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John's year off...
a travel blog by
johnnoble
One whole year of travelling...starts Sept 1st 2008. 5 months in N.America (Canada, & E&W coasts of the US), then Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, N.Zealand, East coast of Australia, 3 months in S.E Asia.
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Calgary
Calgary
,
Canada
Although leaving Banff was difficult, I was looking forward to seeing Canada's Cowboy capital - Calgary. Mum's friends from Portage, Linda & Barrie, picked me up & drove me to their daughter's (Bess') place in Calgary. Bess had kindly offered me accommodation for the week. It was a nice little flat on the outskirts of downtown central.
During the daytime in Calgary I walked the city (the usual routine) in order to get a real feel for the place. Calgary is another clean city, & like Edmonton, is very spread out. Unlike Edmonton, Calgary is not dreary - as they can boast the most hours of sunlight throughout the year across the whole of Canada. It does get very cold though, when the sun drops behind the mountains the temp drops dramatically, -20oC was the coldest it got during my stay. The downtown of Calgary hosts the usual malls & bars, whilst the river running through the city offers some attractive walks.
Midway through the week I went to check out the facilities & the museum at Canada Olympic Park. The site was used for the '88 winter Olympics, & is still used today - mostly for the downhill skiing & snowboarding slope. The most famous incident that occurred here involved four Jamaicans & a bobsled. I made sure that I had my Bobsled run booked in before I had to leave Calgary! If you haven't seen Cool Runnings, then shame on you! We tried to rent it at 3 different video stores - although no where had it. Shocking when you consider that a lot of the movie was shot in Calgary!
On the Wednesday evening we went to Calgary Zoo to check out the Christmas lights. It was the usual sort of stuff, although there was one tunnel of lights I took a shine to...
On the Friday night I went with Bess & her friends to an independent film premiere, as one of Bess' friends had a trailer screening for his upcoming film. The three short films on show were very good, if not a little strange. After the films we visited a couple of downtown bars, before we headed to "Ranchmans" - which is an authentic Cowboy bar. By which I mean that all the "cool" guys were fully kitted out in check shirts, large belt buckles, blue jeans, cowboy boots & hat. The works. There were plenty of hoe-down moves on the dancefloor too...all very surreal when you had a few beers! Incidentally, this is the bar from Cool Runnings - where the boys get into a brawl (I love that movie, in case you hadn't realised).
Saturday finally came...Bobsled day! $170 got me one run on the track, driven by the Canadian Olympic driver, a tshirt & a certificate (woooo!). The ride was incredible. Our top speed was 136kmph with a top G force of 5! Some of the corners were vicious, although we survived the Jamaicans corner I am pleased to say! Our time was 61secs...so John Candy would not have been pleased. I blame our failure to break the 60sec barrier on a seated push start, & the inexperience of the two novice passengers!
If any of you get a chance to Bobsled I would strongly recommend it. This was my second course (Latvia the last one) & the second time it was even more enjoyable than the first. There was time for a quick bite to eat, let the adrenaline pass, before I got on a plane to my next destination...Vancouver.
Btw - I now have a new Canadian cell no. +1-604-906-2361. Due to the size of Canada they have regional cell numbers. I am cynical & believe it's just an opportunity to make more money off of "long distance" calls, but thems the rules!
written by
johnnoble
on December 15, 2008
from
Calgary
,
Canada
from the travel blog:
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Vancouver
Vancouver
,
Canada
I arrived in Vancouver, from Calgary, to be greeted with some very English weather...RAIN. I had been warned that Vancouver, being on the coast, had a very similar climate to that of the UK. As I arrived late in the day (Saturday) I simply dropped my things at the hostel, got showered, then hit the pubs. I met up with some friends I had made along my travels & caught up on adventures (mainly me being a world class bobsledder!)
The following day a group of us stood on the mainstreet & watched the Santa Claus parade, which was pretty wierd. So many of the floats seemed to have little, or no, relevance to Xmas! In fact, most of the parade seemed like an opportunity for advertisement from local/national companies (inc McDo's, of course!). We watched the full two hours, just to see Santa really.
I did my usual of walking around the city & checking the place out. I was staying on Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver, which is full of bars & clubs - although it is a pretty grubby place. Due to Vancouver's milder climate a lot of Canada's homeless decend upon it for Xmas...so plenty of bums around begging for change. Once you leave the Downtown island, either North or South, the place is a lot more attractive. Only after visiting these areas could I see why so many people love the city as a whole. I imagine it being amazing during the Summer.
I visited the Maritime Museum, which was surprisingly impressive. After which I went to the space Museum. Inside there are the usual exhibits, but they also have a planetarium & a virtual Mars mission simulator. I suspect both would have thoroughly impressed me if I was a little younger. The building was pretty cool though...
On the sunniest day during my time in Vancouver (well timed) I visited Stanley park. This is a vast area at the NW corner of the Downtown island. It is very impressive. My friend & I hired bikes & covered pretty much all of the park, prior to finishing our visit with a round of pitch & putt. Very Enjoyable, if not a little chilly. It would be an amazing place in the Summer months.
One evening I went to Capilano bridge, with a girl from Maidenhead (small world), as there was a Xmas lights display. The Bridge is located North of the Vancouver Downtown island. The suspension bridge is very "Indiana Jones" like, which was pretty cool, & the lights were quite impressive too.
On one of the wettest days of my travel yet, I visited the Vancouver Aquarium. I got thoroughly soaked walking through Stanley park, so admission was worth the shelter alone! The Aquarium didn't blow me away...it has some excellent quality specimens, although the whole place really isn't that big. I did manage to find Nemo though...
We did experience an awesome Snow storm on my final Saturday in VC. We got about 10cm in under four hours! Most of which was while we were in the pub (or moving between them). On the day I left for Whistler I was less appreciative of the Snow...my bus was delayed & Greyhound were unable to advise if it was going to run that day, However, after a couple of hours in a cold waiting room I was on my way to see Ricky & get my Snowboarding on! Happy Xmas to me!!! ;-)
written by
johnnoble
on December 20, 2008
from
Vancouver
,
Canada
from the travel blog:
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Whistler Christmas & New Year
Squamish
,
Canada
Whistler should be renamed "Christmas Town" - because that what it feels like when you are walking around! The whole village was covered in snow when I arrived, thanks to a couple of days of steady snowing. Whistler is quite a small town & has a uniformed, understated, appearance - which gives the whole place a quaint & friendly vibe. I met Ricky off of the bus & then went to his house - which he had told me very little about.
It turns out that Ricky & his housemates (Arianna, Louise & Emma) are living the life of luxury! (His house is the pic above on the right). They have a large lounge with dangerously comfortable leather sofas, large plasma TV with cable, a powerful HiFi, fully mod-con kitchen, decent sized bedrooms, a fireplace...& a HOT TUB! :-)
The view from Ricky's balcony is the pic below. You can see both Whistler (right) & Blackcomb mountains (left) - with the new Peak2Peak gondola running between them. This gondola has the world's largest unsupported distance...it is a long way between the towers on either side of the valley!
+Christmas Day+
Our Christmas day began at 5:30am with calls to home (interrupting Christmas lunches back home), then we went to the Restaurant at the top of Whistler for a fry up breakfast. After which we hit the slopes! I got the hang of boarding pretty quickly, after I had mastered the toe-heel edge turn. It is a LOT of fun! There were some ice patches that could cause some trouble (aka - wipe outs), although in the most part the conditions were good.
After our snowboarding we hit the hot tub, as always armed with plenty of beer. Ricky & co. then cooked a fantastic Christmas dinner...
...after which we were all thoroughly stuffed! It was then time for the presents!
As a thank you for the hospitality, my friend Chris (who joined us for four days over Christmas) & I purchased the house a sled & Twister. Activities to fill both indoor & out leisure time. Both were used on Christmas day
We were going to be going to a house party in the evening, but the warmth of the fire, the copious amounts of alcohol, & twister, prevented that!
+New Year's Eve+
...I shall remember this as "POW POW" day. Pow Pow is the term used to refer to powder, aka FRESH & plentiful snow on the slopes. That morning we woke to 26cm of it! Ricky & I were up there all day - 8am to 4pm, soaking up the incredible conditions. After which it was the standard hot tub & beer routine, before going to a house party over in Whistler Creek. The party was a good laugh & v.drunken!
(check out the classic "blue steel" pose from me & Arianna!)
I went to bed at about 6am, having made a couple of drunk calls to Allan & Stu back in the UK (which they both thoroughly appreciated of course!). What an awesome way to see out 2008! I would be envious of me too ;-)
My two & half weeks in Whistler were "magical." Ricky & his friends were incredibly accommodating & I cannot thank them enough. I managed a total of 7 days on the slopes, costing me a whopping $80! It really shows that it is not what you know - but WHO you know! ;-) You can see how good a time was had by the amount of beer we got through in Christmas week...
Ricky & I decided to make good use of the empties...a Neil Buchanan "Art Attack" moment that even the artistic legend himself would be proud of...
My next destination is Victoria, via a weekend stay with friends in Vancouver. I have got about 9 places to visit on the West Coast of the US before I fly out to Hawaii & meet with Mr Christopher Small! It is going to be a busy & eventful month - so stay tuned! :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL x
written by
johnnoble
on January 7, 2009
from
Squamish
,
Canada
from the travel blog:
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Leaving Canada
Seattle
,
United States
I returned to Vancouver for the weekend, staying with some friends there & doing the usual drinking! It was good to catch up with everyone after Xmas & New Year, but my adventures had to go on!
I caught the Ferry across to Nanaimo, which is situated about halfway up Vancouver Island. It is a very small town, with very little to see/do, which is why I was glad to only be staying the one night. The hostel I stayed in was nice & I went out for some pool & beers with a Swiss guy I met there.
The next day I caught a bus to Victoria. Victoria is the largest city on VC island, & it is a very nice place too! The only downside to my timing was that it rained for the entire time I was there. From all of the tourism info, it does look like the place is manic in the Summer - as a lot of Canadians/Americans venture to VC Island, to check out the scenery. I kept my activities to indoor amenities; the BC Museum was pretty good - with lots of interesting artifacts from Canada's aboriginal past...
I also visited Minature World...which was excellent! There were lots of varying displays, from Canada's early Railways, WWI & WWII, Fairlytale scenes, world famous castles, etc etc. Well worth a visit!
After Victoria I said goodbye to Canada, got on the Ferry & headed to Port Angeles. I wasn't intending on stopping here, although no ferries went directly to Seattle in January - so I had little choice. I stayed in a "hostel", which actually turned out to be some Woman's house! The town was very unattractive, with nothing to it. I was glad to leave the following morning.
I arrived in Seattle & found my hostel with ease. I was staying right in the centre of Downtown, by the Market place. Seattle is a fairly nondescript place, in that it has nothing amazing nor awful about it! Perhaps I have visited too many N.American cities now?! Anyway, I did the usual of walking the most popular areas of the city, including the Needle (pictured above). I also happened to be by the International Fountain when the annual Winter Fire Festival was being held, to honour the Winter Solstice. This was a bunch of hippies playing with fire to music...pretty lame actually. I went out that night & met a bunch of cadets - meaning I drank so much I don't remember returning to the hostel!
The next day I nursed a thumper of a hangover (I am human afterall), & did very little. On my last day in Seattle I visited the Music Experience Museum. This was very cool! Pictured below, guitar art sculpture & Jimmy Hendrix's guitar from Woodstock.
The museum largely focused on the history of the guitar, & predominantly Jimmy Hendrix. There was the obvious homage to Kurt & Nirvana, along with some other punk/grunge era bands (inc Presidents of USA). Joined to the Music Experience was the Sci-Fi museum. In the most part it was a little too geeky for my liking, although there were some pretty cool exhibits
Star wars fans will appreciate these pictures (the ACTUAL death star used in the original films), whilst anyone who doesn't know who the grey robot below is - you need to watch "The Iron Giant"
Seattle didn't blow me away, although it didn't suck either (N.American slang is rubbing off on me, unfortunately). I packed up & got on a flight to San Francisco...a place I had heard a lot of good things about, & was eager to investigate!
written by
johnnoble
on January 13, 2009
from
Seattle
,
United States
from the travel blog:
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California!
San Francisco
,
United States
WOW. I got off the plane from dreary Seattle to be greeted with clear blue skies & 20oC heat. Immediately, before even getting the tube to downtown, I had a feeling I was going to like this place!
Having checked into my hostel (bit of a dive), I walked along Market Street (the Main St) to the Eastern Piers. From there I walked all the way up the North of Vancouver, as the sun was setting, & then caught the Tram back down to my Hostel. The Tram was a novel experience, although expensive, crowded & a little uncomfortable...I got to where I was going though!
That night I went exploring the local bars, which turned out to be the usual American experience. Why can't they take our brilliant example of bunging all the sodding bars together in one place? It provides a better atmosphere & you don't have to walk 5 blocks to get another beer! Still, that would make too much sense. I tried some lovely local ales, then met some San Fran locals in a Cocktail bar. I had planned an early one, but the company was good - so were the cocktails!
The next day I rose late (thanks to the 3am bedtime), & decided that I would fill my afternoon with a visit to "the Rock" - aka, "Alcatraz."
This place is as cool as I imagined it to be! You are given an audio tour headset, & then allowed to roam freely around the island & jail. The 45min audio tour could be paused at any moment, in order to take a piccy or merely take in your surroundings. I shaln't spoil the (potential) experience by going into too much detail, so I will give you my highlights...
A cell block & a typical cell. There are 3 main cell blocks on Alcatraz, & then the row of "holes" - which were pitch black & completely bare. Unruly prisoners were sent here to think about improving their behaviour!
At one corner of the cell blocks there were two viewing windows, which gave a great view of San Francisco. Many prisoners are known to have commented that the hardest time about doing time in America's hardest prison was that the city was within sight & sometimes sound of the cells! Torture. Alongside is an overview of the Alcatraz history. In 14 escape attempts, no one is known to have survived (3 men are unaccounted for in the most famous attempt - presumed dead from the hazardous swim). All in all I had a brilliant time & took far more pictures there than anyone else would probably be interested in! I would strongly recommend it.
The next day I hired a bike early, & then set off on a mammoth adventure. I cycled across the famous Golden Gate bridge, which was over a mile long in itself. I stopped along the way to take a picture of the emergency phone line, put in place as a last resort for anyone tempted to take the plunge towards the water below. I shouldn't find that funny, but I did (the positioning of the phone & the sign - not suicidal people!)
After I had crossed the bridge I cycled along the shoreline to Sausalito, which is a small costal village. The bay was quaint & the houses all around were lovely, especially those on the hills. I battled my way up what seemed to be a never ending hill, to get to the Muir Woods. The struggle was worth it for the view...
I then had the most exhilarating cycle, at top speed, down the winding roads to the town. Those bends really gave me some additional force - so much so that I was going faster than most of the cars! I then went around the bay further, to Tiburon & Belvedere. Both amazingly attractive little towns, sort of like the fishing villages you might get on the south coast of the UK - although much more attractive & with a LOT more sun! It was then time for me to get the ferry across to San Francisco city, after an exhausting 40 miles of biking. This was when I was treated to the opportunity of some easy, yet amazing, picture opportunities...
I may yet have a career in photography! ;-)
On my last day in San Fran, I walked from the East shore to the West...a LONG way. During my walk I went through various residential districts, past town hall, & briefly through Caestro (the famous Gay district). Incidentally, I would recommend a film out at the moment called "Milk" - it tells the whole story as to why this district is so famous, & how the gay rights movement began & panned out in San Fran.
Next on my tour was the Golden Gate Park, which is HUGE! It is over 3 miles long & about a mile wide. In it there are many flower gardens, baseball fields, football fields, tea rooms, many lakes, a polo stadium, dutch windmills, etc etc. It seemed to take forever to get across it to the beach on the Eastern shore! I did like the park, although it will take a lot to ween me off of my love for Central Park in NY City.
The beach was as stunning as I expected. Sandy & warm, with plenty of space. It was well worth the effort, & a much rewarded chill was enjoyed in the sand. I waited until the sun went down before heading home (via bus, my legs had gone!)
That night I went out for Sushi & drinks with the people I had met earlier in the week, which was a good laugh. There is plenty to do in San Francisco, & I think that the place is very attractive, I could have done a lot more sightseeing - although it's quality over quantity with my time restraints! If any of you get the chance to come to California, make sure that San Fran is on your list!
written by
johnnoble
on January 17, 2009
from
San Francisco
,
United States
from the travel blog:
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Santa Cruz...beach time!
Santa Cruz
,
United States
Whilst I enjoyed my four days in San Fran, I have a tight schedule to fit in all I want to do before Hawaii at the end of January. Therefore I had to tear myself away & head on down the coast, to Santa Cruz.
I arrived a couple of hours before the hostel opened, so I immediately went to the beach...a two minute walk down the hill from my front door.
I was informed on my check in to the hostel that there was no alcohol allowed on the premises, & there is a 11pm curfew! Regardless of code lock doors, the codes will not work after 11pm - an excellent incentive not to miss curfew. With this in mind, I set off to check out the town for a couple of quiet pints. It was exactly this, unless the place gets going after 11pm (I wouldn't know), it is quite quiet. I did find some live music & had a good time of it.
The next day I rose early & hired a bike. I made my way along the coast only to discover that the first Surfing competition of the year was underway. I chilled at the lighthouse point & watched for a while - there were well over 100 surfers in the water at once!
I then pressed on a further couple of miles up the coast to the Natural Bridges State Beach & nature reserve. The attraction here was the rare butterflies. I went on one of the trails to check it out - afterall, it hasn't dropped below 20oC the whole time I have been here, so some shady trees were appealing. After this I headed back down the coast, past my beach (aka - Cowell Beach), & checked out the coastal neighbourhoods & views. Santa Cruz reminds me a lot of Bournemouth, largely due to the seaside location & the overall size of it. Bournemouth is a little more lively, although Bournemouth cannot boast weather of this quality in January!
I cycled back to the hostel & then went out for beers at "99 Bottles of Beer" - a pub dedicated to importing over 100 hundred brews from all over the UK...my kind of place! Had a few & made it back just before curfew.
For my last day I decided to check out the North of the town, which is just shops & residential, but nonetheless very clean & impressive. The atmosphere is very relaxed & friendly, which I suspect is down to the glorious weather & lifestyle?! Who wouldn't want to live in California???
I chilled for the afternoon on the beach & am now about to head back to 99 beers (live music night), before my bedtime (I feel 14 again) of 11pm. I have to get up at 5am to catch a 14hour bus journey to Las Vegas...so it's not all bad, eh? ;-)
written by
johnnoble
on January 18, 2009
from
Santa Cruz
,
United States
from the travel blog:
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I am SO money, & I know it...
Las Vegas
,
United States
I arrived in Las Vegas at around 2am, following a 14 hour bus journey from Santa Cruz, so I checked into my Hotel & then went straight to bed! Hotels in Vegas are cheaper (if you can call it "cheap" - with the current exchange rate) than the hostels I have been staying in. This is due to the Hotels housing Casinos, in which they would like you to part with your cash, so you are enticed by cheap food & accommodation.
On my first day in Vegas I walked the length of the famous strip, on both sides, checking out the huge diversity of themes for Casinos. Vegas is more family orientated than it used to be (as portrayed in many Hollywood movies), as there are plenty of non-gambling attractions; rollercoasters, cinemas, guided tours, & hundreds of various shows. The most notable Casinos were the Bellagio, MGM Grand (pic below left), New York New York (pic below right), & Caesars Palace.
After my walk I decided to buy beers & a pack of cards, before heading back to my room to chill - & get in some much needed practice at Blackjack, with the intention of hitting the Casinos later that night.
Having consumed the beers (chilled by ice in the sink - a classic touch) I headed out to get some cash & go play some cards. It happened again...all of my cards had been blocked. I tried various ATMs before accepting defeat, having a few pints, then retreating to my hotel room to bed. Maybe that was a sign...I have always felt I have no place when it comes to the gambling game!
The next day, having resolved the bank issues, I headed out to play some Blackjack. Having never gambled (or placed a bet in my life) I decided not to make a fool of myself at one of the more renowned Casinos, so I headed off to "Hooters"
Incidentally, this was my first visit to a Hooters too...I had to tick that one off whilst in N.America! I sat down at the $3 Blackjack table and changed up $80. Whilst at the tables you get served free drinks (yet again, they are getting your cash anyway, so they want you to be as comfortable, and intoxicated, as possible!), so I tucked into the Stellas. I started out rather well, hitting a couple of Blackjacks in the first 10mins - for which you win an additional 1/2 dollar coin...woooooooooo! After about 45mins I had nearly doubled my stack of chips - despite not knowing all of the rules! Needless to say, over the next hour or so I managed to go almost bust before getting back to $40. At which point I decided to cash in! It was an enjoyable experience, but not one I am in any hurry to repeat...I really am not a gambler...when in Rome though, eh?
The next day, whilst on the strip, I passed the Bellagio as the water fountains display started. It was very impressive. The fountains sent water dancing in all directions, in time to the music (an old Broadway number). The climax of the song result in all fountains shooting a vast amount of water higher than the Casino/Hotel itself. Definitely worth a watch!
On my last night in Vegas I bought a ticket for the Cirque Du Soleil - for $75! Not cheap, but cheaper than a trip to the Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon (over $350 combined) - that excursion will have to wait for another trip! The show I saw was called "Zumanity," which was described as the sensual side of Cirque Du Soleil. The show was very impressive - the expected amazing acrobatics, just with a lot fewer clothes. There was also a variety of different acts over the two hours, including some slapstick standup comedy interacting with the crowd. I would strongly recommend the show to all (over 18, of course), as it was very enjoyable.
Having finished my brief stay in Vegas it was time to return to California. I had just enough time to make one more stop before LA...San Diego.
written by
johnnoble
on January 28, 2009
from
Las Vegas
,
United States
from the travel blog:
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San Diego & Los Angeles
Los Angeles
,
United States
I arrived in San Diego very late at night (2am), thanks to the Greyhound bus company. They had oversold my bus, so I had to wait for a later one. That will be the last Greyhound trip for me, thankfully! I was staying in a hostel on Ocean Beach (imaginatively titled), which was two blocks from the beach...
I spent the day walking around the place & then chilling on the beach - an enjoyable and affordable past time! The weather in California is incredible, although the locals are praying for some rain - otherwise they are going to have a tough & dry summer! In the evening I went out to the bars in Ocean Beach & mixed with the locals, who were very friendly. I also tried some more ales - it turns out that California boasts quite a few decent ones!
The next day I got a lift over to Balboa Park, on the NW side of the city. This is a large park filled with Palm trees, walking trails & lots of museums. I spent the whole afternoon checking the place out. Some of the buildings were very nice...
On the way back to the hostel I stopped off in Downtown San Diego, which really is nothing special. It is the standard array of shopping malls & fast food restaurants, which I have now seen far too many times!
The next day I hired a bike from the hostel & cycled off up the coastline to the harbours & some other nearby beaches, taking it easy & enjoying the sights & weather. San Diego is a nice city, as it is spread out enough for it not to be too cluttered - reducing that "city" feel. I crossed over to the other coastline & cycled all the way down to the Sunset Cliffs to watch the sunset...some stunning views again...
After my brief visit to San Diego it was time to go to my last mainland American destination...LA. I got the train this time, so was able to take in the coastal view the whole way (which was nice). Upon my arrival I got the subway to my Hostel in Hollywood! The hostel is located just off of the Boulevard, so I immediately went to check it out.
Amongst all of the famous actors/musicians/celebrities were the Rugrats (?!?) and the Simpsons. The Boulevard itself isn't that exciting. It is long and full of tourist shops, selling all kinds of tat. The famous Chinese Theatre is plastic fantastic - which is probably pretty appropriate! There isn't much else to Hollywood, apart from a lot of housing. I decided against visiting Universal Studios etc, in order to save ($$$ &) the experience for my next visit. Instead I decided to check out the walking trails on the hills that overlook LA. I timed the excursion perfectly to coincide with the sunset ;-)
The next day I got the bus over to Venice Beach. A word of advice to all planning on visiting LA - hire a CAR! The public transport system is slow, overcrowded & it doesn't go everywhere in the city. As a result of these factors it took me two hours to travel the 10 miles to the beach. Venice Beach is where Baywatch was filmed, so it would have been rude not to check it out!
That evening the hostel had arranged a Limo tour of Beverly Hills & Hollywood, with Champagne & Beer included - so not bad for $25! We stopped off at a couple of bars, before heading back to the hostel bar. It was a good laugh with some great people.
I am now writing this on the eve of my departure to Hawaii, where I meet Mr Christopher Small, as he has been formally invited to join me for the rest of my year's adventure! I have had an amazing five months travelling, & whilst I have been on my own in deciding my next destinations & pace of travel I certainly haven't been on my own - as you meet SO many amazing people whilst travelling. Anyone who is thinking about doing it should stop doing so - and just DO IT!
Lots of people claim to have "found" themselves whilst travelling. I don't ever consider myself lost, although I can conclude the following things that I have learnt in the past five months (in no particular order):
- you can't beat a bit of Sunshine!
- buying a laptop would have been a good idea (internet logon costs pile up)
- everyone should go snowboarding
- Australians get EVERYWHERE
- being a well spoken Englishman has many benefits, internationally
- walking on frozen lakes is a lot of fun
- fast food comes in literally hundreds of varying guises!
- I like the beach more & more everytime I go (I loved it anyway)
- there is no such thing as "spare" change...if only the homeless of this world could grasp this concept!
- I can sleep anywhere, as long as I am horizontal (ear plugs help)
- beer really is an essential source of calories, & North America actually offers some good ones (in amongst all the crappy "light" beers - aka, beerwater)
- I could go the rest of my life not working another day & I would be a very happy man! :-)
Not words of incredible wisdom, but some accurate observations nonetheless!
BRING ON HAWAII! OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW :-)
written by
johnnoble
on January 30, 2009
from
Los Angeles
,
United States
from the travel blog:
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HAWAII
Hawaiian Beaches
,
United States
I arrived at our Hostel in Waikiki (Honolulu) late on a Saturday night, 12pm locally, to find Smalls almost asleep in his room. That quickly changed, with the pair of us enjoying some beers in some beach side bars & catching up.
The next day we watched the superbowl (which was a very good game), then went for a swim on Waikiki beach, before heading out for more beers with an Aussie & an American (v.funny guys) we had met during the game. We played pool & drank beer, before recruiting people from the hostel for a jam session on the beach. Smalls got his first hit of traveling guitar playing, in a truly fantastic setting, with amazing people.
Above = Waikiki Sunset
Waikiki is the brash beach of Hawaii - meaning that it is the most like LA. Honolulu is the biggest city on the Hawaiian islands, which is both good and bad...the beaches are gorgeous, although the place is busy. Especially during the Pro Bowl party - where they shut the main Beach Blvd for live music & food/merchandise stores. Hawaii has hosted the Pro Bowl (end of NFL season all-star match) for the last 20+ years, and this was its last year on the island = a big party.
Smalls & I decided that it was cost effective to hire a jeep, ensuring that we saw all that Oaho (N.Hawaiian island) had to offer. We decided to call her Betty...
We covered the whole island (following the coast) in one day, about 200miles. We were stopping off occasionally to check out the beaches & views along the way, all of which were greatly varying in terrain & size. Hawaii is an amazing place. We were visiting in the rainy season/winter...although i cant imagine anyone in the UK complaining about 20-25oC heat in the middle of winter? The weather was mixed during our time on Oaho, although we got sun/cloud the majority of the time. We managed to hire bodyboard (aka - boogie boards) & went back to the North Shore to catch some waves. After a couple of poor wave beaches (3-4ft waves), we arrived at Waimea beach - which was home to some 10-15ft waves :-O
It was an incredible rush riding atop a wave of that size, all the way into the beach! I managed this a couple of times, before being mercilessly dumped upon by wall after wall of water. It was well worth the experience - I have never felt the power of the ocean like that before.
After conquering the North Shore's MEGA waves, we found one deserted beach on the North Shore called "Houki Lau",pictured below,(sp??). We decided this was a perfect site for night on the beach - Ray Mears style!
Having collected many BBQ supplies (& beer) from the nearby supermarket, we hit the beach, setup our makeshift camp, & collected fire wood before the sun set. We were then faced with the ordeal of combatting v.strong winds in order to get the BBQ going. Needless to say: where there is a will...there is a way!
During the night the sea level came within 10ft of our sleeping bags, although thankfully no nearer! It wasn't the most comfortable surface, but it was amazing to sleep so close to the ocean in such a natural setting.
The next day we drove up the West coast to Paradise Cove, which is four man made swimming coves - all with backing hotels (nice ones!) These are the postcard Hawaii resorts...very nice, but quite stereotypical & plastic.
Having returned our jeep, we caught the bus to Pearl City - which is where Pearl Harbour is located. We got to see the memorials for all of the submarine crews lost in WWII, S.S.Boudin (below left) submarine & the Missouri (below right).
We also visited the Pacific Aviation Museum, on Ford island, although it wasn't really worth the admission price - the submarines & ships were the thing to see! It was on the Missouri that the WWII peace treaty was signed, indicating the end of the war. Very interesting, in my opinion at least!
Having conquered the best that Oaho has to offer, we set off on a 1 hour flight to Hawaii's "big" island, in order to see some real Hawaii. We landed in Hilo, which is the islands' capital, to be greeted with a run down (practically falling down) & dirty town. Only when we read up that the place had been demolished by a 500mph Tsunami wave, did we understand & give the place a break.
We bought enough food for the week (fruit & pasta mainly = cheap) before waiting for our hostel shuttle to arrive. An old VW arrived, driven by the hostel manager - Mojo. Mojo explained about the hippie culture of "Puna" - the SE area of the island we were located in. The principle of the hostel is in keeping with that of the land...reuse, recycle & no waste. The hostel could not be closer to this philosophy - as all of the huts were made out of whatever materials were available at the time of construction. Our huts walls were made out of the side of a tractor, one large fly net, bamboo sticks & a sheet of old tents sown together! Very unique indeed! (pic left)
The showers & toilet were located outside (pic right), powered by renewable energy, & there was a large recycle centre for all hostel residents too. The only problems with this jungle utopia setting was the damp (jungles in the rainy season get very damp!) & the mosquitoes! You wouldn't believe how tasty us English are to Hawaiian mozzies.
In our four days on the big island we went and checked out the vast lava fields, & a lot of the coastline. It is incredible to see how much of the land has previously been consumed by lava flow, & how life has managed to survive in spite of this. Getting around the island was made a lot easier by hitch hiking - which is the done thing in a hippie district (it takes no more that 10mins of thumb action to get lucky)
We visited some warm pools (pic right), which were heated by the volcano rock beneath them. The pools turned out to be more luke warm - as a result of them being fed by the sea & the fact that it is actually winter in Hawaii at this time.
We spent one whole day dedicated to the Volcano. We caught a ride (1&1/2hrs) to the Volcano's craters & walked across the floor of one of them (the one that wasn't spewing out molten lava!). It was breath taking. I, however, forgot my camera that day - so you will have to wait for those pictures off of Smally. I did remember my camera when we went to the Lava flow viewing point that night - which was spectacular! The amout of steam coming off of the ocean at the entry point was awesome, even from a distance of 2miles (restricted for safety). Hawaii hasn't had a full on explosion for over 25 years, so they are due one any day. Pretty cool.
I would strongly recommend to anyone visiting Hawaii to check out other islands, other than the commerical Oaho & it's capital Honolulu, because only then do you get a real feel for the landscape, the people & the lifestyle. It is clear to see why so many people are content living the simple life in these beautiful surroundings.
Fiji next...
written by
johnnoble
on February 11, 2009
from
Hawaiian Beaches
,
United States
from the travel blog:
John's year off...
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BULA! Fiji time (part one)
Lautoka
,
Fiji
We flew out of Hawaii at 7am on a Friday, arriving in Nadi Airport at midday on Saturday. Initially we assumed that the pilot had got his days mixed up, but we soon realised that we had crossed the date line! So from being 12hours behind the UK, we are now 12hours ahead.
Our hostel for our first night was basically a rented room in a local woman's house, advertised as a "hostel" online. It was basic, but Amelia & her two boys (aged 12 & 14) we very friendly. Smalls & I walked into Nadi to buy some essentials (beer & mosquito repellent). The centre of downtown Nadi reminded us of the images we have seen of downtown Deli; crowded, rundown, very hot & sweaty. Being white we stood out like the tourists we are! The floods that recently devestated the area have subsided, although the place has certainly felt its effects - especially the roads. When we returned to the hostel we booked our boat passes & accommodation for the Yasawa islands, then drank beer & taught the boys card games. We had great fun catching Geckos - which there are plenty of! I am a big fan of Geckos, not just because they are cool animals but because they love to eat mosquitos (which is greatly appreciated!)
The next day we were up early & caught our boat to the most Northern tip of the Yasawa islands - a 4&1/2 hour trip that didn't agree with many of the passengers on board (including Smalls, who got a little sea sick). These islands off of the West coast of Fiji are paradise. Sun, sand, very warm seas & beautiful scenery - to see is to appreciate.
Our first resort, Malbravo (pic above), was set just off of the beach (as all the resorts are). It was a series of small straw huts, which were basic - reflecting the way of life in Fiji. Our hut had its own hammocks, with an amazing view of the beach & ocean. Our meals on the islands comprised of lots of rice, fresh fish & veg, which were usually very nice. Whislt at Malbravo we paid the captain to take us out in his speed boat to the Blue Lagoon, so that we could go snorkelling amongst the coral reefs. We stopped to feed the fish first...
It was an incredible experience swimming amongst literally thousands of tropical fish! I doubt that any aquarium in the world could rival the quantity & diversity of the fish we saw. It was so good that no words that I could use would do the experience justice. After the blue lagoon the captain took us out to sea to some more reefs - this time so that he could go spear fishing. Our captain was very good at it - he could hold his breath for 2minutes whilst diving to a depth of about 20m. He managed to catch a lobster & three red snapper, which we ate for dinner that evening....very nice indeed! :-)
The next day we visited the island's village with one of the resort staff. The village was surprisingly big, home to over 500 Fijians. There were huts/homes made out of straw, brick or steel. All of the people on the islands live off of the land, needing very few supplies from the mainland. Whislt we were there we got to meet the chief, who was pretty spaced out from drinking Kava all day.
Kava is a plant that grows on the island which is harvested by drying out the roots & crushing them powder. This is then sived in water, making it a muddy texture, then drank in large quantities. We brought some back from the village & had it back at the hostel that evening. It's supposed to give you a drunk/stoned/chilled feeling, although after two hours of drinking it was all consumed - having very little effect on us. Luckily a couple staying at the resort had some liquor, so we drank on & taught the locals some card games.
The next day I took a two mile walk along the beach to the other side of the island, in order to do some more snorkelling. The walk & the mile swim was worth it, as amongst all of the fish I spotted two reef sharks & a manta ray! Very cool. The heat & the rocky terrain were a challenge, but well worth it! More fun than lying in a hammock (to me, anyway).
The other two islands provided more of the same - scorching paradise! We got to do some traditional Bula dancing (which is very like the macarena?!) & also got our hands on a guitar - for an impromptu singalong on the beach by a bonfire. There were lots of people on our second island, giving it an international party atmosphere.
By our last island (third & final destination for the week) I was getting increasingly bad at lying around & doing nothing, so I decided to go & do something crazy...climb a mountain in the 30oC heat! The terrain was unstable & very steep in places, but the sweaty & exhausting hour-or-so climb was worth it.
My guide (Sollo) & I enjoyed the view for about 15mins (it was hot hot hot). Up there you could see the whole island & beyond it to the mainland. The climb back down the mountain was a lot easier, if not any less precaurious!
At the bottom of the mountain Sollo climbed a palm tree & cut down a couple of Coconuts...the milk inside is SO refreshing = a well deserved treat after our workout!
I got back to find Smalls asleep in the hammock...he had no problems adjusting to the Fijian culture!
On our last day in the Yasawa islands we went on a short jungle trek to a 20ft waterfall. The water was cool & fresh, which was a welcomed change from the hot & slaty ocean. At times the sea was warmer than you might run a bath...crazy!
We packed in a lot of experiences during our island hopping, taking in the real Fijian culture & way of life. Fiji is a very relaxed place - which I attribute to the soaring temperatures that they experience all year round. We were visiting during their winter = life is tough for Fijians.
I decided to save my favourite pictures of the islands until last...you can never have to many amazing sunset pictures! ;-)
(White Sandy Beaches resort) above
(Malbravo resort) above
written by
johnnoble
on February 22, 2009
from
Lautoka
,
Fiji
from the travel blog:
John's year off...
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