My name is Greg Williams.
I'm travelling from London to Australia, and taking longer than necessary to do it.
This blog is intended to track that journey, and make it a bit more interesting for you to find out what I'm up to.
Blog
Photo
Video
Audio
It was an amazing adventure and now it's over. This site will be preserved where you see it for now. Feel free to browse the archives. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
In terms of the site, I'm proud that it stood up just fine. Some things didn't work – video and audio – but that's a technical difficulty I'll resolve for the next big adventure.
Bon voyage,
Greg
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At some point before arriving in Hong Kong I remembered to look out the window and check out the countryside. The difference between Shanghai and here is dramatic. Here it is clearly obvious we're in a tropical climate. For the first time since I left Australia two years ago I'm seeing palm trees and banana trees growing in the wild.
For some reason it feels reassuring, as does the tropical heat I can sense through the window glass. I'm looking forward to it...
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geo:lat=22.437981
geo:long=114.192757
My train to Hong Kong is booked for Sunday. It takes about 26 hours but after 6 days on a train, one day is nothing.
I'll decide on Hong Kong accommodation tomorrow - probably spend two nights there and book a flight to Australia for mid-week.
I haven't found anything I want to buy in Shanghai, so it looks like I'll be doing all my shopping in HK. If you're in Australia and want me to get you something while I'm here then please email me your requests now!
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geo:lat=31.205410
geo:long=121.395615
Not much to say today, really. Well, maybe a little.
I became quite lost for no good reason while looking for my nearest Metro station (I had two maps). Once I found it, I hopped on as far as the river and wandered down to Yu'an(?) Gardens and Bazaar near Old Town. I gave the gardens a miss because it was raining (as usual) and checked out the bazaar/markets instead. I figured I'd look for some souvenirs and such but nothing really took my fancy.
I then wandered over to the French Concession and wandered down the main drag. I was two-thirds of the way down (trust me, it's a long way) and was about to cross a street when a German girl wandered up and gave me a nod. We crossed the street with the rest of the rabble and she said hello. It turned out Natalie (her name) had just arrived in Shanghai to live and study and was looking around this area for a bit of sightseeing. We joined guide books and wandered down some old lane ways.
Being German, she's going to the Oktoberfest this weekend. I don't think Mark & Jasmine and I had made any decision about that as yet. I helped Natalie find the hotel where she would collect her tickets and said goodbye. I then arrived 15 minutes late to home and Jasmine was locked out because I had her key. Oops!
Tonight we're off to People-7, a restaurant that is apparently quite puzzling.
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geo:lat=31.205410
geo:long=121.395615
Off to Shanghai tonight to see Mark and Jasmine, and then we're off to some town or other. It's all rather sudden, but oh well. Didn't end up meeting my friends as one of them had their rucksack stolen and so didn't get a chance to meet me. Never mind.
A night train tonight to Shanghai followed by a taxi in the morning to their house.
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geo:lat=39.904152
geo:long=116.391304
I'm at Mongolian outbound passport control now. Apologies for the lack of updates but it was outside my control: the mobile phone networks in Siberia and Mongolia don't support GPRS. Now that I'm connected to a Chinese network, the problem should be over for now.
I was preparing updates along the way though, so you should have a few to read, which you can access through the map.
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geo:lat=43.718407
geo:long=111.908630
Dust everywhere! In the air, in the carriage, in the toilet, on every surface. Most people just seem to be trying to sleep through it. The desert surrounds us properly now - no tufts of grass, just sand forever.
It's getting hotter, too, naturally. Going from a chilly Siberian morning to a scalding Gobi afternoon, however, is a gradual change for which it is difficult to prepare.
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geo:lat=44.656437
geo:long=110.821106
There ain't much to say right now. My Russian friend has had to go into work today, so i'm on my own again but a little stuck for stuff to do. I plan to hit the Kremlin on Monday or Tuesday, Lenin also.
I've wandered about Moscow some more, but with little to report apart from seeing some interesting and intimidating buildings. A statue of Lenin, a statue of Gogol, a statue of Dostoevsky.
Hold the phone... A couple of Russian people invited me to join them for a sit in the park and a beer outside Red Square in Alexander Garden. But they can't hold their beer. The girl cried and the guy left. I'm headed home to the hostel.
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geo:lat=55.752968
geo:long=37.613415
I awoke in Moscow with a terrible sore throat thanks to the train air-conditioning. I found my hostel fairly easily though it is not normally easy to find. The lack of European influence here makes this a much less welcoming environment visually, but a lack of stunning architecture does not necessarily suggest a lack of character. Nonetheless, i'm looking forward to seeing more.
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geo:lat=55.778713
geo:long=37.665462
What I was hoping would be an afternoon train has become a night train due to my lack of forward planning. But i get more time in St Petersburg as a result, so i'm taking a better look around. It's more than just the Hermitage after all.
Apparently the zoo museum has a woolly mammoth. Must check that out.
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geo:lat=59.949913
geo:long=30.310770
A lazy day wandering around St Petersburg. I'm starting to get used to it now, the language. I can read the writing, but I've no idea what any of it means. Night go out tonight with other hostel guys and see what happens.
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geo:lat=59.938404
geo:long=30.316751
Travelling at 174kph I'm headed for Stockholm. I have to find my ferry terminal and check-in within an hour of arriving. Riding the X2000 high-speed train I get to see Swedish forests, farms, lakes, towns, villages, roads. The week with Jimmy was a lot of fun, but from here on things may start to get weird... languages, symbols, character sets, ideals, fashion, appearance, lifestyles. I can't wait.
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geo:lat=58.995625
geo:long=16.207865
No shower or working toilet; where was I? ... Jimmy's grandparents'! Grandma turns 80 and 22 people showed up to wish her well. Then, in our rented Peugeot, we dashed off on our way to a cousin's son's christening an hour or so east of Göteborg in Borås.
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geo:lat=57.817554
geo:long=13.006262
Last night Jimmy and I had a little too much to drink at a sort of rock bar in Göteborg called Sticky Fingers. The place was packed with pretty Swedish girls, but we didn't really meet any.
Today we head back to the island for grandma's birthday...
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geo:lat=57.685108
geo:long=11.928173
Jimmy's grandparents were making him nervous (even having a beer is a sin to them), so we've left the island for Göteborg. We'll go back for Grandma's 80th birthday tomorrow. Tonight we're meeting friends (Karina, Lisa and John), having some beers and hanging out. Relaxing, in a completely different way.
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geo:lat=57.703865
geo:long=11.967858
Grey day today. It's been quiet and we've just been pottering about the residence. Here, too, are Jimmy's sister and brother and the latter's girlfriend. We played some card games, drank coffee and talked. Peaceful and rainy.
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geo:lat=57.739025
geo:long=11.671418
Communications restored for now.
Yesterday afternoon I went on a canal boat with Janus and Liv. Liv was an unexpected delight to meet. Afterwards I treated them to dinner and then Janus and I went to see a blues/jazz band with his work colleagues.
Now I'm travelling from Copenhagen to Göteborg to meet Jimmy and hang out for a week. Should be outrageous.
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geo:lat=55.929134
geo:long=12.812242
*cue elevator music*
We're currently experiencing technical difficulties (caused by problems at my phone provider's end). We'll return you to regular programming ASAP.
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geo:lat=55.671478
geo:long=12.602988
I've been wondering around Christiania, Copenhagen's "free town". There's something peaceful and rustic about it. Photos aren't allowed, unfortunately, but it really is a place you should see for yourself.
Right now i'm on the bridge over the river that divides the two halves of the free town. A strong gust of wind makes it sing a little song.
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geo:lat=55.673302
geo:long=12.606753
So, to play catch-up, the train ride to Copenhagen was uneventful, but interesting in that the train is loaded onto a ferry during the night to make the trip from Germany to Sweden. I managed to get a couchette so sleeping was fine.
I was sad to leave Eva behind as I'd made a really great new friend.
Right now I'm sitting outside the Stotsholme, a large palace. I've visited the National Museum. I might wander a ait more and see what's about. I'll be meeting Janus again a little after 21:00.
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geo:lat=55.676762
geo:long=12.580294
After some crazy train problems, i've made it to Potsdam to meet Alex. Potsdam is southwest of Berlin and was part of East Germany.
The weather has been terrible, but it just makes the forests and countryside so much more picturesque. After a tour of the surrounds we're going to get a coffee i think.
(ps. I might not be online for a day or 2 as things need recharging).
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geo:lat=52.392700
geo:long=13.106147
Just woke up at Eva's place. It's 2pm. We should've gone to sleep earlier I think.
Today's agenda: train ticket to DK, retrieve Eva's bike, eat breakf-... lunch. Might think about checking out Berlin. ;)
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geo:lat=52.543186
geo:long=13.421387
In the search for free wi-fi, I've ended up with Michael at the Chaos Computer Club in Berlin.
Pretty relaxed sort of atmosphere. Just an office with wireless internet; people doing busy things into laptop screens.
Curious.
EDIT: Here's the Wikipedia entry
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geo:lat=52.522129
geo:long=13.383129
Someone should tell the City of Gent to put some city maps in their train station. I wandered out of the station and into the rain, guessing it wouldn't be too far to the city centre. Turns out I was wrong.
Once i made it into town, I then discovered that the Modern Art Museum is closer to the station. Damnit!
Anyway it's a lovely city and i've seen a LOT of it.
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geo:lat=51.039673
geo:long=3.722037
I'm in Brugge and Anne won't be here for another hour, so I took the opportunity to book my night train sleeper to Berlin for tomorrow night.
As it turns out, i won't have a sleeper - they're fully booked. I have a seat instead. Only €7, though, which is loads cheaper. Comfort-wise, it can't be worse than an economy flight to Australia can it?
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geo:lat=51.197418
geo:long=3.217603
Today is for Hasselt, in the northeast of Belgium. Freddie and I have just arrived.
What's in Hasselt you ask? We have no idea. I know there's a gin museum, which would be Shannon's first stop if she was here. ;) We'll all find out soon, though.
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geo:lat=50.929344
geo:long=5.336100
After a day of walking around Kortrijk in the sun, i think i've discovered something i've not had in years: a tan. Tonight, Freddie and I will be meeting up with his friend Ilse. Tomorrow we're going to Hasselt.
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geo:lat=50.824139
geo:long=3.263935
I'm already starting to enjoy travelling again. This is the longest journey i've ever taken - in both distance and time. I'm sure i'll feel quite restless when i finally get to Australia.
I've noticed that i don't remember half as much Dutch as i did last time i was here.
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geo:lat=51.672245
geo:long=4.659118
The last time I visited Amsterdam was six years ago with Evelyn. We didn't have a lot of money but stayed in a hotel not far from Centraal Station. Walking around the city yesterday I somehow managed to find the little places we'd visited - the layout of the city slowly came back to me.
But then I realised that we'd only seen about half the city back then.
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geo:lat=52.3767
geo:long=4.8965
Internet and mobile connections are giving me grief. I can't even send a simple text message.
Right now i'm just chilling out waiting for the lockout to end. Probably get some Chinese for dinner.
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geo:lat=52.3767
geo:long=4.8965
I'm finding myself nearly falling asleep on the train to Amsterdam Centraal. I'm thankful that my backpack is enormous and occupies more space than it should, as it means i get a little more room to myself. I won't be thankful when i have to put it on again soon, however.
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geo:lat=52.297398
geo:long=4.731380
19,000 tonnes of aluminium apparently comprise the ferry which carries me now into the English Channel. The fastest and largest vessel in the world. A soft vibration is ever present. Those travelling alone look rather bored. Personally, I'm anxious.
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geo:lat=51.9226
geo:long=1.5202