JKRoaming – Travel Blog

If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment
Ernest Rutherford

This page is all about the numbers and the milestones for our journey.

Travel

 

 

Most Northerly point: Edinburgh Airport, Scotland

Most Southerly point: Port Arthur – Tasmania, Australia

Most Easterly point: Batch Winery, Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Most Westerly point: Ross Castle, Killarney, Ireland

 

Places Visited:

Delhi , Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bombay (Mumbai), Calungate (Goa), Palolem (Goa), Hampi, Bangalore, Fort Cochin, Munnar, Kunchittany, Kumily, Allepey

Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Dhulikel, Pokhara, Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Bandipur, Patan, Bodhnath

Bangkok, ChiangKhon, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Sukhotai, Lampang

Sisophon, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kep, Kampot, Bokor Hill Station, Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Koh Rong Island

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Cu Chi (Tunnels), Mui Ne, Dalat, Nha Trang, Danang, Hoi An, Lang Co, Hue, Hanoi, Hui Van Pass, Halong Bay, Sapa, Lao Cai, Ta Van, Ban Ho

Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Pac Ou, Nong Khiaw, Pakbeng, Huay Xai

Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yangshuo, Xingping, Guilin, Hangzhou, Tunxi, Huangshan, Tangmo, Chenghan, Shanghai, Beijing, Jinshaling (Great Wall), Xian, Chengdu, Shuhé, Lijiang, Baisha, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dali, Kunming, Lamma Island

Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Manukan Island, Sapi Island, Batu Caves, Sepilok, Sandakan, Lakau Bay, Sukau, Mount Kinabalu

Padang Bai, Manggis Village, Jemulek (Amed), Gili Air, Gili Meno, Senggigi, Gili Trawangan, Legian, Yogyakarta, Borobodur, Malang, Mount Bromo, Sempol, Ijen Crater, Seminyak,

Western Australia: Perth, Fremantle, Busselton, Gnarabup, Margaret River, Prevelly Beach, Cape Leeuwin, Augusta, Pemberton, Walpole, Denmark, Albany, Hyden (Wave Rock), Lake Grace, York, Stirling, Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park

Victoria: Melbourne, St. Kilda, Collingwood,

New South Wales: Greater Sydney CBD Area, Manly, Mosman,Palm Beach, Narrabeen, The Basin,The Blue Mountains (Katoomba,Leura,Wentworth Falls),  Hunter Valley Wine Region (Pobolkin),Kiama,Gerringong,Werri Beach,Berry,Wollongong, Minnamura, Shoalhaven,Callala Beach,Vincentia,Huskisson,Hyams Beach,Byron Bay, Bangalow

ACT: Canberra,Kingston, Manuka, Port Jervis National Park

Tasmania: Hobart, Launceston, Tamar Valley,St. Helens, Oatlands, Campbell Town, Perth (Tasmania), Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires,Claremont, Bicheno, Freycinet National Park, Maria Island National Park,Port Arthur,Swansea (Tasmania), Triabunna,

Queensland: Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach, Whitehaven Beach, Border Island,Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach, Noosaville, Beerwah (Australia Zoo), Brisbane

South Australia: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills,Glenelg, Maclaren Vale,Henley Beach

Northern Territory: Darwin, Parap, Litchfield National Park, Adelaide River

 

Seoul,Panmunjeom (DMZ)

Cork, Clonmel, Kilkenny,Killarney,Malahide (Dublin)

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayrshire

London,Greenwich

Budapest

Waiheke Island, Devonport,Auckland,Mangere, Glenorchy, Queenstown, Arthur’s Point, Arrow Town, Wanaka, Lower Shotover

Cape Town, Robben Island, Camps Bay, Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands, Franschoek, Stellenbosch, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, Muizenburg, Gordon’s Town, Hermanus, Swellendam, Mossel Bay,Knysna, Plettenburg Bay

Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Nara, Kyoto, Hemiji, Kobe, Tokyo

 

Modes of transport:

 

 

 

 

• Elephants: 2
• Mopeds:3
• Cable Car:6
• Motor Bikes:2
• Golfcarts:6
• Driving a Car: 40
• Driving a Campervan: 16
• Trams: 25
• Seaplane: 1
• Kayak: 2

Sights

Cambodia (1) : Angkor Wat
India (6) : Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Red Fort (Delhi), Hampi Ruins, Jantar
Mantar, Amber Fort
Nepal (1) : Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur
Vietnam (3) : Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town, Ha Long Bay
Laos (1) : Luang Prabang Ancient Town
Thailand (1) : Sukhotai Ruins
China (11) : South China Karst, West Lake (Hangzhou), Mount Huangshan, Great
Wall,Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Temple of Heaven, Summer
Palace, Old Town Lijiang, Silk Road (Xian),Three Parallel Rivers
of Yunnan (Tiger Leaping Gorge)
Malaysia (1) : Mount Kinabalu National Park
Indonesia (2) : Prambanan Temple, Borobodur Temple
Australia (10): Ningaloo Reef, Shark Bay, Fremantle Prison, Royal Exhibition
Building and Carlton Gardens (Melbourne), Sydney Opera House, Port
Arthur Heritage Site, Maria Island National Park (Tasmania), Blue
Mountains, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest
UK (1): Maritime Greenwich
Hungary (1): Budapest Old City
South Africa (2): Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island
Japan (5): Himeji Castle,Ancient Kyoto,Hiroshima Genbaku Dome, Itsukushima Shrine, Ancient Nara

 

 

 

 

 

• Observatories: 2
• Synagogues: 1
• Beaches: 104
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 16
• Islands: 32
• Clan Houses: 9
• Waterfalls: 13
• Peaks: 12
• Mosques: 3
• Volcanoes: 2
• Breweries: 6
• Caves: 6
• Lighthouses: 11
• Forest Canopy Walkways: 4
• Theatres: 7
• Parliaments: 2
• Chocolate Factories : 3
• Windmills : 1
• National Parks: 20
• Stadiums: 6
• Prisons: 4
• Castle: 2

People ( are people!!)

# Of Scots encountered: 295 (+31)

# Of Irish encountered: 265

Best responses to “Hi I am from Scotland…” :

• “Ayr? Is that near Prestwick?”
• “Is that a country in Europe?”
• “Will they finally get Independence?” “Good Whiskey”, “I studied Engineering in Glasgow University”, “Glasgee”, “Och Aye the Noo”
• All the ATMs in Nepal, Laos and on Gili Air have a Scottish Female voice booming out instructions
• Our Nepalese guide in Patan studied in Ayr College for two years. He had an RBS Bank card. Talked about Dam Park. Had been to Dumfries. Crazy!!
• Our Travel Agent in Saigon was very happy to hear that Karen was Scottish and asked her to speak some Scottish. Her response was: ‘Och Aye the Noo’
• In Chiang Mai there is a Scottish Bar full of saltires! We also overheard drunk English people putting on the worst Scottish Accents.
• Hong Kong boasts street names such as Fife Street, Argyle Street amongst many others as well as the area of Aberdeen harbour on Hong Kong Island.
• The Proclaimers “I would walk 500 miles” is a favourite song for live music and street buskers across Sydney

Best responses to “Hi I am from Ireland….” :

• “To be sure… to be sure.. to be sure” – Lady in Launceston Tourist Information Office on hearing John was from Ireland
• “With that accent of course you are!” – After telling someone in Albany (Aus) I was from Cork.
• “U2”,
  “There are religious groups in Ireland that are so cruel that they will kill you as soon as look at you!!”
• The company that made the Titanic still exists,
• The Economy is very good in Ireland
• In the Munnar Tea Factory one of the workers grabbed me, on hearing I was Irish, and showed me one of the leaf rollers – made in Belfast Ireland!
• In Saigon you can get Vietnamese breakfast or Irish breakfast
• In Gary’s Irish Bar in Vang Vieng you will meet half of cork!
• Roy Keane is still popular in Asia, and Shay Given too!
• There is a restaurant in Tiazefang (Shanghai) called Ireland’s Potato (Yeah!!)
• According to AirAsia checkin desk at Kunming Airport my country doesn’t exist!!!
• “Do you know Ballycooley, in Dublin” – Swiss guy at Mount Kinabalu – Malaysia. He had worked with IBM there.

Celebrity Stalking!

Celebrities met: 9

• Ray Meagher (aka Alf Stewart) (Kirribilli Butchers)
• Tom Hardy (Heathrow Airport)
• Harrison Ford (Star Wars Fan Event)
• Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars Fan Event)
• George Galloway (Lancaster Services)
• Suggs – Lead Singer of Madness (Heathrow Airport)
• Joe Deane (Mumbai)
• Peter Overton – Channel 9 Anchor (The Basin)
• Tom Piotrowski – CommSec Market Analyst and Media Guru (Work)
• Warwick Davis – Seamill Hydro Hotel at my Wedding
• Best Celebrity Moment: Harrison Ford at Star Wars Event (Our eyes met!!) and Warwick Davis – what a gent!

Celebrities spotted: 6

• Fabio Capello: stuck in Mumbai traffic next to the tour bus.
• Archie Knox eating his dinner in Seamill Hydro Hotel.
• Russell Crowe (Sydney Opera House)
• Jason Flemying – stayed at our hotel in Budapest.
• Paul McGinley – On a flight to Heathrow
• Brian Kerr – Dublin Airport

Football Club Jerseys Spotted – not fakes!

1. Barcelona:101
2. Manchester United:83
3. Chelsea:60
4. Arsenal:58
5. Germany:50
6. Liverpool: 49
7. Real Madrid:44
8. Brazil:42
9. AC Milan:32
10. Manchester City:27
11. Australia: 24
12. Spain:23
13. Argentina:21
14. Paris Saint Germain (PSG):19, Bayern Munich:19, Glasgow Celtic:19–1 in the middle of the Dharavi Slums!!
15. Western Sydney Wanderers:16
16. Borussia Dortmund: 15
17. Holland:14,Sydney FC:14
18. Ireland:13,Japan 13, Tottenham Hotspurs: 13,France: 13
19. Inter Milan:12, Juventus:12

Others:

• England,ChangRai United (Thai) x10, Everton x10, AS Roma: 10
• Colombia x9
• Sukhotai F.C. (Thai) x8,Boca Juniors x8,Newcastle United x8
• Portugal x6, Italy x6
• Scotland x5, LA Galaxy x5, Aston Villa x5,Southampton x5  — First one in Hoi An, Vietnam
• Ajax x4, Fulham x4, Mexico x4, Lyon x4,Russia x4
• Sweden x3,Queens Park Rangers x3,Philadelphia Union x3, Greece x3,Hull City x3
• West Ham United x2,Zenit St. Petersburg x2,Sheffield United x2, Palmeirias x2, Muangthong United F.C. (Thai) x2, Fiorentina x2, Central Coast Mariners x2,Athletico Madrid x2, Belgium x2,Kaizer Chiefs x2,Sunderland x2,Ghana x2 — Walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge,Glasgow Rangers x2 — Waiting on a ferry from Senggigi (Indonesia),
• Athletic Bilbao,Bangkok Glass(Thai), Bhutan,Blackburn Rovers, Brentford — Traders Skylounge in Kuala Lumpur, Brighton and Hove Albion, Corinthians, Croatia,Crystal Palace,Deportivo La Coruna, DC United,Estonia,Fenerbahce — Walking around Bangkok, FC Porto,Feyenoord, Galatasaray — Temple in Bangkok,  Grimsby Town — In Kirribilli, Sydney,, Monaco — On Gili Trawangan, Nantes, Nottingham Forest, FC Nurnberg, Poland,Reading,River Plate — Walking the Great Wall of China,Singhtarua F.C. (Thai),Singapore,Sporting Lisbon, Switzerland,Turkey,Tanzania — In Parramatta,UD Almeria — On Flight to Yogyakarta, USA,Valencia,Wellington Phoenix — Walking over Sydney Harbour Bridge,Bournemouth FC,Swansea,Napoli

GAA Jerseys Spotted:

• Cork GAA x9
• Kilkenny GAA x7
• Mayo GAA x4
• Dublin GAA x3
• Killeagh GAA,Manhattan Gaels GAA,Limerick GAA,Kerry GAA,Tipperary GAA,Armagh GAA,Sligo GAA,Wexford GAA,Tyrone GAA,Ballinasloe GAA,Derry GAA

Rugby Jerseys Spotted:
Glasgow Warriors x45 — Happened to stumble across Fan event at George’s Square,Glasgow — oops!

• Ireland x19
• Australia x17,
• New Zealand x15
• British & Irish Lions x13
• Fiji x11
• Munster x11
• Scotland x8
• England x7
• South Africa x4
• Newcastle Falcons x3,Kenya x3,Hong Kong Rugby Club x3

France,Leinster,Argentina,USA Rugby,Montpellier Rugby (Super 14),Ulster Rugby x2,Japan,Harlequins,Wasps

NBA Jerseys Spotted:

Chicago Bulls x37 (My main man ROSE!)

Boston Celtics x29

LA Lakers x22

Miami Heat x19
Cleveland Cavaliers x9
New York Knicks x8,LA Clippers x8
Orlando Magic x7,
Brooklyn Nets x6
Oklahoma City Thunder x4,Sacramento Kings x4
Phoenix Suns x2
San Antonio Spurs x3
Charlotte Hornets x2
Golden State Warriors x3

Detroit Pistons,Houston Rockets,New Orleans Pelicans,Denver Nuggets,Seattle Supersonics,Portland Trailblazers

NFL Jerseys Spotted:

New England Patriots x2
Denver Broncos