101 Weeks To Go

The only photo I had with me in it, at another Castle in Wroclaw, Poland.

Some schoolboy errors i've made in only 3 weeks:

* Setting off the alarm by getting to close to an exhibit in a polish museum
* Attempting to pay for a bus ticket in Latvia with Estonian currency
* Left mums special fudge on the floor for the dog to eat
* Clogged up a toilet by not using the bins assigned for toilet paper
* Leaving my iPod at the hostel and missing my bus as I went back to get it.
* Ate pigs ears
* Ordered a non-alcoholic beer
* Got so plastered that I crashed in a bed in another dorm room and thought all my gear had been stolen on awakening.
* Decided to have a quiet (and apparently illegal) beer in the park before being escorted by two policeman into their car, where I paid a small bribe to avoid being taken to the station.

The Joys of Travelling!

Invading Poland

Polska: Country of central Europe situated on the
Baltic Sea. Population:38,544,000.
* land of vodka
* originator of bagels
* previously the location for some pretty shocking camp sites

My first target was the capital Warsaw, a city completely destroyed in WW2 & clearly suffering aesthetically because of it. Nonetheless the old town has been faithfully restored to its former beauty (see photo right), has a fascinating political history, and the best shots of vodka I’ve ever had.


The next landing point was Krakow, an awesome city with a magnificent castle situated along the main river, where nearby, groups of old men would play rowdy games of chess (see photo below left). There was also another brilliantly restored old town, a 15th century salt mine and plenty of other things to see and do.

From Krakow I went on a deeply moving day trip to Oswiecim, better known by its German name Auschwitz. Split up into 3 separate camps, Auschwitz 1 (the first and smallest camp - bottom photo) displayed a number of relics that were not destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, including a couple of tones of human hair, various clothing items, photographs by German soldiers, and the very first gas chamber used. It is not until you arrive at Auschwitz Birkenau (camp 2) however, that you begin to realise the immense scale of the horrific crime, with housing blocks for as far as the eye can see, and being the graveyard of over 1.5 million people. A very solemn yet memorable day.

Cheap Is Good

Having decided to head to the Baltic’s rather than Scandinavia solely for the lower costs, I have never been more thankful for my frugal genetics. Arriving in Tallinn, Estonia and heading down SW through Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania, I was thoroughly impressed by the old town squares, churches, local foods and museums of these former soviet occupied nations. These nations share a similar recent history, are immensely proud of their independence, and have a weird love of serving cucumber and sour cream with every meal (including pasta). Yet each of the three countries are distinctly unique in style, language, and personality. Vilnius in Lithuania was especially amazing.

Photos from top down: Tallin old school defensive wall; Overview of Riga; Streets of Vilnius; Restored 14th Century castle in Trakai, Lithuania.

First Stop London

My flight to London was the most turbulent EVER, and only 5hrs into my trip my clothes were stained with coffee, curry & oil. After a brief stopover in Brunei we literally skidded into Heathrow airport a mere 5hrs late (mmm yet to be convinced Brunei airlines). Staying at an old work friends place, I headed off with her directions in the one hand and my 35 kilos of luggage including skis and boots in the other. After over an hour of unsuccessful navigation I was stoked to
find out that Hayley is still learning her lefts from rights & had to rely on friendly locals to get me home. The next 4 days in London were spent wondering the cities famous sites, & soaking up the liquids and friendly atmosphere of British pubs.















Mosque in Brunei
















The Thames River with Westminster on the left and London Eye on the right