Archive for the ‘Travel’ category

Strange sign in Motel

April 14th, 2010

This is a screen shot taken from BBC Series ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ episode ‘Order out of Chaos’.

No Hunting Dogs Allowed in Room – No Cleaning Game in Room

It took me a while to work out what the second sentence meant, then it clicked, no cleaning (of) game (animals) in room.

It seems that the TLC Farmer’s Motel isn’t the only place where hunters get up to strange goings on in their motel room. Someone called Kay2 commented on the Fodor’s website

Paxson—Paxon Inn/Lodge has a sign on back of room door “No cleaning game in room” made us wonder about the stains in the shower.

BBC Programmes

Roast Pig Siu Mei

February 7th, 2010

Roast Pig ??

Originally uploaded by yabbox

I passed this Siu Mei (??) restaurant in Jordan, in a side street just off Shanghai street. These two pigs really looked enticing, and there were other cuts of meat hanging alongside with lovely looking crackling, plenty of meat and a lovely barbecued flavour-ful skin.

I can’t imagine those burned little pig’s ears would be the delicacy they reputedly are however!

The chef didn’t mind me taking some photos and even tried to ‘pose’ for some shots while at work.

The pork ribs were roughly sliced through the bone and served on a bed a rice with a minced ginger sauce.

Canon Camera Can

December 7th, 2009

Ghost Ship

Originally uploaded by yabbox

My office colleague has borrowed a Canon EOS 400D Digital Camera for her first trip to Hong Kong and so we wonder down to Victoria harbour so she can take her first souvenir shots of Hong Kong.

I’ve been meaning to upgrade to a Canon Powershot G9 or G10 for some time. Now I’ve seen there is a G11 on the market and still I’m managing with my little Ixus 80.

» Read more: Canon Camera Can

Train K26 – Shenzhèn xi to Huángshan

December 7th, 2009

Overnight train to Huangshan
Tuesday 1st December 2009

My last entry explained my stressful journey from Hong Kong to Shenzhen Xi Train Station. That is where I boarded this train to Huangshan.

Shenzhen Xi is a little used train station in the industrial part of Shenzhen. The K25/K26 train service is a privately run route from ShenZhen West ??? to Nanjing West ???. I’ll be travelling as far as Huangshan ??.

I didn’t know there were private train lines in China and apart from the branding in the restaurant car, it is little different from any other train journey in China.

» Read more: Train K26 – Shenzhèn xi to Huángshan

Hong Kong to Shenzhen

December 7th, 2009

Hong Kong Transport
Originally uploaded by yabbox

Hong Kong China Border

I wouldn’t normally regale my trip across Hong Kong and through the Shenzhen border, but when preparing for this small trip, I didn’t find any info on the route to Shenzhen Xi Train Station.

I stop by the travel agent in Hong Kong to finalise the next segment of my journey, where I’m handed my train ticket from Shenzhen to Huangshan. Here Kelvin warns me that the train leaves from the West Station in Shenzhen, which is much further from the border than the main station – basically it is in the middle of nowhere. » Read more: Hong Kong to Shenzhen

Estancia El Silencio

April 14th, 2009

Albergue y Estancia ‘El Silencio’, Flores-Durazno, Uruguay


My first view of El Silencio Estancia.
Picture postcard. By Yabbox

As I travelled further south along the coast of Brazil my desire to escape further from the other backpackers grew within me and making my next move into Uruguay seemed like the best option. Other people I had met in Ilha Grande and Curitiba would be travelling west to experience the awesome pull of Iquazu Waterfalls and apart from acting like sheep, this would also take me further away from Uruguay.

I found this typical working farm near Durazno, which geographically was ideal as it’s just a couple of hours bus journey from Montevideo and on the way to Tacuarembo should I join up with the others later at the Estancia there. » Read more: Estancia El Silencio

Fun weekend in Mercedes

April 14th, 2009

Local Peña girls at The Mausoleum
to Gauchito Gil

By Yabbox

Without a decent guide book to Argentina I was under the impression it was a short hop, skip and a jump from Concordia on the border of Uruguay and Argentina to Mercedes and the gateway to the Esteros Del Ibera. By the way I’m loving the names of these towns in Argentina. I think I’ve under-estimated the size of Argentina compared to the trifling 68,000 miles² of Uruguay. It took us a long eight hour bus journey across beautiful but rainy North-East Argentinian countryside. » Read more: Fun weekend in Mercedes

Shepherding

March 26th, 2009

El Silencio Estancia
26th March 2009

We saw two ostriches (or Rhea) yesterday, while we were on horseback, I had forgotten. Today nothing happened until el patron came back from Montevideo around 10am, with another member of staff, or a friend. We then went off to survey his land by ute, thus going further than on horseback, which I’m kind of glad about as my lower back is quite sore, aching. I think extensive horse riding has got to be good for some with back posture issues, like myself! We went to his ostrich farm first off! Yes really. » Read more: Shepherding

Gaucho Life

March 25th, 2009

El Silencio Estancia
25th March 2009

I’ve been a right proper farmer (exaggerate the ‘ar’) today, been on a tractor and all sorts! Eggs and bacon for breakfast – a farmer’s breakfast! Out on horseback, but my stirrups weren’t so comfy today and here was the surprise, El Patron gave me his horse – no beginners stock on this ranch then! » Read more: Gaucho Life

Malawi

February 4th, 2007

Photos from Malawi, only four days before heading North to Tanzania and away from the rain!