2 Months In - Replying To Your Comments And The Journey So Far

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Quite a few of you have left us comments on the blog over the last month or so, which we are very thankful of (Helen loves getting new messages!). However, due to…erm… being too busy…? We have neglected to reply to most of them (sorry!)… Therefore we thought we’d use the opportunity of a break in our hectic schedule to send some messages back and to let you know how our journey has been so far.

So, if you’ve been waiting for a reply, want to know what changes we have made to our plans, how much over budget we are or just have some time to kill before Match of the Day starts, then read on.

Replying to comments:

Ben and Emma - Well what can I say - you two are our favourites! You’ve left so many comments! Thank you for updating us on the demise of Woolsworths (where will everyone get their pick ‘n’ mix from now??) and the close of the M&S food (nooooo!!!). New Year away from home was fine but Christmas a bit of a non-event. There were plenty of decorations up and Christmas songs playing (though nothing like you’d suffer during a visit to Clinton Cards) but it wasn’t cold and I didn’t get to see my family. On the plus side it means I’m looking forward to Christmas 2009 even more! I’ve spent my Birthday on one of the islands in Thailand. We’d planned to stay in the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but we’re a bit behind so couldn’t make it in time. Hope you’re both well. Thank you for persevering in reading our blog, despite your existing obligations 😊 Helen xx

Susannah - Yes, I could try and make some lovely Pad Thai for you, however I think I’ve already forgotten how to… How about some Pasta with cheese and butter instead? David

Louisa - You can fly out to meet us whenever you want. In fact, what with you having passed your driving test, you can now drive us around Darwin - right? I’m confused though, we look tanned...? Are you even reading our blog? Despite being in 30 degrees for the last 2 months we still only look slightly less pale than usual. Finally, I’m glad that you liked the anniversary car. I was going to just send a card but I figured that what with it being such a big occasion I should send something a little better. David

Sarah - They opened a checkout just for you…? Seriously!? How are things? Work ok? It’s good that you were amused by me having to do an impression of a tiger. I think Helen chooses to not help in these situations so it can bring happiness to other people - she’s good like that! David

Nick - Hope you’ve recovered from your various ailments. How’s the house looking? Send us some pictures if you can (of both your house and sparkling smile. Maybe you could take a photo of you - in your house - smiling?) Glad the exams weren’t too bad. Though to me the idea of taking an exam in accounting could be nothing but dire... Still, let us know your results! Helen

Kelly - Actually, it wasn’t you who kept telling me a tiger would eat me (though I’m sure you did mention it). Is the excel going well? I assume that by now you’re all experts…? David

Chris - Not sure I can really reply to your comment, but thanks for the Christmas Message! Hope you had a good one and that Spicers isn’t getting to you too much… David

Katie - The Christmas Day comment was much appreciated 😊. Glad you’re enjoying the blog (you’re one of the only people who hasn’t commented on how they are too long)! Hope you’re having a Happy New Year so far. Helen xx

Texts

As our phones didn’t work between us arriving in Laos to coming back to Thailand, we expected to have a whole host of text messages when we eventually turned them on. Nope. In total we had 3. All from family members. Initially we were offended, but then it turned out that our phones only save messages for 5 days before deleting them, meaning that if anyone had sent us a message before the first of January we wouldn’t have got it.
Therefore, if you did text us on Christmas or between late November to late December and we didn’t reply, then sorry, the reason is we had no access to our phones. However, if in fact the reason we had no messages was that no one text over that period of time then A) we clearly need more friends and B) we are very disappointed in all the friends we do have (that means you!!!).

Changes to our plan

The other day I was sitting reading my travel book and I happened to start reading about Borneo… So now we’ve adjusted our plans a little so that we can go there! In fact, because we’ve spent more time than we planned in Asia, we’ve now put all our flights back a month. Assuming everything stays as it is, we will return to London on the 1st of August 2009. This change has caused some casualties though… Not only are we going to have to stretch our budget even further now, but (as Helen mentioned) Helen’s birthday treat of staying in the Mandarin Oriental has had to be cancelled. We tried to push it back so we could still go, but the cost of moving it forward a month was almost as much extra as we’d already paid.

Shutterfly

We have both been assuming that no one looks at the Shutterfly web site (http://daveandhelen.shutterfly.com/) and to be honest the only reason I have it is so that I can back up all my pictures in case something happens to the laptop. However, Helen spoke to her sister the other day and she commented on how there are lots of bad pictures of Helen in there. If any of you do actually look at it and were wondering the same thing, then the reason for these photos is simple. Every time we leave a hotel/hostel/dump I take a picture of Helen (though I often forget). The expression on her face is meant to show how much she enjoyed staying there. So, for example, if Helen looks tired then it probably means she was kept up all night by drilling in the room next door. Or if Helen looks annoyed then it’s probably because she was bitten lots throughout the night… etc…


Trip facts so far:

Countries Visited: 4
Cities/Towns Stayed In: 16
Favourite Places: Hoi An - Vietnam, Halong Bay - Vietnam, Chiang Dao - Thailand, Luang Prabang - Laos and (based on our second visit only) Bangkok - Thailand
Worst Places: Hanoi - Vietnam and random stops on bus journeys
The Place Dave Is Looking Forward To Most: Rockhampton, Australia - With a name like that, it must be great!
The Place Helen Is Looking Forward To Most: New Zealand (To see Mum and Dad)


Spent: About £3000
Over Budget By: About £200 - which, lets face it, isn’t too bad!!

Nicest Nationality Met - Australians, Dutch (for their friendliness) and the Thai general public (for their willingness to help).
Worst Nationality Met - The French and (some of) the Vietnamese general public.

Best food: Chiang Dao and Hoi An
Worst Food: The Burgers filled with bone and a cocktail Dave had which contained a large amount of salt…

Dave’s Most Useful Item So Far: Laptop
Helen’s Most Useful Item So Far - Pyjamas and little towels to dry my hair (thanks Dave’s mum!)
Dave’s Least Useful Item So Far: A money belt (only as I can’t get money out of it without making a scene, defeating the point of it).
Helen’s Least Useful Item So Far - A pair of those stupid trousers that zip off to become shorts. As we discussed with someone (in a tailors, appropriately) these look good neither as trousers nor as shorts. They were shipped back to England within a few weeks

Most Annoying Thing So Far (Dave) - Motorcycles on pavements (AAARRRRGGG!! They are for WALKING on!)
Most Annoying Thing So Far (Helen) - Unreliable hot water.

Things Dave misses most: Home cooking (i.e. my Mum’s), people being able to understand me and watching Match of the Day.
Things Helen misses most: The feeling of being at home, family and roast dinners.

Things Dave misses least: The weather, having to go to work and chavs.
Things Helen misses least: Winter (specifically wind and rain), work and having to sit through Match of the Day each and every weekend.

I’ll (Dave) put the next update on the blog soon. Thanks to everyone for reading so far, most of our posts these days are getting over 150 views!!

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Comments

[Jay]

Yo!
How's tricks?! Happy Birthday Helen... for yesterday (Yes, I know it's a little late, but not my fault, honest!). Looks like you two are having a funky time. I particularly like the pictures of the monkeys (simple things...). I expect that you're missing the Great British weather though. Deep down : ) Anyway, keep having a blast! That's an order. P.S. More pictures of monkey's please X)

[Cat]

My, how time flies...
2 months already?! How?? I mean, you have an excuse - having fun and sleepless nights and excitement and monkeys and all that - but I'm in Cambridge. Which is even less exciting due to my not watching Match of the Day. (actually, India for Christmas/ New Year was pretty cool:) ) Sounds like you're having a fantastic time, and I'm exceedingly jealous. Keep up the exotic blogs - and I'm living vicariously through you, so please have a pie or two for me in Oz. Thank you. Cx