"Me and My Travels" pure1942's Profile

Newest Pages:
Gili Islands - Indonesia
Tiraspol - Moldova (Transdniester)
Mirissa - Sri Lanka
Easter Island
Rarotonga - Cook Islands
Lisbon - Portugal
Cuenca - Ecuador
Hiroshima - Japan
Miyajima - Japan
Tonga

Just a brief overview of me and my travels so far.I am a primary school teacher by profession and I now live in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford in the Rep. of Ireland although I am originally from Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
I am lucky to have inherited a severe travel bug from my parents and was always encouraged and given the opportunity to travel from a young age. As a child I visited numerous European countries such as France (which I have returned to many times), Germany, Luxembourg and all across the UK.
As I grew older I started travelling with friends as well as family. My first trip outside my family group was a school exchange to Belgium in 2000 from which my own desire to travel quickly grew.
Since then I have lived in Scotland (and returned 4 times) for a few months and have visited England (5 times), Wales, France (7 times), Germany (3 times), Netherlands, Spain (twice), Portugal, Norway, Austria (twice), Czech Republic, Italy, USA, Tunisia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary (twice), Sweden (twice), Brazil (4 times), Slovenia, Croatia (twice), Serbia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Estonia, Finland, Trinidad & Tobago, Lithuania, Iceland, Monaco, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Malta, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, The Cook Islands, Chile/Easter Island, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Jordan, Lebanon, India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and The Vatican.

Rano Raraku - Easter Island (May 2010)

Travels 2012
February - Italy - Rome, Pompeii and The Vatican City
April - Morocco - Agadir, Marrakesh, Essaouira

May - Estonia - Tallinn
July - Greece - Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu
July - Macedonia - Skopje, Ohrid
July - Kosovo, Pristina, Peja
July - Albania - Tirana, Berat, Gjirokastra, Saranda
August - Canada - Montreal
August - USA - Boston

Travels 2011
January - Portugal - Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Evora
April - Jordan - Amman, Dead Sea, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Madaba, Bethany-Beyond-The-Jordan, Mt. Nebo, Azraq and the Desert Castles.
April - Lebanon - Beirut, Baalbek
April - Hungary - Budapest
May - Germany - Berlin
July - India - Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Jaipur, Agra
July - Sri Lanka - Colombo, Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Tangalle, Bundala, Yala National Park, Ella, Haputale, Deniyaya
August - Romania - Bucharest, Suceava, Bucovina, Brasov, Sighisoara, Rasnov, Bran
August - Moldova - Chisinau, Bendery (Trandsniester), Tiraspol (Tradsniester), Orheuil Vechi
August - Ukraine - Lviv, Kiev, Kamyanets Podilski

Travels 2010
January 2010 - Thailand - Koh Phangan
January 2010 - Malaysia - Penang, Langkawi & Kuala Lumpur
January 2010 - Indonesia - Kuta, Lovina (Bali), Gili Islands (Lombok)
February 2010 - Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
February 2010 - Singapore
February 2010 - Japan - Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, Takayama.
February/March 2010 - Australia - Sydney, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NP, Mudgee, Cessnock, Hunter Valley, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Nimbin, Nightcap NP, Surfer's Paradise, Landsborough, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, 1770, Airlie Beach, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation, Cairns, Yulara, Kata Tjuta & Uluru.
April 2010 - New Zealand - Auckland, Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga, Hahei, Raglan, Waitomo, Maketu, Maraeheko Bay, Gisbourne, Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapo, Taupo, Tongariro NP, Wellington.
April/May 2010 - Tonga - Tongatapu, Pangaimoutu, Eua, Fafa
May 2010 - Cook Islands - Rarotonga
May 2010 - New Zealand - Christchurch, Arthur's Pass NP, Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Manapouri, Doubtful Sound, Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Banks Peninsula, Akaroa.
May 2010 - Easter Island
June 2010 - Chile - Santiago, La Serena, Pisco Elqui, San Pedro de Atacama, Iquique, Arica
June 2010 - Bolivia - La Paz, Uyuni, Salar de Uyuni, Parque Nacional Eduardo Avaroa, Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, Isla del Sol.
June/July 2010 - Peru - Cusco, Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Nazca, Huacachina, Ballestas Islands, Lima, Mancora.
July 2010 - Ecuador - Cuenca, Ingapirca.
August 2010 - Argentina - Buenos Aires, Puerto Iguacu
August 2010 - Brasil - Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande
August 2010 - Uruguay - Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento

Miyajima - Japan (February 2010)

January 2009 - Denmark - Copenhagen
January 2009 - Sweden - Malmo
February 2009 - Latvia - Riga
March 2009 - Poland - Krakow and Auschwitz
April 2009 - Croatia - Dubrovnik
April 2009 - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Mostar & Sarajevo
April 2009 - Montenegro - Kotor, Ulcinj, Stari Bar, Budva, Cetinje & Herceg Novi
April 2009 - Albania - Shkoder
May 2009 - Malta - Valletta, Malta, Gozo & Comino
May 2009 - Ireland - Belfast, Derry, Armagh & Antrim Coast
May 2009 - Ireland - The Aran Islands (Inis Óirr - Inisheer & Inis Mór - Inishmore) and The Cliffs of Moher.
June 2009 - Ireland - Glendalough
July/August 2009 - Brazil (Piaui & Ceara)
August 2009 - Hong Kong
September 2009 - Macau
September 2009 - China - Guilin, Yanshuo, Xingping, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge.
September/October 2009 - Vietnam - Sapa, Bac Ha, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Mui Ne, Saigon (HCMC) and the Mekong Delta.
October/November 2009 - Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Koh Russei (Bamboo Island), Kampot, Kep, Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), Siem Reap & The Angkor Temples.
November 2009 - Myanmar (Burma) - Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan & Inle Lake
November/December 2009 - Thailand - Bangkok, Koh Chang.
December 2009 - Laos - Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang
December 2009 - Thailand - Bangkok, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan.

Uyuni - Bolivia (June 2010)

January 2008 - Sweden - Stockholm
February 2008 - Spain - Barcelona, Girona and Montserrat
March 2008 - Slovenia - Ljubljana, Bled, Piran & Maribor
March 2008 - Croatia - Zagreb
March 2008 - Serbia - Belgrade
March 2008 - Austria - Vienna & Graz
April 2008 - Ireland - Belfast & North Antrim Coast
May 2008 - Switzerland - Basel, Stans, Lucerne, Zurich & Schaffhausen
May 2008- Liechtenstein - Vaduz
May/June 2008 - Estonia - Tallinn
June 2008 - Finland - Helsinki
July/August 2008 - Brazil - Parnaiba, Fortaleza & Canoa Quebrada
August 2008 - Trinidad & Tobago
October 2008 - Lithuania - Vilnius
October/November 2008 - Iceland - Reykjavik
December 2008 - France - Nice, Antibes & Eze
December 2008 - Monaco

Travels 2007

February 2007 - Italy - Venice
March 2007 - Norway - Oslo
April 2007 - USA - Boston & New York
May 2007 - Spain - Heulva, Cartaya & El Rocio
July 2007 - Portugal (Lisbon)
July/August 2007 - Brazil - Fortaleza, Jericoacoara, Parnaiba & Cumbuco
August 2007 - Scotland - Edinburgh
October/November 2007 - Hungary Budapest
October 2007 - Slovakia - Bratislava

Travels 2006

January 2006 - England - London
July 2006 - Turkey - Gumbet
August 2006 - Bulgaria - Nessebar
October 2006 - England - Swindon
October 2006 - Austria - Salzburg
October 2006 - Germany - Munich

Yangon - Burma (November 2009)

January 2005 - Czech Republic - Prague
February 2005 - Scotland - Edinburgh
June 2005 - Scotland - Edinburgh
July/August 2005 - Ireland - Cork
October 2005 - The Netherlands - Amsterdam

Travels 2004/2003/2002/2001/2000

June to September 2004 - Scotland - Edinburgh
April 2002 - France - Brittany
April 2001 - France - Loire Valley & Paris
April 2000 - France - Normandy
August 2000 - Tunisia - Tunis & Hammamet
February 2000 - Belgium & France - Brussels, Liege, Paris & Florennes

My Latest Trips

Romania, Moldova and Ukraine
In August I got to fill a long time ambition of visiting the Ukraine. After reading about the likes of Lviv and Kiev on HunterV and Horscheck's pages I was determined to see some of these places for myself. Lviv in particular didn't disappoint and look forward to returning to Ukraine in the future to explore this huge country more. A short hop into Moldova led me to beautiful Orheuil Vechi and the oddity that is the breakaway republic of Transniester. Romania's highlights were the painted monasteries of Bucovina and Brasov and surrounding Transylvanian towns.

India and Sri Lanka
During the month of July we took a month long trip to India and Sri Lanka. While we had initially planned to spend three weeks in India and just one week in Sri Lanka we loved Sri Lanka so much that we ended up changing our flights to stay longer in Sri Lanka. Its not that we didn't enjoy India, it was just we really fell for Sri Lanka. In Indi our route took us from Mumbai through Rajasthan to Delhi with the highlights being Udaipur and of course the inevitable but breathtaking Taj Mahal. In Sri Lanka we went by train down the coast to Unawatuna and then hiring a scooter made our way along the southern coast and up into the hill country. Highlights were Mirissa, Yala and Ella.

Jordan & Lebanon
Over Easter, I took my first foray into the Middle East with a two week jaunt around Jordan and a few nights in Lebanon. My initial plans for a tour around Syria were scuppered with the closing of the border between Jordan and Syria due to the growing unrest. Leaving me with more time than expected in Jordan I set out to explore more of this interesting country. With stops in Amman, Jerash, The Dead Sea, Madaba, Wadi Rum, The Eastern Desert, Jordan Valley and the amazing archaeological wonder of Petra, I was kept very busy over the two weeks and also managed to enjoy a few nights in Beirut and a bonus night in Budapest on the way home. My curiosity in the Middle East has most definitely been piqued!!!

Kotor Fjord - Montenegro (April 2009)

Portugal
Escaping the doom and gloom of Irish Politics and weather, I headed for Lisbon for a week after Christmas. While I expected to like Lisbon I hadn't counted on just how much I would enjoy the trip to this highly underrated European Capital. With side trips to Sintra, Cascais and Evora as well as the hours spent trawling Lisbon's charming quarters, the trip was just what I needed to reawaken the travelling bug after an unusually quite 4 months since returning from my RTW trip. Roll on the rest of 2011!

!!!!!THE BIG ONE!!!!!
Just returned home after an amazing year on my round the world trip. Starting in Hong Kong, Macau and China, we went on through South East Asia hitting, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, before finishing our six months in Asia with a 2 week trip to Japan.
Next up on the epic adventure was the well beaten paths of Australia and New Zealand with side trips to the Polynesian Islands of Tonga, Cook Islands and Easter Island. To round out the year we spent 3 months on a whistle stop tour of South America, including stops in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
Having witnessed so many amazing places and sights this year it's hard to pick out the many highlights, but here is just a few:
#1 Country - Burma
#1 Continent - Asia
#1 Temple - Bagan (Burma)
#1 Hike - Tiger Leaping Gorge (China)
#1 Beach - Gili Trawangan (Indonesia)
#1 Island - Easter Island
#1 Lake - Inle Lake (Burma)
#1 River - Li River (China)
#1 Mountain - Salkantay - Andes (Peru)
#1 Town - Luang Prabang (Laos)
#1 City - Hong Kong
#1 People - Burmese
#1 Awe Inspiring Sight - Machu Picchu (Peru)

Brazil
During the months of July and August I returned for the 3rd time to the state of Piaui and more specifically the city of Parnaiba, where I was again involved in the SERVE Brazil house building project. Spent 6 enjoyable weeks working woth the amazing communities in and around the city of Parnaiba in building 25 family homes for impoverished families in the area. Once again had an amazing experience made all the more special by the reaquaintance between myself and the many friends I have made there over the past 3 years.

Malta
In May I spent an enjoyable long weekend in Malta. Malta gets mixed reviews from travellers, some who love it, others who didn't warm to the islands at all. I had a great stay in Malta but unlike most of my travels to date, I don't have the same underlying desire to return anytime soon. It's not that there wasn't much to see, do or experience, it's just that much of what the island's have to offer can be seen in a relatively short period of time. The island of Gozo is maybe the exception to this, in that having only spent one day here, I felt that there was more to see and do on this, more relaxed, scenic and peaceful part of the Maltese archipelago. We based ourselves in Valletta and although very quiet at night, feel that we chose wisely in that a lot of visitors to Malta stay in the resorts around St. Julian's, Bugibba or Mellieha which after seeing, didn't appeal to us at all. If you want a beach holiday, this resorts are better options, but if you want to explore the islands history and landscape, then Valletta is probably your best bet as it has the best transport connections.

Tongariro - New Zealand (April 2010)

Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro & Albania
Just back from my second trip to the Balkan region. This year I headed down the western side of the peninsula starting from Dubrovnik and heading up to Bosnia & Herzegovina before heading back down towards Montenegro and on into Albania. Another memorable trip which has given me a greater unstanding of the regions complex history as well as showing me more of the outstanding but vastly contrasting beauty of these countries. Highlights were Mostar, Sarajevo, Kravice and Pocitelj in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dubrovnik Old Town in Croatia, Kotor Fjord in Montenegro and Rozafa Fortress and Shkoder in Albania. Trip was enhanced even further by the many wonderful people we met along the way.

Poland
The city of Krakow has long been on my hitlist and the city itself didn't dissapoint with its huge and beautiful Market Square, mighty Wawel Castle and interesting Kazimierz Jewish District as well as the nearby UNESCO site of Wieliczka Salt Mine. However, an even longer wish of mine was to one day visit Oswiecim & Brzezinka, more commonly and infamously known as Auschwitz and Birkenau. I have always had an interest in WWII and specifically the holocaust and had quite a bit of knowledge on the subject before ever visiting, but nothing could prepare me for the shock and emotion I felt when actually walking through the Auschwitz and Birkenau labour camps. I have never experienced such a range of emotions in a single day, sadness, fear, anger, guilt, sorrow, sickness, shock, horror, remorse, leading to an eventual hope and determination that such a thing should never be allowed happen again and then the depressing realisation that it still is. Everyone should make a visit here a mandatory trip in one's lifetime.

Latvia
Just back from a four day trip over to Latvia. Had an enjoyable four days in the capital Riga. Beautiful Old Town with a bit more of a classical twist than the Baroque architecture of Vilnius and medieval atmosphere of Tallinn. Actually the one thing I've really learned from my three 'Baltic' visits is that the three countries really are nothing alike. In fact I'm going to stop referring to the three as 'Baltic' and will now only refer to them as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as they really are so individual in culture, architecture, language and music that to lump them together leads to presumptions of what to expect from each!!!

Denmark & Sweden
Despite the cold weather, I had a great trip to the Danish capital and Malmo, which was just winding down from the holiday season. Took in most of the capitals highlights including the Amalienborg Palace complex, Rosenborg Castle, Kastelle Fortress, Christianborg complex and Slotsholmen island, The Little Mermaid, Tivoli and the Medieval quarter around Stroget and Radhusplads.

France, Monaco and the French Riviera
In December I took a short trip over to Nice and the Cote d'Azur to explore a little of what the French Riviera has to offer. It was my first trip to the south of France and my first visit to France in 7 years and it was nice to reaquaint myself with the country in which I spent many of my childhood summers.
While I was only there for three days I managed to see quite a bit including Nice, with it's beautiful Old Town, spectacular promenade, Chateau Hill and the Port area. Also made the short trips to the seaside town of Antibes and the medieval village of Eze as well a visit to the world's second smallest country, Monaco, in all it's wealthy splendour.
It was hard to believe that it was the middle of December, with warm clear weather which made the trip even better. Strage to walk through winter Christmas markets in Nice and Monaco with the sun shining down on top of you!!!

Xingping - China (September 2009)

Top 5 Countries:
1) Brazil
2) Burma
3) Iceland
4) Bosnia & Herzegovina
5) New Zealand

Top 5 Cities
1) Belgrade (Serbia)
2) Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
3) Tallinn (Estonia)
4) Edinburgh (Scotland)
5) Hong Kong

Top 5 Towns
1) Luang Prabang - Laos
2) Akaroa - New Zealand
3) Dingle - Ireland
4) Morros do Mariana - Brazil
5) Takayama - Japan

Top 5 Lakes
1)Lake Bled - Slovenia
2) Inle Lake - Burma
3) Lake Titicaca - Bolivia/Peru
4) Glendalough - Ireland
5) Lake McKenzie - Australia

Top 5 Beaches
1) Jericoacoara (Brazil)
2) Gili Islands (Indonesia)
3) Pirate's Bay (Tobago)
4) Castaway Island (Vietnam)
5) Koh Tao (Thailand)

Top 5 Natural Wonders
1) Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
2) Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
3) Erupting Geysers - Iceland
4) Uyuni Slat Flats - Bolivia
5) Kata Tjuta - Australia

Top 5 'Everyone Should See For Their Own Sake' Sites
1) Auschwitz & Birkenau Concentration Camp - Poland
2) S-21/Killing Fields - Cambodia
3) Hiroshima - Japan
4) The entire country of Burma
5) Sarajevo - Bosnia & Herzegovina

Top 5 Islands
1) Easter Island - Chile
2) Arann Islands - Ireland
3) Gili Trawangan - Indonesia
4) Rarotonga - Cook Islands
5) Isla del Sol - Bolivia

Top 5 Trips
1) THE BIG ONE 2009/2010 Year Long Round The World Trip beginning in Hong Kong and China and passing through South East Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific Islands and South America.
2)July & August 2007, 2008 and 2009 - Brazil - House Building Project in Parnaiba, Piaui, North-East Brazil
3) July 2011 - India & Sri Lanka - Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Jaipur, Agra (India) - Colombo, Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Tangalle, Bundala, Yala National Park, Ella, Haputale, Deniyaya (Sri Lanka)
4) March 2008 - Balkans Backpack #1 - Zagreb (Croatia) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Ljubljana, Bled, Piran, Maribor (Slovenia) - Graz, Vienna (Austria)
5) April 2009 - Balkans Backpack #2 - Mostar, Sarajevo (Bosnia & Hezegovina) - Dubrovnik (Croatia) - Kotor, Ulcinj, Budva, Herceg Novi (Montenegro) & Shkoder (Albania)

Top 5 'Want to Go There Countries'
1) Iran
2) Mozambique
3) Russia
4) Colombia
5) Syria

Top 5 'Want to Go There´ Cities
1) Vancouver - Canada
2) St. Petersburg - Russia
3) Cape Town - South Africa
4) Ushuaia - Argentina
5) Damascus - Syria

Top 5 'Want to See Sights'
1) Patagonia - Chile/Argentina
2) Lalibela - Ethiopia
3) Ciudad Perdida - Colombia
4) Palmyra - Syria
5) Skellig Michael - Ireland