World Tourer - Travel Information - June - December 2018

 Video Postcards - Travel Archives - My Lifetime of Travel - Photo Index



28th December 2018

Danang, Vietnam

Back in Nha Trang after spending a few days over Chiristmas in Danang.

----

28th November 2018

Danang, Vietnam

I'm having one of my "Mini Trips" and am in Danang for 3 nights - I have rented a studio apartment (Salamander Hotel & Apartments) as I have become sick of hotel rooms and also I like to cook - the apartment only cost $20 USD/night and it is great (which is good as I have already booked it for another trip to Danang next month). I plan to bring my drone when I visit next month and weather permitting will take a couple of videos of Danang and Hoi An.

----

3rd November 2018

Home to Nha Trang, Vietnam

Today I fly home to Nha Trang after 4 days in Hanoi - I have given up the idea of moving to Hanoi, mainly because I have come to the conclusion that it is too crowded for me (I have never lived in a large city) and the traffic noise is overwhelming.
I am going to stay in Nha Trang.

St Joseph Cathedral          Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
St Joseph's Cathedral - Hanoi's Oldest Church         Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum               

----

31st October 2018

Hanoi, Vietnam

I am in Hanoi for a few days looking at apartments as I am considering a move to Hanoi for a while. I checked out 3 possible apartments yesterday in the Ba Dinh district and was not impressed. The area itself is fine (embassies, parks, lakes etc.) but the location of the apartments and the size of them was not to my liking. I am seeing another apartment this morning and probably 1 or 2 more tomorrow. If I do not find a suitable place I will probably scrap the idea of moving to Hanoi.
I have been looking for a new place to live for about a year now without finding anything suitable - I have considered Vung Tau, Danang and Dalat (all in Vietnam), also Prague (Czech Republic), Varna (Bulgaria), Cyprus and Malta (both Mediterranean islands).

----

21st October 2018

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Still in Nha Trang but I am planning a go to Hanoi next month for a week - I do not have any plans for taking trips etc. but will be looking at apartments that are available to rent long term and if OK I may move to Hanoi for 6 - 12 months.
I had been thinking of moving to Europe for 6 months but most countries require a minimum of 12 months (Leases).
I may even return to Australia sometime in the next 12 months (I had booked to go to Darwin on 4th September but decided to stay in Vietnam).

----

2nd October 2018

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Back home in Nha Trang after my great European trip. I am settling back into my standard daily routine again unfortunately the immigration department here has changed my plans by changing the rules (Again) - I currently have a 12 month Business Visa that runs out on 10th October and have been told that they are not issuing them anymore to UK or Australian citizens. This means I can only get a 3 month Tourist Visa and to do that I need to leave the country - so I am flying to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and returing to Vietnam on Sunday to get the 3 month Tourist Visa.

----

23rd September 2018

Zurich, Switzerland

This is the last day of my 3 week trip around Europe, which has been amazing - particularly the weather - I had expected maximums of low 20C but instead the average during my trip was high 20's and into 30's (today in Zurich the maximum was 28C). At this stage I plan to do another European trip next year (during summer).

----

22nd September 2018

Bremen, Germany

 I have just boarded my bus from Bremen to Hamburg (Flixbus) - the bus cost 5 Euro while the train would have been 25 Euro. I also used the Flixbus service from Hamburg to Bremen and it is excellent - comfortable seats, lots of leg room, Wifi and a toilet. I enjoyed my trip to Bremen even though it was short - I visited Bremen several times in 2008 when I was living in Malta.
I spend tonight in a hotel near Hamburg airport as I fly to Zurich, Switzerland, at 6:30 am tomorrow - I then spend a day and night in Zurich before flying home to Nha Trang via Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.

Admiral Nelson Ship Wesser River Bremen Musicians St. Peter's Cathedral
Admiral Nelson Ship                      Wesser River                             Bremen Musicians                       St. Peter's Cathedral
Bremen Old Town Hall Bremen Old Town Hall Bremen Old Town Hall Bremen Old Town Hall
Bremen Old Town Hall
Bremen Town Hall Bremen Market Fountain Pigs at Am Wall Windmill at Am Wall
Bremen Town Hall                      Bremen Market Fountain                     Pigs at Am Wall                      Windmill at Am Wall
Roland Statue Schnoor District Bremen Schnoor District Bremen Schnoor District Bremen
Roland Statue                                                                       Schnoor District Bremen                                           

----

20th September 2018

Hamburg, Germany

Today I flew from Cologne to Hamburg where I am staying for only one night this time (plus another night on 22nd). I had originally planned to spend 3 nights in Hamburg but later decided to catch a bus to Bremen (where I visited several times in 2008) for a night.

Hamburg City Centre Lake          Hamburg City Centre Lake          Hamburg Town Hall
                       Hamburg City Centre Lake                                                     Hamburg Town Hall
----

19th September 2018

Cologne, Germany

Today was spent doing a local Rhine River cruise, a DIY walking tour of Cologne "Old Town" and a train trip to Bonn for a quick look. I arrived in Cologne yesterday and it was a hot 30C (it was 12C in Gdansk when I left early am). My first impression of Cologne is that it is OK, meaning that it is neither especially good or bad it is simply "Same, Same" a typical German/European city.

Cologne Cathedral Cologne Rhine Apartments Cologne Rhine Apartments Cologne Chocolate Museum
      Cologne Cathedral                                           Cologne Rhine Apartments                                  Cologne Chocolate Museum
Rhine River, Cologne, Germany     Rhine Riverside, Cologne     Old Town Cologne Statue
   Rhine River, Cologne, Germany             Rhine Riverside, Cologne                Old Town Cologne Statue       

----

17th September 2018

Gdansk, Poland

This is my second day in Gdansk after sepnding 30+ hours in Krakow, Poland, on the way here. Tomorrow I fly to Cologne, Germany, (via London).

Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk, Poland, Photos

----

13th September 2018

Prague, Czech Republic - Day 4

A quiet day today just travelling around Prague. Tomorrow I fly to Krakow, Poland - this will be my first visit to Poland and I imagine it will be similar to Czech Republic - time will tell. After Krakow I fly to Gdansk, Poland, that was voted the most popular tourist destination in Europe last year.

Prague Old Town Gate          Prague National Museum          Prague Opera House
Prague Old Town Gate                        Prague National Museum                          Prague Opera House

----

12th September 2018

Prague, Czech Republic - Day 3

Today was mostly spent on a trip to Pilsen and back to visit the Pilsner Urquell brewery - in 1842 the first ever lager beer was brewed here and today Pilsner Urquell uses the same ingredients and the same process to produce their beer. The brewery tour was excellent and included a tasting of raw beer from a giant timber barrel in the underground storage area.

Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery
Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery Pilsner Urquell Brewery
Pilsner Urquell Brewery

----

11th September 2018

Prague, Czech Republic - Day 2

Arrived in Prague yesterday afternoon and it was a hot 30C which is probably well above average for this time of year. The forecast is for fine warm weather for the next 3 days then cooler (the day I leave). This is my 3rd visit to Prague and my 2nd this year (I like Prague). The main aim for this trip is to try and do things that I did not do on previous trips. Today I went to Petrin Hill and caught the funicular train to the top to see the Petrin Tower. Tomorrow I am taking the train to Pilsen (about 100 kilometres away) to visit the Pilsner Urquell brewery.

Petrin Tower, Prague                    Prague Street Food
   Petrin Tower                                             Prague Street Food
----

9th September 2018

Strasbourg, France - Day 3

Still in Strasbourg and the weather is wonderful - cool at night but 25C+ during the day with clear skies. I had a more relaxing day today but still got around. Tomorrow I fly to Prague, Czech Republic, where I am staying for 4 days.

Strasbourg Strasbourg Strasbourg Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg Swans Strasbourg Synagogue Strasbourg Synagogue
Strasbourg Swans                                             Strasbourg Synagogue                    
----

8th September 2018

Strasbourg, France

A busy day around Strasbourg today which included visiting the Strasbourg Cathedral which was the World's tallest Building from 1647 to 1874 (227 years), a cruise around Strasbourg on the Lill River, tramming around and a walk from France to Germany crossing the Rhine. Strasbourg has a history that goes back more than 2,000 years and has been both German and French. It has somehow escaped the current scourge of Europe "Grafitti" which is a pleasant change.

Rhine Pedestrian Bridge - Connecting France and Germany Rhine River Cruise Boat Strasbourg Cathedral St. Paul's Church, Strasbourg
Rhine Pedestrian Bridge                Rhine River Cruise Boat                 Strasbourg Cathedral                        St. Paul's Church     
Lill River, Strasbourg Lill River Tour Boat Petit Paris, Strasbourg Petit Paris, Strasbourg
Lill River                              Lill River Tour Boat                                              Petite Paris, Strasbourg                  
Petit Paris, Strasbourg Petit Paris, Strasbourg St. Paul's, Strasboourg European Parliament, Strasbourg
                                 Petite Paris                                              St. Paul's, Strasboourg                    European Parliament
Strasbourg Houses           Strasbourg Railway Station
   Strasbourg Houses                           Strasbourg Railway Station
----

7th September 2018

Brussels, Belgium - Day 2

This morning I went to the "Grand Place" which is a major historical square of Brussels - there was a weekend beer festival being set up so it was hard to get clear photos. This area is obviously the "Tourist Centre" of Brussels and there were several tourists around already.
I am now in Strasbourg, France and all is well - I have a studio apartment for the next three nights and will do some exploring.

Brussels Grand Place          Brussels Grand Place          Brussels Grand Place

Brussels Grand Place          Brussels Grand Place
Brussels Grand Place

----

6th September 2018

Tired in Brussels, Belgium

I am now in Brussels on the 3rd day of my European Trip - I am tired because I left Nha Trang at 5 am on Tuesday and it is now 4pm on Thursday and I have not slept in a bed yet and I get virtually no sleep on planes or in airports. So far I have flown from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok, Zurich, Barcelona and Brussels. I arrived in Brussels this morning and fly out 1 pm tomorrow to Strasbourg, France - I have three nights in Strasbourg followed by 4 nights in Prague so I will get some rest..
I had planned to do a Hop On Hop Off bus tour of Brussels today but it was foggy so I gave that a miss and just did my usual Metro hopping and walking.

Brussels Central Garden          Brussels Royal Palace          Brussels Streetview
  Brussels Central Garden                          Brussels Royal Palace                             Brussels Streetview   

----

31st August 2018

Still Working

August has been just as quiet as July with no travel at all. This will change next month as on Tuesday I leave on my high speed European trip for three weeks (16 flights and 4 bus trips). I will be visiting - Zurich (Switzerland), Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Prague (Czechia), Plzen (Czechia), Krakow (Poland), Gdansk (Poland), Cologne (Germany), Hamburg (Germany) and Bremen (Germany). This trip will include 8 cities I have not visited (Zurich, Brussels, Strasbourg, Plzen, Krakow, Gdansk, Cologne and Hamburg) but only 1 new country (Poland).

----

1st August 2018

Working, Working

July has been a very quiet month as far as travel goes - I went nowhere. I have been working on the City Directory sites updating the quality of the listings in the directories (dull but needed) - All the city directories are now "Secure Websites" and in the future most (if not all) of the listings within the directories will also be secure. The recent crash in the price of facebook and twitter shares etc. were (in my opinion) due to the public getting sick of "Cookies" (if there was a physical cookie placed on you when you entered a physical business you would probably never visit that business again - and it would almost certainly be illegal) - but the Internet is still in the "Wild West" stage without laws - Neither this site or any of the City Directory sites use (or have ever used) "Cookies".
I will be working for several months updating the directory sites but am looking forward to my European trip next month. I may also have a night in town (Nha Trang) and a bus trip to Dalat this month.

----


4th July 2018

European Trip Bookings

Today I have finalised all flight and hotel bookings for my European trip in September and the total cost is $1,975 USD - which is about $500 less than I expected it to be (even though I am "Mr. Cheap"). Whilst overall the cost of travel and accommodation within Europe is quite expensive there are still options for the "Budget Traveller". The average cost of my hotel rooms was $37 USD/night (no dorms - varying from single rooms with shared bathroom to studio apartments with kitchen and bathroom).

----

2nd July 2018

European Trip Number 2

Today I have booked flights to Europe (depart 4th September, return 25th September) flying with Thai Airways. So far I have only booked from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Zurich, Switzerland ($850 USD return - which I am happy with). The cities I will be visiting in Europe are:
Zurich (Switzerland), Barcelona (Spain), Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Prague (Czech Republic), Krakow (Poland), Gdansk (Poland), Cologne (Germany), Hamburg (Germany) and Bremen (Germany). This trip will include 7 cities I have not visited (Zurich, Brussels, Strasbourg, Krakow, Gdansk, Cologne and Hamburg) but only 1 new country (Poland).

---------

Previous Page

--------------------------------------------

 Video Postcards - Travel Archives - My Lifetime of Travel - Photo Index

--------------------------------------------