Escapaders

Our journey north to Bangkok coincided with the early onset of the rainy season and, boy, did it rain. However, there have been sufficient intervals between the showers for us to see and do much. Bangkok is everything you must have heard about it, noisy, completely gridlocked, very crowded, full of people who want to sell you something and often 'on the edge', especially after dark. The rain showers mercifully reduced the temperatures from the low forties to fairly comfortable low thirties. Lots to see in the older parts of the city. The river boats along the Chao Phraya river allow you easy access to the main temple and palace sites, some of which are stunning. Despite all the warnings, Chris and I were beautifully 'scammed'. We almost knew it was happening, but couldn't believe ... read more

We caught the legendary 'Ghan' railway from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Travelling in second class it turned out to be rather less exotic and legendary than we had hoped. The train is named after the Afghans who ran the original camel trains across the Australian centre from Adelaide to Darwin. The journey took about 19 hours overnight and we arrived in Alice Springs to driving rain and temperatures around 13 degrees....just like back home. The Todd River, which remains completely dry for most of the year, was in full flood and all the locals were very excited. Alice itself is an unusual town, quite modern with lots of investment, but with an aboriginal underclass who remain always on the margins. For the next three days we joined a camping trip to Uluru (Ayres Rock). The ... read more

We fly out to Australia on 7 March. It will need to be good because New Zealand is a very tough act to follow. The South Island has far fewer people but most of the jaw-dropping scenery, from Abel Tasman National Park where we hiked and did some kyaking, then through Punakaiki where we lived in the most laid back hostel in the middle of a 'rainforest', on to Franz Josef to walk on the glacier and then to Queenstown for some white water rafting and canyoning fun. The weather has been fantastic and seems to be getting hotter, if anything. Yesterday we went to watch the dolphins and Jim went swimming among them, literally hundreds of dusky dolphins. They are very inquisitive and playful. Party tricks include back flips and the triple falco. We made ... read more

We are just starting our fourth week in New Zealand. The weather has been beautiful throughout, following a very disappointing summer for the Kiwis. Just arrived in time for a really settled spell. We spent longer in the North Island than we had planned, largely because we stayed with Christine's cousin, Ian and his wife Sue. They made us so welcome and we fell in love with their two children, Ceinwen and Iestyn. Went kite fishing with them and caught lots of fish. Borrowed a car and drove around the Coramandel region, which is beautiful. Stayed in a fantastic old hostel overlooking a lagoon. We also met up with Peter Jones and his family. He is an ex colleague from the last two schools I have taught at and he has moved to teach in New ... read more

We missed a day crossing the date Line on the flight from L.A. to nadi in Fiji. decided to dispense with the recommended 'orientation' day in Nadi and head straight for the yasawa Islands. Joined a catamaran full of locals and back-packers for the two hour voyage to Waya island, one of the most southerly of the yasawas. it is just perfect, despite some rough edges. Chris and I are living in a 'bure' (a thatched hut) on the beach. There is an average of 10 to 15 young backpackers staying with us in 'Sunset resort', the grand title for this tiny group of huts run by Kitty and Abo. A big extended family from the nearby villages helps to run the place. Lovely people who laugh easily and all the time and are really interested ... read more

Christine and I are now travelling south from San Francisco along Highway 1, which hugs the coast all the way to Los Angeles. San Francisco was terrific. We cycled along the bay and over the Golden Gate Bridge, visited Alcatraz, joined the shoppers in China Town and met lots of people at the hostel. The weather is gorgeous...cold but wonderfully clear and sunny. The locals are talking a lot about unusual weather conditions. There has been snow in Malibu and 70% of the fruit crop in California is frost damaged. But believe me, it's not like any winter weather I'm used to. Stayed in Monterey, about 95 miles south of San Francisco. This is Steinbeck country. Our hostel was right by Canary Row. Visited a fantastic aquarium, which is a model for how to make nature ... read more