The Travel Thread

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:56 pm

gnat wrote:
also, do not see wolf creek before heading off

saw it before nullabor drive and had never been across. took strong acid at SA border. proceeded to drive really fast and not want to refill petrol at scary wolf creek stations.
thuoght perth was gonna be one big shed with scary dude, but it turned out kind of like a city. operative words > kind of.

dan > highly reccomend laos/cambodia/thailand circuit
cheap, relaxed, very friendly people, lots to do, can party hard or take it easy, vietnam interesting but people nowehre near as nice as these places.

plus, think about where you want your tourist $$ to go as well.

hongkong and japan id say more expensive than OZ. two most expensive cities in the world!
especialy accom, go to those places if you got somewhere to stay or for a quick week to check out. need much $ for extended stay IMO.

other places i mentioned, can live on $20-30 a day like a KING.
depends if you want slick city glam holiday or cultural beachy adventure..

i am in love with cambodia, and the people.
had racous games of x and o's on the street with eight year old hustler kids last night, everyone watching and cheering.

everyone in town knows after me being here four days that
1) im aussie (they all say "australia, population 22 million less one casue you are here, prime minister kevin 07 mate!")
2) im travelling alone
3) i like arrows

so funny. i gots me friends in siem reip now.

Post by **fooishbar** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:36 pm

fooishbar wrote:so, uh, what's there to do in sf?

this time for sure!

just got my tickets now. flight departs in 17 hours. word.

Jinx · Post by **Jinx** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:18 am

Thailand tomorrow woot. Snow to beach

Jinx · Post by **Jinx** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:41 pm

Anyone travelled around Thailand, Cambodia on train? I've got 16 days and not a hell of a lot of coin. Any tips or pointers? Was only meant to be staying in Phuket but i've been biten by that urge to be impulsive and go as far out of my way as I can

kronz · Post by **kronz** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:44 pm

BammBamm wrote:Anyone travelled around Thailand, Cambodia on train? I've got 16 days and not a hell of a lot of coin. Any tips or pointers? Was only meant to be staying in Phuket but i've been biten by that urge to be impulsive and go as far out of my way as I can

Train from Bangkok to Laos.
local bus from veintien to vangvien.

Cheap as shit when you get there and you will have a blast, my favorite place ever. The only condition of going there is that you like water (tubing), beer, girls and cheap stuff. Check facebook photos for pics.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:32 pm

BammBamm wrote:Anyone travelled around Thailand, Cambodia on train? I've got 16 days and not a hell of a lot of coin. Any tips or pointers? Was only meant to be staying in Phuket but i've been biten by that urge to be impulsive and go as far out of my way as I can

dont go to phuket!
full of pervy old guys and dumb glitzy glam glam...resorts and shit.

get the overnight trian from bangers to the other side of the coast (cant remember the town but its where you leave to those islands on the inside...) and jump on a hydrofoil out to ko phanang or somewhere...
train over bus in thialand anyday...

buses in cambo hella cheap. like $7 or $10 across the country...

have fun!!!

its the start of the khmer new year here today, im at shianoukville, all the prices have tripled for the next three days...songkran in thailand too, whole of south east asia shutsdown and parties etc...
we got a bungalow overlooking the beach for tonight

bring on the rocket fuel fireworks!

kronz · Post by **kronz** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:58 am

ghetto kitty wrote:
BammBamm wrote:Anyone travelled around Thailand, Cambodia on train? I've got 16 days and not a hell of a lot of coin. Any tips or pointers? Was only meant to be staying in Phuket but i've been biten by that urge to be impulsive and go as far out of my way as I can
dont go to phuket!
full of pervy old guys and dumb glitzy glam glam...resorts and shit.

get the overnight trian from bangers to the other side of the coast (cant remember the town but its where you leave to those islands on the inside...) and jump on a hydrofoil out to ko phanang or somewhere...
train over bus in thialand anyday...

buses in cambo hella cheap. like $7 or $10 across the country...

have fun!!!

its the start of the khmer new year here today, im at shianoukville, all the prices have tripled for the next three days...songkran in thailand too, whole of south east asia shutsdown and parties etc...
we got a bungalow overlooking the beach for tonight

bring on the rocket fuel fireworks!

Siratani if the place to get the boat to Koh Panang.

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:36 am

Get the over night train.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:20 pm

black star wrote:Get the over night train.

yes. infinatly better than the bus, and not much more $$

and yes, its surat thani where you catch either the hydrofoil or the ferry. hydrofiol scared the shit out of me, and i love fast things. lots of vomit and BIG waves. ferry was relaxing...

i got drenched many times yesterday and covered in talcum powder...

happy khmer new year!

dengelman · Post by **dengelman** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:30 pm

kronz wrote:
Siratani if the place to get the boat to Koh Panang.

Surat Thani is generally the way it's spelt in English, in case you are looking for it.

www.travelfish.org is your friend.

although you say you are low on coin, it's always a relative thing. www.airasia.com can get you out of phuket to somewhere much more appealing in a few short hours.

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:53 pm

Woohooo!! Just finalised everything for myself and my gf for a RTW trip

2 months in NZ, 4 months in South America, 1 month in Europe, 3 months in India, 6 weeks in Thailand

Life is good!!!

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:03 pm

What did you ticket cost, I've been watchin gthem rise in price form just under 2K to about $2200.

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:20 pm

We got a 4 continent ticket and it cost $3200 plus about $900 in taxes per ticket

dengelman · Post by **dengelman** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:36 pm

thfc wrote:Woohooo!! Just finalised everything for myself and my gf for a RTW trip

2 months in NZ, 4 months in South America, 1 month in Europe, 3 months in India, 6 weeks in Thailand

Life is good!!!

that sounds totally sweet.

enjoy mate.

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:57 am

sounds mad thfc! jealous!

want to start looking into tickets for the end of the year. early bird ftw. thinking of a few weeks in japan after india.

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:25 pm

black star wrote:What did you ticket cost, I've been watchin gthem rise in price form just under 2K to about $2200.

yeah same.

We need to book!

But our travel agent just had a baby so is off for a month

Aaaaaaagh!

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:53 pm

witty_pseudonym wrote:sounds mad thfc! jealous!

want to start looking into tickets for the end of the year. early bird ftw. thinking of a few weeks in japan after india.

Yeah we have been saving for 2 years so to say i am excited is a gross understatement.

Only 3 more weeks of work until i have a whole year work free!

Sorry don't mean to rub it in but its hard to contain my joy!

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:11 pm

HIGH FIVE FOR A YEAR OFF!

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:14 pm

this thread is going nowhere

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:16 pm

HIGH FIVE?

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:30 pm

thfc wrote:We got a 4 continent ticket and it cost $3200 plus about $900 in taxes per ticket

Wow!
Expensive huh.
I was looking at 3 stop overs for around $2000. But it's going up in price all the time. spose it depends on when you book etc.

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:50 pm

yeah its not cheap, however when i went into STA travel they were really good and gave me a few cheaper options that had a slightly different itinerary to what we desired but its the taxes that are the killer

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:15 pm

jbs wrote:HIGH FIVE?

yayayayayaayayayayayays!!!

HIGH FIVE!

:jealous:

FoundationStepper · Post by **FoundationStepper** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:51 pm

up to syd on thursday for 10 days

any tips on a blue mountains trip?

ADD_Boy · Post by **ADD_Boy** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:05 pm

jbs wrote:HIGH FIVE?

I'll make it a double mate!!

Congrats & enjoy!! [you bastard]

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:03 pm

black star wrote:
thfc wrote:We got a 4 continent ticket and it cost $3200 plus about $900 in taxes per ticket
Wow!
Expensive huh.
I was looking at 3 stop overs for around $2000. But it's going up in price all the time. spose it depends on when you book etc.

I'm guessing the one you were looking at had just 3 stopovers (ie: the budget ones).

The ~3.4k ones have ~20 flights (i think?)

nic · Post by **nic** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:35 pm

can ayone recommend a good hostel / affordable casual but not rat infested hotel in barcelona they have stayed at?

stovequeen · Post by **stovequeen** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:52 am

nic wrote:can ayone recommend a good hostel / affordable casual but not rat infested hotel in barcelona they have stayed at?

I stayed here. Private double room, awesome location. More a pension than hotel. No vibe inside but plenty outside.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... lonia.html

http://www.hostelsclub.com/hostel-en-3054.html

View from my window

nic · Post by **nic** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:03 am

thanks fi - hmm looks ideal i think all the good/affordable bits in barcelona are takenat that time for sonar. will keep looking

stovequeen · Post by **stovequeen** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:04 am

nic wrote:thanks fi - hmm looks ideal i think all the good/affordable bits in barcelona are takenat that time for sonar. will keep looking

I stayed there over Sonar. Got in about a week before. Sonar was less than 5 mins walk away. Very lucky.

You going Nic?

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:08 am

So who's been to Greece? Santorini or Corfu?

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:31 pm

Nic, this is the one I stayed at when I was in Barcelona in November. It is a stones throw from the Ramblas and Mercat Bouqueria (great for cheap fresh eats!) Also close to metro stop and Gothic quarter. Its a small hotel, friendly staff. Would stay there again.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... lonia.html

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:41 pm

I stayed in the same place when i was in Barcelona Stove Queen, although that was about 8 years ago now, was a great location and quite well priced from what i remember

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:09 pm

FoundationStepper wrote:up to syd on thursday for 10 days

any tips on a blue mountains trip?

Warm clothes. And check the Skytram thing they've got out there...

stovequeen · Post by **stovequeen** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:13 pm

thfc wrote:I stayed in the same place when i was in Barcelona Stove Queen, although that was about 8 years ago now, was a great location and quite well priced from what i remember

really? cool.

yeah they were not the cheapist but i was so nice being somewhere small, quiet and with your own room. The loctation was sweet. Seeing that tattoo sign across the street from my room brings back the memories!

ADD_Boy · Post by **ADD_Boy** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:28 pm

FUCK I love Barca!!

Looks like where i stayed Fi..

MAD city !

Post by **system** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:23 pm

i loved staying in pensions in iberia (spain & portugal). best of times.

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:09 pm

Is Madrid comparable to Barcelona, i am spending 5 days in Madrid in December but don't think i will have time to make it to Barcelona

I think i would rate Barcelona as my favourite city i have been to

dengelman · Post by **dengelman** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:27 pm

thfc wrote:Is Madrid comparable to Barcelona

Comparable? Well, yes. Similar - no; totally not.

Apart from greedy royals a few years back they would be in different countries now.

Madrid has nothing on Barcelona, and although I haven't spent long there, I'm sure you could pass a very happy few days. Good museums and nice bars.

Post by **system** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:02 am

thfc wrote:Is Madrid comparable to Barcelona, i am spending 5 days in Madrid in December but don't think i will have time to make it to Barcelona

I think i would rate Barcelona as my favourite city i have been to

madrid is awesome.

very biased, but there's a lot to see and do, regardless of what the catalan massive think.

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:15 pm

system wrote:madrid is awesome.

very biased, but there's a lot to see and do, regardless of what the catalan massive think.

What are some other towns around Madrid that are good to see?
Is Toldeo interesting for history/art/architecture or food?

I wonder if I could do the Camino from Bilbao to Santiago DC?!

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:31 pm

Jetstar sale is out of control.
take a mate for $4 deal.
i keep coming up with $70 fares to christchurch, osaka, bangkok etc.
must stop tempting myself. been on the verge of clicking the book button too many times.

ARGH!!!!

get on it peeps!!

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:33 pm

witty_pseudonym wrote:Jetstar sale is out of control.
take a mate for $4 deal.
i keep coming up with $70 fares to christchurch, osaka, bangkok etc.
must stop tempting myself. been on the verge of clicking the book button too many times.

ARGH!!!!

get on it peeps!!

nope. its bullshit.

go on, click thew book button, i promise youll get error after error message.

fucked. false advertising to get people to jetstar page.

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:35 pm

today i am making many double post on MB

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:38 pm

i got through to the payment section no probs.

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:38 pm

oops.
stoopit thing

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:38 pm

I have no one to go on holidays with Witty

Smile on Impact · Post by **Smile on Impact** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:35 pm

I'm going.

My girly and I are off on our first big trip.

Starting 12th of June.

Korea
UK
Ireland
Norway
Holland
Germany
Poland

fuckin whooooooo!!!!

10 weeks all up.

any mad hookups?

only been to Korea before, out of that lot.
Natalia's been to Eire and, Polska of course
but that's it.
Mostly new stuff for us.
Big fun adventure!!

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Thu May 22, 2008 10:54 am

poland is awesome!

and berlin blew me away- if you're into the history you will love, rhine/ black forest and munich only other places i went in germany

west coast ireland is magic- dingle peninsula, slea head etc and antrim coast of northern ireland is INSANE

i'm going north WA this year- w00t! 3 week adventure sans ivan milat. coral bay/karajini/broome/80 mile beach/el questro thru bungle bungles to darwin

thfc · Post by **thfc** » Thu May 22, 2008 11:38 am

gnat, you will love Coral Bay, it is amazing, if you want to swim with Whale Sharks go up to Exmouth as you get better deals and a better chance of actually finding them. I love northern WA