAh8/AkY9SKBfz3s/DSCN1203.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a><br />After 3 days in Luang Prabang we ventured on to <strong>Vang Vieng</strong>, which came highly recommended by a load of people from home & random people we bumped into along the way. It's a quality spot with the highlight without doubt being tubing. An activity which basically consists of hopping on a huge tractor tube and floating down the river...stopping off at countless bars along the way for pints of Beer Lao, buckets of whiskey and free shots of the local brew Lao Lao (tastes pretty much like chlorine...avoid it like the plague)...by the time you realise that you're really boozed you've already done a load of the quality rope swings like in the video below & you now need to make it home in the dark without drowning. Usually this 30 minute trip home takes about 2 hours and you have about 3 near-death experiences on the way..great way to spend a day though</div><br /><br /><div><br />Tubing Rope Swing - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjgw1MGH4eM&mode=related&search">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjgw1MGH4eM&mode=related&search</a>=<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx1_PaQnI/AAAAAAAAAiE/r_S40w3pMhY/DSCN1205.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx1_PaQnI/AAAAAAAAAiE/r_S40w3pMhY/DSCN1205.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx2PPaQoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/XuXdlTmYvnw/DSCN1219.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx2PPaQoI/AAAAAAAAAiM/XuXdlTmYvnw/DSCN1219.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx2fPaQpI/AAAAAAAAAiU/zvFB5MiqvA4/DSCN1220.JPG?imgmax=720"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Rphx2fPaQpI/AAAAAAAAAiU/zvFB5MiqvA4/DSCN1220.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /></a>Vang Vieng was the site of some serious boozing sessions despite the 11:30pm curfew. Rumours of bottles of Whiskey being devoured and reproduced (via the medium of puke) within 90 minutes are not wide of the mark. I also managed to sneak into a nearby (...what I hope/presume was a) guest house and gave them a blast on the drums at 3am...I thought it was quite thoughtful but they saw fit to chase us all the way back to our guest house..some people have no eye for talent!<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Rp4U3vPaQqI/AAAAAAAAAio/94IVCWr3rEI/DSCN1216.JPG?imgmax=720" border="0" /> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We are in <strong>Vientiane</strong> at the moment and to be honest there's not a whole lot to do so we've decided to fly up to Hanoi on Thursday morning, the 22-hour bus to Hanoi sounded horrible so we are taking the easy way out...although we are worried that Laos Airlines are one of the few airlines in the world who refuse to publicly release their flight safety record, good thing I packed my parachute!</div><br /><div>It must also be noted that Beer Lao is by far the best beer known to man. It's criminal that this beer is only $1 a bottle. It's quality.</div><div></div><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://k-ryosha.jp/photo/16/beer_lao2.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-52440168353740530452007-07-07T02:51:00.000+01:002007-08-08T10:18:09.592+01:00Thailand - Bangkok and Chiang MaiAfter 6 weeks in China, a country where you can wander endlessly in a city of 6 million people<a href="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RojQF-tOnYI/AAAAAAAAAbM/gmd9Sc4ZkVc/DSCN0974.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/philipwalsh/RojQF-tOnYI/AAAAAAAAAbM/gmd9Sc4ZkVc/DSCN0974.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0PTOtOoGI/AAAAAAAAAhA/rDd9qU1bKVw/800px-Kohsan_Road_Bangkok.jpg?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0PTOtOoGI/AAAAAAAAAhA/rDd9qU1bKVw/800px-Kohsan_Road_Bangkok.jpg?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> and not find a single bar, I think we were entitled to go a little bit nuts when we hit <strong>Bangkok</strong>. Although we did manage to head to the mammoth MBK market (over 12,000 shops!) and venture across the city to Sukhumvit & Patpong a few times the majority of our 8 days in Bangkok was spent getting rotten drunk on buckets of whiskey on the infamous Kohsan road, and rightly so!<br /><div><br /><div>By our second Saturday in Bangkok our livers screamed for mercy so we decided to head north on a 14hour sleeper train to <strong>Chiang Mai</strong>. In Chiang Mai we went to a Muai Thai fight night (billed as "Ireland Vs Thailand") & managed to secure some front row seats. These boys were as tough as nails and even the 12 year old 70kg fighters would probably give us a bit of a beating. The highlights of the night were:</div><div></div><div>(1) When they wheeled out 4 of their less impressive "athletes" for a blindfolded free-for-all fight, there were air punches galore in this one and </div><div></div><div>(2) The John Hayes look-a-like from Dublin fighting a guy pretty much have his size. The poor little fella had to get a few doses of smelling salts before he could be helped from the ring! </div><div><br />In a bid to get vaguely healthy we signed up for a 3 day trek in the jungle where we swam in waterfalls, rode some elephants, played footie with some locals, did some bamboo rafting and did a hell of a lot of trekking up & down some serious mountains. In preparation for the trek we decided to get absolutely loaded and fall into bed at 6am the night before (ahead of an 8:30am start). While we slept in our room some tool decided to relieve us of both our wallets, my mp3 player and Walshy's camera. If we weren't still loaded drunk we'd have been raging!</div><div></div><div>While our local opium-smoking, whiskey swilling guides were motoring up & down without breaking a sweat we just about made it back in one piece...our decision to try riding on the elephant's neck as opposed to the safe/secure seat complete with seatbelt nearly saw us take a plummet from about 15 feet in the air a few times...<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0IqetOn7I/AAAAAAAAAfo/tfdJ0yVct-Y/DSCN1125.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/philipwalsh/Roz-uutOnoI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/stPx5-XnF9g/DSCN1037.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Roz-wOtOnsI/AAAAAAAAAdw/ZEh3ng-mwW0/DSCN1068.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0A3-tOnxI/AAAAAAAAAeY/W4GQdQHnWi8/DSCN1089.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0FQ-tOnzI/AAAAAAAAAeo/3pazir6lWAA/DSCN1093.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0FQ-tOnzI/AAAAAAAAAeo/3pazir6lWAA/DSCN1093.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0Ky-tOn_I/AAAAAAAAAgI/FeBMmlGdjlw/DSCN1134.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/philipwalsh/Ro0M0OtOoFI/AAAAAAAAAg4/W0Gr-735ieM/DSCN1162.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p>...as I type we are gearing up for a horrible sounding 3-day, 2-night slow boat (complete with wooden benches to sleep on) trip to Laos, can't say we're looking forward to it.</p>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-91232739500994633852007-06-24T14:13:00.001+01:002007-06-24T14:40:01.783+01:00China - A sign of the times...<a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cRBI1CiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/_tKrR7Y-x4o/DSCN0668.JPG?imgmax=512"></a>As much as we were glad to get moving down to south east asia we will definitely miss China - the spitting, the pointing, the constant laughing when we replied to their shouts of "hello" and perhaps most of all their sketchy command of the english language. Here are a few highlights of some of the more ridiculous, offensive and comical signs which we've passed on our travels...<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cBRI1CeI/AAAAAAAAAXo/oRKsUHkUE3c/DSCN0614.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5chhI1CmI/AAAAAAAAAYo/OIRqU758Jzo/DSCN0716.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cRBI1CiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/_tKrR7Y-x4o/DSCN0668.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> <div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cIxI1CgI/AAAAAAAAAX4/kRvp1QDB5uM/DSCN0627.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cIxI1CgI/AAAAAAAAAX4/kRvp1QDB5uM/DSCN0627.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cFRI1CfI/AAAAAAAAAXw/0aNj5JQ7E-k/DSCN0626.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cFRI1CfI/AAAAAAAAAXw/0aNj5JQ7E-k/DSCN0626.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cshI1CpI/AAAAAAAAAZA/QzxSoabtIhA/DSCN0969.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cshI1CpI/AAAAAAAAAZA/QzxSoabtIhA/DSCN0969.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5ckhI1CnI/AAAAAAAAAYw/DxrkENx6Dk0/DSCN0755.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5ckhI1CnI/AAAAAAAAAYw/DxrkENx6Dk0/DSCN0755.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cdBI1ClI/AAAAAAAAAYg/dW6R2r5m1cA/DSCN0714.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cdBI1ClI/AAAAAAAAAYg/dW6R2r5m1cA/DSCN0714.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cUxI1CjI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/W8-ku_GI8SY/DSCN0694.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5cUxI1CjI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/W8-ku_GI8SY/DSCN0694.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5b7RI1CcI/AAAAAAAAAXY/4HT3AMS9DAM/DSCN0586.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5b7RI1CcI/AAAAAAAAAXY/4HT3AMS9DAM/DSCN0586.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-80221802799526252912007-06-24T13:04:00.000+01:002007-06-24T14:12:41.632+01:00Hong Kong<div><div>After yet another sleeper bus (a massive contradiction in terms..it is impossible to sleep on these rust buckets without the aid of prescription medication or John Toshack's mono-tone commentary on a meaningless UEFA cup qualifier) we made it to <strong>Hong Kong</strong> on Monday morning. As the cost of living in Honk Hong is a fair bit higher than anywhere else we'd been before we were forced to go in search of some more downmarket accomodation...we plumped for a cramped twin room in the imaginatively-titled "Chunking Mansions"...sounds great but these were mansions in the same way that Dublin's <a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0819/Fatima.html">"Fatima Mansions"</a> were mansions, in other words it was a dive but when you're supposed to be on a budget you need to conserve your cash for the important things (beer, food, more beer).</div><br /><div>Our apartment was on the mainland part of Hong Kong (Kowloon) so we usually got a cool old ferry across to Hong Kong island when we wanted to do a bit of exploring. The skyline and views are pretty amazing. We took a tram up to the highest mountain peak to get a great view on the majority of Hong Kong, great 360 degree view with an urban jungle on one side and a deserted mountain rang on the other.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aUhI1CXI/AAAAAAAAAWw/hc5OAwiTsVQ/DSCN0939.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aUhI1CXI/AAAAAAAAAWw/hc5OAwiTsVQ/DSCN0939.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aLBI1CUI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Tyl0f6ONNjY/DSCN0902.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aLBI1CUI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Tyl0f6ONNjY/DSCN0902.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aRhI1CWI/AAAAAAAAAWo/zvT7XUxh4oM/DSCN0922.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> </div><div>Oh yeah, we also get pretty drunk and felt up Bruce Lee but we're not proud of that one (ok maybe a little).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aXRI1CYI/AAAAAAAAAW4/BwoeBSggmcM/DSCN0945.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aXRI1CYI/AAAAAAAAAW4/BwoeBSggmcM/DSCN0945.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rn5aORI1CVI/AAAAAAAAAWg/pBTH1pFhsAo/DSCN0912.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-36832447816157601552007-06-15T13:16:00.000+01:002007-06-16T07:32:15.768+01:00Guilin & Yangshuo - Guangxi Province<div><div><div><div>The aftermath of the boozefest that was Shanghai took a heavy toll on the two of us...we pretty much spent the two days afterwards in <strong>Guilin</strong> in (seperate!!) hotel beds catching up on some much needed sleep. After a bit of reading up on the lonely planet guide to China (cheers for that Millzy - we would no doubt be lost or dead without it...no joke) we decided to head down to <strong>Yangshou</strong>, a really picturesque town in southern China (close to Hong Kong) which is very popular with Chinese tourists and whose scenery is the inspiration for much of China's art work.</div><br /><div>Yangshuo is situated next to the beautiful Li River (not a patch on the lovely Lee River of course but you have to make do I guess) in the centre of the most stunning Karsk Limestone mountain area in China. It's a great spot for outdoor activities and we managed to pack in mountain climbing, bamboo rafting, cycling and a river cruise during our time in Yanhgshou. There are a fair few young people from Australia, America & Europe who have come here to spend the summer teaching English to Chinese kids and working as rock climbing instructors..not a bad old way to spend a summer.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><strong>Next stop -</strong> a 10hr night train to Hong Kong (where we'll probably blow our budget for the week in one night on the tear)</div><br /><div><strong>Latest Pool Score</strong></div><br /><div>D. Walsh - 5</div><div>P. Walsh - 3</div><br /><div align="left">I threw away a couple of guilt-edged chances to close the gap but have been encouraged by Dave's erratic play...he has been observed playing with his left hand in recent games - is he left handed or is he taunting me? I'm not sure.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ67BI1CII/AAAAAAAAAUg/5yd3wtJAWhc/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0850.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnKF_BI1CTI/AAAAAAAAAWI/RQA4abdg4f8/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0838.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnKF_BI1CTI/AAAAAAAAAWI/RQA4abdg4f8/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0838.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Just to counter some nasty rumours that Kingston has been spreading...I have <strong>NOT </strong>(yet) sold Dave into slavery in return for a few nights of free accomodation & here's the proof below (although his new haircut makes him look 17 years old I can confirm that this is a recent photo)</div><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnKCCBI1CRI/AAAAAAAAAV4/bpgerTXjS0M/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0847.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnKCCBI1CRI/AAAAAAAAAV4/bpgerTXjS0M/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0847.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a>"Moon Hill"<br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ67hI1CKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/4XXYLtthAQ8/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0872.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ67hI1CKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/4XXYLtthAQ8/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0872.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ67RI1CJI/AAAAAAAAAUo/GqGGC_ENWoU/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0871.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ67RI1CJI/AAAAAAAAAUo/GqGGC_ENWoU/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0871.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6DBI1CHI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/MeeMODSBRdY/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0841.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6DBI1CHI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/MeeMODSBRdY/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0841.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6ChI1CGI/AAAAAAAAAUI/LHsVbVbecQ0/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0835.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6ChI1CGI/AAAAAAAAAUI/LHsVbVbecQ0/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0835.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6CRI1CFI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ZRWbQwNsv5U/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0817.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ6CRI1CFI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ZRWbQwNsv5U/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0817.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-43521525569666845132007-06-11T14:17:00.000+01:002007-06-15T13:01:23.464+01:00Shanghai - A break from culture (but not for the liver)I'd like to say that we made good use of our week in Shanghai and hit a load of sights and overdosed on culture. It'd be an out & out lie though. Shanghai is a bit light on culture but heavy on places to get very drunk and act like the eijits that we are (..and by god we did).<br /><br /><a href="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rmk3VBI1B-I/AAAAAAAAATE/BIbBNUl_0xM/E:/DCIM/100NIKON/DSCN0791.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rmk3VBI1B-I/AAAAAAAAATE/BIbBNUl_0xM/E%3A%5CDCIM%5C100NIKON%5CDSCN0791.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br />Our local host/tour guide/barman/fellow drunk Paddy Linehan hooked us up with a training session in searing 35°C heat (er...cheers for that Paddy) with the Shanghai GAA Team which nearly put a premature end to our trip (and lives) but redeemed himself by ensuring that we drank enough to kill a horse on the BBQ and stag party which followed...we were a sorry sight getting up for our flight to Guilin on Sunday morning (...no pictures available as they would scare small children)<br /><br />Somewhere in the haze of rampant alcohol abuse we did manage to explore Shanghai's Old Town which is quite traditional and also the newer areas of The Bund & The Putong which are swamped with skyscrapers...Shanghai is definitely a city of contrasts & one which is constantly changing. To find out that one fifth of the world's construction cranes are currently in Shanghai came as no surprise..the rate of change in Shanghai is such that even locals occassionally get lost as buildings are being put up and torn down overnight.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83hI1COI/AAAAAAAAAVw/UaWzfdVna40/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0759.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83hI1COI/AAAAAAAAAVw/UaWzfdVna40/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0759.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ84RI1CQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/11WXPxyWLLE/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0742.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ84RI1CQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/11WXPxyWLLE/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0742.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83RI1CNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/fFvJyGlAFaY/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0758.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83RI1CNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/fFvJyGlAFaY/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0758.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83BI1CMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/aouYVe0mK80/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/user/æ¡é¢/PW%20To%20Upload/DSCN0760.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RnJ83BI1CMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/aouYVe0mK80/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5Cuser%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0760.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rmk3VRI1B_I/AAAAAAAAATM/HD7NNIZVgmc/E:/DCIM/100NIKON/DSCN0780.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/Rmk3VRI1B_I/AAAAAAAAATM/HD7NNIZVgmc/E%3A%5CDCIM%5C100NIKON%5CDSCN0780.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> <div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-55727362266218548262007-06-04T14:16:00.000+01:002007-06-04T14:55:10.715+01:00Terracotta Warriors & The Home of Shaolin Kung Fu<div><div><div><a href="http://www.dzit.com/english/xian/images/Warriors-and-Horses2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.dzit.com/english/xian/images/Warriors-and-Horses2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div>Due to a spot of dodgy weather, the power hour and a plethora of quality clubs we didn't quite manage to do a whole lot on the sightseeing front in <strong>Xi'an</strong> but we did manage to make it to the <strong>Terracotta Warriors</strong>...an underground army of terracotta warriors discovered in 1974 by peasants digging a well. </div><br /><div>Several hundred thousand workers spent 36 years building the tomb, which the Emperor, at the age of 13, ordered to be built shortly after he ascended the throne. It is said that workers and supervisors involved in its design and construction were buried alive within the tomb.<br /></div><br /><div>While there we were greeted by a far more fearsome army...hoards of old-age american pensioners whose hearing aids seemed to be defective and insisted on screaming to eachother non-stop..cheers for that.</div><br /><div></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQNERsysJI/AAAAAAAAAR0/FNxisXw0HE8/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5CNET_PC%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%5CSANY0107.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><div>The next in an unending series of sleeper trains brought us to <strong>Louyang</strong>. Despite having a population of over 6 million there wasn't a whole lot to do..we did manage to grab a few games of pool with the locals though (in between getting some serious stares...either my fly was open or we looked kinda outta place..not sure which)</div><div><br /><strong>Latest Pool Score:</strong><br />D. Walsh - 3</div><div>P. Walsh - 1</div><div><br />Poor start from the pre-tournament favourite as the pressue of the Laoyang invitational tournament seemed to get to him...don't write him off yet though..there's a lot of games left to play .</div><br /><div>An early start on Saturday morning brought us on a bus full of ancient chinese couples to <a href="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQOYxsysMI/AAAAAAAAASM/cCtE8ym0EvE/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/NET_PC/æ¡é¢/PW%20Pics/DSCN0730.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQOYxsysMI/AAAAAAAAASM/cCtE8ym0EvE/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5CNET_PC%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%5CDSCN0730.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><strong>Shaolin Si</strong>, the spiritial home of Zen Buddhism & Shaolin Kung Fu (...a bit of a contradiction if you ask me but I wasn't going to argue with any of them especially after I saw one of them break a metal bar in half using his face).</div><br /><div><em>The history bit -</em> In 495AD a Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma from India came to China to teach Yogic concentration (aka "Zen" Buddhism) but was refused admission at the Shaolin Temple. Because he had a bit of time on his hands he climbed high into the mountains to a cave where he meditated for nine years, aking to waiting to get on a Northern Line tube at 9am on a Friday...(It is believed <em><></em> that he sat, facing the cave wall for much of these nine years so that his shadow became permanently outlined on the cave wall).</div><br /><div>After nine years, the abbot Fang Chang finally granted Bodhidharma entrance to Shaolin where he became the First Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Supposedly Bodhidharma exercised in the cave to keep fit and when he entered Shaolin Temple, found that the monks there were not very fit. He developed a set of exercises that later became the foundation for the specialized interpretation of martial arts at Shaolin. </div><br /><div>Ever eager to cash in on the tourist $ the Chinese government recently spend close to to $150m renovating the Shaolin Temple site and while it's a lot more tourist-friendly it definitely looks to have lost some of its soul and history in the process (I found fake "monks" selling buddha replicas in the temple itself a bit tacky)...the half-hour kung fu show really did make the trip worthwhile. Aspiring monks as young as 8 and 9 years old flying through the air like something from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon..I'm not sure if the picture below captures it but these lads were pulling off some crazy moves</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQNDxsysII/AAAAAAAAARs/ZeDfhdjUTtc/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5CNET_PC%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%5CDSCN0725.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Here's me checking out a statue of Confucius, founder of a religion (Confucinism) and reverred in China pretty much on the strength of being a sound lad and encouraging everyone to love one another...sound familiar eh?<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQOYRsysKI/AAAAAAAAAR8/pCgPCIhzx-c/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5CNET_PC%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%5CDSCN0697.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RmQOYRsysKI/AAAAAAAAAR8/pCgPCIhzx-c/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/NET_PC/æ¡é¢/PW%20Pics/DSCN0697.JPG?imgmax=512"></a>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-80387206673462435402007-05-26T09:12:00.000+01:002007-05-26T09:27:33.155+01:00Datong - Yungang Caves & Hanging Temples<div>Marco Polo (..yet another lying Eye-talian) <strong>Datong</strong> as a 'grandiose and beautiful city' - well a lot has changed in 700 years my friend. The Datong that greated us is like something from Dickens 'Hard Times'. A sprawling ugly city almost entirely dependant on the local coal industry (Datong supplies 1/3 of China's coal each year). There are open holes all over the place (Gary Lyons - you wouldn't last an afternoon here fella!) & a thick layer of smog wherever you go. Maybe I'm just bitter because there was nowhere, in a city of 4 million people, to watch the Champions League Final. In short, it's a bit grim.<br /><br />Two fine sites about 2 hours outside of Datong did make the stop off worthwhile though..<br /><br />The <strong>Yungang Caves</strong> are carved in sandstone from about AD 460. caves consist of over 53 grottoes and 50,000 statues that include Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and flying Apsara. They were carved by 40,000 workmen over a hundred-year period. Up close the Buddhas are very impressive at nearly 45 feet tall - it's hard to get your head around how they were constructed over 1500 years ago without the benefit of any of our modern technical advances (such as over-sized builders crack jeans & little plastic lunchboxes for a bit of a mid-afternoon munch) </div><div><br /> </div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RlfteRsysBI/AAAAAAAAAQY/R-Djs3F16Lo/H%3A%5CDCIM%5C101NIKON%5CDSCN0576.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br />The <strong>Hanging Temples</strong> (aka the wonder of the Hengshan Mountai) are Buddhist monasteries built in the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground. Built in 491 AD again its amazing to think how these were constructed by hand by Buddhist monks literally absailing off the side of a gorge. Impressive stuff. The lads who c0cked up wembley could learn a lot from these fellas.<br /><div><div><div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RlWFXhsysAI/AAAAAAAAAQA/KibLL7NaOV0/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C%E6%97%97%E8%88%B0%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%20Upload%5CDSCN0533.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>On the whole, continual staring aside, the Chinese that we've come across have been really <a href="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RlWDQRsyr8I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4KPoq-0FVxo/C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/æè°ç§æ/æ¡é¢/PW%20Pics%20Upload/DSCN0403.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RlWDQRsyr8I/AAAAAAAAAPc/4KPoq-0FVxo/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C%E6%97%97%E8%88%B0%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%20Upload%5CDSCN0403.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a>friendly. There's a fair bit of banter to be had. Whenever we respond to their "Harrow" with "Hello" they absolutely crease themselves laughing - I'm beginning to think the two of us could have a lucrative side-market in stand-up comedy if the funds run low...they've even brought out a soap in our honour (...nudge nudge, have a wash lads)...we'll excuse the minor spelling mistake!</div><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RlWDRBsyr-I/AAAAAAAAAQc/-Bjivg-FDCg/C%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C%E6%97%97%E8%88%B0%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%5C%E6%A1%8C%E9%9D%A2%5CPW%20Pics%20Upload%5CDSCN0484.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-56619763376684269352007-05-22T13:55:00.000+01:002007-05-26T09:50:35.921+01:00Datong - Search in vain for the CL final..<span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Datong</strong> is a city with 4 million inhabitants & after an exhausting search of local hotels & bars we have discovered there is officially <strong><u>nowhere</u> </strong>to watch the Champions League Final in this hell-hole. We are scarpering in 2 hours on an overnight train to <strong>Taiyuan</strong> in search of ESPN-Asia, which is showing the game. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">I will be semi-suicidal if I miss this game. No joke. Keep all sharp objects away from my grasp.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><em>Here's a picture of us in far better humour. Istanbul 2005 - lets hope for a repeat performance!</em></span></div><div align="center"></div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067369756792893330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLWRfIjM7QF3f9iWAVFWITuB8kTOC9c6YlvmWyA0JITtAmR5k7xDc3_e5-5WGvZzclpjfpsAdK-Cyp4YoMrjlmzpV8TOYAihH3r0xAaAK264ILRvrFnujQ00AEHCKonF0e5SvLciCKRo/s400/CL_Final_2005.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">UPDATE (26/05/07) - </span></strong>After an exhaustive search of Taiyuan we finally found a 4-star hotel which had the game. We blew a week's accomodation budget on a room (40 inch plasma TV) to watch the biggest Italian smash and grab job since the march of the Roman Empire. I guess after Istanbul karma was just waiting to catch up with us. I still think that Inzhaghi is rivalling Gary Neville & Peter Kenyon for the title of the most odious man in world football.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-72356359093116786632007-05-13T18:26:00.000+01:002007-05-13T19:15:19.360+01:00Beijing - 2008 Olympic Stadium (aka "The Bird's Nest")<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyNjrFD1dl2Q2ZY02VoOawJflrEfDLLs8heYmSARH-B_ktyf_ozdAcogiMtLm_lWChUhyphenhyphen40mTyRWVzNLWE1EAKYKAIlpAO-mrwlrkrDip0gJAElMrPWp4XuQ_fnWT2Gd2SQ3oXwXb_Xg/s1600-h/stadium_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064102377558483170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyNjrFD1dl2Q2ZY02VoOawJflrEfDLLs8heYmSARH-B_ktyf_ozdAcogiMtLm_lWChUhyphenhyphen40mTyRWVzNLWE1EAKYKAIlpAO-mrwlrkrDip0gJAElMrPWp4XuQ_fnWT2Gd2SQ3oXwXb_Xg/s200/stadium_1.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Sunday we got on the subway to North West Beijing to see if we could catch a glimpse of the <strong>2008 Beijing Olympic Stadium </strong>(aka "The Bird's Nest") currently under construction.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Although a large area around the stadium meant it was effectively a sealed-off construction site we did manage to get close enough to get a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWdU5q8eVvFMf8F1jym88p1jgkRxDI_GmIFemLgaGeDepA9uVHVyn-vpqAf4n2q5-uzzK8K-cW6zM0GadhQT61i6XXxNuLsTloMxYQQ8F6ZWCYbtVuQ_pFI5Jl0XI8kxNn_uXFEq04PE/s1600-h/Stadium_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064102695386063106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWdU5q8eVvFMf8F1jym88p1jgkRxDI_GmIFemLgaGeDepA9uVHVyn-vpqAf4n2q5-uzzK8K-cW6zM0GadhQT61i6XXxNuLsTloMxYQQ8F6ZWCYbtVuQ_pFI5Jl0XI8kxNn_uXFEq04PE/s200/Stadium_2.jpg" border="0" /></a>few pictures. It's a pretty novel design and it really does stand out in the North Beijing skyline alongside the "Bubble Building" where the swimming events will take place. </div><br /><div>Official Stadium Spiel - <em>"Perhaps the most unique feature of the structure is its "cushion" system which strategically fills the spaces within the building's facade to regulate wind, weather, and sunlight. On the rooftop, the inflatable cushions fill gaps to weather- and waterproof the stadium. "Just as birds stuff the spaces between the woven twigs of their nests with a soft filler, the spaces in the structure of the stadium will be filled with inflated cushions."</em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2rimwseO7Lxu4-WWLjdJARVdbgJwc9EXD2v1qvEWjGb-k6OtSXzH1mnW-6E1YJRJ52Yp90AjoeHby4SRPjPpPUyjytEfMbEp1pwq1xz4UxMyTw_0JFESPWKd_f9DDC3TBbWO_huJuKA/s1600-h/Stadium_4.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064106565151596882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2rimwseO7Lxu4-WWLjdJARVdbgJwc9EXD2v1qvEWjGb-k6OtSXzH1mnW-6E1YJRJ52Yp90AjoeHby4SRPjPpPUyjytEfMbEp1pwq1xz4UxMyTw_0JFESPWKd_f9DDC3TBbWO_huJuKA/s200/Stadium_4.jpg" border="0" /></em></a></div><br /><div>The building is a collaboration between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Herzog</span> & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Meuron</span> and China Architecture Design Institute. Construction began in December 2003 and capacity upon completion is expected to be 100,000.</div></div><div><br /><div><em>"Everyone is encouraged to do their most stupid and extravagant designs there. They don't have as much of a barrier between good taste and bad taste, between the minimal and expressive. The Beijing stadium tells me that nothing will shock them." — Jacques <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Herzog</span></em></div><div><em></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">View from a nearby footbridge</div><div align="center"> </div><div><em></em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064108923088642466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipl9NgS6B5SN7QISL6md0NzeGPK9yLw9V2FErOZkPRPW8OcOyaclN_FZgi96bdLOHkqeO9osarWJlCtW8XqJd85otv0mGoLRllk6jHFbikYcqwFpOihn7k4oesenTI44-YhZu4oge0pLA/s400/Stadium_3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>If you can make sense of this sign outside the stadium then you're a better man than me!</div><br /><div><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064107772037407122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXlH640oj5NOBkGLT9v-p5ZNXOl6wsamUUKBYrDD544uOtyVeC-t8YifMnNpLMLFBpAHyMnbK2vuyW6P8IyFpIwQyQVQOHJqXUxmROYVE_U6oO794zViK4Zm3nMVAK9yUKLdELmxYxzg/s400/DSCN0001i.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxmULdUDdHXoqs-My7TdaSCI6E81zDeOdExEzqSOccBrUYfayoSfuiTunhSLyy7w-MV_CLw6BxFld30bWXeEX6tOoJmK8iwFws8Uh0h1haZWE6oRs2O3ENholQyKPgM2TOxaadpkpFnw/s1600-h/Stadium_5.jpg"></a></em></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-41043482052875001902007-05-10T22:36:00.000+01:002007-05-10T23:30:17.137+01:00Beijing - First Few Days<a href="http://www.geocities.com/digitalphotoart/jpgs/billboards/tsingtao.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.geocities.com/digitalphotoart/jpgs/billboards/tsingtao.jpg" border="0" /></a>First post on ye ole blog eh, if this isn't any good I know you'll all delete this link..and I wouldn't blame you. I'll keep it short because it's nearly 6am & I am pretty drunk on the local brew - Tsingtao.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Jet lag hit us fairly hard so we were all over the place for the first few days or so but managed to get a few sights in.</div></div><br /><p>We had a bit of a stroll around <strong>Tiananmen Square</strong> on Wednesday<img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOIGRiVn-I/AAAAAAAAAH4/K38xhHoSaGU/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0235.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /> and managed to make it out for a trek of the <strong>Great Wall of China </strong>at Juyongguan on Thursday. It was built in the 5th century by the Ming dynasty and is one of the most strategically important sections of the Great Wall due to its position as a link to Beijing, but I didn't need to tell you that right...?<br /><br /><em>Below - The view from the base of the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall</em></p></div></div></div></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOIGhiVn_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/nw1wk2J9bA0/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0240.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOKBRiVoAI/AAAAAAAAAII/PJESvmrtyzE/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0251.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /><br />After we conquered the wall (the pic above is of me at the top...shattered) we got a cab back in to town and<a href="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOMUxiVoFI/AAAAAAAAAIw/c8i129JHU3U/D:/Documents%20and%20Settings/501406080/Desktop/PW/PW%20-%20To%20Upload/DSCN0283.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand" height="230" alt="" src="http://lh4.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOMUxiVoFI/AAAAAAAAAIw/c8i129JHU3U/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0283.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> did a tour of some inner city <strong>hutongs</strong> (narrow alleyways, built after Genghis Khan reduced Beijing to rubble, which are being swiftly demolished as Beijing attempts to became a truly modern city for the 2008 Olympics), the <strong>Beijing Bell & Drum Towers </strong>(built in 13th century to inform the locals of the coming of both morning & evening) before we ended up in a <strong>Porcelain factory </strong>for a look around and a bit of a mess about on the potters' wheel.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOMVRiVoHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/JPPwCDRjzc4/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0295.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p align="left"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.google.com/image/philipwalsh/RkOMVBiVoGI/AAAAAAAAAI4/tRv8_3wC1so/D%3A%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5C501406080%5CDesktop%5CPW%5CPW%20-%20To%20Upload%5CDSCN0292.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></p></div><br /><p>Generally it's been a good laugh so far. The lack of signs/people with any shred of decent English is a bit worrying at times but the sign language has been put to good use. The locals are pretty sound - always either coming up & supplying us with unsolicited "harrows", asking us to stand in for photos with them or just plain staring us out because they've seen less westerners than I've seen salads.</p><p>Zài jiàn,</p><p>Phil</p>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8408259412843113576.post-31139374495351888102007-04-20T17:01:00.000+01:002007-04-27T00:08:01.764+01:00Travel Itinerary<span style="font-family:verdana;">This is the itinerary as it stands...this may change a bit on the road but thought some rudimentary planning might be a good start.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If anyone is looking at booking holidays for the next year and is tempted by any of the locations below give me a shout..would be great to see some familiar faces.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055552826813475938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b9YQZ1ye5d5dXWNOHkrRqPU2xHcBdJaX-qUD3WKjB5twjpLQ7KAk4L0qehKnTqmrHZy3ZennkkY8LK3JgDf61V_wMV4z-jx7FlYPFh72Ziy5im7ffsfJLv0IAFyCcMK4ph044G22U7A/s320/road_to_nowhere.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Location - Arrival Date - Duration</strong></span></p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">London - 8 May 2007 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">China (Beijing) - 8 May 2007 - 4 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">China (Shanghai) - 12 June 2007 - 4 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">China (Hong Kong) - 3 July 2007 - 1 Week<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thailand (Bangkok) - 10 July 2007 - 1 Week<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cambodia - 17 July 2007 - 1.5 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Vietnam - 27 July 2007 - 1.5 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Laos - 7 August 2007 - 1.5 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thai Islands - 17 August 2007 - 2 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Singapore - 31 August 2007 - 1 Week<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bali - 8 September 2007 - 2 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Australia (Darwin) - 21 September 2007 - 6 Days<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Australia (Cairns) 27 September 2007 - 3 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Australia (Sydney) 18 October 2007 - 2 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Zealand (Christchurch) - 1 November 2007 - 3 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Zealand (Auckland) - 22 November 2007 - 3 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Chile (Santiago) - 14 December 2007 - 3 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Peru - 4 January 2008 - 4 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Argentina (Buenos Aires) - 1 February 2008 - 7.5 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brazil (Sao Paulo) - 25 March 2008 - 3 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brazil (Rio De Janiero) - 15 April 2008 - 1.5 Weeks<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">London - 25 April 2008<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span>Philip Walshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470913793456706988noreply@blogger.com1