Photo GALLERY

Some of the many photos we took - appearing in something like chronological order.

LANG SUAN
(Left) is one of many crazy pieces of art scattered around Colin & Kyoko's amazing garden. This a 'dog' pole featuring (from the top) Gogo, Nut, Nah, Beer, Psy and Sticky (now sadly past on).



















Photos below: 
A windy beach shot, compared to the view of a calm beach in the Gogo shot beneath it.

Gogo and a nice calm beach.

Margaret with Psy and Pink, with Chip hiding behind her.

Sunrise. This was the only sunrise worthy of the name over 11 mornings !

The Wrong Train (at Nakhon Pathom) - then the Right Train (at Pladuk Junction) to Kanchanaburi.

VIETNAM

Coffee morning in Danang, with Issie and Scott, Megan and Joe.

Four go cycling around Ninh Binh.

River views at our accommodation. Tam Coc Bungalows. 

NINH BINH

The zig-zag walk up to the top of Hang Mua (left). 

Below are shots of Bill photographing Scott. 

Scott photographing Bill and the view we were after.

Hang Mua. Ninh Binh.

Team photo. At the Tamcoc Nature resort.

Lake reflection. Sapa.

Hike through Sapa Valley.

Rice terraces in Sapa Valley.

A fabulous 13 km hike throughout the Sapa Valley produced a lot of photos. Here's one of us and some more below.
(See also short video No.8 >).

Appropriately named Cafe in the Clouds, Sapa.

CAMBODIA

Angkor Wat has undergone a lot of renovation. To the left is a fresco before and on the right is after.

In the land of giant trees. 

Walkway to Neak Pean island temple. Angkor Park.

CAMBODIA
(Right) is our bicycle repair man who dismantled our broken bike into many pieces and half an hour later put it back together in perfect working order. Cost? Less than one £1!

TRAVELLING LIGHT.
This was our luggage for the whole trip.
Two suitcases, combined weight only 25kgs and two small rucksacks.

Last but not least: Very colourful toilet stop in Cambodia, on the road back to Thailand.

VIDEOS & Lots of Links

Links to various videos posted on YouTube. None are terribly long.

THAILAND >
1. Guest House tour - Around the house at Colin & Kyoko's. (longest video: under 2 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC-Oc_UGIvQ&feature=youtu.be

2. Changing Train engines at Wang Yen station. Railway trip Namtok - Kanchanaburi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrAJVbRcCXY&feature=youtu.be

3. "Doesn't matter / does matter" !  Wampo Viaduct. Video on board the train trip where we sat on the wrong side of the carriage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG20ca216BU&feature=youtu.be

4. Bangkok Lizard in Lumpini Park. Very short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqsIAQWPChA&feature=youtu.be

VIETNAM >
5. Ninh Binh: Van Long Wetland Reserve - scenic boat ride with very chatty rowing lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6XPYTPITLs&feature=youtu.be

6. "Strictly Sapa" - dancing in the town square in Sapa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJcc_xu7lNM&feature=youtu.be

7. Traditional Dancing in Sapa at Ham Rong Mountain Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf_SpETHm7E&feature=youtu.be

8. Sapa Valley hike - short pan through valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj104FTT88I&feature=youtu.be

CAMBODIA >
9. Boat to Battambang 1 - across the vegetation - nuts !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsJFnrxx-Yg&feature=youtu.be

10. Boat to Battambang 2 - through the vegetation channels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXwXLhJ4Skw&feature=youtu.be

Links to other things

Websites > 
man in seat 61 (everything trains related). https://www.seat61.com/Map-southeast-asia-train-routes.htm

Best for maps > Maps.me > is a mobile app for Android, iOS and BlackBerry that provides offline maps using OpenStreetMap data. 
This was invaluable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maps.me

Travel Sites:
Emirates (London to Bangkok). Air Asia (to Danang). VietJet Air (Hanoi to Cambodia) & Mekong Express (bus back to Bangkok).

Music to listen to: If you missed these musical interludes click below
Thailand > http://billblogs2.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/week-one-take-off-to-thailand.html
Vietnam > http://billblogs2.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/and-this-weeks-sees-us-up-up-and-away.html
Cambodia > http://billblogs2.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/another-week-and-time-for-siem-reap-in.html

Final Soundbites

You made it to the end:
Martini time – any place, anywhere, anytime !

Half the fun of travel

If you're like me and believe half the fun of travel is in the planning and anticipation then you'll understand my enjoyment at the work involved in researching and booking a trip. Made so much easier and quicker these days due to the wealth of information and options provided by the internet. Memories of pouring over maps, plotting distances and marking routes. Reading through guide books and visiting tourist offices to gather leaflets and finding out the latest visa information for your intended destination. Not to mention phone calls and waiting on the line for ages. All now a past participation verb. So much easier today, but the journey is still the same, the planning just as exciting.
And it still leaves and takes nothing away from the actual travelling part.
The anticipation and excitement in what's expected but also the unexpected. The what you know, but don't really know.
However, as sometimes happens a place doesn't quite come up to expectations you can at least be glad you didn't missed out the 50% planning part. 

And then you get to the point where you just want to go. Like now !  Must fly >

> A new instalment of mandb trips. Coming this December.

Sunny Southern Spain

Between the sunrise and the moon-rise the days were bathed in sunshine. And so were we – at 37ºc outside, in the pool was the place to be.
A backdrop of wonderful views and buzzing bushes of lavender full of pollinating butterflies and bees, we had the local flies feasting on us, while we feasted on the local produce !
Acclimatising to the Spanish Way – early morning activities > siesta > late dinner – was something we never quite mastered in just seven days. It made total sense but with our minds and bodies firmly in holiday mode, we really didn't care less: "I'd love another beer/glass of wine" a more pressing decision than the time of day.
This relaxed regime of sun-bathing, book reading and al fresco tapas, fitted in well with another dip in the wonderful pool.

37ºc or 98.6º F    and my phone: weather info 

WEATHER WATCH >
Beautiful blue skies, until Wednesday when a wispy white cloud caused mild excitement. Followed late afternoon on Thursday and Friday, when some other clouds of an altogether more menacing colour brought rain with added thunder and lightning to great effect. Our high up vantage point provided a grandstand view.

Enough of all that, here's >
The FACTS and PHOTOS
We had previously visited Montefrio and stayed at Claire and John's lovely house seven years ago. Not much had changed but the garden certainly had.

(Top shot) in 2010.  (Lower view) this time.

For the first few days we were joined by friends Steve and Gill (who'd been in Granada before we arrived) and like mad dogs and English people we had walked around the town and in the heat of the afternoon visited the nearby Las Penas de los Gitanos (Neolithic archaeological site) and met Pacqui - who I suspect none of us will ever forget. In the shade she walked us through the site, but stopped short of walking along with us, providing strict instructions, water and trusting us with the gate key!

(Clockwise) The town of Montefrio from the top of the castillo / Archaeological site on a hot afternoon / and the dreaded selfie with scenic background.

The insect life in the garden was always present. One very strange looking creature, no more than 2cm long caught my eye as it appeared to hover and take the pollen almost like a bird. I discovered it was a 'hummingbird moth' - and even took a picture (of sorts).

(Left) Swallowtail butterfly.  (Right) Very strange hummingbird moth.

We did manage a morning walk on a footpath that circled away from the house and then back into the town. A coffee stop and a plan for dinner followed this, but the thunderstorm prevented any such repeat the day after.

Beer o'clock time. CHEERS 

Our final excursion on Saturday was to Granada before the airport. We'd been there on our last visit so we just wandered around the narrow winding streets of the moorish Albaycin district. However the heat beat us and we subsequently arrived early at the airport to a temperature reading of 41ºc >>>



I'll let Margaret wind this up by announcing: 
"During this year (within 4 months) I've experienced my coldest temperatures ever in Sweden (-15ºc) and now the hottest (+41ºc) in Granada". 

Panorama - Las Pilas de la Dehesa, Montefrio.

Few more photos >

(Left) Margaret 'shaking her tail feather'.           (Right) Outdoor wining and dining.

(Bottom left) Rooibos Cannabis Tea, Granada                                                     Moon-rise, Montefrio

Northern Lights

As the plane descended over the arctic tundra you sensed you were entering a very different world far more colourful than the black and white scene emerging through the window. Forests of pine and dwarf birch divided by areas and ribbons of pure white, stretching in all directions. A land of lakes and rivers frozen solid and topped with snow.

This Northern Lights Tour took us 350km (217 miles) inside the arctic circle to the tiny town of Karesuando which borders Sweden with Finland. It's been called a one-elk town and those of us seeking the Northern Lights - Glow Getters ! But would we see the magic in the sky of the Aurora Borealis ? The forecast was for cloudy skies and temperatures nowhere near as cold as we'd packed for or anticipated.  

What we did know was that our trip included a Snowshoe trek, an evening Forest Trek, Snowmobile safari, Reindeer camp and a Husky ride - when these were taking place was the first thing we found out on arrival at the Arctic Star Hotel. Our day-to-day planner all mapped out and everybody supplied with thermal suits and boots, the fun was about to start. See Map here

Day One: Snowshoe Introduction & Forest Trek
After being shown how to put the Snowshoes on off we all wandered across the frozen lake and through the forest and back again. A nice leisurely morning stroll in Lapland.
With the afternoon free we walked into town to see the church and then made our way over the meter thick ice of the River Muorio into Finland, just in time to find the Lapland Shop closed. Somewhat confusing Finland was one hour ahead of Sweden. As most of the activities took place in Finland we were working on their time despite actually staying in Sweden. 
The Forest Trek in the evening was up and away into the forest behind the Davvi Arctic Lodge - the other accommodation used by our travel company. The snow was falling lightly, which was picturesque and atmospheric but stopped any chance of the Northern Lights joining us.

Day Two: Call of the Wild - Husky Safari
An early morning drive of 20km into Finland, the overnight snow provided a fresh backdrop for the Husky ride. We had a briefing on how to operate the sledge with vital information on how to slow the dogs down with the two types of braking system. All set, off we went in a flurry of activity and bodily functions, our team of five huskies kicking up quite a stink, that wafted our way. It was bouncy and at times a bit 'white-knuckle', but wonderful. We switched drivers and passengers mid-way and as our video proves I thought I'd lost Margaret, off the back, at one point. See here: https://youtu.be/mHjb6JxxKBQ
The rest of our day was our own and we visited the local museum up the road from the hotel. 
The sun had appeared briefly at lunchtime, but for the rest of the day the skies remained firmly overcast and grey. Margaret found a website: http://www.aurora-service.eu and spent ages charting the possibilities of us seeing the Lights tomorrow - which would be our last night and final opportunity. (We're talking kp2 here!)

Day Three: Reindeer Camp & Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari
With nothing planned until the afternoon we wandered into town to the two shops that sold 'everything you could possibly want' before walking across the river past a snowmobile fisherman with a drill-bit, fishing through the ice. Finally visited the shop in Finland before heading back for lunch.
On the drive to the Reindeer camp the snow began falling, but soon stopped and the clouds broke up and gloriously the sun shone. Beautiful slow reindeer sleigh ride along the river as we all hoped the clear skies would last into the night.
Reindeer video - this one is like watching 'slow TV': https://youtu.be/uLpun5rfmCw

The Snowmobile safari began around 8pm. Another important briefing on how to drive these machines and a reassuring message that their speed limiter had been switched on. It was fast, bumpy and exhilarating but not too accelerating, as we buzzed off down the river in darkness, the snowmobile steering us rather than the other way around. At the half-way stage we stopped for a breather and a glass of 'glogi' and a bit of star gazing. And then it started. Bands of light slowly spread across the northern sky and began changing their shape. Green light was pulsing and dancing in the night sky. We had to get back on the snowmobiles but the Northern Lights didn't care they continued their display for the return journey swirling and twisting great green shapes above us. On our final night, you couldn't have scripted it better.
By 10pm the show was over but rather than think to myself 'right, I've seen them now', I knew I wanted to see them again.

Day Four: Ice Hotel Visit
This was an optional extra excursion. Not cheap - in fact it was expensive - but we were glad we did it. 
Icehotel 27 (the 27th time it has been built before melting and sliding back into the Torne River every Spring) is situated in Jukkasjarvi near Kiruna and the airport. 
Our final hours in Lapland were spent in the sunshine and -5c of the Ice rooms - variously themed and beautifully sculptured it was quite something.

Glossary: 
kp2 - refers to the kp index. A scale 0 to 9 used to indicate the level needed to view the Northern Lights. 
glögi - is a warm Finnish drink similar to mulled wine - with blueberries and not much wine.

Photo Gallery: A selection

Snowshoe walk on frozen lake

On the border

Other links:

Music moment >>>

Travel Company & Tour >>> 

More reindeer >>>

Huskies

21st century ice fishing

Reindeer camp

Reindeer Sleigh Ride

Group shot

Inside the Ice Hotel

And finally the proof  
- the best shot taken by one of our group of the Northern Lights.

More Vietnam: Sightseeing

A further selection of photos from Vietnam. Many involving bikes, some simply surprising, others plain funny or fascinating but mostly just ones we liked and wanted to share.


(Left: Dragon in temple courtyard - Hoi An)

Our lovely receptionist. Noble Boutique Hotel.

(And below)
- People we meet
- Dog photos
- Street scenes
- More bike pictures
- and US

Hai (friendly two finger greeting in Vietnam). Girls day out at the Hue citadel.

Cycle Ride near Hoi An. I think Margaret's practising her 'Hai' sign ?

Lady on bike 'walking' her four dogs (one half hidden)

Dog sleeping in the road. Really!

Street scene 1: Hat anyone ?

Street scene 2: Propaganda Posters

Street scene 3: Barbers shop - on pavement amongst bikes and caged birds

Lights 'n' bikes. Indoor parking and riding down a narrow alley in Hoi An

Bike haulage. If it will fit, we can transport it.

Click here

Click on the photo caption above for a short video of our bike ride over the Hai Van Pass.





And now for something completely different: a few entertaining captions we thought up….

You can't sleep there mate. Our man in Hanoi, taking a break.

Restaurant on Lang Co lagoon. Our favourite.

Banhmy Sandwich place in Hanoi. Scott's favourite.