Messing about on the River

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Today we’ve had the fun of changing hotels, from our deluxe 5-star room to the 2-star hotel in Chinatown that is the beginning of our one-month Intrepid tour. The room looks fine and the view is fantastic! We’ve been out walking around and getting our bearings. We walked through a beautiful area selling flowers - every colour of orchid imaginable, chrysanthemums with paper covering their blooms, birds of paradise, huge bunches of roses for only 80p!

We then decided to go mad and treat ourselves to a long-boat ride through the canals (‘mad’ because we’ll be doing similar tomorrow with our tour) - it really is interesting to see the people living alongside the water, the little lads swimming, older men asleep in hammocks or fishing, the monks in the numerous temples ... we even saw a sweatshop full of women sewing. Another advantage was the cooling effect, which gave a nice relief from the 30o humidity!

As luck would have it, we pulled up next to the public ferry dock with a very convenient bar next door - John has ample photographic opportunities while I sup my pina colada. Well, makes a change from beer! Bliss!

Back at the hotel met up with the folk we’ll be touring with for the next few weeks. Had a fun time getting to know everyone sharing food and a drop of Thai Whisky!

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Comments

[Rosie Billington]

Sounds like great fun
Keep the commentary coming - those of stuck working for BT can only dream on ! Have fun. X

[b.harrowven]

Sounds Wonderful
What a wonderful time you are having. All my love Mum xx

[Maureen Staines]

River
Hi Val and John - 30o humidity seems strange given how it's been here. All these different worlds going on at the same time ... and bringing back memories of when we were there ages ago. Hope your tour isn't too intrepid. Don't remember Thai whisky but I do remember something called 'Kickapoo Joy Juice' .

[Sarah]

Flowers!!
Why buy the flowers "for the room" - why not for you Val!!!??