Japan Japan is still on our bucket list but now we can use your blog as a guide. I'd love a list of the places you stayed. It does look like your list of must do's was rather long. Great stuff. You've been successful in tasting all those wonderful foods. !
Koh Tao - Steak and ale Hi, I hope you had a "pleasant" journey home. Thank you for letting me read your blog, I have chuckled lots reading some of them. All oh so true. I do hope the steak and ale pasties (Through the looking glass Lady) didn't give you the squirts, I'd hate that. I've book marked the page so I can read more, in time. I hope to see you both soon and thank you again :)
Finding new things to do in a familiar city The company is the journey not the location. After white knuckle ride looks like the only solution is plenty of Black Sheep Ale...good decision. We are among your fans that long for more blogs. We will patiently wait.
Mystery deals Sounds like you got a great price for the luxury. Sounds like Bangkok is a comfortable city and second home for you. Great street dancing. Have fun and travel safe.
A bucket of vodka You've had pretty good luck in the past...but this one...ugh. I'm thinking the vodka was indeed the way to go. Bing nurses we like to go to hospitals and have a look around when we visit foreign countries but we like to look and leave...not become customers.
Bad luck indeed! Yes, it was very bad luck. You would have been fascinated by the hospital...although we would definitely have preferred not to have seen inside one and so would Paul! Vodka buckets seemed like a good remedy and did help a bit ;)
Beaches of Thailand Sorry to hear about your illness. Hope you are feeling better now. Sadly, I get food poisoning all too often and understand how you were feeling. The mojitos will surely chase away all bacteria...just keep drinking them. Looks like a great place to explore. Chuckled about your observations....you are getting older! Have fun and stay safe.
Getting older and food poisoning! We don't get tummy trouble that often and usually it's me (Donna) - it must have been pretty bad for Neil to get it! We aren't sure if we just don't understand things because we have been removed from UK society for so long, maybe if we lived there we would understand more things? Who knows, but living in Asia is fun and provides daily puzzlement and laughs!
Hong Kong We were talking about Hong Kong yesterday. I'm glad you let the kids out to play. (closed eyes and all) It would be good to better understand the aversion to rain. It seems peculiar. Happy travels
The kids definitely came out to play! We were so excited, it was a great day out, Dave and Merry Jo! Seriously, this aversion to rain is so silly - oh for the day we understand Asia (we suspect this will be never) but it all just adds to the fun of living out here!
Queuing etiquette... Donna I think we would travel well together - I have made it my mission to spread the good word of 'queuing etiquette' wherever we go ;)
What a journey! You two are really making an incredible journey, I wish I was along for the ride in person but your blog will suffice until I get on the road again myself. =)
We remember the waiting well! Hi, thanks for reading our blog. We remember before we left the UK the impatient excitement of waiting. Hope you get away on your big trip soon - you'll enjoy it all the more because of the wait!
Yes, the pushing by members of a certain group is phenomenal. It really ruined my time in Beijing a few years ago. I was pushed an average of 30 times every day, even when I was basically alone on a street, and someone walked toward me! I am big, and if you push me, I will push you right back. Got it? As for the lines - have you seen the warning signs at the BKK airport saying, if you butt in, you will be put back to the end of the line?
Bangkok airport signs Thanks for reading! No, we haven't seen those signs in Bangkok airport, we will definitely look for them next time we are there. The Thai's obviously don't like pushing and shoving either!
Ugh! Sounds completely awful!!! I'm glad that I came through and looked at your blog post from the link you just gave me on the Thorntree.... definitely put off Boracay now!!!
Thanks for the comment Thankfully Paul is fully recovered (just over a year on) and has full movement back with his arm. Yes, travel insurance really is so important, never feel foolish buying it as you never know when you will need it!
Same Same Hey
We took my parents on a similar tour, but from Ko Samui. Simply stunning and they loved it. My mum's first time kayaking was quite a sight! The snorkelling was a bit rubbish for us too, but it was rainy season.
Your photos from Ko Phangan look great. The full moon party aspect has always put us off, but I guess it's a big island. We're moving from Saigon to Shanghai come September, so that's still close enough for a Thai beach visit!
Hiya, thanks for the comment! Wow, Shanghai - an exciting move. We really liked Shanghai when we visited, there's plenty in China to keep you occupied and as you say only a short hop still from SE Asia! The parents tried kayaking a few years back on a trip to Phi Phi and weren't keen to repeat the experience ;) Koh Phangan is a beautiful island and the other beaches are a world away from the FMP (we had the same thoughts as you before we visited). If you want beach names etc, just shoot us an e-mail. Hope you are both well x
Breaking the curse A good idea to try traveling at a different time but not sure it worked out as well as you would have liked...ah those geckos and cockerels. Glad you enjoyed the time with your parents. The food looks good. Good to see you blogging again.
I always enjoy reading about your latest vacation in Thailand... and this time with your parents. Your insights are great. I look forward to hearing about your plans for the future.
Palawan still one of your favourites? Hi again Donna & Neil
We are just deciding wether it is worth going to Palawan or not. We booked several months ago, but after the Boracay experience we are a little nervous about wasting our precious time in Asia on somewhere which may just be another let down. Have you been there recently? We were thinking of heading straight to El Nido for five days of r&r after China, but are really not so sure anymore.....any advice?
We saved for 3 years and then went Hoff to travel the world. Chris Columbus and Magellan eat your heart out...do you reckon other people will have already discovered the places we are going to? You bet!
About Us
Neil, originally from Hartlepool, UK and Donna, originally from the Wirral, UK have known each other for 19 years. We bought a house, got cushy jobs in Nottingham and always had a passion to travel and see what more was out there in the big wide world (sounds corny or what?). The opportunity came when we were both made redundant and given nice r... full info
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Japan
Japan is still on our bucket list but now we can use your blog as a guide. I'd love a list of the places you stayed. It does look like your list of must do's was rather long. Great stuff. You've been successful in tasting all those wonderful foods. !