Paradise WildLife Park

It was my nephews 8th Birthday today and well what better way to spend it with a fellow Leo with the Lions at Paradise Wildlife Park in the countryside of Hertfordshire.

The whole family went (minus the ones that had squabbles on the morning of the trip, that sisters for your, what can a brother do), which as it happens was an almost dry day. Say almost as it did rain in the middle of the day which Sis #2 was not too delighted about esp. given that she was drying most of her kids clothes on the railings of the park bench due to them going into the paddling pool and soaking all of what they had to wear! Kids will be kids! To be honest if I had my speedos (not laughter for those reading) I would have had a splash myself.:-)

The journey to the park was not so bad, all in all took around 50 minutes to get there. Just shows that Lions can be at the footsteps to your door within an hour!

The kids loved the day, though they were more concerned about the army style indoor and outdoor assault course then the animals so parents bare in mind its a big myth, kids do not like animals esp those that stand still and don't do anything like the Bali Mayna! I remember my eldest niece saying to me, "if that is the Bengal Owl does that mean it can speak Bengali like us?"

The Video

Drivin' Me Crazy ...

Sis and I hired a car online prior to going out to Dubai, used a site called Atlas Car Hire which was pretty good, as it has many of the major cars rental companies on its books and searched for the best price.

We ended up getting a Chevi 1.6 litre saloon for a snappy £51.00 for 5 days (plus the odd fee processing for using the damn tolls, one of being the infamous Shaykh Zayed Road, Jameira road and the Makhtoum Bridge to name a few - don't know what has been charged to date on their until I get the credit card statement through the post).

This is a picture of Shaykh Zayed Road as I enter it passing the Emirates Tower. Further down it comes gets more busier as the flood gates open to a whole new wave of driving and sign postings that would drive the most patient driver into hallucinating and imagining whilst driving something off from a World of PS2 Driving bonanza!

Dubai Revisted

This was one "business affair" that was just too hot to handle in Dubai. With scorching temperatures hitting 42c and with a low (which was hardly ever reached) of 29c the 5 days of my revisiting the Emirates was painfully H20 draining!

Mind you all things come with a silver lining and well their was much lining and stitching to be done after spending most of the day indoors in carbon footprint a/c infrastructures eating endless array of meat and pretty much everything. The expression..."is it Halal?" well has no reason to be used in Dubai, so all you do is order this order that and at ridiculous prices you just want more! Sis and I ordered a mixed grill to share and when it arrived we thought we will be joined by the Shaykh and his army looking at the size of the portions and all for 35dhms (5gbp only!!!).

Now I know with the food extravaganza why they needed a fully equipped gym in the hotel we were staying at. The hotel was Four Points by Sheraton, a 4 star hotel situated on Bank Street (Khalid Bin Waleed Street, off Trade Centre Road), which had the works, concierge service that parks our rental car with the snap of an Eddy Murphy like click (well they had the BH Cop on show on all the channels, so thought to mention this in writing), a swimming pool, jacuzzi, masseur, gym, restaurant (with the best full English breakfast that you can feast your eyes on). And the best thing was that it only cost 22gbp each! Is that a bargain or what!

Cambridge Compilation

Here is a compilation of a few pictures taken on the day visit to Cambridge University.

The vast amount of history, not to mention the land that Cambridge University owns is astounding. Feel for the groundsmen that have to keep this in mint condition for the tourists et al.

Cambridgeshire

It was the PGCE graduation day of my youngest sister which marked the end to her studying for now (until she thinks of what next to embark upon in her life, as the corporate world was not for her). Mum and I went to Cambridge to congratulate her on her successes and to also see Cambridge in its full glory.

The day was beautiful, the sun came out and so lil sis and I left Mum to siesta whilst sis showed me around the Cambridge Uni and its grass lands.

Must say was impressed by the natural beauty, like something out of a Jane Austen Classic. Can just imagine Darcy popping his beady eyes around the fields for a spot of croquet!

Kowloon Panorama 360 view

Maccau Panorama 360 View

Compilations IndoChina 2008'

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Mal had just got some kayaking pictues from one of the guys that was brave enough to take his dig camera in the Kayak, well it is a good thing he did, as the pics came out really well. Also thanks to my freelance desktop publishing amigo, Riz, who in his spare time has brought a new meaning to the pic-videos!

Here is a video clip of our Kayaking experience in Halong Bay.


http://thermf.blogspot.com/2008/05/kayaking-in-halong-bay-vietnam-12-pics.html



Enjoy:-)

Canadian Rockies Compilation

Amigos Indo China 08'

Video Clip of IndoChina 08

Cambodian Dance

Cambodian dance filmed by myself within the well known restaurant, DeadFish in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The card game...Speed

At the beginning of our IndoChina vacation, we met at Halong Bay an Israeli couple who have just finished their 2 years in the army. The Israeli women showed team "RAMBO" a card game like no other, better than Solitaire and way more competitive.

So what else was brothers to do at every eventual static state found on holiday, whether it be at bus stops, restaurant tables to even on a International Flight that only lasts 45 minutes!

So here is just a glimpse of the card game Speed!

Senor Tung - Welcome to Vietnam Song

Senor Tung - Warm Welcome Song to Vietnam on the Cu Chi Tunnel Tour.

Mr D - The Vietnamese Pop Idol

Check out Mr D our Tour guide on the Halong Bay Cruise in Vietnam, no shy to the Vietnam pop idol scene!

He loves to be acknowledged for any performances he does, just missed this on the footage!

Senor Tungs compilation of the Ho Chi Minh Song

Senor Tungs compilation of the Ho Chi Minh Song in no ther than English!

Lets all sing together!
:-)

HK & IndoChina...pictures that will take your breath away

A compilation of the best pictures from my recent vacation to Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Cambodia.

HK Day 6: Lantau Island Trek and farewell to HK and the hols

HK Day 5: Macau Island Ferry Trip and Tour (Macau Tower, Old Quarters & Casinos)

Vietnam Day 8: Goodbye Vietnam...will hope to see you one day soon....["Now Get To The Chopper!"]

Cambodia Day 3: Souvenir shopping and catch flight back to Hanoi, Vietnam

Cambodia Day 2: War Museum, Killing Fields and Ton Le Sap Lake (Floating Village)

Cambodia Day 1: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and even the well known "Tomb Raider" temples

Vietnam Day 7: Cu Chi Tunnels & Travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Vietnam Day 6: Mekon Delta Tour & The famous water puppet show

Vietnam Day 5: Arrived at Saigon marking the end to the North to South sleeping bus

Vietnam Day 4: Bus journey continues from Hoi-An to HCMC (Saigon)

Vietnam Day 3: Journey from Hanoi to Hue (via DMZ)

Vietnam Day 2: Halong Bay Cruise & Start of the sleeping bus adventure from Hanoi

Vietnam Day 1: Good Morning Vietnam!! (Tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay)

HK Day 4: Stanley Beach & Market...and oh yes have to catch a flight!

HK Day 3: Victoria Peak, Times Square...

HK Day 2: Lantau Island Trip (Big Bhuddah in Lil' HK)

(To be written)

HK Day 1: Touch down in Hong Kong (Savour the Night Life)

After a heavy 13 hour flight from London to Hong Kong, it was nice to be able to stretch the legs at the airport. HK airport looked very clean and rather large too (given HK where land is scarce which was highlighted on the landing where it appeared the Boeing 747 was going into water when miraculously some runway appeared).

Riz and I waited at the airport and in true real man fashion we all went from a quality “dump”, even Mal was synchronized on the other side of the customs barrier, in this sporadic team work piece!

Mid-Levels here we come as Mal met us at the airport and got a red and white taxi to Hong Kong Islands! The journey through the night in the taxi was most breath taking, bridges and sky scrapers galore, looked very much like Manhattan!

No rest for the “RAMBO” team, we literally stepped in and stepped out of Brother Mal's apartment which was a nice 26th floor view of not very much else but other apartments and if you look very carefully you will be able to see the river between two apartments!

The apartment was situated next to a Mosque, which we entered to find it was closed. Mal advised that the people that lived within the Mosque quarters were here for some time and did not pay any rent as their houses were deemed to be part of the Mosque. Mals mum made really good friends with them during her Ramadan visit in HK.

We went down the stairs as there is only one escalator system that goes down in the morning and up in the evenings and we had to go down to get to the ferry to cross HK Island to the Kowloon District (passed Mals work place too). The views from the other side were very impressive, seeing HK Island in its glory in the night. Stepped into the Hall of Fame street where I was being re-produced by a local as the next Bruce Lee mimicking the Senor Lee statute, I almost covered the whole real life statute with my over zealous frame!

It was late and the day had been long so we all ended up getting sizzling fried noodles with prawns at this rather retro food establishment. Then came the long uphill walk to base as missed the escalator deadline (yep it closes at 12pm)!

On the way back we went up to Lan Kwang Fang –The epitome of the “Night life” in HK for the clubber, drinker’s et al, quite like the Leicester Square on a Friday night. This only meant one thing, for our ancient rear to leave very quickly.

Returned to base RAM, for the last action of the day watching the Sopranos on HBO!

IndoChina Travel Info.

Just getting ready now, to embark on my travels...packed as much as I can physically fit into a suitcase, most of which are all travel medicines and alike, well hey better to be safe than sorry as don't want to be treated at a 'nam hospital! Let me see have I forgotten anything...well will only know when I get there....doh!

A 13 hour flight from London to Hong Kong, better get some nibbles on my travel to the airport:-).

The voyage has begun...

There have been many travel bloggs written and will continue to be written, as travel is one of these natural and timeless pieces of lifes natural beauties, when you have tasted the essence of it, you have a natural thirst for more.

Please sit back and I hope you enjoy the pleasure of the stories on my voyage.