South-East Asia: The Photos

I had a wonderful whirlwind trip!

Without further ado, here are the photos:

Beijing

Bangkok

Hong Kong

Shanghai

The 'back'-buttons in the albums go to the 'Previous Trips' section of our site; sorry about that but they can only go one place and that is where these albums will eventually live. For now, just go back to 'Basecamp' and then click on the next album.

Last breakfast in Shanghai

Well, my trip is almost over - flight home leaves shortly after noon.
I had a wonderful time here in Shanghai with Elke (who has been a great guide showing me different parts of the city) and Danny.
I'm just about packed; Elke and I will have breakfast together (Danny left on business this morning)and then I'm off (on a 400kph train) to the airport.

Signing off from Shanghai.

Greetings from Shanghai

Arrived at Shanghai airport yesterday where I was picked up by Elke and her driver.
I am staying with Danny and Elke and it is great to catch up with them!!!
Off to explore Shanghai a bit this afternoon.

Trip is going very well indeed. The weather here is a 'bit' colder than what I've had so far.

Success on Mt Vinson

Just a quick note to let folks know that I just returned from Antartica where we were successful on Mt Vinson. About to board the plane back the US in the next hour or so. Will be a gruelling 24 hours before I am home.

Greetings from Hong Kong and Congrats to Stephen!!

Hello hello!!!!!!!

I just read the update on the expedition site and it looks like my Sweetpea (and the whole team) was succesful in summitting Mt Vinson!!!!!!! Yihaa!!!!!!! Well Done!!! Pity that the company doesn't update their site over the weekend or we'd have know earlier!!!!

In the meantime I've made it to Hong Kong where I've caught up with Alison who's showing me around for the next few days.
Last night we checked in to our hotel on Hong Kong Island.
This morning we took the Star Ferry to the Kowloon side and wandered around there; this afternoon we're going to Stanley markets.

Ciao for now!

Sydney Dec 3rd

This is my last full day in Sydney - tomorrow 'm off to Hong Kong (via an overnight in Bangkok).
As said in my previous post I'm having a great time catching up with people!

For those of you who've been following the cybercasts of Stephen's expedtion: so far it looks like the weather has been keeping them from reaching the summit - so fingers crossed that they can make it in the next few days!

As I'll be in China for the rest of my trip I won't be able to check our own website, but putting updates on it hasn't been a problem before, so hopefully I'll be able to keep doing that.

Ciao from Sydney!

Sydney Dec 2nd

A very quick update from Sydney where I'm having a great time!!!! I've been busy catching up with lots of people, which has been and is fantastic!!!
Have to run now!

Sydney Nov 30

Hi All!

Made it to Sydney this morning!
I am in the process of calling all my friends here; I've been in touch with some, with others I've left a message. I'm pretty jetlagged - didn't get any sleep on the flight - but I'm not going to sleep half a day away.

It looks like Stephen's expedition is going well - let's hope the wind is more favorable for them tomorrow.

Bangkok - Oriental City

I said goodbye to Beijing yesterday afternoon and hello to Bangkok last night. Fil was waiting for me at the airport - which was great as I arrived quite late - and we took a taxi to his place. Spent the first evening catching up on his roof terrace with beer and wine.

Today we started off with breakfast and coffee at the local Starbucks (yep - and it was rather nice to have a proper latte again since leaving San Francisco). We then embarked on a bit of sightseeing together: took the boat on the river to the Royal Palace and the 30meter long gilded reclining Buddha. Had some lunch and took the riverbus back.
Tonight we're going out with friends of Fil's.

The weather is rather different than in Beijing: here it is hot and humid - and I'm told this is the cool season. There seems to be a constant threat of rain but we only had a bit of that.

Thanksgiving in Beijing

Goodmorning everyone!

All is going very well here in Beijing. I visited the Great Wall yesterday which was one of 'those things' on my list of man-made structures to see. I was in a group with one other couple from London, Tricia and Barry, who were great company. They invited me to have dinner with them last night, which was wonderful.
Today I'm going to explore the 'Hutongs of Beijing' (small, old and still traditional alleyways) by rikshaw and then wander around a bit. The weather here is still gorgeous!

caroline.

Beijing Nov 23

Hi All!

Gorgeous weather here in Beijing: blue skies and cold, but very nice!
Saw the main sites in the city yesterday.... but please remind me to not visit a city anymore that is gearing up for the Olympics as some of the best parts of those sites are closed off to the public for renovations (Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace - only the grounds and some 'lesser' structures are accessible)... oh well.
Off to see the Wall today.
Believe it or not, I can' get to my own website here in China... it just seems to be blocked... no explanation... but no access... so hopefully those blogs make it alright!

We are "go" for Departure

Just been given the word. The flight has been cleared for departure. With good luck we will be in the air in less than 2 hours.

Signing off from Punta Arenas.

Still In Punta Arenas

Yes, still here. The plane did not leave early. So we are back on the original schedule. Hopefully will depart today. Yesterday visibility on the ice was unlimited, but winds were gusting between 20 and 60 miles per hour. The plane is in what they call a "go" status, fully loaded and fueled. We all have to stay in our hotels. They can call the flight at any time. And if they do, we are expected to be in the air flying South within 2 hours of the call. CNN is getting very boring. And the hotel room is very dull.

Beijing Nov 22

Hi All,

I made it safe and sound to Beijing - planning to tour the city today.

Rushing to Depart

We are all rushing to get the our stuff packed correctly and the plane loaded. Looks like we may fly a day early, which would be wonderful. Apparently there has been some very bad weather over the last two weeks and it is currently calm. So while we have the window, we all want to get down to the ice.

Gear check went well, I had everything I needed. I have also had a chance to socialize with my climbing companions. They all seem nice people. We are however missing one person, who is flying in this morning from Santiago sans luggage. If his luggage does not turn up, I do not think he will be getting on the plane.

That is it for now. If there are no more messages, then we departed early. Wish me luck.

Arrived in the Southern Tip of Chile

Arrive a few hours ago in Punta Arenas after 24 hours of flying and very little sleep. A quick shower to freshen up, a little stroll down the main street and now sitting in an Internet Cafe.

Flight was uneventful. And most importantly my two bags arrived. Group gear check is in 30 minutes, so I will find out if anything is missing. I will also get to meet some of my climbing companions, although apparently some are still on route. That is all for now. Signing off from a sunny but cold and windy Punta Arenas.

Leaving on Nov 20th

Hi All!

Just a quick one to get this new travel log started.
I'm leaving tomorrow, Sunday Nov 20 to Beijing, China - the first stop on my trip. I arrive there on Nov 21st. I do not know what internet acces will be like, but I will endeavour to put reasonably regular updates here. And I'm going to try to listen to the cybercasts from Stephen's expeditions as much as I can!!
I guess I better start packing.....

Final preparations for our trips.

As you know by now - if you've been keeping an eye on this - Stephen is leaving for Antartica soon: he's flying out on Sat Nov 19th.
At the moment he's making sure that all his gear is in tip-top condition and that nothing is missing.
For those of you who are interested: it will be possible to follow his trek up the mountain almost 'live' via the cybercasts on the site of the company he is going with. These cybercasts will start once the actual trek is underway - on Nov 20 or 21. The link will be http://www.alpineascents.com/vinson-cybercast.asp
Stephen will not be able to make it to an internet cafe to put personal updates on the site. He'll be back home on Dec 7th and will put an account of his adventure on our site in the days following.

In the meantime Caroline will be jet-setting around a bit herself. She leaves on Nov 20th and will visit Beijing (first time to China), Bangkok (to see Fil), Sydney (to see lots of friends), Hong Kong (with Alison) and Shanghai (to see Elke and Danny). During her trip Caroline expects to have access to the internet and she'll endeavour to put some updates on the 'Current Travel Log' section of our website, so check back there! She'll be gone till Dec 13th.

Vinson Massif - New Expedition Company

Hit a slight hiccup in the expedition preparations. Adventure Consultants, the company I was planning to go with, cancelled the expedition I was scheduled on. A little annoying. But some last minute digging around and I found another expedition company. My seat on the plane had been reserved, so this was the important thing. As far as I can tell there are three confirmed expeditions on the same date. These are Jagged Globe (based in the UK), International Mountain Guides and Alpine Ascents (both based in the US). There maybe more. Well, I am going with Alpine Ascents now. I am very glad to be able to maintain the original departure date. Check-out their site here.

Just spent the morning placing on-line orders for most of my missing gear, so hopefully that will start arriving in the next few weeks. My expensive windsuit has arrived and looks the business. The current gear list can be found here. Just got to get my feet totally sorted out now. Hopefully I can do this during the upcoming week.

Vinson Massif - Equipment Update

It is all about the gear.

Finally decided on a sleeping bag. Details of the bag can be found here. The down pants arrived today, yipee. Caroline thinks I look pretty silly walking around in my down pants.

So now I pretty much have all the body wear, including Thermal underwear (2 pairs), fleece jacket, midweight fleece top, fleece pants, down jacket, down pants and windsuit on order. Maybe missing midweight fleece pants, will have to think about this last piece of gear. Got quite a bit of work to do on head wear and hand wear. Foot wear is going well, what with a large array of socks, climbing boots, newly purchased snow gaiters, overboots on order and bivvy boots. I have pretty much all the climbing and camping gear from previous trips.

I think Caroline is just as excited as I am now that I have all the major items. Her excitment comes from the fact I will not be spending hours on the internet researching various products and technologies.

Vinson Massif - Equipment Update

So the expedition preparations for Vinson Massif are now underway. I have completed all the paperwork, including medical forms, liability waivers, airline tickets, hotel reservations, medical evacuation insurance, travel insurance, etc. The fun bit begins, which involves researching and purchasing additional equipment. It is all about the gear.

The theory is that Antartica is cold and windy. So the major purchase for this trip is a wind-suit, which is basically a one piece goretex outfit. I opted for a kiwi brand and this product. Yes, it is a lot of money to look like a dork. But hopefully it will help reduce the chance of getting frost-bite. On the colder days, under the wind suit I will wear feathered friends down pants and this down jacket (sorry about the spanish). I already have the jacket from my trip up Mt Aconcagua, but the down pants and wind-suit are additions for this trip. And I am assured these new items are suitable for Mt McKinley, should I attempt that fiercely cold mountain.

Next on my list is special cold weather liners by Intuition for my ice boots and these weird neoprene overboots. And for the hands I am thinking of these gloves. All this to avoid geting cold feet and hands.

Mount Vinson - The Preparations Begin

This post is for the folks interested in my upcoming trip to Antarctica. So the wheels are in motion now, and I am definitely heading South to attempt Vinson Massif, the highest point in Antarctica and thus one of the seven summits. I have been thinking about this trip on and off over the last few years. Now I feel I have the skills to attempt the climb, and with a lot of training over the next 3-4 months, I should also have the fitness. For anyone who wants to know why (on god's green earth) I would want to spend my entire yearly allowance of vacation on a single trip, you will just have to read 'The Home of the Blizzard' which is Mawson's thrilling account of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (link to amazon for more details).

So if you want to find out what is involved, here are a series of links with more details

- A good overview from one of the expedition companies.
- Bio information on the proposed guide. Luis sounds like he knows what he is doing.
- Details of the trip I am going on from the expedition company I am going with.
- A map showing the flight routes.

Lovely Trip to London and Belgium

Last Saturday I got back from a 14-day trip to Europe. Stephen had to go to London for work - he's still there actually - and I decided to go with him.

I spent 4 days in London but the main purpose of my trip across the Atlantic this time was to catch up with family first and a few friends.

Saw friends in London: Lisa & Dan, Silvia & Wayne, Heleen
and in Belgium: Kristien & Erik, Hilde, Danny & Elke - I didn't organize too many visits to friends as I didn't want to rush from one place to another.
I spent most afternoons with my mum sipping coffee, talking, visiting Brugge, having lunch,...
and spent a lot of time with Stefaan sipping wine, visiting his horses, having dinner,...
Also caught up with extended family: Bart & Gisele, Annie & Erik and 'Jantje'.

Stephen joined me in Gent and Eeklo for the weekend.

I had a fabulous time catching up with everyone!
photos