Month: December 2018

Martyn

New Year at the Pyramids

29.12.2018 Larnaca to Cairo H and I flew from Larnaca to Cairo and got a late evening taxi to Giza. All was confusion with the taxi as we thought we were going to the “Steigenberger Pyramid Hotel” but it is actually called the “Cairo Pyramid Hotel” and does not get its new name until the …

Martyn

A Grave Situation in Larnaca

24.-25.12.2018 Berlin Christmas was in Berlin and family Christmas Dinner on the 24th, in the German way, was hosted by Marina and Franz. As Franz is a professional musician and Marina a long-time amateur player of the piano-accordion there was a good Christmas carol sing-along.   26.12.2018 Larnaca, Cyprus On Boxing Day, the Christmas Dinner …

Martyn

Singapore Slings

Day 76, 22.12.2018 , Singapore After a quick sleep in the Crowne Plaza at Changi Airport we took the underground to China Town. Looked at a few temples and lunch of half a duck and some Tiger Beers in Food Street. Then off to Marina Bay Sands Hotel for some Singapore Slings on the 57th …

Martyn

Monkeying About in Borneo

Day 69, 15.12.2018 , Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo We had an early flight to Sandakan and as a first stop, went to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The orangutan obviously didn’t get the memo as none of them turned up for feeding time. Next we went to the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. I’m sure they …

Martyn

Sydney – A Bridge Too Far?

Day 66, 12.12.2018 , White Bay, Sydney Harbour Arrived. Sailed by the iconic Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge. 230 years ago, the First Fleet arrived in Australia with 1,500 scoundrels, ruffians and ne’er-do-wells, taking 252 days to get here. Voyages have got quicker. It was slow processing by Immigration and Customs in White …

Martyn

Port Vila -No Tsunami

Day 60, 6.12.2018 , Port Vila, Vanuatu  The weather has not been so nice today. It was warm but cloudy and rainy. We came to Port Vila, and the island of Efate, 10 years ago. Looking back at my old blogs, we did a lot here but we had much more time to play with …

Martyn

Bula from Sugar City

Day 58, 4.12.2018 , Lautoka, Fiji.  We have been to these islands before. Fiji is very nice in places but not here. Lautoka is a sugar cane processing town and port on the west side of the big island of Viti Levu. It’s a bit industrial and rough around the edges. H had to stay …

Martyn

Samoa – Treasure Island

Day 56, 2.12.2018 , Apia, Samoa We took a taxi to explore this steamy island. First stop was Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home just outside Apia at Vailima. He lived here for the last four years of his life. An interesting tour. H liked the gift shop and bought me paperbacks of Treasure Island and Dr …