Monte Toboggan

Monte Toboggan, originally uploaded by andyspex.

The best thing that we did in Madeira was the Monte Toboggan run. It really is amazing fun and if you find yourself out that way, you should take the trip.

We got the Cable Car from Funchal to the stop at Monte where we had a quick view of the Church and then went to the road where we got the toboggan.

The Toboggan is basically a wooden sled (no wheels) that is firstly pulled by 2 drivers and then gravity does the rest.

This is the road that you go down for a bout a mile, high banked walls and a big gutter down one side. you really get a great sense of speed heading down.

The problem is that you end halfway up the hill where you can either get the most expensive taxi in the world, or walk back up or down. We headed back down to the town, but it really was worth it.

Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass, originally uploaded by andyspex.

Leaving Hoi an on our way to Hue, we took the Hai Van pass, a spectacular coastal road made famous in the UK by the Top Gear Vietnam special.

The road is twisty and almost Alpine in feel, and I would love to go back and drive it. The views would have been spectacular had it not been for the haze.

The top of the pass was a vital defensive point during the war, as the bullet holes in the bunkers will testify.

Chau Doc Floating Houses

Chau Doc Floating Houses, originally uploaded by andyspex.

After crossing the border from Cambodia to Vietnam we drove to Chau Doc, a border town on the Mekong Delta.

We took a boat tour to see some of the floating houses, fish farms and markets in the area.

Apparently, if the houses are built with stilts or on land, they are subject to tax, whereas, floating boat houses aren’t.  From an economic point of view, you can see why so many Vietnamese choose to live on them.  As the area floods so much, they are also spared from the worst of it.

Sihanoukville Sunset

Sihanoukville Sunset, originally uploaded by andyspex.

After the 2 days in Phnom Penh, our tour took us to Sihanoukville and the Beaches for a few days of swimming and relaxation.

The hotel that we were in was right on the beach, and gave us stunning sunsets, also cocktail happy hour (2 for 3 dollars) and great seafood.

Sleeping Cyclo Driver

Sleeping Cyclo Driver, originally uploaded by andyspex.

From Siem Reap and the amazing site of Angkor Wat we headed to the Cambodian Capital of Phnom Pehn for 2 nights before heading down to Sihanoukville.

Whilst in Phnom Penh, we visited the Royal Palace and the horrific S21 prison and the Killing fields from the Pol Pot regime.  This wasn’t a particularly pleasant day, but you have to go there to know what the country and citizens have been through.

I’m not going to go into detail, but over 2 million Cambodians were killed, and now 75% of the population is under 18.

Whilst in Phnom Penh, we had a Cyclo (like the one in the picture) tour, which was great but being pedalled around in an armchair with wheels is an odd sensation, especially for somebody who cycles alot.

Cambodia – Poipet Border

Cambodia – Poipet Border, originally uploaded by andyspex.

On the first full day of our tour, we headed to the Poipet border station to head from Thailand and into Cambodia.

After stopping at a service station for a coffee break and giving our passports to a man on a motorbike to go and arrange our Visas, we headed straight to the border.

From the fairly modern Bangkok, there was a bit of a change over the border. We had to walk through no-mans land across a dirty, rubbish strewn river and into the very posh Casino district (where whealthy Thai’s go to gamble) before we got into Cambodia proper.

There difference was immediate, there were fewer cars (which drove on the opposite side of the road) and more sights like this. It was a culture shock at first, but we soon got used to seeing this sort of thing on the roads.

We then headed off to Siem Reap for a few nights and to Angkor Wat the next day.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg, originally uploaded by andyspex.

I have just added a new page, one that lists all of the countries that I have been to, and hopefully has links to the photos that I have added to this blog in those countries (that is the theory), so over the next couple of weeks I should be adding more pictures from different countries.

This is slightly let down by the fact that in a lot of the countries I was either too young to have a Camera, or didn’t have it with me.

This first one was take in Luxembourg City.

My New Bike

My New Bike, originally uploaded by andyspex.

This is my new bike. It’s nothing special, but it is getting me to work 3 days a week at the moment. Hopefully once the weather perks up I might get it up to 5 days a week.

This is saving me money on petrol, and hopefully, if I can keep that up for 3 months, I will have saved enough money to pay for the bike.

St Pauls and the Buses

St Pauls and the Buses, originally uploaded by andyspex.

I have been mucking about with some old photos. I thought this one came out pretty well with the focal Black and White, although not perfect.

Let me know what you think.

Bruges by Water

Bruges by Water, originally uploaded by andyspex.

This is the last of the Bruges Pictures that I am going to put on here. Promise.  I have faffed about on Piknik with this one and used the Holga-ish effect, that I seem to be a bit addicted to.