Hong Kong, CHINA

I am safely back from Phuket Island, Thailand....and can report that I have never seen Phuket as beautiful and clean as it is now after the tsunami. It's also packed with tourists and way too busy for me.

Back home in Hong Kong, I am now drooling over the 15,146 pictures I took during the Round-the-World from May 11th to November 11th ...all 23 countries I visited.

Preparing now for my upcoming trip to Southern Africa and the Middle East.

I decided to postpone my trip to northern South America, Central America and Mexico...apologies to those people I promised that I'll be "back soon". Will take a little longer but "I WILL BE BACK"

Pictures will be posted soon....just waiting for the delivery of my new computer.

Phuket Island, THAILAND

I arrived safely back home in Hong Kong...and after two nights I left to southern Thailand for a well deserved rest. Will be here until November 21st and then back to Hong Kong to plan my upcoming travels.

Prologue.....6 months, 23 countries, 15,146 pictures

As I reflect on the past six months, I really want to thank all of you who supported me with your emails and text messages. At times...many times, it was a daunting task for me, solo traveling, into the unknown. What more could I have wanted than to pop into an internet cafe and reading emails from friends and family. If it wasn't for your emails....this trip would have been a lot tougher. In particular, I must thank the following people:

1. My great supporting friend, Tsui Chi Ho (Hong Kong), who managed my finances at home and who stayed in regular contact via email and phone to ensure I was still alive and kicking. Without him I could not have left home for 6 months!

2. Erica Kirkby (South Africa) who stayed in contact with me through regular supporting emails.

3. Daleen Steyn (South Africa) who constantly stayed in contact with me via SMS to ensure I was safe....as she said she was traveling along my side...at a far distance.

4. My mom and dad (South Africa) for their prayers.

5. The rest of my family and friends....who didn't write (and read my blog) as often as I hoped :(

6. Janet Joosten (Canada) for backing me up in South America...checking frequently on my blogs to make sure I'm alive and ready to call for help if no word from me for more than 5 days. Thanks also for preparing a soft bed and good food during my stay in Toronto...and for preparing my Hawaii itenerary.

7. All the wonderful people who provided private homestays for me in Eastern Europe and Russia. Thanks for trusting me in your homes. In particular, to Elizabeth in Stockholm, who left home just 1 hour after I arrived in her beautiful apartment and returning 3 days later.

8. Too many names to mention in South America....but I must mention Rene in Valparaiso (Chile), Fernando (Buenos Aires), Luis (Rio de Janeiro), Miki (Iguazu and Arraial d'Ajuda, Brazil)), and the friendly Colombian guy in Mexico City (I really forgot your name!). PLUS, too many other wonderful people who were incredibly wonderful to me!

9. My ex-colleagues (ACNielsen and Nielsen-Netratings) from around the world...most notebly Asia, UK, Scandinavia and New York. Friends from around the world, in particular in Hong Kong, Canada and South Africa. Thanks for your inspirational emails!

10. The staff at the hotels and hostels who guided travelers like me...I have to single out the staff in Montreal, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Salvador (Brazil), Mexico City, oh...and many others!

11. Michelle Lee, Farrington Amex Travel , Hong Kong, for taking care of all my travel arrangements from start to end.

12. My religious beliefs carried me a long way! I always tried to go to the furthest outcrop, the highest rocks, always to the off-the-beaten track. Often I saw only a single pair of tracks on the sand, and I knew I was been carried again. After more than 6 months of very daring experiences, I arrived back home in Hong Kong only with one black finger nail (when I fell off the waterfall in Palenque, Mexico). I praise God! My inspiration came from Dr. Schuller. Dare to read it, you'll be as happy as I am.

I'm not finished yet!! So be with me!

South and Central America, and Hawaii, in Review

I'm home---done with my first 6 months trip Around-the-World which included Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, selected cities in Canada/USA, South/Central America, and Hawaii. Its time to review the highlights of South America, Mexico, Guatemala, and Hawaii (in no particular order):

1. Argentina: Parrilla Tenedor Libre -- the most succulent, cheap, and highest quality meats, BBQ Buffet style, most notably in Mendosa for the cheapest prices and Buenos Aires for variety.

2. Bolivia: Salar Uyuni (salt lakes with no end), pink, bourgandy and turquoise lakes with flamingos, and thermal areas of bubbling mud pools and geysers

3. Peru: The three day trek along the original Inca Trail to eventually arrive on Day 4 at 6am high above the majestic Machu Picchu.

4. Argentina: Reaching the charming town of Ushuaia, the most southern town in the world and gateway to Antarctica (I could not get on the Antarctica boat as I was 2 months too early!)

5. Argentina: Upsala and Perito Moreno Glaciers near El Calafate -- the world largest glaciers surrounded by snow capped mountains, blue lakes and magnificent floating icebergs

6. Uruguay: Turning back time to the 1960's and 70's where horse carts, Morris and Studabakers are roaming the streets.

7. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, probably the most beautiful natural setting to build a city with beautiful people

8. Argentina and Brazil: The thunder of billions of liters of water plunging down to the Iguaçu River surrounded by mist enshrouded tropical rain forests

9. Chile: The second best wine in the world (after South Africa) -- and so affordable its a give-away

10. Argentina: Mating whales, Elephant Seals fighting for dominance, and Sea Lions and Penguins basking in the sun -- this was a single day experience at Peninsula Valdez

11. Mexico and Guatemala: Ancient ruins of the Aztec and Mayans surrounded by tropical rain forests inhabited with Spider Monkeys, Howler Monkeys and Toucans.

12. Hawaii...splendid to say the least. Helicopter flight over the high volcanic mountains and Na Pali coastline of Kauai Island, helicopter trip over Kilauea, the active volcano on the Big Island, and, doing the 7 hour hiking trip over recent lava flows to eventually reaching the fresh red-hot flowing lava. At 1000 celsius, you may touch it and never forget that experience! Oh...and watching the surfers riding the huge waves (Banzai Pipeline) on Oahu's north shore.

Big Island, Hawaii, USA

Quick....highlights of the last few days:

1. Watching the surfers riding the big waves at Oahu's north coast.
2. Helicopter flight over the stunning mountains and coast of Kauai Island
3. Helicopter flight over the active volcano of the Big Island.
4. Doing the lava walk and coming in real close contact with the flowing red hot lava...I could have touched it but at 1000 Celcius - its HOT...real HOT. Took many awesome pictures.

Tomorrow I am flying back to Hong Kong via Japan...and Sunday I'm off to the Thai Islands to REST!

Cheers from Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii, USA

Arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. This place looks very promising and over the next 6 days I will explore the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island (Hawaii).

Will report back in the few days....sun, surf, volcanoes, mountains, waterfalls, and more!

UPDATE, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH
Tomorrow, Sunday, I am flying north to Kauai Island to do a 60 minute helicopter tour (USA Heli Tours) of the island. Will be spectacular! Then on Monday morning I fly via Hawaii Airlines to the Big Island (Hawaii Island) to do the active volcano Lava Walk (ouch!!) and an evening view from the sea of the lava flowing into the sea, and will also do the Mauna Keo crater in the north. Back to Oahu Island (Waikiki Beach) on Wednesday morning and then up to the north shore to see more BIG wave surfing. On Thursday morning I am flying back home (Hong Kong) via Japan.

Aloa!!

Mexico City, MEXICO -- Time to leave...

The Festival of the Day-of-the-Dead in Oaxaca City was celebrated with music and dance in the Zocalo (central city square), street parades, and most interesting was the night vigils at the cemetery where tons of flowers decorated the freshly cleaned graves, further decorated with all of the favourite foods and drinks of the deceased. Coke and Pepsi are very popular as the burping helps to bring out the bad spirits!

The 6.5 hour bus ride from Oaxaca City was amazing to say the least. The most spectacular mountains, covered for miles by huge cacti.

Had a close view of Popo´s smoke clouds as this active volcano huffs and puffs 24 hours a day.
Popocatepetl (popularly known as Popo), the second highest volcano in Mexico, is a giant stratovolcano, 70 km (45 miles) southeast of downtown Mexico City. Popo is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, having had 15 eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519 AD. Not far from Popo we passed his sister volcano (can't recall the name) covered with a blanket of snow.

The Festival of the Day-of-the-Dead was celebrated all over Mexico City. I spent all morning at the Zoo (probably the best Zoo I have ever seen -- and I have seen many zoos around the world). I attended the festivities at the Mexico City Zocalo this afternoon -- a huge crowd, many traditional Indians (spiritual leaders) performing cleansing ceremonies on the locals who stood in long lines for the 5 minute cleansing act of smoke, soft chanting, and surrounded by the necessary religious embellishments which includes bones, dried pieces of animals, lots of flowers, food for the dead souls, etc.

This is my last night in Mexico...I vow to be back here ASAP as I fell in love with this wonderful country. Tomorrow morning at 7am its time to lift off for Honolulu, Hawaii, with a brief stop-over in San Francisco -- the fairest city of them all!