alilou's Adventures in Wonderland - all over the map.

Japanfan

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Wow to climbing the rope ladder up to the tree house. I would have had an a
anxiety attack on the third rung and had to turn back.

Loved the camel and koala photos. We just went to the San Diego zoo and I was thrilled just to see koalas and camels. Hugging the koala and riding the camels would take the experience to the next level. That photo of Don and the koala is so sweet!!

Did you get used to the camel smell fairly easily? They were by far the smelliest animals in the zoo, you smelled them at about the same time you saw them.
 

Buzz

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Thanks for the update Alilou!!!! Sounds like you are having a blast and those pictures were gorgeous!!!!! :cheer2:
 

Alilou

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Wow to climbing the rope ladder up to the tree house. I would have had an a
anxiety attack on the third rung and had to turn back.

Loved the camel and koala photos. We just went to the San Diego zoo and I was thrilled just to see koalas and camels. Hugging the koala and riding the camels would take the experience to the next level. That photo of Don and the koala is so sweet!!

Did you get used to the camel smell fairly easily? They were by far the smelliest animals in the zoo, you smelled them at about the same time you saw them.

Just to put it into context, climbing that tree was the equivalent of climbing up the side of about a 15 story building! Crazy! But.... it wasn't a rope ladder, it was strong and stable metal bars driven into the tree. Rope ladder - not even I'm that crazy :lol:

Didn't notice the camel smell at all, and glad you had a good time in San Diego.

Thanks for the update Alilou!!!! Sounds like you are having a blast and those pictures were gorgeous!!!!! :cheer2:

Thanks Buzz. Glad you're enjoying them.


Hey manhn! You out there? We're in Vietnam :cheer2: and loving it. What an amazing place!
 

skatesindreams

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What a wonderful travelogue!
How well you share it.

That "dinner in the desert" sounded like an experience of a lifetime.
Your photos are great.

I'm so happy that you have internet access along the way.
 

Angelskates

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I love Australia.

Have you been robbed of lamingtons and pavlova though? Totally better dessert choices than bread and butter pudding! :p
 

Japanfan

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Just read about the desert dinner - how special. I'd love to try crocodile and macadamia nut in filo pastry.

Hey manhn! You out there? We're in Vietnam :cheer2: and loving it. What an amazing place!

Looking forward to hearing about it.
 

Alilou

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I love Australia.

Have you been robbed of lamingtons and pavlova though? Totally better dessert choices than bread and butter pudding! :p

OMG I had actually forgotten about lamingtons and pavlova! And you are so right - they are way better desserts that bread and butter pudding (which I must admit I found a strange choice), but bread and butter pud seems to be the dessert of choice in Ayers Rock as it was also on the menu at another hotel we had dinner at there. But I do have to say that the roasted wattleseed and apple crumble was unique and absolutely delicious. We also had wattleseed icecream in Qld on our drive up to Cape Tribulation. It's a new Australian flavor since I was last there.

I'm here! So glad you're having a wonderful time! Have you been to Halong Bay yet?

We've had a day and a half in Hanoi which is wild and magical all at once. Our friend who lives there took us to some of her fav restaurants and the afternoon of the 2nd day we were there we all had a massage which was much needed. Then we came to Sapa where I am now.We've spent the entire daytrecking among the mountain villages of the region, and then got rides back to Sapa on motor bikes. It was a really fabulous day. Tomorrow we go to Bac Ha for the market,then back to Hanoi on the overnight train. We'll spend a few days in Hanoi and then finally next Friday we go to Halong Bay. Can't wait. From all I've heard it sounds fabulous. As is Sapa. Lots more details to come when I get back to my blog but I can't do it at the moment as I have no way to upload pics here in Sapa.

And thanks everyone for your nice compliments and words of encouragement. I love doing the blog, it's really fun. And new for me. I'm not usually this communicative. It's good to hear you're enjoying it.
 

Japanfan

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Your description of traffic reminds me of my time in Manila and other the Philippine cites. Not only was the traffic as insane as you describe, but traffic lights were also in short supply.
 

Alilou

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Your description of traffic reminds me of my time in Manila and other the Philippine cites. Not only was the traffic as insane as you describe, but traffic lights were also in short supply.
Yeah, same here - very few traffic lights. I was also told it's the same in Bangkok, and I imagine in cities in India too. I also forgot to mention the noise - horns constantly blaring, and loud vehicles. I've heard something about in England (I think) and some other Euro cities they've done experiments of completely doing away with all traffic rules in some areas and accidents rates have dropped by 50%! Suddenly everyone has to take care because no-one has right of way.
 

Japanfan

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I've heard something about in England (I think) and some other Euro cities they've done experiments of completely doing away with all traffic rules in some areas and accidents rates have dropped by 50%! Suddenly everyone has to take care because no-one has right of way.

Now there's an interesting concept. But I an hesitant to trust it, I'm already a timid driver and people are always honking at me for not being more aggressive. For example, I prefer not to be one of two cars turning left during rush hour when you end up waiting until the light turns red. I'd rather just bide my time and wait for the next light change.
 

Alilou

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Now there's an interesting concept. But I an hesitant to trust it, I'm already a timid driver and people are always honking at me for not being more aggressive.
Japanfan you would just die trying to drive here :lol:. I think you'd be run over in 5 seconds. It's not your kind of driving at all.
 

Japanfan

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Alilou - I'm not sure if you are Vincent's (UMBS Go Blue) list for the Skate America group purchase ticket?

He is putting together his order for Skate America tomorrow. PM him you want to be included. Looks like most of us are going for the 'Gold' package, it's $200.

The last post on the Skate American thread in Great Skate Debate gives the details and PM link.

Japanfan
 
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Alilou

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Alilou - I'm not sure if you are Vincent's (UMBS Go Blue) list for the Skate America group purchase ticket?

He is putting together his order for Skate America tomorrow. PM him you want to be included. Looks like most of us are going for the 'Gold' package, it's $200.

The last post on the Skate American thread in Great Skate Debate gives the details and PM link.

Japanfan

Thanks for the heads up - sent you a pm re this.

The next installment of my blog is done

http://alisonarmstrong.blogspot.com/

We are back in Vancouver. I'm really tired and must try to sleep now. It was an amazing journey.
 

Alilou

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It's the sixth and final installment - the conclusion of our journey with more about Hanoi, and our trip to Ha Long Bay.

http://alisonarmstrong.blogspot.com/2010/05/sixth-installment.html

It's been a great pleasure doing this. It's reawakened my joy of writing, and I've discovered a whole new joy of photography. I only did it because some friends asked if we'd be emailing progress reports and photos. And at the "Not-at-Worlds" dinner (just 2 weeks before we left) some of the Vancouver FSUers asked if I'd be posting about our trip. Well I guess I didn't need to be asked twice :lol:

My niece created my blog for me back in 2004. This was before I had a computer or a digital camera! I wanted to be able to send pictures of our Vancouver apartment to my sisters in Oz. And I hadn't used it since - until this trip. I even had to phone back to Vancouver to get the user name and password so I could get into it :lol:

Anyway I'm glad it was there as it turned out to be the best way to share our adventures with everyone.

I hope you enjoyed it.

(BTW UMBS Go Blue - I already have SA tickets, but thanks for thinking of me. I've sent you 2 PM's (on 25 May and 30 May) so I'm wondering if PM's are not getting through to you for some reason :confused: )
 
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Aussie Willy

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Thanks so much for posting all these Alilou. Sounds like a great trip. Love the photos of Ha Long Bay.

Question - do those monoliths in Ha Long Bay every fall over? They kind of remind me of the 12 Apostles and the west coast of Victoria here where the coast seems very fragile. But those ones look very secure, even with a tiny bit holding them to the base.
 

Alilou

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Thanks so much for posting all these Alilou. Sounds like a great trip. Love the photos of Ha Long Bay.

Question - do those monoliths in Ha Long Bay every fall over? They kind of remind me of the 12 Apostles and the west coast of Victoria here where the coast seems very fragile. But those ones look very secure, even with a tiny bit holding them to the base.

To be honest I haven't a clue, though you'd think they would eventually, even if it takes a few more hundred thousand years, as you can see on all of them where the water has eroded the base. And they are limestone which is a pretty soft rock I think.
 

Alilou

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Thanks so much for bringing your "adventure" alive for us.
It was a pleasure to share it with you!

You're welcome. It's been so fun to do it.

And it seems I just can't stop :lol:

There is a new blog entry up - about Vancouver. Since I'm not travelling ATM I thought I'd write about my own city as if I'm a tourist here. It helps me see it with new eyes. And it's a great excuse to take pictures :)

http://alisonarmstrong.blogspot.com/
 

Japanfan

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I hike at the UBC Endowment Lands often, Alilou, and also enjoy the North Shore hikes - especially Lynn Valley.

To anyone visiting here: there are some great walks in the rainforest here that are likely not mentioned in standard tourist guides.
 

skatesindreams

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Thanks, alilou!
I spent one of the best vacations of my life in Vancouver.
You reminded me of why I love/miss the city so much.
 

Alilou

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Yes, it's a good good city in many ways. I feel very lucky to live here.

Japanfan, Lynn Valley's a great place to hike - we go over there now and then. Now we seem finally to be getting summer maybe we'll head over that way again soon. But first the hammock in the tree..........
 

Japanfan

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Now we seem finally to be getting summer maybe we'll head over that way again soon. But first the hammock in the tree..........

And AC - we have window units in the bedroom and office, I tend to hide there during heat waves . . .:slinkaway
 

SandraMGfan

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Vancouver is such a beautiful city. I don't how I was able to live in cities with no sea and no mountains before moving here!
 

Alilou

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I am on the move again :cheer2:

Right now we're in Italy to be followed by maybe Spain later in the Fall. No specific plans past Oct 17, except to return to Vancouver Dec 6 to leave time to get visas for India, followed by a family Christmas in Montreal, then off to India in January.

I have a new blog entry up for those who are interested, about our first week in wonderful Italy. We love it here.

http://alisonarmstrong.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoy it.
 

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