 Mike and Jo Coad - MikeJo | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 14th March 2007 MikeJo | - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ I apologise for any upset I may have caused you as it was certainly not my intention to cause offence to anyone. It was meant as a very tongue in cheek report as you will see if you had read my other blogs. They are all of a similar tone. Whilst they may be a little exaggerated, we frequently saw people defacating by the side of the road although that wasn't only in Pakistan. Indeed, Pakistan and particularly Islamabad was one of our favourite destinations on our travels and we enjoyed our time there very much. We found the people exceptionally friendly and very honest. I'm afraid you have taken our words out of context. Incidentally, I am well aware of what Hackney is like having been born in Stratford and spending the first 5 years of my life in Hackney. Once again, my apologies for any offence caused. |
| 6th March 2007 righteous | Liar! - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ I was truly shocked at your blatant lies about Islamabad. While I do not live in Pakistan, I have been to Pakistan. You said "there were thousands of people on the streets walking, bathing, praying, eating and defacating, mostly defacating" in the center Islamabad. Islamabad is sparsely populated, and anyone who has been to Islamabad can attest to that. There is no place there where you would find a gathering of "thousands" of people. And "bathing and defecating"? Did you have no shame spewing out such utter falsehood? Islamabad is hardly a place to see people defecating. For that matter, defecating in public is quite uncommon in Pakistan, even in the real slums. As for shabiness, yes Pindi is shabby but I wouldnt say that for Islamabad. If you really want to see shabiness, just travel to Hackney. It is much closer to London and a lot more shabbier than Islamabad. It seems you chose to travel to an improverished country just for the sake of bashing it for its poverty. You went there with certain preconceived notions and, unlike an experience travel, seemed interested only in proving those notions rather than seeing beyond them. |
| 21st February 2007 MikeJo | - From: The Great Escape Hi Doug, Thanks for your comments. Hope you enjoy reading the blog. You'll be even more dismayed to learn we didn't take a tripod with us either. Many congratulations on winning the John Wright Trophy.....again. Surely, it's gotta be our turn soon??? Cheers Mike and Jo |
| 12th February 2007 Doug Collender | from the N vs S (North end!) - From: The Great Escape Jo & Mike - Hi Have just started to read your 'blog' and am getting thro' it slowly - I take my hat off to you both for displaying such an adventurous spirit. I am a little dismayed that you didn't use your video camera from day one - but I suppose priorities change on a trip like this!. The bad news (from your point of view) is that the North won again this year - you can buy us all a drink when you return!! Take care and enjoy - will be in touch when you return - DOUG |
| 22nd January 2007 Freddy | Lost! - From: Trains and Boats and Planes and Rats and Cats and Bats Fantastic blog and pics. I have had to resort to an atlas to discover where you are. India, Pakistan OK but Pattaya etc no way. S.Africans back in the sun, no snow in Poland or Berlin only in Los Angeles (if you don't manage to see much TV). It was great to get the Blog again, miss it when you are overwhelmed by gamers. |
| 18th January 2007 MikeJo | - From: Trains and Boats and Planes and Rats and Cats and Bats Hi Sylvia, Lovely to hear from you again. As far as the blog is concerned we usually write it up on rest days or rainy days but Internet cafes have varied greatly. Some are very fast with the latest computers, others, like here in Myanmar, are often in candlelit shacks and are extremely slow. Glad you like the photos and thank you for your kind comments. As far as what I look like now goes, I'm simply getting more handsome every day. Well, if only that were true! The fact is the hair is getting greyer and the stomach bigger.......It's a sorry sight, believe me. You're better off living under the illusion of how you remember what I look like. We plan to go to Laos next after we finished in Myanmar in about two weeks time so it'll be interesting to see what the Internet connections are like from there. Wishing you and Norman a very Happy New Year and will speak again soon. Love Mike and Jo |
| 17th January 2007 Sylvia Bull | How do you it? - From: Trains and Boats and Planes and Rats and Cats and Bats Hi Jo and Mike Great to read your latest instalment - how do you find the time to write so much? how do you find a suitable internet cafe (or whatever) to type it all out and add all the stunning photos? - by the way get Jo to take a few shots of you Mike - its lovely to see the photos of Jo but I have quite forgotten what you look like. Looking forward to hearing from you again soon. Take care and happy noo year! Love Sylvia |
| 14th January 2007 Reg Lancaster | Sungai Kolok guard and the big family - From: Trains and Boats and Planes and Rats and Cats and Bats Hi Mike and Jo, 5 months already! We off to Lullingstone for a walk to ease off the pain of laughing so hard at some of your exploits, like the speedboat, the tsunami on your head and Supercockroach. Can't understand your difficulty with train armed guard supporting United - he's just another member of the global family who follow the Reds. They're still six points clear of Chelsea, Mourinho is under threat of removal, and Mike T. is considering emigrating. Love to you both. Reg and Annabelle. |
| 13th January 2007 Shafie | - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hello again.. no no i was simply making sure u had great time... i thought if you were being ripped off on some deal there.... Thanks again for clarification and i hope you u and ur family a happy new year. |
| 24th December 2006 MikeJo | - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Thanks very much, Gordon and Barbara. We wish you both a very Happy Christmas and New Year too from a very rainy Singapore. |
| 24th December 2006 Barbara & Gordon Beales | Xmas - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! All the very best . Merry Xmas and have a fantastic New Year. We love the blogs. |
| 21st December 2006 Paul & Valerie Richards | Happy Christmas/new year - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hi Folks, Just to wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year and keep up the great work. We are both enjoying your travel experiences so much and didn't think you were such a comedian Mike!! The photos are great as well. Have sent an email, but don't think you'll get it for some technical reason way beyond my brainpower. Have a great time and wish we were with you - we could do with some warm weather here in uk. We have fog, cold and more fog. Keep travelling. Love Paul and Valerie |
| 11th December 2006 MikeJo | - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hi Shafie, No reason at all. In fact we had a great time there and it is one of our favourite cities so far on our trip. I think you have taken our comments out of context. They are supposed to be tongue-in-cheek. We don't expect everyone to understand British humour. Regards |
| 10th December 2006 Shafie | Any reason ? - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hello, Is there any reason, you are so Hostile to the name of my city, Islamabad ? |
| 7th December 2006 MikeJo | - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hi Freddy, We heard from Annabelle that you had family over from South Africa. We remember meeting them last time they were here. Glad they are enjoying the blog too. Poland must be beautiful at Christmas time. We hope you have a very enjoyable time there over Christmas and we look forward to chatting again in the New Year. We are planning on spending Christmas in Singapore and will be heading down there through Malaysia over the next couple of weeks. Love Mike and Jo |
| 6th December 2006 Freddy | More readers - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hi Jo and Mike, Make it 53 now as my sister and brother in law, visiting from S. Africa are also enjoying the news. And very pleased to hear that there is at least one part of Asia where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery without being hassled (a mild word for what you have been through) Enjoy Christmas wherever you are, we shall be in Poland, hopefully with some snow as a change for the S. Africans. Love Freddy |
| 5th December 2006 MikeJo | - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hi Jim and Jennifer, Good to hear from you again. Glad you are still enjoying the blog. Actually, writing it takes hardly any time compared to the uploading of the photographs especially on some of the internet connections we have come across. What passes for broadband in some of the places we've been in would be called a telex machine in the developed world. Still, at least we are not paying 6 quid an hour like they wanted in the Scottish Highlands. We are now on the island of Kho Samui still lapping up the sun so hard to believe Christmas is only 3 weeks away. Hope you both have a good Christmas yourselves and we wish you both a very Happy New Year. Love from us both Mikea and Jo |
| 4th December 2006 Jim & Jennifer | Hi - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hugh and I discuss your blogs and marvel at the length and quality of your blog. How did you find the time? The video club is still ticking along but I hardly recognise the members these days, there are so many new faces. Saw a really great video about how a member of the Morecambe Camcorder Club made a replica of the Imperial Crown taken from a photo, it was unbelievable, the end product could have been worn by Ethel in Buck House and she wouldn't have known the difference. Glad you like Bangkok, it's one of my favourite places. We've stayed in the Asia but prefer the Indira Regent which is surrounded by street and indoor markets where you can get fuilly kitted out for a few quid. Sorry to hear about Jo's weight problem, she never had one before, she isn't pregnant? Have you been at the powdered rhino horn? We are looking forward to hearing about Burma etc., a closed military society with no scruples. My neighbour was the Big Sahib in Rangoon from 1952 to 1956 as head of all P&O merchant shipping in the area and I've heard all about the start of closedown of the country as he was leaving. Enjoy yourselves. Love and best wishes for a warm and sunny Xmas and a Happy New Year Jim & Jennifer |
| 1st December 2006 Steve | nothing - From: Where girls are girls and so are the boys! Hi Mike and little Jo... nothing is happening..bye.. |
| 14th November 2006 Sylvia Bull | - From: The Great Escape There was an article in this month's IAC magazine about your trip. When I got home from Epsom CVS I just typed your name into Google and up came your blog. Not going to N v S this year (some of our members are though) it won't be the same without you and Jo. Kind regards to you both |
| 14th November 2006 MikeJo | - From: The Great Escape Hi Sylvia, Trust you and Norman are both well. It was lovely to hear from you and somewhat a surprise as don't recall your name on the blog subscriber list. However, we never turn away a fan so have now added you to the list and you should get them automatically. Thank you very much for your kind remarks although I think we have a long way to go before Bill Bryson has anything to worry about. Another earlier comment compared us to Michael Palin, so it's nice to know people enjoy them enough to read them. We hope to make one or two films along the way but haven't taken the video camera out of the bag yet. All the best and good luck for Sunday if you have a film in the N v S. |
| 13th November 2006 Sylvia Bull | At last ... A rival for Bill Bryson - From: The Great Escape Hi Jo and Mike. Norm and I are so enjoying your travel experiences. Hope you will be writing a book when you return to the U.K. - much as I love Bill Bryson you would easily outsell him. Looking forward to your further tales. Take care of yourselves. |
| 6th November 2006 Jan Brenchley | Yuk! - From: Get us out of here..........NOW! Loving the blog Mike - you're doing a better job than most guide books and the pics are brilliant. Such a shame you had a bad time in India. I must say it looks horrendous and I never fancied it myself. But , as you say, loads of people love it for some strange reason..... |
| 3rd November 2006 stefani | public transport in India... - From: Tibetans, Touts and Tourists from Tel Aviv oh man, this one was hilarious! your description of those bus drives...waaahaaaahaa!! Been doing it myself on my 2 trips to India and I could feel hte pain again.. but it DOES make for great stories afterwards and in my case some cool 'before-and-after' pictures.. I wont forget my 13 hr 'sleeper (HAHAAA!!)' bus to Hampi... great idea to pop a valium in the vain attempt to accommodate some sleep. As soon as it kicked in we hit the mountains and what followed was just as you described- 10 hrs of rollercoaster-from-hell, me squeezed in this bunk-bed and my head bashing against the wall with each turn and pot-hole or alternatively I'd be cast downward into the opposing wall with my feet first. Great trip. Sleeper bus, yep. THe only ones apparently able to sleep through this ordeal where indeed mostly Israelis who were supposedly so doped out that they were blessed with total unconsciousness. Ahhh... the bliss of travelling!! but Hampi I must say made up for all of this :) bye for now,. Stefani |
| 3rd November 2006 stefani | God bless the British! - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hallo again and thanks a lot for your response. Ive read the remainder of this blog over a nice cuppa tea (whilst the wind is howling outside...) and am planning to read no more then one blog per day now cause otherwise I will run out of it before you continue and will have withdrawal syndroms I guess... Ahhhh, British humour...!!! The best in the world! I live in Amsterdam since 20 years and I'm German myself and one of the reasons I left is the poor-to-none-existent sense of humour for which we are famous. Well, there are exceptions of course but just try to watch an hr of German TV and you catch my drift. ANyway, I'll go on reading now and thanks again for sharing your experiences AND sense of humour and just ignore those ignorants who dont appreciate it- best wishes, Stefani |
| 2nd November 2006 MikeJo | Thank you - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hi Stefani, We are lost for words. Thank you very much for your kind comments and we are so pleased you enjoy reading the blog. We are truly honoured to be compared to Michael Palin (one of our own favourite authors) but he is a talented writer with a great sense of humour whereas we are just two old and weary Brits telling it how it is. Your comments are even more welcome for the fact that we have had quite a few from people who don't appreciate what we have been saying and calling us 'small-minded' and questioning why we are travelling at all. We put it down to the fact that they don't understand British humour, which has to be said, is not to everyones liking. Still, that is something to be expected. Not sure if you are living in Amsterdam or just visiting there but it is one of our favourite cities and one reason for that is that we truly believe British and Dutch humour is very similar indeed and we have always found it a very friendly City. Best wishes to you from us both. |
| 2nd November 2006 stefani | michael palin pales - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) I've read Michael Palins 'Himalaya' a while ago and it made me chuckle a few times.. whereas your blog makes me roar with laughter! Keep it up and I'd seriously think about publishing the whole lot once you're back home, should make for another nice sea-front loft! Thanks a lot for your putting this great stuff online, you made my day in rainy amsterdam and I cant wait to read more!! ;) Stefani |
| 31st October 2006 Rob (from Crier) | Still enjoying your blog - From: Get us out of here..........NOW! Great reading your blog is turning out to be - keep up the good work. Rob |
| 31st October 2006 MikeJo | - From: Get us out of here..........NOW! Hi Drew, Appreciate you taking the time to comment on our blogs. Undoubtedly, we are not going to like everywhere we go and India was just one of those places. We enjoyed Pakistan very much which many people see as being very similar to India. Our first impressions of Nepal is that it is far cleaner than India and the people are certainly much friendlier. Don't let our impressions put you off of travelling, however. You have to find out for yourself. There are many people who love India......it just didn't suit us. All the best Mike and Jo |
| 30th October 2006 Drew | Eeeks! - From: Get us out of here..........NOW! Hi Mike and Jo, I do enjoy reading your blogs. It must take you ages. I hope you have a more enjoyable time in Nepal than you did in India. Based on your time in India I think I might keep my travelling experiences to visiting our own sweet shores. All the best, Drew (a friend of Clive Sax). |
| 28th October 2006 Paul &Valerie | You cheer us up!! - From: A tale of two cities (Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India) Hi Folks, many thanks for the great emails. Very interesting and very, very funny. Keep going. Don't know how you manage those long bus journeys - numb bums must be putting it mildly!! Bye, bye from chilly Kent. Paul and Valerie Richards |
| 17th October 2006 MikeJo | - From: Liars, Cheats, Thieves and probably Murderers too Hi Maddy, Thank you for your comments. Glad you are enjoying the blog. How are your plans coming along? Did you manage to sell the house? Best regards Mike and Jo |
| 16th October 2006 Maddy | Congratulations! - From: Liars, Cheats, Thieves and probably Murderers too Hello! I have been reading your blog and looking at your pictures and what a pleasure it has been. I am also inspired by your personal story and I could not agree more that we must enjoy life in the time we have! Good luck with the rest of your travels. |
| 26th September 2006 MikeJo | Re: Blog - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 2) Hi Jan, Thank you for your kind comments. Glad you enjoyed reading the blog so far. Well, given the choice of Dunton Green or Afghanistan, Afghanistan wins every time I reckon. Jennie seems to be doing OK as the Database Queen of Crier these days. Glad Dave finally managed to break free........I know he's been trying for ages. Hope you can enjoy some time together at last. We are in Delhi at the moment but will be leaving in a couple of days for Agra and the Taj Mahal before going on to Rajasthan. Take care and will speak again soon. Love Mike and Jo X X |
| 26th September 2006 MikeJo | Re: Blog - From: Tibetans, Touts and Tourists from Tel Aviv Hi Pete, No, you haven't missed any journals. We went from Amritsar to Mcleod Ganj. Mike and Jo |
| 25th September 2006 Jan Brenchley | Wow!!! - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 2) Hi Mike and Jo, Dave just told me about your blog and, sod the work, just had to read it all today. Mike I can't believe it's you doing all this - Crier's quiet, staid, Mike - the database king of Crier! The blog is brilliantly written - funny, witty and beautiful pictures. I cant wait for the next instalment. You've made me want to go to Pakistan and Afghanistan - places I wouldn't have been dragged screaming to yesterday! Here's to the future... XXX |
| 25th September 2006 Peter Lodge | Missing? - From: Tibetans, Touts and Tourists from Tel Aviv Your blog "A tale of two cities" left us at the Golden Temple for the evening ceremony then the current one says you're at theMcLeod hill-station, Have I missed a journal or what? Keep it going, it's exciting!! Pete |
| 24th September 2006 Gordon & Barbara Beales | Blog to date - From: Tibetans, Touts and Tourists from Tel Aviv If you are enjoying the trip half as much as we are reading about it you are having one hell of a time. Best wishes to you both, keep it up. |
| 23rd September 2006 Bet and Steve | India - From: Tibetans, Touts and Tourists from Tel Aviv Err... hello?.. nothing to do in Manali? Manali is only the hashish capital of the world.. Steve Your blogs are inspirational - can't wait to throw away the crutches and get travelling. Can't promise such entertaining accounts though! Much love to you both. Bet xxxxxxx |
| 20th September 2006 Jim & Jennifer M-R | Fascinating - From: A tale of two cities (Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India) We have spent a few hours reading your amazing journal and looking at your great photos. I've got a collection of quaint signs as well. Hope the tummy is behaving, don't know your timetable/itinerary but looks as if you are bartering like pros so you should be able to keep going financially for some time. Love to you both |
| 15th September 2006 steve and betty | - From: A tale of two cities (Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India) come on then, how much weight have you lost? Side view next time please. |
| 8th September 2006 Harold Trill | Success - From: In the footsteps of bin Laden (Part 1) Hello my dears. I opened your No 1 again just now and got the whole thing,pages of it and wonderful photos. No idea why it only opened odds and ends last night. Love. H.XX |
| 17th August 2006 steveand betty | - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ No tie dye and loons yet? Come on, how much did it cost you to pay off Jafar? |
| 15th August 2006 Fluffy | Great! - From: In a Foreign Land.... Your Blog is the only thing I have ever been able to use to get Bill to climb up to the top of the house to the computer. He cries with laughter. Keep them coming! |
| 13th August 2006 Clive | Brighton calling - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ Love the blog, seems you're just getting in to your stride and already I'm on the floor laughing. Keep it up and I look forward the next one in anticipation.x |
| 13th August 2006 Barbara | Islamabad - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ It seems you have had an adventure even before leaving Heathrow airport. You are certainly a brave couple. Imagine if it had been Len and me, the peopole would have thought we were giants - as they did on Tiennamen Square in Beijing. I read your travelog with great interest and can't wait for the next instalment. Love Barbara |
| 13th August 2006 Reg &Annabelle | SAFARI, SO GOODY? - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ Hi MikeJo R&A here to say how much we enjoyed your superbly written and laid out first blog from Iscam. The pix are great, so colourful. It made for a smashing read. Those taxis make ours so gloomy looking! Jafar looks like one you'd rather have with you than agin you. We, and rest of intending UK travellers watching TV as all our airports facing massive delays, due to a security situation. A total no-hand-baggage ban imposed causing huge Q's at check-ins. Only allowed passport, tickets, essential medicine, to be carried in plastic bag. Next ten days should be interesting. You just got out in time, it seems! Many flights cancelled yesterday, though better today. Keep smiling, Love R&A PS. CUJimmy, see our slums? Biggest 'n' best in whole wurrld, OK Pal? And we got deep fried Mars bars! |
| 12th August 2006 Harold Trill | The Guide? - From: Is-scam-abad calling........ I thought you were going to say Jafar turned out to be an undercover policeman ensuring you got around safely!! Is it worth us flying out to eat cheaply. H&M.XX |
| 28th July 2006 Freddy | Sassenachs - From: Goodbye Scotland.......Hello Civilisation Was the downside of Scotland due to the English influences?? Seems that where there were no people, it is beautiful!! Look forward to a cuppa in the new flat. still jealous and thinking of doing some back-packing myself. Good luck, come back safe |
| 20th July 2006 Alan and Darren | LOVE IT - From: In a Foreign Land.... Keep it up Mike and Jo - can't wait for the next instalment. Love the way you write your pieces - so entertaining (but very true) and so full of information. Good luck in Islamabad (bit like Tottenham Court Road on a hot day) and don't forget that there's always that trendy Bexhill to come back to - but only if you really have to !!! |
