tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147197152011-04-21T18:48:07.647ZBeing in the main despatches from South America, New Zealand, Australia, India and Nepal. And Leicester.Johnnienoreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1153228419853731752006-07-18T13:09:00.000Z2006-07-18T13:13:39.866Z

New World Order Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. Having said to quite a few people now that my fave place on my travels was New Zealand, but it's a bit far away, and how it would be perfect if it could be towed to offshore Spain or thereabouts, it got me thinking how many countries could do with a bit of geographical renewal.So, here's a map mapping out a few enhancements to the

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1152101119576201542006-07-05T11:57:00.000Z2006-07-05T13:01:49.746Z

A while ago there was a site on the interweb called Geobloggers, that enabled you to put your Flickr photos on a Google Map, which was nice. Then the guy who ran it went off to Yahoo, so that stopped. Now there's a bunch of people that let you do the same thing, but perhaps not quite so nicely.Anyhow, here's a test of my skills. Hopefully there will be a map below this, with lots (or a few at

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1150298161133653692006-06-14T15:15:00.000Z2006-06-14T15:20:47.236Z

Gosh, it’s been a long time since I posted here eh? And what’s happened? Let me explain. No, let me summarise, it would take too long to explain*. Got back to England, got sick from a stomach virus, spent three weeks in bed / on a couch / on the loo, got better, spent two weeks on holiday in Devon and Cornwall with Iona, spent a final week girding my loins before heading back to work, and now

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1145946561368254252006-04-25T06:15:00.000Z2006-04-25T06:29:21.386Z

Given all the strife currently in Nepal, it was no big suprise to me that the guys I was going to do my trek with have cancelled it. Having come to terms with that, I realised I didn't really want to stay in India. So, having nowhere else particular to go, and having a pretty strong inducement to want to head back to England, that's what I'm doing.And now I've got a flight organised for Friday,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1145945590778963362006-04-25T06:12:00.000Z2006-04-25T06:13:10.780Z

Still can't really get my head around India. It is just so alien to everywhere else I have ever been. And even though we're travelling in a truck, that sanitises us from the real flavour of the streets, it's still an awesome experience to travel through the country.And that's what we've been doing. Travelling. Lots. It's been a mad dash from fort to temple to palace, and then back to another fort

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1145096509499053672006-04-15T10:17:00.000Z2006-04-15T10:21:49.500Z

For those of you (few I know) who may be concerned about me going to Nepal in a fortnight given the strife going on there at the mo, here's the SP.If the FCO advice stays as it is, I won't be going. Dragoman, who I'm travelling with, won't go even if the FCO advice changes and they still feel it would be dicey. In this case, I may head home a bit early and do something in the UK; Scotland for

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1145095991261010572006-04-15T10:05:00.000Z2006-04-15T10:16:07.003Z

Driving update: familiarity certainly doesn't breed contempt. Tried a few more driving modes apart from taxi and truck. These include auto rickshaw, bycycle rickshaw and sitting on top of a jeep. All of these apear to be extremely perilous, and, in fact, they are. Still, only seen about 100 accidents so far, so probably all will be well.In Delhi at the moment, and yes, I was here when the bomb

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1144490946813431572006-04-08T09:53:00.000Z2006-04-08T10:09:09.436Z

That's what India is. Mad.Got into Mumbai airport at around 9pm, and got a taxi from the airport to the hotel, drive of about 3/4 of an hour. I've seen some crazy driving in my time (stand and take a bow Iran, for instance), but this beats them all to hell. It's a long time since I've been in a car that was made before I was born, but that was no big deal. What is a big deal is the rules of the

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1144489792953336162006-04-08T09:30:00.000Z2006-04-08T09:50:06.743Z

But I've been doing heaps. I knew India would be a bit frenetic, so thought it would be a great idea to chill out for a week or so in and around Perth. Fortunately, Steve, friend from Leicester, had relocated himself there last year, so I was able to crash with him for the duration, and also he proved to be an extremely useful new local guide. Did most of the tourist sights that were there to be

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1143100693391722122006-03-23T07:58:00.000Z2006-03-23T07:58:13.426Z

Big Croc Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. ... and they were quite close to me. Photos from the Red Centre and Top End, illustrating the Red Centre and Top End, can now be found on Flickr. Of course.That is all.

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1143022215984521062006-03-22T10:03:00.000Z2006-03-22T10:10:15.986Z

In the last 12 days I have met 54 fellow travellers and 5 guides. I guess I had at least one decent conversation with about half that number, clicked and got on with about half of them, and made good friends with about half of them. We saw the sights together, eat together, drank together, slept together (no, not like that) and shared loads of great times and memories. I doubt I'll see any of

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1143021639931556342006-03-22T09:51:00.000Z2006-03-22T10:03:19.750Z

Ayers Rock. Uluru if you like. It's big. It's red. It's in the middle of bloody* nowhere. Nothing there at all. Oh, except, remember I mentioned that Alice Springs had flies? Well, now I know that Alice is where flies go when they want to get away from all the other flies that live at Ayers Rock. Jeez, there's millions of the buggers.Many, many people went for the fashionable flynet look. I

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1141793734824680062006-03-08T04:47:00.000Z2006-03-08T04:55:34.836Z

Err, it's not.And there are flies also.Anyway, photos of Tassie now on Flickr. Go, go go!

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1141727711436096352006-03-07T10:22:00.000Z2006-03-07T10:35:11.436Z

That's walking in Tasmania, rather than Tasmania getting up and wandering over to New Zealand or something. Anyhow, when I decided on coming to Tassie, I thought that while I was here I'd do some serious hiking, and that's been achieved in spades.Tassie is fantastic. Really. And the weather isn't half as bad as it's cracked up to be; rather, over the last week or so, it's been sunny and warm,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1140858512240889042006-02-25T09:03:00.000Z2006-02-25T09:08:32.240Z

G'day! Now I'm in Tasmania. I'm renting a car on Sunday to travel round the state, but in the meantime I'm staying with Helen, my new friend. There's a site on the interweb called Global Freeloaders, and basically you email people where you want to go, and they put you up, for free. Dead neat eh? I've hosted a couple of times before, but never been a guest.Managed to pretty much do Hobart over

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1140673276313387762006-02-23T05:41:00.000Z2006-02-25T09:03:10.916Z

Whale Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. It's the classic shot, but you've got to admit it's still impresive. After Iona left me, I headed up to Kaikoura, where whale watching is king.Went out on the standard cruise, saw three sperm whales, loads of dusky dolphins and even some albatros, which was all good. Then decided to have another go in a plane, and took control round he skies above

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1140301702891445702006-02-18T22:16:00.000Z2006-02-18T22:30:03.526Z

What to do? To run around like a mad thing in the hope of seeing all the things you want to, or to chill, take it easy, realise you can't fit everything you want to do in the time available and just enjoy what you can?Fortunately, Iona's chilled approach won the day, so instead of heading way down south, we've been taking it easy-ish for the last week and a half. After Nelson, we headed down the

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1139887973413851812006-02-14T03:32:00.000Z2006-03-07T10:25:23.660Z

Pitts SpecialOriginally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. "OK, raise the nose a little ... that's fine, hold it there. Now stick hard over to the left ... harder ... that's good"With those words, I found myself upside down over the Abel Tasman Nationl Park. Fortunately, I was strapped into the forward cockpit of a Pitts Special. Even more fortunately, Vincent, award winning stunt pilot and all round

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1139525388734521682006-02-09T22:44:00.000Z2006-02-09T22:53:32.123Z

We're now in the South Island, but on the way we stopped off in Tongariro National Park. There's a walk here that is promoted as the best one day walk in New Zealand, so we had to do it natch. Jackie and her brother Andrew joined us as well, but Mike couldn't make it due to him having to empty a skip out (best not ask).The day dawned, well, dark, dreary and wet - so no real change there. Our

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1138698450078649502006-01-31T09:07:00.000Z2006-01-31T09:07:30.140Z

Dolphin Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. First the good news: it's stopped raining. Mostly anyway. Which is nice.Over the last few days we've been staying with Mike, top bloke from the South America trip, and Jacquie (and her brother Andrew) has been around too. We've done heaps of things around Tauranga, which is a really, really great place to be. There's sea (good for beaches,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1138159941145118042006-01-25T03:28:00.000Z2006-01-25T03:32:21.170Z

Those of you who I have bored previously with details of my last trip to New Zealand will remember (or not as the case may be) that there was a fair bit of really crap weather. This time, though, it's exactly the bloody same. Bugger!However, the forecast is for a bit better stuff, and Iona and I haven't been too bored yet. First day was really sunny actually, and we lounged around on the beach in

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1137549035931501692006-01-18T01:35:00.000Z2006-01-18T01:50:35.933Z

After the hectic time I had in Easter Island, I needed somewhere to calm down and chill out. And so I find myself at Moorea Camping.French Polynesia is expensive. Really expensive. Really, really expensive. Especially after being in South America for a few months. I mean, 6quids an hour for the internet. They are having a laugh eh? Still, there are upsides.The camping ground where I'm staying is

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1137548555814005212006-01-14T10:35:00.000Z2006-01-18T01:43:30.723Z

So, Easter Island eh. Rapa Nui. Loads of culture, Moais (that's those big head statue things to you), beautiful coastline, friendly people, really relaxed atomosphere. Yeah, whatever.There's only one thing to do on Easter Island. Hire yourself a 4x4 and have some fun!I've never actually driven one of these things before, and it's been about four months since I last drove anything. However, I soon

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1136306988594185082006-01-03T16:43:00.000Z2006-01-03T16:49:48.610Z

As my sojurn in South America draws to a close, I thought in best end-of-term school report stylee, I´d select the top ten places/things I´ve been/done over the last three months or so. And all you have to do isclick here ...and read the insightful, erudite and informative descriptions I have handily placed there for you.Easy huh?Oh, and of course, Rio would have featured, but, as everyone seems

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1136199865347347142006-01-02T10:54:00.001Z2006-01-02T11:04:25.370Z

Well, I had an interesting night. Went over to Copacobana Beach at around 5, found the sun was still too hot so hung around a bar for a bit, watching some crazy street entertainment going on as well.At about 8.30 we found out that some guys from another tour who we got on with really well were on the beach somewhere. Didn´t have top directions, but Chris and I decided to try and find them anyway.

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1135867663320385602005-12-29T14:47:00.000Z2005-12-29T14:50:57.460Z

Christmas scene Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. Wasn't going to post anything today, but then I saw this and thought of everyone back in the UK. Ha ha!Seriously, after the alarums and excursions in the group a couple of weeks ago, everything is back on an even keel, helped by the approaching end of the trip, and also the arrival of another tour group, that has given everyone someone

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1135454300034960922005-12-24T19:58:00.000Z2005-12-24T19:58:20.070Z

Iguacu Falls Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. And for your delight and delectation, there`s about twenty gazillion pics of Iguacu Falls at Flickr. Why not take these as my personal Christmas present to you? Face it, you may as well, you won`t be getting anything else from me.I`d love to tell you that I`m sunning myself on a beach at the moment, but, obviously, I`m in an internet

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1135108594297897522005-12-20T19:41:00.000Z2005-12-20T19:57:21.980Z

Well, it had to happen sometime. Travelling in a confined space with a few other people, you´re bound to get on each others nerves now and again. As I said a while ago, I was pretty suprised it hadn´t happened sooner.But now, gaps are growing between some factions in the group, although to be fair, everyone is still talking to one another (hasn´t always been the case recently), and there´s a

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1134501759193997002005-12-13T19:22:00.000Z2005-12-13T19:41:37.366Z

As they say, the scoreline just doesn´t reflect what actually happened at the match.I persuaded seven other guys on our tour that it would be a great idea to go to the Bombonera Stadium to see Boca (third in the table) play Independiente (second) in the second last match of the season. We got tickets through a guy we met in a hostal, and he, us, and about 15 others went by bus out to the

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1134245549731370382005-12-10T20:12:00.000Z2005-12-10T20:18:11.770Z

Torres del PaineOriginally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. And you´ll be glad to know, I´ve just selected highlights of the past few weeks so you don´t have to trawl through all the dross. Just hand picked specially selected dross. Woo! Yay!

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1134070989700472322005-12-08T19:13:00.000Z2005-12-08T19:48:34.883Z

Chapter 1.World traveller, remote sensing expert and ex-geologist John Shannon slowly turned to his right and placed the dog eared orange covered copy of the da Vinci Code by Dan Brown on the seat next to him. He peered solomnly out of the rain spattered windows of the South American Safaris truck that was transporting him to Buenos Aires. On his mind was one of the great mysteries of modern

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1133793877328872412005-12-05T14:38:00.000Z2005-12-05T14:44:37.736Z

Top Ten things to do on the truck when you´re travelling 2,000Km over flat, boring ground in two days:1. Read - just finished War and Peace. What a top read; 1442 pages of rip roaring entertainment2. Listen to music - An mp3 player is an essential for trips like this3. Look out of the window - and watch more acres of boring flat countryside pass by4. Imagine shapes in the clouds - bit hippy this

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1133471012066822472005-12-01T20:59:00.000Z2005-12-01T21:03:32.066Z

Is where I am at the mo. Specifically, Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world.Just taken a voyage on the Beagle Channel. After having a good lunch of beef sandwich, beer, wine. And a bit more wine on the boat. Rather choppy out there, but good to say I wasn´t one of the ones being sick off the back of the boat.Could be getting boring saying it´s rather beautiful around here, but, in fact, it

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1133470761541381012005-12-01T20:52:00.000Z2005-12-01T20:59:21.716Z

They´re dreadful. Especially when you have to get up at an unearthly hour, have a coffee and cornflakes, and maybe a couple of cheese and ham toasties before setting out on a walk in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.Torres del Paine (for that is the place), is in the south of Chile, and features some spectacular granite pillars that tower (hence the name) over some gorgeous lesser

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1132343852764189742005-11-18T19:52:00.000Z2005-11-18T19:57:32.763Z

According to Brendon, our driver and guide.He´s been in South America for at least a couple of years now, and can get by on the following key phrases:"Por favor, señor ..." Indicates general disbelief about price, quantity of fuel available, seats at restaurant etc."Señor, es possible to (followed by request in english)" Anything else he needs to communicate about.Litte unfair, as he does know at

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1132343535899754622005-11-18T19:38:00.000Z2005-11-18T19:52:15.916Z

In Bariloche at the moment, which is on the shore of a large lake. Went fishing out there this morning in a small Zodiac, and did catch a smallish rainbow trout. However, it was the wind and waves that made this trip. The couple of photos I`ve put on Flickr really don`t do it justice - and anyway, it was far too rough for photos about an hour later, when it really got going.Anyhow, as promised,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1131804343673455142005-11-12T14:05:00.000Z2005-11-12T14:15:04.046Z

JumpOriginally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. In Santiago now, having spent the last few days trawling down through the Atacama Desert. Stopped of in the beach resort town of La Serena, which was kind of like Brighton on a wet Wedensday afternoon in January. But hotter.After Potosi, we headed south to Uyuni, a one horse town on the edge of a huge salt flat. We took the truck out onto the salt,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1131740274578538652005-11-11T20:11:00.000Z2005-11-11T20:17:54.600Z

Lots to catch up on, but first things first. As your leading musical style guide, I thought I must share this with you all.Although there have been some cracking recent releases by the likes of Super Furry Animals, Sigur Rus, Goldfrapp, Elbow and the like, I can exclusively reveal the best thing to fall on to my mp3 player since The Shins were thrust into my greasy palm by Soph about a year and a

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1130984116623681262005-11-02T22:00:00.000Z2005-11-03T02:15:16.640Z

Potosi. A town located in the middle of nowhere in particular, above the Alti Plano. Yet it is a large town, with heaps of colonial architechture. Why? Cerro Rico: Rich Mountain. Since the mid 1500s, silver in vast quantitites, then lead and tin, have been mined from this conical shaped mountain just above the town. And in equally vast quantities, people have died mining it.Our day started with a

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1130609241704880202005-10-29T14:07:00.000Z2005-10-29T19:57:38.596Z

So, after a couple of days recovery in Cusco after the Inca Trai, we headed down south to a town called Puno, on the banks of Lake Titicaca. Loads of signs proclaiming it to be the highest navigable lake in the world, but at 3900m or so, there must be mountain lakes higher that you could get a rubber dinghy out in, surely.Anyhow, looked quite impressive as we rolled down the mountains into town.

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1130077656399434212005-10-23T14:20:00.000Z2005-10-23T14:27:36.410Z

Five weeks in, and there´s been no bust ups within the group yet. This is pretty suprising, as generally in this size of group (15 people) there´s going to be factions set up, cliques forming and rivalries brewing. Accepted opinion seems to state that at the start of a trip like this, everyone loves one another; half way through everyone hates each other and then everyone comes back together in

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1129481298646763842005-10-16T16:48:00.000Z2005-10-16T17:15:16.666Z

Best Condor Photo EvahOriginally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. Condors everywhere! Well, almost. A lot in Coca Canyon anyway (By the way, does anyone know the difference between a gorge, canyon, valley etc.). (Loads of new piccies as well, click the link)Since the last time, we´ve been camping at Porta Inca (and getting a sneaky footy match in there), in the town of Arequipa, in the Colca Canyon

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1128871198047881432005-10-09T15:19:00.000Z2005-10-09T15:21:02.506Z

Groovy Sunset Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. Since last time, we´ve been to Lima, travelled further on down the coast and I´m now writing this in Nasca, waiting for the world rally championship to go through so the road can open again. Lima was OK. We stayed in reasonable hostal in Miraflores; the posh part of Lima. Good nights out and all, but it´s just another city. The next

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1128784487789777562005-10-08T15:14:00.000Z2005-10-09T15:06:36.903Z

The GroupOriginally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon. Woo! Yay! I´ve now got added photos. Check them out by clicking the pic.

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1128378642221571712005-10-03T22:24:00.000Z2005-10-03T22:30:42.223Z

So, after spending a couple of days in Huanchaca, checking out some ancient remains, we made the trip up into the mountains to a spot called Huaraz. Should have been a quiet, uneventful day, but we managed to miss the easy road, so instead went over the Andes on a somewhat more perilous route. It wasn´t so much the narrowness of the road, nor the overhangs that threatened (but didn´t) take off

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1128032899397683682005-09-29T22:18:00.000Z2005-09-29T22:28:19.400Z

What with long journies on the road, and much time to relax so far, my reading material is running out fast.Books taken with me:Aberystwyth Mon Amour (ta Lizzie). Read first in no time at allParadise Lost: Read the introduction, not light reading, requires concentration, will last the whole trip probablyGolden Treasury (ta Beryl). Good to dip in and out ofA Fine Balance (ta Iona). Just started,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1128031936204909472005-09-29T21:53:00.000Z2005-09-29T22:17:43.076Z

So, managed to slip out of Baños without the vocano erupting on us, and heading south we arrived at Cuenca. Very pretty town with loads of collonial architecture, we stayed a couple of nights and then headed south for the border. We traversed the foothills of the Andes, then headed down to sea level and the Pan American Hiway. Good to be at low altitude and have some clean dense air to breath.

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1127601397817069852005-09-24T22:15:00.001Z2005-09-24T22:36:37.826Z

The journey into the rainforest/jungle, call it what you will, was not too arduous, although I did feel a bit like Sheen in Apocolypse Now for a while, taking a motarised narrow boat up the Rio Napa. However, the lodge was luxurious, the guides great and a generally relaxing time was had by all. Saw a fair bit of the flora and fauna also, which was good.One afternoon we took a small trip down the

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1127506512354368222005-09-23T20:10:00.000Z2005-09-23T20:15:12.356Z

A previous blog entry may have given the impression that I may have been a tad dissatisfied with my lot in life. However, having contemplated life while rocking gently in a hammock on the balcony of a luxury rainforest lodge, supping an ice cold beer, surrounded by a bunch of new friends, having just been out on a jungle walk that morning and planning on a canoe up river to a nature reserve,

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1126985987960926392005-09-17T19:27:00.000Z2005-09-17T19:39:47.983Z

So, here I am in an internet cafe in Quito, which is probably one of the most exciting places in the city. Flights, travel went OK, but top tip: don´t fly Iberian if you can help it. Tight seats - falling to bits, crap food, and no breaky served on the flight out to Madrid. Cheapskates.Had a very old school flying moment as we landed in Quito: everyone started clapping. Last heard this about 1975

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1126698584524343992005-09-14T11:46:00.000Z2005-09-14T11:49:44.530Z

...but I'm never, evah, doing this again. It's just all too much hard work, emotionally and physically. Anyhow, my flat is now almost empty, apart from what I'm taking and this computer, and I think everything is sorted, which is rather a relief. Thanks to everyone who came along to the various leaving do's; they were great. Not that there will be a next time, but I might plan to do less

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1125998941561809562005-09-06T09:27:00.000Z2005-09-06T09:35:56.196Z

So here's the route I'll be taking around South America in more detail. Looks all right eh? 15 weeks wandering around a continent; 7 new country stamps in my passport (not that I'm counting) and lots of great new people to meet (hopefully).

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14719715.post-1125928926864781222005-09-05T13:56:00.000Z2005-09-05T14:07:41.166Z

15th September: Fly from Heathrow to Quito16th September - 8th January: South American Safaris trip round South America8th January - 11th January: Easter Island12th January - 20th January: Tahiti20th January - 21st February: New Zealand22nd February - 8th March: Tasmania, Australia8th March - 21st March: Central Oz22nd March - 1st April: Perth, Oz1st April - 25th April: India26th April - 21st May

Johnnienoreply@blogger.com0