Chris's space

Taiwan, Taipei, 24 – 30 June 2011

Posted on Thursday, 30-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

Taipei capital of Taiwan, this is where Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang fled to when the communists under Mao took over the mainland. It is now a big modern city with a population of 7 million. The GDP per capita of Taipei is US$48,400, the second highest in Asia behind Tokyo, which is US$65,453 (Wikipedia).

They have their own airline called China Airlines and they claim to have the best Chinese food. You can go just about anywhere using public transport, excellent metro. Taipei 101 the second tallest building in the world after the Al Burj in Dubai.

Keelung and Yehliu Tour

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial and National Museum

Sun Yat Sen Memorial and Taipei 101

Wulai Aboriginal Village

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South Korea, Seoul, 17-24 June 2011

Posted on Friday, 24-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

Seoul – population 9.8 million, very clean, modern, organised, extensive subway system and some of the best dressed people on the planet. South Korea has a GDP in excess of 1 trillion dollars ranked 13th in the world. The country was left in ruins after the Korean war which ended in 1953 and they have achieved this enormous change since then.

Myeongdeong and Deoksugung Palace

National Museum and Namdaemun Market

Korean Village and Seoul Tower

War Museum

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Laos, Vientiane, 9-16 June 2011

Posted on Friday, 17-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

I flew from Siam Reap to Vientiane via Kuala Lumpur. This is a much quieter place hardly any traffic or tourists, lots of signs in French. The population of Vientiane is 210,000 and the whole country is only 6.5 million.

Siam Reap to Vientiane

National Museum, National Cultural hall, Temples, Statue of Chao Anouvong

Laos is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in the world. Between 1964 and 1973, the United States dropped around 2.5 million tons of bombs on Laos, more than American planes unloaded on Germany and Japan combined during World War II. The equivalent of a planeload of bombs every eight minutes for nine years.

Victory Gate and Army Museum

National Assembly, Public Security Museum, Temples and Statues

Buddha Park and Friendship Bridge

Millions of Buddha and other statues and the Friendship bridge to Thailand built by Australia.

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Cambodia, Siam Reap, 05 – 09 June 2011

Posted on Friday, 10-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

I travelled from Phnom Penh to Siam Reap by bus. Cost $6, pickup from the hotel is at 0930, bus leaves at 1000 and arrives in Siam Reap at 1545. It stops twice and you can have fried crickets or spiders for lunch if you choose, air-conditioned with narrow cramped seats, interesting journey.

Siam Reap is the place you stay at if you want to visit the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat where Laura Croft and Indiana Jones had some of their adventures, quite an amazing place.

Bus journey from Phnom Penh to Siam Reap

Angkor Wat

Angkor Night Market

Independence Garden, Killing Fields and Temple

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Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 01 – 05 June 2011

Posted on Sunday, 5-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, located on the banks of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers population 2.2 million. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge wiped out 25% of Cambodia’s population when they ruled from 1976-79.

Independence Monument, Killing Fields and the S21 Prison

The Palace and Wat Phnom Museum

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Thailand, Bangkok, 25 May – 01 June 2011

Posted on Thursday, 2-June-2011 by Chris Desmond

Bangkok, population 14 million, lots of things to see and do. The river is part of the public transport system and the King is popular with his people.

Temples and the Palace which is a big complex, allow at least half a day to see it all.

River Kwai and Tiger Temple Tour

Video of Tiger cubs playing it will take a minute to download.

Chinatown and Monuments

Bangkok Airport

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Vietnam, Saigon, 17-25 May 2011

Posted on Wednesday, 25-May-2011 by Chris Desmond

Officially known as Ho Chi Minh City but the locals still call it Saigon, population 9 million.

Saigon City Tour

Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels

Mekong Delta Tour

Art Museum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and Vietnam Museum

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Malaysia, Penang, 10-16 May 2011

Posted on Tuesday, 17-May-2011 by Chris Desmond

I took the train from KL to Penang, $22 for a 1st class ticket, journey takes 7 hours, much nicer than flying though I did return to KL by plane. Once you arrive at Butterworth Station you can take a ferry to Penang for $5 or a taxi for $40.

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Malaysia, Langkawi, 13 May 2011

Posted on Saturday, 14-May-2011 by Chris Desmond

I took the ferry from Penang to Langkawi, day trip, 3 hours one way and cost $35 for a return ticket. Departure at 0830-1130 and return 1730-2030. On Langkawi I hired a car and driver $33 for 4 hours and went for a tour around the island. The island is purpose built for tourism and everything is fairly new.