My Trip 2006

My Trip 2006

2006 was a fantastic year, 11 months of travelling.

From Zurich to Singapore - New Zealand - Australia - Fiji - Australia - Thailand - Laos - Vietnam - China - Hongkong - Macau. Just loved it!

Still have itchy feet...

Singapore: A stopover for just 4 days before heading off to New Zealand. My first visit to an Asian city and the first time I had to use a squad toilet (lot more to come...)

New Zealand: 3 months of travel with public transport mostly. From Auckland, Cape Reinga, Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu, Taupo, whole Eastcost, Wellington over to the beautiful South Island by ferry. Beautiful beachtes near Collingwood, down the whole West Coast and back up again the East Coast. Flying out of Christchurch towards Tasmania.

Australia: 6 months of travel in total with public transport, private car and tours. Starting of in freezing cold Tasmania then up to the tropical Cairns area, down the whole eastcoast. Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne... Follwoing the Great Ocean Road towards Adelaide with its beautiful wineries. Then up towards Cooper Pedy, Alice Springs, Uluru, Darwin. Lot is camping outside in a swag. What a great way to spend the nights... From Darwin I went down the whole West Coast (along the Gibb River Road), as far as Albany. Flight back to Brisbane (where I took my flight to Fiji). The Far North QLD and the bit from Adelaide across the Nullabor to Perth I did in my first trip in 2001. Another explorer trip followed in 2010.

Fiji: 2 weeks of travel. Nadi Town and Island hopping. Just beautiful, cristal clear waters... Flight back from Nadi to Brisbane.

Thailand: 3 weeks of travel in the post rainy season. The heat and humidity almost kills you. The first few days I went to Kho Samet, a small Island just offshore. After a few days of self-treatment (after 10 months backpacker lodging) I drove back to Bangkok. My room in Bangkok did not have any AC just a van, bad thing if you have to recharge the batteries of your camera when there is just one plug available. But why to complain for just USD 5 a night. Stayed 10 days in Bangkok to make sure I got enough time to get any visas I could not organize before. All good. Streetfood was just great. You get the best meals you can imagin for just USD 1, and this even includes a drink. People are so friendly, they make you feel welcome straight away. After visiting all the wats and khlongs in Bangkok I took the train to Ayutthaya, the former royal capital. What beautiful wats and temples. Back in Bangkok and after a few more Thai massages I joined a group travelling from Bangkok overland to Hongkong (via Laos/Vietnam and China). Our first trip was by nighttrain to Chiang Mai. Everything is just so peaceful, really didn't wanna leave. From there we went by car to Chiang Khong, right at the Mekong River. It was time to say goodbye to Thailand as we were crossing the Mekong River to enter Laos.