Hong Kong Day 3

Today we decided to do something different. We had been told about Lamma Island and so we went to Central and hopped on a Ferry at Wharf Four. The trip was interesting and we arrived in time for lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on the Harbour. This meal was really good and very relaxing. We then set off and walked from one side of the island to the other-uphill. It takes a fit person about an hour; we took about 1.5 hours but we did stop and enjoy the view from the top of the island. One the other side was a traditional fishing village and more restaurants. You can stay on the island but it is more backpacker style accommodation, there are lots of restaurants (typical Asian style but lots of fresh seafood) and a nice swimming beach. It was a really good trip and when we returned we cooled off with a swim and went out to do some more shopping and have a dinner.

Hong Kong Day 2

On the agenda today was more shopping at the Stanley Markets and a seafood lunch on the wharf. We had purchased an Octopus card for the MRT (underground) for about $50. You can use these cards on the MRT and the buses. The trip to Stanley takes about an hour (MRT to Central and then a bus to Stanley). It is a lovely bus trip along the coast of Hong Kong Island. The shopping was OK , nothing really cheap but I did manage to spend a few hundred dollars! Lunch was a bit disappointing but it was nice to be on the waterfront. We were feeling really tired so went back for a rest and then off to the light show at the harbour. It was impressive, at least I thought so. Robert didn’t think it was as good as the advertisements suggested. You can judge for yourself by watching the video clip. After more shopping at the Temple Street Night Markets we had dinner and called it a day. Still feeling a bit jetlagged.

London to Hong Kong

We made sure we were 3 hours early for our flight and passed the time on the Internet (not free at Heathrow-thanks Jac for your modem). The flight was excellent, Quantas really looks after you and the flight was only about two thirds full! Watched some great new releases and before we knew it we were in Hong Kong. Got the train and Airport Express straight to our hotel (which was very nice and well located). We had a sleep for a few hours and then hit the streets to orientate ourselves. After several hours and arguments we found our way around, had dinner and shopped in the Ladies Market. Love Hong Kong.

Wickford-London

We left Oxford and made our way to stay with Derek and Margaret. We have stayed with them before and caught up several times over the years when they visited Australia. We hit the M25 at about 3.45 and it took until 7pm to travel about 200 klms! The fact that it was a long weekend did not help. After catching up we had dinner in a nice old English pub. The next day Robert and I went into London and did a Thames River Cruise and visited the Florence Nightingale Museum (every nurse has to do it if they are in London?). Derek cooked a great dinner and caught up more on what our families had been doing. The weather was great and it was a good way to finish off the United Kingdom leg of our journey, with old friends.

Oxford

After another great English breakfast the plan was to drive to Oxford and settle in and have a look around. The motorways in England are great and after touring a bit more of the Yorkshire Dales-so nice with many small villages scattered throughout a green lush countryside of undulating hills dotted with sheep and cows. Straight out of a James Herriot book. We arrived in Oxford about 3 pm and found the most wonderful B&B. An old Manor House and our room was so comfortable. Elizabeth the owner had turned it into a B&B after her husband had died several years beforehand. Robert saw a photo of her with Richard Bramston-and asked Elizabeth about Richard. Apparently they are friends, he lives up the road and had been there for dinner the night before. The house was so lovely and set in a nice large garden. We decided to have a relax as it was so comfortable and had dinner at the local pub and an early night. We set off for Oxford after having breakfast with the other guests at the B&B-great fun as they were interesting people, an English couple on holiday and a couple from South Africa. Oxford was so good and we learn lots about the town after a guided walking tour. Well worth a visit. We finished off the day with a pint at the pub in Oxford the "Turf club" where Bob Hawke set the record for the fastest drinking of a yard of beer -11 seconds.

Lakes District

The fight to Blackpool was quick without any problems and we picked up our car and set out for Egremont(where my grandparents were born). The roads are really easy to follow in England and we were there in no time after stopping or lunch in a small village on the way. The scenery is magnificent and the many small villages quaint. Ergremont was a lovely village and I found my Great Uncle Jim's name on the war memorial and what I think was my Great Grandfather's butcher shop-it is still a butcher shop. By now we decided to find a place to stay for the night-that was going to prove difficult! We ended up in a hotel in Cockermouth for 88 pounds! It was a nice hotel but up about 50 steps. In the end it was a very good night with dinner at another local pub "The Bitter End". It was Trivia night (they didn't like me helping with the answers) and the pub was very packed but the food was excellent. We met a couple in the pub and they gave us some excellent advice on what to do the next day. So next day after another English breakfast (yes we are getting fatter but it is hard to resist!) we followed the route suggested to us through Lorton to Braithwaite and over a pass to Keswick. It was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen and Keswick was a lovely village and we had a nice stroll through its streets. We then set off for Carlisle but didn't stay (another big town) and Hadrian's Wall (a big pile of stones) but we had a nice lunch in a small village and the decided to stay the night in the Yorkshire Dales. We ended up in a small village-Sedbergh and found a lovely old pub for 50 pounds this time. The drive to Sedbergh was great, so many lovely small villages scattered over the Dales and beautiful countryside. We had a few beers with the locals in the pub and another great English meal of steak pie and vegetables. A really great day. Thank you Nana for guiding us to the Lakes District.

Ireland by car

We set off to explore some of the countryside (after being ripped off badly with a hire car. Don’t worry we tried several and they were all the same with hidden cost for pick up and insurance) in South Eastern Ireland, making our way to the west. The coastline was rugged but beautiful and the countryside green and lush. We had a great roast beef lunch for €9 including a delicious homemade cheese cake. It was so tasty and the people very friendly. After leaving the coast around Wicklow we made our way to Waterford passing many interesting small villages on the way. Waterford was a nice city but Waterford crystal is no longer made so I had to make do with some Kilkenny Crystal. We drove on to Limerick and found a B&B for the night. We had a problem getting cash-several outlets didn’t recognise our credit cards but we did find one in a department store-the joys of travelling! So make sure you use a Bank of Ireland outlet if you are ever in a similar situation. We went to the local pub for dinner and a Guinness and had a nice chat to the locals. Next morning we explored Limerick and the St John’s castle. We couldn’t go in to it or the museum because nothing opens until after 10am, including the shops. Limerick is a very old city and marries the old with the new well. It is on the River Shannon, a fast flowing large expanse of water. Next we headed for the Cliffs of Moher and an old town Doolin. Again the coastline was very scenic but dull and overcast weather does not make it very inviting. The owner of the B&B had romanticised Doolin a little too much. Obviously a magnet for tourists as the prices were high in the pub and there was not much to see so we decided to head back to Dublin and stay close to the airport as we were leaving for Blackpool in the morning. The drive back was quick and fairly uninteresting we found another B&B in Swords, next door to the airport. It was lovely and Robert found the owner was also a car enthusiast with 25 cars! Another great Irish Stew for dinner and a quite night.

Dublin

Today we explored Dublin (after spending some time renting a car to explore the country side for our last 2 days in Ireland) and explored Trinity College, City Hall, the Spire St, Stephens Green (really lovely) and we just happened past Mary McCauley’s House. Mary McCauley started the Sisters of Mercy in the 1820’s. The cloister was dedicated to supporting the sick, and poor of Dublin. The Order spread over the rest of Ireland, England and other sites around the world. We ended up doing a tour and it was really interesting learning about Irish life in the 1800s, the Cholera plague and the famine caused by the potato blight. The famine resulted in the death of one million people and for one million to emigrate. There was some interesting artwork by the nuns and works to parallel the Book of Kells. A nice way to spend several hours. We had dinner in an Irish pub and another early night (Robert has the flu) because its cold and wet in Dublin. Off to the countryside tomorrow. I like Dublin, different to Belfast but interesting and colourful. Listening to Gaelic spoken by the locals was quite different, all of the street signs are in Gaelic and English. There are many more immigrants from Eastern Europe in Dublin because it’s part of the Economic Union.

Dublin

We were unable to get hire car as there is a big motorbike race on this weekend in Northern Ireland so we went from Belfast to Dublin by bus. It was a great trip, nice and relaxing and we saw quite a lot of the countryside and some lovely towns on the way. We had booked a B&B in Dublin (thank you MacDonalds). It is great-we could walk to it from the bus station and we have a wonderful room and breakfast "The Riley Hotel". We had a quite night and Irish stew for dinner (yum). Today we are going to explore Dublin and try to book a car for the next few days-proving very difficult to get a reasonable rate! The weather is better today and not too cold. But then it is just what I expected. More later today......(found Internet access for 1 euro an hour just next door)

London to Ireland

We spent the night in a B&B in Stansted – we were not going to miss another plane! Very pleasant an comfortable night. Neil Parker met us at the airport in Belfast and whisked us off to do a tour of Belfast. It was very interesting to learn about the history of Belfast and the “Troubles”. The next on the agenda was a pint of Guinness at the Crown. It was grand! I never liked the taste of Guinness before but this was wonderful. We then went to Ballynahinch to meet Raymond and Elizabeth and have dinner at local pub. We also met Stewart and his family. Next day we went to the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills. Northern Ireland is very beautiful and the Parker family made us so welcome. A fun loving warm family, we really enjoyed meeting them all and seeing your home Steven-they miss you very much!

Travelling

Travelling is challenging, tempers become frayed, you get frustrated, are uncomfortable at times, get bored waiting at airports and it’s tiring. If you want a rest don’t travel to new countries, sit on a beach and read a book. But why travelling is so worthwhile are the things you learn about yourself, the world you live in and an appreciation for people and different cultures. The wonderful buildings, monuments and scenery are great but it is this learning that makes travelling special. The things you remember as significant are not the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge or the Vatican but those moments you spend with the people you meet or with whom you are travelling. The special unplanned experiences. Those who do not have the opportunity to travel miss out on gaining an awareness of the world we live in, its complexity, and precious beauty. I feel very lucky to have been able to travel and look forward to the new learning ahead!

Perpignan

After a quick look around Toulouse we headed for Perpignan where we would fly to London the next day. The drive was spectacular-high snow capped mountains with small villages scattered along the way. The villages were beautiful with stone houses, churches, narrow lanes, and small fast flowing rivers. Perpignan was much larger than we thought and it was really difficult to find an ETAP (a chain of reasonably priced hotels-about 55 Euros for 2 with breakfast). Then we decided to go to the Citron dealer that we had to drop the car off to the next day. What a drive and so difficult. The dealer agreed to give Robert and Ken a lift back to the airport after they dropped the car in the morning but only if we agreed to do so by 9am. Our plane was not until 5.30pm. The airport was a long way from the town so we had to sit for the day. Perpignan also only had wifi available for 10 Euros an hour-so disappointing. If only Europe decided to join the rest of the developed world and get real with Internet access. Asia is so much more advanced. So a very boring, long day catching up and blog entries, sorting photos and reading. Next time we will choose a drop off at the airport! I loved France and will return. The French people were welcoming, friendly and most helpful. You don’t have to be able to speak French as many of them do and if not they were prepared to communicate with a few words and gestures. The countryside is beautiful, clean and the beautiful architecture quite different from Germany and Italy. Yet, I am looking forward to going to Ireland and England and being able to communicate freely.

Toulouse

We made our way to Toulouse today and arrived about 3pm. It was very stressful finding accommodation. Having a car is wonderful for convenience and you do get to see so much of the countryside, however navigating through European cities is so stressful. Signage is confusing and roads very narrow at times. I am not sure that it is worth the effort! My suggestion would be to stay is a small town outside of the larger cities and to use local transport to get into the city. Or better still don’t go to them-the smaller towns are much more interesting.

Senas

The local markets were on the agenda today to buy some food for lunch. It was a beautiful day and the markets were full of stalls selling flowers, vegetables, meat, wine and cheese. I bought some local cheese-very tasty. Lunch was a baguette with salami, ham, tomatoes, olives finished with strawberries and cherries-yum. The local wines are very good and tonight we were invited to dinner by the owners of the farmhouse. They said they did not normally do this for visitors but they liked us and Robert was able to converse with Bernard in Italian. Helene spoke a little English and some Italian. Helene cooked a traditional French feast of 4 courses and the food was delicious. We were very privileged to share a night of food, wine and fun with this very lovely couple. Our stay in Senas was special.

Amalfi to France

Time to go back to France so we set off about 9.30 and drove all day-about 900 klms. It was a long day but the roads in Italy ie the audostrada are magnificent. Costs a bit but well worth the expense. We stopped in Menton in France. Next morning we drove to Sentas via Monaco and Nice. This coastline was much nicer than Amalfi. We ended up in Senas, a small town in Provence. We found an apartment in an old farmhouse and settled in for a few days. It is so nice and very comfortable. We had a slow start the first day and then spent the afternoon in Avignon exploring the Palace of the Popes. Very fascinating and lots to see and learn about. Avignon is a lovely city.

Amalfi

Off to Pompeii – it was interesting but a little disappointing, not at all like we had imagined. There were lots of school students and other tourists. We ended up in Naples on the way back, missing the turn to Sorrento and Amalfi. Naples is just a big city, bit dirty so we decided not to linger but to hit the coast and drive back to Maiori via Sorrento and Amalfi. What a drive! The coast was magnificent but the roads are so narrow, Ken did well not to take out another car. Sorrento was the pick of the towns on the coast but Maiori was good for a base as it was much easier to get around and was pretty with some nice restaurants. Well done Amalfi-would not recommend it-not a patch on Aussie beaches (black sand) and so hard to get around.

Greece to Italy

Another long drive (5 hours) to Igoumenitsa to catch the overnight ferry to Italy. Igoumenitsa was interesting and it was ncie to be back in a Greek town. The ferry ride was a bit uncomfortable but tolerable. Next mronign we set off for the other side of Italy and the Amalfi coast. The road was very good and took about 5 hours. We drove to Maiori and found our apartment-up 140 steps straight up from the road-yes the coastline is just like the movies but the sand on the beaches is grey. Maiori is a pretty coastal town but it was time to have a rest day and cath up on the washing (the worst part of travelling)

Bitola

Igor’s relatives made us very welcome and we had wood fired pork and lamb-a feast. W also went up the mountain to a national park and explored the Heraclea ruins. A nice day but very cold and rainy. This is the end of our time with Kate and Igor and we set off with Ken and Gayle for Italy tomorrow. Macedonia was interesting but holds little interest for the average tourist however we were privileged to meet Igor’s relatives who were warm, loving, fun people.

Skopje

Kate, Robert and I went to met Gayle and Ken in Skopje. We got lost finding the hotel but a Serbian man hopped in the car (Kate and I thought he might have been leading us down an alley to rob and rape us but we should be more trusting of our fellow man J). The Serbian lead us to the hotel and we had a beer to celebrate our arrival and meeting Ken and Gayle. Never stay at the Hotel Ani if you visit Skopje-it’s the worst hotel I have ever stayed in-dirty and stinking of smoke.
The Lonely Planet says of Skopje:
1. Walk across the ancient Stone Bridge
2. Look at the shopping bazaar in the old Turkish town
3. Leave
The Stone Bridge was covered with graffiti and FILTHY with rubbish, smelled like urine and was infested with Gypsies begging – real in-your-face pushy beggars who pulled at your clothes and followed you.It’s hard to be objective but the Gypsies and the little kids that they hold in their arms when begging are very dirty. The Turkish bazaar was interesting and we did some shopping, had a nice meal and left to go back to Bitola to meet Igor’s other Aunty, Uncle and cousins.

Bitola

It was off to Bitola to stay with Igor’s uncle on his farm at the village that Rada (Igor’s mother) grew up. Uncle and his family were very welcoming and gracious. Macedonia is a very poor country with very little industry. The average person earns about 200 euro per month and there is 50% unemployment. Bitola is a bit grimy, littered streets and run down overall, but with some nice new shops and restaurants. Food etc about half Wollongong prices but accommodation relatively dear. There was a well-preserved old Turkish sector in the town.

Ohrid

The morning found us much refreshed and we drove to Ohrid on good roads. Ohrid is on the edge of the second biggest lake in Europe (according to Uncle Dennis). We stayed in a unit owned by a friend of Kate and Igor’s and it turned out that Robert knew Uncle Dennis (uncle of their friend who now lives in Ohrid but previously lived in Kanahooka). The unit was lovely and close to the lake. The lakeside was beautiful with many restaurants and shops along the edge of the water. After doing about 6 loads of washing we had a lovely dinner in a nice restaurant with Dennis and his new wife Mila. More washing and lunch with Dennis and Mila. Mila cooked cabbage rolls and other Macedonian delicacies and then we walked through the town. Next day we went for a boat ride across the lake, walked to the fortress and then to an old church. The views were spectacular. We also went for a drive to the springs that feed into the lake and another very old church. Ohrid is an interesting city and we had a chance to have a rest!

Dubrovnik to Skopje

We choose to drive to Macedonia via Sarajevo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo rather than go though Albania. We were aiming for Ohrid. It took us 14 hours and we have to go to Skopje because we were advised in Montenegro that this was the best choice and the quickest route. The roads were terrible and while we were able to get through the border crossings without any incidents there were many of them and this slowed us down. The weather was also difficult very wet, cold and overcast. Given the tediousness of the trip we did see some spectacular scenery but I would not suggest to anyone to follow our route!! We reached Skopje about 9pm and found a hotel and had some dinner.