It wasn’t the first time I left Auckland international airport. I had been there 3 and a half years earlier, flying that time to Kuala Lumpur, on an onward connection to the Chinese capital of Beijing. Here in 2010, I was slightly more worldly, more eager and infinitely more nervous. Nervous and excited all in Read more about Goodbye Oceania – Another Auckland Farewell[…]
LADY GAGA – PAPA PAPAMOA:
Australia has a few Scottish towns and influences of course (Perth for one, and Bothwell for another). But Maclean is in the north part of New South Wales and I popped in to see what was there. Advertising itself and promoting itself as “THE Scottish town in Australia”, tartan designs, bagpipes, murals, Scottish names and Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Touring Maclean, The Scottish Town[…]
It was a funny old day and in the end a well worthwhile trip. Morning began for me with a 6am start in Loki Hostel, La Paz. This meant I would miss the free breakfast that day, as it doesn’t start until 7am. I got a sharp taxi ordered from hostel to bus station (I Read more about A Slow Bus To Cuzco[…]
I will and do mention Lonely Planet a lot, and I have to say I find it a really helpful, useful and worthwhile guide to have on my travels. Most of the information is excellent, but some things are often neglected (for example Black Cat hostel in Asuncion, Guesthouse Amice in Paramaribo, the dangers of Read more about Backpacking in Paraguay: Mayhem of…Ciudad Del Este[…]
Tres Fronteras (similar to the English phrase Three Frontiers) is exactly that – a treble border and the place where three countries meet. In this instance, Tres Fronteras is a part of land where you can see Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (and be in one of them). But it’s not just bits of grass you’re Read more about World Borders: Where Paraguay Meets Brazil and Argentina, Tres Fronteras – Three Frontiers/Borders[…]
I’ll not lie and pretend that I know everything about this city and that I went into every museum and sampled the entire culture, because I didn’t! BUT, what I did do in Santa Cruz De La Sierra was stay overnight in a swanky FIVE STAR hotel for free of charge and end up adding Read more about Backpacking in Bolivia: Santa Cruz De La Sierra (You’re Not That Far)[…]
It’s one of those towns you end up in because of something else, and although it is a real town, I couldn’t help but get an artifical vibe from the murky gushing river settlement known to the world as Aquas Calientes. Those with a knowledge of Spanish will of course be aware that Aguas Calientes Read more about Guinea Pig Christmas Dinner, Hot Gushing Waters, Peruvian Train and Bus: Aguas Calientes[…]
This was one of the surprises of my recent travels. Not expecting much from Paraguay and actually using it as a mere stepping stone to get from Uruguay to Argentina to Brazil and then onwards to Bolivia. Somehow sandwiched Paraguay threw up some interesting experiences, none more so than this special bus journey as the Read more about Rural Paraguay By Bus[…]