South Korea {just a bit late}

While waiting for our bags at KL which were taking extra long after a cramped flight from Tehran .
Old mate says it is only 230 dollars to Seoul.

So into the departure hall we went as u do and off we went.

Quite different from any where we had being before .Rained solidly for first 3 days .hot and humid.every thing works and only one Taxi driver ripped us.

Food with red in picture is to be eaten with caution ,korean vodka is dangerous for your health.

People very friendly and service orientated.

Gumboots short dresses and shorts are the go in down town Seoul

Old mate at the DMZ information centre there certainly is a sense of  invasion and the  threat from North Korea is treated as reality .With regular air raid and nuclear attack drills .

The fence in background and the North over the river just more rain

A wet Seol Monument

Ribbons for the fallen along the DMZ fence

Downtown Seoul

Close to nature up in the hills around Daejong

Bob and Mr Cat Man similar to our road side cones

Any thing from the sea is in the fish markets and alive and fresh

Live Octopus was different stuck to your cheeks and teeth on the way down[ if you click on this it should move]

We survived the Ocy {Clark in the middle who worked with the boys in Perth

Help is always at hand having the hole in his pocket stiched

Waiting for the Bus

Iran

What an eye opener was Iran the friendliest people. We were always being stopped for a chat and can we take a photo.The most stunning women every where .Very modern and vibrant place not at all like it is potraid by the western media .Just run by a mad man and his gang . This is the 4th country I ahve been in that has had western world sanctions imposed upon it and it seems to me all that happens is the population gets on with life and beome more unitied, inventive as a result the sanctions having almost the opposite effect.

The history of this region is truly remarkable and realy brings home to me how very young and niaeve Australia is upon this world . The countries we have visited have a t some stage being empires ruling vast tracts of the then known world in some cases for centuries such as the Greeks ,Romans ,Persains and dont forget the Khans who ruled from China to Poland for nearly 400years early last century.

Garden of the Emperors palace in Tehran

Bob and mates where ever we went locals wanted photos taken with us

Heading into the hills around Tehran where the 40 plus degree heat disappeared into mountain streams and tea houses

More CHia any one

Fredom Square and the urge to use his hands

Black Swan at Pericippolis did Anthonthy bring the Black Swan 2000 years ago?

Nomads bike in there camp

Little Nomad

2 more little Nomads

Old Mate cooling off in 3000 year old spring that just runs downthe road in Fashan near the New Nuclear Power station.Water seems abudant in this desert country where the rain fall is about 75mmls and te temperature varies fron +40 to  - 40.

Hills near fashan

Old mate taking a break in and Old Fire Temple some 3000 years old

Happy Bob

1500 year old street in Abayane and pot below

The Donkey is a bit younger

Kazaksthan

Kazaksthan

Asian Winter Games Skating complex u just need to catch a number 62 bus and u are in the ski fields .

Horses are a huge part of Kazak life from milk and meat production to manual labour .They are loved by all and very much revered.

Modern Buildings with the mountain vista in the background abound throughout Almaty as the resource boom fuels the economy 

The vast openess of the steppe is truly beatiful with vast areas of plains hills and  mountains bringing images of the Great Khan and his conquering hordes to the imagination.

Russian Orthodox Church in Almaty has been restored to its former glory and is once again been used for the purpose it was built for it is constructed entirely out of wood and has no metal nails ,screwws or bolts used in its construction .Unfortunately I was not able to take photos inside to show the intricate carvings and paintings. 

Grren topped montains ensure clear crystal streams flow abundantly through the kazak hills east of Almaty .The aie air is pure clean and does the lungs a power of good after a longish walk on a hot day in t search of a lift back to town and the bus home.

A small water fall just so pristine in the hills and a very much welcome sight a fter a trek up the hills

Even Hippos need a lift some times

A truly beautiful and friendly place is this part of the world the food is great although I dont recommend the The Rehabilitation Cocktail as this results in a totaly stomach and bowel clean out and rebuild. Samosas from the street vendors just awsome. To catch a taxi just stick your hand out and a car will stop and if going your away will take u for a small fee.Even late into the night and early morning the girls still travel this way and are completely safe .

ALBANIA / MACEDONIA / KOSOVO

ALBANIA

Just a wonderful friendly little country that has been in past being ruled by a total mad man.Up until 1985 he was building concreste bunkers throughout the country in preparation for Inavasion some 700,000 were built.No private person was allowed to own a car only government and military.Hence there are is not really a road system at all and very limited trains as they keep falling off the tracks.

Country side is beautiful.Raki excellent,wine superb, beaches brown and if you ask Bob a certain plant has a venom like the acid of a Dr Who triffodd.

Just simply a brilliant place to visit we were only going to stay a couple of days a nd did four the hostel in Berat was just made for chilled time and some serious Raki consumption.Thanks to Scotty and co.

KOSVO

Just the same exept they hate Albanians and where we ended up was a small valley that was a Serbian onclve who still redarded Serbia s a there country and indeed stiil travell to belgrad to get there passports.Ver ywarm and embracing people .We went inot a smaall village shopr=e and started to have a yarn with shop keeperwho spke english a bit and then a lot of locals just came to see the foreingers and we were sublect to sme great hospitatlity as it seems have the people in the Balkans have cousins in Australia some where and the Large cross overlooking the Village was paid for by donations from Australia so we a well reguarded in this part of the World at least.

MACEDONIA 

Girls from here certainly rival the russians for looks and openness and rank high on the list of the best so far mind u Albainians are pretty hot as well. Beautiful place certainly sticking it up the Greks with there statue of Alexander in the main square .Great Place to Visit.

{More photos for all 3 soon as not sure where they are }

Gerald a Canadian we met in Berat

Berat from a hill

OLd pre BC castle

More the same

Vegie shop berat

Plants revenge and this is the good leg

Walking in to Macedonia

Being to hospitsl and retrieving some money for refreshments

Theres the Macedonian Flag

Back from retirement due to old mates Leg .Elvis has not lost his touch and has had a good trip

Mobile wood saw Ohrid

Smallest Macas in the world you cant have chips as not enough room for a deep frier 

Old mate at Alexanders feet

New opera house Skopje

Up the Greeks 

Street 

Flag

Hay

Sore leg or not a true professional

Hay Kosovo style

Nice place to live if u r a goose

Modern as well

Fresh from the mountain