Finally I can write my last update of my trip. The last update, because I finished my trip and I’m already at home in Switzerland searching a job…

The pictures are now all uploaded in my page here, and are waiting for comments from you!

After arriving in Fremantle I went to the prison. Don’t worry, I didn’t worked against law, but had to visit the museum in Fremantle, because it is a very famous one in down under and a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its history. Initially known as the Convict Establishment, it was constructed as a prison for convicts, using convict labour, between 1851 and 1859. They had one of the one of the toughest Jobs in one of the driest region of the world!

From Fremantle I took a boat to Perth, where I was in two different Hostels and something about 4 days. I have needed this time to work out the shock of the difference of cultural, temperature, humidly an prices between south east Asia and Australia… For once, I had to organize everything by myself, nobody wants to sell me a tour, a ride on a rickshaw or some fruits… And I was not anymore very handsome for the locals, and nobody wanted to take a picture with me… :‘-(

So I had to check and compare the prices online for the Pinnacles Tour, and I was able to book the Tour as well online! That time it was special for me! 😀

We had a great guide and a learnt a lot about the Marsupials (I just say one thing: different sizes of nippels! :-P) and that this region has the biggest biodiversity of the world!

The next day I took the prospector, a train, to Kalgoorlie and its Super pit of a gold mine nearby. Actually there ist nothing really more to see beside a big hole in the land with big machines inside…

Here I really recognized, that Australia is not really a good Country for a lonesome Backpacker, which decided to travel by land without any plans, because I had to stay 4 Days longer to wait for the Indian Pacific Train to Port Augusta: He runs only once a week, and there is no other public transportation. And I didn’t found a travel mate or a lift to the east because winter time. So then, it was a little bit a waste of time…

In Port Augusta I spent only one night, because I arrived very early in the morning about 2 AM, and I got luck to make a reservation for a Room, because the streets where empty and all receptions closed on this time.

In the evening I took a greyhound bus to Alice Springs, and the couch was really comfortable, with USB charging ports!

Alice Springs is the starting point for tours to Kata Tjuta and Uluru (Ayers Rock), I think the biggest sandstone formation in the world, then what you see on the Pictures, is only about 20% of the whole formation… Yes, the rock reaches about 6km deep!

A lot of People want to climb the ULURU, but it is a sacred site of the Aboriginal people Anangu, the conflict is still going.

But anyways, the trip was really great, and I cannot describe all my impressions here. More fotos you will see here to get a imagination…

After some last beers with almost the whole group, we saw some guys starting a fight in the bar, and soon the bottles were flying through the room… We decided to leave the place quickly.

On the next Morning I took a greyhound bus back south to Adelaide (about 24 hours drive), from where I start to plan a trip to the Kangoroo Island for 3 nights. On the Island was much to see, for example a colony of seals,

or the remarkable rocks,

or a Trip with a bike,

and THIS Westernmill of corse 😛

I was surpriced, that it was easier to find following street sign instead one with a Kangoroo:

So then, after enjoying the island I had to move further, and I decided to go over the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and skip Sidney, This road starts officially in Warrnambool, but nobody didn’t know how to go there. First i asked around in the busterminal, and they told me to go to a hostel, they could have more possiblities… anyway, In the end i found the best connection on Internet by myself, and told to the office in the hostel to book me a bus to Mount Gambier, where I slept two nights in a prison.

I could walk around in the old prison a and read the information plates, of corse there were nobody arrested anymore, but the feeling was great.

Warrnambool is next to the see, and there would be possible to see whales, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to see any of this big animals, even when the people in the lookout told me where they are… Normally they make not so spectacular jumps or showing their tales before diving again. But I saw some beautiful rainbows and had a nice time with sunny days.

---

---

 

 

For the Great Ocean Road I took a common public bus, which stops on every nice place for several minutes. Yes, sometimes I had like to spend more time, but on the other side it was better than with a big amount of people, because the feeling of see the places almost alone was great.

In Apollo Bay (my most southernst Point on my Trip!) I had to change the bus and wait for something about 3 hours, and the tourist information center was not able to carry my bag for this short time and there were nowhere lockers available, so I had to carry my whole stuff with myself, and could not make a longer hike. Whatever, later in Melbourne, after changing in Geelong to a train, Esther picked me up on the train station, and we went to their house, where Marc was arriving soon after we arrived. Together we had a really nice time which was perfect for ending my trip. After I visited Melbourne a little bit by myself, we went camping to the most eastern point of my trip, we have seen the most highest tree in Virginia, waching the flying foxes during the dusk in a park and had eaten great vegetarian food back in Melbourne.

Before I went to the Airport, I got time to walk trough the streets and watching some street arts.

Thanks to you both, to make my trip perfect!

So then, please leave any more comments and I hope to see you (all who are reading this stories) again here in Switzerland if not done already! 😀

See you next trip…

bye

Hi @ all! Yes, I made it! I’m writing now this text in Australia, and I went to here without to take a plane! But first one by one.

The fotos are now not only visible in my dropbox, no as well in the gallery, where you can leave some comments to a pictures…

First what I made in Malakka was finding a Hostel, but because of the weekend my favorite one was full already, but I found another one easily after 15 minutes, and this one has  windows to the outside! 🙂

Next thing was to decide, where will do next, because I still had one Week left before my cargo ship leaves from Singapore. So I decided to hang out (again) at the beach for the last time, but this time to another island than last time, but my starting point was as well in Mersing.

Arrived in Pulau Besar I saw, that I got a cheap room (homestay) but there were not really cheap places to eat, around, so after the 5 Days there, I run almost out of money… The Island is fantastic. Beautiful landscape, great and lonesome beaches (unfortunately with lots of sandflies), some good (But not really perfect, and sometimes with seabugs) snorkeling spots. But anyway, for chill out It was perfect for me, I got enought Sun, Beach and Jungle for some time.

On the same Way like something about 2.5 Month ago I went  directly to Singapore to prepare my stuff and watch last time the Visual show in Marina Bay Sands, before leaving to the terminal of my cargo ship.

The bridge of the Vessel

The voyage to AUS was long, but I was really interested and got some information about the ship like safety, machine and so on, and I had as well lot to read and enaught movies for not getting bored…

Now on my final country, continent and destination (hey, it is getting colder again here!) I have only one real challange more: I want to go to Melbourne to visit my friend Marc from Switzerland, and yes, of corse without flying.

 

Have a look to more photos on my dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o5mlgr57ha8jfdz/AABPa3LxTcUE2__1szHQYufCa?dl=0

After a short visit by my brother in Yogja I went with a train directly to Jakarta and took there a night- damri bus to Bandar lampung.

By crossing the see between Java and Sumatra I met a guy, who won the silver medal on a scrabble competition in Jakarta.

Because I didn’t see any other boules, and the trip for one person to the Way-Kambas Nationapark was to expensive for me, I was only walking around and visiting the port in Bandar Lampung.

Actually I planned to take a day train to Palembang, but I missed it for 5 minute… They are really on time here! So I booked a night-train and met a nice guy from Italy, with whom I spend a great day more in Bandar Lampung. Thanks to Ivan!

In Palembang I got a Bus to Jambi, where I spend 2 nights, because I liked the City and the green places around.

From there i found a transport to Padang. I arrived early in the morning, so I could make some plans how to spend the rest of the days in Sumatra, and I decided to go during Lebaran (end of Ramadan and everything is very crowded) to Mantawai islands.

Arrived in Mantawai I got a headache and a Guide asked me, If I need a cheap Accommodation, so I said yes, and was happy to find there a couple from Poland. They planned a jungle trip for 5 Nights, and because I was flexible I asked to join them. It was not a bad decision…
Lets the picture talking about it:

It was a really nice adventure, something about the best I have done in the whole trip. So thanks (to all) for making this possible!

Back in Padang, we arrived late, I found a bed in Brigitte’s House and went with my new friends of Poland last time out for dinner. Jake and Justine: have further a nice in Indonesia, Karimun jawa!

I took a Bus to Bukittinggi without booked a Hostel, and after I arrived, It was nit easy to find something cheap. So first Night I spend in a Single room, but after check-in and Dinner, I found a Bed&Breakfast with nice people, and they recommended to move tomorrow to them. Shure! Cheaper, nicer, with Wifi and a Guide called Jonny which took me to the Canyon, Village there and a spot for watching flying Foxes.

Unfortunately there were no flying Foxes this day, but anyway I got a really nice day there. Thanks to Jonny!
Because my Visa was ending soon I took a transportation to Dumai and went with the Ferry back to Malakka in Malaysia. I enjoyed Indonesia really much and would like to spend more time in this immense country and maybe visiting the islands Flores, Lombok, Borneo, Molukken, Sulawesi and any others… But for that only I would need like a Year…

From Singapore i went to Batam, an Indonesian Holiday island for Singaporeans nearby. There I hoped to find there in a pelni office some information about the ferries to Jakarta. I found! But unfortunately the ferry is leaving every wednesday, and I arrived there on friday… But they said, after asking several times, that on a other Island will leave another ferry on Sunday! Great, so hanging around a little bit in Batam, and I found other people, who asking me everything. After a while travelling in Indonesia this is now normal for me, but there I was surprised about the difference to Singapore in this case…

Just arrived in Kijang, a guy called gagas invited me to sleep in his house and took me to a nearby cockfight. Everyone there like that, but I felt a little bit uncomfortable by watching 3 rounds of the fight. It was weird for me.

Then on the ferry I met again lots of people, because travelling with economy class, and being the only boule (it means white people) on the ship.

Arrived in Jakarta, I knew that I wouldn’t stay here for a long time, first because I want to meet my brother and second because of the traffic. For me it is just a Capitol to skip…

I got a warm welcome in Yogja from my brother Koni, and finally I could check one of my big goals of my trip.

I was hanging around much time with Anja, the niece of Koni, she is soo sweet, incredible.

But sometimes she is transforming to „Dramanja“, then when she doesn’t get what she want, but I show here better only the nice Pictures.

With Koni I made as well some activities, like a Motorbike, as well a Bicycle tour with Andi, another expat trough the neighborhoods.

To the temples Prambanan (Hindu) and Borobudur (Buddhism) I went by myself.

Ones was a food festival in the Street of Koni’s restaurant, and they made a really great competitions. Unfortunately the team of Easy GoIn‘ didn’t won a reward, but I thought, it was the nicest one of all.

In the end, I met another Girl, she is called Riri, from Jogya, and we spent some time together, like watching the new Jurassic World movie or having a beer together. Thanks for the nice time, Riri!

Then we went with the whole Family to Karimun Jawa, an Island in the north with beautiful beaches and not so great food. Even I was a little sick there, I could enjoy the nice atmosphere and the family life. Thanks to Koni, Sherly, Anja and Arvin!

Then it was time to say goodbye, then I went to discover the west Java and Bali. First stop was Malang after a overnight train ride. But I didn’t went to the volcano bromo, because I met some nice people for sharing a trip to Ijen, another volcano, where the miners are working hard for the money. They get something about 900 Rupiahs (less than 0.1$) for a Kilo of sulfur, and they carry sometimes over 90 Kilos on they’re shoulders from the mining place up to the crater rim and down to the town. I was really exhausted after the hike, without 90 kilos on my shoulders! But it was really beautiful to see the blue fire coming out of the mining place and see the sunrise.

Afterwards I went directly to Kota, Bali, for having a Surfing lesson. There I remarked, that I’m not really fit, because I don’t make much sport while travelling. But it was still fun, and I could catch some (of course small) waves.
Because I already have booked a Cargo ship from Singapore to Freemantle, I didn’t went to search at the port in Denpasar for a sailing ship, but I recognized that I have to make me on the way back, because I decided to travel over Sumatra.

In 30 hours and 7 different conveyances (bus-ferry-train-train-bus-bus-bus) I arrived in Pacitan, on the coast nearby Jogjakarta.

In the night it is really quiet and peaceful here. But I’ve to move on, let’s see my brother again for a short time, before heading to Sumatra!

Hello World to the country of

Nice people

Crazy cute monkeys

Tallest twin tower in the world

Interesting History

Beautiful sea life
[Sorry, no waterproofed Camera available]

And crazy buildings

The border crossing from Thailand was just great. Only me and Buraham Freedom, a Malay, who did not speak much English crossed the border in Padang Besar, and no further buses are available there. So he showed me how to cross the border (it was the first time I crossed a border by a Motorbike-taxi) and then we were waiting for a car of a family member of him maybe 5 minutes. He brought me to his restaurant and invited me for dinner. I’ve never got invited so fast after crossing a border! 🙂
Finally he brought me as well to a hotel in the next big city Kangar. What nice people!

Next day I arrived in Paneng, George Town, and right by the check in I met Angi, as well from Switzerland. We had together a really nice time. So we ate good Indian food, went to the monkey beach and had a lot of parties together. I have to thank you, Angi! I was very impressed about the nice street arts.

Kuala Lumpur was formally only a must to do thing, because I applied for the Indonesia Visa…. But it was unsuccessfully, because the invitation letter I have from my brother should be written from his wife… For some reason I still don’t understand. So I lost just a Morning waiting in the embassy, but in the afternoon I could visit some friends, who I met travelling in south Korea. For that I had still a Nice time.

After 3 nights of KL I had enough and headed to Malakka, where I met Stu in the Busstation, and we decided to
Take together a room. The two Nights and Days we spend in Malakka were also amazing. We discovered the main tourist sites by bicycle and went to the Reggae on the river Bar by foot. That was for sure not the worst Idea. B-)

For recovering my health, I spent some days in Tioman Island with snorkeling, boat tour and NOT smoking NOR drinking alcohol. I saw some Sharks, a manta, an Eal and a very big Octopus, but I figured out later, that it was a huge fishing net. I was just shocked after i saw it and went quick back to the beach without taking a second and closer look. B-)

In Singapore I visited first Angela, who I met as well travelling in south Korea. Thanks a lot for showing me around, the Neighborhoods and how to eat durian Angela! It was very interesting!

The third try of applying for an Indonesian Visa was disappointing as well, because I couldn’t get into the embassy at all; I had no long pants and no ID- card with me… On her webpage I didn’t read anything about this, so I lost another day. But next Morning I was successful and quick enough to save the time in hanging out in the pool of the superlative Hotel Marina bay sands, where, my friends from Switzerland, Jan and his wife Doreen, have booked one Night. The next 2 Days we spent together by visiting the Museum and the Zoo. Thanks for sharing the time together, Doreen and Jan, it was fun!

Once again in the country of open-minded people,

but dangerous animals,

and rocks.

In Khon Kaen I spend one full Day for change money, buy a new Android Phone for 1550 Baht (something about 45 CHF) and walk around, as usually. The night train to BKK was really bad, only hard seats were available on this train, with or without reservation of seat… I got one without, but still was lucky to could sit down, what was still difficult to sleep.

Arrived in BKK I took first a nap, and went in the afternoon to a lady boy show. Sometimes I was really surprised…

The apply for the visa for Indonesia was not successful, because a round trip is needed. So let’s try again in KL!
After hanging out in the khao san road with Sam from England, and visiting some temples and the palace, I took a night bus to Ranong, where the Ferries to Koh Phayam are leaving.

On the Ferry station I met some guys from Germany, and so we went together for searching a Bungalow. For the first impression most of them were closed, specially on the long beach, so we went to the sunset beach, called Ao Khao Kwai, what means buffalo bay.

I got there a nice time for relaxing, drinking and finally playing shithead again! But I will also never forget the exhausting bicycle trip around the island (any other took a motorbike), the sunsets and the cute daughter of the american owner.

The next stop to the south was Krabi town. In the nearby penisula Railay is supposed to be the most beautiful spot for rock climbing in the world.

Of course I had to try out my climbing skills, and the first try was disappointing, but the next two were successful! It was just amazing, i think I want to do it again…

Next: Malaysia, I got very luck by border crossing…

Welcome to the Country of…

Crazy train riding,

A tons of bats,

Great Artists,

The biggest religious building in the world,

Holy Craps,

The Pepperland,

Great Caves to discover,

Irawadi dolphins,

And nice sunsets over the Mekong.

The Border crossing was not that difficult, and arrived in Battambang i found fast a good hotel… Okay, I had no AC nor a lavatory, but it didn’t matter. First day I made a Tuk-tuk trip to the Bamboo train, a Winery, Phnom Banan, Phnom Sampou and to the Bat cave, where thousands of Bats were coming out after sunset.

In the night I visited the Phare-Ponleu-Selpak circus school. For that they all are children it was really good! Amazing show with a lot of jokes.

Next station was Siem Reap, where nearby the biggest religious building in the world Angkor wat is located, but first I was visiting the Museum and then the outer temples. I found the nice Chinese roommate April to share a Tuk-tuk.

I was surprised by the not-so-crowded temples, only once I had to escape… The Site is so big and built in a rainforest, what a feeling of discovering like Indiana jones comes near, but actually one temple was the coulisse of the movie Tomb Raider.

After a great Party I needed a rest at the beach, so I went, with a short stop in Phnom Penh, to Sihanoukville. But I spend there only a night, because I preferred to spend more time in Kep, what was a great Idea.
The Guesthouse was owned by a Swiss guy, and I had a really great time there in the national park, on the rabbit island and on the motorcycle trip, even I had a small accident and took some injuries with me.

Back in Phnom Penh I visited the S-21, Tuol Sleng museum, where from 1975 to 1979  the khmer rouge killed sometimes 100 people a day. The stories about the victims was ha hard work for me…

On the way up to Laos I made a brake in Kratie, to watch the Irawadi dolphins together with Juliette and Régine, and celebrate the New Year!

So at all: happy new Year!

The border crossing from Myanmar wasn’t that easy, but very interesting. In Myanmar was only a dirt road to the border, but they are building now a big street for a cargo connection from Bangkok to the sea of Myanmar. Directly after the border in Thailand we got on a highway, it was a little bit curious. After a while of searching a transport to Kanchanaburi, we decided to hitchhike. Chris got bad luck and gave up after trying of 10 minutes. I finished my lunch and went to a pickup nearby, and they took us in nearby 1 hour to our hotel. If I had asked Chris about this situation, he didn’t said any word.

Kanchanaburi is famous for his bridge over the river Kwai, as the start of the infamous World War 2 Death Railway to Myanmar, where 100’000 of 200’000 prisoners were killed by building this railway. After finishing the connection of 415km from Bangkok to Rangoon in record time of 16 month, it was in use for 23 month.

We rent a motorbike and went to the hellfire pass, which was probably the worst part in the history of this railway.

But on the way we were surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

Then we took the train to Bangkok, I think most people know this city. For that I don’t have to explain anything about that… Chris and I met some friends and had to say goodbye, because he went to Indonesia by flying, and I want to spend more time in this region, before heading south.

I decided to make some stops on the way to Cambodia, and the first was in Pak Chong, near the national park KhaoYai, the oldest in Thailand. Because it was ending the high season, I got a guide for my own, which is better for watching animals in compare to a group.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the second biggest city in Thailand, I made only a short stop for print out my e-Visa (it was challenging to find a place for that!) for Cambodia, visiting some Wats and the night market. When I was walking trough the town and next day to the bus station, I had to laugh about the planner of this city. A lot of streets are not connected to others nearby, so I had to make often a big detour to reach my destination…

In Aranyaprathet I arrived late so I had to spend a night there, and found a bar with live rock-pop-rap-music, and I was not long time alone…

🙂

Welcome to the World of the golden Pagodas,

lunghis (the skirt for the mans),

best toilets ever,

Bethel nut (makes beautiful red teeth, a heaven for dentists),

and best translations ever!

That’s all Myanmar, but not only of course, so I will explain a little bit of my experiences and the new records!

The way from Myawaddy down to Hpa-an after crossing the border was only every second day possible, because of lot of accidents in the past. So we rent with a positive meaning a shared taxi and enjoyed the ride. There we decide to visit the nearby caves and pagodas by our self, so we rent a motorcycle and by navigating with my maps.me app and GPS we found they really easy!

 

With a boat trip we went to Mawlamyine to get the worst Guesthouse ever on my trip, and for 25 USD it was also to expensive for what you get. But it was the only one we could book one day ahead… Nearby was the biggest lying buddha in the world (see main picture) located and, of course, some stupas and Buddhas.

Then we decided to take a Train directly o Rangon, the biggest (but not main) City in Myanmar, where we met Jodi, a friend of mine, who I met in Japan. And yes, the shwedagon pagoda we didn’t missed of course, where I had to buy a lounghi, because I forgot to take the long pants with me. But it was not bad, because when it is really hot, you do not sweat much on the lower region of the body… 😀

Because we want to go once to the Beach, and not pay to much for a night, we went to Chaungtha, but we had to make a stop in Pathein, for some food and a Cigar for Chris.

We arrived after sunset and didn’t booked a Guesthouse, what was a mistake.  We asked maybe on every hotel but all what we got was the answer: full… At least after 2 hours of searching, we found, at least really a good room (with shared bathroom for the first night), but it was hard enough…

After two nights we went back to Pathein, now for a night, to search the umbrella factory, but we did not success… 🙁 On the way to the north tho Nyaung U (near Bagan) we made a stop in Pyay because we had no idea how to get further, there were no descriptions in our guidebooks… But finally we arrived Nyanung U (after a misunderstanding with the busdriver, we had to change the Bus in Magway), and went by bicycle (of course we take NOT an e-Bike!) to the big region full of Pagodas, impressive!

 

Then by boat to Mandalay, to a slowly, but big City, with the biggest book of the world, a 2 x 2 km big palace complex and the mustache brothers with some regime-critically jokes.

After Mandalay we had a really good bus to Nyaungshwe, located by the Inlay lake, where we visit the lake by boat (of course) a hot spring, and a winery (the white wine was actually really good!) by bicycle.

Then we had to think about how and where to leave Myanmar, because our Visa was ending nearby. And so we want to have a last train ride in Myanmar to Bago, a 27 Hours trip. Until Thazi the train was shaking from the left to the right. But the landscape was fantastic! In Thazi nearby every tourist left the train, and we figured out why very fast. No, we couldn’t sleep one minute, because the whole wagon was jumping (I am not joking!) on the rails, and we could see the people bouncing like us, mostly over 50 cm up and down. It was funny, yes. But also a little bit tiring for the whole night long, every 10 minutes… I will never forget this Train ride…

The Hotel in Bago was not on on the same place located as the map in the Booking app showed, so we were really outside of the city, and there was not really something else to see as more Buddhas, Pagodas and a Lake…

I Kinpun finally we could do something for our body. Up in the hill is located a golden rock, where every 10 minutes drives a delivery truck full of pilgrims and tourists.

The way back we take a walk and we did it in 2.5 hours instead of the recommended 4 hours, but we had to, because we forgot the flashlight and after arriving in the city the sunset was already over.

The Nightbus ride from Mawlamyine to Dawei was the worst I ever had. At first we paid for a Air Condition Bus, we got nothing like that. We had not space for our luggage, first they thought to put the backpack under our legs…  The girl behind me was puking on the floor, and the juice was floating between my feeds to the front. It began to smell really awful. A Baby was crying from time to time the whole night long. And the road was under bad condition… Nope, not sleeping again at all.. But our Hotel was really good in Dawei, and it worth to stop there, because there was a buddha with 6 fingers!

 

Then we took a taxi back to the border to thailand, and had to say goodbye to the beautiful country Myanmar. I enjoyed really much, and I have to say thank you Chris to share the time with me! It was fun!