Meat n Spuds

Public TrANTsport

2005-07-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

We've done so much since the last update so not going to go into too much detail here now. This post is for all of you who hate getting the hour and a half bus upto Dublin. Last write up we were just about to leave Chang Mai for Laos. Got 6 hour bus to Chiang Khong on border then turbo
speed boat for 6 hours to Luang Prabang in Laos.

Most unconfortable journey ever. Stayed in Luang Prabang for only 2 nights as there wasn't
anything to do there at all really. Pubs closed at 11 and no beachs so on down through the mountains for 7 hours to Vang Vieng. Planned on staying 2 nights but stayed 3 hopping in big rubber tubes down the river stopping off at riverside bars made from bamboo. Good couple of days and weather was 'fantastic'. Now it was time for the killer.

We got a 35 hour bus journey from Vang Vieng in Laos through Vientianne into Vinh in
Vietnam and on up to Hanoi city where we are just about to leave. Bus journey was meant to take 26 hours but took 35 because of one tyre
blowing up(see picture) and 2 punctures.

Blown Up Tyre

Laos - Vietnam Border

Uncomfortable but the valium got us through it. In Hanoi for 2 nights before going to Halong bay which is a sea full of 3000 boulder mountains. Well worth the trip with a lot of madness along the way. Hijacking ships and the 3 musketeers did good again!! Back to Hanoi. Hanoi is ok. Nothing special just full of motorbikes blaring horns at each other. Its impossible to be anywhere in the city for 3 seconds without being blown away by horns. Nightlife ok. Took it easy enough most nights with a rooftop shindig one night. Also picked up Kev the mad mongrel from Monaghan(long hair in picture).

All of us Kev and Ted from Australia on Boat in Halong

We are now getting ready for a 28 hour train journey to Nha Trang see purple line on map.
Should arrive in Nha Trang at 3 in the morning just in time for last orders.

The Ant Files

2005-07-26T03:46:00.000-07:00

Loads of ant jokes by Johnny and Shane quite late at night

What do you call a polite ant?

A pleasant

What do ants take when their sick?

Antibiotics

What do you call an infected ant?

Antiseptic

What is an ants favourite drink?

Fanta

What do ants bring home from holidays?

Ornamants

Where do they put them?

On the mantelpiece

Where do ants wear on their legs?

Their pants

What do you call a tired ant?

A pant

What do you call a disabled ant?

A cant

What do you call an ant with leaves on it?

A plant

What do you call a bright ant?

A lantern

What do you call an ant going over a speed bump?

Rampant

What do you call an ant that keeps getting burnt?

Fire retardant

What do you call an ant that plays the guitar?

Robert Plant

What do you call an oblong ant?

Slant

What do you call an polite ant?

A pleasant

What do you call an angry ant?

Rant

What do you call an ant that moves away from home?

An immigrant

What do you call an ant that doesn't go to school?

Truant

What do you call an ant that says no?

Shant

What do you call an unhappyant?

Unpleasant

How do ants get into their nests?

Through the entrants

What do you call a genorous xmas ant?

A santa

Whats an ants favourite part in the bible?

The new testamant

Whats an ants favourite food?

Antchovies

What do ants study?

Antrapology

Where do ants go on holiday?

The antartic

What do you call an ant and his DIY friend?

Ant and decker

What do you call ant with a long nose?

An elephant

What do you call a really good ant?

A fantastic

What do you call an ants husband?

An uncle

What do you call a kings ant?

A queen ant

What do you call a poor ant?

A peasant

What do you call an ant in a rush?

Frantic

What do male ants do when they see female ants?

Fantasizise

What do ants sing?

Chants

What sort of sex do ants like?

Tantric

What do you call an ant that cant have babies?

Impotant

What do you call a needy ant?

A want

Where do idiot german ants live?

Antwerp

What do call a really old ant?

An antique

What do you call an ant on a deers head?

A antler

Scraw Scraw Jungle Scraw

2005-07-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'll start where I left off. We got the night train to Chang Mai sleeping in crazy little cabins. Seany met 4 beautiful Welsh women (his words) and is looking forward to getting a comment.

We got to Chang Mai at 11 in the morning and then after a short break went to see a big temple on a hill. No shorts were allowed so thats why the two lads are wearing pyjamas. After the temple we went to see how silk and silver were made. Exciting stuff

Got back to the hotel and then back out on the town. Seen a music shop so ended up starting a band. Bought guitar, drum, harmonica and tamborine drum and busked. Didn't make a penny. A girl from one of the bars then got us to sit at the back of her pub probably just to get us off the street. We were that bad! Out for the rest of the night then home at breakfast time again.

Then time for the jungle and what a place it is. After about 2 or 3 hours sleep each we went off to the jungle stocking up on jungle food first(see above). First stop was elephant trekking. Pretty good. Then into the jungle with our guide Siam an american couple, a swiss couple and Johannas from Germany all of which were great company. I think they enjoyed the company of the crazy irish(their words). We hiked for 15 miles altogether most of it on the first day. After 2 hours we arrived at waterfall and went for a swim. Great experience. We reached the hill tribe we were staying with after 3 hours. Complete culture shock. Fairly quiet night sitting in jungle camp and then bed.

Next day loads more trekking and waterfalls before reaching our next camp then it was time for a piss up in the jungle. Our guide Siam got us to play drinking games and you can see the result below. Fantastic stuff.

More trekking and then bamboo surfing(boating) which was great. Igoe must of fell off at least 10 times and then sunk our boat. Back to Chang Mai then and we're off on the town now. We've all got our heads shaved now aswell. Laos in the morning so this is Johnny and the jungle monkeys signing off.

Sign

P.S More pictures of us available here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29073192@N00/?saved=1

Boda Bing Boda Bangkok

2005-07-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!

2 days gone by and already this the best holiday of our lives. Flew into switzerland and went into Zurich for about 3 hours. Possibly the most boring, expensive and miserable city in the world.

Arrived in Bangkok and straight out on the town via Mc Donalds. Got a tuc tuc taxi to tourist office to plan the route. Drove around in this tuc tuc all 5 of us jammed into the back. Spent 3 hours in the tuc tuc driving around the city drinking cans and then to the khao san road. Driver only wanted 50 cent for the whole 3 hours. Got him petrol vouchers by trying onsuits. Out in the pubs and then more tuc tucs before getting home.

Our original route has gone backwards. Same as map except other way round. Have loads of pictures to upload but no time at the moment. Getting a night train to the jungle in an hour. Elephants, white water rafting and bamboo rafting.

Second night was much the same ending up home just in time for breakfast. Went racing two tucs round the city doing wheelies Sean and Dave in one tuk tuk and the rest of us in another one. Shane and dave then decided to go skinny dipping. Got stopped by the police for singing you'll never walk alone at 1 in the morning. Got a guitar off a busker and had half the street dancing. Friendliest people in the world.

Been in the tourist office all day today and they've ordered pizzas, brought us where ever we've wanted. So everybody off to the jungle now. Might be a while before getting more up here.

Signed,

The boys

Our Big Adventure

2005-07-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

What started off as an idea we bounced off each other every time we were out for a few drinks has now turned into an adventure that will probably match anything we do for the rest of our lives. Its Sunday now and the plane leaves on Wednesday. Below is a dodgy map i've thrown together of the route we're taking. Theres lots left out but its pretty much right. The bigger the red blobs the longer the stay.

I don't know how well i'm going to keep this blog going but i'm sure i'll add a bit now and again. I'll hopefully have a few pictures of the boxers(long story) Vinny, Sean, Dave and Shane up soon from our last weekend together down in Mammy Coopers house.