tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89503190748046436892024-03-14T03:48:41.569-07:00SoMaRo Worldtrip 2010/2011SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-72113734756370797292011-06-17T00:26:00.000-07:002011-06-17T00:26:22.926-07:003 Weeks in South Africa - part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A car is a must in South Africa, not so much in Cape Town, where we took public transport but certainly for visits outside the city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qwxh_P_NgaWtZOfmatmEkfgrFbbkY0B3r2r_b5y2p0ng915cy7aD7oKSUHnOmbRLJjJ_JWbcnPnMywVwLoMqVVsH9HZlguaMZWOJSx2tYPAs2dMTp2jCt-DF_BOU1oH5ebwvFap3pqc/s1600/PIC_6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qwxh_P_NgaWtZOfmatmEkfgrFbbkY0B3r2r_b5y2p0ng915cy7aD7oKSUHnOmbRLJjJ_JWbcnPnMywVwLoMqVVsH9HZlguaMZWOJSx2tYPAs2dMTp2jCt-DF_BOU1oH5ebwvFap3pqc/s320/PIC_6381.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">South African wine region. After hearing so much Afrikaans, it was kind of strange to read the names of the estates: they are all in French. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8YWJ5nAT_ZOnVtYgxBndpqNkVk1oV10Eme7guVHux4gc8AvgQF0YO1vR33o8IuCb3MWKzwu_JgKgxr_p8iXFnE7PphfdXkGc3iSsg6eyP8TBbQetRsFpBaNTRTPSJrhI3yVHXAKr8k8/s1600/PIC_6382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8YWJ5nAT_ZOnVtYgxBndpqNkVk1oV10Eme7guVHux4gc8AvgQF0YO1vR33o8IuCb3MWKzwu_JgKgxr_p8iXFnE7PphfdXkGc3iSsg6eyP8TBbQetRsFpBaNTRTPSJrhI3yVHXAKr8k8/s320/PIC_6382.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>A landhouse on the estate, no sign of poverty here, neither now, nor in the past. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cJLNlynWYAQ6QYmkYMBVcQmBJoVnbLESG71ob1ML3kHq_F6un5Q5LsCo2AMIXGgFIh-lZy0o7HVvpcmcqGMzzCOErQEGyCpLt74SnZDrmxY-r2w2EszemFbXI_lKZMEXMeZq_5pp5II/s1600/PIC_6423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cJLNlynWYAQ6QYmkYMBVcQmBJoVnbLESG71ob1ML3kHq_F6un5Q5LsCo2AMIXGgFIh-lZy0o7HVvpcmcqGMzzCOErQEGyCpLt74SnZDrmxY-r2w2EszemFbXI_lKZMEXMeZq_5pp5II/s320/PIC_6423.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Back to the past, a Stellenbosch museum has some houses, which are open to the public. Living conditions of the rich are shown here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5maymrigAlCwNpWQHyvgf8J3TZKe5zvs-t1FTBLVexdWbbUu2sTiARurbwQCHQAGsLDi5ui9mFu6kN364LBVbVt8xee6Xs1H3_UMcdFis9T3kMS7-3Fsdnb7XtGeULiSazKiAAx6fypg/s1600/PIC_6447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5maymrigAlCwNpWQHyvgf8J3TZKe5zvs-t1FTBLVexdWbbUu2sTiARurbwQCHQAGsLDi5ui9mFu6kN364LBVbVt8xee6Xs1H3_UMcdFis9T3kMS7-3Fsdnb7XtGeULiSazKiAAx6fypg/s320/PIC_6447.JPG" t8="true" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite comfortble. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7jLdMFvPRCYT8wf7cWi2yEbpOKDopZsr9EAr7HJGiEnwcCw47g1BrnqWgRcbGTbBJbQXzyGk5DurJ5AAz_CxFhbCGK9SDXPo05W0OyJW9vcbPpD1jYoujR2N2ZzhINhudsJKN6xzgQ8/s1600/PIC_6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7jLdMFvPRCYT8wf7cWi2yEbpOKDopZsr9EAr7HJGiEnwcCw47g1BrnqWgRcbGTbBJbQXzyGk5DurJ5AAz_CxFhbCGK9SDXPo05W0OyJW9vcbPpD1jYoujR2N2ZzhINhudsJKN6xzgQ8/s320/PIC_6766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being Dutch, this picture I like a lot. Never knew these exist! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFFAZui8yr-sLFQRcnIno7kx88DadD5Qxm7x30KyBGqTiE4YufyMGuE1Miw6S8nj1JL10Pr-8PxnKECUsvPVXGY-zfn4gS1IUL2evOs9hvTG5d6E4YInC7lf7lFwQst6zXq3NDd4tyQg/s1600/PIC_6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFFAZui8yr-sLFQRcnIno7kx88DadD5Qxm7x30KyBGqTiE4YufyMGuE1Miw6S8nj1JL10Pr-8PxnKECUsvPVXGY-zfn4gS1IUL2evOs9hvTG5d6E4YInC7lf7lFwQst6zXq3NDd4tyQg/s320/PIC_6456.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not much to see, but extremely important: the Lion Sanctuary near Stellenbosch houses abandoned and tortured lions from around the world. It is a long story. See the interview on: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF4wCaAGiYs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF4wCaAGiYs</a> (interview starts at minute 8.10) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg21r0c7lhX62PvzZQDGVECLfAAo3zkvGn0PUz5CJdSXr6R3-B6Y3V7omHr5ckJCaj3U2gosRnSEcdsXao8U6AA0_-XNcMM_23guXimnv99BM2uTPMe_6FWZ4JAqMSPCZsdqkk8HYfhMw/s1600/PIC_6527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg21r0c7lhX62PvzZQDGVECLfAAo3zkvGn0PUz5CJdSXr6R3-B6Y3V7omHr5ckJCaj3U2gosRnSEcdsXao8U6AA0_-XNcMM_23guXimnv99BM2uTPMe_6FWZ4JAqMSPCZsdqkk8HYfhMw/s320/PIC_6527.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Driving through the country, we saw quite some townships and individual 'houses'. In comparison with 5 years ago, when we last visited South Africa, it seems the extremely bad constructions are slowly decreasing and slightly better 'homes' are appearing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKSgdgfL5Zj4p-ZztIGsbd6_NWo1dfi-p98RR3L04tCjsSNXydt66r45JZQUJrADOOjxtz9ZxoqZIEGIPqE5mALJ1bQpb9gQfFsdYLqEskmHwCqW0mk6yrviZDZV3lVf7F4cnFMvk0MA/s1600/PIC_6559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKSgdgfL5Zj4p-ZztIGsbd6_NWo1dfi-p98RR3L04tCjsSNXydt66r45JZQUJrADOOjxtz9ZxoqZIEGIPqE5mALJ1bQpb9gQfFsdYLqEskmHwCqW0mk6yrviZDZV3lVf7F4cnFMvk0MA/s320/PIC_6559.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>A lot of people around the world live in such circumstances. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6kzWyWpJtep_5MjXKyHwLsweLMTJFXSWx-zFnv6TpC6Avi2V36CO76vGt_L5v-FvJGvGTeDkThBxkLwONq4zvwgczrw7ngvgNabVc6jmEIl4s2oy8kk7H2TvoxpyNwJbzTVcfiF1SMU/s1600/PIC_6620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6kzWyWpJtep_5MjXKyHwLsweLMTJFXSWx-zFnv6TpC6Avi2V36CO76vGt_L5v-FvJGvGTeDkThBxkLwONq4zvwgczrw7ngvgNabVc6jmEIl4s2oy8kk7H2TvoxpyNwJbzTVcfiF1SMU/s320/PIC_6620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Around 1880 the ostrich boom started in Oudtshoorn. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd7k0OShICPJRBBJJZqt8qgpY3uIFP97CtRPBpsOwYdeav91ncx4HpIsKqKAdlyKxX5oRojTous531WlwMRKVbwZrCCoJ9F-SlgvkdBc-giCNuOuGo5890tt49Xn32eEOHmZuGG4LArA/s1600/PIC_6752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd7k0OShICPJRBBJJZqt8qgpY3uIFP97CtRPBpsOwYdeav91ncx4HpIsKqKAdlyKxX5oRojTous531WlwMRKVbwZrCCoJ9F-SlgvkdBc-giCNuOuGo5890tt49Xn32eEOHmZuGG4LArA/s320/PIC_6752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ostrich business was a very lucrative business. Lots of money was made and beautiful houses were built on huge properties. Every part of the animal can be used. The meat, the huge eggs, the feathers... and EVERY other part of the animal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ1ftguUpfQw9VPvx4dQBlDBZtHtkQiY6AZkBgQYzhfOtz_aEGvZ1TK9inhwWKZgwodkPYWW1ZXBxajFNViLIjZuFL5bzevNdPxdjlq_jQoC7WcIB7xH18Nm2zcXB9tcMCGyRQobWfFA/s1600/PIC_6772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ1ftguUpfQw9VPvx4dQBlDBZtHtkQiY6AZkBgQYzhfOtz_aEGvZ1TK9inhwWKZgwodkPYWW1ZXBxajFNViLIjZuFL5bzevNdPxdjlq_jQoC7WcIB7xH18Nm2zcXB9tcMCGyRQobWfFA/s320/PIC_6772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, feathers is all colors are the nr 1 tourist souvenir. Interesting to know is that the Brazilian Carnival and the Moulin Rouge in Paris are still big customers of the farmers in Oudtshoorn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp76V9zzAGH3qxp7TgyMEV3BYoU2Mo0fnguGF1KRJKrAV00HHcr6CpXbWj901qZwESPafA6GLc5138_7s5qK_wQJEpQHjY0onOAC0HhxUrZ_ihzE-5k3FLNVcyX-OMIG68UxYtE_leapc/s1600/PIC_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp76V9zzAGH3qxp7TgyMEV3BYoU2Mo0fnguGF1KRJKrAV00HHcr6CpXbWj901qZwESPafA6GLc5138_7s5qK_wQJEpQHjY0onOAC0HhxUrZ_ihzE-5k3FLNVcyX-OMIG68UxYtE_leapc/s320/PIC_6788.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Running up the dunes at the beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEembX8tu-vKPtCAfAr7IdzyBTMcL-AfnpHwEOGtrI-8R8Gt4PErsM0MooqVHvaxvrvsu6XZuchWT3jHQupwU4FfimPjmQt_I12fk9PPCwxiqV4KC2e0B1-54x_YqGP5ZyyO9Vu67CumU/s1600/PIC_6801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEembX8tu-vKPtCAfAr7IdzyBTMcL-AfnpHwEOGtrI-8R8Gt4PErsM0MooqVHvaxvrvsu6XZuchWT3jHQupwU4FfimPjmQt_I12fk9PPCwxiqV4KC2e0B1-54x_YqGP5ZyyO9Vu67CumU/s320/PIC_6801.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Victory :-) </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbEpLz2OIP90awcTsjB3X_LdpK0lMNyHLYGPcdg7S251UGCdt-iU1O6d8q7yXozQU5-ojgorOnwDZeTZb4MG5frAHNGUZ4z6tSW_Xinl6BI9OXDz8IOTaZQDbwTo_cS0DcbhyGgaU-Ro/s1600/PIC_6964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbEpLz2OIP90awcTsjB3X_LdpK0lMNyHLYGPcdg7S251UGCdt-iU1O6d8q7yXozQU5-ojgorOnwDZeTZb4MG5frAHNGUZ4z6tSW_Xinl6BI9OXDz8IOTaZQDbwTo_cS0DcbhyGgaU-Ro/s320/PIC_6964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Driving from Oudtshoorn to Johannesburg brought us through all kinds of landscapes, dry, flat land, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss79DMwod_6AqhtLwAIPRnDasjE5gik_bWiPUlkDyk-zQQZb9UAgsI0MbXBzzJFVu5zgMn0dhKzYrwBp3ul3bXYXwkxs3x13_wmeYekYnk5dEe2xd6kBiRczv1hdapT9AK-YfJX9cxUw/s1600/PIC_6963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss79DMwod_6AqhtLwAIPRnDasjE5gik_bWiPUlkDyk-zQQZb9UAgsI0MbXBzzJFVu5zgMn0dhKzYrwBp3ul3bXYXwkxs3x13_wmeYekYnk5dEe2xd6kBiRczv1hdapT9AK-YfJX9cxUw/s320/PIC_6963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hills, but still dry, as the winter is coming up. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIi0TcOS3zADxdnuBMoQe85h3jLn2rSufC_bpAhXdnEzq13ozqEOYPZyWGn00D4vOtLEcvBEBaIQTGpDxlZdylVl82fxp8Ft8lccFg5xpCdM8l1pTpHNJSQqpCbdBZeHqXZo9eQSFHsE/s1600/PIC_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIi0TcOS3zADxdnuBMoQe85h3jLn2rSufC_bpAhXdnEzq13ozqEOYPZyWGn00D4vOtLEcvBEBaIQTGpDxlZdylVl82fxp8Ft8lccFg5xpCdM8l1pTpHNJSQqpCbdBZeHqXZo9eQSFHsE/s320/PIC_6784.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the mountains. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1s6ZWYND6LCzFF6OjQNWw6HHLjuQTukNVvrBBlAc1P3IMnKEFp-llh8dqR4wZcSEq8NAFiNmLChkhdCHmifoKYahKAzIr9LVfKjMwCE5lnzcaqrLqJHiZtYEztMuXjxnBMqLvPOI7JA/s1600/PIC_6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1s6ZWYND6LCzFF6OjQNWw6HHLjuQTukNVvrBBlAc1P3IMnKEFp-llh8dqR4wZcSEq8NAFiNmLChkhdCHmifoKYahKAzIr9LVfKjMwCE5lnzcaqrLqJHiZtYEztMuXjxnBMqLvPOI7JA/s320/PIC_6916.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We visited a large aviarium. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7qIUcrilD3Ev6y3thHW9e_kjdB7vLW25PDUQkCbsSw2ruk6N384hdgfLgngy1J1_RqsCsGhTXPoni-kj3jwkyl7PnTuhL9So4Pj9-Qx90-wj6A939aFrh93EbpOmrZ901u9OaF8OpM/s1600/PIC_7048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7qIUcrilD3Ev6y3thHW9e_kjdB7vLW25PDUQkCbsSw2ruk6N384hdgfLgngy1J1_RqsCsGhTXPoni-kj3jwkyl7PnTuhL9So4Pj9-Qx90-wj6A939aFrh93EbpOmrZ901u9OaF8OpM/s320/PIC_7048.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And they had the Meerkat at another animal 'zoo'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrLpUZKyLsTFRwU-4kmMqb0r2enu_72uzmI1eCYRLolRYg-IIZuty2We92WdpkO0RP-aYnKsHieCgexBiUep8CdOtISY6cRSxKO3e_mMfRWYmjUAtHA0_UteoVegcYuUfELWTjzrUiN0/s1600/PIC_7030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrLpUZKyLsTFRwU-4kmMqb0r2enu_72uzmI1eCYRLolRYg-IIZuty2We92WdpkO0RP-aYnKsHieCgexBiUep8CdOtISY6cRSxKO3e_mMfRWYmjUAtHA0_UteoVegcYuUfELWTjzrUiN0/s320/PIC_7030.JPG" t8="true" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Checking out the souvenirs :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Johannesburg we visited Matthew's friend Tiffany and her family, which was a lot of fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOHi-BkXADFfdOS6C4baEZIoK53c641-FJYWA9VtsF9-eudp0azq8uWEbTPo5m-VPYpISuzxNXHseVAbkP1TqZm7r-ye6a5P93n2QDs_HjFvuH9q9q3SkdvcTJbEqAHTGrr_IvKorOLY/s1600/PIC_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOHi-BkXADFfdOS6C4baEZIoK53c641-FJYWA9VtsF9-eudp0azq8uWEbTPo5m-VPYpISuzxNXHseVAbkP1TqZm7r-ye6a5P93n2QDs_HjFvuH9q9q3SkdvcTJbEqAHTGrr_IvKorOLY/s320/PIC_6410.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bye South Africa!! </div><br />
On this years visit to South Africa we spent time with the locals, with young explorers, with activists and visited sights here and there. We haven't been in national parks, as we did that 5 years ago on our South Africa - Namibia - Botswana trip. It was way more about history but also filming and experiencing the country a bit more from another side. It was fun and interesting. <br />
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We are leaving South Africa for a totally new adventure now! <br />
During the coming 5 weeks we will be in La Réunion, France, but in the Indian Ocean. <br />
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Blogs and pictures will follow (soon) ! <br />
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</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-51960976412633190262011-06-16T23:10:00.000-07:002011-06-16T23:10:45.012-07:003 Weeks in South Africa - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The Qatar Airways flight brought us straight to Cape Town. <br />
We stayed in a nice hostel called Penthouse of Long. It is on Longstreet, right in the city center. <br />
Next to the dormitories there were different sitting areas and a big, fully equiped kitchen. <br />
The 9 days we stayed in Cape Town, we concentrated on visiting the touristic sights and Matthew and Robin met various teenagers who participate in Mike Horn's Young Explorers program. <br />
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But to start at the beginning: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI7WiJxCqv48lLGH921krQ7uMfqUQeL3ZZf73yoOkIP_YGJjUYbjZyTENtU8y91tMPuJCTuO-zQKe1zavQaN9FgCB3hSXyMaOb4mq-wbtc3wf-dpqyuZ7N3z02Z_6PILws8MxeQiEqdY/s1600/PIC_5791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI7WiJxCqv48lLGH921krQ7uMfqUQeL3ZZf73yoOkIP_YGJjUYbjZyTENtU8y91tMPuJCTuO-zQKe1zavQaN9FgCB3hSXyMaOb4mq-wbtc3wf-dpqyuZ7N3z02Z_6PILws8MxeQiEqdY/s320/PIC_5791.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We passed by the old city hall and various ofther buildings dated back to the 17th and 18th century when we walked to the fort. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfKTstSgkaC_xkEvRKeQYNcLNtDashyeDPLLK1lrllkNpGlwkKJSB0gg_P_VIE28Vh4-Yre3QnnnmUbUhyuTGKjAqBaIwfsAjaL37GAtjXBwXR5ZcO25edqBqhRnaGx-HRjQqApkdoFs/s1600/PIC_5793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfKTstSgkaC_xkEvRKeQYNcLNtDashyeDPLLK1lrllkNpGlwkKJSB0gg_P_VIE28Vh4-Yre3QnnnmUbUhyuTGKjAqBaIwfsAjaL37GAtjXBwXR5ZcO25edqBqhRnaGx-HRjQqApkdoFs/s320/PIC_5793.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Fort de Goede Hoop, or now called Castle of Good Hope, dates back to Jan van Riebeeck . The Dutch merchant who arrived here in 1652. It is a museum now and the military presence and history are explained here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVLBsqXciJLvtYdhB-6DiL9IiIWdxbXkNnrL7N1H3rkYE6dhsJcRj-IwnzlPSIdZTxhe3hoRlS0i4kdOOC5Z18aSVkJ2G1StnwmIDfUJyevCv9v-YBwO16D8vzLYJzv7h1rHHvf8K0o0/s1600/PIC_5817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVLBsqXciJLvtYdhB-6DiL9IiIWdxbXkNnrL7N1H3rkYE6dhsJcRj-IwnzlPSIdZTxhe3hoRlS0i4kdOOC5Z18aSVkJ2G1StnwmIDfUJyevCv9v-YBwO16D8vzLYJzv7h1rHHvf8K0o0/s320/PIC_5817.JPG" t8="true" width="180" /></a><br />
We stopped at the slavelodge, the Dutch ships of the East India Company passed at Cape Town to go to the East. They started the slave trade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_MHuRRlFkIlrhIBBw8UkXEHDgi-J8A9sE1JCMUblMhjVccR-Sy72cTHNZ_xLKTQw4i2jfAFqdDtNGi0CV5AMiUhJRRjjEs9jdMgCDu68vcKQUGmj4jzS8SpQ4k-lRLZ4EcU_qGDalMM/s1600/PIC_5797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_MHuRRlFkIlrhIBBw8UkXEHDgi-J8A9sE1JCMUblMhjVccR-Sy72cTHNZ_xLKTQw4i2jfAFqdDtNGi0CV5AMiUhJRRjjEs9jdMgCDu68vcKQUGmj4jzS8SpQ4k-lRLZ4EcU_qGDalMM/s320/PIC_5797.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More history at the District Six museum. Long after the slavery time, the Apartheid started. Separation of people in a very cruel way. Whole districts were moved to make space for the white citizens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ceuzcNRup8Oukc6_dR9EWKVUbJTtmQJNao-iuG-En0R-J7EyKJ-YT_io8cDJvhbHY8tJTNj2Zpy88rlStlQ13ih6pzosNVMiQmCQFkr7MzgWosFV3XL95fjxaqizjVZhONrbKqUuQ8/s1600/PIC_5841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ceuzcNRup8Oukc6_dR9EWKVUbJTtmQJNao-iuG-En0R-J7EyKJ-YT_io8cDJvhbHY8tJTNj2Zpy88rlStlQ13ih6pzosNVMiQmCQFkr7MzgWosFV3XL95fjxaqizjVZhONrbKqUuQ8/s320/PIC_5841.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 4 South Africans rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4aZWTMKUtd7iuMAKhmJjz4k9qytTxTEta1FLvYt3bTwThltvCdp-5VyEXWx9fZ9pQhXLZrWW-hqvL9E0Ly9d7g4PLj2rspsO7s3EBmjeaZBgJKOqh427pOeOk55i4RCrRJZDOJx9ThU/s1600/PIC_5913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4aZWTMKUtd7iuMAKhmJjz4k9qytTxTEta1FLvYt3bTwThltvCdp-5VyEXWx9fZ9pQhXLZrWW-hqvL9E0Ly9d7g4PLj2rspsO7s3EBmjeaZBgJKOqh427pOeOk55i4RCrRJZDOJx9ThU/s320/PIC_5913.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Table Mountain seen from the popular Cape Town Waterfront. From the Waterfront the boats leave to Robben Island. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA8eEdp5vjtIWqILyG6-CsBtmZp4IWA9wX214PxvrDRYOlxt7svtgeMPXzhx7yeDL7PZBoY9Erw2cv0SAyXvjjLsg56rOmzesLS090zpJvuRG0orLRcAWm8d6dQ3nE_rTYvKulFtlsqs/s1600/PIC_5919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheA8eEdp5vjtIWqILyG6-CsBtmZp4IWA9wX214PxvrDRYOlxt7svtgeMPXzhx7yeDL7PZBoY9Erw2cv0SAyXvjjLsg56rOmzesLS090zpJvuRG0orLRcAWm8d6dQ3nE_rTYvKulFtlsqs/s320/PIC_5919.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In front of the ticket office to Robben Island a demonstration took place. No yelling and screaming or fighting but peaceful singing and dancing. Clearly stating their message though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPybh5PlzZT6DHBdbxUCMYPHegbjNXqtd1fjRh41GZql8zI_MCt_0rMnhmpcEIa-132Uc_15_uBieEVRi-dHr4lEBAXwaVMoyzaBI0VGYA4jPfK5dPV6GRxmkXMxQmhwkkZNBehgFUvo/s1600/PIC_5955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPybh5PlzZT6DHBdbxUCMYPHegbjNXqtd1fjRh41GZql8zI_MCt_0rMnhmpcEIa-132Uc_15_uBieEVRi-dHr4lEBAXwaVMoyzaBI0VGYA4jPfK5dPV6GRxmkXMxQmhwkkZNBehgFUvo/s320/PIC_5955.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boys discussing 'stuff' on Robben Island. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznc-lqdadX1PasnbqGXBzDpdSGBREp9JxA4YL4HIwaU5-_JzfxtsYF-snzzMAUHohbGWaaDpQCO_VNvsISSa1jq17f4VlfeX0esteEMb58byOd8E0YdtOs-iOe5uypaB8-hAbQoFKc6E/s1600/PIC_5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznc-lqdadX1PasnbqGXBzDpdSGBREp9JxA4YL4HIwaU5-_JzfxtsYF-snzzMAUHohbGWaaDpQCO_VNvsISSa1jq17f4VlfeX0esteEMb58byOd8E0YdtOs-iOe5uypaB8-hAbQoFKc6E/s320/PIC_5968.JPG" t8="true" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Prison where Nelson Mandela stayed on Robben Island. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ76dhyTaN0SQsaDwrdiKF-RXKoj3VWD0cy5wnQpllus3LCrpKmUgjT0wOYKut656gxfkSMHYDLojYzOoLi8xa2c9VMdbXBYQAGeMAI2dBPOscmYeGTT7SkmRFhlPQE-UT8TPiDPoAkY/s1600/PIC_5971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ76dhyTaN0SQsaDwrdiKF-RXKoj3VWD0cy5wnQpllus3LCrpKmUgjT0wOYKut656gxfkSMHYDLojYzOoLi8xa2c9VMdbXBYQAGeMAI2dBPOscmYeGTT7SkmRFhlPQE-UT8TPiDPoAkY/s320/PIC_5971.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here a rooms for some 60 prisoners. They slept thin mats on the floor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoiubZOOWDxWP0ymcyzzX-HCCI76FwuEAJpluqB5hgemUBsGDgl6qxRFDoI6iofFCZ1hnJtG010Ay6aQhh7K9YZJmtL6WPGxSaqap0NBTuehImWIOt6NVuGGeJ8G75NSF4twUX0VA35E/s1600/PIC_5987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoiubZOOWDxWP0ymcyzzX-HCCI76FwuEAJpluqB5hgemUBsGDgl6qxRFDoI6iofFCZ1hnJtG010Ay6aQhh7K9YZJmtL6WPGxSaqap0NBTuehImWIOt6NVuGGeJ8G75NSF4twUX0VA35E/s320/PIC_5987.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then, finally freedom. Whereby... the problems seem to be far from resolved. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmEnSBSgPNXjQneQKFEBG151Q7FtUHMiCuCJwQSnvC5yiyK4vWEbaOufDZRhQkk_92vF0CSFDOqpj30Btd-5W3nddJDUhe-cezsE0xLXRIdMLjaL4Qf8HTG9mZv_88KVGnq7D6hPDo-c/s1600/PIC_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmEnSBSgPNXjQneQKFEBG151Q7FtUHMiCuCJwQSnvC5yiyK4vWEbaOufDZRhQkk_92vF0CSFDOqpj30Btd-5W3nddJDUhe-cezsE0xLXRIdMLjaL4Qf8HTG9mZv_88KVGnq7D6hPDo-c/s320/PIC_6072.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Time for a lighter subject, we went to the Company Garden, a nice garden from the East India times. Matthew had his hair done, African style.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktPRU2pio_J0Sv9KBgS5ecCxug8ftSa0QA1_7aOio6gMy4kv8FsgpUTdNpQ6mOz617gOBFoe2YoLmK7G4gHwND99vSmTaKBv5Z-c1Qrb23kLsL5w6lOX7lN6Zx6g38tTeICmxYS8A3Ig/s1600/PIC_6095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktPRU2pio_J0Sv9KBgS5ecCxug8ftSa0QA1_7aOio6gMy4kv8FsgpUTdNpQ6mOz617gOBFoe2YoLmK7G4gHwND99vSmTaKBv5Z-c1Qrb23kLsL5w6lOX7lN6Zx6g38tTeICmxYS8A3Ig/s320/PIC_6095.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>The coast near Cape Town is very nice. Just swimming might not be the best idea. South Africa has a very high amount of sharks, even close to the shore. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHeeincJ29HNzN1pY83V1wn65U5PxfpgVkTW0e35_7b7mCAv8AlGv_1hcbu-KqyO_x0yURwAXe95YExWwG62mVih2fJm0HBIcYaxI9z83EJEZlhMLftmn4OIw9mQjj8s2STgm4TEHQk8/s1600/PIC_6104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHeeincJ29HNzN1pY83V1wn65U5PxfpgVkTW0e35_7b7mCAv8AlGv_1hcbu-KqyO_x0yURwAXe95YExWwG62mVih2fJm0HBIcYaxI9z83EJEZlhMLftmn4OIw9mQjj8s2STgm4TEHQk8/s320/PIC_6104.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Visiting a pinguin colony. There were more than just one :-) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SUDSA-fBqUVgaV24_4ATb22N5DojYz39qr2E3rCGZIfsW1YE9eAkdsy0iiDmRKAPk0131ja0mSSNvcfWht2vOU9SLnm6DQCT6rI-y3JqxdJSI1A7a8F6F83W59znpI_do6l9uZ4xkE/s1600/PIC_6120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SUDSA-fBqUVgaV24_4ATb22N5DojYz39qr2E3rCGZIfsW1YE9eAkdsy0iiDmRKAPk0131ja0mSSNvcfWht2vOU9SLnm6DQCT6rI-y3JqxdJSI1A7a8F6F83W59znpI_do6l9uZ4xkE/s320/PIC_6120.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>And on to the Save Our Seas (SOS) shark center to learn more about the sharks in South Africa. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCQ5AvUzkzNoNJ3fIFscoEw-JyAxdpbjAh3pP4IGCIYRwGqLUzmJdsAkZuxlQLFSeekCQ2nxpNW-RWefzU0_VTyPmWYQA5gHNGTTDj6Mmy-ravqSEgdLs0LSu2fCW3v8Xw0YeQeSVqic/s1600/PIC_6180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCQ5AvUzkzNoNJ3fIFscoEw-JyAxdpbjAh3pP4IGCIYRwGqLUzmJdsAkZuxlQLFSeekCQ2nxpNW-RWefzU0_VTyPmWYQA5gHNGTTDj6Mmy-ravqSEgdLs0LSu2fCW3v8Xw0YeQeSVqic/s320/PIC_6180.JPG" t8="true" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the SOS programs. Shark spotting and danger-status signs at the beach, to warn swimmers and surfers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh2603zy7IJ2veM3oXtu_wY2a311PCUrO4jdP1-qnpEMMSyTYGCC_xGDiciLGwRL7Bc17WdRB9rHph5K2xzX5LtiYMbhitNf4UhwgBPkNIN45XhKTvTZqUui5Hg0XcRW3m9Lm7mXt4kY/s1600/PIC_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSh2603zy7IJ2veM3oXtu_wY2a311PCUrO4jdP1-qnpEMMSyTYGCC_xGDiciLGwRL7Bc17WdRB9rHph5K2xzX5LtiYMbhitNf4UhwgBPkNIN45XhKTvTZqUui5Hg0XcRW3m9Lm7mXt4kY/s320/PIC_6325.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Shark egg! Found during a biology session with SOS. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NeM_Wt5YD7mOJF0YGm7Q3fTcF3DeohiqoF04IdiKlcnMHXi6lRbTaB4whDwpiZY-h7nuoN2hnHfTe4-yC3lN5zZPl7FLDTfYsoy8KDdOkSVEOqi6yWTT195_H74qLOS_x2OgbKdZxHg/s1600/PIC_6331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NeM_Wt5YD7mOJF0YGm7Q3fTcF3DeohiqoF04IdiKlcnMHXi6lRbTaB4whDwpiZY-h7nuoN2hnHfTe4-yC3lN5zZPl7FLDTfYsoy8KDdOkSVEOqi6yWTT195_H74qLOS_x2OgbKdZxHg/s320/PIC_6331.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And believe it or not, there was a living (premature) shark in the egg!!! The egg was laying on the rocks, far from the sea and would have died if we would not have found it. Was it right or wrong to pick it up? We did not know it was alive. And guess what... it is still alive, 10 weeks later, doing well in the SOS aquarium. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matthew and Robin met 5 Cape Townian young explorers on 2 occassions during our stay in Cape Town which was fun. We met loads of people in the hostel, especially interesting 2 people who do research work for Nourishing the World.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids starting working on their first official AcTV program. Link to Youtube: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF4wCaAGiYs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF4wCaAGiYs</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not bad for a start and with limited material! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are leaving Cape Town and start slowly moving up to Johannesburg in Part 2 of this blog. </div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-27349703256389417602011-04-18T12:54:00.000-07:002011-04-25T14:48:27.440-07:00Part 2 of our Indonesia adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Matthew and Robin took their PADI advanced open water diving course on Lembongan island. <br />
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Together we went to Manta Bay and were diving with manta rays, there must have been 8 or 9. <br />
Mantas are harmless but they are huge, at least 2.5 x 2.5 meters. One side is white and the other side is black. Gliding by in pairs of 2, they seemed to be a big wall. <br />
Their mouth looks like a big open hole. Incredible!!!<br />
Here are some pictures: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_94TmLVtrIsWKfUqE4mOIQe16kums-OyC7tYHccfF918GL1eqZrE51yQhX63eDEvvIGIPm50UA3-UYtQGhbgDKNZ6eJ529wh3o09MYH35fezy6TsvgJaqxlhhbtpyfg2Ai3vAvvqDOXk/s1600/PIC_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_94TmLVtrIsWKfUqE4mOIQe16kums-OyC7tYHccfF918GL1eqZrE51yQhX63eDEvvIGIPm50UA3-UYtQGhbgDKNZ6eJ529wh3o09MYH35fezy6TsvgJaqxlhhbtpyfg2Ai3vAvvqDOXk/s320/PIC_0233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiS0lacpFZs_utDOdxskbRL7Y-r6gSGiyMmIH-yV0l2feQRbrk3ckWHoR4-NOiKx1M8NDj7AQr-xnAvfhSL9dscHAFhOHwOq0qr9BmQeZFLRVCGoYd0EIA0l6Nfwn1hplkOOJcKqBCBo/s1600/PIC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiS0lacpFZs_utDOdxskbRL7Y-r6gSGiyMmIH-yV0l2feQRbrk3ckWHoR4-NOiKx1M8NDj7AQr-xnAvfhSL9dscHAFhOHwOq0qr9BmQeZFLRVCGoYd0EIA0l6Nfwn1hplkOOJcKqBCBo/s320/PIC_0234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnrB1cZmvaygg3pSmlaqEaTSNz57H6J5CGp67zwkv0x2tVcsVk4d_X3jJ9umzhbFSmySPAXMiET6hZed4LBVI53qEciN7i_wjIwgMfLJKFtRYFafSUmPPDgNO5BntIYXnwMO1pnZzQr0/s1600/PIC_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnrB1cZmvaygg3pSmlaqEaTSNz57H6J5CGp67zwkv0x2tVcsVk4d_X3jJ9umzhbFSmySPAXMiET6hZed4LBVI53qEciN7i_wjIwgMfLJKFtRYFafSUmPPDgNO5BntIYXnwMO1pnZzQr0/s320/PIC_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDFVb5gBA_wTbVIGvLMNVXdZX2m4IRp-JJhfcY2QTP33j-2Z4qDMuYbf9C-602WPkQlT8x5HcQEbQJZAdoj0ZytJCvMt6Wbw9l_c_M_IuhGpxv2ZAoJVODFfWZATCUWrgg3QfSBFh6HM/s1600/PIC_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDFVb5gBA_wTbVIGvLMNVXdZX2m4IRp-JJhfcY2QTP33j-2Z4qDMuYbf9C-602WPkQlT8x5HcQEbQJZAdoj0ZytJCvMt6Wbw9l_c_M_IuhGpxv2ZAoJVODFfWZATCUWrgg3QfSBFh6HM/s320/PIC_0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Robin took a surf lessons and manages to stand up on his board and surf quite nicely now! <br />
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We went snorkeling on various occasions and felt quite sorry for ourselves when we were riding ‘our’ bikes around the island. Bicycles are called Push-Bikes here… and we now know why. Hill up, hill down in the cooking heat! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl0NWc_-gSljA3OqVAyb2Cgo6uYkWqLnFAsQ0fH9P77PBU_rNKyr1yHpJP0PWSkB5mAOUH-TjK-qGv7mDLLgr9ED_cGTymvv0xKwIsNedcvntJKSoEvSaWa14V0Zk4IVnEENWI-hAqto/s1600/PIC_5040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl0NWc_-gSljA3OqVAyb2Cgo6uYkWqLnFAsQ0fH9P77PBU_rNKyr1yHpJP0PWSkB5mAOUH-TjK-qGv7mDLLgr9ED_cGTymvv0xKwIsNedcvntJKSoEvSaWa14V0Zk4IVnEENWI-hAqto/s320/PIC_5040.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>But ... Robin has a lot of power :-) <br />
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We stayed in a guesthouse right at the beach, very basic rooms, but it had a much needed pool. It can get really hot and humid in Indonesia. There was a pretty good internet connection and on walking distance we found loads of small local restaurants with great food. <br />
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Next to water sports, there is not much to do on the island, but those who speak with everyone, have the time of their life. Locals and tourists have so many interesting stories to tell, there was no dull moment! <br />
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And here in Bali, the kids filmed Matthew’s application video and came up with AcTV. <br />
Have a look: <a href="http://pangaea-yep.com/m/videos/view/YEP-Canada-Application">http://pangaea-yep.com/m/videos/view/YEP-Canada-Application</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRhRD_fdf2-4CgSmNCQ9XgjS9n4mvemcni8TCcX9p9R9x-67aZ53ZHJSNy7zifdiA3gc-QxyU7CIV3fMLIA9bUH_9WUBYz5IAB0ga5pcbYEqIS2Itz-0kAUT2paPS_smmbq8Vox34tkI/s1600/PIC_5310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRhRD_fdf2-4CgSmNCQ9XgjS9n4mvemcni8TCcX9p9R9x-67aZ53ZHJSNy7zifdiA3gc-QxyU7CIV3fMLIA9bUH_9WUBYz5IAB0ga5pcbYEqIS2Itz-0kAUT2paPS_smmbq8Vox34tkI/s320/PIC_5310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lembongan depends on the small boats bringing food and hardware items to the island. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KRLvLfUVr2agGpKFE8oIYiecBtp9bw7T3x3aM555R8W42yOuBZNOYCH4IdhCndCdMHONF2JHuAF2ztHUDNJG3ypJo-IWhdnc3vWWvsloI0eKdpFMK1uV9L38CKxRRaot5rQrHGlHuXo/s1600/PIC_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KRLvLfUVr2agGpKFE8oIYiecBtp9bw7T3x3aM555R8W42yOuBZNOYCH4IdhCndCdMHONF2JHuAF2ztHUDNJG3ypJo-IWhdnc3vWWvsloI0eKdpFMK1uV9L38CKxRRaot5rQrHGlHuXo/s320/PIC_5243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Small food “markets” are formed once a boat from the main land arrives. Ladies sell their goods right there at the boat landing. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Qy8y6QqYG__55-OM8WQn9SOfFFyvRXlCC9a58ACcF-LLRpNwyelIgmMsVmn3KH4KwmejdESRbjlsZeqqiVBbZH6t-y10Z0i00MjSxpreCsKJa-UPOWO07KlXoNsZoYzzJpqXOZKOEg/s1600/PIC_5251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Qy8y6QqYG__55-OM8WQn9SOfFFyvRXlCC9a58ACcF-LLRpNwyelIgmMsVmn3KH4KwmejdESRbjlsZeqqiVBbZH6t-y10Z0i00MjSxpreCsKJa-UPOWO07KlXoNsZoYzzJpqXOZKOEg/s320/PIC_5251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The way people transport their shopping home is a bit different than it is at home. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4r-e_JCHJy9HLxw2yqJUS3tdv8gaxChZg9w36eVMFDcNuboTSiRBRqhyphenhyphenXBD4t4BQbif9engQW8ngf4wNAJ2A71UxbgYKwFxP71c8Lefy3SViIff1Dcg9msZCFVZaqYAgqtDQu63eQ5sY/s320/PIC_5298.JPG" width="180" /></div><br />
As we often do, before leaving we did a beach clean-up. <br />
We had 'difficulties' leaving this nice little island but we wanted to see a bit more of Bali's mainland and took a boat back to Sanur. After the usual chores, being homework, shopping, laundry and such, we took a taxi to Ubud. A nice, less touristy city than Sanur. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1QsEbVRFeyVEWCLEKLIXREOrsY5CgXDfZVB-hDcl4nF6LUvGyAd-pj86Fsh1-O3IYlGTzy9MjrgCuXWWExJ8yQXQ3u2Kw_N2o-0ENCTV35sO3BSmU6R3AtoW0UX41t4VZAAPpDW56RU/s1600/PIC_5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1QsEbVRFeyVEWCLEKLIXREOrsY5CgXDfZVB-hDcl4nF6LUvGyAd-pj86Fsh1-O3IYlGTzy9MjrgCuXWWExJ8yQXQ3u2Kw_N2o-0ENCTV35sO3BSmU6R3AtoW0UX41t4VZAAPpDW56RU/s320/PIC_5411.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>We visited the botanical gardens, which have some really serene places - all to do with the highly religious people in Bali. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Xp1hWiGTzigzRrT7QAvb8U9ihJfHcWp10VbIgbedqukTxtkMgWMoWMu6_yjJIcUE3-yGdUTQNkLuupoOF4RtbemBzUs0iisLldstYSB1PvBrK6Xa8l123rjqX21srIM9GeZ6n7-Rwpw/s1600/PIC_5436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Xp1hWiGTzigzRrT7QAvb8U9ihJfHcWp10VbIgbedqukTxtkMgWMoWMu6_yjJIcUE3-yGdUTQNkLuupoOF4RtbemBzUs0iisLldstYSB1PvBrK6Xa8l123rjqX21srIM9GeZ6n7-Rwpw/s320/PIC_5436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The monkey sanctuary<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zHCZfrNXEZPuQ8mIGOzivNvCegRCNI1UpvPscsJj1CyIYaXbDx37H5v6viNtoNcTzaI8BrCUIMMw6JOWN7n6ewmQYSvpePMAnWJXfieUCmz3mkBxK263s5aket359FaswQUoDfUOoIw/s1600/PIC_5493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zHCZfrNXEZPuQ8mIGOzivNvCegRCNI1UpvPscsJj1CyIYaXbDx37H5v6viNtoNcTzaI8BrCUIMMw6JOWN7n6ewmQYSvpePMAnWJXfieUCmz3mkBxK263s5aket359FaswQUoDfUOoIw/s320/PIC_5493.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
And we went on a cooking course, which, unfortunately was more of a cooking demonstration... <br />
Anyway, here some of the results: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3h3QBGjexGC_8j43N9S1KvUPF0LXi7bOhAHj9k8H5KP-3wQgywPQ8pFNEUN0l4dWuos36VXeBQn28-gV8fhBQ-JZsdm5jWW-p4x8uKXW1iP_YlS6W0qLJSznuph1NVpFz-eqo1nw7VE/s1600/PIC_5507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3h3QBGjexGC_8j43N9S1KvUPF0LXi7bOhAHj9k8H5KP-3wQgywPQ8pFNEUN0l4dWuos36VXeBQn28-gV8fhBQ-JZsdm5jWW-p4x8uKXW1iP_YlS6W0qLJSznuph1NVpFz-eqo1nw7VE/s320/PIC_5507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYOZvp0HPuG0lQusDDX2Lx2mZ_Ih1y_dfwKc-W14kEIrPYDkf_CcvBJ4Fleem8nhHKVMK-VKvg00RpA8thlZ8NjH2d7o16JgJyIK0n1xBBbvlZoVDeovj7FFmfBoa0iiZrixDLMxVWTc/s1600/PIC_5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYOZvp0HPuG0lQusDDX2Lx2mZ_Ih1y_dfwKc-W14kEIrPYDkf_CcvBJ4Fleem8nhHKVMK-VKvg00RpA8thlZ8NjH2d7o16JgJyIK0n1xBBbvlZoVDeovj7FFmfBoa0iiZrixDLMxVWTc/s320/PIC_5509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The hostel we found in Ubud was really marvelous. The picture below shows the walkway, the apartments with nice verandas are on both sides of the path. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9OtQzUIz7YUs-ZjpMpV7W7ySXtC4On9hz9OMb9g8BcVp4MALcF1vFqwMr_KuoJnx3egmhkaTdae-kAwrP9AONe8KRfA5p5g2I51NutVFoyCq-YtPAb1_yWIfhfDJUc2QSJbiskOUwM/s1600/PIC_5538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9OtQzUIz7YUs-ZjpMpV7W7ySXtC4On9hz9OMb9g8BcVp4MALcF1vFqwMr_KuoJnx3egmhkaTdae-kAwrP9AONe8KRfA5p5g2I51NutVFoyCq-YtPAb1_yWIfhfDJUc2QSJbiskOUwM/s320/PIC_5538.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
From Ubud we took a taxi to Den Pasar:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe5SSfKdYopCZdqyblkUUbYc5HEF8i4j-i2v1k8Yf1XhajH2nRS6bnhJ4nT26JqWrBzU0SY1xJxTGOSXgIXTOIcLc3RjELysGpYialkmD7fxIBFaU1nqgMsmqaKK3rDvEbXJEQ4bzsPw/s1600/PIC_5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe5SSfKdYopCZdqyblkUUbYc5HEF8i4j-i2v1k8Yf1XhajH2nRS6bnhJ4nT26JqWrBzU0SY1xJxTGOSXgIXTOIcLc3RjELysGpYialkmD7fxIBFaU1nqgMsmqaKK3rDvEbXJEQ4bzsPw/s320/PIC_5560.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
We astonished to see a local fuel station in Den Pasar. <br />
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(Den Pasar is the capital of Bali, but it is more like a village that grew very fast and does not know what to do with the increased traffic…) <br />
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We visited the turtle conservation center near Den Pasar, and realized that turtle conservation is not an easy task. Turtles are now protected by law, but people were used to eat them AND turtles are used as important offers during religious ceremonies. This center seems a really great initiative!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrnFrf2crA4SF1LoEoP137EPCfJkoKUmC44Xi-v2N09__7rqRpY7qEBN8bUlfEv0PjTrg7_PwMA6HdfTD4BNgz17TVyTUba9BbkYaIJOrxi54RyFokba04Ksm_Wu8kpyeevTHcQBkPXM/s1600/PIC_5601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrnFrf2crA4SF1LoEoP137EPCfJkoKUmC44Xi-v2N09__7rqRpY7qEBN8bUlfEv0PjTrg7_PwMA6HdfTD4BNgz17TVyTUba9BbkYaIJOrxi54RyFokba04Ksm_Wu8kpyeevTHcQBkPXM/s320/PIC_5601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A small turtle born at the center<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa3SYxyz5E1tPBWtG-G_fEqPvbzkN-gm7A3wujFl6cilx8SZVNw4itEshIF1xOvA9QJJzBvSKaV7Z3JH-qHCt4nsOcwAA6BxTcilmvP7ueuRnQPqcNnY-8MfB7_m7klQUBszb3U35LvQ/s1600/PIC_5605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa3SYxyz5E1tPBWtG-G_fEqPvbzkN-gm7A3wujFl6cilx8SZVNw4itEshIF1xOvA9QJJzBvSKaV7Z3JH-qHCt4nsOcwAA6BxTcilmvP7ueuRnQPqcNnY-8MfB7_m7klQUBszb3U35LvQ/s320/PIC_5605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
An injured turtle, hit by a motorboat was brought to the center to recover. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5YHaNKTx0cOPfJ5MT1p_gNaaoDsznbTP5stksfNkEMwbqkewvZDXGWwljhScX1V13CDgXJrpftkdLqfGkJf1ct1db75K70XvqSFagsA5lXeBhMYk2OWIp6qVAKfSLbXUHBxk3vJLblg/s1600/PIC_5671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5YHaNKTx0cOPfJ5MT1p_gNaaoDsznbTP5stksfNkEMwbqkewvZDXGWwljhScX1V13CDgXJrpftkdLqfGkJf1ct1db75K70XvqSFagsA5lXeBhMYk2OWIp6qVAKfSLbXUHBxk3vJLblg/s320/PIC_5671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On the way back we visited the mangroves, are an important habitat – and with help from, yet another foreign initiative, a huge piece of land / water has been transformed into a mangrove. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie52wy1qnk5Tzt_-Qxgjf_6VH6GchLKApM_6_mKS4TUTxm0NYPGC0b4KlFteCWlDLHNB_ylT8GjY51MKhj1Yjx38SfAuFwTFrDF49brM2lo5pFpQcA5h29sZ09hCP8oT7OJdz16g0R_4I/s1600/PIC_5625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie52wy1qnk5Tzt_-Qxgjf_6VH6GchLKApM_6_mKS4TUTxm0NYPGC0b4KlFteCWlDLHNB_ylT8GjY51MKhj1Yjx38SfAuFwTFrDF49brM2lo5pFpQcA5h29sZ09hCP8oT7OJdz16g0R_4I/s320/PIC_5625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here one of its inhabitants<br />
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Just 3 weeks later, we flew back to Kuala Lumpur. We liked Bali very much. <br />
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It ‘mysterious’ culture, the extreme nice and generous people and the overall atmosphere just fitted so good together. Just that HUMIDITY LEVEL… crazy… <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-65677826377148561182011-03-27T04:06:00.000-07:002011-03-27T04:06:37.821-07:00Last minute decision: Let's go to Bali, Indonesia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong>PART 1 of our Indonesia adventure</strong><br />
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The first 2 nights we stayed in Sanur, Bali. Right on the main street. Too many tourists, too many shops, way too touristy, we lived in a busy tourist street in Bangkok already and were now ready for 'a calmer place'. <br />
It did not take long to board a local boat to Nusa Lembongan, or Lembongan Island. An 1-hour direct trip from Sanur to the small town of Jungutbatu. <br />
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Around 80% of the people on Lembongan work on / or own seaweed farms in the shallow ocean waters. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT7fDMaH3usT0s6tv8IlEaOnEWNWnEBd0LT7A6KMHfE1y5piFywTUkXYn-3iHqGab_ekzTeu47ZfNRHu_r1xrw1s6yDvLbnF16hoLMGWqU8aofiTKDwUVAz8EeiKudw-EWie0gdawma8/s1600/PIC_5051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT7fDMaH3usT0s6tv8IlEaOnEWNWnEBd0LT7A6KMHfE1y5piFywTUkXYn-3iHqGab_ekzTeu47ZfNRHu_r1xrw1s6yDvLbnF16hoLMGWqU8aofiTKDwUVAz8EeiKudw-EWie0gdawma8/s320/PIC_5051.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Patches in the water are the seaweed farms, every 2 weeks they can be harvested, it takes 3 sunny days to dry it 40%, before it can be sold to a large cooperation. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxOWWoiEj2qhvWupc5i65jH1lpLf-dUG8ddOqSX9XGUBvisiogqFfnPAbWEEef9_ULXC5tvcrUmSIyyGFQ9DH1TJOXAeLw4ijMj9rc0U9w_oGDG-H-fpzXm3Py8C3NEiUcDZxcfHlkYQ/s1600/PIC_5095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxOWWoiEj2qhvWupc5i65jH1lpLf-dUG8ddOqSX9XGUBvisiogqFfnPAbWEEef9_ULXC5tvcrUmSIyyGFQ9DH1TJOXAeLw4ijMj9rc0U9w_oGDG-H-fpzXm3Py8C3NEiUcDZxcfHlkYQ/s320/PIC_5095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Seaweed can be found in foods like icecream, it is a natural gelatine, it is also used in cosmetics, soap, and other body care products.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpk3IqfBjMgaI13byQddcR7Ss_xO8zFMS_MdMv13F4VjHsec2HCL7DiOOGN9BlSuG1mWJS_5CRo1fsaJb1OLlnVR5ROE6eY7y6dS1ajfEC4Q_ZdAoo59odyX16544Atf7fLrVdZf7YuA/s1600/PIC_5092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpk3IqfBjMgaI13byQddcR7Ss_xO8zFMS_MdMv13F4VjHsec2HCL7DiOOGN9BlSuG1mWJS_5CRo1fsaJb1OLlnVR5ROE6eY7y6dS1ajfEC4Q_ZdAoo59odyX16544Atf7fLrVdZf7YuA/s320/PIC_5092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56Nu81zmDwKZih-FUgT_fwb9hPZORWQJFeCerbFZ480mXyRQbJQ-DwSQgiJwd0mPozbrLh0Mu5k0-KbqxJUZDcEqDd7406d4uz6buLxj8smRtNnqTfjz-nu4LPUPJH-ipFgWgjm8vPGs/s1600/PIC_5167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56Nu81zmDwKZih-FUgT_fwb9hPZORWQJFeCerbFZ480mXyRQbJQ-DwSQgiJwd0mPozbrLh0Mu5k0-KbqxJUZDcEqDd7406d4uz6buLxj8smRtNnqTfjz-nu4LPUPJH-ipFgWgjm8vPGs/s320/PIC_5167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Seaweed farming is hard work. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtNb0gEtd8kkz1fi7skIlFTnGdLS9wLaSBtvEBOQyqdbySgiDIs3-663SLmtwT9HP3mOafG-PhSFIEDUqnYKWBGjRhIA_T5EonrehNxMqBa2tI9BPC9ErKUDCi0Lovdked1AKktTwc3M/s1600/PIC_5180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtNb0gEtd8kkz1fi7skIlFTnGdLS9wLaSBtvEBOQyqdbySgiDIs3-663SLmtwT9HP3mOafG-PhSFIEDUqnYKWBGjRhIA_T5EonrehNxMqBa2tI9BPC9ErKUDCi0Lovdked1AKktTwc3M/s320/PIC_5180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qPf76r1XrD2SqfXJkGEeKO5Q1Tsnt9msMAx0PPAp1xBVNZYhfh5p6GILKx7q5U9_OZazxm3d209VA1RnOafCdXjtGRHh9SmiccbeSQM3frfOx4dhYavRQOwirnN9Qp4rKIw92Fjf06g/s1600/PIC_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qPf76r1XrD2SqfXJkGEeKO5Q1Tsnt9msMAx0PPAp1xBVNZYhfh5p6GILKx7q5U9_OZazxm3d209VA1RnOafCdXjtGRHh9SmiccbeSQM3frfOx4dhYavRQOwirnN9Qp4rKIw92Fjf06g/s320/PIC_5183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Most families have small boats to do the farm work<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHihu9THxXjG_BoBJIc6RNFTLfQKEHMmEdas06ssm9ab-_UIMt2s0y1ck557JC9fhrtdXXW9wf4J9Hrs70vKiBa9o4bxdgPoFj6MQul3cd2KmQMfBa4OdIKTqbQxoOzBEQIyHFPUEBR8/s1600/PIC_5176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHihu9THxXjG_BoBJIc6RNFTLfQKEHMmEdas06ssm9ab-_UIMt2s0y1ck557JC9fhrtdXXW9wf4J9Hrs70vKiBa9o4bxdgPoFj6MQul3cd2KmQMfBa4OdIKTqbQxoOzBEQIyHFPUEBR8/s320/PIC_5176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Carrying the seaweed home. <br />
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The people in Bali are very religious, they believe in all kinds of Gods and giving offers is a daily, time consuming routine. <br />
It is quite interesting to watch. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg9kqs8nwSLxepozp3_idyw3MZwwcGhiQsk5G-wckXOy4xxaqVTvaVs39y-ziJInz4TIh6mGIPyBx2dRaZoFYbdN06iuyVY1Kgtb-pMAK1dCB5jHshHCSnhtMhqB0lyOpYN7CRmladDU/s1600/PIC_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg9kqs8nwSLxepozp3_idyw3MZwwcGhiQsk5G-wckXOy4xxaqVTvaVs39y-ziJInz4TIh6mGIPyBx2dRaZoFYbdN06iuyVY1Kgtb-pMAK1dCB5jHshHCSnhtMhqB0lyOpYN7CRmladDU/s320/PIC_5004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Offers in front of a temple. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k_0zmq0egbB4Q3kRTEKfRIl8Fdc6cxAlPax6rA3XLsYjYhHjDiS2JgpIwMvoQZumwK3vNZW6hbrhavKbxPylg7eVsEFgDBPko5-bHLET3PS6i-hcPKeQD95FDI2thuOxj-2jdzYTIqA/s1600/PIC_5022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k_0zmq0egbB4Q3kRTEKfRIl8Fdc6cxAlPax6rA3XLsYjYhHjDiS2JgpIwMvoQZumwK3vNZW6hbrhavKbxPylg7eVsEFgDBPko5-bHLET3PS6i-hcPKeQD95FDI2thuOxj-2jdzYTIqA/s320/PIC_5022.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>The black and white cloth represents good (white) and bad (black). Offers are made to a range of statues. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7lOB3ZqHkUy68Ona8l-xb-wJ7ryX0Zz3GjNOMc9GcB4JJZAk49dytwSGKOMaTemtIf-m1tD6WsBu4mddOcPK_V6yGN1l2j7nApgw0mBRWfXQggDpqubcAoaU9E0FSqOdmLjtAqTiWP0/s1600/PIC_5013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7lOB3ZqHkUy68Ona8l-xb-wJ7ryX0Zz3GjNOMc9GcB4JJZAk49dytwSGKOMaTemtIf-m1tD6WsBu4mddOcPK_V6yGN1l2j7nApgw0mBRWfXQggDpqubcAoaU9E0FSqOdmLjtAqTiWP0/s320/PIC_5013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAs5tC5T1vSXG3u1dBs9ukInsJhFMIuNBCA4QpJWqgbO2K2u7LqhC5uvW2WLhyBphZ0EM5Pb0ttPj7b8aZa9TidB-77Z8UFb1R7voGE-rEKrBQlsIiYZy94j8VSDiFPPRm4GZTcfmdA4/s1600/PIC_5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAs5tC5T1vSXG3u1dBs9ukInsJhFMIuNBCA4QpJWqgbO2K2u7LqhC5uvW2WLhyBphZ0EM5Pb0ttPj7b8aZa9TidB-77Z8UFb1R7voGE-rEKrBQlsIiYZy94j8VSDiFPPRm4GZTcfmdA4/s320/PIC_5016.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Ladies on the way to the temple for a special, large offering ceremony. The fruits are blessed and can be taken home after the ceremony.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipinDQZiPb-xXZ-2WvAlmPk8SoEzm5lvmEmM_0UN_ObdvNYgrX_Rm4PFAD2O0-YGyi0Sq4NdG1Do2itWPrSwh1BPEFy1SkEAqlcOtG-O5vYmZKdHC938Y2hSfmMytwODr4331e7sNCALg/s1600/PIC_5054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipinDQZiPb-xXZ-2WvAlmPk8SoEzm5lvmEmM_0UN_ObdvNYgrX_Rm4PFAD2O0-YGyi0Sq4NdG1Do2itWPrSwh1BPEFy1SkEAqlcOtG-O5vYmZKdHC938Y2hSfmMytwODr4331e7sNCALg/s320/PIC_5054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Offers at the temple. <br />
Over the 9 days we were in Lembongan, we heard a lot about how people live on the island, their work, their religion, and a range of other subjects. <br />
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We close this blog with some sunset pictures, taken from our doorstep at the beach.<br />
Lembongan is relaxed and it is a great place to be!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFCuN9ZqmG5PU2ePuYux44psCJ8y1hBLT6OBSc132SFdyi9PudUD00xcnEQ83KcJLv3HO4WSZKFswTwouk3U55H-ls2syUiWHtKkVoaFKSzwJw1WLihSBe-WYBE-Jg7kkUYVpoige74s/s1600/PIC_5185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFCuN9ZqmG5PU2ePuYux44psCJ8y1hBLT6OBSc132SFdyi9PudUD00xcnEQ83KcJLv3HO4WSZKFswTwouk3U55H-ls2syUiWHtKkVoaFKSzwJw1WLihSBe-WYBE-Jg7kkUYVpoige74s/s320/PIC_5185.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Indonesia Part II follows in a little while :-) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-33036173687268441692011-03-19T23:14:00.000-07:002011-03-19T23:14:09.055-07:00All roads run through Thailand...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">On our first trip, 9 years ago, we rented a car and drove from Bangkok up to the North of Thailand. We visited various temples, went to Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle, we learned all about drugs and smuggling in the local museum and we took Thai cooking lessons. We stayed in a local village, where we were invited to attend a traditional wedding. At the end we stayed a week at the beach South of Bangkok. <br />
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On our second trip, almost 6 years ago, we took a train from the South of Laos to Bangkok, visited the Royal Palace, National museum and the Red Cross Snake Farm – a place where they milk snakes for the anti-venom. <br />
This time was completely different, after traveling for 7 months; it was time for a longer stay in one place. No more packing and re-packing and moving around for a little while :-)<br />
We decided to stay in Bangkok, in the middle of the tourist-scene. Nice and easy, a guesthouse with airco, tv and internet. Having hot water showers was nice bonus.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOeud2Ca3OhoyQNkGTKqJrk9HeIZMlQnlhFQby6pHAms-x-3n1pT6SXbQKsti_4NydlQBnTHAgwiK8mcWL_89yYVBu9wiJEtC8NFjHuAfbXEKGQSzdmsxvnkNiz3YZw14nUkYroAge_4/s1600/PIC_4922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOeud2Ca3OhoyQNkGTKqJrk9HeIZMlQnlhFQby6pHAms-x-3n1pT6SXbQKsti_4NydlQBnTHAgwiK8mcWL_89yYVBu9wiJEtC8NFjHuAfbXEKGQSzdmsxvnkNiz3YZw14nUkYroAge_4/s320/PIC_4922.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our street</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were plenty hawker shops with delicious food and fantastic fresh fruit. We also had a great sandwich place around the corner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfoJnQ_5fSnca9Fk6JOA2Ze0T2e5JDEWIMLZTH_72j8vy_k70DBU6bGc0oUuX0-TwRnCCxN4Fxh7qoJDpC_0367Efj1ECXWTFXdqruB9TF4J8P4nC4lQN3TwcFFz90IulS53Ubr38-kc/s1600/PIC_4925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfoJnQ_5fSnca9Fk6JOA2Ze0T2e5JDEWIMLZTH_72j8vy_k70DBU6bGc0oUuX0-TwRnCCxN4Fxh7qoJDpC_0367Efj1ECXWTFXdqruB9TF4J8P4nC4lQN3TwcFFz90IulS53Ubr38-kc/s320/PIC_4925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Food stand near 'our home'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bus stop for the city was just some 30 meters away from the house entrance, which was perfect as the kids were going to ‘school’. </div><br />
Matthew decided to take 2D animation and drawing classes and Robin took Video and Sound editing plus After-effects. All Adobe programs. <br />
In India we checked out the course possibilities, but Matthew’s nomination in Borneo made us change our plans. The Bangkok branch of the Indian school was a perfect solution. <br />
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The slow time was nice, sleep, eat, check out the IT stores, go to school, go skateboarding, have some clothes tailor made, watch some tv, watch some movies and chat on the internet, on Skype and hang around with other travelers and tourists at the guesthouse and in the streets around Khao San road, where we stayed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKl5WZLPAsob2_qktjLSl8g9xYkGiceT0O_HVT5juoClHOJtiMH08k5KHSFHSsEyX1HBMuP_UP59NDfo53OOTIBfRNfpfMus4CNG3gC3qAK5Mms-1x1Np0HloW4MB3CuIRBtmzwF_SJA/s1600/PIC_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKl5WZLPAsob2_qktjLSl8g9xYkGiceT0O_HVT5juoClHOJtiMH08k5KHSFHSsEyX1HBMuP_UP59NDfo53OOTIBfRNfpfMus4CNG3gC3qAK5Mms-1x1Np0HloW4MB3CuIRBtmzwF_SJA/s320/PIC_4935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA7PO2oKK5SMshr5nwQjFf1pEvVS9dqpjK0Lj5jjUEn9wb9fRQf4Yd3TwTa3R2hSlBXHHXojYa0zc_GWWRa5WuMl8U6Pp0rRYcFeTOrXAKKebXBfEh9WA9NG41PLOAtKq0wjnFGOMHCI/s1600/PIC_4932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA7PO2oKK5SMshr5nwQjFf1pEvVS9dqpjK0Lj5jjUEn9wb9fRQf4Yd3TwTa3R2hSlBXHHXojYa0zc_GWWRa5WuMl8U6Pp0rRYcFeTOrXAKKebXBfEh9WA9NG41PLOAtKq0wjnFGOMHCI/s320/PIC_4932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are plenty computer, telephone, DVD and accessories stores in Bangkok. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0WBljJbZPNd7BeAOGXs8s7cOaej-qnQ7vAed1f3G7Ghurqv0hJuxUyFFshga3yRLnMGWoepR96oUaZzHYE1lXiF20tmReEVg_UQdwabqkZYszqpDLTcuVX_-J1ZfpsIOM8RmYX6BcT8/s1600/PIC_4517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0WBljJbZPNd7BeAOGXs8s7cOaej-qnQ7vAed1f3G7Ghurqv0hJuxUyFFshga3yRLnMGWoepR96oUaZzHYE1lXiF20tmReEVg_UQdwabqkZYszqpDLTcuVX_-J1ZfpsIOM8RmYX6BcT8/s320/PIC_4517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dr. Fish, a very strange set up. Little fish eat the dead skid off your feet... after looking at it for a couple of weeks, we decided to try it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not sure how healthy it is for the fish! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we arrived over land, we were granted visas for 2 weeks only, something we found out just some days before the 2 weeks passed. We shifted some classes and took a 6 day trip by bus to Cambodia (see previous blog). </div><br />
Returning over land again, we received visas for 2 further weeks. Good enough to finish the courses, but not enough to go to the beaches. That will have to wait a little bit... <br />
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Bangkok was nice, very touristy though, with all kinds of people. It showed us once again not to judge people on what they look like. <br />
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But time came to leave again and we are looking forward to Indonesia!<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE-CH;">… we just realized that we have stayed 4 weeks but have next to no pictures… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> :-( </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE-CH;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We'll do better in Indonesia :-) </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE-CH;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-22495261149376654472011-03-05T22:35:00.000-08:002011-03-05T22:35:16.756-08:006 Days in Cambodia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By arriving over land, we were granted a 2 week visa for Thailand only. That was a shame, but an opportunity at the same time. A good opportunity to visit Cambodia for 6 days! </div><br />
The minibus from Bangkok to the border at Poipet took 4 hours, so far so good. Clearing customs and buying a visa for Cambodia took us a bit longer… the official charges for a visa are USD 20.00 per person, unless you run into the visa-agent trap… that increases the costs to USD 40.00 per person… <br />
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After some nasty words to the agent we made it to the border and got through for 20 dollars each. <br />
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Our first stop was the capital Phnom Penh, the city is nice, the people are great and the food is really great. <br />
The RECENT history of the city and the whole country is however so sad! <br />
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We decided to find out more about it and visited the S-21, before 1975 a school, between 75 and 79 a terrible place where people were tortured and killed. Too intelligent, not agreeing with the Pol Pot regime, or even just wearing glasses, reason enough be killed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidniPeW-sTdMfS9lYO-FXrt4g9P3lu_pCClAb13gJq0yfzdtM2YScYgyywGojmApeMGLj4AxY4t5a4VqU-is6MsGwYx8sVezvFXJM6cyg-_-CxxoXemx4GRhpEYzF1snxzK8z-j0ry44Q/s1600/PIC_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidniPeW-sTdMfS9lYO-FXrt4g9P3lu_pCClAb13gJq0yfzdtM2YScYgyywGojmApeMGLj4AxY4t5a4VqU-is6MsGwYx8sVezvFXJM6cyg-_-CxxoXemx4GRhpEYzF1snxzK8z-j0ry44Q/s320/PIC_4593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is quite difficult to explain but standing in a room with just this bed, no knowing what happened exactly but knowing for sure that many victims stayed in this room and were "interrogated" until they admitted whatever they were asked to admit... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5LYNT1IgIi_ZDrlnJ_Yy0oPoTNvUobVLhn5XT2YP1AYW4mfZXKxA_53WNshGWAeOpiUk3BiWcGoc-u5TWHZQgmwmjlIRm2LGqeu4GBg0NegainzhdCGWfwfdOiZx1fw7N6JGHrZ9q4I/s1600/PIC_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5LYNT1IgIi_ZDrlnJ_Yy0oPoTNvUobVLhn5XT2YP1AYW4mfZXKxA_53WNshGWAeOpiUk3BiWcGoc-u5TWHZQgmwmjlIRm2LGqeu4GBg0NegainzhdCGWfwfdOiZx1fw7N6JGHrZ9q4I/s320/PIC_4597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A site photograper had to take pictures of all people brought to S-21, the biggest prison of its kind in the whole country. Any age, even small children! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcGbRO8B4fWAiGSIVj4HeDqz65MZ-ee7piznvhyscnxYFzXdWAJJAARpbwdGvACs6Yy1AQj0DCpltQhoBr1kAW2oyWTMPQcq447YK2Eiib-wSKJfsfVkPLokw6rXNkIeQ6iYZ-U8NAwA/s1600/PIC_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcGbRO8B4fWAiGSIVj4HeDqz65MZ-ee7piznvhyscnxYFzXdWAJJAARpbwdGvACs6Yy1AQj0DCpltQhoBr1kAW2oyWTMPQcq447YK2Eiib-wSKJfsfVkPLokw6rXNkIeQ6iYZ-U8NAwA/s320/PIC_4607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Protection, to avoid people would commit suicide...<br />
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It is very difficult to describe how we felt, but all the pictures, infos and objects we looked at in the 4 buildings, which now serves as a museum, have given us plenty to think of. <br />
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We decided not to visit the killing field. A mass grave "cemetery" <br />
Want to know more, check out YouTube for Pol Pot or Khmer Rouge. <br />
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We went to the palace instead. Very pretty buildings in the middle of the city: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH6gTct8ZGr8YD9aE2B3jUCYw1OTXJrpcWYAaDkegkUlnB7vvRdseIxddyBaw9bWB87hRwfofB2HdBGVkjCjbHddFKPZOsUtfwVYkyOFU8N99ieMQrjF5nVxHNyMN8s3EosjFAU991Ws/s1600/PIC_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH6gTct8ZGr8YD9aE2B3jUCYw1OTXJrpcWYAaDkegkUlnB7vvRdseIxddyBaw9bWB87hRwfofB2HdBGVkjCjbHddFKPZOsUtfwVYkyOFU8N99ieMQrjF5nVxHNyMN8s3EosjFAU991Ws/s320/PIC_4660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5caigHR1XngfuzdXuGqHKjxUXzFgHGtQwraN1mqI7iC3DCIsy52P-gokWQHadEzlmGvn8ttNPHvASqYb9cQpICzG_Uv1FZVhjV5ul5_gT2N55riwKefn2l-pdD5907JP7hkREsbSjDuU/s1600/PIC_4663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5caigHR1XngfuzdXuGqHKjxUXzFgHGtQwraN1mqI7iC3DCIsy52P-gokWQHadEzlmGvn8ttNPHvASqYb9cQpICzG_Uv1FZVhjV5ul5_gT2N55riwKefn2l-pdD5907JP7hkREsbSjDuU/s320/PIC_4663.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
Close to the palace and the national museum, a remarkable man started 2 NGOs. Too much money, bad feelings, no trust in big organizations? Check this out. No money, no interest in aid, still have a look and see how creative these people are! <br />
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<a href="http://www.friends-international.org/">http://www.friends-international.org/</a> -- a remarkable initiative, too much to explain, just have a look. <br />
<a href="http://www.childsafe-international.org/">http://www.childsafe-international.org/</a> -- have a look at this if you don't know what to do when you see begging children on the street... Childsafe is part of friends international. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJBia6RwtIEkg_aUw5YZe9tCWh12bFy5GrsUUwy1xL23MB33Eg3PFl8vx5OCR3_vOXLB_koWRhLakxvKgVTmn-jfSWt5OY_VGLm01Lgw7EAPejwKO8mEKDbl9cJ8TaH4IYfcANiLV-T0/s1600/PIC_4681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJBia6RwtIEkg_aUw5YZe9tCWh12bFy5GrsUUwy1xL23MB33Eg3PFl8vx5OCR3_vOXLB_koWRhLakxvKgVTmn-jfSWt5OY_VGLm01Lgw7EAPejwKO8mEKDbl9cJ8TaH4IYfcANiLV-T0/s320/PIC_4681.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Many people wear the Childsafe shirts. For example our tuk-tuk driver. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKFideFMEssGrbEdJYBNvsxyYVDTupMnJh27HULWEnLB3ui5gfpH2cAT0HqmhbHie5JQseHyfWrs0CJn9N7xzQ-7e68aqatv7O79FFaqX4SffTO_74uVnAZTOYfhTZGMkDGaWUS9ZN7Y/s1600/PIC_4687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKFideFMEssGrbEdJYBNvsxyYVDTupMnJh27HULWEnLB3ui5gfpH2cAT0HqmhbHie5JQseHyfWrs0CJn9N7xzQ-7e68aqatv7O79FFaqX4SffTO_74uVnAZTOYfhTZGMkDGaWUS9ZN7Y/s640/PIC_4687.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Phnom Penh's people are partly very poor, but partly the ideas and initiatives are great. Sometimes maybe a big too good.... A copied book, published in 2012... na ja.... <br />
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Markets are always good to go to, to look at the local life, <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMo6zeW3kacZcqXVIrSHwBQbmcPU9Tp9_fXCzM65gSUiay9n1c_IoaS8Tfuf2Lz5WJ7pacPvcsTO3ZO015ulFihD7NwEbEqUkF2UpjMXha0E5WuN3MMfHAhczWEWF5nKTIPssVteKk2g/s1600/PIC_4726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMo6zeW3kacZcqXVIrSHwBQbmcPU9Tp9_fXCzM65gSUiay9n1c_IoaS8Tfuf2Lz5WJ7pacPvcsTO3ZO015ulFihD7NwEbEqUkF2UpjMXha0E5WuN3MMfHAhczWEWF5nKTIPssVteKk2g/s320/PIC_4726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Feel a bit bad looking at the meat hanging in the sun, flies everywhere... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqDKqRbqlhFwIenU0whiSHcl7UcVbK0TbhS62OtbDkbxJOQ1dbShEhcuEDKno9hQ2B41dj7gNnWEltykovsPMSp3xSj-FXuFofOvm8nqUjFPtOZvOHLTcDpA6_RwfjEoPGlWDFKHQE_o/s1600/PIC_4728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqDKqRbqlhFwIenU0whiSHcl7UcVbK0TbhS62OtbDkbxJOQ1dbShEhcuEDKno9hQ2B41dj7gNnWEltykovsPMSp3xSj-FXuFofOvm8nqUjFPtOZvOHLTcDpA6_RwfjEoPGlWDFKHQE_o/s320/PIC_4728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> same for the chicken... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiU49jB_iZtVtAPBeyiXzMWdPaMqYJUHTU9XhElvW9hfy3ZyihGjLU0ZFKWCDAOZ7fjBBh2T1pXXfE1bzfU3ghX-9QZEyOw83sg95I0syy2v9xAh8Ko-HY1yJD6fd-UyPiq47B8HRii8/s1600/PIC_4709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiU49jB_iZtVtAPBeyiXzMWdPaMqYJUHTU9XhElvW9hfy3ZyihGjLU0ZFKWCDAOZ7fjBBh2T1pXXfE1bzfU3ghX-9QZEyOw83sg95I0syy2v9xAh8Ko-HY1yJD6fd-UyPiq47B8HRii8/s320/PIC_4709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> But the fruit is soooooo delicious... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm-YrR0nmNdzUoHa2cm7R74qj4rInWcDucSa4z-9lhdkYT7z1bgYJAhLV5VfogSZf6KkzoII6rhYRydGDeoDM9agE0Va5DicOFfbjEy7WhTy1Xb2z65O9dNteIEvA7RRkQDMzvFxmgyk/s1600/PIC_4735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm-YrR0nmNdzUoHa2cm7R74qj4rInWcDucSa4z-9lhdkYT7z1bgYJAhLV5VfogSZf6KkzoII6rhYRydGDeoDM9agE0Va5DicOFfbjEy7WhTy1Xb2z65O9dNteIEvA7RRkQDMzvFxmgyk/s640/PIC_4735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> At the far end of the market work was done, or maybe only women work.... and men and kids watch tv.... <br />
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We would have like to stay longer in Phnom Penh, but time was up and we had to move on to Siem Reap, to have a look at the world famous Angkor Wat. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Accomodation is really good (and cheap) in Cambodia. Both in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap we had internet in our room!! Such a poor country, but people know what is important for visitors... </div><div style="text-align: left;">Coming from Singapore... not so long ago, it was quite different... unacceptable room, no internet, anyway, that is another story.. Chapeau for Cambodia! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The busride was good and after a good rest, we took a tuk-tuk for the day. Our first stop and the HIGHLY popular Angkor Wat was the landmine museum. <a href="http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/menu.html">http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/menu.html</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Quite a man! Quite a life, once recruited as child soldier... whereby recruited is a big word... forced to join is better. Aki Ra is now a major player in cleaning his country from the very many landmines which are still making the countryside a dangerous place to be. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5pE85pEBmGt0hlOtd-sQu80cs4v9UmulbxxLITd7-wKL8MfSl5LKojG5LKwZNP1MqV55tsj7zgpkKwX3vOLQRatxp05ka7uykw2YtMK8y_MDhWuhuRPJsIzeW6GO8MVzqXojjd6LWSY/s1600/PIC_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5pE85pEBmGt0hlOtd-sQu80cs4v9UmulbxxLITd7-wKL8MfSl5LKojG5LKwZNP1MqV55tsj7zgpkKwX3vOLQRatxp05ka7uykw2YtMK8y_MDhWuhuRPJsIzeW6GO8MVzqXojjd6LWSY/s320/PIC_4747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>All mines, bombs and other explosives cleared and brought back by Aki Ra. <br />
The facility houses and teaches children who were hurt by landmines. We saw a few kids missing both legs and learning to build up their lives again. Excellent man that Aki Ra! <br />
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And on to a lighter subject, and scene for various movies: the different temples in the huge temple area. Especially the tree overgrown buildings were a lot of fun to look at.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN1pubH3Z-RR_qOs-ww8i0JhjxftPTSYGQfWvN2f3S_DE4e5KTtNqBK6MGijPGpBRDNxwjCFt-PDaivoluu_jn9xZfEq01tBZzVEYAR0SHALjVeOECnA1OQw1DGjITgqb_1Dcr6rfzh8/s1600/PIC_4757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN1pubH3Z-RR_qOs-ww8i0JhjxftPTSYGQfWvN2f3S_DE4e5KTtNqBK6MGijPGpBRDNxwjCFt-PDaivoluu_jn9xZfEq01tBZzVEYAR0SHALjVeOECnA1OQw1DGjITgqb_1Dcr6rfzh8/s320/PIC_4757.JPG" width="180" /></a></div> Kind of unreal to stand there and look at it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz5q7VtlLymjz9L5H-e3m3BAyf8WtpOK2bMM3yVVFbKdOkJDM-_VDDhem4pkCMVERw10DZfGOZRI1i6Mg7APpW41ir5HszR02Z-k9Lgm8mJGDXvqD7ldvXtBK9b_AkNHD3R6xfG7C_qM/s1600/PIC_4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaz5q7VtlLymjz9L5H-e3m3BAyf8WtpOK2bMM3yVVFbKdOkJDM-_VDDhem4pkCMVERw10DZfGOZRI1i6Mg7APpW41ir5HszR02Z-k9Lgm8mJGDXvqD7ldvXtBK9b_AkNHD3R6xfG7C_qM/s320/PIC_4764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Also here, showing the tree from the top of the door... just don't think of ALL the tourists standing in front of us... sad really, it would have been so nice to walk through a deserted place, but never mind... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgv4pNb_lv99LB4jqR67B8uEOqEUUNvnGj4bBuKnP9-3pH6mWM9Lai0SQrp4TlJ2cdpg0a5dVoS02zuAWEWoA0Dj-cyjDG4AN-FWOTwJ8N0k0swkWtZsorG3AzfF3eRef9gN80-Pqh0c/s1600/PIC_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgv4pNb_lv99LB4jqR67B8uEOqEUUNvnGj4bBuKnP9-3pH6mWM9Lai0SQrp4TlJ2cdpg0a5dVoS02zuAWEWoA0Dj-cyjDG4AN-FWOTwJ8N0k0swkWtZsorG3AzfF3eRef9gN80-Pqh0c/s640/PIC_4787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One wonders how these fantastic places were made, and by whom. How did they live. It must have been difficult. For us it was tough already, just to walk around and look at it... it was COOKING HOT!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cambodia, we were there so short, but there is a whole lot more to do and see, so who knows, we might be back. It is really nice there... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a bus back to the border, did an easy clearance, got a stamp for another 2 week stay in Thailand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look for our update some time soon :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-33795415509720249122011-02-20T07:09:00.000-08:002011-02-20T07:09:15.206-08:00A short stay in Singapore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Air Asia took flew us safely from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore. <br />
Matthew and Robin went to a "meeting" and a city tour organized by some of Matthew's YEP friends in Singapore. <br />
The main reason to come to Singapore was to walk all the way from the far North to the far South of the country. Good that the country is not that big. <br />
Still to manage 35 km in one day, walking through cutting grass and stones with sharp edges on the railwaytrack was quite an accomplishment! <br />
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They had a lot of fun and reason to be proud of themselves! <br />
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Here some pictures: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dGQO1khN69LFEqux0ofYnHsWu3Z_dV5WnLC6VR8JCnCUOZ6V9EqXXbDCjNyYGY_LUCBCwu36S7jVqU9IAY0SjfpARZH6HZKLdCkFn-Ypk3Y77-5avl6QnFF60_rWUx6ZOcXDXWXcb1k/s1600/sin+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dGQO1khN69LFEqux0ofYnHsWu3Z_dV5WnLC6VR8JCnCUOZ6V9EqXXbDCjNyYGY_LUCBCwu36S7jVqU9IAY0SjfpARZH6HZKLdCkFn-Ypk3Y77-5avl6QnFF60_rWUx6ZOcXDXWXcb1k/s320/sin+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3X6vcduBJ3se0rRJBJ8zIJgquNuxwF-jIzb-2Uxp_aco7jCJ_HH_w9QLhak2jygXpw_l3PR4bjERKfdKXFasEhGItIo7f7Ka3W6cQzJe_B6aEun-vVx23teBSTadyM2-AiA4tNy2Qe0/s1600/sin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3X6vcduBJ3se0rRJBJ8zIJgquNuxwF-jIzb-2Uxp_aco7jCJ_HH_w9QLhak2jygXpw_l3PR4bjERKfdKXFasEhGItIo7f7Ka3W6cQzJe_B6aEun-vVx23teBSTadyM2-AiA4tNy2Qe0/s320/sin+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhdKDrZ1oYsSC4TwDEM_8s8wOWDKB568QNwGJZkkSNfUB0E-t6tbuvyXMQ7HySh82X6rouf2xK52ykoWDHAtGsJbtYEDUmE_7Cw6DY8XWtS2o6ObuhGDWbB-X1gPHQkXEnInMkAAqsvY/s1600/sin+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhdKDrZ1oYsSC4TwDEM_8s8wOWDKB568QNwGJZkkSNfUB0E-t6tbuvyXMQ7HySh82X6rouf2xK52ykoWDHAtGsJbtYEDUmE_7Cw6DY8XWtS2o6ObuhGDWbB-X1gPHQkXEnInMkAAqsvY/s320/sin+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
We discovered the city, checked out the national museum, had some good food. Singapore is a safe place, good metro system and all that, but if it made a real impression on us; not really. The walk was the reason to go and was accomplished :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a metro to the border, crossed to Malaysia and made us on the way to Thailand... over land as all trains and planes were booked in due to the upcoming Chinese New Year... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-10740145758250762932011-02-14T19:09:00.000-08:002011-02-14T19:09:51.937-08:00On a mission in Sabah, on Borneo, in Malaysia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Our arrival in Sabah started with a small hick-up. 2 Out of 3 bags did not arrive. Malaysian Airlines, who had already mishandled our bags on our first trip, 9 years ago as well (!!), was very professional and within a short time, the located the bags and brought them to Kota Kinabalu. <br />
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Backtracking to the East was not planned, but Matthew was selected for a project with Mike Horn, a South African adventurer who runs a 4 year environment-awareness project for and with teenagers, and due to Indian immigration laws, we all left for Borneo. <br />
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Before seeing off Matthew to his assignment, we checked out the Sunday market in Kota Kinabalu and the 3 of us went on a small trip to Mount Kinabalu: <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-YFDRRcE4zjwvZbNfQcI5yYcPicQRyfsFokMBjnHzONfXmZxYIUfxmJKjjE3DT-4YjiJjSXlGIO44UFLlIaol4oY31xtz-ii6RDWEBzODyiCvi5A71tdpnpnIdQ-EdlY-Mi7k7_7QEQ/s1600/PIC_3573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-YFDRRcE4zjwvZbNfQcI5yYcPicQRyfsFokMBjnHzONfXmZxYIUfxmJKjjE3DT-4YjiJjSXlGIO44UFLlIaol4oY31xtz-ii6RDWEBzODyiCvi5A71tdpnpnIdQ-EdlY-Mi7k7_7QEQ/s320/PIC_3573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the Sunday market </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxGr_w4BuNQWUt34Crt0IfzBF9rmocRGiHifA-XtFI-NEWgJuDkEle6Xk6ufTY2VRCCnm0n43juUizuGu1OcQz6ciVMJTTSAb4OxypLE1KB5ddhJ689W4KlxLSGOMqz5qv83DwlyM2Wg/s1600/PIC_3746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxGr_w4BuNQWUt34Crt0IfzBF9rmocRGiHifA-XtFI-NEWgJuDkEle6Xk6ufTY2VRCCnm0n43juUizuGu1OcQz6ciVMJTTSAb4OxypLE1KB5ddhJ689W4KlxLSGOMqz5qv83DwlyM2Wg/s320/PIC_3746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the Sunday market</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rL6EPqy8YLZHcRXS_z6oWn_FCEGAfzwmBzEdjBQoA-PFNwOlRkqjkcC2CYeP8o2y_svY1Qydb8s60DdgxtHrKaYgyE8pOyGqz4ridrjVKcDHhLv5_aha07RatoKk5AH3tLnnxTkNDp8/s1600/PIC_3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rL6EPqy8YLZHcRXS_z6oWn_FCEGAfzwmBzEdjBQoA-PFNwOlRkqjkcC2CYeP8o2y_svY1Qydb8s60DdgxtHrKaYgyE8pOyGqz4ridrjVKcDHhLv5_aha07RatoKk5AH3tLnnxTkNDp8/s320/PIC_3618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The way up onto the mountain was quite hard. Loads of stairs. We did the 5 km to the starting point, which was the easy part, then we 'climbed' 3.5 km on the stairs. <br />
Going down was the easy part :-) <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE-CH;">With Matthew away for 13 days, Robin and Sonja stayed a bit in town before taking a bus to the Eastern part of Sabah, we stayed in Sepilok for a few nights: </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite9Vjk7Vk1VPvrs9jJhjmuukzuyQye3HqUG1VWoEadqT96ecisZ85SJ9DWThyphenhyphen_jB2FtGh-MPFsH1L51RRd4QFWWc-6yYMQT7XgzwFSEmnD5tJDzjWLuUYgu8WWsg1cK8B7YCLJ5FqEVk/s320/PIC_3788.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visit to the Orang Utan rehabilitation center</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uXgwQsJBsji8uUiJVWPa6D07dTJ0GK4bvCWCRdakTbeLq6oNt88W0XVXjEStMZiVZECxBrY4JYWQwAlpMfbMjfoePlvtCzmalKO3bmr6xI6TDxFzO9G_QfOdZRtta9PSQDlW8c8bXrs/s1600/PIC_3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uXgwQsJBsji8uUiJVWPa6D07dTJ0GK4bvCWCRdakTbeLq6oNt88W0XVXjEStMZiVZECxBrY4JYWQwAlpMfbMjfoePlvtCzmalKO3bmr6xI6TDxFzO9G_QfOdZRtta9PSQDlW8c8bXrs/s320/PIC_3827.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visit to the botanical garden and nature center in Sepilok. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQEyaU_yQlastKOHdiB3tBh9iGlseynid1wGR6Mj9KwB9OQiI_miZ_dnfVcpSRXsD-TkBpY5RhmaFX6sjf6_lbfdXaDa75db1Mq9Oaim6y52a1QPuyRdiV8kW9mWpdETMCpTmitCO3SA/s1600/PIC_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQEyaU_yQlastKOHdiB3tBh9iGlseynid1wGR6Mj9KwB9OQiI_miZ_dnfVcpSRXsD-TkBpY5RhmaFX6sjf6_lbfdXaDa75db1Mq9Oaim6y52a1QPuyRdiV8kW9mWpdETMCpTmitCO3SA/s320/PIC_3909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFikJO6EMUWiHqovKo9qb-n4X5vnbHzqhaFvfv2AM7SS4UAi8Y4w8_XZl9cVuJWPi4ligCvymy2SdxmRdP3ZCdA1tQnrr08ZPrNPhMrT0FYSV6cGZvZVO13sXJ1rd3OL63eAsbgqzA3M/s1600/PIC_3873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFikJO6EMUWiHqovKo9qb-n4X5vnbHzqhaFvfv2AM7SS4UAi8Y4w8_XZl9cVuJWPi4ligCvymy2SdxmRdP3ZCdA1tQnrr08ZPrNPhMrT0FYSV6cGZvZVO13sXJ1rd3OL63eAsbgqzA3M/s320/PIC_3873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The fishmarket in Sandakan town. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYucwiDKaUCqo-MPtrdBcyFfX_FMQxlOEp0CB57o1RUDTN8A-cl7AUrGrYQDlOKK_UTqOhBeHv7BCY4s6XTX0YCizD7Wqq1SHYfq-FbfX9KDetQUUcXseaPWhX9bep34UQhLOOqpaZlM/s1600/PIC_3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYucwiDKaUCqo-MPtrdBcyFfX_FMQxlOEp0CB57o1RUDTN8A-cl7AUrGrYQDlOKK_UTqOhBeHv7BCY4s6XTX0YCizD7Wqq1SHYfq-FbfX9KDetQUUcXseaPWhX9bep34UQhLOOqpaZlM/s320/PIC_3904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Some history: the Japanese memorial park for the 2nd world war. Terrible! <br />
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We received a ‘golden tip’ from some backpackers in Kota Kinabalu, which turned out to be really good! A 2 hour bus ride took us from Sepilok to Sukau, at the Kinabatangan river. <br />
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We stayed with a family of 8, father Osman is the ‘jungle man’, and took us around on his boat on the river. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_OQTHnNN3fX3-kuCOlQ9NwQqYZgBEjwr_41JeMSRec5yhbSmF1jDYGehpcETFyiVPmcmxGCCE6qC5HuGS0yBxEKhuvUn9rbcSk-acO_fysDHagk-JQwKZnvZqGUPf-cyVVNlr5NWnm0/s1600/PIC_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_OQTHnNN3fX3-kuCOlQ9NwQqYZgBEjwr_41JeMSRec5yhbSmF1jDYGehpcETFyiVPmcmxGCCE6qC5HuGS0yBxEKhuvUn9rbcSk-acO_fysDHagk-JQwKZnvZqGUPf-cyVVNlr5NWnm0/s320/PIC_3938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Osman's garden, after some rain... all houses are build on poles, for a good reason!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFRu_2exSttqO_XBEZwlzyzHaVYGg8D34kRkHh1edEDuZEivqnvLTxDfZgLJlzyZszVx1KWJQog0uGVudTDx8ROdJKvrG7XzB6plSyZpKJmzFVe8p1hn1V1Yb1a2TPg8ydYLAWY5j4Sw/s1600/PIC_4096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFRu_2exSttqO_XBEZwlzyzHaVYGg8D34kRkHh1edEDuZEivqnvLTxDfZgLJlzyZszVx1KWJQog0uGVudTDx8ROdJKvrG7XzB6plSyZpKJmzFVe8p1hn1V1Yb1a2TPg8ydYLAWY5j4Sw/s640/PIC_4096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Picture: COPYRIGHT by Robin! Cool isn't it! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYypcipkO9VhogRCnbMsqYr6uggJbRWgEqySWfDhugF4JCshzl8egB5Xpz5CCMVyC2D04GSRAUFNbZu8QrccmsQ7EQ8s0S4ZYOgzSM1PV0PyHAIVs7OecFJHqg0H3IGJ1uSw-zeG-1VMo/s1600/PIC_4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYypcipkO9VhogRCnbMsqYr6uggJbRWgEqySWfDhugF4JCshzl8egB5Xpz5CCMVyC2D04GSRAUFNbZu8QrccmsQ7EQ8s0S4ZYOgzSM1PV0PyHAIVs7OecFJHqg0H3IGJ1uSw-zeG-1VMo/s640/PIC_4199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Picture: COPYRIGHT by Robin! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4FhXynhXbUxM5WlZ4vCyHr1D3vNUi0UIJ05CqKXXQMOE9jGd2QbdEtrqJsjlCvM78fuhhOSY77Rr7xQyYLCBNvqS4ZY4h9EKRKyEoVPbMJw_kdR3B_TaSNj1X3Diibw-yPJk7G4q-AM/s1600/PIC_4233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4FhXynhXbUxM5WlZ4vCyHr1D3vNUi0UIJ05CqKXXQMOE9jGd2QbdEtrqJsjlCvM78fuhhOSY77Rr7xQyYLCBNvqS4ZY4h9EKRKyEoVPbMJw_kdR3B_TaSNj1X3Diibw-yPJk7G4q-AM/s320/PIC_4233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Together with us, a family from Denmark visited Osman. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzwN6HJMussrWvVANLK5e2pSubk7N3Ncj_OT-nCF59qlQV6vGK4adaVTTgFV6HGnB0P3RguWx0ycUvYZYNAekSVZ5jG5O_Z-GMNib96kjCnJE2w7RcBPTt5JUvBtKosCphwCd3SDNcaY/s1600/PIC_4290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzwN6HJMussrWvVANLK5e2pSubk7N3Ncj_OT-nCF59qlQV6vGK4adaVTTgFV6HGnB0P3RguWx0ycUvYZYNAekSVZ5jG5O_Z-GMNib96kjCnJE2w7RcBPTt5JUvBtKosCphwCd3SDNcaY/s320/PIC_4290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tell Osman what you want to see and there is a good chance he finds it! We were very close to the pigmy elephants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwpmtoIu84qKNM2HjmIVAgVDM61hQu-QtrC4xYg65ufI9YnLOxrwD5ltssm40PH8nIgWYaJpyEhfmrkEdKXi-ykiMKP1qRJYBnSX1BNY4HZ5L1giYzaaWSryjLlZODpy4DH9B1vvl1vM/s1600/PIC_4308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwpmtoIu84qKNM2HjmIVAgVDM61hQu-QtrC4xYg65ufI9YnLOxrwD5ltssm40PH8nIgWYaJpyEhfmrkEdKXi-ykiMKP1qRJYBnSX1BNY4HZ5L1giYzaaWSryjLlZODpy4DH9B1vvl1vM/s320/PIC_4308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kinabatangan river </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDK0-pKDvq-Pwmi2HZbU_utzbx1qjmRkrQEDsgm3hoOJJpG_wQDgoDJxmI9qtusLgzjy3-RkoaLDX9cGCMI3hiklXa07kpE-NUl6NhizqA6pvCqRkl93r8IVDgT-GTtlpSM_WCLltAvs/s1600/PIC_4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDK0-pKDvq-Pwmi2HZbU_utzbx1qjmRkrQEDsgm3hoOJJpG_wQDgoDJxmI9qtusLgzjy3-RkoaLDX9cGCMI3hiklXa07kpE-NUl6NhizqA6pvCqRkl93r8IVDgT-GTtlpSM_WCLltAvs/s320/PIC_4364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monkeys on the Monkey-Bridge, just before the sun went under. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We returned to Kota Kinabalu, did the laundry, the homework, the planning for our trip to Singapore and stuff like that. It was raining a lot, but the hostel was nice and we enjoyed hanging out a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After Matthew returned we went for a dentist check up (we were so lucky to find a really good dentist), and just 2 days later our AirAsia flight took off for Singapore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Borneo was really nice. Would certainly recommend to go! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-26684433435026211682011-02-02T21:15:00.000-08:002011-02-06T23:02:00.895-08:00Bombay, now called Mumbai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Backpacking in India is hard work. A constant awareness of where we find a hygienic place to sleep and to eat. Which transport modes are good and which are to be avoided. <br />
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We ended up in the hospital with travelers diarrhea and only anti-biotic could get rid of that nasty happening. Constant vomiting plus diarrhea at the same time is BAD news! <br />
Just a little later, in a dirty train with head-scratching kids, we had lice in our hair too... at such moments nothing is fun anymore... !!!!!<br />
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Not to put you all off from going to India, Indians have a good sense of doing business, and because of the really low salaries, huge opportunities are there for the population. <br />
Large international companies move whole production lines to India and airline (and other company) call centers, IT and accounting service centers are widely spread in India. <br />
Maybe that works, but on small scale, on the streets, it doesn’t work out for the non-package tourists who are discovering India, as they discover so many other countries. <br />
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The English language skills of many Indians are not all that great. The Indian smiles are there, and are honest, but are certainly not coming from those who need to make a living and DEPEND on the tourist’s rupees. On large scale cheating and ripping-off people is going on. <br />
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Things are done ‘half’ only, buy a t-shirt or other garment and see if fall apart after washing it a couple of times. Colours don’t stick, thread is coming out etc. <br />
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It is sad, we expected way more from the country that advertises with ‘INCREDIBLE INDIA’. In that same advertising campaign, they accidently used an African instead of an Asian elephant, but who cares... elephant = elephant. <br />
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Do we want to return? Maybe for a project, or on an organized tour (whereby we are bad package tour tourists...). Returning as backpackers... at least not for a while <br />
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Strange enough, we do keep this experience as a memorable one. The country has surprised us a lot, there are so many things we have seen which were so unusual. Nothing seems impossible. And of course, there are very nice people in this country too! <br />
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Our last week in India was in Bombay, Mumbai as it is called nowadays. <br />
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Here are some impressions: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGunoLVWsD6qKtrLO2QVtMn6zCOtSufT0955-CXjsOKJmlJcA5gPSi_WDLKwFNxPS78d26OlvLty12UyHfk1f43s69dQzJ-_dQL88SpsjEL4jUhTrobufK424jQbxpwiErpR5A3P_0zXI/s1600/PIC_3483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGunoLVWsD6qKtrLO2QVtMn6zCOtSufT0955-CXjsOKJmlJcA5gPSi_WDLKwFNxPS78d26OlvLty12UyHfk1f43s69dQzJ-_dQL88SpsjEL4jUhTrobufK424jQbxpwiErpR5A3P_0zXI/s320/PIC_3483.JPG" width="180" /></a></div> Ghandi<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdi0sZKNG5J0IPIzJo9U-em4RthqXY97L2KO0wAQk48bCLgUIBo-seVPoa01TJvUIcNdoXsvWNbKtB67MLM_YNfzog8bUi6a2UP4cmXyAG-lLbBsZ4k0KQji-1TiN3W6TDPhUTjdde7Q/s1600/PIC_3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdi0sZKNG5J0IPIzJo9U-em4RthqXY97L2KO0wAQk48bCLgUIBo-seVPoa01TJvUIcNdoXsvWNbKtB67MLM_YNfzog8bUi6a2UP4cmXyAG-lLbBsZ4k0KQji-1TiN3W6TDPhUTjdde7Q/s320/PIC_3353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Markets everywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqs9OV4O09l-0qBnMfQHsaC8wXPZ7lIY8iedIyvoYmrOxrFOJCVsWH4nrtkB0ZqVC9Ra8frGq3rwiC6NNuA1mHoXfprzb87oaOek6TCvtrBmUU2NNUPlh511LjdtGaCPhagUfu5cJViA/s1600/PIC_3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqs9OV4O09l-0qBnMfQHsaC8wXPZ7lIY8iedIyvoYmrOxrFOJCVsWH4nrtkB0ZqVC9Ra8frGq3rwiC6NNuA1mHoXfprzb87oaOek6TCvtrBmUU2NNUPlh511LjdtGaCPhagUfu5cJViA/s320/PIC_3283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Caves on Elephant Island, a boat ride away from the city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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People are making money with anything and everything, here are some more jobs performed on the street: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB90fYniUpjMeBL4MG-HM0of6TWlIm7AMYm4fVFaGEzxhBKxLVos1hhNwA4F18I57MP1uLg8JSjfkM6lnMYKW9TXmf6LtlYagariyseDFeY4JfPVQum8LaMqSXEIN857H912552mvJlv8/s1600/PIC_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB90fYniUpjMeBL4MG-HM0of6TWlIm7AMYm4fVFaGEzxhBKxLVos1hhNwA4F18I57MP1uLg8JSjfkM6lnMYKW9TXmf6LtlYagariyseDFeY4JfPVQum8LaMqSXEIN857H912552mvJlv8/s320/PIC_3398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Open-Air office ?? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQsJOuobPk96X5fii-YdoAB7gpoFFxSF4UfmXWb4amQ6jr62UpTbgtEIONsyCcxnFXhUsm-7BUtsdn44255KVOp354tGxr9k0w3jFN6B0bHZiJwQTolSYnUGo-fj0is4VRtNjqIoB6hg/s1600/PIC_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQsJOuobPk96X5fii-YdoAB7gpoFFxSF4UfmXWb4amQ6jr62UpTbgtEIONsyCcxnFXhUsm-7BUtsdn44255KVOp354tGxr9k0w3jFN6B0bHZiJwQTolSYnUGo-fj0is4VRtNjqIoB6hg/s320/PIC_3176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Quick shave :-) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWQJXcWhuUYhXTkkTDnuT-EsN35TWQ9X0ZaPy9t6cfShtpmYwjgx5P38NIacVhGyXm2GSjZnNSy4He_WlOnI_DE9qRIB5vlBC2sSantYdh77ohpWG7zBbW8o1DdNg3Qw8I2aUTS6U5bM/s1600/PIC_3384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWQJXcWhuUYhXTkkTDnuT-EsN35TWQ9X0ZaPy9t6cfShtpmYwjgx5P38NIacVhGyXm2GSjZnNSy4He_WlOnI_DE9qRIB5vlBC2sSantYdh77ohpWG7zBbW8o1DdNg3Qw8I2aUTS6U5bM/s320/PIC_3384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sharpening knifes with the power of riding a bicycle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU_MG61dSPnbyFF1zG5xSsD8nOSu-TjlP31FlSFf31_FtJKMI7dt6ZbgSnNa89bDy7gv75WrHivZWvV_00OGvBBnk31sE2t8EMiMoOuMPvlJ1UedW02bWzFCKxvXxnlh7vRR3iFzBbkg/s1600/PIC_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU_MG61dSPnbyFF1zG5xSsD8nOSu-TjlP31FlSFf31_FtJKMI7dt6ZbgSnNa89bDy7gv75WrHivZWvV_00OGvBBnk31sE2t8EMiMoOuMPvlJ1UedW02bWzFCKxvXxnlh7vRR3iFzBbkg/s320/PIC_3180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Religion always sells. </div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmPkjeZiqEgHN9hSq6AdLBuKSMAEFqu0p6jB3tGKYZoBsENjhoarTSvtS2qAxDc107u5249fOq-qvplbZ5BAxz9brHRSBqfT2651t7OmSDk3NZSQylixJJZnDnsAqRUNj7ZRs0AnAEPU/s1600/PIC_3440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmPkjeZiqEgHN9hSq6AdLBuKSMAEFqu0p6jB3tGKYZoBsENjhoarTSvtS2qAxDc107u5249fOq-qvplbZ5BAxz9brHRSBqfT2651t7OmSDk3NZSQylixJJZnDnsAqRUNj7ZRs0AnAEPU/s400/PIC_3440.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Talking about INCREDIBLE INDIA. This is the largest "laudramat" in the city. Quite amazing, men are working really hard to wash hotel towels and bedsheets, as well as tourist clothes and whatever else needs a wash. Everything is done by hand, with some help from the sun to get it nice and dry again. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sHp5GS-JXrC3EFXSqDnSiPTYQ5xc7W4ZdBsvai3bwKt8mdAMXrLaMgSLRVDHVvZyenMFkePXOJB00TsBnbo7sWA1Lh6iZF1mw2vFoacggPUk6yJNcpMsSsTqx2mspWGXhZDLP89lucM/s1600/PIC_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sHp5GS-JXrC3EFXSqDnSiPTYQ5xc7W4ZdBsvai3bwKt8mdAMXrLaMgSLRVDHVvZyenMFkePXOJB00TsBnbo7sWA1Lh6iZF1mw2vFoacggPUk6yJNcpMsSsTqx2mspWGXhZDLP89lucM/s400/PIC_3444.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
From the top of the bridge next to the train station people, and not only tourists, have a great view at this rather unusual 'spectacle'. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFfysM9pIxhh1ed2d6PzzCpCcVkrPwmFdKwcokny5vjI4h10lNCWhUkZpjdGPu5RUTPEUQFG9XQPVI44gACpzKo_Z1zyyIRORsIxXaLa53zDAkO2U2gRf-88R1ZycEYN_7u6GdjaOQxg/s1600/PIC_3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFfysM9pIxhh1ed2d6PzzCpCcVkrPwmFdKwcokny5vjI4h10lNCWhUkZpjdGPu5RUTPEUQFG9XQPVI44gACpzKo_Z1zyyIRORsIxXaLa53zDAkO2U2gRf-88R1ZycEYN_7u6GdjaOQxg/s320/PIC_3424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Food is sold everywhere. Sometimes it looks tasty but the question always remains: is if safe for a tourist stomach or not.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgMVGMRZFNETaY06F5NE2yO7wy10BfAF3aqCbRmScCJvKR79Tta0xqZ8no3thWqXk7btLa8K3aCFgCxreZpJfgy-z2GHFMm9ry_z_ZvbD-kkxXYSXTegX6dT5eMF-1umVum85KwTskV8/s1600/PIC_3368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgMVGMRZFNETaY06F5NE2yO7wy10BfAF3aqCbRmScCJvKR79Tta0xqZ8no3thWqXk7btLa8K3aCFgCxreZpJfgy-z2GHFMm9ry_z_ZvbD-kkxXYSXTegX6dT5eMF-1umVum85KwTskV8/s320/PIC_3368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are careful, but there where loads of people buy and the people look clean, we go for it :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here a really delicious sandwich, made of a roll filled with a vegetable mixture, spices and sauce. So nice!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJgCiKaU9Os_9sZi1gLFsoCoPPDgAGwtcKbSEAXlbri5rOgnI7WJ72ViEpWn9HW_lNvpywq9QedRaFfKVqcs6ybFk_pavCm7aKFszDkXELvhKdFgJdUQwQmISTD1BjLjYERx-bv4dxB0/s1600/PIC_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJgCiKaU9Os_9sZi1gLFsoCoPPDgAGwtcKbSEAXlbri5rOgnI7WJ72ViEpWn9HW_lNvpywq9QedRaFfKVqcs6ybFk_pavCm7aKFszDkXELvhKdFgJdUQwQmISTD1BjLjYERx-bv4dxB0/s640/PIC_3420.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following text is copied from: popupcity.net : </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">quote</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dabbawalla is the Hindi term for someone who’s job it is to deliver a hot lunch (dabba) from a worker’s house to his working spot. The dabbawalla is a more than 125 years old cooperative network of more than 5,000 largely illiterate rural workers who use the metropolitan transportation system to bring lunch bags from home to the office. 200,000 Fresh meals carefully prepared by wife’s and mothers in the suburbs are being delivered downtown at men’s work, every day. The empty dabbas are returned home. Dabbawallas use nothing more than 3-4 symbols crudely painted on their ‘dabbas’ to create an unparalleled food supply chain by using their remarkable intuition and teamwork.</div><br />
unquote<br />
<br />
The picture above was taken by us. We did not expect to encounter this INCREDIBLE system, but we did, which was great. Talking about AMAZING. This is amazing, especially as it runs like clockwork! <br />
A real issue is the poverty in Bangkok, especially women and children, but also older men are begging for money and food. Eating on the street is almost impossible without feeling bad. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4trX9udw1wDPc6J5D7X1meqlCXKvzCdT222sGf8bL_X4LR_xFl1ZLph5vIEBxTUpVnTTnTPg8NwsPtYKJDRqqHvm_V_EtNVq6inELd69L6SNBdY88VRC_Hf0WpBLeBUlj5PmLUKANFA/s1600/PIC_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4trX9udw1wDPc6J5D7X1meqlCXKvzCdT222sGf8bL_X4LR_xFl1ZLph5vIEBxTUpVnTTnTPg8NwsPtYKJDRqqHvm_V_EtNVq6inELd69L6SNBdY88VRC_Hf0WpBLeBUlj5PmLUKANFA/s400/PIC_3511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We limit this subject to just one picture, see above. People sleep on the street all the time and often you have to watch that you don't step on them, especially when it is dark. The image of this man stays in our minds though. Carefully check the picture and you see his artificial leg placed on the curb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HuwM7MjwjI8Mss-KXb9Pb7ezE5AMj-ye4tX8Y-9RRTVfLL9_pa0vPp_NTdFSMz1HBoS4xepiLanHqavHV9QYsy-LGfohtLFf-PaK-II9W0NPPKySte-M2fn1aB1tEJq9tom4ss9EJ7Q/s1600/PIC_3546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HuwM7MjwjI8Mss-KXb9Pb7ezE5AMj-ye4tX8Y-9RRTVfLL9_pa0vPp_NTdFSMz1HBoS4xepiLanHqavHV9QYsy-LGfohtLFf-PaK-II9W0NPPKySte-M2fn1aB1tEJq9tom4ss9EJ7Q/s640/PIC_3546.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And one last picture... what do Indians think about tourists? The above Tuk-Tuk has "Capacity for 3 Idiots". Not sure if that is a statement.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bye India. We are leaving with mixed feelings.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-27588093288508570212011-02-02T21:10:00.000-08:002011-02-02T21:10:35.236-08:00Goa, the 'Mallorca' of India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon it will be New Year, Goa reacts on that with severely overprices hostels. Anyway, there is not much we can do about that so we take it as it is and check out this very unusual part of India.<br />
Goa is located on the West side of the country, just at the beach. Low cost carriers from Europe fly on and off, bringing mainly British and German package tourists. THEIR beach is kind of clean, people are nice and chase off the local Indians. The part of the beach the LOCALS are going is terrible. Burning garbage on the beach, eating big meals and leaving the rests, half filled plates and all that for the rats and cockroaches. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Peeing on the beach is normal too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_gP-_1j_CqyFdrvTzoTtIpJXPHy45hUdZFA8so0EB1812FtUDul05vJsJ1IMSWTJXWWzq1YtDPS997n37gZdu3u4hJiC5pJzpMZE54K8TcbgVvyOR5NSrqtQ04c5NmT8oOTqJfyqRUw/s1600/PIC_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_gP-_1j_CqyFdrvTzoTtIpJXPHy45hUdZFA8so0EB1812FtUDul05vJsJ1IMSWTJXWWzq1YtDPS997n37gZdu3u4hJiC5pJzpMZE54K8TcbgVvyOR5NSrqtQ04c5NmT8oOTqJfyqRUw/s320/PIC_3054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nice time at the beach... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjg-xlCZpt-4OPXV2aYhwttkY2wSuoILWWeP0mNxQkzLOUXx_Pt-9YYSq6cnKdGy6FUiluV0K-TbJELhQf9mlHCHVIxtcnMS5P8YNvaB14YRTjdRD53BM-W85XNbyZElQAuhLy6-NgaE/s1600/PIC_3062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjg-xlCZpt-4OPXV2aYhwttkY2wSuoILWWeP0mNxQkzLOUXx_Pt-9YYSq6cnKdGy6FUiluV0K-TbJELhQf9mlHCHVIxtcnMS5P8YNvaB14YRTjdRD53BM-W85XNbyZElQAuhLy6-NgaE/s320/PIC_3062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Interesting: drying fish on the beach <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4YrTzOPPjHAlz5UbAcRIPP5px2lHe2cmVNAR10hZkiYtP7CWOvHBsg1XZIMMdGnEyxN-I6KZnI7XMU0XVl1AA_2jYbGNaNfoEBU39Jl-54V7P_rNIPj3vb9WvmB0LWniUtItRcgTbVs/s1600/PIC_3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4YrTzOPPjHAlz5UbAcRIPP5px2lHe2cmVNAR10hZkiYtP7CWOvHBsg1XZIMMdGnEyxN-I6KZnI7XMU0XVl1AA_2jYbGNaNfoEBU39Jl-54V7P_rNIPj3vb9WvmB0LWniUtItRcgTbVs/s320/PIC_3061.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shark on the menu is normal here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzxeQqiTwtORmk4477PEVLcKD-OE8UtqH1VmutUrTT6pyBfkom2geM0054jEUs3eyaYnzvv1EYtmrU56VBb3Z-_0zUCtprQks7FiF4kI75PvzDt5NSKabN_n4Au4emnZqBVPfiZGCDXw/s1600/PIC_3079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzxeQqiTwtORmk4477PEVLcKD-OE8UtqH1VmutUrTT6pyBfkom2geM0054jEUs3eyaYnzvv1EYtmrU56VBb3Z-_0zUCtprQks7FiF4kI75PvzDt5NSKabN_n4Au4emnZqBVPfiZGCDXw/s320/PIC_3079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We moved around on busses and tuk-tuks. Here a ferry service we took. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hlW5K-4s9YPrdPYiPX-mj2TBk1XVVRgVXPZkLurSDS0fYQnzcKqziZNtV-kTfWOL_NGHNR9ZdIKDevcCHfLYY-SPjxJ5UUEUMOIzhOhEt6GdQclnfoMaDjMS-2KsRAPOe_Vov5Nhyphenhyphen0U/s1600/PIC_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hlW5K-4s9YPrdPYiPX-mj2TBk1XVVRgVXPZkLurSDS0fYQnzcKqziZNtV-kTfWOL_NGHNR9ZdIKDevcCHfLYY-SPjxJ5UUEUMOIzhOhEt6GdQclnfoMaDjMS-2KsRAPOe_Vov5Nhyphenhyphen0U/s320/PIC_3081.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
What is good about so many tourists? The lovely food! After over 2 weeks in India we were ready for some 'non-curry' meals :-) <br />
And Goa does everything for the tourist money. Even the Holy Cow is chopped up here and served and steaks!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UAtXnG4Utztrx-iGRqOHyZn4EZQ_2WiW8Jq4G-QbcJOOD3KzPp29KF6RNXN5Spc-oYSC7BaBblwoIxgK9lizQlx2KqV4rf06bcy0Yq0lGXURWcFxLwNI5UOmTsG2MlfDRQ46wQamooE/s1600/PIC_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UAtXnG4Utztrx-iGRqOHyZn4EZQ_2WiW8Jq4G-QbcJOOD3KzPp29KF6RNXN5Spc-oYSC7BaBblwoIxgK9lizQlx2KqV4rf06bcy0Yq0lGXURWcFxLwNI5UOmTsG2MlfDRQ46wQamooE/s320/PIC_3098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We checked out Goa's past, a Portugese fort, </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M8yxozCJPQNsZKH1wpODjyMzQM7NlPGjf6O8c7PnLI38tixpMfKXmNT_EiAipg1V8dWP-19I7FVx94V1FqY5Fw0s5SkzVrUDyW-qT9wS7LKvR-TTCq0gLu5iGVmYW6U2Eks5aQ8e39s/s1600/PIC_3116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1M8yxozCJPQNsZKH1wpODjyMzQM7NlPGjf6O8c7PnLI38tixpMfKXmNT_EiAipg1V8dWP-19I7FVx94V1FqY5Fw0s5SkzVrUDyW-qT9wS7LKvR-TTCq0gLu5iGVmYW6U2Eks5aQ8e39s/s320/PIC_3116.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>and a Portugese lighthouse. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqpQ0w7hLLiokCYMGINvT_16hP3EBXr9UQPBCE9p_yRrldE-OLmwU9gjZctO2-ORpE7JqGFCWU5I9yVwlQRKWWr_jK2DylVALIkAUEarlJJSvu8z9QHUNRksygeR0g2Slxr5RL6opBc/s1600/PIC_3128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqpQ0w7hLLiokCYMGINvT_16hP3EBXr9UQPBCE9p_yRrldE-OLmwU9gjZctO2-ORpE7JqGFCWU5I9yVwlQRKWWr_jK2DylVALIkAUEarlJJSvu8z9QHUNRksygeR0g2Slxr5RL6opBc/s320/PIC_3128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some people have got it all in Goa, here a HUGE luxurious house just at the ocean side. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV0UgEgv89FuIW5u5RxbVxoQfv2XDSShbs0Z7XV9a_7UBpGS1ccB1NIZzkmvqyaL4jG5id0rPSBJfU3_Rzh5TlawT0YEoXX7A4sAMN_0HnkkUmj2F9cO-JD3wpQlr7tPI8YGxBAwgg9s/s1600/PIC_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV0UgEgv89FuIW5u5RxbVxoQfv2XDSShbs0Z7XV9a_7UBpGS1ccB1NIZzkmvqyaL4jG5id0rPSBJfU3_Rzh5TlawT0YEoXX7A4sAMN_0HnkkUmj2F9cO-JD3wpQlr7tPI8YGxBAwgg9s/s320/PIC_3148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On our way direction Mumbai (Bombay), the views were more like the above...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2t6kuSJnp_lKzpns2cQY8OYj_7grnBSmszuCcbZOsxTSVBYieFb1QXh8ARQEjxkJzCqmgTvBVwzOon1xvPWZosUizJVwx3SYQHUX_aQeyMhduDLFnAwHktg5umaLzjCeDkzehUu3v84/s1600/PIC_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2t6kuSJnp_lKzpns2cQY8OYj_7grnBSmszuCcbZOsxTSVBYieFb1QXh8ARQEjxkJzCqmgTvBVwzOon1xvPWZosUizJVwx3SYQHUX_aQeyMhduDLFnAwHktg5umaLzjCeDkzehUu3v84/s320/PIC_3163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watching the passing trains was interesting, the doors stay open and people are standing in the door openings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssU8iw4mgLN8FDBd5ODYZIy1zW-aINB6jxLWWh_3hzgE6rTwRpV9sYKVUE2-WbuYBzkVtCXO-QEPP-vHqdUAHigJ3qE0ELBOtQGVa8cdUn93Fq6k7j2yL7lwNJZEuAPqEO6sn9KolpFE/s1600/PIC_3164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssU8iw4mgLN8FDBd5ODYZIy1zW-aINB6jxLWWh_3hzgE6rTwRpV9sYKVUE2-WbuYBzkVtCXO-QEPP-vHqdUAHigJ3qE0ELBOtQGVa8cdUn93Fq6k7j2yL7lwNJZEuAPqEO6sn9KolpFE/s320/PIC_3164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also on the quai, people are sitting around with their 'luggage'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40dQJ6V2dARm2tf_skJUwCHGTFnTqJcxFwNuw8JF9uXaomfOd4MZY6zwI8hK_8izhoBYqowIa3CSDbi2qv8XTJhkDkJTaF2-65E8TLmuVjlncrS8fEyz-RrY_5ou7SNAIdm71kF5HhNw/s1600/PIC_3165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40dQJ6V2dARm2tf_skJUwCHGTFnTqJcxFwNuw8JF9uXaomfOd4MZY6zwI8hK_8izhoBYqowIa3CSDbi2qv8XTJhkDkJTaF2-65E8TLmuVjlncrS8fEyz-RrY_5ou7SNAIdm71kF5HhNw/s320/PIC_3165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wherever they go and whatever they are doing, there are SOOOO many people in this country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some days in Goa was ok, it has little to do with India though, but it gave us a chance to hang out a bit. Our room was big and comfortable and also here the fruits are delicious. We checked out an animation design course, which we might come back for.... maybe....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bombay, here we come.... </div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-83385566045903477832011-01-24T21:52:00.000-08:002011-01-24T21:52:05.167-08:00A short stay in Bangalore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The busride to Bangalore was not that bad, important is to 'switch-off' and pretend everything is normal.<br />
Maybe we are getting used Asian busses... <br />
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Anyway, we arrived in the big city and were ready to check out the sights. Just driving and walking around is quite a happening already. Everyone makes his living somehow, there is so much to see: <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DZOzLRtBjmU97vD0AR3sHBeR3E8ZRibv6KGnhQOYirXrW_luq5RyqsFS2PSn1Z4mYCtuqbvqFnYt1d8q20_FowE_G-BeVw9cTZKi6tiV2ZRssJ0eNnoHbYg-o7qe8GJKfuKXEfNfsmg/s1600/PIC_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DZOzLRtBjmU97vD0AR3sHBeR3E8ZRibv6KGnhQOYirXrW_luq5RyqsFS2PSn1Z4mYCtuqbvqFnYt1d8q20_FowE_G-BeVw9cTZKi6tiV2ZRssJ0eNnoHbYg-o7qe8GJKfuKXEfNfsmg/s320/PIC_2980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolDmAE3oafQOY-dfRInR8mLEFHspiuz3fq50rP0Bh7c8pIjsqwbHVVQLOxbR8FWlikI2tCwV4Brm2UKDm11mfpoW23GQPolbkbdaDNsOtRc4-c_UM1o1Y9XjI2PizzIM04ElX4Gf4oiE/s1600/PIC_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolDmAE3oafQOY-dfRInR8mLEFHspiuz3fq50rP0Bh7c8pIjsqwbHVVQLOxbR8FWlikI2tCwV4Brm2UKDm11mfpoW23GQPolbkbdaDNsOtRc4-c_UM1o1Y9XjI2PizzIM04ElX4Gf4oiE/s320/PIC_2981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The other thing we knew about, but had never really experienced: India's HOLY COWS. They are everywhere. On the footpath: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhAb6fAuWHyQrQ4uSFOgop70lVuR3XQQh3p0VHtHc6QC4wAFS2fA7NZo6xqQ4dg-rBc5fsN5KaNTT8C2u9RBi414jwMkzPeXm5bepLXhHzp45qXUbbBXslWoHQxDU5dFPPX5Sf4tcTL4/s1600/PIC_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhAb6fAuWHyQrQ4uSFOgop70lVuR3XQQh3p0VHtHc6QC4wAFS2fA7NZo6xqQ4dg-rBc5fsN5KaNTT8C2u9RBi414jwMkzPeXm5bepLXhHzp45qXUbbBXslWoHQxDU5dFPPX5Sf4tcTL4/s320/PIC_2982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And laying around in the middle on loads of trash... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkry2aJ64eZo-hi3FocKjBETVkIVTcaA7Z1a_DbBx5oRUXTvQnyuOCcitBwbWp0WajjcTZ5HGkMqyDkOlokQc6Ho19kNM1WrEgPRXMtCmJXhnhLizY3KAhk0DbdbxbUfJga_TQHXUYHvA/s1600/PIC_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkry2aJ64eZo-hi3FocKjBETVkIVTcaA7Z1a_DbBx5oRUXTvQnyuOCcitBwbWp0WajjcTZ5HGkMqyDkOlokQc6Ho19kNM1WrEgPRXMtCmJXhnhLizY3KAhk0DbdbxbUfJga_TQHXUYHvA/s320/PIC_2995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So sad, but what can we do, not much. The people find is NORMAL! <br />
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On the positive side, a wildlife park close to the city rescues wild animals which are/were used as tourist attractions. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TLa895wTx-q6KUrYsGf5BCSWSzfNWTzxuWvvPSSRR7mbBRgWzW8OpReyYlxHQw6J71v5jWF6G4o_ANPDxd7bVZrzqwswTKPZ2CRbQjTTEB8WcqUjRKNi80pFbnPiUnxrmK1HWVWg5ZA/s1600/PIC_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TLa895wTx-q6KUrYsGf5BCSWSzfNWTzxuWvvPSSRR7mbBRgWzW8OpReyYlxHQw6J71v5jWF6G4o_ANPDxd7bVZrzqwswTKPZ2CRbQjTTEB8WcqUjRKNi80pFbnPiUnxrmK1HWVWg5ZA/s320/PIC_3009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We visited some temples, too bad the pics are not so good... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQaMJ-yxK5EO1yvEBvDQB_g7pM81wSEXzDcIUI64ywcku46LWejF8CV1Bi3ztoqJiS_FYl75JJSsK-fvyMuPn0IcGclcrHj0P2Ews4EOC_7XOUcj-BxNt0_HetLaQZD8Qxz2JUqsOzog/s1600/PIC_3030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQaMJ-yxK5EO1yvEBvDQB_g7pM81wSEXzDcIUI64ywcku46LWejF8CV1Bi3ztoqJiS_FYl75JJSsK-fvyMuPn0IcGclcrHj0P2Ews4EOC_7XOUcj-BxNt0_HetLaQZD8Qxz2JUqsOzog/s320/PIC_3030.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
and found the holy cow inside one of them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYyZnJtH4oTQmYfi47uKdK9-SYDqUs5kKv1c59qP2c9U7v7jPg2h8vhhwZsqEeCtLTJfCoph-_DdpdSODdtYFrN6CPq0PJCnQrkms1TwY3wVMbgvRnurLbIJYLOJbXShSc1KAOMvu34I/s1600/PIC_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYyZnJtH4oTQmYfi47uKdK9-SYDqUs5kKv1c59qP2c9U7v7jPg2h8vhhwZsqEeCtLTJfCoph-_DdpdSODdtYFrN6CPq0PJCnQrkms1TwY3wVMbgvRnurLbIJYLOJbXShSc1KAOMvu34I/s320/PIC_3026.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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OK, time to move on, another nightbus will bring us to Goa, the 'Mallorca' or India. <br />
</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-84379513034636861412011-01-24T21:11:00.000-08:002011-01-24T21:11:13.542-08:002 Weeks in Fort Kochi, India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In 1999 an Air India aircraft was hijacked between Kathmandu and Delhi, until today the security measures on this route are high. We only transferred in Delhi to the Southern airport of Cochin, in the state Kerala, but had to go through the whole security procedure. Bags were checked 5x (!!) – by hand and by X-ray, before we could finally board the aircraft in Kathmandu. <br />
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Totally annoying that the Air India staff in Delhi found our small pocket knife in that same bag in Delhi (!!!) - we forgot all about it, it must have been in there for months without anyone noticing it. Anyway, gone is gone... <br />
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We found a nice guesthouse in a small town called Fort Kochi. <br />
The place was really nice and clean and the friendly lady cooks ‘safe’ food. We quickly realized that no matter how touristy a place is, garbage belongs on the streets in India and illnesses come with them!! <br />
Within a week all 3 of us were on anti-biotic! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbkpYuxTGH4JwWItTCHGHEKtJ-K19N13BSQyCK8f3CjaJMRZOjfuzEiLxJ91JcnUuy_xFgkzWpzQZX3XvuRYSlQFrzN_xLcL-NG5sMewfh9qiN-c_5D5qoBm34sfYFMi3o1XGbH1uT_Q/s1600/PIC_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbkpYuxTGH4JwWItTCHGHEKtJ-K19N13BSQyCK8f3CjaJMRZOjfuzEiLxJ91JcnUuy_xFgkzWpzQZX3XvuRYSlQFrzN_xLcL-NG5sMewfh9qiN-c_5D5qoBm34sfYFMi3o1XGbH1uT_Q/s320/PIC_2785.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
Rats, dogs, cows, birds and beggars love these road-side places...<br />
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Let’s forget that for the moment, as not everything is bad in Fort Kochi. <br />
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Matthew and Robin took their PADI Open Water Certificate course here, maybe not the most beautiful place but for us very practical. <br />
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The kids caught up on their homework and e-mailed it to their teachers. Matthew applied for the Mike Horn Borneo ACT expedition and got the confirmation during our stay in Fort Kochi. This gave him much extra work, doing fund-raising and preparing presentations. <br />
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A nice internet café in town made a lot of money on us – we did a lot of talking on Facebook and Skype, also as X-mas and New Year were coming up soon. We updated our Blogspot and searched on-line for flights to Borneo, busses within India, animation design courses and much more. <br />
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We send part of our luggage back to Europe, and realized we still have too much left over... each of us has a backpack and then we have the ‘schoolbag’... which is slowly being filled with more and more movies... to replace the finished homework ??? <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTV7YRX0gXFKecd1bjoiP5Tv9suxjYVNeHLJgE9Z5Zrb65vaDB6JVS3tPcXMSXjaXHh-T9DrqCuLXj1Ee6Qy_n9zMkNJpyO7dr9xsX-uPL-t_GvDmFzgYE_6U787RO8HzeXqjZR6F_tU/s1600/PIC_2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTV7YRX0gXFKecd1bjoiP5Tv9suxjYVNeHLJgE9Z5Zrb65vaDB6JVS3tPcXMSXjaXHh-T9DrqCuLXj1Ee6Qy_n9zMkNJpyO7dr9xsX-uPL-t_GvDmFzgYE_6U787RO8HzeXqjZR6F_tU/s320/PIC_2954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cooking lessons in India with Tresa, our 'mother' at the Guesthouse means, curry, curry and more curry. We can almost smell it when we think about it :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iuuSNRtFOBj2NonOQ62I4d-UYAthI6gtAWswCh8Jxu3v2XdTHmTWE_Y6yiGdJ7tiF1HG6y77ToIaA6vEJyzSoC3mk0Z43JPd22fOI0Pjr47RDIlXX70DyftuxNi_IhOsiU-kLU9_f2k/s1600/PIC_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iuuSNRtFOBj2NonOQ62I4d-UYAthI6gtAWswCh8Jxu3v2XdTHmTWE_Y6yiGdJ7tiF1HG6y77ToIaA6vEJyzSoC3mk0Z43JPd22fOI0Pjr47RDIlXX70DyftuxNi_IhOsiU-kLU9_f2k/s320/PIC_2941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With Christmas coming up, the streets are decorated. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgJ-MH6L1zJSxO9PqkoLQhQpCcLMD7j07igAyxpT1E-dz9GRazyWGUvZSJAjHbmJButo3Aiy0gX9L2mGTo5j0M0hqFYISYBdnXzY-nN5XqsppLRFXLXiApscFqVTDkpwxQyQM9S_Khfc/s1600/PIC_2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgJ-MH6L1zJSxO9PqkoLQhQpCcLMD7j07igAyxpT1E-dz9GRazyWGUvZSJAjHbmJButo3Aiy0gX9L2mGTo5j0M0hqFYISYBdnXzY-nN5XqsppLRFXLXiApscFqVTDkpwxQyQM9S_Khfc/s320/PIC_2869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Typical Kerala style dresses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3_bsuxPK319Ximz3497_JKBU0XfPbfSrkWyEUKrIo19eJkh4suMyryJsvz5gq_-5MMvSJbZrxRBRVGcuyT0652P6W51flAA_pKQA3kNMDZyETuZpqa-7vMuJJgzMtallGlRHXha3Zbo/s1600/PIC_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3_bsuxPK319Ximz3497_JKBU0XfPbfSrkWyEUKrIo19eJkh4suMyryJsvz5gq_-5MMvSJbZrxRBRVGcuyT0652P6W51flAA_pKQA3kNMDZyETuZpqa-7vMuJJgzMtallGlRHXha3Zbo/s320/PIC_2830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">We checked out the town by foot and rickshaw. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Even that we said many times, no more busses, we now had to board another bus... all trains were full and a sleeper bus was the only way to go to our next destination. Bangalore, or Bengaluru as it is called now. </span><br />
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</div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-86903817158213836422011-01-22T22:10:00.000-08:002011-01-22T22:11:36.241-08:0021 Degrees in Nepal!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This trip is different from any other trip we went on before. We didn't pre-plan so well, and we did not buy round-the-world tickets. Before we left last June it was busy for everyone; Sonja was working and Matthew and Robin were in school. We more or less planned our Canada journey and we had a rough idea which countries we would visit during the coming year, but everything was kept flexible. Which suited all of us.<br />
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Nepal was one of the countries we wanted to go to. Thinking of Nepal, snow and ice and mountains as well as trekking with guides came to our minds. <br />
It would turn out completely different. On the ‘Couchsurfing’ platform we found a lady who runs a house for less fortunate children. <br />
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After some e-mail exchange we decided to visit the house and help out where needed. <br />
We first stayed a couple of days in a hostel in Kathmandu and we visited the sights.<br />
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We did a street clean up with the locals. The streets are filled with trash here and nobody seems to even realize that it looks bad, stinks and attract cockroaches, rats and such... <br />
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Have a look at the video here: FOLLOWS SOON<br />
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Arriving at the Children Welfare Home (CWH) we found quite some kids in Matthew and Robin’s age. This was great. <br />
A total of around 50 children live at the CWH, partly babies and small children who are awaiting their adoption papers before they can move to their new parents. These kids are all orphans who were abandoned and were brought to CWH by the government.<br />
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Then there are the kids with less fortunate backgrounds, they mainly come from poor villages in Nepal and live in the house. Most of them still have either one or both parent(s) but these are unable to look after them at the moment. The boys and girls between 6 and 17 years old now go to a good school and get a real chance to change their family’s lives.<br />
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Within a few days we realized that the CWH is facing big financial difficulties. First the financial crisis hit, then the aid organizations were put in a bad daylight. People have stopped donating money to organizations they don’t know, and those who donate, give less. Together with some other people we try to help and improve their situation. Preferably in a sustainable way! <br />
More to follow about this. <br />
Here are a few pictures we took of the kids and the ‘didi’ – a didi is a lady who looks after the babies.<br />
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With Matthew’s involvement in the Mike Horn group, we spoke with the kids about the streets of Kathmandu. Even in front of their door there was loads of trash to be found. <br />
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Worse was that they, themselves burn all their garbage in their garden!! <br />
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Together we cleaned huge loads of half-burned garbage that was scattered through the garden and agreed not to burn it anymore. <br />
We went one step further when the kids got really excited about trash and the need to clean it up. <br />
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The kids started a group of ‘activists’ and now regularly clean the streets and speak with neighbours and (school)friends about the need for a clean city.<br />
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Here the team, ready for action:<br />
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Before we knew it, it was time to go. Our visa almost expired and we were ready to discover India.<br />
We are pretty sure we will return to Nepal in 2011. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-55621141384812997622010-12-27T20:26:00.000-08:002010-12-27T20:26:51.374-08:00One week through TibetIn Chengdu we booked a tour with a driver and a guide through Tibet. We are not at all the organized tour travellers, but Tibet does not allow individuals to roam around on their own. <br />
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From Chengdu, it took 2 days by train to reach the capital Lhasa, the starting point of the tour. <br />
We stayed 2 days in Lhasa and visited the sights (see blog before). <br />
After that a 6 day tour through the country brought us to the border with Nepal. See a map for easier orientation ok... <br />
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The scenery is stunning, the people are fantastic, the country is HUGE, so the distances we have to drive were long, the roads are quite ok for 50% percent of the time, the rest is offroad and dirt roads, for which the 4x4 was 100% needed... <br />
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Here are some pictures to get an idea: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlwd6NsKk6FTYVhyYCE3bApaAI2UnkPM3ZSS-Uyi3VtRloGuYaVe-VEXeSID-XbDK6AeLqQUujT77abBWct2bLpN0OyjH1jFqPHhQ64kPgGyqUEGCa03Lv8rDJNcuQjXwsI6WMqZGmNI/s1600/PIC_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlwd6NsKk6FTYVhyYCE3bApaAI2UnkPM3ZSS-Uyi3VtRloGuYaVe-VEXeSID-XbDK6AeLqQUujT77abBWct2bLpN0OyjH1jFqPHhQ64kPgGyqUEGCa03Lv8rDJNcuQjXwsI6WMqZGmNI/s320/PIC_2129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sheep, yak, goats and cows are everywhere</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAUB2Pwoona2uNlB_diBeyuZwrpKa3XGfDCR08Ycp5ABBEZBm8Bmy1AQxMFdhL-kAMv8wIRtUOHAruLlIlV8igOd3MZUiIr-C9cvMR4MT1kw-xrYtYbVc-nHTrnBKkZqb4LW6Ti-yCqI/s1600/PIC_2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAUB2Pwoona2uNlB_diBeyuZwrpKa3XGfDCR08Ycp5ABBEZBm8Bmy1AQxMFdhL-kAMv8wIRtUOHAruLlIlV8igOd3MZUiIr-C9cvMR4MT1kw-xrYtYbVc-nHTrnBKkZqb4LW6Ti-yCqI/s320/PIC_2121.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Matthew<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPMr83Hd3NGtPlvsl2Ts1zDsgSqAfSHHzBWoFC2AfZYuASd4iX35NOMoCrveHCs4pW9lz_ctvpzBOH1k0Ogarbbbol27yyAI_cyGAfI62H6F-VKbFQHrd8ymKFCkc3WwXQJDoI4wMDE/s1600/PIC_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPMr83Hd3NGtPlvsl2Ts1zDsgSqAfSHHzBWoFC2AfZYuASd4iX35NOMoCrveHCs4pW9lz_ctvpzBOH1k0Ogarbbbol27yyAI_cyGAfI62H6F-VKbFQHrd8ymKFCkc3WwXQJDoI4wMDE/s320/PIC_2112.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Robin<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn6NRSocTlG6NOL_7i57T-ZyeWKbBWhvhuwFdy9U2v0yvEWi-H_TawmfIxjteTii19r3gCp9o4DmwtoQZsbaB3h2Qh5Gd20qu-2IrgXsTLVKbf0TA9p25P1adYe959VfeQfDJofYiODM/s1600/PIC_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn6NRSocTlG6NOL_7i57T-ZyeWKbBWhvhuwFdy9U2v0yvEWi-H_TawmfIxjteTii19r3gCp9o4DmwtoQZsbaB3h2Qh5Gd20qu-2IrgXsTLVKbf0TA9p25P1adYe959VfeQfDJofYiODM/s320/PIC_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Best restaurant in Tibet :-) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqctZBaFniujU3QdYfhDEQjDntGWjmKgju_3LzNVm0uW7MOjtJRvyrduMtkWwJ_OIsFSj60Zmnbii56Y_1ZURV_Ys0GBVR_xPw71HR4tYrqR4W5kWK4Ya14faTTgWXmeKZ11uHCiE7fZA/s1600/PIC_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqctZBaFniujU3QdYfhDEQjDntGWjmKgju_3LzNVm0uW7MOjtJRvyrduMtkWwJ_OIsFSj60Zmnbii56Y_1ZURV_Ys0GBVR_xPw71HR4tYrqR4W5kWK4Ya14faTTgWXmeKZ11uHCiE7fZA/s320/PIC_2106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Most farmer houses are build in this style <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kt6bNYsPYFf-TJg6FijOZVU8fcaW0j3U-KAMlCNlv8LZ8H_16LPYB2DEr2vNFxB6Z_OY3SYt5B2qivp6WkQ1LVn1OAAbRuKDdYQWu17ZBH59zAxszcOlcGLctCVCytvWH3an_TSQ1NA/s1600/PIC_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kt6bNYsPYFf-TJg6FijOZVU8fcaW0j3U-KAMlCNlv8LZ8H_16LPYB2DEr2vNFxB6Z_OY3SYt5B2qivp6WkQ1LVn1OAAbRuKDdYQWu17ZBH59zAxszcOlcGLctCVCytvWH3an_TSQ1NA/s320/PIC_2071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Himalayas from the Tibetan side in the back. As it is the end of the season, going towards winter, everything is dry. Apparently it is green(er) during the summer<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eUhn38ZB-0isZbMwNBgIcFoFy9T2X0EANiFik4rxEN7koh8BD_Ko7zAWE_EgyAQ8YM1ISdW_lnx2aGpMomWx9ZhL-jXUlc9ZDuClJ-tMaSq41mKj8U3N0Es224I43mJFTAM5vCvWtVk/s1600/PIC_2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eUhn38ZB-0isZbMwNBgIcFoFy9T2X0EANiFik4rxEN7koh8BD_Ko7zAWE_EgyAQ8YM1ISdW_lnx2aGpMomWx9ZhL-jXUlc9ZDuClJ-tMaSq41mKj8U3N0Es224I43mJFTAM5vCvWtVk/s320/PIC_2136.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Glacier</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLtKaYX4Tjuvq9tQiB1l8znbNq4Xl3q4qJvROryG26i2oXiUiHRGKdD18IBwvS9EPZih2tKuM-CQg7sW2g1CHC_jIpommDRafAQ04xdoVRg1wfocT_1WjNM54-lXkOzrNrlbYrh0axOg/s1600/PIC_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLtKaYX4Tjuvq9tQiB1l8znbNq4Xl3q4qJvROryG26i2oXiUiHRGKdD18IBwvS9EPZih2tKuM-CQg7sW2g1CHC_jIpommDRafAQ04xdoVRg1wfocT_1WjNM54-lXkOzrNrlbYrh0axOg/s320/PIC_2219.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Prayer flags are everywhere, especially mountain passes are all covered with loads of them<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD-qNKlE3-PQImcM76aHkxvSkf5LWe__vpoP7F247Zh3u4sS0SOeOIN_edrTk33bYPFWXSRHYUiaraJ3ej-vMdPy61ayTkJ-UBpoFxyLMUyDsqraSMEqhL5HeP85XkpkU4g25_w4NrnY/s1600/PIC_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD-qNKlE3-PQImcM76aHkxvSkf5LWe__vpoP7F247Zh3u4sS0SOeOIN_edrTk33bYPFWXSRHYUiaraJ3ej-vMdPy61ayTkJ-UBpoFxyLMUyDsqraSMEqhL5HeP85XkpkU4g25_w4NrnY/s320/PIC_2191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Even that the Dalai Lama has long left Tibet, there are many temples with the most amazing statues, paintings and other decorations<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D4mAGrIt3KShYYTJW8J-hIHIcR4DGYEek4gXOQi_CpB4hUPas_NYgFQO8nrX6arIkfJpfm45EvrbNpXIKWJPdXTzcr4In4_Ekr1jneRb-yL5TNuCiuf89Oaml2DXEZRR3zcgmE9CE6Q/s1600/PIC_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D4mAGrIt3KShYYTJW8J-hIHIcR4DGYEek4gXOQi_CpB4hUPas_NYgFQO8nrX6arIkfJpfm45EvrbNpXIKWJPdXTzcr4In4_Ekr1jneRb-yL5TNuCiuf89Oaml2DXEZRR3zcgmE9CE6Q/s320/PIC_2176.JPG" width="180" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Our guide tried to give us a quick course in Tibetan Buddhismus, which terribly failed... Buddhas for yesterday, today and tomorrow - the colors, the hands, the rituals, the meanings. Too much...<br />
but beautiful to look at though... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRcju-o9g1geqBJz3g8RfLlntsStwPKCFt8PXgo94zclu2PKSiarWj0TZiUmIEI7DqsaeIB9bqUAz0GRJoZEPiJT96TRM9lnO3GtmBjW4LLolEKgrGnN-xF4xUljxsHzq3kjAFPERcg8/s1600/PIC_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRcju-o9g1geqBJz3g8RfLlntsStwPKCFt8PXgo94zclu2PKSiarWj0TZiUmIEI7DqsaeIB9bqUAz0GRJoZEPiJT96TRM9lnO3GtmBjW4LLolEKgrGnN-xF4xUljxsHzq3kjAFPERcg8/s320/PIC_2324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Flat tire </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5cdYdSVKE5jO4F1y8w7q_uGxhy6FQhjSCXjAJZT5dDza7EfLosC43ZSF_WqGk96Sp4evfSHxaOwtaj8WhDsCLpXCgW5GlkJfVPNJUMsvVHY25kN_NWs813p0nmS9cIpYtFPZp6YXqpE/s1600/PIC_2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5cdYdSVKE5jO4F1y8w7q_uGxhy6FQhjSCXjAJZT5dDza7EfLosC43ZSF_WqGk96Sp4evfSHxaOwtaj8WhDsCLpXCgW5GlkJfVPNJUMsvVHY25kN_NWs813p0nmS9cIpYtFPZp6YXqpE/s320/PIC_2318.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Typical village setting</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7dc_5Ap1V7vbmN76qH3nRbUVh1RdrWOl4c_kia6e4GEt_iGcXv3bHu6R1cJbAlcWWFu_V2nX17mD4usaiNuRgrwQIe9DNfWNgFMKNeS7pv2GL1KbotAiDFEXAVZGQ27mh65u4XLc-Mo/s1600/PIC_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7dc_5Ap1V7vbmN76qH3nRbUVh1RdrWOl4c_kia6e4GEt_iGcXv3bHu6R1cJbAlcWWFu_V2nX17mD4usaiNuRgrwQIe9DNfWNgFMKNeS7pv2GL1KbotAiDFEXAVZGQ27mh65u4XLc-Mo/s320/PIC_2254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Typical vehicle </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSymVroOzQytc_nHoXDfMQ96Y1OkCH1almwyz5GKOe3ipEaQM6LVY7_T-WVF8tKU9JryzvEOwo0JMnvthcHDfBI078eSlIjSaoCdh9XtN4WhOqW9LewW2eoKoSzjrvYf1W_XpAcvWjzw/s1600/PIC_2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSymVroOzQytc_nHoXDfMQ96Y1OkCH1almwyz5GKOe3ipEaQM6LVY7_T-WVF8tKU9JryzvEOwo0JMnvthcHDfBI078eSlIjSaoCdh9XtN4WhOqW9LewW2eoKoSzjrvYf1W_XpAcvWjzw/s320/PIC_2425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Typical way to spend the day</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHLHq28U_QWoQsdk5pJIpvmMaE2OHudb-ASHltuoVysFGTc2Wuf6vfY2GSXWfDFQmBCg8MXCGq-LfNQIRu0tTiozi3H2xMKjFxmNXT6GPL-yXz2nlgTcAVMMl_xgrywvG-G9GQtj12GI/s1600/PIC_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHLHq28U_QWoQsdk5pJIpvmMaE2OHudb-ASHltuoVysFGTc2Wuf6vfY2GSXWfDFQmBCg8MXCGq-LfNQIRu0tTiozi3H2xMKjFxmNXT6GPL-yXz2nlgTcAVMMl_xgrywvG-G9GQtj12GI/s320/PIC_2422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The air is getting thin... cookies bought in Lhasa. There is hardly enough space for the air in the packing :-) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQadpyKi3VqHwzDbJD5TPjB-ScMTPY9u2Sf8718wKfr6d_muCOlI95UiNzNd4yUrFqDA4SOuzR474I4s-FS2doNg3ukyqq0l_eZI1OHl6Tl0UOSKDPs5TDMdku3yjiHESjWi7iRFJ_Qg/s1600/PIC_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQadpyKi3VqHwzDbJD5TPjB-ScMTPY9u2Sf8718wKfr6d_muCOlI95UiNzNd4yUrFqDA4SOuzR474I4s-FS2doNg3ukyqq0l_eZI1OHl6Tl0UOSKDPs5TDMdku3yjiHESjWi7iRFJ_Qg/s320/PIC_2375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Mount Everest. We drove up to the base camp at 5400 meters. It was really cold and windy.<br />
The night after our visit we stayed on around 5000 meters. The hostel was so basic that light, heat and water were not available and together with the altitude, and the - as we think - food poisoned dinner, the experience can NOT be recommended to anyone!!!!!!! This hostel can be called: one of the worst places to stay on earth. No joke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdTh9j-GYw_rdOLs9ucSlxA37JHfiFJVt3pN8M0AAD7tGWH43hQQIYDptFE5lRI_EK8wj88CTxux0wUcrPOYJIh64od0ieproJOPR0iccl8CyAiGQaU73OXDNMFELbG1mfy-AasWApcQ/s1600/PIC_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdTh9j-GYw_rdOLs9ucSlxA37JHfiFJVt3pN8M0AAD7tGWH43hQQIYDptFE5lRI_EK8wj88CTxux0wUcrPOYJIh64od0ieproJOPR0iccl8CyAiGQaU73OXDNMFELbG1mfy-AasWApcQ/s320/PIC_2400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3pT3p_-jY0E2R0p9ZGslxhsWejoQ4TzHiFWepx8d76stR4-WsIzJK1erD_xcdXYWrGOcA9OMm2TLv1jm79_zu4g8epL3aMt8CVAeGPHhyphenhyphenzq3zS1ZBdlP33XMhyGdiX7lURqWHdiZBhM/s1600/PIC_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3pT3p_-jY0E2R0p9ZGslxhsWejoQ4TzHiFWepx8d76stR4-WsIzJK1erD_xcdXYWrGOcA9OMm2TLv1jm79_zu4g8epL3aMt8CVAeGPHhyphenhyphenzq3zS1ZBdlP33XMhyGdiX7lURqWHdiZBhM/s320/PIC_2356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yak on the way </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesSZuFQEOlITVEPvVUaQND86phbd7oITyZvo6QOhCCSn79GZTFZ1c4f73Yw8LWRIQ_OawNMaSbkjAzH-pHVapHPqhB4ZuIcMhfGoc4OwNVfgdlmigghHpLr8ZpNtEzz-r_ILaZ7gYaJ4/s1600/PIC_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesSZuFQEOlITVEPvVUaQND86phbd7oITyZvo6QOhCCSn79GZTFZ1c4f73Yw8LWRIQ_OawNMaSbkjAzH-pHVapHPqhB4ZuIcMhfGoc4OwNVfgdlmigghHpLr8ZpNtEzz-r_ILaZ7gYaJ4/s320/PIC_2448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spending the day includes a whole lot of talking and social gatherings</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD57VaqboZxmHTI8rtKa_jeERJutLC-Lyioj4eSXBeu0LmF1MFnDw0sNEREsKJErD7URmipm1QPG0c_0zs2HAsi3ZJlQmdEkrcKPe9KCzIvA-rwA61CpqRZ7qkso3B3aMHpP_Ecaa2b0U/s1600/PIC_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD57VaqboZxmHTI8rtKa_jeERJutLC-Lyioj4eSXBeu0LmF1MFnDw0sNEREsKJErD7URmipm1QPG0c_0zs2HAsi3ZJlQmdEkrcKPe9KCzIvA-rwA61CpqRZ7qkso3B3aMHpP_Ecaa2b0U/s320/PIC_2444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Getting ready to work on the land<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHyjA2TgFOEjKFqF_QpdZYw7UPLR7F2eYwiZpmusr0dVy2PcjzHa26zeyoAlhnOxy54TIuSWA3IK0xNpHlBkq90dWmFozf87Q_5l5kqHy-LUiKCRf_ZdzXcx5z7OirNscEkeiM5wfiX8/s1600/PIC_2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHyjA2TgFOEjKFqF_QpdZYw7UPLR7F2eYwiZpmusr0dVy2PcjzHa26zeyoAlhnOxy54TIuSWA3IK0xNpHlBkq90dWmFozf87Q_5l5kqHy-LUiKCRf_ZdzXcx5z7OirNscEkeiM5wfiX8/s320/PIC_2453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our second accident. The tire in the front of the picture just came off OUR car!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxazGaVX8ih3bvhheyhdWAD3YHjSsvnXu9JhbuuDpHiim8VY62TWOnM5SOBnLODRg_iPqM6o11h7-NtSnvXIlh-vWtIoK1ebCiBRFSV0bIizjN0v25aKjNHNt1uUY3MHjmzaPp_rxxsRA/s1600/PIC_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxazGaVX8ih3bvhheyhdWAD3YHjSsvnXu9JhbuuDpHiim8VY62TWOnM5SOBnLODRg_iPqM6o11h7-NtSnvXIlh-vWtIoK1ebCiBRFSV0bIizjN0v25aKjNHNt1uUY3MHjmzaPp_rxxsRA/s320/PIC_2450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Our driver kept the car under control, and we got our without a problem. The road was nice and straight at the place where it happened. Still, we seemed to be stuck in the middle of nowhere. <br />
Amazing but true, the only public bus, which passes only once a day, just arrived 10 minutes after the accident and took us all the way to our next stop, near the Nepalese border. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58Tk6n3aOi4_HjiwXYx5S7ddqPuHApw-ckaNitrLVOQ9jfHyQU88zy0AuiyUuCccAwLNfvNI71kIAjQcnTq5TlY6NG6398BAVGFueveh7rX6QvzLNFMtCF9_ybJu85iPTBqPwpBoV45U/s1600/PIC_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58Tk6n3aOi4_HjiwXYx5S7ddqPuHApw-ckaNitrLVOQ9jfHyQU88zy0AuiyUuCccAwLNfvNI71kIAjQcnTq5TlY6NG6398BAVGFueveh7rX6QvzLNFMtCF9_ybJu85iPTBqPwpBoV45U/s320/PIC_2490.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The public bus during a stop on the way. Tourists can not travel in public busses, but exceptions are made. <br />
Never thought we would fall in that catergory right :-) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ZZxovVq9p_xOIlRJsAY46WOBG2hf3tV6QdPCAe7lUqPMNkvXB8A69JN8TB6nsvX4WPs_-wIlmSsYmVDj98PFf7aHQzygAHm-uM1PRoir5AGvHaGfkcEJBErfFi22Jx0JPA0QmiavZk/s1600/PIC_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ZZxovVq9p_xOIlRJsAY46WOBG2hf3tV6QdPCAe7lUqPMNkvXB8A69JN8TB6nsvX4WPs_-wIlmSsYmVDj98PFf7aHQzygAHm-uM1PRoir5AGvHaGfkcEJBErfFi22Jx0JPA0QmiavZk/s320/PIC_2498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The view from the bus </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThUOhBGTTj0xlCbmxVSacCT5cx9BLQbyQUi1rCP1SVHAC8zx_blYLwMNGPOcPcR8npc7WWfjwu4_lY9UUVor9imCNaaTl_uMCPHOM8wGadvvtIB1dVK6j-9bR4zUVK6e7E9_8QyeaZmo/s1600/PIC_2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThUOhBGTTj0xlCbmxVSacCT5cx9BLQbyQUi1rCP1SVHAC8zx_blYLwMNGPOcPcR8npc7WWfjwu4_lY9UUVor9imCNaaTl_uMCPHOM8wGadvvtIB1dVK6j-9bR4zUVK6e7E9_8QyeaZmo/s320/PIC_2468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The view from the bus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8gU4flbcjefmdYytyBGISW5JHC_PwLgBOv2LLS8FU16vhNRqGhg9JsH_kDrEhxSIzLASXg19L8EtbFR-qsECSHCzcQQBps31_vwe1V1JCrB7ZfC7KlbjseOptIjgaEfhflnAX-qKtp4/s1600/PIC_2504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8gU4flbcjefmdYytyBGISW5JHC_PwLgBOv2LLS8FU16vhNRqGhg9JsH_kDrEhxSIzLASXg19L8EtbFR-qsECSHCzcQQBps31_vwe1V1JCrB7ZfC7KlbjseOptIjgaEfhflnAX-qKtp4/s320/PIC_2504.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made it. The bags can come down from the bus. We had one more night in the border town before crossing to Nepal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If we would go again..... probably not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If we think you should go.... probably yes. This is really one of the places you should go and see for yourself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-8014993959981725012010-12-26T10:23:00.000-08:002010-12-26T10:23:54.042-08:00People in Lhasa, Tibet<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People in Tibet are great – unfortunately for a large part also really poor. <br />
These pictures are taken on and near the local market. <br />
<br />
Part of the people are not from Lhasa, but are Tibetan visitors from far away villages. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeto79Mta27onNf9F2S8ioy4ogh0IVz8jANAEk4SMAsSIKnTvDGwXWF0f4aS4V45to5aHhBl4kY6h1KvLCCl7uleEmQOWcslC-qNewwLQYR1vZDNCMBnJRF1M-veoMB3yaS-u4l7h_nRA/s1600/PIC_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeto79Mta27onNf9F2S8ioy4ogh0IVz8jANAEk4SMAsSIKnTvDGwXWF0f4aS4V45to5aHhBl4kY6h1KvLCCl7uleEmQOWcslC-qNewwLQYR1vZDNCMBnJRF1M-veoMB3yaS-u4l7h_nRA/s320/PIC_1973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkmuWD_ARwsM5xu3V1lxrFU0F5xevRcRVDKqf4UM4ZhjIA4kjf8N_sdz4IcdzQMimRocyYYDz-7Flpfw6sRDBe-SSuIR4LvpDUCjimp060vWoUEse797T7xhWQXdFOanWPL2IWig9U7Q/s1600/PIC_1979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkmuWD_ARwsM5xu3V1lxrFU0F5xevRcRVDKqf4UM4ZhjIA4kjf8N_sdz4IcdzQMimRocyYYDz-7Flpfw6sRDBe-SSuIR4LvpDUCjimp060vWoUEse797T7xhWQXdFOanWPL2IWig9U7Q/s320/PIC_1979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgLwDvjMX5YLkmtKXz0tyHT2CthOPEaBlPVvIwrohgig-35DlgnjCkdSRxIRhOsErDJlJAJahwaYSb_-qvLVF0qlOyetLVJyp37RnPHcePvctgiKr6p2Uh-HN7Sh2SAEOq3fGRUEoMNw/s1600/PIC_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgLwDvjMX5YLkmtKXz0tyHT2CthOPEaBlPVvIwrohgig-35DlgnjCkdSRxIRhOsErDJlJAJahwaYSb_-qvLVF0qlOyetLVJyp37RnPHcePvctgiKr6p2Uh-HN7Sh2SAEOq3fGRUEoMNw/s320/PIC_1980.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are still astonished about the above practise... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8687YfpF8QJDypAh93tmTqOPIk81UUJUCS7g7Rju1eB2PoWYClWbZAGZLn0IXE7orfP-FUNXWIOrYnPjVKl-NoIed-q5eBaRr6JYfdS2ynrq_oPh1gHT_hWvGDKgWgSOTLyKgGsl5nA/s1600/PIC_1993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8687YfpF8QJDypAh93tmTqOPIk81UUJUCS7g7Rju1eB2PoWYClWbZAGZLn0IXE7orfP-FUNXWIOrYnPjVKl-NoIed-q5eBaRr6JYfdS2ynrq_oPh1gHT_hWvGDKgWgSOTLyKgGsl5nA/s320/PIC_1993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ2L7t0ZWPcDVnAAP9aOvTSmBNpAwlx3aBy7ll2aBIh1d4WVijDJVZfxdAh8ouIKF611JFODXvoOq7nUVRDPQFtG2HEouz13mpILAcsx_V7A4V94aieYNG_ydp5_p02v2odBO5D0-3Jo/s1600/PIC_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ2L7t0ZWPcDVnAAP9aOvTSmBNpAwlx3aBy7ll2aBIh1d4WVijDJVZfxdAh8ouIKF611JFODXvoOq7nUVRDPQFtG2HEouz13mpILAcsx_V7A4V94aieYNG_ydp5_p02v2odBO5D0-3Jo/s320/PIC_2034.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tj5pm4gTAeZTmR0X6KVyKoLGsOSC_7YbdGfdKGO8iTYYuX46Wm4iBDj0Jis89GMhhV-snbvJCTgN1gmM6Y5jlUf5ar2cMKHEANG1ZWyYb2zVtheZWaU61ZXULvFkGPVy6TU4vLQJA0s/s1600/PIC_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tj5pm4gTAeZTmR0X6KVyKoLGsOSC_7YbdGfdKGO8iTYYuX46Wm4iBDj0Jis89GMhhV-snbvJCTgN1gmM6Y5jlUf5ar2cMKHEANG1ZWyYb2zVtheZWaU61ZXULvFkGPVy6TU4vLQJA0s/s320/PIC_2027.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDg4VQJTZFRqRq-9f8sNfG-Q7R2e8YUmsHzNQL3YbvndmZZyGzPJ1uk-0eFap2wpTxPtIarGPi1U0ZMSDf10sUID0_MTTUo40PCrarpZb5jtPzw2x1Qjb9WFx2RtiAb-du-fk4OB7xD4/s1600/PIC_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDg4VQJTZFRqRq-9f8sNfG-Q7R2e8YUmsHzNQL3YbvndmZZyGzPJ1uk-0eFap2wpTxPtIarGPi1U0ZMSDf10sUID0_MTTUo40PCrarpZb5jtPzw2x1Qjb9WFx2RtiAb-du-fk4OB7xD4/s320/PIC_2025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most people really like to have their picture taken. </div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-86566918019126943642010-12-26T10:15:00.000-08:002010-12-26T10:15:00.333-08:00Lhasa, the capital of Tibet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The capital city Lhasa is only small, but there is much to see. <br />
The city and the people are so different from any other place we have visited! </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some impressions: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-LFt5Oy_tBPsJGbtLKsPebMosZbV-CN8paVVakVBayFzdvtUVO0DNiO870HvMz1k7UMd08bPjc3Om08ACU4mcjFw_YhURVnszYPGSErV0bKDgpqef_e-qdR1XXQ8Rr7ZfvKjgj6haQ4/s1600/PIC_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-LFt5Oy_tBPsJGbtLKsPebMosZbV-CN8paVVakVBayFzdvtUVO0DNiO870HvMz1k7UMd08bPjc3Om08ACU4mcjFw_YhURVnszYPGSErV0bKDgpqef_e-qdR1XXQ8Rr7ZfvKjgj6haQ4/s320/PIC_1964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Eating food on the street is no problem. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASUavT-ZvgjQuEZI5yl1ERr1R-ItnKVBbi-zCAm-2LVDdTI0DufUcrOsStSYubSbKhZSb4yjuZmDtD5W0-HE_M_0kc_YWZCFJKL6HBErQcXYkYIpSTOCoZYEYCBM13j1pq_bLYazaZoA/s1600/PIC_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASUavT-ZvgjQuEZI5yl1ERr1R-ItnKVBbi-zCAm-2LVDdTI0DufUcrOsStSYubSbKhZSb4yjuZmDtD5W0-HE_M_0kc_YWZCFJKL6HBErQcXYkYIpSTOCoZYEYCBM13j1pq_bLYazaZoA/s320/PIC_1982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Corn and some deep fried dough 'things' for breakfast... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sGyrk3phqrhu6MJIq5PGx8DNLdsJQ2ZFldcnhkTdiNiUvo3Pb-zMvfCrcr4Kpg905mFojOkEDt5ORmNqmpKaLRdf5jiH_Z2dMZj1DgcLWkZ8yKmfROk69B5TPrpXAotgc5lRSiwovgY/s1600/PIC_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sGyrk3phqrhu6MJIq5PGx8DNLdsJQ2ZFldcnhkTdiNiUvo3Pb-zMvfCrcr4Kpg905mFojOkEDt5ORmNqmpKaLRdf5jiH_Z2dMZj1DgcLWkZ8yKmfROk69B5TPrpXAotgc5lRSiwovgY/s320/PIC_2047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sweet potatoes, baked over the fire, really nice actually. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY0Ud-4uhROMn3nJYGvhYESdly3qWmZs_41PwL5fWTQp5ITWMFHfTVhNuDCzhtzf_iCq_hjfkJU3VGTV3cKHHWYtPQtudlTmHMAQ9H-uk-aZhIepiZvzAfhbwrHn2sJHpTUK_ClECpQs/s1600/PIC_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY0Ud-4uhROMn3nJYGvhYESdly3qWmZs_41PwL5fWTQp5ITWMFHfTVhNuDCzhtzf_iCq_hjfkJU3VGTV3cKHHWYtPQtudlTmHMAQ9H-uk-aZhIepiZvzAfhbwrHn2sJHpTUK_ClECpQs/s320/PIC_1959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A variety of YAK cheeses<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadgmoeVN9nkvUJYAfnfuIg1xg_XHfzznYKcr4zp4jwXPCU6893nCs3ZEUtohcYU8iB_H6NFsSvfxHUWug3xHea79e0RsY7ArUIAVDVQJ1lUD0kqdNUl1FF9D-OPqTkq81uYjv5UjlEKQ/s1600/PIC_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadgmoeVN9nkvUJYAfnfuIg1xg_XHfzznYKcr4zp4jwXPCU6893nCs3ZEUtohcYU8iB_H6NFsSvfxHUWug3xHea79e0RsY7ArUIAVDVQJ1lUD0kqdNUl1FF9D-OPqTkq81uYjv5UjlEKQ/s320/PIC_1958.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>Charming... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9-_cmgFOX1CEBdSKSYj_vZdHWUEjmvX66sTJQ17NT1LPOjRuVBEr8mifCLhfQgRo2V0mzE6D6E314hoH2F8DbDl18-EVZpkvYtXMNk1Tgs0qVvvc8OCVjt_k4Hysvhr7MgJBJP9ILo8/s1600/PIC_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9-_cmgFOX1CEBdSKSYj_vZdHWUEjmvX66sTJQ17NT1LPOjRuVBEr8mifCLhfQgRo2V0mzE6D6E314hoH2F8DbDl18-EVZpkvYtXMNk1Tgs0qVvvc8OCVjt_k4Hysvhr7MgJBJP9ILo8/s320/PIC_1942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Dalai Lama is important. The amount of followers is going down though<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyw9w2F0HEHrdWbAgnxpK62m3ZmsAtDuujenmS7Zai7NbjRaGX79mz6OycR07L_eP9Pw5Xy9QNFCW1A75mWvO9wDZKDoA_kc6PZXP9s1DdXJHVwtl-pOqYBzntZMzrWSY9_f5iroFHYTM/s1600/PIC_1949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyw9w2F0HEHrdWbAgnxpK62m3ZmsAtDuujenmS7Zai7NbjRaGX79mz6OycR07L_eP9Pw5Xy9QNFCW1A75mWvO9wDZKDoA_kc6PZXP9s1DdXJHVwtl-pOqYBzntZMzrWSY9_f5iroFHYTM/s320/PIC_1949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here at one of the schools we visited <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5klaLdN5UBjWZCW7EWXa99eKYLq1NPaggQh2Ctiy9ZjB6NDr_AfZw_a9HWsvlcKedYfChOSh84wKvbOvpbjXqZnnbQJ4mU7LRvO-DEdJ2Q-Ja4yORbLqudJ0sELRT7NXCb78gIW0080/s1600/PIC_1923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5klaLdN5UBjWZCW7EWXa99eKYLq1NPaggQh2Ctiy9ZjB6NDr_AfZw_a9HWsvlcKedYfChOSh84wKvbOvpbjXqZnnbQJ4mU7LRvO-DEdJ2Q-Ja4yORbLqudJ0sELRT7NXCb78gIW0080/s320/PIC_1923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Precision work, a mosaic made completely out of SAND... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaZUQ9vM6eS7LY4irHypJoVqBgZILEe5Y4G-Ed66y5XJVTPCHlzq0OVH6UhFUSf_yypaAJxjHuOcWHsu4qlbpVg6iT3MGzUtSqX-GBANjzHmKnVq7UTdVqXYJWm6GxYLo3ewifWxNox0/s1600/PIC_1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaZUQ9vM6eS7LY4irHypJoVqBgZILEe5Y4G-Ed66y5XJVTPCHlzq0OVH6UhFUSf_yypaAJxjHuOcWHsu4qlbpVg6iT3MGzUtSqX-GBANjzHmKnVq7UTdVqXYJWm6GxYLo3ewifWxNox0/s320/PIC_1929.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Yak butter is used to burn candles<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wqfTfykkFoxcQWbVjGFNc1tL5KxywuMagax8DN77TUTRPMFvBu93pMPJAPim_HzL8WH_RuXCRAN0H91A5hoPD8M05lgnjt6oXf9DOD8L2tyOUH_w3tTVBpC7KRp11JHbiwgGuDQV2v0/s1600/PIC_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wqfTfykkFoxcQWbVjGFNc1tL5KxywuMagax8DN77TUTRPMFvBu93pMPJAPim_HzL8WH_RuXCRAN0H91A5hoPD8M05lgnjt6oXf9DOD8L2tyOUH_w3tTVBpC7KRp11JHbiwgGuDQV2v0/s320/PIC_1895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here the Yak butter for sale for offering pupose<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VNlMH8OkxYnUyYXqZu6ElA1i2EDAo7apH3TQaSMvz6heNaWGYQW0Z3fhvr1OXocrHhIiQNQChT40j2c8SlTwlfgQpmZZY980Ma1y2afiKochcoKuwewezaSiddZEzMVsJKr7vE6tnS4/s1600/PIC_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VNlMH8OkxYnUyYXqZu6ElA1i2EDAo7apH3TQaSMvz6heNaWGYQW0Z3fhvr1OXocrHhIiQNQChT40j2c8SlTwlfgQpmZZY980Ma1y2afiKochcoKuwewezaSiddZEzMVsJKr7vE6tnS4/s320/PIC_1892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Very many pilgrims were visiting the city when we were in Lhasa. Mainly people from the country side. Some of them were looking at us as if we were aliens. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8stbTtniEJLsmSYTt27n3n2hneF5W7OmEC7gwd1ZBi8dvo9XD9cHxxyCUpoFbtn3-qo2wv9SWAuJsoXBO_Lm-CNvb1eWxLkrNBtYAM7fmwD1zcxOvkDiMPlaeYvRSghZhdNp33uVGOY/s1600/PIC_2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8stbTtniEJLsmSYTt27n3n2hneF5W7OmEC7gwd1ZBi8dvo9XD9cHxxyCUpoFbtn3-qo2wv9SWAuJsoXBO_Lm-CNvb1eWxLkrNBtYAM7fmwD1zcxOvkDiMPlaeYvRSghZhdNp33uVGOY/s320/PIC_2017.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhNNhPovn25SgJrP4Wkz9jGo9ZADYVehaceT1V2aDnfRcD8FS_Up_Tw05GBV53vlJxOq9XLS4SxULSgl_KBx3I-uRE__O_xEdgRy-Zt08kMGojYVYe8si_JquiiujI6oSS5upAGKxOQ/s1600/PIC_2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhNNhPovn25SgJrP4Wkz9jGo9ZADYVehaceT1V2aDnfRcD8FS_Up_Tw05GBV53vlJxOq9XLS4SxULSgl_KBx3I-uRE__O_xEdgRy-Zt08kMGojYVYe8si_JquiiujI6oSS5upAGKxOQ/s320/PIC_2007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVFLDTS111iAclsuf564wjlWLbLHfQ-oi9JIgAxTSDM6gmKs18L4ttWXgVciBC1PHasSlBpMZPzukLy1_ve60usYThVPKCoKeKWIfALTC0dmZunsOdksHrmKMwOzTlUvMKDKCQvFxf9c/s1600/PIC_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVFLDTS111iAclsuf564wjlWLbLHfQ-oi9JIgAxTSDM6gmKs18L4ttWXgVciBC1PHasSlBpMZPzukLy1_ve60usYThVPKCoKeKWIfALTC0dmZunsOdksHrmKMwOzTlUvMKDKCQvFxf9c/s320/PIC_2005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ATaG9kDLTIiTeOen4c6ybZZfcRS1TDMM7jpfq7VCWyqiYNUmInLTJiNXzZ4XrGZileuIHpD6RxS8AHlw6VBe4WEFoHebwtoi7YaY1Wk-1OTZ4JJ1m7_2OZmptX1cWWcsfkkYYHrWCb8/s1600/PIC_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ATaG9kDLTIiTeOen4c6ybZZfcRS1TDMM7jpfq7VCWyqiYNUmInLTJiNXzZ4XrGZileuIHpD6RxS8AHlw6VBe4WEFoHebwtoi7YaY1Wk-1OTZ4JJ1m7_2OZmptX1cWWcsfkkYYHrWCb8/s320/PIC_1911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Dalai Lama's summer palace <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6TZWyeKmmIcMFqKW16sOfZF96j0bSFvjlS0Qf6xsCPnLyLO-Urpb80Qs0scls5G2oeSjwCPCodo-vph-X-BMepHqhvlGZ8ggctdZZCg4p_PReo50A7i87LrTUSmlesTQlMVv_9IoG2U/s1600/PIC_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6TZWyeKmmIcMFqKW16sOfZF96j0bSFvjlS0Qf6xsCPnLyLO-Urpb80Qs0scls5G2oeSjwCPCodo-vph-X-BMepHqhvlGZ8ggctdZZCg4p_PReo50A7i87LrTUSmlesTQlMVv_9IoG2U/s320/PIC_1883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Dalai Lama's winter palace </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even that these buildings are not used anymore by the Dalai Lama, they are really popular tourist and pilgrim sites now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-82228134417072713482010-12-25T00:53:00.000-08:002010-12-25T00:53:02.495-08:00The train to TibetHere are some pictures we took during our 48 hour train ride from Chengdu, China to Lhasa, Tibet.<br />
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The train was really comfortable. The views were great!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeNLfxeJXkJnTM6A6IvjvTjhpFFYF7fFNqszfANPkQieP4HOxKHGxQyw-3t_C3nZI3I6ZlBuuINCKkt9KKsTqpuuYgzc-BZeIVKcw-z4AAph7oNhCHmyUU50-3fRNpW3KN63ddIRzlxw/s1600/PIC_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeNLfxeJXkJnTM6A6IvjvTjhpFFYF7fFNqszfANPkQieP4HOxKHGxQyw-3t_C3nZI3I6ZlBuuINCKkt9KKsTqpuuYgzc-BZeIVKcw-z4AAph7oNhCHmyUU50-3fRNpW3KN63ddIRzlxw/s320/PIC_1872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arrival in Lhasa</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEY8hq9qiU0A5qV0Tx908BKv07yxhTpgZeoiz0b1KoAKiqFzLv2XTRryclIguVA3B6vOlRYWgAOdywgYkKfVKSZ6gZpEAdfcUfc-fQIoLdAoPFislroymVLu7BsZFMU9xsyzGUBTmQOM/s1600/PIC_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEY8hq9qiU0A5qV0Tx908BKv07yxhTpgZeoiz0b1KoAKiqFzLv2XTRryclIguVA3B6vOlRYWgAOdywgYkKfVKSZ6gZpEAdfcUfc-fQIoLdAoPFislroymVLu7BsZFMU9xsyzGUBTmQOM/s320/PIC_1855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watching movies in the train </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq2XxrZTC0vT4YDwxrwtql7IOOx0hqtaQb_GkYZ0cezBOeiEIfepuMPD6JEkGBZ7u_3rxrJ0wEkvoq_bWrgewWl9gmeOJgSxIkKrtfnNzBA1RnyGFYcOtDcB9pQxt_Ec4ybZaaWy3Kp0/s1600/PIC_1853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq2XxrZTC0vT4YDwxrwtql7IOOx0hqtaQb_GkYZ0cezBOeiEIfepuMPD6JEkGBZ7u_3rxrJ0wEkvoq_bWrgewWl9gmeOJgSxIkKrtfnNzBA1RnyGFYcOtDcB9pQxt_Ec4ybZaaWy3Kp0/s320/PIC_1853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iUzea3nvdrXorZb4AfxFvxWFe6MFzxU4b3WVfpTazXW_axwIOh2pYGtGVzufWY151W5XXEuz7uiclb2jfwNq_HlQO2K2QAPfQ1XZndVN8GkP7IioFepZD8vagooQjEgdiUBBXxsBILs/s1600/PIC_1841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iUzea3nvdrXorZb4AfxFvxWFe6MFzxU4b3WVfpTazXW_axwIOh2pYGtGVzufWY151W5XXEuz7uiclb2jfwNq_HlQO2K2QAPfQ1XZndVN8GkP7IioFepZD8vagooQjEgdiUBBXxsBILs/s320/PIC_1841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu_40BJWjRE9tiTsJllqZv5W4V3WZMwzYickYPi0GJPUsICgsEbx7WrkidJNH7I52JfwgPRBUq4W7eTj04asrmoUGg_9QI1wTzXv3w25uUY0fisFYny6zPwVAmjId4UFYTNkzSQeOexI/s1600/PIC_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu_40BJWjRE9tiTsJllqZv5W4V3WZMwzYickYPi0GJPUsICgsEbx7WrkidJNH7I52JfwgPRBUq4W7eTj04asrmoUGg_9QI1wTzXv3w25uUY0fisFYny6zPwVAmjId4UFYTNkzSQeOexI/s320/PIC_1828.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHIYArHZ0ozjJrCzWStCoFaCVZdBmbLPlGXkmxTI746iiieCGkUUP5H8eqhEpE7hRQY0-vQ6Tm60rCkhoWQ5zCQ70ErKcA8fleLa-7NrLJIpHT-JT8YlJB4a_YaoDA9I10Po4GOdfhaU/s1600/PIC_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHIYArHZ0ozjJrCzWStCoFaCVZdBmbLPlGXkmxTI746iiieCGkUUP5H8eqhEpE7hRQY0-vQ6Tm60rCkhoWQ5zCQ70ErKcA8fleLa-7NrLJIpHT-JT8YlJB4a_YaoDA9I10Po4GOdfhaU/s320/PIC_1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sleeping in the train </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynerRbhE8IliNbWtX6ddu4v8M7KhssfiQE5svvFxkRPwYkv997QOdlhi0u8toHTNV5c9WO8OpXbIAZfbxEwcJiFw2ULaro831I1VwWvox6AWxENaX0O3XvLfAT_AVwxx3wUci0yaio3g/s1600/PIC_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynerRbhE8IliNbWtX6ddu4v8M7KhssfiQE5svvFxkRPwYkv997QOdlhi0u8toHTNV5c9WO8OpXbIAZfbxEwcJiFw2ULaro831I1VwWvox6AWxENaX0O3XvLfAT_AVwxx3wUci0yaio3g/s320/PIC_1820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kZEHFAryInjObw7ZuuVNVgl_zzu_ocCd_y4Qsn87pG5Xom4UxD_xiziv0xryiMhiYmvQcPTYSAw8_2ggthJqc-we6-20knMDkOWiuO-lQR5qj1oTcT_9XB9JOF1kHj_3LTPjsUjkF9Q/s1600/PIC_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kZEHFAryInjObw7ZuuVNVgl_zzu_ocCd_y4Qsn87pG5Xom4UxD_xiziv0xryiMhiYmvQcPTYSAw8_2ggthJqc-we6-20knMDkOWiuO-lQR5qj1oTcT_9XB9JOF1kHj_3LTPjsUjkF9Q/s320/PIC_1818.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-nBo40ehOC1sqX-HxdRU03_f0dfV5YVksxsGiOi3Rw2Ql_D7RYtMZiZCfpXjXB3THlZywUVflDsj_ANi6ms79RkFh3y5Onf2Q_OIL4efkgPdAAksMKAhabaOZnfypqDu0KZk5nhdUy8/s1600/PIC_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-nBo40ehOC1sqX-HxdRU03_f0dfV5YVksxsGiOi3Rw2Ql_D7RYtMZiZCfpXjXB3THlZywUVflDsj_ANi6ms79RkFh3y5Onf2Q_OIL4efkgPdAAksMKAhabaOZnfypqDu0KZk5nhdUy8/s320/PIC_1794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Food stands at the train stop</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-22996765667465560612010-12-25T00:43:00.000-08:002010-12-25T00:43:15.846-08:00Garbage in Asia !!!Cleaning at home and cleaning outside on private property is not an issue in Tibet, Nepal and India. We have seen how nice and clean it is in the homes we visited. <br />
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People love to have it clean at their OWN house. <br />
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Cleaning the streets has to be done by the government. At least that was the overall reaction when we asked. <br />
We did 2 clean-up actions, one with the locals and one with the kids of the CWH. <br />
The video of the first action can be found here: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSXDV86Qes">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSXDV86Qes</a><br />
People don’t seem to understand why throwing their garbage on the streets is so bad. <br />
The smell, the views, the illnesses... <br />
<br />
It is not just a little bit dirty in these countries, it is TERRIBLE!! <br />
<br />
Tibet's country side... assure you keep your eyes at least 1 meter over the ground.... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSdwS7bEF48iVc5qIC_q3YXKguasPkQtrpzOyMAR3IMXNjCRsgj86HrN22IlOTaDLT6KM3nHFk1k2aFzzVhZQuLpVg5MakDq_7d6GDepN9jSaeQbaVtcsM7W_kdZrniIMGPoj-Ts1qs/s1600/PIC_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSdwS7bEF48iVc5qIC_q3YXKguasPkQtrpzOyMAR3IMXNjCRsgj86HrN22IlOTaDLT6KM3nHFk1k2aFzzVhZQuLpVg5MakDq_7d6GDepN9jSaeQbaVtcsM7W_kdZrniIMGPoj-Ts1qs/s320/PIC_2103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matthew and Robin showed the locals what to do with trash. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v43Kqa9XArZp7FbfyGno3xCnlIq57ahCp0JxJtUtpq3s33010PDazKdwXVGQlbgIXdYNkIVixMc89YSCgNYiyyy20A0gg-FF384iCts_Ez4V9OlvTmFQ4RQSXUNu6wIb00xrBhpqu0s/s1600/PIC_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v43Kqa9XArZp7FbfyGno3xCnlIq57ahCp0JxJtUtpq3s33010PDazKdwXVGQlbgIXdYNkIVixMc89YSCgNYiyyy20A0gg-FF384iCts_Ez4V9OlvTmFQ4RQSXUNu6wIb00xrBhpqu0s/s320/PIC_2089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9UiFI2hF7zJ1oydhMSqnm1UqoG9UA16Cw00LnnX4GLIa06FQtLzM6G0lU0xY76RFEZKuOBXf2YmXUfNsgJxiyzufCj48ihIX3u5YcegZoWCIRg1cG4zAVUTZ93dQgh6ARd19uE2ukDU/s1600/PIC_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9UiFI2hF7zJ1oydhMSqnm1UqoG9UA16Cw00LnnX4GLIa06FQtLzM6G0lU0xY76RFEZKuOBXf2YmXUfNsgJxiyzufCj48ihIX3u5YcegZoWCIRg1cG4zAVUTZ93dQgh6ARd19uE2ukDU/s320/PIC_2152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tibet needs tourists... wondering how happy the average tourist is with these views... See above...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZv-rQsMKfHwgoXQyv_ODjiTGOSOYRflNj5dKtlFROPAYH2OQ4CZ7IXJTibP_4OuAyGEqCvtC4NARL-98-cxAC6ZvXVZUEwXXQNGYAXcjLUPPRx5MrhY7oQl3gkjPHXPwPWUFhJ2hj5A/s1600/PIC_2746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZv-rQsMKfHwgoXQyv_ODjiTGOSOYRflNj5dKtlFROPAYH2OQ4CZ7IXJTibP_4OuAyGEqCvtC4NARL-98-cxAC6ZvXVZUEwXXQNGYAXcjLUPPRx5MrhY7oQl3gkjPHXPwPWUFhJ2hj5A/s320/PIC_2746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids at the Kathmandu, Nepal CWH have teamed up and clean the streets! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuKozbvaW7znibLATCcKLF15bjcR0W4BLQcfPfbBHCqsou5CNidTJVVAlV-z8Ux_KZ8HlZIMIRc5IJfZg3B4MWMjwKjhfuJCRJo40RWDOye3WojUaR3yeIpglg4HhJxOoB48l-n5_uAM/s1600/PIC_2672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuKozbvaW7znibLATCcKLF15bjcR0W4BLQcfPfbBHCqsou5CNidTJVVAlV-z8Ux_KZ8HlZIMIRc5IJfZg3B4MWMjwKjhfuJCRJo40RWDOye3WojUaR3yeIpglg4HhJxOoB48l-n5_uAM/s320/PIC_2672.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matthew and Robin are experts in cleaning the streets. Here in Kathmandu.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy6RWPs-L3rZDN6u3APjnQi9uLii197Lk5Gcch41r9etaYGf0LzKEYHKEQsFcGlGwIUIPZMkaf6AEsQjHfJC0Dub72NAdRA70dY7rshZWOn4IaL7uFkQB55tyV_eYlJ-fHTO7Kxq9w9M/s1600/PIC_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy6RWPs-L3rZDN6u3APjnQi9uLii197Lk5Gcch41r9etaYGf0LzKEYHKEQsFcGlGwIUIPZMkaf6AEsQjHfJC0Dub72NAdRA70dY7rshZWOn4IaL7uFkQB55tyV_eYlJ-fHTO7Kxq9w9M/s320/PIC_2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy5ieneQ_RvSCbadK9d5iWeRF-XPtsWPzwwwjqruCC_ghooH0VEqKBxK2AaakEewzakGhvIRXkNjjvYuLumSMl-icjmY1WvQpk2qDQKqhWzkUvHQTvl-0gtAUhJGD8PZceBGTpYbhZfk/s1600/PIC_2658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy5ieneQ_RvSCbadK9d5iWeRF-XPtsWPzwwwjqruCC_ghooH0VEqKBxK2AaakEewzakGhvIRXkNjjvYuLumSMl-icjmY1WvQpk2qDQKqhWzkUvHQTvl-0gtAUhJGD8PZceBGTpYbhZfk/s320/PIC_2658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJAEjbzv-OcVmwkw8nyPllD_sP6DOIt9EO0BiFkddy0blSIMtODJ022zLzaK52bgzHMbrkWj_X3qn6NYWCI_ZXFIhXj85U3fSPkL6ZebS4jFNtqFbmKvxhQBvUEk08M1Pz9qlIfe4sKc/s1600/PIC_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJAEjbzv-OcVmwkw8nyPllD_sP6DOIt9EO0BiFkddy0blSIMtODJ022zLzaK52bgzHMbrkWj_X3qn6NYWCI_ZXFIhXj85U3fSPkL6ZebS4jFNtqFbmKvxhQBvUEk08M1Pz9qlIfe4sKc/s320/PIC_2666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully nobody drinks this cow's milk....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below some pictures taken in Fort Kochi, India. Tourism town... <br />
Be happy if you don't get sick in this town... we ended up on anti-biotics... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y6vDkGUBuZafT8bFK0GA5WK9uy5CqYRs7VyTQp-INuotIF1jDgoNsXvwHXfFbRX0G55H82l8i_N9ScNNbPj5gYbAq1uGSuDsnna-qTL3n4RZv4Iac03H2L3unGahoIUtoZaHebsmfes/s1600/PIC_2915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y6vDkGUBuZafT8bFK0GA5WK9uy5CqYRs7VyTQp-INuotIF1jDgoNsXvwHXfFbRX0G55H82l8i_N9ScNNbPj5gYbAq1uGSuDsnna-qTL3n4RZv4Iac03H2L3unGahoIUtoZaHebsmfes/s320/PIC_2915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Burning garbage. An 'easy way' to get rid of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO90BrXpRxznhUH-uBXqacW2rH81pDdLwE9Sl-MR-16YKPQd7V7V_jToNWtNtfJ1E3eRcrQho1iWmaJZhjjzD1ti16qtr0OflqA_xiP2nRp84DXDa6bIZ_OmFndAecw7uhjBCb5YS7G2c/s1600/PIC_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO90BrXpRxznhUH-uBXqacW2rH81pDdLwE9Sl-MR-16YKPQd7V7V_jToNWtNtfJ1E3eRcrQho1iWmaJZhjjzD1ti16qtr0OflqA_xiP2nRp84DXDa6bIZ_OmFndAecw7uhjBCb5YS7G2c/s320/PIC_2796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aEFqZd-TGgOHr8Ph84KSrNdC93fNARj1MPc_UQI9tgKGjkm1Ak79BBIATm-LQerOT443eV11MkoN5ID4Cqfpq33fq4wNr3lHll-aviuUMka7-fVZoCYYhUshlxdjXbUn4ymLlZjrSgk/s1600/PIC_2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aEFqZd-TGgOHr8Ph84KSrNdC93fNARj1MPc_UQI9tgKGjkm1Ak79BBIATm-LQerOT443eV11MkoN5ID4Cqfpq33fq4wNr3lHll-aviuUMka7-fVZoCYYhUshlxdjXbUn4ymLlZjrSgk/s320/PIC_2786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are plenty birds, cockroaches, rats, goats, cows, dogs, cats and other other animals feeding from the above 'food'....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfq7bzvqqbCMNmjV0h5YbQ4Edk5NGdG6z7G1H-9jO4aU0A-EomEJmhyceWrsCfrTKzFqz_6C-1qt9l3C44kIEbXmNO0manWNvcpPllmQoYE4LJscyQwoF5JT0fsuC7yBPEXCbJl4t8KU/s1600/PIC_2923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfq7bzvqqbCMNmjV0h5YbQ4Edk5NGdG6z7G1H-9jO4aU0A-EomEJmhyceWrsCfrTKzFqz_6C-1qt9l3C44kIEbXmNO0manWNvcpPllmQoYE4LJscyQwoF5JT0fsuC7yBPEXCbJl4t8KU/s320/PIC_2923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids don't even look at it. Garbage 'belongs' on the streets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Moving on to Bangalore, India.... more pictures follow, just this one cow, resting in the garbage for now...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyb839Xshrw9CidAjVCgatCXpr1Ds2CneKJXyVy52Y45hV6ExpLgCqtEkBzWBi0pttgpAKvGtjp5U6qSTsEjgAWw6y_P1LjIihgi2-ML22PyGwoZQ0dzEnhZXugGZsUpnEb1gVZvwOyI/s1600/PIC_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyb839Xshrw9CidAjVCgatCXpr1Ds2CneKJXyVy52Y45hV6ExpLgCqtEkBzWBi0pttgpAKvGtjp5U6qSTsEjgAWw6y_P1LjIihgi2-ML22PyGwoZQ0dzEnhZXugGZsUpnEb1gVZvwOyI/s320/PIC_2990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">The garbage in these countries is WAY WORSE than we ever imagined.... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thought we share our experiences with you.... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-74025592328627946222010-11-22T04:12:00.000-08:002010-11-22T04:12:52.524-08:00Amazing Yangshuo, Guangxi Province, ChinaGeoff, a Couchsurfer we met in Tokyo wrote us about the Zhuoyue English College in Yangshuo. He suggested we go there and volunteer. As the English College is on Couchsurfing as well, we checked it out, applied and got accepted. <br />
<br />
The arrangement was that all 3 of us would lead the 2 hour conversation classes with a small group of Chinese students. In addition we would do 1 presentation and speak with the students during lunch and dinner. <br />
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For that we got free accommodation and free food. A cool deal, not only because the tuition was in the evening and we were off the whole day, but also as we got really close to the students and learned more about their lives and their motivations. <br />
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We stayed in dormitories with other volunteers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qx29MZ48DE9EE9h1WncrA2lkAPOtz31cYyyehMzMGZD0CmuBiszkhyphenhyphenWbvrErKSL2tBYpiH6-tS0RsEY0vemY-ReYlsg7hAhUW7NixvQnnKY_NxJ1O6hlL1xEjsAhGYeby9b5X_YCbo0/s1600/PIC_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qx29MZ48DE9EE9h1WncrA2lkAPOtz31cYyyehMzMGZD0CmuBiszkhyphenhyphenWbvrErKSL2tBYpiH6-tS0RsEY0vemY-ReYlsg7hAhUW7NixvQnnKY_NxJ1O6hlL1xEjsAhGYeby9b5X_YCbo0/s320/PIC_1529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Petra and Brian</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C042tD4gs7Mhkd5IGzvCORnnD5vgt_IMqpr_R-FFoxp74r-rkJ8j5SP_hRFzvdIiGQINq_VbLpCQTzqXU5DxZ52Semesk3C98wt6NEp9ZYJYZBpwP5aDvhUptN_6CU7wRnETopE59S8/s1600/PIC_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C042tD4gs7Mhkd5IGzvCORnnD5vgt_IMqpr_R-FFoxp74r-rkJ8j5SP_hRFzvdIiGQINq_VbLpCQTzqXU5DxZ52Semesk3C98wt6NEp9ZYJYZBpwP5aDvhUptN_6CU7wRnETopE59S8/s320/PIC_1532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matthew, Rony and Robin</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqDajtSMx0PvB6mxLTllu_681rrzrJ2N0aJmNPpPGOQ4V7Wvg6tjiXcAwoPu97T9flqlNZtTWG7GQ53PulhQhyphenhyphenkBIwhV7u3NgPEtuHl4NXW-Ep_k7JzQTAApLJgS2b96xKCM2tFtsQ1Q/s1600/PIC_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqDajtSMx0PvB6mxLTllu_681rrzrJ2N0aJmNPpPGOQ4V7Wvg6tjiXcAwoPu97T9flqlNZtTWG7GQ53PulhQhyphenhyphenkBIwhV7u3NgPEtuHl4NXW-Ep_k7JzQTAApLJgS2b96xKCM2tFtsQ1Q/s320/PIC_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ting and Tom </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>All volunteers, Brian, Petra and their 4 year old Rony from Finland/Estonia were great company, Sonja’s roommate Ting from China, Matthew and Robin’s roommates Chris and Tom from the U.S. were all cool and interesting people in their own way. <br />
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Yangshuo is beautiful and very relaxed. It is a rock climbing mecca, there are plenty rental bike shops and loads of other activities. We ended up riding our rental bikes for 2 days on the weekend. Except for the fact that we are not used to sitting on a bike, the scenery is absolutely stunning. <br />
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Here are some pictures: <br />
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This is a place to come back to. Very nice. Thanks Geoff!SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-36117462415263828632010-11-22T03:13:00.000-08:002010-11-22T04:14:01.157-08:00Our second time in ChengduA 24 hour train ride brought us from Yangshuo to Chengdu. There is a choice of seating in the trains, hard seat, soft seat, hard bed – sharing a cabin with 6 people, or soft bed – sharing a cabin with 4 people. <br />
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We took the hard sleeper, which turned out to be a good decision. There were mainly Chinese people on the train. Those who speak English were quick to find us. Which was fun, as it kills the time and gave us some new views on what is going on in China. <br />
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Chengdu is a big, dirty town. The only reason we came here was the train to Tibet. The hostels in Chengdu sell group tours to Tibet. A bit of a bureaucratic thing really, but Tibet can only be visited in groups with a tour guide. Crazy, as groups of 1 are groups too... <br />
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In the middle of the city, chairman Mao's statue can not be missed. <br />
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We needed to find a 4th person to bring the price down, land cruisers take 4 people and the package is financially way more attractive. We found Charlie, a young man from Taiwan – really excellent match, he needed 3 persons to travel with and we, now, unexpectedly, had a person in our group who speaks Chinese as well as English. Maybe someone up in the skies IS looking after us...<br />
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We bought hats (see picture and don’t laugh too loud) haha. And we bought gloves. We had jackets, real fake, but very warm North Face jackets from Yangshuo already. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we did 5 years ago as well, we went to visit the pandas, which is always entertaining. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBlr5BNvOv7a-JW-U3_SyAbUcUu2cSwmjXAc5VEScMYP9VDhvJ1gw23ujh6VLdVcuig20iaMrs8NTfYUfVnA-jQfD9xjyF088DWTyLUC1kV93kmNib99qDKxtw8V8SY4VKUJcvVX3Ubk/s1600/PIC_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBlr5BNvOv7a-JW-U3_SyAbUcUu2cSwmjXAc5VEScMYP9VDhvJ1gw23ujh6VLdVcuig20iaMrs8NTfYUfVnA-jQfD9xjyF088DWTyLUC1kV93kmNib99qDKxtw8V8SY4VKUJcvVX3Ubk/s320/PIC_1732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We also re-visited the Sichuan opera, something we all enjoy. It had singing, dancing, face changing, 'comedy' etc in Sichuan style. <br />
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On our last day we had some cool Turkish food and bought our supplies for the train trip in the Carrefour (a French supermarket). <br />
That was it for China, we are off to Tibet. Still, kind of China... but not really as per many Tibetans... <br />
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<div align="left"></div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-3840669751303796442010-10-31T07:58:00.000-07:002010-10-31T07:58:07.282-07:00Back in China... and our plans for NovemberWe won't have access to our blog nor to Facebook for the coming weeks. <br />
Just to avoid anyone worries about us, here are our plans: <br />
Tomorrow, the 1st of November we take the night bus to Yangshuo, in the Guangxi province. <br />
Yes, you read that right... we actually go back on a bus... this time 10 hours, should be better then the 22.5 hrs we were on that last 'horror-bus'.<br />
We stay approx 3 days and help out at an English language school. Just conversation. The Yangshuo area is beautiful we are told :-) <br />
From there we move on for a couple of days to the West. Lijiang and Shangri La - the latter one is our jump off point to Tibet, we hope. <br />
An overland bus should take us to Nepal, where we plan to stay for a couple of weeks starting approx the 20th of November.<br />
Above is not a fix plan, our plans always change, depending on our the opportunities we get on the way... <br />
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We are doing fine. As soon as we are back 'in the air' we update the blog :-)SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-37854170201388140542010-10-31T07:47:00.000-07:002010-11-22T00:23:01.991-08:005 Days in Hong Kong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From Shenzhen to our hostel in Hong Kong it took approx 45 minutes on the metro. We stayed in the middle of the city, at a great location for little money, looking at the hotel prices in Hong Kong. </div><br />
Still it is way more expensive than mainland China, so we restricted our stay to 5 days. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIDWp8phOzMlhYjlc9SojmXG6AGtavch6tAtikj46k6XjwRvQD5Aa-8glULUtUWqbhVgkNSxDS1CO61J6m3_4VA7_6XEz2MTA2zlHX86U5XJqaYo8ZhD9XW9gdx9DGwxyu_3j9w48fQQ/s1600/PIC_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIDWp8phOzMlhYjlc9SojmXG6AGtavch6tAtikj46k6XjwRvQD5Aa-8glULUtUWqbhVgkNSxDS1CO61J6m3_4VA7_6XEz2MTA2zlHX86U5XJqaYo8ZhD9XW9gdx9DGwxyu_3j9w48fQQ/s320/PIC_1340.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were staying in the city center, very close to the Avenue of the Stars and the ferries to the other islands. At night the skyline is filled with lights of high buildings and billboards. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV53eoOANr_hm_TDWttZVfNCwd1fr7Ih-DVs4T_0BwnTcsc06iGCCOl_EcUYUWN3OTbLVbUz3HPv-xs6vZsEly9M1dX3DLBUZvPo302llLMCMGmL0hXL3RyEMnhhP5Fu4f2MMaFxYpIE/s1600/PIC_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV53eoOANr_hm_TDWttZVfNCwd1fr7Ih-DVs4T_0BwnTcsc06iGCCOl_EcUYUWN3OTbLVbUz3HPv-xs6vZsEly9M1dX3DLBUZvPo302llLMCMGmL0hXL3RyEMnhhP5Fu4f2MMaFxYpIE/s320/PIC_1364.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hong Kong = Shopping... especially electronics. So no wonder Matthew and Robin ended up buying a PSP and we bought a small computer as the one we have is about to fall apart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-FhoczjYg06JSyOnFF5r_SxpBHYSIG9yKTT9hkLSKuMoZOd_vwrD0ueRhk4FMQpr5f55Aad6K4lmTFbPcwEwXL5WXVAyfSBsyTnQ99MDXLH-oGIMm02RqNKN8hrg5l73zcviPCc0mNA/s1600/PIC_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-FhoczjYg06JSyOnFF5r_SxpBHYSIG9yKTT9hkLSKuMoZOd_vwrD0ueRhk4FMQpr5f55Aad6K4lmTFbPcwEwXL5WXVAyfSBsyTnQ99MDXLH-oGIMm02RqNKN8hrg5l73zcviPCc0mNA/s320/PIC_1362.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Don't get a shock.... we stayed in the 'famous' Chungkung Mansions on Nathan Road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The outside looks terribly, on the picture you see the front of the building. But... renovation has just started, so there is hope... <br />
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The inside is fascinating. On the ground floor there are many small shops going all the way to the back of the building. Super slow elevators go up at least 17 floors, the whole building is filled with small hostels, restaurants and who knows what other kind of businesses. Together with people of many different nationalities, loads of boxes are moved in and out of the elevators all day long. It was not difficult to connect with the Indians, Pakistani, and Africans of many different countries. We ended up eating Indian food most of the time :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIn5SDZ3dfS-AMtTeglEVSnMsr_FT-T2BMT9Zfgqhh0EcxWv-1hMLR9zeGnqq4WnQCotGpxxXmoWTh74k96XrtWe4b2yyx7GIgSbRhFkvkKmaUcV4p_W7bQR-Td_kgtIjB4w6dpmeDCs/s1600/PIC_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIn5SDZ3dfS-AMtTeglEVSnMsr_FT-T2BMT9Zfgqhh0EcxWv-1hMLR9zeGnqq4WnQCotGpxxXmoWTh74k96XrtWe4b2yyx7GIgSbRhFkvkKmaUcV4p_W7bQR-Td_kgtIjB4w6dpmeDCs/s320/PIC_1367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hong Kong is not only a big city, there are islands with beautiful scenery. We took the ferry to go and have a look. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxP9BH3FhAneYIW3S1BxP7dRR2hyphenhyphenNyvuS5QBRHiR-y45GZ_xusK6DaRxyFLAtJF72ENrc_n2MajnGEA72L7Ynl1mxpoHxj8-my3V5RcEPfiNFsBvTDbSw2bTWyIIm_6bzQrmq-NzAZ3s/s1600/PIC_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxP9BH3FhAneYIW3S1BxP7dRR2hyphenhyphenNyvuS5QBRHiR-y45GZ_xusK6DaRxyFLAtJF72ENrc_n2MajnGEA72L7Ynl1mxpoHxj8-my3V5RcEPfiNFsBvTDbSw2bTWyIIm_6bzQrmq-NzAZ3s/s320/PIC_1385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We visited a nice fishing village. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoYkQTD5HXMuGzSTWSPk5e-mxlKboco6nBsy_tYAR4TERSSGVngFnUC3WCS1U5gaRcBFe5HGdTn_vuoleTZVrwYHGTVrpfhFO21403z_tyR6coFs8cq7B1ncN4xXl8wzGWzWjc6AgA1Y/s1600/PIC_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoYkQTD5HXMuGzSTWSPk5e-mxlKboco6nBsy_tYAR4TERSSGVngFnUC3WCS1U5gaRcBFe5HGdTn_vuoleTZVrwYHGTVrpfhFO21403z_tyR6coFs8cq7B1ncN4xXl8wzGWzWjc6AgA1Y/s320/PIC_1452.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And we visited the big Buddha. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our stay in Hong Kong was really nice, we checked out loads of stores and a night market. The metro system is really easy and Matthew and Robin were going around on their own as the city is really safe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the 'downside', we have never seen so many tourists as we have seen in Hong Kong!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-85161143827123367022010-10-31T07:38:00.000-07:002010-10-31T07:44:27.463-07:00A short visit in Shenzhen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matthew's YEP friend Jun (<a href="http://www.pangaea-yep.com/">http://www.pangaea-yep.com/</a>) lives and studies in Shenzhen. As Shenzhen is very close to Hong Kong, we decided to go and visit here before moving on to Hong Kong. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That was a really good idea! We stayed in a nice hostel, got to know great people, both locals and travelers and went for a visit to the university. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mCdvK0UVSBZoCHCJA6LsE4lYc-J7QXcULsN3vHuAit79I-X0oRE0zLjac_rveump8Pll6hmoDeNfnqsaptsKe1Pu0d30RWuyLIDOjunII6STnKrSus6w_JVXZmd8tRaaw1NQrFUspbs/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mCdvK0UVSBZoCHCJA6LsE4lYc-J7QXcULsN3vHuAit79I-X0oRE0zLjac_rveump8Pll6hmoDeNfnqsaptsKe1Pu0d30RWuyLIDOjunII6STnKrSus6w_JVXZmd8tRaaw1NQrFUspbs/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jun lives with 3 nice room mates in a small but cozy room on the campus, she just started studying there some weeks ago and stays 4 years. On the picture: Matthew shows the girls the Taiji presentation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivenOkCIxEjuD6aUWhFQ1qVd9XPuYCCLLtyrStuTfmT-asAQsqgqdUjCBbZ9Bh4bOInA96jambKay5HMbshGH1JvLKRVBo8GqEH6eEaP_eymaIpn-MEUSmJhj3GSPVmJFX3gO1L1U9yQ/s1600/IMG_0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivenOkCIxEjuD6aUWhFQ1qVd9XPuYCCLLtyrStuTfmT-asAQsqgqdUjCBbZ9Bh4bOInA96jambKay5HMbshGH1JvLKRVBo8GqEH6eEaP_eymaIpn-MEUSmJhj3GSPVmJFX3gO1L1U9yQ/s320/IMG_0363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A group picture: Jun, in front, her 3 room mates and the 3 of us. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jbCm-YbOt3Iem7T1Xbd5wa1WtwLyvWdD_1vptzj6l0g9ox2eQ_ZbqsPjLYHgoi7e3cedIGhXeXm1Pm6xWOgGJGXoBr9mKsvQ6p8Y2cQGxGN0WCzuZ0gwxlsFVrZW7oR9TvVCwVQKDfM/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jbCm-YbOt3Iem7T1Xbd5wa1WtwLyvWdD_1vptzj6l0g9ox2eQ_ZbqsPjLYHgoi7e3cedIGhXeXm1Pm6xWOgGJGXoBr9mKsvQ6p8Y2cQGxGN0WCzuZ0gwxlsFVrZW7oR9TvVCwVQKDfM/s320/IMG_0373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">We had dinner together in the cafetaria. Kaycee (sitting next to Matthew on the picture) should probably change her studies and go into entertainment. We really had to laugh with her :-) Keep speaking with all those foreigners Kaycee... we are still looking for that 20 year old good looking international guys for you. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Jun, thanks very much for the opportunity. We really much appreciated it! We hope to see you in Switzerland some time in the future. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">To Joan, Adam, Shadow: great to have met you all! Let's stay in touch. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">From the hostel in Shenzhen we walked with Jimmy, a visitor from Brazil, to the metro, took the metro to the border, crossed the border and jumped into the train. See you in Curitiba Jimmy! Hope you had a good flight home. <br />
</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-20614567933531118172010-10-29T07:06:00.001-07:002010-10-29T07:06:37.027-07:0018 Hours "in Prison"In China it seems long distance trains can be booked 5 days in advance, and that is the time to run to the train station. We realized that the day before we wanted to take an 18 hours train trip to Shenzhen... and with a list of questions, translated in Chinese, we tried to get tickets anyway.<br />
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Forget it... no way... all was sold out, soft beds, hard beds, even hard chairs! The last week of the Shanghai Expo starts and some other fairs are going on. We tried the close by Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but same story here.<br />
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As it was time for us to move on, we went to the bus station... and got tickets on the sleeper bus.<br />
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The only info we had was where the bus leaves and at what time. We had no idea what to expect.<br />
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I write this text in the bus... we ‘survived’ the night - we assume we arrive in approx 1.5 hours, but up to now, it is a great mystery...<br />
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Nobody, that means 30 passengers and the drivers speak English, at least that is what they say. On a bus between 2 mega cities. How strange is that!<br />
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For those who are interested in it, here is a short run down of our sleeper bus experience:<br />
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We loaded our bags in the direct bus to Shenzhen.<br />
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We queued to get into the bus, it seemed to go slow, people started to take the offered plastic bags. We figured that was for those we need to throw up... luckily that was not the case. Everyone had to take their shoes off and put them in a bag. Good thinking, too bad that was the only thing they thought about...<br />
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The beds are approx 60 cm wide and not more than 170 cm long. We had our small daypacks with us.. very bad those and the bags with the shoes and our food bag had to be placed on our beds too.<br />
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There are 3 rows of beds, 2 high, 5 in a row with a tiny path between the beds. We had 2 top beds and one bottom bed. On the bottom bed we could not even sit, as it was so low.<br />
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Luckily enough we brought our food and drinks bag, we drove and drove and only after 5 hours the bus stopped for dinner. It was just passed 7 pm. Dinner is a big word, we stopped at a small convenience store, we bought a noodle soup as the show supplied how water, and once back in the bus we ate our food we got from the market that morning.<br />
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The dinner stop was a toilet stop at the same time. The toilet in the bus is a disaster, but the ‘let us call them toilets’ at the stop were nothing more than what cows have in Europe... even no doors. Great choice for a stop!<br />
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Na ja, in the mean time it was dark and the lights in the bus don’t work, at least not on the bottom beds. The bus stopped again and I tried to go out, but was ‘told’ in some aggressive sign language to get straight back in. So standing in the bus, at the door opening, I brushed my teeth and spit the toothpaste on the ground (outside). The bus left again and has not stopped since, except for getting fuel.<br />
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The night passed unexpectedly well. These 30 other passengers, being all Chinese don’t spit and don’t make horrible noises with their throat. It seems they all took heavy sleeping pills as most are sleeping since we got into the bus. Some others are fiddling with their mobile phones. Those calling scream in their phones iso talking normal...<br />
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There is one small kid on the bus, but even he does not make any noise. Am wondering who all these people are, where they go, what they do on this bus...<br />
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So now it is morning an my colleague Jeff has just spoken with a lady on the bus to find out when the bus arrives, being 1 p.m. ... iso 8 a.m. as we thought it would be.<br />
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5 more hours than expected.<br />
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It is hot, there is no more fresh air, the ‘airco’ only works more or less. There were still no further stops, just a few minutes here and there to let people out of the bus. The toilet smells like hell. And believe it or not, one of the 3 staff started smoking and none of the passengers said anything about it.<br />
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So I did, and the cigarette was put out immediately. Crazy there are!<br />
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We lie around and wait, to arrive... Brain on zero!<br />
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A one-time experience, never again SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950319074804643689.post-48239904748836955822010-10-28T19:00:00.000-07:002010-10-30T23:52:19.251-07:00Goodbye Japan!<div>Japan was great, meaning, almost the whole of Japan was great. Taiji is really beautiful, but what is going on there is nasty!<br />
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Sadly, that means we left the country with mixed feelings. Incredible actually, as, except for those 30 ‘fishermen’, we met nice people only! Still that bad feeling does not go away... <br />
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Japanese people are really helpful and really nice. Even that most people’s English skills are rather poor, there was always a way to communicate. <br />
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We stayed with Japanese people, we ate their food, Matthew and Robin visited one of their schools. We made some Japanese friends. <br />
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We ended up staying 6 weeks, instead of the planned 3 weeks... that says a lot! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdG4kv0CuKiUyllczaAL9RQythUqgPpXmp_5uCvjq6dUqRvNFprfuV77q-5wJTpyIUjH3Za5W4tzRzAVMSXgjVC0uy860oz3eeqp5ZfMoMWXnMviWEBNp2kqhdCtg0p_iZdVBlaljU4U/s1600/PIC_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdG4kv0CuKiUyllczaAL9RQythUqgPpXmp_5uCvjq6dUqRvNFprfuV77q-5wJTpyIUjH3Za5W4tzRzAVMSXgjVC0uy860oz3eeqp5ZfMoMWXnMviWEBNp2kqhdCtg0p_iZdVBlaljU4U/s400/PIC_0886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is 'Slime', Matthew's favourite 'game-monster' from Japan. <br />
</div>SoMaRo Travelfamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04276213098230414181noreply@blogger.com0