After 6 months away we finally hit rock bottom backpacker status in Chinatown Singapore......broken air-con.....mould.....tiny room.......

But a swift change of hotel and we're back to flashpacker status with Raffles out of our luxury hotel room window

After winning the Malaysian Grand Prix, then hanging from beer jugs.....Phil gets in touch with his feminine side on a flowery cyclo in Melaka

A week in a Muslim country and may we introduce Shahzia Sheridan

Petronas Towers - KL

Thai Adventures

Hi guys.
Firstly, an apology. We have tried to send this blog a couple of times already but unfortunately technology in Thailand is not really up to speed and we have had all sorts of problems. So, we are not ignoring you....just getting stressed with computers and having too much fun travelling through Thailand.
We began our 17 day tour on March 9th and have had so many adventures so far and met some really lovely people along the way too.
Our met our group of 12 in our Bangkok hotel and we were both so relieved not to be on an 18-30 'piss up', (well....we are getting a little old for all that now I guess). Amongst the group were three Aussie couples. Shannon and Fiona (30ish on honeymoon from Melbourne), Col and Jill (50's from Brisbane) and Sylvia and Alyshia, (30ish mates from Melbourne). Also with us were Peter and Ann (retired from Ontario) and two single British girls....Lynn (40 from London) and Mhairi (29 from Dunblane).
We all hit it off straight away and found our feet. It really helped that our tour leader (Groud) was wonderful. It was her first comfort tour with Intrepid and she was more used to trekking in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. I think she was a little overwhelmed by us all and didn't always understand our western humour but she made the trip for us. Nothing was too much trouble and she ran around after us like a mother, despite being the youngest of all of us at just 28. She even sorted out all our laundry, dropped it off, picked it up etc. She was a star!!!
We spent the first day around the temples of Bangkok and in the heat it was a little tough going. Amazing but hot!!! That evening after freshening up we headed for the Oriental Express and Bagkok Station for our 13 hour overnight train journey to Chaing Mai. We were to sleep in small carriages with tiny bunks. So we set off at 6pm in party mode, all loaded with buckets of KFC for tea and plenty of local beer and snacks for midnight feasts. The whole experience was a scream!!! We all agreed we had never laughed so much. Till we cried on several occasions. The journey was complete with squat toilets and a disco carriage with disco balls and cheesey CD compilations. Was Chaing Mai going to be worth the trip???
We arrived at dawn to a wonderful sunrise. Chaing Mai was covered in haze from forest fires and unfortunately continued to be so for the duration of our stay. We did however go on an all day Thai cooking course and we are now both professionals. We also had experiences of ladyboys (photos when we get home) and plenty of Thai boxing.
From Chaing Mai we headed south to Sukhothai and enjoyed a day cycling around the temples and parks. Fiona reckoned it was the first time she'd been on a bike for 25 years and absolutely loved it after early nerves. We also rode on elephants which was a real magical day and a real highlight.
From there, we flew out of the tinyest airport in the world to Kanchanaburi where we went on the Death Railway, constructed between Thailand and Burma by the Allies during WW2. It was rather eerie but crossing the Bridge over the Rivere Kwai was rather exciting. We eventually headed back to Bangkok for a few more bargains at the night bazaar, hair raising taxi and tuk-tuk journeys and our final night with dinner cruising down the Chao Freya river on a huge party boat.
We are now in Malaysia for the second leg of our tour and there has been a slight change in group and our leader unfortunately. Four members ended the trip in Bangkok with Groud and four new ones met our new leader with us in Penang. The group seems a little less cohesive now with two more couple joining but it's not too bad. The new leader is an Aussie called Rose (32). Whereas Groud did all she could to make us very happy and comfortable, Rose is much more laid back and a bit of a hippy at heart. She's very much at one with nature and seems to be doing the job as a bit of a year holiday for her too. She's very approachable and knowledgable but she just doesn't seem to be there much so far. She has very big shoes to fill I guess.
Anyway, we have spent today on the beach in Langkawi. It's beautiful here!!! White sand and crystal water. Tomorrow we are island hopping before we fly yo KL for a couple of days then on to Melaka and Singapore by Saturday.
From there, it's just a few days in Singapore and a week in The Maldives before you'll be seeing our ugly mugs again.
We are both beginning to think about life back home and it's a little daunting but we are so excited about seeing everyone and sharing our adventure stories with you.

Only 17 days to go!!!! AAAHHHH!!!!!

All our love

Phil and Fiona
xxxx

Bangkok traffic

Hi everyone.
Just a quick update from Bangkok. What a place, fast furious and definitely the biggest cultural shock since leaving the UK. As I write this, I am surrounded by Thai people of all ages in the internet cafe. However, there does not appear to be much business or work going on. Men and women of all ages are fighting alien invasion and shooting gremlins at every work station I can see. The noise is hilarious and the intense ferocity of the pensioner to my right's trigger finger is actually pretty unnerving. Needless to say....I feel every bit the tourist with bum bag and fake Ralph Lauren polo shirt to boot.
Bangkok is amazing. Fiona is certainly surprised as I think she expected it to be rather smellier and dirtier. I'm also a little taken aback. It's definitely smoggy but not quite as bad as I had expected. We are staying at a fantastic 'Boutique hotel'. I think this just means it's not a skyrise and the Davis pride themselves on being Bangkok's first and finest hotel of this nature. The rooms are beautifully ornate on two levels with all the mod cons and a couple of tellies thrown in too along with the minibar. It's great to have a bath (the bathroom is wonderful), makes you realise how much you take one for granted at home. Although showers are necessary to keep cool, once in the air-conditioned room a bath is great and into the luxury bathrobes. Yet another example of our 'flashpacker' status.
Our days here so far have been spent visiting various temples, including the reclining Buddha and the golden mountain. We've not yet ventured to the grand palace as we are taken there when we pick up our 17 night tour tomorrow. We have however visited the night bazaar and wondered at the never ending rows of stalls and tried our hand at haggling over 10 baht (15p). Fiona gives up very easily but I'm getting into the swing of things a little now. I'm especially fond of haggling with the 'Taxi meter' drivers. We are about 10 km from the centre of Bangkok and a taxi in costs around 50 baht (70p) but many cabbies turn off their meters and try asking for ridiculous amount 300 baht. I get so so bloody annoyed that they seem to think I've fallen out of the nearest tree or something. The tuk tuk drivers are even worse!!!!! We did a ten minute trip on our first day here for 20 baht (30p) and some others try to charge you 400 baht. They all want to take you to the tailors where I'm sure their family work. It seems the trip cost for the ride is hugely discounted if you go for a look at the tailors or jewellery shop. They wait for you outside, then head off to another one. They can discount the fare as they get petrol vouchers for taking you round Bangkok's Saville Row Magical Mystery Tour. Fiona is being very gracious and patient but it's beginning to wind me up to say the least. We were picked up from dinner the other night at about 11pm and wanted to go straight back to the hotel however our cabbie despite knowing we'd just had dinner wanted to take us to every sodding seafood restaurant in the city. Fiona smiled nicely as I bubbled and boiled. I'm my father's son which Fiona finds hilarious and likes to remind me. No offence dad!!!! But we both know what you're like and I'm certainly inheriting you ways as you did Grandad's.
Anyway, I've finished venting about the Thai transport system so I'd better sign off and head for our 60 baht (90p) lunch of noodles, rice and fresh mangoes and pineapples. Food really is amazing and ridiculously cheap. Fiona is spending the afternoon getting her hair straightened at MBK, Bangkok's indoor department store market.....imagine Debenhams ten times bigger and market stalls and food courts all under one roof. The mobile phone section alone is the size of Asda. everything is just amazing.
Tonight it's a two hour massage. It's gonna cost us 250 baht each. About 3 pound!!!! I've even had a foot massage and facial. Jesus....what the hell is happening to me!!!! Fiona...that's what!!!!
Anyway.....enough for now.

Home 4 weeks today....unbelievable!!!!!
Love to all

Phil and Fiona

xxxx

Just a quick check in from Perth

Hi all,
I know we said it would be Thailand before blogging again but just thought we'd let you know that we arrived in Perth ok. It was a long flight....2 hours into Brisbane from Cairns then a couple of hour wait for our connection to the west coast....another 5 hour 15 minute flight. Wouldn't be too bad with a big carrier but a bit long on Virgin Blue with no meal, drinks films etc. It was a little past one in the morning when when we arrived at our hotel but are very happy with it here. It's a large business hotel right on Scarborough Beach. Yesterday we hired a car for a couple of days and have been cruising round the city.
I have to say it really is a lovely place and we are so glad that we didn't miss it off the itinery...we nearly did!!! Lots of Brits here but what is most striking is the open greenery and the wide rivers. The city is clean, modern and stylish and roads are clear and free running....even in rush hour.
We met up with Sophie and Lucy yesterday (and their friend Charlotte, who's also really nice) for coffee and they are spending the day here at the hotel with us today. A bit of a break from their hostels i think.
We are headed out to Fremantle in the morning before dropping the car off. Apparently they have a wonderful weekend market and lots of pavement cafes dotted along the beach...very much looking forward to it. After that I guess it will be pool and beach before packing up and thinking about our Sunday afternoon flight to Bangkok. Another 7 hours I believe.
Anyway......as promised, we will be more in touch when we finally reach Asia. It's going to be very strange leaving Australia behind after three and a half months. So far it's been all westernised culture every since leaving home.......I guess that's about to change. It should be very interesting and certainly lots of fun.

More soon
Love to all

Phil and Fiona

P.S Glad you and Kev had a lovely break Jane and sorry to hear more of your tales of dental woe!!!
P.P.S You are absolutely right Shivy....it is bloody windy on the beach!!!