Just a quick update to let you know we fly out tonight to our beloved Tasmania.
It has been a day of packing and trying to not exceed Jetstar’s baggage limits. We have dehydrated a few meals but will do most of the shopping in Launceston tomorrow before we head up to Cradle Mountain.
The plan is for a couple of nights around Cradle for New Year, maybe at Scott Kilvett and then Lake Ball.
Then, back into civilisation and down to Lake St Clair and into Pine Valley.
We have hired a car and will end up at Hobart for a night or two.
Phew, quick trip but really looking forward to a stroll.
Have a great New Year, …
Sorry we have been a bit quiet recently but it was the busy run up to our holiday time and then travelling to Cambodia. Yes, this article comes to you from Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A few of you regulars will recall we visited Cambodia this time last year, travelling around a lot of the country over nearly 4 weeks. This time we decided to focus on one area, Siem Reap. It is the location to base yourself and visit many temples or “Wats”.
This trip is for 10 days and is a combination of exploring the area and having a break. Last year we travelled a lot and saw a lot of this fascinating country. This year we have based …
We have been thinking about creating a free resource for visitors to Cradle Mountain (and Tasmania) for some time. There is a great Parks Tasmania website plus many others that focus on accommodation at Cradle Mountain. We saw a “hole” in the market which combines lots of information about Cradle (and animals, walks, activities) with accommodation reviews etc.
To encourage visitors to the site we have created two free offerings, a Cradle Mountain guide and day walk map.
It is a tiring thing being a tourist or backpacker or whatever we have been doing in Cambodia.
After a four hour taxi trip from Rainbow Lodge ( near the Thailand border on the west of Cambodia) to Kampot in the south east corner of Cambodia we enjoyed a day around the area and then escaped to the coastal village of Kep for a “well earned break”.
Now Kep has a story too long and complex for here but let’s just summarise.
- a beautiful little beach town that was very trendy and used as a holiday escape by many wealthy Cambodians and , especially French expats from the 1900′s to the 1960′s.
- when the Khmer Rouge seized power …
We are not sure what convinced us to do the full day trek at Rainbow Lodge.
Was it the chance to explore the Cambodian Jungle with an experienced guide?
Or the opportunity to see some unusual wildlife, creatures and/or bugs?
Or was it that we both have English relatives back somewhere and the need to go out in the midday sun and “explore the tropics” was overwhelming?
Whatever the case we loaded up with two litres of water each, layers of DEET, shoes and a warning from G that there were a few leeches on this trip. Mr Lei, our Khmer guide, headed off in front with a machete.
Because we are posting this from Cambodia, the following are some …
