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though my dream is comprehensive world tour,but unfortunately i have no companion for that purpose.Anyone who can join me , please contact me.my email address is dr.talatbutt@hotmail.com, my phone no. is 0092-321-9501376: 0092-300-9501376: 0092-51-57934 | Log entries 61 - 70 of 73 | Page:
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Aug 15, 2009 02:00 PM from vang vieng to viantane
by buying ticket for 80000 per person from the hotel viengsawanh including the pick up from the hotel we started our journey at exactly 9:25 am and by taking short break of 15 min. we arrived in vientane at 12:30 pm. mini van was not new one and not very comfortable. anyhow on arriving vientiane we booked our journey from vientiane to pakse by paying 150000 kips per person for night sleeping bus .there were two kinds of buses green which has only double beds and the white one which has single bed ( one day) and double bed( the other day). we tried to find the single bed bus but not possible b/c the travel agent told us that single bed bus left yesterday. so we got the double bed ticked .
then we visited the wat si sakat by paying 5000 kips near the presidential palace.
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Aug 13, 2009 02:00 PM from luang prabung to vang vieng
I bought ticket from hotel mao pasok with 110,000 kips including transport to the bus station. A mini van picked us at 1;45 pm and we (with my polish friend) started our journey at about 2:30 pm from bus station. mini van was not v.nice but somewhat older and seats in bad condition. during the journey some people stopped the minivan for lunch and then at abut 8:30 pm for dinner. at last we arrived in vang vieng at 9:30 pm ( seven hours journey)
here we boarded a jamboo by 10000 kips per person and we were dropped just in front of dok khoun 1 guest house and we took a room with twin beds by 70000 kips per room. so per person 35000 kips . room was generaly good with fan but not air con , with tv, and spacious. bathroom was not good . toilet shower was broken though seat was asian style.
next morning we left the room and went to another guest house named viengsawanh . its room was also by 70000 kips but with a/c. no toilet shower again/
we hired motor bikes by just 40000 kips per day.( ONE US DOLLAR= 8500 KIPS) .we filled it with fuel 20000 kips and started traveling along the loop. we visited the caves and lagoons( lagoons not impressive). during this tour we had to cross the three rivers. before we crossed the third river, heavy rain started and then we had to cross through mud. at the edge of third river it was so muddy that it took about half an hour to cross the river by first crossing the muddy slope. But soon after we found mud everywhere on the path . we had to abandon the journey and we decided to return to the town. again crossing the last river with mud was a big adventure. our trousers and motor bikes were bathed in mud.
but the most important thing of this journey was most beautiful and stunning sceneries . we took pictures. and at last returned to the town and passed by the river nam song.the froeigners were busy in enjoying the tubing in the river.
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Aug 08, 2009 02:00 PM second day in Laos
at 8:30 am the car from trecking agency arrived at the guest house to receive me,my polish friend Adam, austrian friend Alex and her thai guide kosita.
we started trecking at 9 am and we met the villagers. it is not very touristy area so the people were happy to meet us though somewhat shy .
It was too muddy and slippery to walk there specially climbing up or coming down.we slipped several times.our clothes were looking washed in mud. we crossed the river eight times. the water was knee-deep . at about 2 pm we stayed in some plane area and by spreading banana plant leaves on the ground we had a lunch over there. fried bananas, chicken,sticky rice and bamboo shootings and omletes were presented as lunch by our host agency. after half an hour we resumed our trecking .
lehes were main problem. all of us were attacked by leches and they sucked our blood many times. when we removed the letches from our body,bleeding continues for some time. Kosita applied some local chines solution over the bites and it worked well.
after hectic trecking ( or ski) we arrived at akha village Nam Lo at about 7:10 pm ( just after sun set.)
we stayed there at night in a local house.beds were just mattresses on the ground with mosquito nets. there was no electricity and candles were lit.
we were given chicken soup, eggplant, fried chicken with tea. water was boiled and it was used for drinking. no water was available for washing or any purpose. there was no toilet . therefore it was an open air theatre for toilet purpose.
local ladies did excellent body message to all 4 tourists.and only 5000 kips per person were demanded and thanfully paid.
we slept there v.well. we had applied mosquito repellant but there were too many mosquitos and flies type organisms all around.the people of the village specially the youngsters were alll around us though not able to communicate with us due to language problem . they were happy to be photographed.
at about dawn we were awakened by cocks.
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Aug 07, 2009 02:00 PM entry in laos from thailand
on 8th of August,2009, i left chiang rai city of thailand by bus at 6 am( first bus) for chiang khong and paid 65 bahat/person as fair.A friend of mine from poland was also accompanying me and we arrived there at about 8:15 am. the weather was cloudy but no raining.in chiang khong we boarded a tuk tuk and paid 30 bahat /person and after about ten min. we were on the river , the border between thailand and laos . after fast immigration we boarded a boat and paid 40 bahats per person and crossed the river.then we were in laos and obtained a visa on arrival by paying 40 us$ as visa fee and one dollar as extra fee for saturday( and sunday also). I exchanged 100 us$ for 8500,000 kips( one us$=8500 kips).this was huay xai town of laos. then we were told that the bus station was aout 10 km from the city. so we arrived the bus station by paying 50 bahats per person.we bought tickets for vieng Phou kha by paying 45000 kips per person but the departure time was 12:30 pm . so we had 3 hours and we used the time by wandering around the country side and taking pictures and then at exactly 12:30 bus left for vieng phou kha (the final destination of the bus was luang nam tha).we arrived there at exactly 3 pm. we checked some guest houses but thong mi xai guest house was very nice in terms of true local atmospere and balcony with stunning view of river and the beautiful landscape.we paid 25000 kips per twin room and enjoyed lunch prepared by the lady of guest house. fried fish was 2000 kips per plate and 5000 kips for steamed rice and 5000 kips for sticky rice.then after the lunch in very relaxing environment we walked through the village and found a private trecking agent and also an official trecking agent approved by european union. we preferred the later. there was another guy from austria with his thai guide. the trecking agent didn't take the charges from the thai guide and took 1500 bahats/person from three persons of us.the tour becomes cheeper if more persons are added. for example for two persons it was 1600 bahats and for three persons it was 1500/person. if we were four or five or six persons , the rate per person falls.
in the guest house we were provided mosquito nets . the toilet was asian style and a tub full of water was provided for shower. water was sufficient. there was no electricity in the village except from 7 pm to 10 pm but v.low voltage and we couldn't charge our batteries of cameras.
we slept there in very quiet and relaxed environment.
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Aug 03, 2009 02:00 PM BANGKOK TO ISLAMABAD
I started my day at 9 am .My friend Adam went to snake farm (which i had visited in previous thailand visit).at about 10 am i arrived in pratunam and did some shopping and at 11 am i arrived at juliot and romeo tailors near indra hotel ,to collect my suit and shirts.Adam also arrived there at about 11 am. since adam's suit was yet to be corrected , he decided to arrive at airport after 4 pm while I was to leave for airport not later than 3 pm. so we left each other with heavy hearts at 12 mid day and he left for snake farm again while i continue my shopping and at 3 pm I started my journey to the airport from my hotel by buying a ticket of 25 Bahats at stadium station of skytrain.After 20 min. I arrived at the victory monument where i boarded a bus no.551 and by paying 35 bahats , i arrived at the public transport station of airport after about one hour. a free airport shuttle transferred me to the airport lounge.taking boarding pass and then immigration process was v.smooth.thai airways flight took off at 7 pm and at 11 pm pakistani time i arrived in islamabad.
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May 04, 2009 02:00 PM second day in damascus
by taking a bus no.15 from marjeh square and paying 10 sl we arrived at al-samariyah karaj or bus station.Al-Rashed bus leaves for Bosra every 2 hours,starting from 8 am , 10 am,12, and then 2 pm etc. Its ticket is 100 sl per person. it is better to purchase return ticket in advance. therefore we did so and bus left at exactly 10 am and it was comfortable and arrived at bosra at 11.45 am. we visited theatre and citadel worth seeing and impressive. museum was closed as all museums are closed on tuesday in syria.
after that we visited old city telling the great story of the past. at exactly 2 pm we started return journey from bosra to samriyah bus station of damascus and by taking schwarma by just 35 sl we returned to merjeh square by bus no.15.
in the afternoon we visited the umayyad mosque and visited also the tomb of John the Baptist in that mosque.then we also visited the newly built shrine of sayyada Ruqayya just near the umayyad mosque.it was built by iran.sayyada Ruqayya was 4 years daughter of Martyr Imam Hussain,
the grandson of Prophet Mohammad PBUH.many people were crying there because it was a very tragic death of small baby when she was shown the cut head of his father Imam Hussain by the cruel ruler of damascus,Yazid.She was even
unaware of the death of her father.
there is a very nice and speedy internet cafe just near the al-marjeh square named the Orient internet cafe.rate is 75 sl per hour and 50 sl per half an hour.
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May 03, 2009 02:00 PM first day in demascus
i arrived in demascus from palmyra by alqadmoos bus. thought it departed 45 min.late ( at 9"45am) but it is overall good and comfortable. it took 175 syrian liras /person. 3 hours journey.arrived at karaj ( bus station) at about 12.45 pm.from the karaaj arrived the city centre by bus no.10 by paying 10 sl per person.according to the guide books we went to first al-harmain hotel which was full, then we went to al rabia hotel but its room was not in a good condition and also shower and toilet was outside, and shared. the price of double room was 1400 sl. then we went to ghazal hotel . its demand was 1800 sl. so we visited another hotel nearby just near the balkis hotel. its name was arabi saudi hotel. it was a nice hotel with elevator. room was clean and with fridge,tv etc. wc was sitting as european style. its price per double room was only 1000 sl. we strongly recommend this hotel with friendly environment.
we also visited the al-hamidyyah souq and enjoyed ice cream from a shop named bakash . it was delicious and hygenic cost only 50 sl.
visited the gate of roman temple jupiter at the end of souq and then umayyad mosque just from outside, mosoleum of salahuddin ayubi and then visited national museum which closes at 6 pm .today was monday and all museums remain closed on tuesday in syria. therefore we preferred to visit museum today. small chicken shwarma costs 35 but larger costs 50 sl.( one us dollar+ 48 sl) a small glass of freshly squeezed oranges costs 50 and the bigger one costs 75 sl.
museum is worth visiting. v.importand pottery and tabllets with initial alphabets and many many other things.weather was cloudy in the evening with wind and dusty environment.sulamaniya mosque near museum was non function and closed for visitors. but we took pictures from outside.
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May 02, 2009 02:00 PM palmyra,syria
i arrived bus station of al-qadmoos from city centre of Homs by taking bus No.1 paying 5 syrian lira( 1 us dollar = 48 syrian lira).My friend from Poland,Adam was accompanying me.We bought the ticket for palmyra which cost 105 SL/person. total time of journey from homs bus station to palmyra bus station was appr.2 hours.from bus station .We walked to the city centre( 25 min.walk) . there is a budget hotel SUN HOTEL . we payed 1000 SL for a double room for 2 nights.it means the price per person per night is 250 SL.the next day it is good to visit the ruins of palmyra at sunrise bc the citadel is worthseeing at the sunrise or sunset.second thing is that sun is merciless there and it becomes v.difficult to stay at noon.plenty of water is required.we visited temple of bell by paying 150 SL while students pay only 10 SL in most of syrian sites.theatre and ruins are great telling the story of huge city of zanobia in the past.great columns and hypogia and death towers with burial compartments one over the other and when dead body is kept inside the compartment it is sealed with a stone with his figure on the stone. we took a lunch of 3 mutton kababs+bread+tomatos and onions by just 100 SL.
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Apr 27, 2009 02:00 PM ISTANBUL-HAYA SOFIA
After visiting blue mosque we walked to the Haya sofia.2-3 min.walk. we paid enterace fee TL20 (euro 10) . no student discount.luggage and bags were scanned at entry point.
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Apr 27, 2009 02:00 PM istanbul-blue mosque
i departed from benazir international airport islamabad by pakistan international airlines at 7:30 am and arrived at ataturk international airport istanbul at 10:30 am( travel time:6 hours).Turkey is 3 hours behind pakistan's time.Immigration was v.smooth and swift.no question no que.stamped immediately and I entered turkey.at airport there is an ATM machine.I operated it and I also exchanged 100 euro for 202.85 Turkish Lira.As usual i visited the tourist information centre of airport but unfortunately there was no person. some guys were wandering around the office and advised me to travel to city by shuttle at 20 euros per person.I refused but they said that tourist information officer will attend the office at 1 pm. On the first floor I visited another information centre and she advised me to go to zetinburno by light rail ( 6 stops) by 1.4 TL and then from Zetinburno to sultanahmet by tram(13 stops) by 1.4 TL. interesting thing is that when i returned to ground floor of airport ,tourist information officer was sitting in the office and the guys suggesting me shuttle service were also sitting there laughing and chatting.
It took about one hour from airport to sultanahmed.Shuttle is not only expensive but also it takes too much time taking longer routes to drop off different passengers at different hotels.Anyhow at sultanahmed I went straight to Blue Mosque and on the way I bought ice cream from a juggler type shop keeper by 5 TL while actual price was 1.5 TL.
I walked to eminonu for repair of my spectacles (20 minutes walk) and returned to blue mosque.I waited at the eastern small gate of mosque for half an hour and at 2 pm my friend Adam from Polyska(Poland) arrived and we started our visit to blue mosque.
Blue mosque is the most popular tourist attraction in istanbul.With 6 minarets and a cascade of domes,the magnificient blue mosque was built in 1609-1617 by architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga on the southeast side of hippodrome during the rule of Sultan Ahmet 1.It seems to be replica of Aya Sofia just few minutes walk from Blue Mosque.Blue Mosque is the name given due to the blue tiles in the interior upper level.
there is an ablution fountain in the courtyard.
Since the Blue Mosque is workng,the tourists are advised to refrain from entering at five times of prayers during the whole day. On Friday longer prayer gap is required for midday prayer from 11:30 am to 1300 hours at least.there is no enterance fee.Main enterance is from northwestern side(from hippodrome side).the other small enterance is from eastern side (opposite AyaSofia).If we enter from the small enterance the non-muslim tourists enter the mosque from opposite side, while muslims can enter the main hall of the mosque just opposite the main enterance of the mosque .
the prayer hall like all other mosques has a mehrab ( a niche) facing towards holy Kaaba in Mecca,S.arabia.
above,in the prayer hall, there is a great ascending system of domes and semi domes culminating in central large dome,about 23 m in diameter and 43 m high.the domes are supported by four giant piers.
walls are decorated by the verses from the Holy Quran.
the floor covered by carpets.
Mehrab is made up of finely carved and sculptured marble with inscription panels and ceramic tiles on the adjacent walls
To the right is minbar where the Imam (prayer leader) stands while delivering a sermon on friday or any other holy day.the minbar is also well decorated.
More than 200 stained glass windows are meant for natural light.
there is also a tomb of its founder on one side of the mosque.
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