some final updates
I thought it would be good to tie up loose ends from my trip and answer some questions, with some useful links as is currently the fashion.
Q: Why were you so nasty about Auckland?
If I said everywhere was stunning, amazing etc the blog would be a bit samey. So poor old Aucklanders, I'm sorry you were the sacrificial lambs (!). On the other hand, travelling in other parts of your beautiful country, I found that most New Zealanders are pretty negative about them too. The local acronym is JAFA, I believe. Just Another ??? Aucklander - I never did find out what the F stood for...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jafa
Q: How many times did you use the words stunning and amazing in the blog?
OK I get the point. Actually I can only find 10 instances of amazing/amazingly, which isn't bad considering how, er, astonishing, astounding, awesome, awful, eye-opening, fabulous, miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, sublime, surprising, wonderful, wondrous the trip has been.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus
Q: What happened to Prince Andrew?
Some of you were worried I just abandoned Andrew in NZ, but I couldn't wait around for ever. He finally made it to Rio 2 days after I left. No doubt he'll catch up eventually. http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1175718224200
Q: Is Singapore really that boring?
Did I really say that? Well, judge for yourself: look at all the cultural events and festivals on offer:
http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_do/culture___festivals.html
Q: What happened to the Scuba diving?
I decided against it this time, partly because I've had a dodgy knee since Bhutan. But there's always a next time.
http://www.boradive.com/
Q: So there's going to be a next time?
You bet!
Q: What happened to 'around the world in 80 ways'?
I only got to about 40. To add to the list earlier (23 Jan), I have since been on:
31. Cambodia style tuk tuk. (Phnom Penh). (Really just a motorbike with a trailer)
32. Monorail (Sydney, SIngapore)
http://www.metromonorail.com.au/
33. Coach (Viet Nam to Cambodia)
34. Ferris wheel (Bangkok) (Objections that this just goes around in a circle and comes back to the same point are unfounded - so did my whole trip!) Interestingly, I rode the same wheel when it was in Paris a few years back.
http://www.readbangkokpost.com/weeklies/2006/06/ferris_wheel_ross.html
35. Speedboat (Krabi)
36. Long-tail boat (Krabi)
37. Electric float 'train' (Chaing Mai)
38. Scooter (Chiang Mai)
39. Junk (Halong Bay)
40. Rack railway (Rio de Janeiro). This is different from HK's cable driven tram, as the units are self powered from overhead cables.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_railway
Q: You don't mention the night life much?
Hey, are you kidding? People at my office are reading this.
Q: Why were you so nasty about Auckland?
If I said everywhere was stunning, amazing etc the blog would be a bit samey. So poor old Aucklanders, I'm sorry you were the sacrificial lambs (!). On the other hand, travelling in other parts of your beautiful country, I found that most New Zealanders are pretty negative about them too. The local acronym is JAFA, I believe. Just Another ??? Aucklander - I never did find out what the F stood for...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jafa
Q: How many times did you use the words stunning and amazing in the blog?
OK I get the point. Actually I can only find 10 instances of amazing/amazingly, which isn't bad considering how, er, astonishing, astounding, awesome, awful, eye-opening, fabulous, miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, sublime, surprising, wonderful, wondrous the trip has been.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus
Q: What happened to Prince Andrew?
Some of you were worried I just abandoned Andrew in NZ, but I couldn't wait around for ever. He finally made it to Rio 2 days after I left. No doubt he'll catch up eventually. http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1175718224200
Q: Is Singapore really that boring?
Did I really say that? Well, judge for yourself: look at all the cultural events and festivals on offer:
http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_do/culture___festivals.html
Q: What happened to the Scuba diving?
I decided against it this time, partly because I've had a dodgy knee since Bhutan. But there's always a next time.
http://www.boradive.com/
Q: So there's going to be a next time?
You bet!
Q: What happened to 'around the world in 80 ways'?
I only got to about 40. To add to the list earlier (23 Jan), I have since been on:
31. Cambodia style tuk tuk. (Phnom Penh). (Really just a motorbike with a trailer)
32. Monorail (Sydney, SIngapore)
http://www.metromonorail.com.au/
33. Coach (Viet Nam to Cambodia)
34. Ferris wheel (Bangkok) (Objections that this just goes around in a circle and comes back to the same point are unfounded - so did my whole trip!) Interestingly, I rode the same wheel when it was in Paris a few years back.
http://www.readbangkokpost.com/weeklies/2006/06/ferris_wheel_ross.html
35. Speedboat (Krabi)
36. Long-tail boat (Krabi)
37. Electric float 'train' (Chaing Mai)
38. Scooter (Chiang Mai)
39. Junk (Halong Bay)
40. Rack railway (Rio de Janeiro). This is different from HK's cable driven tram, as the units are self powered from overhead cables.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_railway
Q: You don't mention the night life much? Hey, are you kidding? People at my office are reading this.
posted by Keith at 11:14 am
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