Published by Johnny on November 15, 2011
When people backpacking in Australia all you hear about is the trip down the east coast – Sydney, Cairns, Whitsundays etc and while that is undoubtedly awesome there’s more to see in Australia.
Locals will tell you if you wanna see the real Oz, head west. And you don’t get any further west than WA. The capital of the Western Territory Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the whole world which goes a long way to explain their friendliness. So when you’ve got your backpacked strapped on, think about leaving the crowds of drunken Europeans for a little bit, so grab yourself a campervan, hit up the public transport or find some flights to Perth .
Make sure you check out these top ten things to see in Western Australia:
1) Karijini National Park: This area is known to be one of the hottest places in the world so bring your sunscreen. Karijini, in Pilbara, requires a bit of a drive but the views will make it all worth while with hundred meters deep red canyons and gorges waiting for you.
2) Wave rock: The name gives away the surprise really but still an amazing rock formation. The hulking sight is nearly 15m tall and over 100m long – it’s a jaw dropping site but after 15 minutes you’ll be done with it! It’s completely free to enter and about 350km from Perth, a day trip is possible but it’d be a long day.
 3) The Pinnacles Desert: Found in the Nambung national park, about 250km from Perth, near Cervantes, Wheatbelt, the Pinnacles Desert looks like something from a old school sci fi movie. You’ll finish the day with 1000 identical photos, mark my words. And every one will be tiptop.
4) Perth: The capital of WA (Western Australia) is the 4th largest city in Australia. It has heaps of things to keep you occupied so when you’re in the city, make sure to check out the wild kangaroos visit the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, if you time it right watch an Ausse-rules footy match, and of course hit the beach with Scarborough and Cottesloe Beach being the two most popular.
5) Shark Bay: This UNESCO world heritage site is a whopping 830km north of Perth and it is full of great things to see and do. The Monkey Mia dolphins are the main draw, they come to shore every morning and you can feed them but you’re gonna want to get here early to get to the front. Honourable mentions to Shell beach and Hamelin Pool too, well worth a visit each.
6) Mitchell Falls: Found on the Mitchell plateau, these falls are truly breathtaking but they’re a mission to get to. You need to take your own 4WD or go on a tour, it’s a 2 day drive from Kununurra. Did someone say roadtrip??
7) Salt Lakes, WA: Lake Ballard plays host to Antony Gormley’s sculptures in Australia’s biggest salt lake. The lake itself is an easy 55km drive from Menzies with plenty of tour options arrangable from there too. This is one very, very surreal experience.
8) Purnululu National Park: 2000km northeast of Perth, and just like Mitchell falls, the nearest town is Kununurra. It’s a very reasonable $9 entry fee, and this is everything you dreamt Australia to be. Some of the most beautiful vistas imaginable.
9) Ningaloo Reef: One of the few places in the world where you can swim with Whale Sharks! These things can reach up to 18m in length but fear not folks, they are completely omnivorous (they won’t eat us!). This is possible from March to July each year, it costs around $450 USD so it’s not cheap but it’s very, very awesome.
10) Cable Beach, Broome: Simply one of the best beaches in the world, and regularly featuring in lists stating just that. Sunsets to die for, camel rides, the indian ocean lapping at your feet – this is 22km of unadulterated paradise.
This should persuade you that there’s more to Australia than getting drunk on its East Coast, and check it out! Happy travels!
Tags: top 10, travel guide, UNESCO, western australia
Published by Johnny on October 15, 2011
I just spent the last week or so in Penang and Langkawi so I wanted to let you guys know about this gem of an island. Langkawi is island paradise, and a tax free haven to boot ($0.45 beers anyone?!), it’s not overcrowded, it’s not overpriced and it’s not full of 18 year old English and American gets getting smashed like on the Thai islands, although there is still a great nightlife to be had. I’m just gonna run through a couple of questions for you so when you finally make it here, you’ll know the score.
 Where should I stay in Langkawi? As a backpacker, you’ll want to stay in Cenang Beach, in the South West of the island, about 15 minutes from the airport or 30 minutes from the ferry port. Full of hostels, bars and home to the longest, most popular beach too. Don’t worry about booking ahead, there are so many places to choose from. Dorms start around $5, singles/doubles around $10.
 Loads of places to sleep and chill on Cenang beach Is Langkawi expensive? In comparison to the rest of Malaysia, and the overpriced Thai islands? Nope. Cheap booze, cheap petrol (it costs $1.50 to fill up your scooter!), delicious food. You can easily get buy on $20-$30 a day here. Food for $2 or $3 is delicious and easy to find.
 This cost about $3
How do I get there? You can fly (airasia), or you can take a ferry. The ferries run from:
a) Penang, another Malaysian island, they take about 2 ½ hours. The Penang Langkawi ferry price is $20
b) Or you can take a ferry from the Thai side, from a town near Phuket called Satun. The Thailand Langkawi ferry costs $10 and takes less than an hour. Easy!
* A lot of people do their Thai visa runs to Penang and then fly back to Bangkok or wherever. But I’d suggest to fly to Penang, get your visa sorted then take the ferry to Langkawi, chill there, then the ferry onto Thailand, from there you can go where you want. That’s what I did and it was a hugely successful trip.
Things to see and do in Langkawi: Langkawi is small but it packs a real punch. Here are the top 5 things to see and doon this awesome island.
1) The Cable Car & Hanging Bridge: Take the cable car ($10) to the top of one of the mountains in the North West of the island. Once you get to the top there’s a sky bridge offering 360 views of the island, pretty amazing. If you’re in Langkawi for a few days, only go here when the skies are clear, if it’s cloudy or windy the bridge will be closed!
2) Rent a scooter and drive around the island: The first thing I do on every island is rent a scooter. It costs around $10 a day to rent and about $1 a day for fuel. Once you’ve got this, you’re free to explore. To drive around the whole island takes 2 or 3 hours and it’s a beautiful drive. I actually rented my bike straight off the ferry which was handy because then I could drive myself back to the ferry to leave again, no wasted money on overpriced taxis!
3) Check out the beaches, including Pantai Cenang & Pasir Tengkorak: Island life is all about the beaches, and Langkawi is full of them. If you explore the island you can have a lot of the beaches all to yourself, if you want some company Cenang Beach is always the busiest.
 sunset on Cenang beach 4) Island hopping: Langkawi is actually an archipelago of 99 islands so you can jump on a tour boat for 4 hours or so. It usually costs around $10 and takes you to 2 or 3 deserted islands. Bring your sun screen!
 Island hopping in Langkawi 5) Check out the waterfalls at Seven Wells and Telagah Tujuh (near the cable car station): Waterfalls galore in Langkawi, these are probably the best two, and their pretty close together so prime your camera and get over here asap.
 The bottom of Seven Wells waterfall NOTE: Don’t go and see Mahsuri’s mausoleum, probably the biggest waste of time and money imaginable!
I hope this has sparked your interest. I’ve been to nearly every country in Asia east of Pakistan and never made it to Langkawi until last week, and I have been missing out. This place rocks. Happy travels!
Tags: islands, travel guide
Published by Johnny on May 10, 2011
Hong Kong’s tourism industry is booming and it’s easy to see why. As I mentioned in my previous Hong Kong article, you need 3 or 4 days to truly appreciate everything that Hong Kong has to offer – when you’re here, try not to miss any of the following:
The Big Buddha: Located on Lantau island near the airport, this is the largest sitting Buddha in the world, and arguably Hong Kong’s most famous tourist attraction. You can take the subway directly to the island (about 30 mins from the city centre, $2)or jump on a ferry from Victoria harbour (from Victoria harbour, takes 1 hour, $4).
Once you arrive on Lantau island, to get to the Big Buddha you either take…
- the bus (cheapest option – $3 or $4 USD, takes about 40 mins)
- the cable car (awesome views, 20 mins – about $11 USD, my recommendation)
- walk but it’s far and steep so bring walking shoes and arrive early. I guess it takes 3 or 4 hours so kudos to anyone who does this!
Also, from Lantau island you can also visit Tai-O fisihing village, a traditional village about 30 mins away from the Big Buddha by bus. Great photo opportunities and if you’re lucky you can jump on a boat for a tour of the old town and see some Chinese pink dolphins (they were apparently sleeping when I went!)
The Peak: There are 2 amazing views of Hong Kong, one from Victoria harbour and one from here. On Hong Kong island, you take the old tram to a large viewing area of the whole of Hong Kong, it’s a breathtaking view from the top so make sure your camera is charged!
 The view from the peak Victoria Harbour and light show: Along with the peak, this is the other traditional view of Hong Kong. Arrive on the Hong Kong island side, along the Avenue of the Stars, around 7pm and see the mesmerizing HK skyline in all its glory. At 8pm every evening, they have a light show for 15 minutes with a lot of the sky scrapers shooting lasers across the island, it’s not going to rock your world but skyline alone will hold your gaze for a longtime – seriously beautiful.
10,000 Buddhas Monastery: Found at the Sha Tin, it’s not actually a monastery! But it does have over 10,000 buddhas. It’s not massive and it’s not overtly ornate but there is something special in simply looking at the vast numbers of Buddhas on show, well worth an hour or two of your time.
Junk or Starferry boat trip: A trip on the Star Ferry is listed in Time Magazine as one of the 50 things to do in your life, I wouldn’t quite go that far but it is a quaint little journey. Costs around $4 USD and takes around 20 minutes, it offers great views of the harbour and it’s a box you need to tick, so get down there and jump on board.
Day trip to Macau: When planning your HK trip, factor in a day trip (or one day & one night) to this little gem. Vegas of the East is waiting hungrily for your cash 
Shopping in Mong Kok: Mong Kok, TST, anywhere in HK really – this place is a shopper’s paradise. You can’t turn a corner without seeing another Luis Vuitton store or huge shopping mall. People are literally queuing up to enter shops and the hordes can’t get rid of their money fast enough. If you’re on a backpacker’s budget, you can window shop for hours. Around Mong Kok, there are street stalls galore – fake bags, watches, football shirts, sunglasses… eat your heart out Khao San Road, this place has you beaten!
Golden Temple of Chi Lin Nunnery: I was lucky enough for a couch surfer to bring me here otherwise I would have missed it, similar in stature to the Golden Pavillion in Kyoto, Japan, this small temple complex offers genuine respite from the chaos that grips Hong Kong all day long. It’s beautiful, serene and yet another great HK photo op! Find it at Diamon Hill in Kowloon.
There’s so much to do in Hong Kong, it’s difficult to choose what to see and what not to. But if you stick roughly to these gems, then you’re guaranteed a great time. Hong Kong really surprised me with it’s diversity of attractions so I hope you guys all love it as much as I did – happy travels!
Tags: China, hong kong, travel guide
Published by Johnny on May 09, 2011
A former dependant of the UK and now under Chinese rule, the proud Honk Kong inhabitants consider themselves Hong Kongese, and you’d be a brave person to insist that wasn’t the case!
Hong Kong is a place like no other, a place that clearly shows signs of their former British rule with Baker Street, St George Street and Victoria harbour to name but a few of the old colonial names still kicking around, but one that still proudly plays host to endless Chinese customs, temples and cuisine. It’s truly a city of contrast and one that if you throw you’re self into, you can’t fail to be captivated by all it has to offer. Let’s have a look at what there is for backpackers to see and do in this fascinating place:
How long should you spend in Hong Kong? When you hear the population of Hong Kong is 7,000,000 it’s forgivable to think this is a huge place… it’s not. Hong Kong is city that grows ‘up’ and not ‘out’ – sections of HK are some of the most densely populated places in the world – there are endless skyscrapers to accommodate everyone and the living spaces are tiny. With that being said, 3 days or so is easily enough time to tick off all the main tourist attractions while still getting a feeling of the real Hong Kong.
Is Hong Kong as expensive as people say? In a word, no. Of course it’s not Vietnam or Cambodia but if you stay away from the booze (come on, you can do it – it’s only 3 days!) and eat wisely, you can certainly get by on $30 USD a day including cheap accommodation (Chingkat masnsions – suitably disgusting and about $8 a night, bargain), public transport and entrance fees.
What language do people speak in Hong Kong? Strictly speaking its Cantonese but realistically it’s Hong Kongese, their own take on Cantonese. However, due to HK being the 4 largest financial centre in the world English is widespread and communication, generally, won’t be a problem.
How do I get around Hong Kong? Public transport here is great, perhaps the best I have ever used. There are 13 subway lines, countless ferries, a comprehensive tram system and a huge bus network – all complete with helpful information kiosks. It’s so simple to get around, you’ll feel like you’re cheating on your travels! Also, you can buy an ‘Octopus’ card for around $8 USD (you get it back when you leave) which you top-up with credit and scan with each journey you take. It’s easy, faster and cheaper than paying in cash – you can even top up with excess cash and pay for your goods in 7/11 etc, now that’s development!
Do I need a visa for Hong Kong? Most EU, North American and Australian and NZ passport holders get a visa on arrival so no stress there. If you fall outside this bunch, then you may need to arrange a visa prior to your arrival, like my Ukrainian friend had to do – I hate beaureucracy!
Can I visit China while I’m in Hong Kong? No is the simple answer. If you have already got your Chinese visa before you arrived in HK, then you can. But if you’re in HK, loving the Chinese vibe and fancy a quick trip to the mainland then I’m afraid it’s not that easy. Chinese visas always require a bit of work so plan ahead or don’t even think about it.
If you guys have any more questions about Hong Kong, just ask me below or send me an email and I’ll do my best to answer you. If you wanna know what awesome things there are to see and do in Hong Kong, check out the next article – happy travels!
Tags: China, hong kong, travel guide
Published by Johnny on January 30, 2011
Choosing the right backpack is absolutely essential to any successful traveling experience, but with the market being flooded with so many sub-par, generic rucksacks it difficult to know what to choose! How many litres should your backpack be? Is the brand important? How much should I pay? I’m going to run through the criteria you should consider when purchasing your backpack
SIZE: Backpack size is measured in litres, so how many litres should your backpack be? You want to choose something between 55litres to 70 litres. In terms of kilos, a full 55 litre backpack will weigh around 14kgs approximately whereas a full 70 litres backpack will weigh around 20kg. Naturally, as a backpacker you want to travel as light as possible so I would recommend taking a 55litre, although on my first few trips I struggled to choose what to take and went with a 65. Now I carry an (only partially) filled 55 litre and it’s perfect. Just remember though if you take a larger bag, you will fill it (probably with unnecessary extras!) so be vigilant, buy a smaller bag, and reap the benefits for the duration of your trip. No-one wants to be lugging around 20kg I promise you that!
SHAPE: If I had one piece of advice for any first-time backpacker it would be this – get a side access backpack, NOT a top-loading one. This is one feature you should not compromise on, there’s few things more infuriating than having to unpack your entire belongings to get access to the one shirt you carry for a special occasion! With a side zip everything is on hand and easily accessed, much much more desirable!
Also, search for as many interior compartments as possible. Certainly a minimum of a mesh divider in the main body to keep either your dirty clothes or electronics separate is a must. Hidden pockets for US dollars/spare credit cards etc is a huge plus too.
BRAND: To be honest unless you plan to redesign your life and be on the road constantly over the next few years then brand isn’t important. Any run of the mill backpack should last the course of one 3month-1year trip, however if you plan to be on the road indefinitely it would be worth your while to go for a high-end brand (Berghaus,, Osprey etc) as they are much more robust (and expensive!)
COST: Backpacks range from $50-$250 so the choice is ultimately dependent on your budget. I’d avoid the cheap cheap, cheap bags unless you’re just jetting off for a week or two. Normally you get what you pay for and you don’t want the bottom of your bag falling out on the way up Machu Pichu now do you?! If you spend more than $150 you’re getting top of the range, from there on up you’re pretty much guaranteed top quality bags. Aim to pay over $85 but no need to pay more than $150 really.
That’s the quick rundown then guys, I went through the purchasing process myself last week and it can be a real nightmare – have an idea of what you want before you step into the store and you’ll be all set. Good luck!
Tags: backpack, money, tips, travel gear, travel guide
Published by Johnny on November 17, 2010
If Indiana Jones felt the need to visit Jordan then who are we to argue with its merits? What Jordan lacks in geographical size it more than makes up for in world class attractions. In Wadi Rum, Petra and the Dead Sea Jordan has 3 world class reasons to draw tourists from around the globe and no-one goes home disappointed. One week may well be enough to quench your Jordanian thirst but every last drop should be savoured because this place truly blows your mind.
There are many places to see in Jordan but if you find yourself strapped for time and are asking ‘what should I see in Jordan’ then look no further. You won’t want to miss these 3 absolute gems:
Wadi Rum: Desert landscapes from another planet, Wadi Rum played host to the filing of ’Lawrence of Arabia’ and it’s easy to see why. Packed with undulating sand dunes and mountains to take your breath, surrounded in deep desert which changes colour with every degree the sun moves throughout the day, Wadi Rum can be organized as a day trip from Aqaba or Amman but to be honest, it’s better to stay the night. You can stay with the Bedouin,the indigenous people of the region, in one of their (not so) genuine local camps in the desert which is a great experience and watching the sunset/sunrise here is something close to magical.
Day trips costs around $50 where 2 days/1night cost around $75. I went for the latter and had an unbelievable time.
Petra: I’m going to struggle to articulate the awe you feel when you first see the Treasury at Petra (that’s the Indiana Jones temple from the Last Crusade gentlemen) but let’s just say it’s rather impressive. Temples and tombs carved from sandstone that reach 45 metres in height, the sight itself is massive. You’ll need 2 days before you get your fill of the Petra (‘rock’ in the Greek language) but it doesn’t come cheap – since the price hike in November 2010, a one day ticket costs around $70 with the two days offering much better value at $80.
One tip not to forget: On one of your days, be at Petra around 5.50am. The gates open at 6am and there will be NO ONE there. You’ll have the entire place to yourself for over an hour, it’s an eerily and impressive experience and one that I couldn’t believe wasn’t more popular. Your photos will be tourist-free and on your way back you can laugh in the faces of the hordes of tourists and their crowded Petra pics!! Check out the contrast….
 Petra at 6am  Petra at noon
The Dead Sea: The lowest place on earth according to many sources, the Dead Sea is a ‘must-sea’ (get it??) on your Jordan itinerary. It can be done in a day trip from Amman and in fact that’s probably your best bet if you’re on a budget as accommodation and food in the region will run up bills with more zeroes than your bank account. From Amman, public transport is a real mission so my advice would be to get together with a couple of people and treat yourself to a taxi. It costs around $40 for the cab (4 ppl, $10 each) and is well worth it for an entertaining day of covering yourself with the famous skin-regenerating Dead Sea mud and reading your book while floating in the water.
NOTE: There are 3 ‘official’ beaches on the Jordanian side – Amman beach (around $25 entry fee, with showers and good facilities), the public beach ($15 dollars, bucket showers and average facilities) and the free beach (a bit of a dump but the same water, free mud and, well… free!). Naturally, they all offer the same awesome effect from the high salt levels so the budget travelers, head to the free beach. That’s what I did and I think it offers far and away the best value for money. Be careful though, taxi drivers work on beach commission so they’ll try to discourage you.
Jordan
Budget: $40 – $50 a day. Not cheap folks however this is largely down to the activities and pace at which you travel through the country. Petra – $80, Dead Sea excursion – $20, Wadi Rum – $80 and that adds up quickly, especially when you’re doing things on consecutive days. On the bright side, you can see most of Jordan’s famous sights in under a week, so take the hit for a few days, have an amazing time and escape before you’re broke.
Currency: 1 Jordan Dinar – $1.41 USD (November 2010)
Food: Standard middle eastern fare – Shawarma, falffel etc. Street food costs around $.50-$2.0 and is pretty delicious. Eating in restaurants, especially around the attractions, costs $5+++.
Accommodation: Each major town offers a sprinkling of cheap accommodation. You can find dorms for around $5 -$8 in Aqaba, Wadi Musa (Petra) and Amman but if you miss the backpacker hostels and take one step up in class you’re looking at $25 minimum.
Transport: Easy! Nice buses, good roads, no need to book ahead. Just head to the local bus station, preferably early in the morning, and sort out your departure. The old rule of one dollar = one hour in a bus is lost in Jordan though. Triple that and you’ll be about right.
People: Coming from the West, as usual we find the local people hugely welcoming. If you can ignore the hawkers around Petra then you’ll only have warm words about the people of Jordan.
Language: Arabic but thanks largely to the good standard of education and the massive tourist industry, plenty of English is spoken nationwide.
Weather: The seasons follow those of Europe so try to avoid December – February when temperatures can get as low as 10 degrees. Equally however, you’ll want to July and August with their 40 degrees + temperatures.
Religion: Predominantly Islam
Visa: VOA free for nearly all nationalities. NOTE: You have to pay 8 Dinar ($13) departure tax, regardless of mode of transport.
Getting there: The main routes to Jordan are:
Egypt via the expensive ferry running from Nuweiba-Aqaba. $80, one hour.
Isreal: Sheik Hussein, King Hussein and Wadi Araba bridges are all now open, just remember about that troublesome Isreali stamp in your passport.
Syria: 2 crossing north of Amman (about 90 mins driving) are Ramtha/Deera and Jabir/Nasib. Both are easily accessible. It costs around $15 from Amman to Damascus but your transport may not wait for you if you have visa issues on the Syrian border. Beware.
Tags: backpackers guide, jordan, middle east, petra, travel guide
Published by Johnny on November 11, 2010
Taking a picture of you pretending to pick up the Pyramids of Giza must be the most over taken tourist picture in the world…. still it’s a classic isn’t it?!
Egypt plays host to some of the World’s most famous sights and to be honest it’s more of a holiday destination than a backpackers’ hub. That being said, you can travel Egypt on a budget, you can ride camels to your heart’s content, eat falafel’s till your eyeballs explode and still pay entry fees to the sights all for less than $30 a day. Especially if you get a student ID card – you get 50% discount on every sight. (Feel free to contact me about obtaining a student card)
In fact, I would say that Egypt is actually quite cheap to backpack in and with the all landmarks on offer you’re sure to have a great time. If you find yourself backpacking in Egypt, here are the things you gotta see (regardless of your budget!)…
Abu Simbel: You’re not going to want to hear this but Abu Simbel, aside from the Pyramids, is possibly the coolest temple in all of Egypt! The reason you don’t want to know is that it is a mission to get to. Located nearly 300km south of Aswan (which is already the most southern city in Egypt), you’ll need to arrange a bus or tour from Aswan and leave early in the morning (actually, it’s more like late at night as the bus departs around 3am). The sheer size of the Great Temple of Ramses II will wipe away the fatigue from the bus trip in an instant. When you turn the corner to access the temple, there is a tangible ‘wow’ moment when you see the 4 enormous Pharoah statues. Get there early and avoid the hordes of tourists from the package resorts! The entry fee is 80 EGP and 40 EGP for students.
Luxor: Luxor is Egypt. The city centre is a great place to spend a couple of days, you can eat your Mcdonalds ice-cream cone (less than $0.30 and a Godsend in the heat of an Egyptian afternoon) as you gaze at the Temple of Luxor which is found bang in the city centre. You can read all about Luxor and the things to do there here. (LINK!) If you/re ina rush, here’s it in a nutshell: Temples of Karnak – incredible, Luxor Temple – pretty cool, valley of the Kinds – underwhelming but almost obligatory!
Cairo: There’s not much I can say about Cairo that hasn’t been said a thousand times. Obviously the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are something special. An mandatory visit to the Egyptian museum will take a couple of hours too.
Islamic Cairo is an interesting place as well, especially if you’ve never been in an Islamic country before – this section of Cairo oozes charisma. 3 days in Cairo is easily enough time to experience the chaos and see the major sites. If you want to know where to party in Cairo, the Cairo Jazz Club is one of the few clubs that actually resembles a club, but at $5 a drink your budget will get blown apart.
Mount Sinai: Whether you’re religious or not, the sight where Moses received the 10 Commandments remains an influential tale in the world’s history. It’s possible to hike to the top of Mount Sinai, normally you can take a day trip from Sharm or Dahab ($15 for transport and ticket). It leaves around midnight, you hike through the night and see the sunrise over some breathtaking scenery. I was dubious as to whether to bother with this or not, I was wrong to hesitate – it’s awesome, you’ll love it.
EGYPT
Budget: $20 a day is possible if you eat away from the landmarks AND you have a student card
Food: Street food is great and cheap. Shwarmas cost around 5 EGP, falafel sandwiches around 1EGP. Restaurants and fast food cost from 12 EGP+
Accommodation: Great and cheap. No need to book, most places have wifi too. If you search hard and bargain, decent rooms are found for 20 EGP.
Nightlife: Not a lot I’m afraid guys :S Sharm El Sheik and Hurgada feature bars and clubs full of tourists but then that’s like being back home! Cairo Jazz club, Cairo is your best bet and only on the weekends. Egypt doesn’t party hard.
Transport: Reasonably priced and luxurious. Trains are great but more expensive than buses. To get an idea, the 12 hour journey from Luxor to Cairo costs around 130 EGP on the train, with the bus costing around 90 EGP.
People: Egyptians often get tarnished with being pushy but I found that not to be true. Of course around the wonders you get hassled but away from the tourist attractions Egyptians are warm and welcoming.
Weather: It’s the desert – have a guess! November and December are the ‘coolest’ months (it’s all relative though)
Religion: 95% Islamic
Currency: Egyptian pounds: $1 USD – 5.75 EGP (Nov 2010)
Visa: Stress free. VOA (visa on arrival) is possible in all airports and land borders. For those of us who stress about these things, you can arrange it in the embassy in your home country for around $40, it’s only $15 if you wait for VOA.
Tags: backpackers guide, cheap travel, egypt, General African Stuff, travel guide, Travel tips
Published by Johnny on November 04, 2010
Portuguese flavoured East Timor became the newest country in the world when it was finally granted its official independence in 2002. Due to that face and the political turmoil its found itself in, this country is almost untouched by tourism so if you’ve been in South East Asia a while and you’ve had your fill of full-moon parties, tubing and Buddhist temples then East Timor will certainly offer you something completely different…
I spent a couple of weeks in East Timor and, aside from the odd group demonstration and presidential assassination attempt (:P), it’s completely safe to visit. That’s a bit tongue-in-cheek to be honest, it’s true that there still lies a level of tension in East Timor due to political and ethnic clashes but nothing to be overly concerned about. Tourists aren’t a target so as long as you keep away from gathering crowds and political demonstrations you’ll be safe as houses. Locals are used to seeing foreigners (read: white people) thanks to the huge UN and other NGOs presence so although the place rarely gets visited by tourists as such, the Timorese won’t be shocked by you being there.
Due to the massive UN and NGO presence East Timor is an (unfortunately) perfect example of a false economy, artificially inflated thanks to foreign salaries pouring into the ex-pat population so East Timor is not dirt cheap to travel in. That being said, it’s still not London or Tokyo but you’ll need to budget at least $25 a day during your stay.
Things to see and do in East Timor? There are a few things of note, if you have a week or two to spend here, here are the things I’d say are absolute musts:
Dili Waterfront: Dili, the capital city of East Timor, is a charming city with a definite twist of Portuguese. The city centre boasts a nice waterfront where you can wander along, as you get to the end you’ll be facing the new East Timor Government building.
The Jesus Statue, Cape Fatacuma: ‘Cristo Rei’, as it’s locally known, was built by the Indonesians in a bid to appease the Timorese, but its height – 27 metres – was a spiked reference to East Timor’s status (until 1999) as Indonesia’s 27th province. Don’t let that detract from the awesome sight to behold though – it’s said to be the second largest Christ statue in the world (second to Christ the Redeemer in Rion, Brazil) and offers a very cool hike to the summit of the hill that it’s on. You can jump in a cab from the city centre to get here for around $2 and then start climbing! The views from the top are beautiful and there’s a great beach behind the hill so reward yourself with a dip in the azure blue waters when you get back down
 The view from the Jesus statue 
Atauro Island: The island is about 30km from Dili’s shore and is accessible through the Berlin Nakroma ferry (only runs once a week on a Saturday for $5 so try to charter a boat from a local fisherman, about $10). The lure of island are the dolphins and pilot that you are almost guaranteed to see, and the diving which are said to be amongst the best in asia if not the world.
The Santa Cruz Cemetery, Rua Santa Cruz , Santa Cruz: A poignant remembrance to the recent tragedies they have had to endure. The cemetery marks the spot of one of the massacres carried out by the Indonesians, but this one was captured by a British journalist, and effectively marked the beginning of the end of the Indonesian occupation. A truly key spot in Timor’s recent history.
Beaches: The best local beach is Areia Branca (‘White Sands’), where the Purple Cow bar/restaurant attracts a crowd in the evening. You can to the Jesus statue from here with any problem. Another great beach is Pasir Putih (‘white sand’ in Indonesian) - a real hidden gem, it’s situated very close to Dili . Also, there is a beautiful hidden beach in Com which you can ask about and finally the beaches on Atauro are breathtaking too.
Scuba: East Timor is seriously on the scuba map these days with some of the best diving in the world so if you’re a scuba aficionado, you’re going to love this place! There are so many dive spots here and a couple of great dive companies, it’s all very easy to sort out Dili.
Trekking: There are a handful of mountains reaching over 3000 feet and the trekking is great fun. Again ask at Dili backpackers and they will help you arrange everything.
East Timor:
Budget: $25 per day
Food: On the street you can eat for around $2 for light meals. If you visit a restaurant of pub, you’ll be looking at prices of $5+ for anything substantial.
Accommodation: In Dili, East Timor backpackers ($12 for a dorm) is the best budget option. Expensive hotels are available and horribly overpriced.
Transport: Buses are frequent, if a little dangerous! Roads are run down and the buses are dilapidated. One hour is a bus is around $2 so it’s a fair bit more expensive than Indonesia.
People: Very friendly indeed, I stayed with a family there when I was in a spot of transport bother and they took me under their wing like one of their own.
Language: Portuguese and Tatum, English is not widespread but the international language of charades works fine
Weather: Tropical, averaging around 30 degrees. November to May iswet season and some roads become impassable.
Religion: One of only 2 Roman Catholic countries in Asia (the other being the Philippines)
Currency: US dollars are the legal tender here. There are ATMS that accept international cards so no stress there
Visa: As normal depends on your mode of transport. If you arrive by air or sea, then VOA (visa on arrival) is possible, $30 payment and your down. If, like me, you arrive by land through West Timor then since the recent regulation changes you need to arrange your visa before you arrive. This is pretty easy to arrange in Jakarta when your there if you plan to island hop all the way from there (great, great trip!).
Tags: Backpacking, cheap travel, east timor, travel guide, Travel tips
Published by Johnny on November 03, 2010
If your impression of Egypt is well refined tourism, world-class ancient sites and too many pairs of fake ray bans then Luxor is its poster child. That being said, it’s a tourism hub for a reason so prepare to be awed by what Luxor has to offer…
Personally I would recommend 2 nights in Luxor, 3 at a push but certainly no more. That will allow you more than enough time to visit all but the most obscure attractions in town. I spent a few days here recently and, at a nice leisurely pace, covered (more than) everything I wanted to see within 2 days. So what should you see and do in Luxor?
Here are the things I would recommend you see, and it’s all easily accomplished within 2 days.
Temples of Karnak: 65 EGP Adult/ 35 EGP Student. Very possibly the highlight of your visit to Luxor. The sheer size of the architecture here can’t fail to impress you and that alone is worth a visit. Rows and rows of sphinxes guide you to the entrance of this temple, a worthy introduction to a great sight.
TIP: go early (before 10am) or late (after 4pm) to avoid both the flocks of tour buses and the midday heat.
 
Luxor Temple: 100 EGP Adult/ 50 EGP Student. Personally I think the true beauty of this masterpiece lies in its location – slap, bang in the middle of the city, sitting on the banks of the Nile. Very special indeed. Not so special is the McDonalds which stares straight at Luxor Temple and all its wonder day in, day out. You may as well put it to good use and escape the heat with their ice-cream cones a snip at 2.50 EGP (just don’t tell anyone you came all the way to Luxor and ate at McDonalds )
Valley of the Kings 80 EGP Adult/ 40 EGP Student *Tutankhamun’s tomb is 100 EGP/50EGP extra. World famous and rightly so. This is, in essence, the most impressive cemetery in the world. A valley full of 60 odd decadent, intricate tombs for a host of kings from the Egyptian dynasties. Your ticket allows you to enter 3 tombs (Ramses 3,4 and 9 are the most impressive). Disappointingly, all the hieroglyphics within the tombs are behind thick Perspex glass but with a drop of imagination you can imagine the hundreds of people drafted in to work on these things all those centuries ago and your sense of awe will be restored. Again, I’m no Egyptian historian so 3 tombs was easily enough and at the risk of sounding uncouth once you’ve seen three it feels like you’ve seen them all!
NOTE: Tutankhamun’s tomb is very understated, small and generally underwhelming so the additional is entirely up to you. I choose to pay it as I had come all that way, and all those memories of making papyrus and talking about Tutankhamun at primary school must have had some effect. Underwhelming, true but for me stil worth it.
Oh, and no photos allowed unfortunately.
Valley of the Queens: 60 EGP Adult/ 3o EGP Student. A smaller, less ornate version of their husbands valley! Worth a peek, just don’t bank on being blown away. No photos once more.
Hot-air balloon ride: 300-1000 EGP. With such a dramatic price range, you may think it dictates the quality of service, the transport, the food, the health and safety – you’d be wrong. What it depends on is how wealthy you appear, your bartering skills and the twinkle in your eye. I paid 350 EGP, you shouldn’t pay more than 450 really and don’t book it from the internet, sort it out when you get to Luxor; there are no shortage of vendors.
You get around 45 minutes in the air as the sun rises over the Nile. An activity you won’t forget for a long time. Sure it’s touristy, but who cares when it’s bloody awesome!
Colossi of Memnon: FREE – a distinct rarity in Egypt! You’ll notice these 2 massive Colossi on the way to your hot-air balloon and what a greeting they give. 20 metres tall, these 2 guys give you over 2000 tonnes of a welcome, sitting regally all day watching the endless streams of tourists ascend and descend in their hot-air balloons. Awesome backdrop.
Temple of Hatshepsut: 65 EGP Adult/ 35 EGP Student. A vast temple built into the rocks in the mountain. This 3-terraced temple is a cracking sight to behold and should definitely be included in your 2 day itinerary.
OK, so that should keep you occupied for your 2 days with ease. Here’s an example itinery:
DAY 1:
Arrive in Luxor by boat, bus, train or plane and sort out/check into your accommodation.
Late morning, pay a visit to Luxor Temple then enjoy lunch nearby as you continue to gaze over the sheer beauty of it.
Afternoon, grab a taxi (5 EGP) to Karnak and spend around 2 hours exploring the huge temple complex there.
In the evening, arrange your hot-air balloon ride for the following day
DAY 2:
Early start as you’ll get picked up by bus, taking by boat across the Nile and driven to one of the few hot-air balloon ‘airports’ on the world. Up, up and away – if all goes well you’ll have landed by 7am and be back having scrambled eggs in your hotel by 8.
Either day trip with a tour guide (around 30 EGP for the days transport in a group, tickets not included) or brave the labyrinthine public transport system (not recommended! Once bitten, twice shy and all that) and explore the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, the Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Hatshepsut for a truly cultured day. You’ll finish up around 2pm for a lazy afternoon.
The evening can be spent sampling some koftas and shwarmas in the local eateries which dot the city centre in abundance.
Two days done and dusted. Action packed, full of Egyptian culture past and present and a memory card full of photos to sift through when you get home!
I hope luxor is as good to you as it was to me. Holidays in Egypt are something really awesome, and even more so with a rucksack strapped to your back! I can’t wait to come back! Happy travels =)
Tags: Backpacking, cheap travel, egypt, travel guide
Published by Johnny on October 31, 2010
Ancient temples, wild hyena feedings, the most delicious cuisine in Africa, cheap as chips – now that sounds like a backpackers dream. Welcome to Ethiopia!
I spent just shy of a month in Ethiopia and even that didn’t seem to be enough. Every corner of this amazing country offers great sights and experiences so wherever you venture you’re sure not to be disappointed. The only place I’d recommend you don’t stay too long is the capital, Addis Ababa. I agree it’s a cool sounding name but that’s where the coolness ends! Everything is overpriced and it’s full of touts, drug-dealers, hookers and general reprobates – only stay as long as you have to. On a brighter note, here are the amazing must-sees in this captivating country.
Harar: Potentially the highlight of my time in Ethiopia. Harar is the Islamic centre of Ethiopia and you can feel the Islamic culture seeping from every nook and cranny. The old town, in the city centre, feels like a time machine. You waltz through the old city gates and you’re transported back to the 16th century. Everyone is wearing traditional clothes, English is non-existent (as is electricity seemingly), the alleys are narrow and the buildings ooze character. You can enjoy a day wandering around this mesermizing place for sure.
Then prepare for the evening… The hyena man! Near the old city, a family have passed down the hyena feeding skills for generations so now the ‘wild’ hyenas flock to his area each evening as he feeds them raw meat. You should pay around $4 for his services. When I was there there were probably 20 hyenas running around and howling, you can even feed them yourself if you’re feeling brave, or stupid:
Bahir Dar: Sitting on Lake Tana, the scenery is beautiful. Spend a couple of days here – one of which you can rent a boat for and visit the monasteries on islands on the lake. Half a day is more than enough here because once you’ve seen a couple, you’ve seen them all trust me! Well worth a look though.
If you have a second day, jump in the rickety bus or grab a taxi to the Blue Nile Falls – a very impressive waterfall and a great way to spend a day. It’s a pleasant walk from where you get dropped off and the waterfall is a sight to behold.
 
Lalibela: Wow! I’m not going to say too much but get yourself to Lalibela and check out the churches, how I have never heard of this place before I came to Ethiopia must be indicative of my ignorance because Lalibela should be on every tourist map, everywhere. Number 1 attraction in Ehiopia for sure!
Simien Mountains: The peaks exceed altitude of 4000m so it’s not to be sniffed at. Trips can be organized from Addis or Gondar but try not to be tempted by a day trip from Gondar – realistically it’s too far, regardless what your new best friend salesman says. If the budget allows, go for 2 nights/3 days (should costs around $80 with guides, cook etc.) and guarantee yourself a look at the devilish Gelada baboons. The topography is unreal so make sure your camera is charged, you’ll be blown away.
Aksum: UNESCO declared the whole place a World Heritage sight and rightly so. There are endless tombs and ruins to waltz through but for me the highlight should be visiting one of the chapels which allegedly contains the Ark of the Convenant!! One ticket, for about $5 USD, grants you access to most of the city so it’s not too pricey but before too long you may feel yourself a little ‘templed’ out!
Dankali Depression: Expensive, difficult, hot as hell and ridicously amazing! You can reach the lowest point on the entire continent (and if you’ve summited Kilimanjaro you’ll touch the highest and lowest point, pretty cool huh?!). The best (only?) way to do this effectively is to rent a 4WD between a few people or book a tour through when your in Addis. It will end up costing about $150 all in so if, like me, you’re on a tight budget it may be beyond your means this time round.
Ethiopia:
Budget: $15 or even less.
Food: A meal in a restaurant costs around $1, on the street about $0.5 and it is amazing. Make sure you order minchet, tibs and kitfo – you won’t be disappointed! Macchiatos, the most delicious drink in the whole world (aside from Guinness naturally) is readily available in Ethiopia, a snip for less than $0.15.
Accommodation: Private (dingy) room costs between $2 – $6 depending on your tolerance for grime.
Transport: Cramped large buses, bumpy roads, a worrying amount of crash sites on the side of the road and all for less than $1 an hour. Seriously, a whole day on the public bus (12 hours or so) costs around $6. There are a couple of luxury liners – Starbus and Salambus, they are 3 times the price and take about one hour less but they come with A/C and a lot less people. Also, there are no night buses in Ethiopia
People: Unsurprisingly for Africa, the people here are very friendly. Aside from the real tourist areas, just send a big smile their way and they’ll accept you as readily as family.
Weather: Quite nice actually, hovers around the high 20s most of the year, peak rains in June-August.
Religion: Divided between Christianity and Islam and generally each city tends to have a dominant religion (Islam in Harar, Christianity in Lalibela etc)
Currency: $1 USD – 17 Ethiopian Bir
Visa: Bloody difficult! Get an Ethiopian visa before you come to Africa. Recent legislation prevents visas being issued in neighbouring countries and there is no visa on arrival (VOA) by land, anywhere. If you’re already in Africa the only option will be to fly, and get your VOA in the airport (ok for EU citizens, check your eligibility). The cheapest flight tends to be Nairobi to Addis with Air Ethiopia for around $150. If you’re coming from the north you’re in trouble if you’re in Sudan already – Khartoum to Addis is pricey!
 Tags: cheap travel, ethiopia, travel guide
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3) The Pinnacles Desert: Found in the Nambung national park, about 250km from Perth, near Cervantes, Wheatbelt, the Pinnacles Desert looks like something from a old school sci fi movie. You’ll finish the day with 1000 identical photos, mark my words. And every one will be tiptop.
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