Saturday, September 29, 2007

Ramadan = Indonesian New Year?

日前坐小巴聽得旁邊的太太跟另一太太說,她的印傭正過印尼的新年,日出後已不能進食,要待至傍晚。香港人 .... 現時其實是回教的守齋月Ramadan。

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Wildlife

Lizard, Los Illonos, Venezuela
Capybara, Los Illonos, Venezuela
Sea Iguana, Galapagos Island, Ecuador
Albatross, Galapagos Island, Ecuador
Blue-foot booby, Galapagos Island, Ecuador
Anaconda, Los Illonos, Venezuela

Long-distance Bus

The best long-distance bus I'd ever tried

Argentina: The seats are so wide and good service. Some bus companies even served red and white wine for meal. However, the price of bus ticket is sometimes more or less same as domestic flight price (promotional fare).

Mexico: Comfortable

Turkey: Comfortable

Sleeping at the airports

sometimes for saving coz just a few hours for transit; sometimes for security (I dare not to go out at mid-night).

Dakka, Bangladesh: The security of domestic terminal was so nice whom allowed us to stay there till dawn. however, the terminal had many mosquitos.

Caracas, Venezuela: This SUPERB airport got no chair in both departure and arrival halls. i slept on the bench of fast food shop after its closure.

Bangkok, Thailand (new airport): This airport equipped with powerful A/C system. I thought I slept in a freezer!

Doha, Qatar: Most of the chairs had armrests and the lighting was too bright also!

Manila, Philippines: All chairs are made of steel and too cold for sleeping!

Los Angeles, US: Comfortable for sleeping but the cleaning work and big TV caused me hard to sleep.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan: Though airport closes after the last flight at midnight, the security allow passengers to continue to stay inside the terminal. The chairs are hard seat and very uncomfortable for sleeping!

You may read more other reports

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

這麼近 那麼遠

一些自旅途上結識的朋友,透過互聯網,數年後仍能保持聯絡,雖然他們可能在地球上遙遠的地方,但仍會透過MSN偶爾閒聊數句,反之一些在香港的朋友,可能數年不見。

旅途上的天使

對一個地方的印象,很視乎遇上怎樣的人,過去十年的旅程,總有一些較人難望的人:

斯里蘭卡:在巴士站頭一位好心的女士,帶我們往巴士站,仲交託她的朋友肯定我們上了正確的車
印度:混亂的火車站冷帽大叔,帶我們往正確的月台
尼泊爾:Pokara Fish Tail Hotel的職員,與我們談天說地及打羽毛球
孟加拉:帶我們坐足全程巴士往Dhaka的少年
約旦:Amman Nansy Hotel兄弟,由Petra驅車往Amman途中已喝了很多啤酒,在酒店與其他客人一起喝了整瓶Vodka,及美味的中東菜。
敍利亞:Damascus酒店的職員,請我們吃的免費午餐。
摩洛哥:Fez好客的德國男士;還有Jamar
泰國:Chiangrai於機上遇上的男士,她媽媽還送我一程順風車
土耳其:Bergama來自捷克的情侶,免費載我一程車;於Goreme的Travel Agent,來自Kurks的導遊及老板(Mt. Nemrut團)。
台灣:金門觀光巴士解說員小琪

Monday, September 10, 2007

吾土吾情

社會文物保護之風熾熱,港台製作此節目,絕對是用心之作,可於網上重溫。

http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/program_archive.cgi?progdir=tv/hkheritage&event_name=%A7%5E+%A4g+%A7%5E+%B1%A1+%0A

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Next Dream Destinations

Falkland -- nature
Bolivia -- salt lake
Honduras, Guatemala -- supreme Mayan sites
Cuba -- Havana
Pakistan -- more than nuclear weapon
Iran -- excellent heritage sites
Tibet -- natural scenery and wildlife
Mongolia -- natural scenery
Ireland -- natural scenery
Ethiopia -- old churches and coffee
Kenya -- great migration
Mali -- mosque
Zambia -- Victoria Fall
Chile -- Easter Island and driest desert and largest copperfield

Saturday, August 25, 2007

The most impressive waterfall: Igauzu

A view from the side of Argentina


A view from the side of Brazil


Igauzu waterfall -- the most spectacular waterfalls i've ever seen with many many rainbows!

航空公司

華航又出事了,慶幸今沒有人命損失。我經常出門遠行,朋友笑說我坐飛機多過坐巴士。航空公司我從不selective,只要以最平價錢,及合理的時間飛往目的地便可。現列出印象較難忘的公司:

華航:當然坐過,飛耶加達,才1,100元來回機票,慶幸平安回來。
Laos Aviation:據聞是全球出事率最高的航空公司,我那次是來回清邁與永珍
Air Asia: 走難航空公司,由於航班不設劃位,一眾香港市民在澳門機場一過閘口便直奔機上,有點投奔怒海感覺。
Philippines airline:往美國我最愛選用的航空公司,因為平,及來回美國一次,已能賺取足夠里數兌換一張香港馬尼拉機票,但該公司每次皆對行李重量有嚴格限制。
星航:漂亮空姐,仲有movenpick雪糕食。
Qatar and Emriates:服務可追上星航
TACA:中美洲航空公司,轉機時機極度perfect,轉機最多等候1小時,最少15分鐘,但仍能成功勾出行李轉機。

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Venezuela Itinerary

11 July to 1 August 2007

The main destination of this trip was Venezuela. However, I'd made a short stopover in both Costa Rica and California.

D1: From HKG to Manila and Manila to Los Angeles by Philippines Airline
D2: From Los Angeles to El Salvador and El Salvador to San Jose by TACA. Arrived San Jose in the morning. Sleeping: Tranquilo Backpackers. City tour in the afternoon including Central Post Office, National Theatre, Catedral Metropolitan.
D3: Museum Day in San Jose. Visited 3 museums: Museo de Jade, Museo National de Costa Rica, Museo de Oro Precolombino y Numismatica. Sleeping: Tranquilo Backpackers.
D4: From San Jose to Caracas by TACA. However, a 3-hr flight has been delayed for 3 hours. My arrival time to Caracas has been deferred from 1530 hours to 1830 hours. I decided to sleep at the airport and waited for my friend's arrival from US in the early next morning. However, I found out that there is no chair neither in departure/ arrival hall. Wonderful!
D5: My friend arrived at 6.30 am. Bought night bus ticket to Ciudad Bolivar. City tour in Caracas. We visited Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), World Heritage Site (however, I really don't know how to appreciate this site. It just looks like CUHK). We also went to Estadio Olimpico Universitario which Copa America just took place here last night). Other sights including Historic Centre (Panteon Nacional and Plaza Bolivar) etc.
D6: Arrived Ciudad Bolivar (CB) in the morning. We booked a 3-day tour to Angel Fall and would be departed tommorrow. Wandered around the little historic town with fancy color colonial buildings. It looked like a ghost town after 7pm. All shops got close and we were only able to find a restaurant still operated after 8pm!
D7: Took a 3-hour van ride to La Paragua. We chose a cheap tour instead of flying directly an hour from CB to Camina, the tour departed from La Paragua. We saved 40 bucks. Got stuck at the 'airport' La Paragua and waited for the little plane returned. We finally arrived Camina at 3.00 pm. Took jet boat to our camp site (basic) and slept in hammock with mosquitoes around me!
D8: 2-hr jet boat again to the base of Angel Fall. Walked 1-hour up to the mirador and swam at the base of the fall. Cool! Returned to the camp at the base of fall. Rained rained rained for the rest of day!
D9: Visited Sapo Fall and got a big wash behind the fall. Cool experience! Had a look at the other 4 big falls, Ucaima, Golondrina, Wadaima, Hacha. Said bye to Camina in the afternoon and returned by flight to La Paragua. Finally, we arrived CB at 1700 hours. We booked another tour to Los Illonos. Because of bus problem (i dunno the real cause), I took another night bus back to Caracas.
D10: Bus day again! We arrived Caracas at 0400 hours. We went to West terminal of long distance bus station and found out there was no day bus to Mantecal. We went to San Fernado instead and used 7.5 hours daytime to travel in a supposed to be A/C bus. Hot! We changed bus at San Fernado to Mantecal for another 3-hr bus ride. We arrived Mantecal at 2130 hours and met our host there. After having a late dinner at this little town, we got another 1.25-hr jeep ride to his camp. We unloaded our luggage at mid-night!
D11: Relaxed countryside life. 2-hr boat tour in the morning. After lunch, free time till 1600 hours and walking and looking for anaconda.
D12: Relaxed day. Jeep tour for 2 hours and lunch and jeep tour again in late afternoon and continued the anaconda mission. Mission failed. We saw lots of capabara and even river dolphins.
D13: Just taking 5 mins to look for anaconda and mission completed! A very big one! Horse ride and relaxed. The host sent us to bus station in the afternoon. Got on a bus to Caracas, however, we were kicked off at Aghaguas. Changed bus for Caracas there.
D14: Arrived Caracas in the morning. Failed to find a hotel room in Altamira and we resided in Sabana Grande. Because of short of Bolivar, we used almost whole afternoon to look for black market money changer. Mission failed. Revisited historic centre again. Today was public holiday, it was Simon Bolivar's birthday. We finally got to change money with a Korean (the only Asian tourist we met in Venezuela) in a hotel. However, the rate was not good but still far much better than official rate.
D15: Taking Teleferico but very misty at the top. Visited El Hatillo in the afternoon and bought some expensive souvenirs there! Bolivar exhausted again!
D16: My final day in Venezuela. I visited central post office and bought a set of Copa America stamps! Left for airport at 1200 hours. Goodbye Caracas and my friend (coz we took different airlines, she would leave tmr morning). Flight from Caracas to San Jose, San Jose to Guatemala, Guatemala to Los Angeles by TACA.
D17: Arrived Los Angeles at 12.35 am. Waited for my flight to Sacramento at 6.45 hours. My friend waited me at the airport. We went to a 3d2n camp at Lake Tahoe.
D18: Camp
D19: Packed stuff and returned to Sacramento in the afternoon. Rest!
D20: Sightseeing at Sacramento (actually not much to see). Took an afternoon flight back to LA. Flight back to Manila and Hong Kong.
D21: Arrived HK in the morning!

西班牙語 Pollo

每次往南美洲旅行時,總後悔大學時期為什麼不努力學好西班牙語。在委內瑞拉旅行時,此懊悔更為甚,因為在兩星期的旅程,只碰到6個懂英語的當地人。身體語言變成重要的溝通媒體。在食肆點菜時,最常出現的是Pollo,因為此字是我最明白的西班牙字。但至於烹調方法,已超出我的認知了。Pollo即世衞總幹事日日會食的東西。

Return from Venezuela


Just return safely from Venezuela. Though read and learnt many negative reports about Venezuela especially her capital, Caracas, I managed to survive there. My main target was Angel Fall, the highest fall in the world (978m). Salto Angel is “黃河之水天上來”.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

鄧紹斌《我要安樂死》

剛購買了一本新書《我要安樂死》,有待開始閱讀。http://www.jointpublishing.com/bunchai/

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil by Tony Wheeler

Just bought this new book and started to read. I wish I can follow Tony's trail and visited all these countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Saudi Arabia.

Burma: To go or not to go?

After reading Lonely Planet's comment at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/myanmar and responsible tourism, I chose to go in April 2007 for 10 days. I have a wonderful stay there. I met many many friendly locals, cheerful children and monks. I can't forget the hospitable people there. If u choose to go, like me, follow the suggestions made by LP.

May God bless the Burmese people.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Syria and Jordan

I visited Syria and Jordan during Christmas and New Year and have a wonderful experience in Syria. Every person I encountered in Syria was so nice. No matter they speak English or not! The archaeological sites are far much better than Jordan. Perhaps because of the poor weather and duststorm in Petra, I was not so impressed. What I miss much was the sunrise at Palmyra (though temperature was below 5 deg in that morning)!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Vietnam Itinerary (Southern Part)

I did the following trip during this Chinese New Year (29 January - 4 February 2006). This was my third visit to Vietnam.

D1: Night flight: HKG --> HCMC
D2: Saigon -- join local tour to Tay Ninh (Cai Dao temple) + Cu chi tunnel
D3: Saigon -- join local tour to Mekong Delta, NIGHT BUS to Nha Trang (450 km from SGN)
D4: Nha Trang sightseeing
D5: Day bus (from 0800 hrs to 1430 hrs) to Dalat, which is 220 km from Nha Trang. Rush rush sightseeing around Dalat. I took a train tour at Dalat train station. Visited Dalat market in the evening.
D6: Day bus (from 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs for 300km ride) back to Saigon. Wandered in the city centre and enjoyed the last nite in Vietnam. Went back to guesthouse and had several hrs sleep. Then got up at 0300 hrs in the early early morning to catch the flight at 0600 hrs!
D7: Home again!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

《極地跨越》

Jarded Diamond的Collapse尚未讀畢,該書已被譯成中文,名為《大崩壞》。

在書展發現了一套新書,名為《極地跨越》,該書記錄了中央電視台攝製該記錄片(由南極點出發至北極,穿越美洲大陸)的所見所聞。除了Michael Palin的Pole to Pole,《極地跨越》亦是另一出色之作。

Turkey Itinerary

I visited Turkey in the summer of 2005 (30 June to 17 July 2005). My itinerary is as follows:

D1: Hong Kong-->Istanbul (By Turkish Airline)
D2: Quick sightseeing in Istanbul and overnight bus to Goreme, Cappadocia
D3: Self trekking in Rose Valley and Sword Valley of Goreme.
D4: Joining local tour to open air museum and scenic spots around Goreme.
D5-7: Joining local tour to Mt. Nemrut and Urfa.
D8: Joining local tour to underground cities and Ihlara valley (overnight bus to pamukkale).
D9: Visiting Pamukkale/Hierapolis. Taking public bus to Denzil in the evening and getting change there to Marmaris.
D10:Taking jet boat to Rhodes Island, Greece. Having day-visit there and returning Marmaris in the evening.
D11: Taking local bus to Selcuk and touring around.
D12: Visiting Ephesus and spending one full day there. Taking evening bus to Bregama
D13: Touring Pergamum.
D14: Taking bus to Bursa.
D15: Visiting mosque in Bursa.
D16: Taking bus back to Istanbul and visiting Grand Bazzars
D17: Visiting the Palace and taking flight back to Hong Kong at night.
D18: Returning home.