World Tourer - Travel Information - January - September 2016

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World Travel Blog - January to September 2016

5th September 2016

Penthouse in Nha Trang, Vietnam

I arrived in Nha Trang yesterday and spent the night in town (at the Adam Hotel which is TERRIBLE - I will never visit again) to look around. The Beach/Tourist area has changed quite a bit in 3+ years - a lot of the restaurants have either gone or been renamed. There is even more high rise construction in progress and the number of Russian tourists has increased dramatically with the main beach area getting saturated with sun beds and umbrellas (it may be a seasonal thing as I have not been here this time of year before - but I don't think it is). Also there are now Chinese tourists coming to Nha Trang. This all started back in 2009 when Nha Trang airport became international and started to get Russian tourist charter flights. Passenger numbers increased by 32% in 2015 compared to 2014.

Luckily Nha Trang Beach is big (wide and long) so it does not get really crowed and there are also a couple of smaller beaches to the north of town.

   
Nha Trang Beach Looking South (left photo) and Looking North - Taken at 7 am

Today I moved into my apartment - I decided that the one I had booked was a bit small so I have rented the Penthouse ($300USD/Month including Internet and basic cable TV) and I am very happy with it.

       
Lounge and Kitchen of My Penthouse

       
           Penthouse Outdoor Area                                             Swimming Pool                       

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2nd September 2016

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam

I am now in Saigon staying at the Diamond Suite Hotel Parkview - I got upgraded to a "Park View" room with a balcony that overlooks the "September 23 Park". The hotel is a fairly typical budget Vietnamese hotel - double air conditioned room, breakfast, mini bar, cable tv, wifi etc. but good value for Saigon at $25USD/night.

The flights to get here OK - Qantas (from Cairns to Darwin) charged me $60 for being 2kg overweight (my luggage not me - no wonder they are making record profits).

Saigon is pretty much the same as it was on my last visit 3 1/2 years ago - prices have risen slightly (seems like more than a little due to the falling Aussie dollar). Today is a public holiday "Independence Day" which celebrates independence from France in 1945.


September 23 Park From My Hotel Balcony

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13th August 2016

Off to Vietnam

Yesterday I booked flights from Cairns to Ho Chi Minh City - I fly out on 31st August - I have booked a hotel in Ho Chi Minh for three nights and then will fly on to Nha Trang. I plan to stay at the same apartments (Five Continents House) I stayed at on my last visit three and half years ago.


Nha Trang Beach

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25th July 2016

Rented another car today and went up the mountains to Yungaburra and then down to Innisfail via Millaa Millaa. On the way back to Cairns I stopped in at Josephine Falls and was surprised to find there were several people in swimming.

         

Josephine Falls at The Base of Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland's Highest Mountain

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16th July 2016

I have sold my bike and rented a car the other day to go for a drive up the mountains. I travelled from Cairns up to Mossman then up and over the mountains to Mareeba where I had my usual Skybury Coffee. I then continued on to Kuranda and down the range to Cairns.

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9th June 2016

Today I took a day trip to Green Island, a small coral island about 27 kilometres off the coast of Cairns. The ferry trip takes about 45 minutes each way and is well organised. On the isalnd I went swimming, snorkelling (saw lots of tropical fish, giant clams and sea turtles), walking and just lazing on the beach. The weather was perfect which made for a great day out.

         
Green Island                                                                 Green Island Beach

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1st January 2016

Happy New Year!

I am in Sydney for the holiday period - I have been here since 23rd December and return to Cairns on 5th January. Had a good time over Christmas catching up with Sue (ex) and Jodie, Steven and David (kids).

I have been playing tourist whilst I am in Sydney - I went to Manly one day and took the train to Newcastle a couple of days later.

       
Sydney Opera House                                                       Manly Beach                                              Sydney Harbour Bridge  

       
Newcastle Customs House                                        Newcastle Harbour                                                 Pelican on a Light Pole

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