I am in the South Hemisphere !!!! Waouh !!!
After a whole Toblerone (paid with the detaxing of my MacBook) and a one hour flight from Singapore to Padang, I headed for Bukittinggi, a "small" (Indonesia has the same problem as China concerning the use of the adjectives small and big) town nested between volcanoes, canyons and paddy fields.
Anyway, even if until now I couldn't check if the water in the toilet flush goes the other way (I don't have a toilet flush...), I really love my days here. People are so nice and smiling (even more than in Cambodia and Laos !!) and the nature is beautiful. The conclusion... you really all should come to Indonesia ! (and this is not a message of the Indonesian Tourism center ! It's really me, Antoine !)
See you all very soon to tell you all I couldn't write on this blog... hahahaha !!!
mercredi 25 juin 2008
samedi 21 juin 2008
Soon to arrive
For the lazy ones not reading the comments here is some news:
I will be back in France on the 12th of July.
Which means that I have now less than 3 weeks of travel before coming to bother you all French guys and putting a huge distance between me and you all Japan living guys. And as the end draws closer, I have difficulties organizing the end as there is too much to see and not enough time. In the planning some days in Sumatra (to get a new stamp in my passport and reach the South Hemisphere), a visit to a friend living in Bangkok and all the little things you do before the end of a trip. See you soon !
To make you dream
I will be back in France on the 12th of July.
Which means that I have now less than 3 weeks of travel before coming to bother you all French guys and putting a huge distance between me and you all Japan living guys. And as the end draws closer, I have difficulties organizing the end as there is too much to see and not enough time. In the planning some days in Sumatra (to get a new stamp in my passport and reach the South Hemisphere), a visit to a friend living in Bangkok and all the little things you do before the end of a trip. See you soon !
To make you dreamjeudi 12 juin 2008
Guilin and Yangshuo
One of the highlights of the part in China ! All the more that Hangzhou was disappointing (if you hadn't understood...). A good climate (heat, sun and some humidity), beautiful landscapes, nicer people... all this made my stay there pleasant and memorable.
One of the Guilin's lakes
Guilin is a typical Chinese city (which means at least 1 million of inhabitants) with a flavor of South-East Asia. People are more talkative, opened and smiling. Maybe the same difference as between Paris and the South of France...
Who wants some popcorn ?
And who wants some Ni... oups !
They sure know how to stay healthy
Two pagodas of Guilin
Yangshuo is said to be a small town but I can ensure you that it doesn't really match the "small town" criteria of France (but Japan...). Its setting is quite magnificent. It was the good occasion to ride on a bike and enjoy the beautiful landscapes under a scorching sun, guided by a local (in exchange of a reasonable amount of... you know what I mean), wearing my fashionable ski trousers... (it was supposed to rain !!!) But you can see this with the pictures !
Yangshuo
And when we leave the town...
My guide...
...and me
My visit in Yangshuo was the occasion for me to have a passionate debate with some young Chinese. Searching for some help in English, especially about the accent (and they were asking a French guy... Haha), we ended up discussiong about various subjects and especially the Irak war and the Tibet's incidents. This was a big surprise for me to discover that these Young ones clearly despised USA as I thought Chinese to be the opposite way. Concerning the Dalai-Lama and Tibet, they had an firm opinion, unfortunately full of holes... They didn't know neither the origin of the conflict nor the several achievements of the Dalai-Lama (Nobel Price of peace...). Starting from this point their opinion (Tibetans are "independantists" who try to destroy the country) was quite understandable. As my knowledge of the situation was quite as bad as them I couldn't really provide any good arguments except the "Nobel Price" one but it was enough to make them doubt and start rethinking the situation. Anyway, the conclusion is that I should inform myself more and so should do the Chinese (but with other sources than the Chinese government...) !
My first fried rice of the trip (what a beautiful way to end this photos' series)
One of the Guilin's lakesGuilin is a typical Chinese city (which means at least 1 million of inhabitants) with a flavor of South-East Asia. People are more talkative, opened and smiling. Maybe the same difference as between Paris and the South of France...
Who wants some popcorn ?
And who wants some Ni... oups !
They sure know how to stay healthy
Two pagodas of GuilinYangshuo is said to be a small town but I can ensure you that it doesn't really match the "small town" criteria of France (but Japan...). Its setting is quite magnificent. It was the good occasion to ride on a bike and enjoy the beautiful landscapes under a scorching sun, guided by a local (in exchange of a reasonable amount of... you know what I mean), wearing my fashionable ski trousers... (it was supposed to rain !!!) But you can see this with the pictures !
Yangshuo
And when we leave the town...
My guide...
...and meMy visit in Yangshuo was the occasion for me to have a passionate debate with some young Chinese. Searching for some help in English, especially about the accent (and they were asking a French guy... Haha), we ended up discussiong about various subjects and especially the Irak war and the Tibet's incidents. This was a big surprise for me to discover that these Young ones clearly despised USA as I thought Chinese to be the opposite way. Concerning the Dalai-Lama and Tibet, they had an firm opinion, unfortunately full of holes... They didn't know neither the origin of the conflict nor the several achievements of the Dalai-Lama (Nobel Price of peace...). Starting from this point their opinion (Tibetans are "independantists" who try to destroy the country) was quite understandable. As my knowledge of the situation was quite as bad as them I couldn't really provide any good arguments except the "Nobel Price" one but it was enough to make them doubt and start rethinking the situation. Anyway, the conclusion is that I should inform myself more and so should do the Chinese (but with other sources than the Chinese government...) !
My first fried rice of the trip (what a beautiful way to end this photos' series)mardi 3 juin 2008
Ciel, ma lessive !
... who understands, understands...
After more than 24 hours of transport, starting Kanchanaburi, Thailand, I arrived yesterday in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. And the place is really nice ! It provides a great change compared to Thailand as people are here mostly Muslims (no more purple-dressed monks in the streets). The buildings and the people's behavior are different. It's really great after almost two months (without counting the time in Japan of course) of Buddhist countries.
Anyway, I will soon leave for Pulau Perhentian to test my diving and my sunbathing abilities. So no worries please, if I don't give news. It's just that I would have fallen asleep in the shade of a coconut tree !
After more than 24 hours of transport, starting Kanchanaburi, Thailand, I arrived yesterday in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. And the place is really nice ! It provides a great change compared to Thailand as people are here mostly Muslims (no more purple-dressed monks in the streets). The buildings and the people's behavior are different. It's really great after almost two months (without counting the time in Japan of course) of Buddhist countries.
Anyway, I will soon leave for Pulau Perhentian to test my diving and my sunbathing abilities. So no worries please, if I don't give news. It's just that I would have fallen asleep in the shade of a coconut tree !
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