January 28, 2020
Why did I visit Luang Prabang? Hanoi has not been kind to me for a while. For more than a week I’d been battling a slight cold (sneezing and ticklish throat) that morphed into a super shitty virus. No, it wasn’t the Novel Coronavirus, but someone did cough without covering their mouth as they walked past me at the gym…
March 9, 2015
I am done. I cannot do another group tour. Ever. And I know I said that after my three back-to-back tours of Europe 2014, but this time I mean it. That’s not to say that this Explore tour has been bad—it hasn’t. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed it very much. I would have no hesitation in recommending Explore to…
Well, the land part of my tour has all but finished. A two nighter in Athens, then I’m boarding the Louis Olympia for a four day cruise around the Greek Islands. Greece has been a welcome respite from Turkey, where I think I suffered from a case of “tour burnout“. Highlights Athens I love Athens. It greeted me with warm…
There may come a time when you need to avoid a Creepy Guy while on tour. You can spot him quite easily because he displays the following behaviours: > pays you just a little too much attention and compliments you just a little too insincerely; > remembers details of conversations you had days ago; > constantly and continually follows you…
I arrived in Athens, tired and worn out from my tour of Turkey. I was over being on the road, being with people, the early starts, the getting in and out of buses, the whistle stop visits and the lightning quick stays, the Whispers, the food. I desperately needed to recharge in time for the next tour*. Athens I love…
Yesterday, I arrived in Athens, Greece, after a two week tour of Turkey with Globus. I’m having some down time before the next tour starts in a day or so, and am lying in bed, listening to the sounds of Athenian traffic, blogging. Thank the Lord for free hotel wifi! Turkey is an expansive country: it has a rich and…
I’m half way through my tour of Turkey. Today is a rest day – our driver is not allowed to drive on Sundays – so I’m swanning around a luxurious hotel in Antalya, catching up on things like washing, reading and blogging. The tour generally This tour – despite the earlier rockier start with the seating arrangements – has been…
The tour of former Yugoslavia had a high concentration of quite odd people. You usually get one or two odd bods, but this one had seven or eight. The oddness of these people really brought home the fact that tour guides are very special people – saints – with infinite patience. I could never be one because I would want…
Here are my thoughts on my week long tour in the former Yugoslavia. Overall, I really enjoyed this trip, and can highly recommend it as travel destination. The Good There were lots of Aussies on the tour, and a special mention goes to Narelle, Al and Renee from Brisbane, who I met before the tour started. Lovely people, and we…
Our tour guide, Osman – nicknamed Ocky – had some endearing turns of phrase. My seat buddy Renee and I cackled with glee over how delightful Ocky’s English was (and he had excellent English, by the way). I’ve listed them below, but it’s probably a case of you had to be there to appreciate how lovely it was, particularly with…
In less than three weeks, I’ll be leaving this sunburnt country of ours and flying out to Europe. I’ll be cruising the Mediterranean for three weeks, followed by a two week tour of Italy. Jealous much? This is my third overseas trip in as many years, and I must admit I am starting to feel quite the seasoned traveller. Airports,…
Travel Indochina has costed a 14 day tour (including airfares, transfers and travel insurance) for me to Vietnam, with exactly the dates I’m after. I’ve just got to get the amounts itemised and check individual costs. And I’m going for my own room because I’m really bad at sharing my space! I’ve checked the reviews / forums and haven’t found…
When I went to the Flight Centre, I originally asked about tours to Asia. Susan advised me that she didn’t know of any (or words to that effect!). Thank God for the internet! I found Travel Indochina, and have contacted them about what tour are available for the dates I’ve chose. For a newbie traveller, I like the idea of…