Last change: 9:00 AM February 24 2012 "Home" time: Updated photos & videos till November 1 and November 13-30.
This page will be "under construction" for a long time as I go through all the photos and videos... keep checking back!
April-May 2011 | June 2011 | July 2011 | August 2011 |
September 2011 | October 2011 | November 2011 | December 2011 |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
1 | SFO HND |
The world trip begins with a flight to Tokyo Haneda... | |
2 | HND SIN |
... and continuing on to Singapore! | |
3 | Singapore | A day of jet lag removal and R&R in Singapore | |
4 | Singapore | Visit to Sentosa Island and Southernmost point in continental Asia | |
5 | Singapore Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Train to Kuala Lumpur KL Tower |
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6 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Penang, Malaysia |
(not) Petronas Towers A few "cooling off" things Bus to a highway rest area Another bus to Penang |
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7 | Penang, Malaysia | R & R | |
8 | Penang, Malaysia Butterworth, Malaysia Overnight train |
Overnight train (not) to Bangkok | |
9 | Overnight train Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Kanchanaburi, Thailand |
Got off at Nakhon Pathom, Thailand and (not) bus to Kanchanaburi | |
10 | Kanchanaburi, Thailand Bangkok, Thailand |
Taweechai Elephant Camp Bamboo raft trip Erawan Falls Krasae Caves "Death Railway" Bridge on the River Kwai Van shuttle to Bangkok |
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11 | Bangkok, Thailand | Wat Traimit Witthayaram Wora Wiharn (Golden Buddha) Couple of gem production shops Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram Ratchaworawiharn Drum Tower Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) |
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12 | Bangkok, Thailand Rongkluea Market, Thailand Poipet, Cambodia Siem Reap, Cambodia |
Multiple vehicles from Bangkok to Siem Reap Angkor National Museum Sunset at Angkor Wat |
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13 | Siem Reap, Cambodia | Sunrise at Angkor Wat Angkor Thom |
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14 | Siem Reap, Cambodia | Angkor Wat Ta Prohm Temple |
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15 | Siem Reap, Cambodia Kampong Cham, Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia Bavet, Cambodia Moc Bai, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
2 buses for 13 hours ride to Saigon | |
16 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Tao Dan Park Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nha tho Du'c Ba) Ben Thanh Market Saigon Center 23/9 Park |
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17 | SGN MNL |
Flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Manila | |
18 | Manila, Philippines Baguio, Philippines Sagada, Philippines |
Two long bus rides from Manila to Sagada | |
19 | Sagada, Philippines | Ganduyan Museum Eco-tour of hanging coffins and underground river Sunset |
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20 | Sagada, Philippines Baguio, Philippines |
Sunrise over Sagada Bus to Baguio |
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21 | Baguio, Philippines Manila, Philippines |
Mines View Park Bus to Manila |
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22 | MNL ICN VVO Vladivostok, Russia |
Flight from Manila to Seoul and continuing to Vladivostok S-56 Submarine Museum Walking around town |
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23 | Vladivostok, Russia Ussuriysk, Russia |
Vladivostok Night train departure to Irkutsk On board train - roughly from Vladivostok (9289 km from Moscow) to Ussuriysk (9255 km) |
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24 | Ussuriysk, Russia Khabarovsk, Russia Svobodny, Russia |
On board train - roughly from Ussuriysk (9255 km from Moscow) to Svobodny (7807 km) Drinks at Khabarovsk |
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25 | Svobodny, Russia Amazar, Russia Mogocha, Russia Karymskaya, Russia |
On board train - roughly from Svabodny (7807 km from Moscow) to Karymskaya (6295 km) World War 2 monument at Mogocha Groceries at Mogocha |
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26 | Karymskaya, Russia Irkutsk, Russia |
On board train - roughly from Karymskaya (6295 km from Moscow) to Irkutsk (5185 km) Lake Baikal Evening train arrival in Irkutsk |
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27 | Irkutsk, Russia Listvyanka, Russia Irkutsk, Russia |
Walk around Irkutsk main square Last-minute private tour to Lake Baikal at Listvyanka Museum of Wooden Architecture |
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28 | Irkutsk, Russia | River walk at sunset | |
29 | Irkutsk, Russia Train |
Train to Moscow: From Irkutsk (5185 km from Moscow) to roughly Nizhneudinsk (4647 km) | |
30 | Train | On board train - roughly from Nizhneudinsk (4647 km from Moscow) to Omsk (2676 km) Ob River crossing at Novosibirsk |
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31 | Train | On board train - roughly from Omsk (2676 km from Moscow) to Balezino (1154 km) | |
32 | Train Moscow, Russia |
On board train - roughly from Balezino (1154 km from Moscow) to Moscow! Volga River crossing at Nizhny Novgorod Some park in front of some restaurant in Moscow |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
33 | Moscow, Russia | Vorob'evy Gory Park (eco walk) Moscow River cruise |
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34 | Moscow, Russia | Pushkin Imena Museum Church of the Ascension of Christ Pedestrian Bridge over Moscow River Sleep |
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35 | Moscow, Russia | Kremlin:
Moscow River Red Square |
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36 | Moscow, Russia Train |
Novodevichy Convent Red Square St. Basil's Cathedral Red Square Overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg |
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37 | Train St. Petersburg, Russia |
Morning train arrival in St. Petersburg Birzhevoy Most Birzhevaya Pl. ("Tongue" of Vasilevsky Island) Dvortsovy Most Admiralty Gardens |
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38 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Kazan Cathedral Bankovsky Most Chocolate Museum Alexander Column Alexander Arch Moyka River Church of Resurrection of Christ Griboedova Canal |
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39 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Fontanka Canal Anichkov Most Ostrovskogo Pl. (Catherine The Great Gardens) |
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40 | LED HEL Espoo, Finland Helsinki, Finland Espoo, Finland |
Flight from St. Petersburg to Helsinki Helsinki waterfront |
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41 | Espoo, Finland HEL TLL Tallinn, Estonia |
Flight Helsinki to Tallinn "Getting to know Tallinn" (2 missions accomplished) |
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42 | Tallinn, Estonia | Walk around Old Town | |
43 | Tallinn, Estonia | "Official" Sightseeing tour: (Cultural Center, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Mary's Cathedral/Dome Church, walk around Old Town) Raekoja Torn Wall and Towers walk Olympic Casino |
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44 | Tallinn, Estonia | "Miscellaneous activities" | |
45 | Tallinn, Estonia | Old Town walk Thomas The Train |
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46 | Tallinn, Estonia | Oleviste Kiriku Old Town walk |
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47 | Tallinn, Estonia Riga, Latvia |
Early morning bus to Riga Old Town Riga guided walking tour Dome Square Livu Square Ratslaukums Square St Peter's Church Freedom Monument House Of Blackheads (exterior) "Riga Black Magic Bar" Powder Tower (exterior) "The Three Brothers" Old Town tram tour Old Town self-walk |
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48 | Riga, Latvia | Dome Cathedral Organ Recital Museum of History of Riga and Navigation House Of Blackheads (interior) Daugava River Views |
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49 | Riga, Latvia | Sleeping Eating lunch Walking in the rain and getting completely wet Doing something impulsive and some would say crazy Occasionally laughing at some other unrelated things |
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50 | Riga, Latvia | A day at the races Riga's Art Noveau buildings Powder Tower A day at the races (again) |
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51 | Riga, Latvia | "Miscellaneous activities" | |
52 | Riga, Latvia Vilnius, Lithuania |
Bus to Vilnius A visit to the tourist information center |
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53 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Walk around Old Town: Town Square Pilies Street Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas Monument to Gediminas Vilnius Cathedral Upper Castle Gediminas Tower Presidential Palace (exterior) |
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54 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Guided walking tour of Old Town: (building exteriors only in all of the following except where noted)
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55 | Vilnius, Lithuania | "Miscellaneous administrative activities" | |
56 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Sleep Watching the rain out the window |
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57 | Vilnius, Lithuania VNO HEL AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Flight to Amsterdam (via Helsinki) | |
58 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Roaming around the city | |
59 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Roaming around the city Canal cruise More roaming around the city |
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60 | Amsterdam, Netherlands Duisburg, Germany Hamburg, Germany Copenhagen, Denmark |
Trains from Amsterdam to Duisburg to Hamburg to Copenhagen... ... including a 20-km crossing of Femer Baelt in the Baltic Sea, where the entire train got on the ship! |
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61 | Copenhagen, Denmark | "The Little Mermaid" St. Alban's Anglican Church Nyhavn Street Stroget Street Hop on-Hop off tour ELEPHANTS! Radhouse Square Trinity Church Canal Cruise Amaliehaven |
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62 | Osterbro, Denmark Copenhagen, Denmark Malmo, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden Trallhattan, Sweden Oslo, Norway |
Three trains, a bus, and finally a fourth train from Copenhagen's "Osterport" station to Oslo |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
63 | Oslo, Norway | Absolutely nothing! | |
64 | Oslo, Norway Lillestrom, Norway OSL Hell, Norway |
Bus from Oslo to Lillestrom Train from Lillestrom to Oslo airport Rental car to Hell! |
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65 | Hell, Norway Lulea, Sweden |
Driving across Norway and Sweden | |
66 | Lulea, Sweden Honningsvag, Norway |
2nd Arctic Circle crossing by car, this time on my own Drive up to the Northernmost town in Norway |
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67 | Honningsvag, Norway Nordkapp, Norway Honningsvag, Norway |
Drive to the northermost (not really) point of continental Europe Arctic Ocean foot dip |
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68 | Honningsvag, Norway Tennevoll, Norway |
Arctic Ocean ankle dip Fjords, more fjords, and even more fjords Drive and a ferry back down to Tennevoll (Soloy) |
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69 | Tennevoll, Norway Mosjoen, Norway |
Even more fjords, more fjords, and fjords Drive down to Mosjoen |
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70 | Mosjoen, Norway Hell, Norway |
A much more relaxing drive down to Hell | |
71 | Hell, Norway Flam, Norway |
Mountains, lakes, and rivers Rondane National Park A 24.5km long tunnel |
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72 | Flam, Norway Gudvangen, Norway Naeroyfjord Aurlandsfjord Flam, Norway Myrdal, Norway Lunden, Norway Flam, Norway |
A cruise through Naeroyfjord (World Heritage Site) and Aurlandsfjord Waterfalls! Round-trip train ride to Myrdal with more waterfalls Walk back from Lunden to Flam with another waterfall! |
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73 | Flam, Norway Kvandall, Norway Samlafjord (Hardangerfjord) Utne, Norway Langfoss Falls, Norway OSL |
Drive through spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes, rivers, and hundreds of waterfalls! Samlafjord (arm of Hardangerfjord) crossing by ferry Langfoss Falls Drive back to Oslo (airport) |
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74 | OSL Lillestrom, Norway Oslo, Norway Trallhattan, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark |
A train, a bus, a train, a bus, and a train from Oslo to Copenhagen | |
75 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Absolutely nothing! | |
76 | Copenhagen, Denmark Kolding, Denmark Flensburg, Germany Hamburg, Germany |
3 trains (was supposed to be 2 but changed to 3 due to "technical difficulties") from Copenhagen to Hamburg | |
77 | Hamburg, Germany Duisburg, Germany Amsterdam, Netherlands |
2 more trains from Hamburg to Amsterdam Dinner and a musem |
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78 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Laundry, haircut, and sleep | |
79 | Amsterdam, Netherlands AMS DUB |
Flight to Dubai | |
80 | DUB MNL Manila, Philippines |
Connecting flight to Manila | |
81 | Manila, Philippines | "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2" "Transformers Part 3" (instead of "Hangover Part 2" and "Pirates of the Caribbean Part 4") |
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82 | Manila, Philippines | "Today I don't feel like doing anything (The Lazy Song)" by Bruno Mars The 2nd-most beautiful sunset in the world from the 5th floor balcony of my hotel |
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83 | Manila, Philippines | The 2nd-most beautiful sunset in the world from sea level | |
84 | Manila, Philippines | A quest/trip across town to a Chili's restaurant -- for the first time in more than 3 months | |
85 | Manila, Philippines | A "vacation day"! The 2nd-most beautiful sunset in the world from the 5th floor balcony of my hotel |
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86 | Manila, Philippines | A "nothing day"! | |
87 | Manila, Philippines | Sunrise over Manila Bay Laundry and sleep |
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88 | Manila, Philippines | Nothing!!! (except packing...) | |
89 | Manila, Philippines MNL MFM Macau SAR, China |
Flight from Manila to Macau Roaming around Fisherman's Wharf Hotel rooftop views of city |
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90 | Macau SAR, China | Sunrise over South China Sea Exhibition at Macau Convention Center (Fisherman's Wharf) |
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91 | Macau SAR, China | Ensanada Square Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral Museu de Macau Venetian Casino |
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92 | Macau SAR, China | MGM Casino Nighttime views |
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93 | Macau SAR, China | Macau Tower Skywalk Ensanada Square Dancing Fountains at Wynn Casino |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
94 | Macau SAR, China MFM MNL Manila, Philippines |
Flight from Macau to Manila The 2nd-most beautiful sunset in the world from 33000 feet |
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95 | Manila, Philippines Olongapo, Philippines Subic, Philippines |
Bus to Olongapo, followed by a taxi to Subic A really huge taco which reminded me of Weird Al Yankovic's song "Taco Grande" |
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96 | Subic, Philippines | Being sick in Subic | |
97 | Subic, Philippines Olongapo, Philippines Manila, Philippines MNL |
A jeepney, a bus, and a taxi back to Manila Bay for the 2nd-best sunset in the world from ground level On to Manila airport |
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98 | MNL DXB AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Flight Manila-Dubai-Amsterdam | |
99 | Amsterdam, Netherlands Paris, France |
Train from Amsterdam to Paris An unsuccessful attempt to go to the balcony of Samaritaine shopping center |
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100 | Paris, France | Cathedrale Notre-Dame La Sainte-Chapelle Arc de Triomphe Avenue des Champs-Elysees Cafe George V Mercedez Benz Gallery |
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101 | Paris, France Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |
TGV train from Paris to Luxembourg A "sick leave" day |
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102 | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | Another "sick leave" day | |
103 | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | Constitution Square Train tour of Old Town Hop-on, hop-off bus tour without hopping on or off |
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104 | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | Walk around Old Town Notre Dame Cathedral Corniche: "The best balcony in Europe" |
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105 | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Koblenz, Germany Vienna, Austria |
Trains from Luxembourg to Vienna (instead of Munich) Ride along Mosel River from Trier to Koblenz Ride along Rhine River from Koblenz to Mainz Change of plans: Vienna instead of Munich |
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106 | Vienna, Austria Bratislava, Slovakia Vienna, Austria |
Train to Bratislava Bratislava:
Vienna:
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107 | Vienna, Austria Ljubljana, Slovenia |
Early morning train to Ljubljana | |
108 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | A day of rest | |
109 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Administrative duties (shopping, laundry, etc) | |
110 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Boat trip in Ljubljanica River Guided walking tour of old town Church of St. Nicholas Ljubljana Castle (Slovenian History Museum, Castle Tower, sunset) |
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111 | Ljubljana, Slovenia Jesenice, Slovenia Bled-Jezero, Slovenia Bled, Slovenia Bled-Jezero, Slovenia Jesenice, Slovenia Villach, Austria |
2 trains from Ljubljana to Bled-Jezero 7km hike around Lake Bled Bled Castle on its 1000 years anniversary (with history museum and chapel) 2 more trains from Bled-Jezero to Villach, Austria Roaming around Villach's Old Town looking for water Church of St. Jakob (Villach) |
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112 | Villach, Austria Salzburg, Austria Otztal, Austria Bludenz, Austria Zurich, Switzerland Luzern, Switzerland |
2 trains from Villach to Otzal Bus from Otzal to Bludenz 2 more trains from Bludenz to Luzern |
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113 | Luzern, Switzerland | Walk around Luzern's Old Town Climbed one of the towers of the 13th century city wall Night-time walk around the waterfront |
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114 | Luzern, Switzerland Alpnachstad, Switzerland Luzern, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland Visp, Switzerland Bern, Switzerland Luzern, Switzerland |
An attempt to go to Mt. Pilatus, scrapped till the next day A quick trip to Geneva instead Roaming around Geneva's waterfront Return trip via Visp and Bern back to Luzern. |
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115 | Luzern, Switzerland | Feeling too lazy to go to Mt. Pilatus, scrapped till a future trip Luzern's waterfront at sunset for a dessert and a Moscato wine -- for old times sake. |
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116 | Luzern, Switzerland Basel, Switzerland Mannheim, Germany FRA |
Three trains from Luzern to Frankfurt Airport | |
117 | FRA MAD Barajas, Spain |
A 2-hour delayed flight from Frankfurt to Madrid | |
118 | Barajas, Spain | A rest day "The last sunset" of this part of the journey |
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119 | Barajas, Spain MAD JFK SFO Home |
Flights back home (Madrid-New York-San Francisco) | |
N/A | Home | Getting some things taken care of at home Making arrangements for the next leg of this journey... |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
N/A | California Nevada Utah Arizona |
First roadtrip upon returning home:
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N/A | Home | Day spent getting anxious for next roadtrip | |
N/A | California Arizona Utah Colorado Wyoming Nevada |
The next roadtrip:
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N/A | Home | Making arrangements for Nepal, Tibet, China and India Cancelling plans, replanning, recancelling, replanning... |
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N/A | California Nevada Utah Idaho Montana Wyoming |
One last roadtrip before heading out again:
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N/A | Home | Rest days Preparation days |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
120 | Home San Mateo, California |
Final packing! Staying the night at a hotel near San Francisco international airport for early morning departure!! |
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121-122 | SFO ORD DEL (old) Delhi, India |
Start of the next leg of this journey: flight to Chicago and onward to Delhi, India | |
123 | Delhi, India | A day of rest and attempted jetlag recovery Connaught Place for dinner |
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124 | Delhi, India Hazrat Nizamuddin Train Station |
Delhi city tour:
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125 | Udaipur, India | Early morning train arrival at Udaipur Udaipur city tour:
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126 | Udaipur, India Mount Abu, India Udaipur, India |
Day trip to Mount Abu:
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127 | Udaipur, India Jaipur, India |
Drive to Jaipur, "The Pink City" | |
128 | Jaipur, India | Jaipur city tour:
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129 | Jaipur, India Fatehpur Sikri, India Agra, India |
Drive to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri Emperor Akbar's Palace at Fatehpur Sikri |
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130 | Agra, India | Agra city tour:
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131 | Agra, India Delhi, India |
End of North India tour: Drive back from Agra to Delhi | |
132 | Delhi, India DEL BLR Bangalore, India |
Flight down to Bangalore | |
133 | Bangalore, India | Dad's 70th birthday celebration | |
134 | Bangalore, India | Hanging out with my cousins | |
135 | Bangalore, India BLR DEL KTM Kathmandu, Nepal |
Flight from Bangalore to Delhi and onward to Kathmandu! Arranged a few things to do in Kathmandu :-) |
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136 | Kathmandu, Nepal Nagarkot, Nepal |
Handed over passport and completed Chinese visa and Tibet Travel Permit applications 1.5 hours for the 35km drive from Kathmandu to Nagarkot R&R in Nagarkot |
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137 | Nagarkot, Nepal KTM Mountain Flight KTM Nagarkot, Nepal |
EARLY morning drive to Kathmandu airport for the mountain flight booked 2 days earlier! Buddha Air mountain flight with views of following Himalayan peaks:
Strolling around Nagarkot village: Momos for lunch! |
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138 | Nagarkot, Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal |
Sunrise over the Himalayas at Nagarkot Drive to Kathmandu hotel Dubar Square Shopping for supplies for the big trip coming up... |
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139 | Kathmandu, Nepal | Nothing! Just resting for the big trip coming up... | |
140 | Kathmandu, Nepal Friendship Bridge, Nepal/Tibet Zhangmu, Tibet Nyalam, Tibet |
Start of 8-day Kathmandu-Lhasa overland journey! Bus ride from Kathmandu to the Tibettan border at the Friendship Bridge Taxi ride from Friendship Bridge to Zhangmu for lunch at 6pm Another taxi ride (with a 1 hour delay at a police checkpoint) from Zhangmu to Nyalam Overnight at dormitory in Nyalam (12200 ft) |
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141 | Nyalam, Tibet Nyalamu Pass (3800m) Lalung La Pass (5050m) Lakpa La Pass (5248m) Lhatse, Tibet |
Crossing the mighty Himalayas Views of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Cho Oyu and Mt. Shishapangma from Tibetan side! Overnight at dormitory in Lhatse (13100 ft) |
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142 | Lhatse, Tibet Shigatse, Tibet |
3-hours drive from Lhatse to Shigatse Did not go to Tashilunpu Monastery (Seat of Panchen Lama): feeling too sick Overnight at a proper motel in Shigatse (12600 ft) |
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143 | Shigatse, Tibet Barley-processing building Gyantse, Tibet |
A HOT SHOWER! 2.5-hours drive from Shigatse to Gyantse Stop at a barley processing building operated by a single person Did not go to Phalkor Monastery and Khumbum Stupa A quest for oxygen, the sustainer of life! Overnight at a motel in Gyantse (13050 ft) -- in a HEATED ROOM!!! |
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144 | Gyantse, Tibet Nagarze, Tibet Yamadroke Lake, Tibet Lhasa, Tibet |
ANOTHER HOT SHOWER: 2 DAYS IN A ROW!!! Kamba-la Pass (4794m) and lake Karo-la Pass (5010m) and glacier (5300m-5500m) with mountain (7000+ m) above Horrible buffet lunch at Nagarze Yamdrok Lake: longest lake in Tibet: 160km long (4790m) Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangbo River) crossing Overnight at hotel in Lhasa (11450 ft), which was a 600-years old building |
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145 | Lhasa, Tibet | Potala Palace Lost and alone in a strange land where no one speaks my language Spur-of-the-moment lunch place Old Lhasa marketplace and town square Jokhang Temple Overnight in Lhasa again (11450 ft) |
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146 | Lhasa, Tibet | Drepung Monastery Chatting with new friends Overnight in Lhasa again (11450 ft) |
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147 | Lhasa, Tibet Lhasa Express Train #T28 (Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province) |
Taxi to Lhasa train station Police trouble outside Lhasa station Boarding the world's highest railway Tibetan scenery along the train route |
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148 | Lhasa Express Train #T28 (Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi Provinces) |
Ge'ermu station platform walk at 2:40am Supplies at Xining station platform More supplies at Lan Zhou station platform Yellow River crossing at Lanzhou Great scenery out the window throughout! |
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149 | Lhasa Express Train #T28 (Shanxi, Hebei Provinces) Beijing, China |
7:56am arrival (10 minutes early) in Beijing "Entry and Exit Bureau", near hotel "Entry and Exit Bureau", main Beijing city office The mixture of frustration, anger, and depression along with the joie de vivre! Xidan shopping Center (Cafe 85) |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
150 | Beijing, China | Xidan shopping mall Xidan shopping center (Cafe 85) Meeting with next tour guide ("Stone") |
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151 | Beijing, China | Start of (supposed to be 17-)day China tour:
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152 | Beijing, China | Continuing Beijing tour:
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153 | Beijing, China | Meeting old friends from faraway lands at the Temple of Heaven Ditching old friends from faraway lands at Origus Restaurant |
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154 | Beijing, China PEK XIY Xian, China |
Early morning flight from Beijing to Xian Shaanxi Provincial History Museum Tang Dynasty Dinner Show |
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155 | Xian, China | Xian Old City South wall and gate Xingqing Park Lacquer furniture factory and shop Terracotta Warriors Museum and Archaeological Site |
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156 | Xian, China XIY KWL Guilin, China |
Flight to Guilin Tea farm and shop |
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157 | Guilin, China Yongshua, China |
Li River cruise from Guilin to Yongshua Drive back to Guilin A hunt for dinner in light drizzle |
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158 | Guilin, China KWL HKG Kowloon, Hong Kong |
A short stroll in Guilin along the Li River Flight to Hong Kong |
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159 | Kowloon, Hong Kong | A sick day of nothing after a continuous 3 weeks of being on the road... | |
160 | Kowloon, Hong Kong | Another sick day of nothing after a continuous 3 weeks of being on the road... | |
161 | Kowloon, Hong Kong Hong Kong, Hong Kong Kowloon, Hong Kong |
Hong Kong Park Cheung Kong Park Mid-levels Escalator Victoria Harbour at night Hong Kong skyline laser symphony show |
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162 | Kowloon, Hong Kong HKG CEB Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
Flight from Hong Kong to Cebu | |
163 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Another do-nothing day | |
164 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines San Juan, Philippines Santa Fe, Philippines (Bantayan Island) |
A car and a boat ride to Bantayan Island | |
165 | Santa Fe, Philippines (Bantayan Island) San Juan, Philippines Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
Sunrise at Bantayan island A boat, a bus, and a taxi back to Cebu |
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166 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | A visit to the dentist's office (initial inspection) | |
167 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | A much longer visit in the dentist's chair | |
168 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Recovery and replanning day | |
169 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Alone Move to a different hotel closer to the dental clinic, restaurants and shopping mall Travel changes and confirmations |
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170 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Another dentist visit, but much better than the one on November 18 Gaisano Mall Search for a better hotel starting the next day Sunset |
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171 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Cebu, Philippines Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
Move to a different and BETTER hotel! SM Mall, Philippine Airlines office |
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172 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing... | |
173 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing... | |
174 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | 3rd dentist visit | |
175 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing... | |
176 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Cebu, Philippines Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
SM Mall Movie "Trespass" -- the first movie I've ever walked out of in a theater! |
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177 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | 4th dentist visit | |
178 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | 5th dentist visit | |
179 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines CEB MNL GUM |
Flight from Cebu to Manila and overnight redeye to Guam, USA |
Day # | DATE | PLACES | HIGHLIGHTS |
180 | GUM Tamuning, Guam, USA Drive around southern half of Guam island Tamuning, Guam, USA |
Early morning arrival in Guam (without my bag) Roadtrip around Southern Guam: |
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181 | Tamuning, Guam, USA Tumon, Guam, USA Anderson AFB, Guam, USA Tamuning, Guam, USA |
Roadtrip to northern tip of Guam: | |
182 | Tamuning, Guam, USA | Enjoying the ocean view from my hotel grounds Evening dinner and movie ("Footlose") |
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183 | Tamuning, Guam, USA GUM MNL CEB Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
Early morning flight back from Guam to Manila and connecting to Cebu Got my bag back! |
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184 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Last dental appointment!!! | |
185 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing | |
186 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing | |
187 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines | Nothing | |
188 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines CEB MPH Catliclan, Philippines Boracay Station 1, Philippines |
Flight to Caticlan, then a van, boat, and jeep to Boracay Island! Chillin' on the beach |
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189 | Boracay Station 1, Philippines | Sunrise on the beach Chillin' on the beach Sunset from a sailboat |
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190 | Boracay Station 1, Philippines | Chillin' on the beach | |
191 | Boracay Station 1, Philippines | Walking up and down the beach | |
192 | Boracay Station 1, Philippines Caticlan, Philippines MPH CEB Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
A jeep, boat, and car back to Caticlan airport Flight back to Cebu |
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193 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Cebu, Philippines Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines |
The first 20 minutes of the movie "Immortals" before walking out of the theater | |
194 | Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Cebu, Philippines |
Move to a different hotel in Cebu City IMAX Movie "Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol" (I did not walk out of this one) |
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195 | Cebu, Philippines | Nothing | |
196 | Cebu, Philippines | Roaming around Ayala Center | |
197 | Cebu, Philippines | Move to yet another hotel in Cebu! | |
198 | Cebu, Philippines Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines Cebu, Philippines |
Preparations for upcoming trip to Australia: got a haircut and gave my laundry to be done! | |
199 | Cebu, Philippines | Preparations for upcoming trip to Australia: a few reservations | |
200 | Cebu, Philippines | Buffet dinner and roaming around the grounds at Radisson Hotel | |
201 | Cebu, Philippines | Preparations for upcoming trip to Australia: Sleep | |
202 | Cebu, Philippines CEB MNL MEL |
Flight to Manila, then overnight flight to Melbourne, Australia | |
203 | MEL SYD Casula, Australia |
Continuing flight to Sydney Rental car to Casula |
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204 | Casula, Australia Geelong, Australia |
Drive from Casula to Geelong | |
205 | Geelong, Australia | Nothing! (instead of going for a drive along the Great Ocean Road) | |
206 | Geelong, Australia Melbourne, Australia |
Drive from Geelong to Melbourne Australia vs. India Day 2 of Boxing Day cricket test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground |
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207 | Melbourne, Australia | Australia vs. India Day 3 of Boxing Day cricket test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground Dinner at Lygon Street |
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208 | Melbourne, Australia Casula, Australia |
Drive back from Melbourne to Casula (Sydney) | |
209 | Casula, Australia Parramatta, Australia SYD Parramatta, Australia |
Checked in at different hotel in Parramatta Returned rental car at Sydney airport Bought a cellphone with local call/data plan Movie "Tower Heist" back at Paramatta |
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210 | Parramatta, Australia Sydney, Australia Parramatta, Australia |
New Years Eve festivities in Sydney Harbour! Initial stop at Milson's Point: Attempt #1 to secure my "spot" Train to Circular Quey Attempt #2 to secure my "spot" next to the Sydney Opera House Ferry to Cremorne Point and back to Circular Quey Finally securing my "spot" in the Royal Botanic Gardens south of the Sydney Opera House 9:00 PM "family" fireworks Waiting for the 1-minute countdown at 11:59 PM... (continued in 2012) |