Next Page

Rhodes has one of Europe's nicest medieval old towns. Unlike some others which are now just showpieces, this one is fully lived-in and very alive.  Rhodes, Greece (6/00).

Genevieve (Montreal) and I on our way to a remote beach. Most tourists head for the large party islands leaving small ones like Folegandros quiet and tranquil. Greece (6/00)

Crete, the best of the Greek Islands I visited. The beaches and coastal towns are a big tourist trap but the countryside is rugged and beautiful.  Sitia, Crete, Greece (6/00)

Beautiful Venetian architecture in Hania, a oceanside town in Western Crete, Greece (6/00).

Although my world trip was done on my own, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are always travelling by yourself. There are literally thousands of backpackers in even the most remote parts of this planet.  The caldera at Santorini, Greece (6/00).

Lots of nice architecture in the Greek island of Santorini (6/00).

Santorini has a beautiful setting with lots of great views.  Its worth a visit inspite of the hordes of tourists.  Greece (6/00).

France is my favourite European country. It has the unbeatable combinations of great food, friendly cheerful people (outside of Paris anyhow), beautiful countryside and rich cultural sights. Also, my vote for the prettiest girls anywhere. Its a huge and diverse country. I spent 2 months there but feel that I have only just scratched the surface.  Carcassonne, southern of France (7/00).

Mum and dad joined me for 2 months in Europe. It was a joy for me to play tour guide and to show them places they might not otherwise venture to. It was a good arrangement, they brought the wheels and the $$$, I played tour guide. Brittany coast, France (9/00).

My dad (retired Air Force Colonel) and myself are real war buffs, so we couldn't get enough of the D-Day beaches and other WWII sights. German fortifications, Normandy beaches of France.

American war cemetery. Omaha Beach, Normandy, France (10/00).

The abbey of Mont St Michel in the northern coast of France.  Coming here was extra special for me because many years ago (when I was about 10), I saw a picture of it and said to myself, "I have to see this someday". This is what my trip has been about, making dreams come true. Brittany Coast of France (9/00).

Paris is a romantic city. Its a pity I keep coming here single. Pont Alexandria (10/00)

I feel that everyone should visit Paris at least once in their lifetime. Notre Dame (10/00)

The Eiffel Tower is nice enough in the day but really stunning by night. Paris (10/00)

When in Paris, a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower is a must.  Best time to go is sunset and night-fall.  No wonder they call it the "City of lights".  France (10/00).

Europe's famous Alps mountains are visited by masses of tourists from all over the world which leaves the Pyrenees relatively quiet and tranquil. The mountain village of Torla in the Pyrenees Ordessa National Park, Northern Spain (7/00). 

The Roland Breach, a high mountain pass at 2875m, forms the French/Spanish border in the Pyrenees mountain range. It was a long 14 hour walk from the last Spanish village of Torla to the first village on the French side of Gavarnie. (7/00)

Dream campsite near the village of Gavarnie in the French Pyrenees (7/00).

Main street of Albertville, home of the 1992 Winter Olympics.  French Alps (9/00).

Hitch-hiking and public transit has its limitations. Without a car I would have never visited hard to reach places in the high mountains of the French Alps.  Vanoise National Park, France (9/00).

Roadside picnics were an everyday feature of our trip through the French Alps. Chamonix (10/00).

The massive south face of Mt Blanc on a beautiful fall day. French Alps (10/00).

A hike to the top of Le Brevent, 2875m, will give spectacular views of Mt Blanc's Boisson Glacier. Mt Blanc is Western Europe's highest mountain. Chamonix, France (9/00).

This is how I got around Europe. I don't hitch-hike to save money, I do it for fun. There is no better way to to meet the locals.  Grenoble.... Si Vous Plait, France (7/00).

I first met Jobe and Marianne while traveling in Sri Lanka. 6 months later I visit them in their home country. Having dinner in a warm and cosy countryside cabin.  Valderes, Norway (8/00).

The most spectacular natural scenery in Europe is in Norway. The mountainous West is mostly treeless tundra. In 2 weeks in Norway, 10 days was spent wandering about the desolate and beautiful high country. That tube which looks like a bazooka is our fishing gear. We would stop at every lake to try our luck. I eventually caught one tiny trout.  Norway (8/00).

This photo has not been PhotoShop'ed. I really am dangling on the edge of a massive cliff. Exploring the beautiful fjordlands of Norway near Geiranger (8/00).

What's the biggest difference between Denmark and America ? Answer : You'd probably get mugged a dozen times if you tried to hitch-hike to Disneyland.  Near Legoland, Denmark (9/00)

Legoland's miniature brick version of Bergen, Norway. I spent a lot of my childhood playing Lego and always dreamed to go to Legoland. To finally visit it was really special for me.  Legoland, Denmark (9/00)

Prague, easily one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Unlike most European cities, it escaped WWII intact. Charles Bridge, Prague (9/00).

The view from Rob's apartment window. Prague, Czech (9/00).

What a difference it makes to a holiday when you have a good friend who is hosting you. From the right : Helena, Rob, me, Helena's parents and Kelly under the table. Zeledny Brod, Czech (9/00)

Charles Bridge photographed from the 2nd floor window of Rob and Helena's apartment on Kampa Island. During the massive floods of 2002, the water level reached the arches of the bridge. Prague (9/00).

The Matterhorn (4478m) is a truly awesome sight. There is no more true wilderness areas left in Europe's Alps but they still are a magnificent mountain range.  Zermatt, Switzerland (9/00).

Sunflowers in full bloom. Most tourists in France just go from one city to another seeing museums, galleries, famous monuments etc. That's a pity because the real beauty of France is in the countryside and small villages. Driving along a quiet countryside road near Toulouse, Southern France (7/00).

Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000

Many possible reasons :
- it kind of sucked.
- I am a jaded 15 month traveller who can't stand mainstream destinations anymore.
- there was trillions of tourists.
- no mountains and sub-par beaches.
- too hot (currently, outside this air-conditioned internet cafe it is over 40 C/110 F).
- met many nasty Greeks.
- still miss the good times of Turkey. They are neighbours but worlds apart. Upon crossing the border from Asian Turkey to European Greece, one turns from a traveller on an adventure to just another tourist on a summer holiday. 

Visited 5 places. Athens and 4 of the supposedly famed Greek Islands; Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and Folegandros. Big time over-rated ! Most of them (especially Santorini) were like a Greek version of Disneyland....all cute and done-up just so us dumb tourists can blow rolls of film on them. In all fairness, Crete was a beautiful place and large enough to explore and get away from it all. 

Now in Athens, a grim place and easily the least inspiring of the usually beautiful European capitals. Had a very happy moment this morning, I booked my flight out of here. YEAH !!! My plane leaves tonight for France.

Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2000

The francs are flying out of the wallet at an alarming rate here in France. Aside from that, I've truly had a wonderful 3 weeks in this beautiful country. Although I prefer travelling in the exotic and chaotic 3rd world, France is my favourite of the rich developed countries. I now understand why the French don't travel much outside their country, they don't have to since its pretty darn good here. 

One thing that really struck me during my stay here is the French lifestyle. They really know how to live well and enjoy the finer things in life. People take things too seriously back home and work wayyyyyy to hard. We all could learn a thing or two from the French. "La Dolce Vita" (the sweet life) might be an Italian saying but its the French who have mastered it to perfection. 

French people have a reputation of being a bit snotty and awkward to foreigners, especially ones who don't parlez vous francais. I have received nothing but warmth, kindness and the most genuinely hospitable people since the remote villages of Asia. 

Many many thanks to the French families I stayed with : Bruno, Sylvie and kids in Antibes (I still miss and your superb pool & Mediteranean Sea view). 

In Toulouse, thanks Pascal, Michael, Genevieve and Vincent for the wonderful country home stay and all the food Genevieve whipped-up. 

In Munster, Germany I attended the weirdest house party ever. Did you know that Germans sing around the piano at their parties and do lots of other strange stuff ? Thank you so much to Fabian and Katrin.....who says there is nothing to see in Germany and their cuisine (brathwurst and saurkraut) is not bad either !! 

Also, a special thanks to all the French motorists (25 separate rides in all) for picking up this strange looking foreigner on the motor-way and lonely country roads, for helping me improve my French on the long rides and saving me HUGE $$$.

 I am now in Holland visiting yet another friend. Tomorrow, I hop into the car with 3 pretty Dutch girls and we head for the French Alps for 2 weeks of tramping around. After that, I'm off to Norway (yup, another friend who happens to live in fjordland) to see some of the most stunning scenery imaginable with my Norwegian host. 

Hey, someone's got to do it, it might as well be me. 

I hope to Canadian summer is being kind to all back home. 

Chai

Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000

Norway - by far the most beautiful place in Europe. It is not for everyone though, most budget backpackers would have cardiac arrest when they see Norwegian prices of things. All the horror stories you hear on prices in Norway are all TRUE. But Norway is quality and worth every $100 bill I whip out to buy a double cheeseburger. OK....thats a bit of an exageration but you get the point. Norway is one of the first places I would like to re-visit. I liked it that much. 

Denmark - Back in 1978 during my first Europe trip with my family I asked my dad, "can we go to Legoland ?". He said it was too far off route (about a 1000 km diversion). I remember being quite dissapointed but now got my chance. Its more suited to kids but I still loved it. I hitch-hiked there with a big LEGOLAND sign and the Danes thought it was quite funny. I covered the few hundred km's much quicker than the train or bus. 

Germany for the World Expo 2000 - Its supposed to be a big flop, nobody going etc. but I thought it was pretty packed and there were big line-ups for the popular pavilions. The good entries were the French, British and United Arab Emirates (got wayyy too much oil money to blow). Canada's was painfully BAD. USA was conspicious in its absense. Malaysia's was surprisingly good and Singapore's was the worst of the lot. 

Now in Prague, one of Europe's prettiest cities if you ask me. Tomorrow I fly to France to meet my parents and tour around with them for a bit.

Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000

Next stop is Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. If I stick to this plan I should be home for x-mas. Then again, Guatamala is just a hop, skip and jump away from South America.....hmmmmmm. 

Warm sunny Carribean beach, HERE I COME. 

See Ya all.

Home

 Next Page