Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Day 172 - I'm home!













Back with the siblings, once again. But I will return - a bit like 007. I like that.

Day 172 - 12th December

07:30am. I've landed back at Heathrow Terminal Four. The flight was pretty easy for 14 hours, just sitting, watching films and eating food. Vietnam airlines is pretty impressive, one I'd highly recommended.

The tube ride was an hour into central London. I was eyeballed half the way by grumpy travellers who stared at me, wondering why I had two huge bags with me.

The temperature was six degrees, a far cry from the average thirty I've been used to travelling around Asia. I'll need to get used to that. It may take a while.

Once I arrived at Victoria, I had a spot of breakfast and waited for my train to roll in. I was buzzing to see my family again. Five months and three weeks is a long time to be away. I was looking forward to seeing my niece at her christening on Sunday. Christmas was going to be a great occasion.

The second train journey of the day was just a routine one hour trip, one I'd done many times before when going to London. And before I knew it, I was home again. In Maidstone and heading across town towards my home.

And the reaction on my return was priceless. Everyone played the part and made me see how great it was to see them all again. The video below is my documentation of said reactions. Enjoy!

Monday, 30 November 2015

Thailand - Recap

So a recap of Thailand. Mixed emotions about this place, some bits I just couldn't get on board with or felt underwhelmed (sorry, but that's just honest) but some bits I absolutely loved!

Bangkok, particularly Khaosan Road was not enough for me but meeting Paul (a family friend), seeing a ping pong show and being with my sister and cousin made it better.

Chiang Mai and the islands further south were fantastic.

So let's crack on:

Chiang Mai - 03rd November - 06th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Deejai Backpackers Hostel - nice, friendly and chilled out.

2. Wat Chedi Luang

3. The Post Office bonanza - couldn't find the bloody place despite walking past it multiple times.

4. The crazy old man trying to set me up with a ladyboy.

5. Hanging off the back of a Tuk Tuk at 50 kph


Bangkok - 06th November - 09th November / 11th November - 12th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Dave pulling bunting out of a woman at the Ping Pong Show.

2. Samsen Skyline Hostel receptionist - bloody brilliant woman!

3. Khaosan Road first night with Kel and Dave. Shocking Pad Thai Kels!

4. The reclining Buddha and Wat Pho.

5. The airport arrival of Kel and Dave and seeing them for the first time in five months - "Yesssssssssssss!!!"


Kanchanaburi - 09th November - 11th November

Top 5 moments -

1. Elephant Sanctuary
 
2. Sugar Cane 2 Guest Huts

3. Death Railway

4. The bar girls beating us at Connect 4

5. The resort and ghost story talk.


Phuket - 13th November - 16th November

Top 5 moments:

1. James Bond Island - another Bond location ticked off.

2. Snorkelling.

3. The Capsule hostel.

4. The bars and nightlife - they provided plenty of laughs.

5. Jet skiing with Dave.


Koh Samui - 16th November /  20th November - 28th November

Top 5 moments:

1. The New Hut Bungalows.

2. 'Chicken and Rice' with Matt - daily, sometimes double daily, ritual.

3. The Mynt Lounge with Joy, Emmi and the gang.

4. The views.

5. Lou Kratong festival.


Koh Tao - 17th November - 18th November

Top 5 moments:

1. Snorkelling.

2. The Sairee Hut Resort.

3. Setting a head tennis record with Dave - a 57 rally and a splitting headache.

4. Our heart to heart talk at the beach side bar.

5. Fire show at The Sunset Bar.


Koh Phangan - 19th November

Top 5 moments:

1. The Half Moon Party.

2. Finding converse and a Superman t-shirt in a second hand store - what a find.

3. The Lime and Soda Hut on the beach.

4. The dodgy face painting.

5. The Thai Massage.