Recently back from tour of Ireland

Well, a while ago I posted a lot of messages about how I was actually nervous about this -whle also very interested in seeing Ireland..so I went. The best part of the trip was when I put on my iPod and just watched the world go by. Plus the scenery (and the sheep! they were everywhere!)
Be careful of tours; fortunately mine was comprised of 15 people (older than me, 70). Can you imagine being on a bus full of people? Like 45 people? All getting off at different tourist sites to take pictures, shop and eat?
The tour guide was fantastic, though. She really was. If you like this kind of thing, well..it would be great for an older couple. We stayied in two different hotels within a week (pretty good-we didn't have to change hotels every night). We learned about the country, did not much walking, visited mostly the south of Ireland (Northern Ireland in one day, not so great-Iwanted to s... more »

Australian iPhone - how can I get prepaid SIM and data pack for it in US?

***Cross-posted from USA Branch***

I took my iPhone with me on our trip to Hawaii in June this year, Although AT&T has a monopoly on iPhones in the states, this is not the case in Australia where all wireless providers offer them. Anyway, mine is unlocked from any network, and it was my understanding prior to the trip that T-Mobile could sell me a 'prepaid' SIM and also a data pack called 'Sidekick' for my iPhone while in Hawaii. Turns out not so simple...

I went to a T-Mobile store on Maui and the guy there explained that my phone probably would not work with one of their SIMs as it would need to have been unlocked in a particular way to work with T-Mobile. He put one of their SIMs in it anyway as a test and sure enough it did not work. We're coming to Alaska via Hawaii for 3.5 weeks in June 2010 and it would be handy to solve this problem for that trip, if in fact it can be ... more »

Operation on Thursday- well maybe

After waiting for a year I am now due for an operation for an open mesh repair of a hernia this Thursday and I now have a stinking cold. Is this likely to prevent the operation? The obvious thing to do would be to phone the hospital and ask. The last time I did so, also with a cold, the operation was cancelled apparently by a non qulaified admissions clerk who recorded that I had phoned to cancel the operation. This time I would prefer that it went ahead if possible. Also out of the blue I have a letter advising that I need a CT abdominal scan afterwards. There is no information as to why and I am getting a little fed up with the lack of communication and information. Again any advice please?

I'm in the UK and under the NHS which I generally approve of. The medicine might be good but the lack of communication and delays are not.

Any advice please?

Regards Rory more »

LONDON TO CAPETOWN OVERLAND - LEAVING JANUARY 2010!!!!

LONDON TO CAPETOWN OVERLAND - LEAVING JANUARY 2010

Hi All,

I am planning to drive from London to Cape Town in early January 2010. I originally planned to do this in September (hence the other posts) but had to hang around for slightly longer. January is now set in stone as i'm leaving work for this trip. If you fancy some adventure then read on!

I have a 300 series Landrover Defender called Himba which has been built from scratch to a decent expedition spec and am looking for 2-3 people to join me on this trip.

The trip should take around 6 months and take in:

Libya
Tunisia
Egypt
Sudan
Ethiopia
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Tanzania
Malawi
Zambia
Botswana
Namibia and
South Africa

I’m a 28 year old male from London who’s had enough of city life and wants to fulfil a life long ambition! I’ve been lucky to have travelled quite extensively through Europe, the US, Cana... more »

kwestion

earlier today i arrived back at london stansted airport and when leaving the airport, there is one exit, above which it says:

ARRIVALS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION

i wonder how i am supposed to understand that sign. does it mean?:

1) you can have arrived from anywhere in the world, but if you belong to a country that is part of the EU, use this exit
or
2) you can hold any possible passport that exists in the world, but if you have arrived from a country that belongs to the EU, use this exit

how do you guys understand the meaning of this sign?

many thanks.

Bike on Boats/Ferries in Thailand

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone knows whether you can take a bike on ferries/boats in Thailand, ie from Chumphon to Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui or from Phuket to Phi Phi. No idea what sort of boats they have and it will determine what route I'll be taking through Thailand. Anyone got any idea whether it's possible without hassle, with hassle or with paying??
Thanks

Travel map widget for blogs?

I'm looking to add a travel map of my trip to my blog. Any suggestions for widgets out there that can do this?

Thanks!

Update - India mumbai, pune, chennai, andamans

Hi guys, I've only been in the country for a bit over a week and haven't actually put my bike together as yet. Nevertheless I've learnt a thing or two that may help others contemplating india.

1. On Cathay pacific, I only had to pay 1 kg excess $42AUD. She didn't weigh my carryon gear though she could see i was overweight.
2. You don't have to put your bike in a box for flying to and from the Andamans. I would have liked to know this in advance. I was not charged any excess even though I had more weight than when I left home. I flew there with Kingfisher and will go back with jetlite. They say they give you 25kg free but obviously they give more because my bike box weighed at least 27kg.
3. Immigration at the andamans on arrival stuffed me around. I had bought a return ticket. They say you have a month free permit on arrival and can get an extension for 14 days. HOwever, on the... more »