http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Sophie-and-Dale/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Sophie and Dale en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 11:43:05 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2013 11:43:05 +0000 Our final destination for Malaysia was another on the British colonial trail with Penang being the one more favoured by the Brits because of its strategic Northerly position. Its an island but is firmly connected to the mainland by one of the longest bridges in the world with another under construction which will stretch to the South of the island and will be even longer still KL to Penang is http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Penang/George-Town/blog-785473.html Our return to the UK was a little like leaving for a trip but in reverse. Although we were going back in the worst of circumstances we couldnt help but be excited that we were going to see our family and friends albeit for a very short stopover. Wed opted for just 4 days in the UK just long enough to say hi and to attend the funeral but not so long that wed get settled back into life in http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Melaka/blog-785472.html The next part of our journey was meant to be a quick stopover in Kuala Lumpur then a flight back to the Philippines to enjoy a further 3 weeks there. Sadly while we were in KL we received news that Sophies grandfather had passed away at the great age of 98 so plans were quickly adjusted in order to fly home for the funeral. This would mean that we would have to forego our time in the Philippine http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Pahang/Tioman-Island/blog-783401.html As we pulled up in the boat we had high hopes of this place being a tropical island retreat but it cant really be described as that which is a shame because it does have the potential to be up there. On first glance it is stunning with clear turquoise waters as you pull into the beach but you cant help but notice the huge cruisy party boats moored just off shore and wonder if this isnt q http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Nusa-Lembongan/blog-780604.html Ubud was always somewhere wed planned to go and were really looking forward to even before we left the UK on our last visit it was one of the places we really enjoyed spending our time. Its rich in culture and we found the people here a lot more welcoming friendlier than those in Kuta. Thankfully we were not disappointed this time around and spent over a week here soaking it all up and le http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Ubud/blog-777577.html Our previous memories of Bali were to put it mildly not great. We found the people unwelcoming and the prices offputting but we werent sure if wed really given it the chance it probably deserved so a few months back wed booked flights to return here after our time in the Philippines. We were determined to try and see a different side to this island but our guard would be well and truly http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Bali/Bukit-Peninsula/blog-777573.html We were down to our final few weeks in the Philippines and after reading about a certain area during our travels Dale was very keen to go and explore. It was a little out of our way to get to and would involve a long journey it was also a bit of a gamble as information is fairly limited but we decided to wager all our remaining time that it would be worth it so set about working out the best way http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Luzon/Caramoan-Peninsula/Paniman/blog-773831.html Our next island to visit was one wed seen back in 2009. At that time we were sat on Anda Beach Bohol and thought how nice it looked with its own personal volcano stuck out there in the middle of the sea.. we never thought wed be visiting it 3 years later and had been looking forward to it since we arrived in the Philippines we hadnt anticipated wed be so delayed in getting here bu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Mindanao/Camiguin/blog-773732.html We opted for Harolds again on our return to Dumaguete and instantly fell in love with the huge air con room we were allocated P800. It was a real treat to have wardrobes a massive window and air con for less than we were paying in Siquijor.. ok it didnt have the beach views but we were still happy Its the little things that matter First on the list was trying to find someone to help http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Negros/Dumaguete/blog-771481.html Our trip over to Cebu and up to Moalboal was an eye opening and beautiful one which took us along the East cost of Cebu. It was only a short 20 minute hop over to Cebu from Sibulan to Liloan P65 for the ferry or P45 for a banka then a tricycle up to Bato and finally a bus to Moalboal. The coastline that we saw on this 1 hour journey was stunning we were met with crystal clear waters when we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Cebu/Moalboal/blog-771890.html Our next island is surrounded by rumours of witchcraft and black magic with some Filipinos steering well clear for fear of what may happen to them. Of course we poo poohed all this but each one of us secretly hoped that we might find something a little surreal and were looking forward to finding out what the island of Siquijor might offer. We started to wonder whether the rumours were actually tru http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Siquijor/blog-769859.html For our time in the Philippines we had a rough idea of where we want to visit but no real set plan on the order and how to get there. We knew we wanted to head south after Boracay so after wed waved off Eleanor in Caitaclan we caught a bus down to Iloilo with the plan to head over to Negros and beyond. Wed forgotten wed actually done the 6 hour ride before in the opposite direction 3 year http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Negros/blog-768056.html Back in 2012 we39d settled on a return to SE Asia for our next trip we39d toyed with many ideas.. Central America South America Africa but we had loved the variety of countries in this area so much and wanted to take it a bit easier this time around so SE Asia it was.. we can39t say that the weather and beaches in this part of the world didn39t have a large part to play too When we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-766053.html Oh how plans change...As we said in our last blog our plans to return to life on the road have changed changed and changed again since we returned back to the UK in February 2010. After a slightly longer stopover than we39d initially planned we are now just days well tens of days away from our next trip so what have we been doing in the 3 years we39ve been back home..Well the most major t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Northamptonshire/Northampton/blog-750578.html We haven't been on here for a while now we had intended to do a best of blog but that didn't come to fruition in the end partly through denial that the journey had ended and partly through being too busy. We couldn't however let it pass without documenting one of the most momentous events of both our lives... our marriage honeymoon so this blog will give the full run down on the week which was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-582151.html We were looking forward to going back to Bangkok as it is one of our favorite citites certainly our favourite in Asia anyway. It has everything you could want in a city.. fabulous shopping cheap tasty food good and cheap sometimes free public transport and loads to see and do. As is now typical of our time here Sophie had organised for us to come here for one thing and one thing only.. to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-470557.html There were a million things we'd have loved to do in the Philippines but a while back we'd decided that top of our list would be to go to the AtiAtihan festival said to be the wildest and most colourful of all festivals in South East Asia. We'd had to pre book our hotel in advance so were a bit limited with how we could spend our remaining few weeks. Along with Dominic we'd all decided to hea http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Panay/Kalibo/blog-466651.html We'd been flapping a bit about where to spend Christmas so when we found a resort that was affordable we texted them straight away to try and book a room and thankfully they had a room free so that was sorted. This resort was on Cacnipa Island a small island a 40 minute boat ride away from Port Barton. After a night spent in Port Barton to relax after our 6 hour dusty bus ride followed by a 1 h http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Palawan/blog-463847.html After the 7 hour incredibly scenic but expensive 2200PHP boat ride from Coron Town to El Nido through a land that can only be described as Robinson Crusoe real estate we all got off with our sea legs well and truly on.. it's amazing just how long it takes for the swaying sensation of being at sea to wear off El Nido is really small and easy to walk around in a few minutes so along with David http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Palawan/El-Nido/blog-462047.html To get to Coron we chose the ferry route which was surprisingly comfortable despite opting for the equivalent of 2nd class. We chose Superferry to sail with and it was a 15 hour crossing from Manila to Coron Town on Busuanga Island part of the Calamianes group in Northern Palawan. We had reserved bunks and after a quick swap with another passenger so we could have adjacent top bunks eating our http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Palawan/Coron/blog-461347.html