Geo: -42.7667, -65.0333The ship docked in Puerto Madryn , Patagonia, Argentina. You don't visit this continent to see the architecture so we took the tour to the Valdes Peninsula jutting out between the Gulfs of San Jose and Nuevo. This is a vast nature reserve which also lives in symbiosis with the sheep farmers. The sheep are Merinos a hardy variety which can survive on the flat gorse filled steppes. On the way we saw a grey fox about the same size as the ones we see in our back garden at home but much more shy. There are also lots of Guanacos which are a type of Llama. They are elegant but have a fierce temper with the ability to spit like camels and are not domesticated but live on the same land as the ... read more

Geo: -34.5761, -58.4088After a night on board the BA flight from London to Buenos Aires, it was good to get to the hotel. We took a taxi from the airport as it is about an hour into the city. Initially the outskirts reminded us of Bangkok or Cairo. There are new buildings interspersed with old chaotic ones. As with any city though it has its rich and poor areas. After checking into the hotel, which is full of very helpful staff, we walked around the city. The main art gallery was closed on Mondays so we went to the Cemetery to walk around the city of the dead. Sounds gruesome but this is worth a visit. Eva Peron is buried here and is the only mausoleum covered in flowers. I like the ones with angels on ... read more

Geo: 18.8, 98.98Looking back at the past week, I think the highlights of touring were definitely the Elephant Camp, though may be not the bamboo rafting. The large Wat on the mountain is worth organising a ride to get to. The Monkey show is awful. For 200 baht you get to see about a dozen monkeys all in chains and looking very unhappy doing things they wouldnt normally do. We only stayed 5 minutes and walked out. The trip to the Orchid Farm was very nice if you like orchids as I do. For 40 baht you can wander around the lovely garden and see some lovely species. We bought some nusery plants sealed in a bottle, which we have to remember not to leave on our balcony when we pack today. Chiang Mai city is ... read more

Geo: 18.4972, 98.3711Having had one lazy day at the hotel, we had to do some serious sightseeing. There are lots of Wats or temples in Chiang Mai. After looking round the first we were waylaid by a taxi driver who offered to drive us round to the important ones for a good price. We were very pleased to do this as Chiang Mai is quite a large place and it was too hot to walk miles around. We saw the 5 best ones each different but containing lots of Buddhas. Karan (probably not how to spell his name) waited while we had a beer half way round and later took us to a shop (in order to get his petrol;coupon for taking us there). Must confess it was a lovely shop and we bought a jade ... read more

Geo: 13.75, 100.517We had had an overnight flight to Bangkok from Heathrow and although a 2 hour wait in the airport was tedious, especially as the lounge had no alcohol,, we were glad we were not out in the pouring rain. It was only an hours flight to Chang Mai- Thai airways so no alcohol again-.From the airport we were whisked away in a long black limo to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This is a sumptuous place which was built only 10 years ago in 60 acres with its own paddy fields. Although new, the place is full of genuine antiques and the decorations are original and old.After check in we hastened to the Horn bar, so called because of the wierd creatures with horns decorating the walls and had that welcome beer. We were taken ... read more