Staying in Ecuador’s capital Quito was never something I had longed to do, as it happens. However I had wanted to cross the equator by foot for the first time in Ecuador, so with Quito being fairly close by, it ended up being the obvious place to stay. Once I got there I realised that Read more about “I Get So High I Just Can’t See It…” – Cruz Loma, Looking Down On Quito *[…]
When Chinese New Year 2012 came round, I found myself living in Hong Kong, my new home. It would almost have been too obvious to spend the new year at home in Hong Kong, and when I found out I had 8 days off work, it meant booking another trip. I toyed with the idea Read more about From Teaching in Yuen Long🇭🇰To Drinking in Manila, Philippines🇵🇭[…]
Having just stepped across the border into North Korea as casual as you like, it was time for a rare sight. Something that you won’t see often in your lifetime. The third highest national flag on a single flag pole in the world, FLYING HALF MAST. The reason? Kim Jong Il had just died. Read more about DMZ Tour Part 9: Flag at Half Mast, North Korea🇰🇵[…]
On a cold afternoon with a clear sky ahead and a beating down sun, Panny Yu and I stepped nonchalantly across the border from South Korea into North Korea. Or, as it should be officially from the Republic of Korea into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This border is one of the most Read more about DMZ Tour Part 8: Stepping Into North Korea🇰🇵At Panmunjom[…]
INCAHUASI – ISLA DEL PESCADO – AN ISLAND ON SALT. On arrival we had to pay an entrance fee at this small booth. The cost was 15 Bolivanas for the ticket and entrance to this incredible wee island. That’s about 2 pounds I think, so worth it. The ticket shows Read more about Backpacking In Bolivia🇧🇴: Salar De Uyuni Tour – Part 5 – Incahuasi/Isla Del Pescado[…]
Hot, high up, salty, deserted, isolated but awe inspiring is how I would describe our arrival on the Uyuni Salt Plains – known as Salar de Uyuni. The town of Uyuni was left far behind, as was Cementario Des Trens and Colchani Salt Village. We were now in a wilderness high high up in south Read more about Backpacking In Bolivia🇧🇴: Salar De Uyuni Tour – Part 4 – Flying The Flag and Hotel on Salt[…]
Leaving somewhere you love is never easy and always has some emotion or sentiment naturally attached to it, at least in my life. As much as I had loved Uruguay and wanted to stay longer – that was never the plan. Life is too short and I needed to see some of the other parts of Read more about Adios, Uruguay, Muchas Gracias! *[…]
After lunch somewhere in the DMZ, we changed buses, and our new bus was heading to Camp Bonifas and into the JSA – Joint Security Area. Don’t worry if all these acronyms and constant place names confuse you, they sure as hell confused the life out of me, and even after research I’m still baffled Read more about DMZ Tour Part 7: Camp Bonifas, The JSA and Crazy Golf[…]
Lunch in the DMZ was next up on the agenda. We ate at a tiny wee roadside restaurant near Imjingak, just south of the actual North Korea border. The countryside was immense and on Christmas Eve, a land covered in snow gave a dreamlike impression. Something that I longed for in childhood. The restaurant. The Read more about DMZ Tour Part 6: Lunch in the DMZ[…]
After the impressive “train cemetery” (Cementario des Trens), the next stop on the Salar de Uyuni tour was at Colchani. It’s a very tiny village of only a few streets and a few low buildings, but it’s significant… For SALT!! Yes, here, in Colchani on the edge of the Salar De Uyuni salt plains is Read more about Backpacking In Bolivia🇧🇴: Salar De Uyuni – Part 3 – Colchani: Salt Extracting Town[…]