|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 24, 2009 07:00 PM Hard drive to Dirang
It is not far - only about 200 km from Tezpur to the little village of Dirang in the mountains. First we reached the state border point in Bhalukpong, my permit was checked and registered. Then it is the end if the Assam Plains - the narrow road is climbing the hills in thousands of zig-zags, crossing land slides and mud. Our car: jeep-like tata-sumo was not happy to climb up. I soon recognized that it has already 215 000 kms on the counter and quite smooth tyres. They gave me such a junk car for the route exceding 1000 kms, a mountain road who goes through thousands landslides to the se La Pass on the level of 4100 m, where snow is present very often!
This car was doing this route before - said the guide - Bijoy!
The route is very picturesque, you go up and down, passing little villages and many army camps.
We reached Dirang after 9 hours driving. Dirang is nice Tibetan - Monpa style village made of stone. There are mani walls and the monastery- gompa. I enjoyed great view of snowy Himalaya range. It was very cold at night...
|
Mar 23, 2009 07:00 PM I am in Assam...
What brought me to the Northeast India? Few people travel to the states in this corner of India. Some states require special permit to get in because unstable situation and unfriendly borders so close. One of them is Arunachal Pradesh.
I wanted to be there - because the people, the mountains and because Tawang Tibetan monastery - they say it is second after Potala of Lhasa.
Permit is not easy to get - it takes weeks and months to arrange regarding Indian beaurocracy. I decided to go there legally - Jungle Travels in Guwahati (warning!) promised to arrange my permit in advance and offered car and the guide...
They collected me in Guwahati - the capital city of Assam. Same day we drove to Tezpur - tea plantations on the way...
|
Mar 22, 2009 07:00 PM Unexpected stopover in Malaysia
Airlines, airlines - they think only about their profit! I was always thinking that Malaysia Airlines are one of the best in the world. No longer! In the evening I took a cheap flight (VirginBlue-recommended!) from Hobart to Melbourne. Then I intended to fly Melbourne-Kuala Lumpur- Delhi with Malaysian. But they cancelled morning flight KUL-Delhi and put me on the evening filght. I have full day to wait in Kuala Lumpur. I plan to be in Delhi around midnight - it will be the second night on the plane. In such a cases you should require from the airline compensation: hotel for few hours and the meals. Be firm! I got them. But since the airport is far from the center and I already well know Kuala this stopover is for me just waste of the time...
Keep your fingers crossed, please - I hope to be tomorrow in India anyway! It is already third month of my exciting voyage, but I feel already the homesick - can you understand that?
|
Mar 21, 2009 07:00 PM Bruny Island - Tasmania
So far I had here nice, sunny weather, but today in the morning it was raining, then cloudy. OK - it is my last day in Tasmania... Hobart - the capital city is very compact, so 2-hour walk is just enough to see all places of interest, samples of colonial architecture, docks full of yacht etc.
I pefere the beauty of the nature: 30 minutes drive took me to the ferry to Bruny Island - it cost 25 AUD Rt for the car. Bruny Island has gravel roads, picturesque cliffs and the old lighthouse on the northern end with beautiful panoramic view on Cape Bruny, the sea and coastal rocks. There are in fact two islands, connected by the narrow strip of land hosting another great viewpoint and colony of fairy penguins.
Ooop! Hurry up to be on time in the line for the return ferry - my flight is departing in the evening. It is time to say goodbye to Tasmania!
|
Mar 20, 2009 07:00 PM Gravel roads to St Claire - Tasmania
A night in the Deloraine youth hostel dorm cost me here 22 AUD. Then it was time to go. If you start early by car you will see here a lot of dead wildlife on the road - wallabies, possums, wombats - this is the result of night time collisions with cars. Animals are active at night, and the driver see less. That's why I do not drive at night.
To get to Lake St Claire - the second end of National Park I took a country road via the Highlands Lakes. It is real outback - 50 or 60 km of gravel road along Great Lake (really great view!). Then I reached Lake St Claire, paid again 22 AUD of park entry fee and took some walks through the pristine forest. I will tell you the true: this place is not as nice as Craddle Mt. Maybe from Mt Rufus you will see more, but I did not have enough time (3 hours climb each way). If you still have money ( 28 AUD one way) you can take the the boat to the end of the lake and enjoy the views from the water...
|
Mar 19, 2009 07:00 PM Climbing Tasmanian mountains
It will cost you 22 dollars to enter the park for one day by your car. Came early so you will park further in the park - at the Dove Lake. Otherway you will leave the car at visitors center and pay for the park minibus to get to the lake! This area is the most beutiful - walk around the lake took me 2 hours and then there was seepy acsent with chains to the Marions Lookout - great panoramic view from there. Craddle Mountain - the nicest one - is just in front of you. You can proceed to the other lakes and ponds. I returned from this walk in the late afternoon. Sunny weather, nice pictures. It was another great day in Tasmania!
|
Mar 18, 2009 07:00 PM To the Craddle Mountain
It took me 11 hours of driving with a photostops to get from Hobart via Queenstown and Strahan to Craddle Mountain NP. Roads are narrow, steep - so it is real challenge. Tasmania is very clean and... very empty. Beautiful countryside, lush forests, clear rivers. In the lodge where I stay (expensive!) they charge 5 AUD per 15 min of slow internet.
But you can sit at the fire and feel to be far from the crowd.
Tomorow I want to explore Nqational Park
|
Mar 17, 2009 07:00 PM Port Artur & devils - Tasmania
The best and fastest method to travel around this island is to rent a car. There are competitive companies offering cars from 29 AUD per day. They tempt you - be prepared to pay also some taxes and insurance.
Port Artur is probaply the most important historical monument of Tasmania. It is former British penal colony - there is a lot of remains, museum and romantic ruin of the church.
But you have to pay hefty 28 AUD for entrance...
I was driving about two hours between rolling hills to get there. On the way I stop at the park to see tasmanian devils - little animal known only here. Nice, sunny day...
|
Mar 16, 2009 07:00 PM Lord Howe Island to Tasmania
Only 350 people live on Lord Howe. The number of tourists on the island at a time is limited to 400. They are coming mostly buying packages (flights+lodge) - it is cheaper but sill very expensive for the backpacker. Camping on the island is unknown and forbidden. Life goes slowly...
They have one liquor store, one small museum and only two computers in the museum for public internet access - it is expensive / 3 AUD per 20 min/ and they are closing at 3 pm.
It was raining heavily in the morning in this p[aradise so I was sendind my e-mails and worrying about my afternoon flight.
But at 11 it was already clear, my Dash 8 arrived and I flew to Sydney /some passengers travelled without luggage because the overload of the small aircraft (they will check your weight before fligh)
From Sydney I took cheap Virgin Blue flight to Hobart. Welcome to Tasmania!
|
Mar 15, 2009 07:00 PM Beautiful Lord Howe Island
It is cloudy today. 25 kms from Lord Howe Is you can see another phenomena - Balls Piramide - sharp rock rising from the sea to the 250 m! They offer boat tours to see this only-in-the world such a place hostin tousands of seabirds. It takes 3,5 hours includind round-the-Howe loop.
Sorry, the wind is too strong, waves are too high. I decided to climb to the higher point of Lord Hove - Mt Gower -rising 870 m from the sea level. It is serious climb, not a walk so you must go with a local guide. it takes 8 hour round trip. We started at 7.30 am. After 1 hour using ropes we reached the cliff. Then rain came. After next hour of climbing I was completly wet. In such a moment You must answer the question: what is the reason to go to the top? To became a wet hero? Clouds are around - visibility almost zero. I decided to wait under the cliff i the shelter. After 1 hour still rain. I returned down. Bad luck!
|
Page:
234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244
|
|
|
