No Time No Posts

Ok, so I had forgotten about this blog until I signed up for twitter.

So where have I been since the last post. Well I did a tour of the US which involved going from California to Phoenix with a very brief stop in Austin and then onto Chelsmford, MA.

Then last Novmeber it was back to Austin, before that I was in and out of Europe and a few weeks in Japan.

So its not been as hetic with the travel and no travel since last November so been very quiet, I suppose this is a sign of the times.

Anyway this was just a quick post to see if this blog was still working.

Dazza On The Road

On my travels again

Here is a quick catch up from last time:

I never went to Casablanca.
I spent a couple of weeks in Ireland.
I have been to Chelsmford, MA for 1 week.

and that's about it for the last 12 months. I have now moved to a different position which will mean the travel will pick up but will be more a few days here and a few days there.

I am just on my way back from Grenoble and currently sat in Frankfurt airport. Frankfurt seem to be making it more difficult to find anywhere to sit which is non smoking. I guess though this is still the attitude in main land Europe. I think I will notice this more as when I get back to Scotland the smoking ban comes into force over the weekend. Probably best to avoid the pubs for a bit while the locals establish there human rights and eventually get fined for not obeying the law.

An interesting point to note here in Germany, especially if you are coming here for the World Cup, Playboy is a lifestyle magazine here, it is placed right next to FHM and Cosmo. I suppose the Europeans can get somethings right. It also begs the question if Playboy is lifestyle what do they classify as porn.

Anyway only anothe hour or so before I board my flight so I think it's time to find the bar and buy some water. ;-)

Long time no travel!

Well it's been a while since I travelled last. So much so that I had forgotten about this blog.

Here is a belated post about my last trip to Limerick, Ireland.

The trip started in the usual way delayed flights, missed connections and a night in the Travel Inn at Heathrow. BA seem to have downgraded the hotel they use, the last time it was the Sheraton. Finally arrive in Shannon airport and my bag caught up with me about 8 hours later. If you go through Heathrow and miss your connection and get the first flight out in the morning do not expect your bag to be on the flight espcially if you depart before 07:00 am, the bag transit area does not open until 07:00 am apparently.

The two weeks in Limerick were not too bad, plenty of guinness. I had forgotten how guinness should taste. I had also forgotten how lonely it can be in a hotel on your own over a weekend. Overall the week was successful and the trip back uneventful.

Next stop Casablanca.

Nearly home

On my way home now after 3 weeks in Taiwan.

Sat in the KLM lounge at Schipol wondering why did they stop the sausage rolls? It's cup-o-soup and nacho's now, although you can get mini cakes which is some consolation. Anyway this will probably be my last visit to the lounge as just as I start travelling again I lose my gold card, typical.

Just a quick flight left now after my 15 hour marathon, for the first part of the flight I was sat next to a guy from South Africa who went to Asia to surf and never went back to South Africa. He teaches english along with jumping off moutains with a parachute attached to him. You have got to admire the life, here I am sat in an airport lounge writing a blog entry, while he is probably recovering from a hangover and preparing to head to the moutains in Thailand. Oops just checked the time in Thailand he is probably back in the bar!

Second part of the flight was uneventful, slept most of the way which is unusual for me, must have be the beer on the first flight ;-)

Airports are strange places you get a hugh cross section of society each going somewhere, all in a relatively confined space but the majority do not know the person sat next to them. Then we all finally get on a plane and equally do not get to know the person next to us even though we are closer than we get to most people.

I think that's it for now. Just time to pack up the laptop, browse the duty free and head for the gate. One note about duty free here at Schipol it's the only place I know where in the DVD store you have Postman Pat the childrens cartoon next to Postman Pat does Debbie, which apparently is not a childrens cartoon judging by the cover.

Dazza

First Post - Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hello and welcome to the ramblings of me.

I am here in the Ambassador hotel in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The hotel is next door to the Pig & Whistle (http://www.pigandwhistle.com.tw/english/english.htm) which cliams to be a British pub but does a good pint of guinness with some decent pub food. Ask about the discount card which can lead to free guinness.

In Hsinchu you have all the basics, Mcdonalds, Starbucks, KFC, TGI and Burger King. Although if you ever get here you should try the local food it is good although you need to like eating meat off the bone and soup. For the veggies, Tofu is big out here and it tastes pretty good.

Everyone is friendly and smiles all the time, most people have basic english but a few phrases of chinese would be handy. Shame I have not had the time to learn the few phrases that would make life a bit more easy especially with taxi drivers.