hello m+h sorry to hear abput garage however many have experienced heavy snow this winter Laurie has had the roof lea king into his livingroom and sunroom Quite a mess. Spring has u has arrived at last Your last blog of feb 5 was quite hilarious about Helen untying her boots as you traversed the Mekong.
Hi I enjoy your blogs very much. Still miss both of you. The parcels are safe here. so far only 2 have arrived. Nick is in Romania with family for 3 weeks. Pierre Theresa and family were here for Easter dinner. I served a leg of lamb which was delicious. Laurie and I are busy as always attending films and saw La Traviata last week It was fantastic (my favorite ). Looking forward to more news from you both. computer now repaired.
... and I think I'm adventurous, riding my bike under the Skytrain tracks! Hi you two,
Another wonderful blog entry -- what an amazing time you must be having. I am particularly impressed by how far off the beaten track you're venturing, and loved the image of Matthew's gesticulating. It will be so great when you figure out how to post photographs (look for a twenty-something with a laptop the next time you're in a larger urban centre - - lots of people seem to blog, and I bet someone just a little younger than us could help you with this!!).
My own exotic itinerary will take me to Aylmer, QC next week, where I'm hoping to rub elbows with old pals including Natalie and Jocelyn. We'll drink a toast to you both.
Happy trails,
Deborah
Great elephant tales! Hi you two,
Thanks for the four great catch-up blogs, and especially for the wonderful elephant tales. Your time amongst those great beasts sounds like it was amazing - - everything from hilarious to heart-breaking. I wonder how those tourists riding the elephants on the trail felt, watching the mohouts smashing away at their "rides". How could they live with themselves?
If you could see the view out my window this afternoon (grey and rainy) you'd feel even more blessed to be where you are. I send you both lots of love, and hope the next leg of your journey is just as great as this last bit.
-- Deborah
aurie ontinue to enjoy all your escapades had a call from jana yesterday she wanted to know about our trip to tahiti I TOLD HER about the fun laurie and i had swimming with the dolphins and about the black pearl farm as well as the vanilla farm she wants us to go for dinner soon i had thai food today at bayshore shopping centre with danielle and heather love
Great Ocean Road Hullo again! Interesting to see your shots of the southern Australian coast line. Bea and I drove the Great Ocean Road from Adelaide to Melbourne a couple weeks ago in fact, and spent a week in Melbourne soaking up the Australian Open, lots of flat white coffees and cafe culture. good times. We're back in Adelaide now for about six weeks before likely heading off to Tasmania. Or Tassy as everyone likes to say. Cheers.
first classery we got bumped up to First class on our Vancouver to San Fran leg, and became sadly adjusted to the luxury life in that 2 hour span. Needless to say that the San Fran to Sydney leg in cattle class was less than desirable. Plus United didn't even have individual TV's in the back of each seat. We sat in row one right directly in front of the massive screen that serviced half the cabin!
Great adventure! How wonderfully written your postings are! Hope you're going to publish the book of travels when you get back! Only confusing thing is our e-mail correspondence is about three weeks ahead of the blog postings. So here it's minus 24 this morning, cold enough to almost make you think that jumping in a filthy canal teaming with microbes would be worth it for the warmth but not quite. Our own beloved canal is almost ready for skating! I've noticed beer is a leit motif during your escapades - perhaps a treatise on the merits of various brews could be a project! Keep those postings coming - they're great relief from a Canadian winter!
back home update k Marie arrived back safely in Bucharest and promptly was dumped upon with 50 cm of the white stuff. Of course, she was ecstatic! Made insane Romanian drivers even worse. We were also hit with 20 cm as she left and so everywhere is blanketed is seems. In Astana, just deadly cold -29 C with strong winds!!!! I am not going outside until July. Nik, Tom and Andrea got a kick out of your blogs. Andrea back to pborough tomorrow and Tom to Bucharest on Monday and me back to B on the 27th. keep up the news! best to yo u both
What a Great Tale! Hi Deb,
Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. I had a brain cramp with the first couple of your extremely witty notes and accidentally deleted them - Doh! Thanks for all the encourgement and keeping up with us. Happy New year and lots of love.
Matthew and Helen
What a great tale! Hi you two - I'm not sure if you're getting these comments, as they don't seem to show up on your blog site, but I'll hope for the best. Your blog entries are magnificent - what a great thing to find waiting for me when I boot up my computer on an otherwise dreary Vancouver morning! Happy New Year to you both, and looking forward to the next installment ...
Lots of love,
Deborah
Happy New Year Hello Matthew and Helen. Happy New Year to you both and I hope things continue to go well. You know the expression ;"From our lips to God's ear."? Well, as soon as Thanksgiving was over, the stores decorated for Christmas and some fool played ....."let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..." and God took note. As of a week ago we had more snow this year than in all of last winter combined. It' snowing today and no sign of letting up. so, don't be dropping Matthew in any ravines. He planned you outta this!! Hope you continue to stay healthy and having fun. Cheers Kevan
Christmas Greetings I've finally found the time to read your entries and look at the photos. Your adventures are giving me the incentive I need to choose my next trip. I see from your itinerary that you are in Kuala Lumpur today - the 24th. I want to see 'the haircut'. Stay safe, healthy. Merry Christmas.
Photos! Okay, so now I believe you that Bali is quite spectacular... I was really beginning to think you were just holed up somewhere in Ottawa South. Anyway, I am greatly enjoying your blog and of course terribly envious! I recognized the Great Ocean Road photos, especially the Twelve Apostles. I'm not sure where you two will be for Christmas, but I wish you all the best. I'm sure it will be a Christmas to remember... Thinking of you lots.
Its about time! Its about time you figured out how to post the photo's. I was beginning to think "Hey, maybe they are really holed up at home or in a Florida retirement community or something, and are making this stuff up by reading travel brochures". But I would be wrong. So where are the pictures of Mathew? I really want to see this Haircut! Cheers! - Sean
Bali Hello Helen and Matthew
Thanks for the wonderful description of Bali and Ubud. We'll be on our way on the 11th of January and, as luck would have it, we too will be flying Business Class from San Fran to Taipei. Five hours flying to San Fran, 15 to Taipei and another 5 1/2 to Bali +a date change. I'll likely drown in the shallow end of the infinity pool.
It sounds as if all of Matthews research and planning is paying real dividends. Your trip seems to be unfolding just as you would have hoped. Bear in mind that wishing Matthew into the bottom of ravines might be a touch hasty. You are after all in Bali! If one has to be grouchy where better than Bali??
Keep well and safe. and thanks again for the wonderful description. I'll pass it along to the other trip members.
Kevan
Stories to tell We have very much enjoyed staying on top of your entries They keep us interested and very entertained, especially the one about the plane. Colin thinks that you should put your stories in hard cover to supplement your trip. We are heading to Ottawa next week and I am sorry that you, Matthew and Mic will not be joing us this time. Until we meet again, lot of hugs and kisses,
The Braney's
Not sure I believe you No photos of the infinity pool and the shadow puppet show... so not sure I believe you. Since I have no photos for you, I bet you'll believe that it's sunny and 25C here. Keep the entries coming! I'm enjoying the virtual travel...
Season's Greetings Matthew and Helen,
It is wonderful to hear about your travels - - Bali sounds truly magical. Glad to hear you are keeping the crankiness-to-rum ratio appropriately balanced at all times. This, I believe, is the secret to happy trails, if not happy life overall.
Much love to you both as those of us stuck in the northern hemisphere look down the barrel of fast-approaching Christmas.
Fondly,
Deborah
Our first hello We love reading your journals. It sounds like you are both having a great time in spite of the horrible travel accomodations, being forced to endure great food, great company, great scenery and an abundance of wine. We marvel at your fortitude to keep going ;-). Have a great time and keep writing. The rest of us meagre folk are living through you ;-). I've sent you an e-mail also I hope you have time to read before too long. Love to both of you from the both of us. Tom and Donna
No worries I love your blog, the first one I have ever read. "No worries" is the Aussie phrase I remember hearing following almost any request. I guess you didn't have time for the Melbourne Museum, but "no worries." A cold and snowy winter has us in its grasp. Bali will be paradise. A country that looks to the mountains and not the sea. Joanne
Envious Hello you two!
Been reading your blog with great interest. Sounds as if you're having a wonderful time but a bit rushed so far. Bali should take care of that.
Read with great interest your description of the Coast Road. I've read about the road for years and often thought about how much fun it would be to do on a motorcycle, sort of like the Pacific Coast Highway.
Helen, rolling around doing back flips in the comfort of Business Class on an International flight while the sweat stained peons are boarding!! You could have at least given one of them a chocolate explaining that they kept putting the damn things on your pillow.
I hope all continues to go well and that you are both safe and happy. At some point, on some small sunlit island, as the sun goes down, remember to pour out a few drops of wine in honour of the god who inspired you to do this.
Cheers
Kevan
PS Cold and snowy here. No question of whether we'll have a white Christmas.
mother
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hello m+h sorry to hear abput garage however many have experienced heavy snow this winter Laurie has had the roof lea king into his livingroom and sunroom Quite a mess. Spring has u has arrived at last Your last blog of feb 5 was quite hilarious about Helen untying her boots as you traversed the Mekong.