england travelogue |
| england travelogue - planning the trip of a lifetime! 05-01-2002 [17:26 GMT] |
| Well, with years of thinking, "I wonder if..." and "maybe one day...", I've done it! Speaking to an overly enthusiastic travel expert, Hayden, I've decided on - with Hayden's enthusiastic help, a twelve month Round-the-World ticket based on countries within six continents with a 29,000 mile limit- GULP! My new best friend and me discussed various country options for the best part of a hour before finally agreeing on firstly, where I wanted to go and secondly, where I was allowed to go (due to restrictions imposed by my ticket). My ideal 'wish list' has not changed dramatically, in fact, I could say that destinations have been added which I had not before considered. So this is it - the basic itinerary... Leaving London (Heathrow) on 03-07-2003 for Cairo [Egypt] and on arrival spending eleven days on board a small Egyptian sailing boat (a felucca) slowly cruising down the Nile taking in the amazing sights. This is the only pre-booked tour, which Hayden has also arranged on my behalf (good ole Hayden!). Leaving Cairo, 28-07-2003, I fly to Delhi [India]. The next month I believe is going to be the hardest part of the trip. From India a small flight will take me into Nepal for a three week trek around Kathmandu and the surrounding Himalayan mountain range, perhaps I will make it up Everest! After returning to Delhi to catch my connecting flight I continue east to Hong Kong. The next month will be a long and probably tiring overland leg taking in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai before returning to Hong Kong to transfer south to Bangkok [Thailand]. Over the next 4.5 months I will be attempting a massive overland leg travelling through six countries; Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. This may seem like a bit of a monster, but rest assured I will be taking time out at some of Thailand's excellent coastal resorts for R & R - well that's the plan! After about a week seeing the city of Perth [Western OZ], I take a short internal flight to the north eastern city of Cairns to travel, over approx. 1 month, down the eastern Australian coast to Sydney where I shall stay for a week before flying over to San Francisco. This final leg of my trip is going to be a race against time and the huge distances as I cross the USA by Greyhound bus from California to NYC. A week after arriving in NYC, I will catch my last flight home to London. So that's about it...29,000 miles + Kathmandu and back + the overland legs and approximately 12 months. All in all it promises to be an adventure of a lifetime. I can only hope it turns out to be as enjoyable in reality as it reads on paper... - Matt. |
| england travelogue - bali bombings! 12-10-2002 [20:22GMT] |
Terrorist attack in Kuta [Bali] - bomb. |
| england travelogue - mag light and other such stuff 23-10-2002 [21:30GMT] |
Only a small entry this time as not much has really happened. I've been buying the odd small item or two for my trip (Mag Lite and Towel etc). Something did happen to me today though which I must record. Previously I had bought a fold out wall map of the world on which I spent this evening marking my entire route. To be honest I was shocked at the scale of what I am planning and it really dawned on me just how hard this is going to be. |
| england travelogue - itinerary 04-12-2002 [20:05GMT] |
I received a telephone call from Jackie at Travel Nation. All departures from January 4th will incur a £100 increase, nice! The cost of this trip seems to be spiralling out of control. Oh well, I guess it is a once in a lifetime adventure so costs shouldn't be my biggest concern. After looking down my confirmed itinery it was amazing to see the big name airlines - Iberia, Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and BA. Not a Monarch or Airtours charter flight in sight. I can't wait to see how the other half travel and embrace the extra legroom and reclining seats. Lets hope the planes stay up in the air. San Francisco had to be changed for LA due to me going over my 29,000 mile limit but that shouldn't affect things much. |
| england travelogue - innoculations 13-01-2003 [16:29GMT] |
Wow, we're into 2003...The time seems to be flying now. I had the first set of my inoculations today: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid and Polio. My arms now feel dead to the world. Back to the doctors on 3rd February for some more. |
| england travelogue - strongbow cider drinks!! 02-07-2003 [14:14GMT] - Heathrow Airport |
Well, I'm here!!! Heathrow Airport - Terminal 2. Had a quirky trip so far - sat next to a tramp! The aforementioned travelling companion joined the train at Ipswich and didn't alight until Liverpool Street Station. We had a multitude of pointless, but thought provoking conversations - have you ever noticed that conversations with Strongbow cider drinkers are always pointless. Anyway, he ended up shaking my hand and giving me a friends address in Qatar; he might be able to offer me some work! He then staggered off to welcome and embrace the unprepared London public. A note on travelling alone - who looks after your bag whilst you pee?
- Matt. |
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