I know nobody is interested, but...

[Commander]

Ecuador

Atacames (North Coast Beach Resort)
Banos (Volcanic Region - Touristy town)
The Old Town (Worth wandering around for a while. Don't get put off staying for a short while by the modern parts of Quito)

I worked on this project... www.bellavistacloudforest.com - Main page a little bit pricy, but an incredible place to stay and wander about the cloudforest.

Riobamba was quite cool, but I did go there during carnivale time, so it might be a bit dead.

Trying to think of more names and places - shall probably get back to you on this.

Australia wise, I would definitely recommend doing Fraser Island. I hooked up with 6 other random people and we hired a jeep. It was run through the backpacker place in Hervey Bay (Koala's). One thing that I didn't like about Australia was that you tend to meet only tourists. Oooh, Byron Bay and Nimbin are a must.

Cheers BOF, I'll have a look into that now. Did you go to the Galapagos when you were in Equador? And can you speak Spanish? Was this an issue there?

I've done Oz before so fine for that, only going there because I need to change in Sydney to get to Asia, so it would be rude not to spend a couple of weeks there.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I can't be the only one who thinks 'Master and Commander' whenever I see Commander's posts on here........can I?

 

[Marty McFly]

No tips I'm afraid. Only to say I am immensely jealous. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Cheers BOF, I'll have a look into that now. Did you go to the Galapagos when you were in Equador? And can you speak Spanish? Was this an issue there?

I've done Oz before so fine for that, only going there because I need to change in Sydney to get to Asia, so it would be rude not to spend a couple of weeks there.

I ran out of cash for a Galapagos trip

Learning Spanish is pretty much essential. Six of us were arrested for being in a park after a curfew. La Polizia spoke no English and we were under armed guard for about 5 hours. The issue was, apart from the curfew, it is illegal not to carry round ID, but our passports were with the British embassy to gain our voluntary visa stamps. Would have been much simpler if someone had more than a basic grasp of the language. Plus, booking things like buses and giving directions to taxi drivers is a must.

You could think about doing spanish school out there. We spent two weeks with a one-on-one teacher, early morning sessions with the rest of the day free. It was great fun and invaluable, certainly an experience and better than learning from a textbook or phrase book. My teacher was awesome and we used to escape from the classroom and he would take me to meet his friends for a beer or three. Learning out in the field, as it were.

 

[csider]

Flights were about £1850, reckon I need about 8K spending money. Budgeted 10K in total.

Am now living on pasta and water for the next five months.

my mate runs an travel agency & coz im bored and dont care, I got quoted £1450.

Enjoy.

 

[Commander]

my mate runs an travel agency & coz im bored and dont care, I got quoted £1450.

Enjoy.

Think that is without the taxes.

Booked it now anyway so don't care!

 

[csider]

i know, why would you want so save a few hundred £££

 

[Commander]

i know, why would you want so save a few hundred £££

Well I cant save it as I have already paid for it. So I don't care.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'm not interested in this.

 

[Commander]

I'm not interested in this.

I disagree.

 

[Seagull's Return]

Sounds a nice trip - you'll need to suck it up for the last leg, though - India at the end of a trip (when you've got used to all that tropical-beach-and-a-hammock stuff) could seem like tough going for the first couple of days! No worries if you know it's coming, though: superb place. And the Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam loop is going to be pretty good, too; I envy you. Have fun.

 

[CHAPPERS]

You're right! I am really, I'm hooked to this thread.

I'm jealous, I need to go travelling soon. Give it a couple of years I will. I've heard Cambodia is the BEST!

 

[Jim D]

I've heard Cambodia is the BEST!

Gary Glitter thought so.

 

[Lokki 7]

I've heard Cambodia is the BEST!

It is. Go.

I f***ing hate this thread also.

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

There are fair better pubs in Balmain

Too bloody right !!
The truest statement ever to be uttered on NSC ...

Have just celebrated winning 9-7 , 5-7 , 6-4 at Birchgrove
with a couple of Little Creatures & Fat Yaks at The Riverview .
(No , it's not beastiality , it's very good Aussie beer )

 

[DJB1975]

I have just booked myself a little trip abroad...


06DEC Heathrow - Madrid 17:35 - 20:55
10DEC Madrid - Quito 12:00 - 17:10
08FEB Ushuaia - Buenos Aries 11:05 - 14:33
09FEB Buenos Aries - Sao Paulo 11:05 - 13:55
05APR Buenos Aries - Sydney 14:05 - 17:50
11APR Sydney - Brisbane 10:05 - 11:35
22APR Brisbane - Hong Kong 11:10 - 18:10
25APR Hong Kong - Bangkok 14:25 - 16:25
15MAY Bangkok - New Delhi 17:25 - 19:45
05JUN Mumbai - Heathrow 13:15 - 18:20



Advice / tips for any of the places mentioned would be appreciated.

Make sure you check out Melbourne, blows Sydney out of the water

 

[MikeySmall]

I have just booked myself a little trip abroad...


06DEC Heathrow - Madrid 17:35 - 20:55
10DEC Madrid - Quito 12:00 - 17:10
08FEB Ushuaia - Buenos Aries 11:05 - 14:33
09FEB Buenos Aries - Sao Paulo 11:05 - 13:55
05APR Buenos Aries - Sydney 14:05 - 17:50
11APR Sydney - Brisbane 10:05 - 11:35
22APR Brisbane - Hong Kong 11:10 - 18:10
25APR Hong Kong - Bangkok 14:25 - 16:25
15MAY Bangkok - New Delhi 17:25 - 19:45
05JUN Mumbai - Heathrow 13:15 - 18:20



Advice / tips for any of the places mentioned would be appreciated.

In the middle of doing the Asia part of this trip so if you need any up to date info on Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia PM me and ill try and help. Vietnam poos on everywhere - 3000 dong (10p) for a beer....

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Why didnt you ask Uncle Buck?

 

[Bozza]

08FEB Ushuaia - Buenos Aries 11:05 - 14:33
09FEB Buenos Aries - Sao Paulo 11:05 - 13:55
05APR Buenos Aries - Sydney 14:05 - 17:50

Presumably the above is intentional and you'll be travelling over land back from SP to BA?

 

[Commander]

Presumably the above is intentional and you'll be travelling over land back from SP to BA?

Yep, via Manaus. (Seems like a strange way around I know but it makes sense)