Monday, November 10, 2008

Onto the Mainland

Time for the next stage of my Asia tour! Flying from Delhi to Hong Kong was a massive culture shock. From the dirty but dynamic Indian capital to the rigid, futuristic city of Hong Kong - is there any greater contrast! A few days in Hong Kong to procure a visa for China then across the border to Shenzen for the start of my four weeks in the land of bamboo, Ti Chi and Tsingtao.

Gleaming towers make a fantastic backdrop for grass and ponds of downtown Hong Kong park.

The historic Victoria Peak tramway.

Hong Kongs tacky but entertaining sound and light show - the largest of its kind in the world.

Hong Kong is not just concrete and steel. I took a day-trip out to Lantau island to see a big Buddha and this monestry.

Hiking on Lantau island

Had to check out the new Bond film on the day it was released. Chinese subtitles and all.

Off to China!

First stop: Yangshou, home of some otherworldly karst landscape.

Spot the climber! Yangshou is the next big climbing mecca.

You give me no good coin!

Having fun with some english students at the language school. Everyone wants to practice their english on me, ahh!

Sampling the local catch with some Spainiads I met.

Mobbed by the 'Countryside Tour'. It's unbelievable how many domestic Chinese tourists there are everywhere. Love that booming economy!

Crossing the Li river on a bamboo raft.

I ordered a bowl of noodles and got enough to feed two families!

Which fish would you like with your meal tonight sir?

Rabbits, ducks, snakes and even dogs at the local farmers food markets.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Incredible India

Good things always come to end and I am sad to leave my home of two months. After a lot of difficulty in reaching it going to the Taj the effort was definitely worth it in the end. Even for the most cynical of Kiwis this is an incredible monument. Spine tingling i must say! A great way to end my time in this incredible country.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Deserts and Forts



Rajesthan; Land of the raj, desert and OTT headdresses! I flew up here from Goa with Jono and met other kiwi friends, Tony, Andy and Steph for 8 days.

The crew ready to carve it up in Jaipur!

The palace in Jaipur was fantastic with parts of it still used for Bollywood films.

Slllightly uncomfortable here with colourful guards watching over my shoulders...

A Thali - well proportioned meal for about 1 pound!

3 kiwis, 1 Aussie and 1 American in a rickshaw; no room.

Amber fort. Rajesthan is amazing for the amount of battlements and forts scattering the countryside.

Fort-spotting in the powerful taxi contraption.

Indian Rail at it's barred best.

Hanging out in Jophpur's fantastic fort.

Jophpur on the Mehrangarh Fort.

Watch out kids for this beast of burdened fury

Watching sunset in Jaiselmer

Onto the camels for our four day camel trek in the Great Thar Desert

Me with ali baba trousers, scarfed up with unhappy camel rash.

Sunset in the desert

These not-so-nasties crawled onto us at dusk provoking nocturnal squeals

Lost in the desert

Leaping for joy

Me, Jon, Andy and Tony playing the parts of useless Raj Rulers.

Crazy amounts of kids in the desert villages wanted pics, pens and rupees from us foreign traders.

Confusion as the camels organise themselves for another day at the office.

Jon on his (failed) attempt to get to the airport for Thailand!