sueblueginger

After delay and uncertainty about whether the plane would ever leave the runway, my flight from Siem Reap to Singapore eventually took off, about an hour and a half late. It's only a two hour flight and no drinks or snacks to pass the time. The online entry visa meant that progress through the airport was exceptionally speedy so I was in a taxi , driving through the night-lights of Singapore in no time. I was there for about a month to help a friend recuperate at home after an extended stay in hospital following a major operation. The days flew by and the daily monsoon downpours made getting out and about subject to precise timing and careful study of gathering clouds. These downpours take no prisoners, and if you are caught in one the only ... read more

It was now New Years Day 2024. Susan, Lisa and I picked up a song theow from Chanthaburi bus station and the driver took us across town to a little hotel - the Ploy Buri. Only one young woman on reception when we arrived, but we later realised that the hotel was run by about 5 or 6 women of different ages( maybe generations of the same family) Anyway they were all charming and the first young woman we met was very very helpful. And one of the older ladies gave us a bunch of longans from her garden. We seemed to be the only people staying there and only once saw a family in the reception area who looked as if they were fellow guests. So armed with Google maps and a recommendation from the ... read more

Since I last travelled to SE Asia my world has changed a bit. Covid came along , fast on my heels as I got back to the UK in March 2020. My little gallery, blue-ginger, changed shape, went on line and slimmed down and I had time to take stock of life. Time to close up shop and move house. Thirty five years and happy memories at Home End Farm were hard to leave behind, but the move to a little house in Hay-on-Wye heralded a recognition that sometimes life just changes direction. So my first real travel opportunity came up, and feeling a bit nervous of the whole process I was delighted to be catapulted into booking a return flight to Bangkok when Lisa (Australia) suggested meeting up with Susan (Kazaksthan) and spending Christmas on ... read more

It's a Monday morning in Chiangmai ...... and my last Monday here for this trip. The sands of time are visibly running out now and each day is precious. How shall I fill it? Well, Monday morning was filled with finishing off my last blog and downloading photos. I sat under the old house and had good company from the dogs. Nui was watering her garden and Kong was tidying up the empty rooms. The only guests this week are me, Ronda ( who leaves on Wednesday) and Richard who is a long term resident. The water on one side of the house (where Ronda and I are staying) has been turned off as a crack developed in a pipe last night, and a water feature was created behind the building! So the sisters are waiting ... read more

After a night on the train it was wonderful to just enjoy a hot shower and brush my teeth properly. And in a little while I had a message from Jiab, a young Thai friend who used to be one of my students at Home End. I arranged to meet her, her children and her parents at a nearby restaurant , only 5 minutes walk from where I was staying. I felt thoroughly spoilt as they piled delicious food on my plate, and Jiab's two little children were absolutely delightful. Alba and Alfie. The family stayed with me for a night on a visit to the UK about 18 months ago, and I'd been captivated by Alba then. Alfie arrived only eight months ago I think, and although he wasn't joining in with the lunch food, ... read more