Destinations

A lot of people have been asking where I'm going so here's the plan, and I leave early November.

India, North 15 days

Organised tour http://www.intrepidtours.com/trips/HSG/
Overnight train, jeep, boat, local bus, auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw, camel, walking
Hotels/guesthouses (9 nts), camping (3 nts), overnight train (2 nts)

India, Central 23 days
As yet unplanned will visit Pune and Bangalore, and possibly Goa
Overnight train, bus, auto rickshaw
Hotels/ Guesthouses, Friends

India, South 15 days
Organised Tour http://www.intrepidtours.com/trips/HSS
Overnight train, private boat, ferry, local bus, auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw, walking
Guesthouses/hotels (11 nts), family homestay (1 nt), dormitory accommodation (1 nt), overnight train (1 nt)

Singapore 3 days
Hotel
Taxi, Walk
Here for New Year!

Vietnam 20 days
Organised Tour http://www.intrepidtours.com/trips/VST
Train, minibus, boat, cyclo, walking
Hotels/guesthouses (16 nts), sailing junk (1 nt), simple stilt house (1 nt), home stay (1 nt)

Hong Kong 3 days
Hotel
Taxi, Walk

Australia 3 weeks
Brisbane - Adelaide
Hire Car
Hotels, Guesthouses, Youth Hostels, Friends

New Zealand 3 weeks
Christchurch – Auckland
Hire CarHotels, Guesthouses, Youth Hostels, Friends

US 4 weeks
Los Angeles – Seattle via Las Vegas
Hire Car
Hotels, Motels

Canada 1 week
Vancouver & Regina
Hotel, Friends

US 4.5 weeks
Indianapolis – New York via Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington
Hire Car
Hotels, Friends

Carreg Cennen Castle 01

Carreg Cennen Castle 01
Originally uploaded by Inglisway

The view South from Carreg Cennen Castle

The Tour begins!

I have finally set off following my 'last' team meeting at BT.

Tuesday afternoon Sean, Kyle, Bev, and Cath and I all squashed into the car for the long drive down to Swansea.

I arrived at Sally's house at around 10:30pm and was immediately fed and and watered by Sally.

Sally and John Evans have the most beautiful small-holding overlooking Garnant just above Ammanford in the South Wales valleys. They have a small cottage with a large barn and even a 'Guest chalet' (where I stayed)

The following morning I helped John with collecting some fire wood and showed him a few knots (I knew Scouting would come in helpful someday!)
Later Sally and I took a trip up to Carreg Cennen Castle with Sally where there are some fantastic views to be had. Whilst on the Caslte ramparts I took a call from TravelBag to confirm the next stage of my World Tour (and parted with a fair sum of money to boot!)

In the evening we had a BBQ and Sean, Bev, Cath and Tracy all came up for the evening and we were joined by some of Sally's Neighbour's, We braved the 'cool' evening until around 10:30 when a wind suddenly got up. To say I was stuffed was an Understatement - Breads and Dips to start, Steamed (the wet Newspaper way), and Grilled Trout, followed by belly pork, sausages, chicken kebabs salads and followed by fruits-of-the-forest and Ice Cream. The pork and sausage had come from Sally and John's own pigs and were delicious.
The following morning we relaxed in the hot sunshine the bathed day again then had brunch of bacon, sausages and eggs; all home reared. Finally Sally took me down to Pantyfynnon Station where I took the 'Heart of Wales' line through some stunning countryside to Craven Arms then the Crosscountry Train home.

Thank-you Sally and John for being brilliant host's to launch my World Tour

I've posted all the pics to my Flickr site