dissabte, 28 d’abril del 2007
Muaaaaaaa per tots!
Iepa, hem aconseguit mig recuperar les fotos, amb virus incluit pero almenys les podem penjar! A disfrutar.
People, somehow we managed to retrieve our pictures back, it hasn t been easy and got the virus attached back, but at least we could upload some! Enjoy!
divendres, 27 d’abril del 2007
Ahhhhh Malaysia, what an incredible country!
Hey lads! Here goes a short entry to let you know that we are doing well and enjoying so much our days in Malaysia! We stayed 3 days in the Perenthian islands, a small paradise of clean turquoise water and white sand, a laid-back island and a perfect spot to chill out! We had a great experience while doing some snorkeling; we visited 5 different sites and came across tropical colorful fish, big turtles and small sharks! On the surface we where shocked with the monitor lizards (huge animals up to 2 meters long that only eat insects...good help for tourists like us!). This place comes highly recommended to anyone looking for some nice tropical beaches! And we definitely can rank it as the top beach we have seen so far during our trip.
We left this paradise behind and got out of the beaten track for 2 days, which gave us the great opportunity to get to know the real and deep Malaysia and meet really special people and characters while travelling by train and car.
Yesterday we made our way up to the Cameron Highlands located between 1200 and 1800 meters above sea level, where there are loads of tea plantations and jungle trails. We have been doing some trekking and almost got lost today as we did it by ourselves with an useless map...At the end after walking around 12Km we found a local traditional village and a paved road that eventually led us to town where we had a huge deserved Indian meal!
On the upcoming days we will hang around here and move down to Kuala Lumpur and Melaka to finally cross into Singapore and fly out to Bali! We are really enjoying these days here. Hey friends; consider Malaysia as a must go country! it won't disappoint you!
No pictures so far to be uploaded as we got a virus into our memory card blocking more than 400 photos, or better jailing them who knows if under life imprisonment...
All the best and curry kisses to all of you!
We left this paradise behind and got out of the beaten track for 2 days, which gave us the great opportunity to get to know the real and deep Malaysia and meet really special people and characters while travelling by train and car.
Yesterday we made our way up to the Cameron Highlands located between 1200 and 1800 meters above sea level, where there are loads of tea plantations and jungle trails. We have been doing some trekking and almost got lost today as we did it by ourselves with an useless map...At the end after walking around 12Km we found a local traditional village and a paved road that eventually led us to town where we had a huge deserved Indian meal!
On the upcoming days we will hang around here and move down to Kuala Lumpur and Melaka to finally cross into Singapore and fly out to Bali! We are really enjoying these days here. Hey friends; consider Malaysia as a must go country! it won't disappoint you!
No pictures so far to be uploaded as we got a virus into our memory card blocking more than 400 photos, or better jailing them who knows if under life imprisonment...
All the best and curry kisses to all of you!
dijous, 26 d’abril del 2007
Del mar a la muntanya.
Hola gent! Seguim vius i per Malasia disfrutant d'allo mes. Un cop ens va arribar el Joan a Penang, vam passar-nos un dia i mig visitant la ciutat de Georgetown i els seus voltants. El millor: una excursio a Penang Hill, una muntanya sobre la ciutat on ens van acompanyar mil i un monos, alguns amb mala llet i tot! A part d'aquesta aventura la resta del temps el vam dedicar a descobrir la ciutat i els seus plaers culinaris.
De l'illa de Penang al Nord Oest vam travessar el pais cap a les illes Perhentian al Nord Est, i de nou us hem de parlar d'un altre paradis i aquest dels grossos! Hi hem passat tres dies increibles, al.lucinant amb la vegetacio tropical i platges d'aigua turquesa transparent i de sorra blanquissima. Es un d'aquells llocs magics on un s'hi podria perdre indefinidament. Quant a la fauna dir-vos que ha estat un no parar de sorpreses i descobriments! En tres dies hem vist un munt de llangardaixos gegants i inofensius (fins a dos metres) i que s'alimenten nomes d'insectes, n'hem vist de mes petits i malparits tambe (amb intent d'atac a la Nuria i tot, saltant-li a sobre!). Altres animalots terrestres que se'ns han creuat: serps, escarabats i aranyes enormes, i no parlem dels mosquits i les seves picades....Aixo no es tot! Quant a fauna aquatica ens hem quedat bocabadats. Amb un dia d'snorkelling vam veure i nadar entre tortugues, al.lucinar amb un munt de peixos tropicals de colors com el Nemo i cagar-nos un xic amb els taurons, i aixo que eren petits... Una experiencia unica!!
Haviem planejat fer submarinisme, pero per questions de temps i la gran experiencia viscuda amb l'snorkelling vam decidir deixar-ho per mes endavant i a contracor ahir vam deixar enrera aquest petit paradis per tornar a terra ferma i seguir ruta!
Ens hem passat dos dies perduts per la Malasia profunda, viatjant en tren, cotxe i taxi. Sol passar que quant un es surt un xic de la ruta mes tipica i topica es troba amb situacions inesperades i entrebancs, pero alhora sorgeixen moments especials com quan ahir en un tren on erem els unics blancs un grapat de nanos ens van assetjar a preguntes, cantar, guiar i escortar fins a un dels pocs hotels del poble on varem fer nit. Aquest mati ens hem trobat amb el que semblava un forat negre sense sortida; no hi havia ni bus ni tren per arribar al desti que haviem marcat. Les Cameron Highlands, terres altes entre 1200 i 1800 metres i jardi de Malasia on es cultiven des de flors, vegetals, fruita i sobretot te. Al final hem conegut un home del poble que s'ha ofert a portar-nos, pagant es clar!
Dir-vos que ja estem a lloc, i us escrivim despres d'haver disfrutat ja de la primera excursio a peu.
Nota negativa: portem a sobre una maladiccio amb el tema fotografic, no n'hi havia prou amb tenir una camera desastrosa que ara resulta que tenim un virus a la targeta de memoria amb 400 fotos esperant ser rescatades i sense massa esperances... Aixi doncs, el tema fotos haura d'esperar...poseu-hi imaginacio!
Uff, aixo ha estat llarg eh!!! Apa fins a la proxima i molts petons!
De l'illa de Penang al Nord Oest vam travessar el pais cap a les illes Perhentian al Nord Est, i de nou us hem de parlar d'un altre paradis i aquest dels grossos! Hi hem passat tres dies increibles, al.lucinant amb la vegetacio tropical i platges d'aigua turquesa transparent i de sorra blanquissima. Es un d'aquells llocs magics on un s'hi podria perdre indefinidament. Quant a la fauna dir-vos que ha estat un no parar de sorpreses i descobriments! En tres dies hem vist un munt de llangardaixos gegants i inofensius (fins a dos metres) i que s'alimenten nomes d'insectes, n'hem vist de mes petits i malparits tambe (amb intent d'atac a la Nuria i tot, saltant-li a sobre!). Altres animalots terrestres que se'ns han creuat: serps, escarabats i aranyes enormes, i no parlem dels mosquits i les seves picades....Aixo no es tot! Quant a fauna aquatica ens hem quedat bocabadats. Amb un dia d'snorkelling vam veure i nadar entre tortugues, al.lucinar amb un munt de peixos tropicals de colors com el Nemo i cagar-nos un xic amb els taurons, i aixo que eren petits... Una experiencia unica!!
Haviem planejat fer submarinisme, pero per questions de temps i la gran experiencia viscuda amb l'snorkelling vam decidir deixar-ho per mes endavant i a contracor ahir vam deixar enrera aquest petit paradis per tornar a terra ferma i seguir ruta!
Ens hem passat dos dies perduts per la Malasia profunda, viatjant en tren, cotxe i taxi. Sol passar que quant un es surt un xic de la ruta mes tipica i topica es troba amb situacions inesperades i entrebancs, pero alhora sorgeixen moments especials com quan ahir en un tren on erem els unics blancs un grapat de nanos ens van assetjar a preguntes, cantar, guiar i escortar fins a un dels pocs hotels del poble on varem fer nit. Aquest mati ens hem trobat amb el que semblava un forat negre sense sortida; no hi havia ni bus ni tren per arribar al desti que haviem marcat. Les Cameron Highlands, terres altes entre 1200 i 1800 metres i jardi de Malasia on es cultiven des de flors, vegetals, fruita i sobretot te. Al final hem conegut un home del poble que s'ha ofert a portar-nos, pagant es clar!
Dir-vos que ja estem a lloc, i us escrivim despres d'haver disfrutat ja de la primera excursio a peu.
Nota negativa: portem a sobre una maladiccio amb el tema fotografic, no n'hi havia prou amb tenir una camera desastrosa que ara resulta que tenim un virus a la targeta de memoria amb 400 fotos esperant ser rescatades i sense massa esperances... Aixi doncs, el tema fotos haura d'esperar...poseu-hi imaginacio!
Uff, aixo ha estat llarg eh!!! Apa fins a la proxima i molts petons!
dissabte, 21 d’abril del 2007
Hey, team of three!
Here we are in Penang, also known as the Pearl of the Orient, NW Malaysia. A good place actually to meet another pearl: Joan half Corkie, half Catalan. Our friend arrived yesterday and we will enjoy his company and travel together for the next month at least.
Last afternoon we climbed Penang Hill by funicular and descended walking by a path through the jungle where at first we were amazed with some monkeys that were staring at us but finally we had to escape up the road when a brave one tried to attack us, and heads-up, his teeth were quite scary! Just what Joan needed to better handle his jet lag... It was a really enjoyable day that we ended up with a huge meal combining different cuisines such Indian, Chinese and Malay all in a esplanade nearby the sea with loads of food stalls.
We have been in Malaysia for only 3 days but can assure you that this country is mind-blowing, culturally is extremely rich as his inhabitants are Malay, Indian and Chinese, living all in harmony and tolerance (good example for the world!) and respecting each other traditions and religions. If Jesus, Buddha and Ala were to go for some "tapas" together, you would find them in Malaysia, no doubt!
Georgetown is the capital of the Penang island and its impressive colonial architecture, temples and different neighbourhoods makes it an attractive and charming city to visit.
However, we have to start moving and tonight we will hop on a bus to the Perenthian Islands, NE of Malaysia where we plan to stay a few days while diving and soaking the sun!
Well lads, that is all for today, all good here and we promise you some pictures of the monkeys on next posting!
All the best!
Last afternoon we climbed Penang Hill by funicular and descended walking by a path through the jungle where at first we were amazed with some monkeys that were staring at us but finally we had to escape up the road when a brave one tried to attack us, and heads-up, his teeth were quite scary! Just what Joan needed to better handle his jet lag... It was a really enjoyable day that we ended up with a huge meal combining different cuisines such Indian, Chinese and Malay all in a esplanade nearby the sea with loads of food stalls.
We have been in Malaysia for only 3 days but can assure you that this country is mind-blowing, culturally is extremely rich as his inhabitants are Malay, Indian and Chinese, living all in harmony and tolerance (good example for the world!) and respecting each other traditions and religions. If Jesus, Buddha and Ala were to go for some "tapas" together, you would find them in Malaysia, no doubt!
Georgetown is the capital of the Penang island and its impressive colonial architecture, temples and different neighbourhoods makes it an attractive and charming city to visit.
However, we have to start moving and tonight we will hop on a bus to the Perenthian Islands, NE of Malaysia where we plan to stay a few days while diving and soaking the sun!
Well lads, that is all for today, all good here and we promise you some pictures of the monkeys on next posting!
All the best!
dijous, 19 d’abril del 2007
Nova etapa per Malasia.
No ha estat facil deixar enrera Tailandia, un pais que realment ens ha sorpres i arribat al cor, pero es tracta d'anar baixant i cremant etapes!
Ahir vam arribar a Penang, una illa al Nord Est de Malasia on ens trobarem amb el Joan i comencarem la ruta pel pais. Al final vam baixar volant desde Bangkok, no estava planejat, vam haver d'improvitzar degut als esdeveniments de les ultimes hores a Tailandia: pluges, inundacions i atacs terroristes al sud, a les provincies islamiques que van comportar la cancelacio de trens per aquesta zona.
Les primeres impressions per Malasia no podrien ser millors! El primer que t'arriba es l'increible diversitat cultural del pais, habitat en harmonia sobretot per Malais, Indis i Xinesos i les seves respectives religions i tradicions. Aquesta fusio cultural li dona al pais una enorme riquesa que nomes d'arribar vam experimentar culinariament en forma de mil i un plats diferents: Menu: Noddles d'arros amb gambes (estil singapur), calamars i coco arrebossat mes altres coses que nos sabem ni com explicar (estil arab) i de postres roti de platan amb xocolata (en un indi), tot pel carrer i per uns 2E!
Apa, ja ens teniu localitzats de nou! Sort i fins la proxima!
Ahir vam arribar a Penang, una illa al Nord Est de Malasia on ens trobarem amb el Joan i comencarem la ruta pel pais. Al final vam baixar volant desde Bangkok, no estava planejat, vam haver d'improvitzar degut als esdeveniments de les ultimes hores a Tailandia: pluges, inundacions i atacs terroristes al sud, a les provincies islamiques que van comportar la cancelacio de trens per aquesta zona.
Les primeres impressions per Malasia no podrien ser millors! El primer que t'arriba es l'increible diversitat cultural del pais, habitat en harmonia sobretot per Malais, Indis i Xinesos i les seves respectives religions i tradicions. Aquesta fusio cultural li dona al pais una enorme riquesa que nomes d'arribar vam experimentar culinariament en forma de mil i un plats diferents: Menu: Noddles d'arros amb gambes (estil singapur), calamars i coco arrebossat mes altres coses que nos sabem ni com explicar (estil arab) i de postres roti de platan amb xocolata (en un indi), tot pel carrer i per uns 2E!
Apa, ja ens teniu localitzats de nou! Sort i fins la proxima!
dilluns, 16 d’abril del 2007
Last days in Thailand.
Hi lads! Our days in this incredible country are reaching its expiry date, on the 18Th of April we will be in Malaysia. We have had to slightly change our plans due the last events that happened in Thailand. Yesterday there were some massive storms and flooding killing more than 30 people, specially in the South and North. Besides that, the train services to Malaysia crossing the southern Thailand's Muslim provinces have been suspended following an attack that injured some passengers. This area has been hit by many crashes between the army and Muslim separatists for the last years.
So, taking into account all the above, we decided that we should take a plane instead, and will take off from Bangkok to Penang an island on NW Malaysia. Luckily we were informed of the Asian Ryanair: Air Asia and managed to get a very good deal, 100E for both of us.
The last days in Thailand have been excellent! Basically we expended them in the Eastern islands of Ko Chang, Ko kham and Ko Mak. A very laid-back places and not as jampacked as the famous Southern beaches like Phuket, Ko Phi Phi or Krabi. It was a great decision, plus we got a chance to share almost 2 weeks with Igor and Maria which have been, so far, the best days of our trip!
Today we will enjoy the last supper and Thai beers together! Our paths will split up tomorrow as they will head off to Laos and ourselves down to Malaysia where we will meet Joan, our Catalan friend in Cork, with whom we will hang around Malaysia and Bali.
So that is it people, a new country and adventures are waiting for us just next door, and we are really looking forward to discovering it! And of course, sharing it with you all!
Loads of kisses and hugs! Enjoy!
So, taking into account all the above, we decided that we should take a plane instead, and will take off from Bangkok to Penang an island on NW Malaysia. Luckily we were informed of the Asian Ryanair: Air Asia and managed to get a very good deal, 100E for both of us.
The last days in Thailand have been excellent! Basically we expended them in the Eastern islands of Ko Chang, Ko kham and Ko Mak. A very laid-back places and not as jampacked as the famous Southern beaches like Phuket, Ko Phi Phi or Krabi. It was a great decision, plus we got a chance to share almost 2 weeks with Igor and Maria which have been, so far, the best days of our trip!
Today we will enjoy the last supper and Thai beers together! Our paths will split up tomorrow as they will head off to Laos and ourselves down to Malaysia where we will meet Joan, our Catalan friend in Cork, with whom we will hang around Malaysia and Bali.
So that is it people, a new country and adventures are waiting for us just next door, and we are really looking forward to discovering it! And of course, sharing it with you all!
Loads of kisses and hugs! Enjoy!
diumenge, 15 d’abril del 2007
Aixo si que son vacances!
Ai,ai,ai avui hem posat fi a mes d'una setmana de vacances totals, d'aquelles que no es mira el rellotge en cap instant i un s'oblida i desconecta de tot (be, la veritat es que no tenim massa a desconectar nosaltres...perdo!). Hem saltat d'illa a illa en un arxipeleg a l'est de Tailandia amb platges increibles i algunes per nosaltres solets (cosa dificil en aquest pais!). Vam passar 4 dies a Ko Chang, l 'illa principal i la mes gran i d'alla cap a Ko Kham, una illeta amb nomes un resort de bungalows i per tant quatre gats i un tros de platja per cada un! Finalment vam creuar cap a Ko Mak, illa un xic mes gran, pero on vam tenir la gran sort de trobar bungalows en el raco mes aillat i salvatge de l'illa, amb platja nomes per nosaltres i on ens han tractat com familia!
Els dies ens han passat volant, entre hores de natacio, snorkelling, kayak, badminton a la platja, lectura i conversa! Com us deiem, vacances totals i relax!
Avui hem deixat enrera aquest petit paradis i retornat a terra ferma on passarem l'ultima nit amb l'Igor i la Maria, dema ens esperen camins diferents, pero en menys d'una setmana rebrem el gran Joan de Viladecans (visca la ironia i humor capitali), company de Cork i amb qui compartirem ruta per Malasia i Bali i de ben segur grans moments per recordar.
Ens queden 3 dies de visat per Tailandia, o sigui que ens hem d'espavilar si no volem pagar multes. Tenim un llarg cami per fer fins al Nord Est de Malasia, on ens esperen mes illes i platges i on tenim cita amb en Joan, per tant les seguents 48 hores les passarem entre trens i autocars.
No cal dir que ens podriem quedar per Tailandia almenys 3 mesos mes, marxarem sense haver vist res del Sud i zona mes famosa del pais, pero ens n'emportem un inmillorable record i sens dubte ens hi deixarem caure de nou! L'opcio d'anar a Ko Chang i renunciar al Sud per passar 12 dies amb l'Igor i la Maria ens ha compensat molt mes que qualsevol platja de Phuket o Ko Phi Phi. Han estat uns dies inolvidables!
Apa nanos, fins a la proxima i no perdeu detall del coloret de pell que ja tenim (per aquells que creien que despres de 4 anys a Irlanda ens haviem quedat blancs de per vida...)
Petons i abrassades a repartir!
diumenge, 8 d’abril del 2007
Si,si,si! Compartint dies per Tailandia amb 2 vells coneguts!
Hola a tothom! La foto de dalt no es cap muntatge ni tirada a Irlanda, es ben real! Des de dimecres que estem compartint dies i aventures amb l'Igor i la Maria. La sorpresa va ser nostra quan ens van trucar des de Hanoi dient que es presentaven l'endema a Bangkok, nosaltres encantats i al.lucinats!
Estavem com dos reis i ben cuidats al Sheraton, aixi vam decidir que aixo era molt millor compartir-ho i varem passar 3 dies en un oasis enmig de Bangkok. Dies de piscina, moltes xerrades de les seves i nostres experiencies viatgeres, passejos per Bangkok i una escapada nocturna acompanyada de cervesetes per kho San Road (centre neuralgic de la festa i tal com diuen per Blarney, maxim exponent de luxuria i perdicio). Va estar genial perque ens varem retrobar casualment amb antics companys de viatge: Anna & Nick i Abraham & Gemma. Resultat final: una bona gresca i xerinola.
Hem deixat enrera la capital cercant platges de sorra blanca i aigua transparent, molt ben acompanyats encara pels incansables Igor i Maria (qui els coneix ja ens entenen). Es un gust viatjar amb ells i compartir moments tan especials en un lloc tan idilic com es Tailandia.
Ja que seguirem rutes diferents, vam decidir que l'illa de Ko Chang, a l'est de Tailandia, era el lloc perfecte per escapar-nos junts i satisfer els nostres desitjos de platja, tranquilitat, caminadetes per la muntanya i aventures varies. Ens quedarem per aqui una setmana, tot explorant illes mes petites per terra (amb moto i a peu) i per mar (amb vaixell i fent snorkelling o submarinisme).
Apa gent, ja sabeu on pararem durant els propers dies i la cosa pinta de meravella!
Abrassades a repartir i fins la proxima! gracies per tots els comentaris, no deixeu de donar senyals de vida!
Sharing great days in Thailand with Igor & Maria.
Hey lads, too many things to explain for the last 5 days, so we will sum it up: fantastic and hilarious. We received Igor and Maria in our luxurious hotel in Bangkok on Wednesday, and thanks to the Starwood points we all stayed 3 nights for free and pampered ourselves with some nice rooms and swimming pools. Imagine the situation, 4 dirty and smelly backpackers among business, posh and wannabes people! We got there by tuk-tuk when most of the people get there by taxi or limousine...
Do not think that we did not move out from the Hotel. We dedicated some time to explore the city through the river, and visited more temples and Ko Shan Road, where all the backpackers concentrate and basically a place where you can get whatever you wish...from Cd's, I-pod songs, fake student cards, girls, boys, or mainly boys that really look as girls. There we caught up with Ana and Nick randomly on the street and meet Abraham and Gemma (a Catalan couple with whom we shared 2 days in Laos), so it was a great night!
We left Bangkok on Friday and head off to Ko Chang, a small island located at Eastern Thailand, where the beaches are amazing and with the jungle just behind. It's not really crowded here, but in 2 days we will move to Ko Khan, a tiny island with just one place to stay in bamboo bungalows...do you want to join us??? sounds good? Here goes the planning: We will share a week of adventures, driving motorbikes, drinking, lying on the beach and getting lost in different islands... And all these with the great and crazy company of Igor and Maria!!
Thanks for the comments left! Keep posting them! All the best!
dimarts, 3 d’abril del 2007
Family meeting in Bangkok!
Hey we just received fantastic news from Vietnam! Igor and Maria are flying tomorrow from Hanoi to Bangkok to meet us up here. We were so delighted and happy than we needed to share this great news with you all! That will be mad! We do not know yet where we will head off, but it is not really important, what it counts is that we will share some days & adventures together!
dilluns, 2 d’abril del 2007
Coneguent Tailandia.
Tailandia es de llarg el pais del Sud Est Asiatic mes obert a Occident, el que mes influencies n'ha rebut i assimilat, pero alhora ha sapigut conservar gran quantitat de trets propis i tradicions, fet que li permet mantenir ben present un aire exotic i especial.
Amb 62 millions d'habitants es el tercer pais mes poblat del Sud Est Asiatic despres d'Indonesia i Vietnam. Autodefinit com a Regne de Tailandia, la figura del monarca es benerada i adorada, quasi com a divinitat, per la gran majoria de poblacio. Accions tan habituals per nosaltres com llepar un segell o tirar un bitllet poden resultar una ofensa nacional ja que es com llepar la cara del rei o menysprear-lo al no tractar cuidadosament els bitllets. Sense anar mes lluny, recentment un paio suis ha estat condemnat a 10 anys de preso per pintar grafitis sobre retrats del rei i la seva familia. Tot el pais esta plegat d'aquest retrats i molts ciutadans vesteixen de groc els dilluns en honor a la familia reial. Com a ultima curiositat dir-vos que es el monarca de tot el mon que fa mes anys que porta la corona sobre la closca, ja n'acumula 61...
Es un pais on viatjar no significa cap mena de problema pels farangs (guiri en Tailandes), tot son facilitats i d'on ressaltem i molt la seva gent. Els Tailandesos son encantadors, educats, simpatics, atents, curiosos... un llarg etc d'adjectius positius!
Fins ara es el pais que mes gratament ens ha sorpres, en tots els sentits, desde culturalment fins a culinariament passant per la seva gent, tradicions o paissatges. A veure quines sensacions ens deixa el Sud...
Per acabar, fer-vos saber que aviat celebrarem un altre any nou, i ja en seran 3 ens menys de 4 mesos! Tailandia esta 543 anys per davant nostre i en dos setmanes estrenaran el 2550, i no ens ho pensem perdre...
Fins la proxima!
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