Where will life take you?

I have not bought any Louis Vuitton. And, I probably will not buy any in the future.

I saw this TV commercial and I like it. You know, the brand is selling the image, it is nothing to do with the product. I like the TV advertisement, but I have no LV with me when I travelled and probably will not take any LV with me if I travel again.

But, the TV advertisement really make me think about my journey.

在晚上的電視節目中，我看到LV的廣告。

我從來沒有買過LV，亦不會買。廣告跟貨品根本是兩碼子的事，旅行時當然不需要帶LV。

廣告看罷，會問自己，這一年的旅程帶給我的是甚麼呢？或者說，帶我到甚麼的地方，給我甚麼樣的人生？

改變‧人生

上星期舉行的講座，在一個像小學課室的地方，坐著三四十人，有些應該是經常出席講座的常客，有些朋友想了解一下部份國家的情況，有些好像真的在計劃著自己的旅程。

在問答的環節中，參加者都對我的旅程充滿好奇，除了很多實際上的技術性問題外，也問了不少的私人問題。而其中的一個，我當時真的不知如何回答－「旅程回來後，你有甚麼樣的改變？」

自己其實也曾經這樣問過自己。但實情通常是當局者迷，就像一個人慢慢老去，每天對著鏡子看著自己一點點的改變，根本無法察覺，只有當遇見久未碰面的朋友，才可從他人口中得知自己皺紋原來又增多了。

還記得，在贊比亞河邊，這是我們獨木舟旅程的第二晚，導遊幫我們點起了營火，遠方不時傳來動物的叫聲，是河馬吧！為我們的交談配上背景音樂。我們一行五人，一對現居於荷蘭阿姆斯特丹的情侣，男的來自愛爾蘭，於跨國公司工作，因為出差的關係，會常到莫斯科、埃及、東京等大城市；另外一對來自南非的夫婦，丈夫熱愛攀石，曾於高處墮下，留院一年多後才康復，但現在仍然不時跟兒子攀石。

我們相識二天，但話題卻由政治，愛情，金錢再談到生活。我說，這大半年的旅程，除了相機外，就只有不到20公斤的背囊。生活，其實很簡單，你需要的是一張舒適的床、熱水洗澡以及好的廚房以供煮食。

“Life is simple, all you need is a comfortable bed to sleep, hot shower and a good kitchen for you to cook.”

回到香港生活三個月了，才漸漸發現自己的生活跟以往真的有點不同，對香港社會，所謂主流意識形態，越來越格格不入。

我不打算在此大談人生道理，只是，旅行會把很多生活的慣性打破，早上喝不到冰奶茶、閒時聽不到廣東歌、病倒時沒有白粥、晚上沒有電視、生日沒有朋友……慢慢地，在你甚麼也沒有的日子，你會發現，甚麼東西才真正對你重要。

生命中重要的東西，其實不是很多。

Round the World Talk

總算找到工作上班。要知道，在香港生活，沒有工作，不單是經濟上叫人吃不消，而是我們這個小小的半島，根本容不下沒有生產力的人。要向別人說自己是無業遊民，真需要勇氣呀！

早前跟國際漫遊協會的朋友說過，希望可以有機會於講座中分享自己的經驗。一方面是希望可以回饋一下協會，自己出發之前，其實也出席不少講座，聽過很多不同的經驗，而自己則希望今次可以分享資料給有興趣的人仕。另外，當然也希望分享自己途中所拍的相片，給不同的朋友看看。

講座的日期及時間如下：

日期：12月15日（星期六）
時間：3:00pm - 5:00pm
地點：九龍大埔道6-8號福耀樓3樓 中業校友會


如果你有興趣，有關講座的報名及收費情況可以參考國際協會的網址－這裡

My Round The World Route on Map

My RTW Route, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Finally, I have drawn my route on the map.

It is not very detailed but I have tried my best! You can refer to different transportation methods by,

Blue - Air
Red - Land
Green - Sea

By looking at the map, you will find out that there are lots of places in the earth that I have not visited!!

And, you can always refer to the same map by clicking "Graphic Version" under my "Itinerary".

Back to normal life in Hong Kong

回到香港也差不多一個半月了，花了不少時間去整理這一年來旅行的開支，家中積存的信件。另外，當然也跟朋友們見過面，吃飯吹吹水。也開始投入香港的生活，正在努力搵工。

跟朋友見面，當然也會提及我旅行的事，我把最熱門的問題 (FAQ)，細列如下：

問：你環遊世界，總共花費多少？
答：廿二萬港元。已包括機票、食宿、南極團、保險等
（這一條問題最多香港人會問）

問：你最喜愛哪一個地方？
答：南美洲，厄瓜多爾，加拉巴哥群島。因為那裡的動物非常可愛，又不怕人。無論你靠得多近，它們也不會跑掉。
（其實有很多地方我也很喜愛，分不清最愛是哪裡，但可能厄瓜多爾是我第一個到達的國家，所以印象比較深刻）

問：有哪一個地方你會再去？
答：沒有。世界那麼大，還有很多地方我沒有去過。如果真的要選的話，阿根廷的牛排真的很令人回味呀！

問：非洲是否很危險？很多蒼蠅？
答：東南亞的蒼蠅一定比非洲多。除了奈洛比和南非比較危險，其他非洲國家不但十分安全，人民還相當友善。

問：你如何帶備一整年的花費，你總不會把全部現金帶在身邊吧！
答：我會隨身帶大約三四千美金在緊急情況下備用，一般情況我會使用提款咭，對！是ATM提款咭，你不需另外申請，一般提款咭也可以在海外提款，只需付廿五元手續費。

問：你去那麼久，如何買紀念品？
答：我其實沒有多買東西，有一部份我在土耳其交給了我的爸媽，其他一直帶在身邊。但如果你想買的話，你也可以把紀念品郵寄回家。


另外，我還上傳了兩段短片，分別是於South Omo的Hamer people dancing 以及在Etosha National Park的大象。

Hong Kong

Back to Hong Kong, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Back to Home!

After 342 days, I finally came back Hong Kong in one piece. I have been dreaming of coming back, where I can find familiar faces, tasty Chinese food and Cantonese.

And, I really want to thank everybody who have hosted me in their places. They really make me feel different in my long journey.

Also, thanks for all those reader who read my blog. Your support keep my energy updating this blog.


在返港的航機上，在我的坐位前，放著合味道杯麵。

多少個夜闌人靜的晚上，我在幻想，在期待，期待著用筷子把這熟悉的味道放在口中的一刻，期待回到我出生的土地。

朋友，我期待著跟你們見面。但，在我們相聚的時間，請先不要問我到過甚麼地方。請告訴我，我錯失了多少重要的時刻。因為，你興高采烈的時候，我未能替你高興；你哀傷的時間，我未能在你身旁分憂。

Johannesburg

Johannesburg, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

My friend, Ian, who I met in canoe trip in Zambezi River, hosted me in his big house in Johannesburg!

I stayed in Johannesburg for one night only and I am going to take my flight back to Hong Kong.

Livingstone

Livingstone, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The Zambia side of Victoria Falls, Livingstone. I spent my last US Dollar for the microflight, flow over the Victoria Falls, the scenery was great and this is my last activity on my travel agenda.

Time to back home.

Happy Mid-Autumn Fest!

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Bridge, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This is the end of my overland truck tour. Three weeks have been spent on the truck where laughing never end. Really enojoy every moment and I do miss everyone!

Victoria Falls, at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, spans 1.7km and drop over 100m cliff. However, the water level is low during this season. So, it is not so spectacular.

I did one of the best adventure activities, rafting the Zambezi rapids in the Victoria Falls which is very exciting!

P.S. I had also do Bungi jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge which is just between the border.

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Chobe National Park is on the bank of Chobe river and its has Botswana's most varied wildlife. Both the game drive and the boat cruise were very good and I saw many many elephants.

Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The Okavango River rises in central Angola and flows southward to Namibia, then the river begin to spread over the delta. Eventually, the water is lost in 15,000 sq. km of lagoons, channels and islands. It never reach the sea.

I went for an overnight mokoro trip (wooden made canoe) which the polar using a long stick to move the mokoro.

We stayed in one of the islands and we saw water lily, dragonfly, birds, hipos, elephants and Zebra.

Rundu

Rundu, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

n the morning, we visit the local primary school and the church. Lots of photos of the kids, have to send them back!

Relax on the river band, then go horse riding in the afternoon.

Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The game drive here is not particularly exciting. But, Etosha is very dry so the animals always go to the waterholes for water. So, just wait near the waterholes and you will see different animals.

During the night, I saw rhinoceros!

I just added the vidoe of the elephant!

Himba Tribes

Himba Tribes, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

We visited Humba Tribes, where people paint red dye all over their body. They have leather thing on women's head and you can tell their family by their hair style.

Spitzkoppe

Spitzkoppe, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Huge Rock standing in the middle of nowhere. It is tough to climb up to the boulder, but quite a nice view.

This night, we slept outside with no tent, watching the star.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This is where you can find the desert next to the ocean. I went to quadbiking and it was fun and exciting.

I normally do not play those speed stuff but it was great!

And we have dinner with game meat, with Kudu steak, Ostrich and oyster.

Sossusvlei Dunes

Sossusvlei Dunes, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

My camping overland tour started in Cape Town, our truck drove north to Namibia. On Day 4, we reached the Sossusvlei Dunes, beautiful sand dunes in orange color.

In the early morning of the next day, we hike up Dune 45 to view sunrise. Then, we went for desert walk to Deadvlei. An area inside the desert that used to have water in it. But, it sealed by sand dune later and the trees were dead for over nine hundreds years.

Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

It sounds not right that you miss Cape of Good Hope when you visited Cape Town. But, the weather is terrible and I hardly saw anything at the lighthouse.

The AFrican Penguin is different from the other I saw before. Still cutie!

Tomorrow, I will start my 20 day overland tour to Victoria Falls via Namibia and Botswana. This is my last journey. And...... my return flight to Hong Kong has been confirmed.

Cage Diving with Great White Shark

Cape Town, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

It is an unique experience to see the while shark swimming around the boat. It is more than 3.5 meter long. I saw its teeth under water!

Very interesting but it cost me a lot!

Cape Town

Cape Town, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Cape Town in South Africa, so modern that you do not feel like in Africa. I went to Robben Island where Mandela was imprison here. The ex-political prisoners guide told us the stories of the Island. The table mountain, is really flat. However, the table cloth, dense cloud, came and I saw nothing at the top!