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Published: September 6th 2008
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All good things come to an end………
Well we are home safe and sound - no thefts or loss of our valuables and no need to claim on the health insurance. Heathrow was raining and a heavy grey sky when we landed. I had a definite feeling of “where can I get a ticket out of here”.
However we were met by Dan and his girlfriend Manuela which was great and they drove us all the way home- then we saw friends the same evening and had more champagne in one day then the whole of the 10 months we have been away - next day to see more family and finally felt as though we were back. Then more friends welcomed us back. We are very lucky indeed and especially with our family. The Welcome cake Mum baked really helped too!
I thought a few facts and figures might be interesting to finish the blog off.
There have been over 5000 hits on the blog!! I am now making a slide show of our trip and Spielberg has bought the rights to make a film!!!
We have flown around 48000 miles and taken 36
flights, driven nearly 16000 miles in cars, pick up trucks, off road 4x4, campervans, mopeds, trishaws, rickshaws, put-puts elephants and donkey carts
We have seen - giant turtles, orang-utans, giant pandas, elephants, killer whales, dolphins, lion cubs (in Las Vegas!) and the amazing universe of tropical fish on coral reefs and in coral gardens….but no tigers!!!.
The best shopping (though we didn’t buy) - Bali for woodwork and pearls - Thailand for Thai silk and jewellery
The most chilled places - Diana Bar in the Gilli Isles off Bali - Coconut Bar, Tioman Island, off Malaysia - Varkala Beach, Kerala, India and Legian Beach Bali
Most exciting places - Death Valley, USA and surfing and body boarding in Bali
Best Value - An hours local boat ride from to Ya Noi an island in Thailand less than £1 each (pretend you are James Bond)
Breakfast on Gilli Isles - included in £4 a night room charge (fruit, banana pancake and Lombock coffee)
Accommodation in Amed in Bali - £10 night inc breakfast day bed on terrace and beach 3 steps away and fab snorkelling 6 steps away
Thai food everywhere in Thailand
American diners
Saturday
Thailand was special
..and the people were fantastic... night music concert on beach in Hawaii - free
Best Drives (Jeremy Clarkson knows nothing)
Sri Lanka - Kandy to Elia Niwas and on to the coast
Malaysia - drive over the Cameron Highlands
Thailand - Northern Thailand up to the Mekong River; Koh Sok National Park
Australia - East Coast Pacific Highway,
USA - Death Valley; around Lake Tahoe; New England; Zion National Park; around Lake Tahoe; New England; Zion National Park; Yosemite National Park, also Route 66 which kept cropping up wherever we went across the States which was a little disconcerting
Most Moving Experiences
Gettysburg and Richmond - the waste of war and the perversion of truly noble human qualities such as courage and self sacrifice
Sukothai, Thailand - Serenity and spirituality
Shoe shine boy in Jaisalmer - deaf and dumb but the biggest smile in the world - a true inspiration - why do WE worry about such little things?
Best Views
From Christ the Redeemer over Rio Grand Canyon Sydney Harbour Death Valley Upper Indus Valley to the Himalayas Ya Noi island looking towards the coast of Thailand Snorkelling in Coral Gardens - Tioman, Great Barrier Reef, Gilli Isles, Amed off
Bali
Most Stunning Man Made Artifacts
Taj Mahal
Saturn 5 Rocket - Cape Kennedy
Sukothai temple complex Thailand
Light Show on the skyscrapers in Hong Kong harbour
Bahia Temple Delhi
Fatepur Sikri Palace, India
Forts and Palaces Rajasthan, India
Siam Paragon Shopping Mall, Bangkok
Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Australia
Buddhist Gompas - Lahdak, Northern India
Royal Palace and Emerald Temple, Bangkok
Small piles of stones - Lahdak (to give shade to souls that have passed on to the next world
Things we took but weren’t used Mosquito net Travel towel Carols posh frock and velvet jacket
Best Airline - Kingfisher in India and Quantas (surprisingly)
Best Museums
Singapore -Museum of South East Asiatic Civilisations
USA - Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown and Yorktown
USA - Getty Museum Santa Monica California
USA - Kennedy Space Centre
Malaysia - Malacca (one big museum)
China -the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace
Sarawak - Ethnic museum
India - Forts and Palaces in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner
USA - Virginia City
Finally
So that’s it - and our final thoughts are
The vast majority of people around the world are really kind and want to do good -
The World
....ready for another trip...why aye!!! a massive thank you to everyoone we have met for making our trip the success it has been - we will never forget you
We put limitations around ourselves - everything is in fact possible
The natural world is truly wonderful and needs to be cherished
Things are pretty unimportant and are a distraction
In England we were each born with a winning lottery ticket in our hand and we are very fortunate
You CAN go around the world yourselves…..
….and if you need a bag carrier give us a call!!!!!
Bye
Carol and Ian
September 2008
PS Carol has been amazing as we have travelled around - a real trooper and always the voice of calm and reason. Many, many thanks Carol and my love to you …..now about the next trip…..
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