20 April 2018
Home Sweet Home
I arrived into Auckland on time and picked up the car at an off-site parking area where Kim had left it for me, having flown to Queenstown himself.
2 April 2018
Homeward bound
Waking at 0545, it was just a quick was and straight to the road for a taxi to Changi Terminal 3. The streets were quiet a tad after 0600 and I had to go around the corner to be on a busier street. Check-in at the airport was best ever. There was not a soul […]
1 April 2018
End of the rail adventure
I had set the alarm for 0745 as we had a windowless room. Combined with the 1h time change from Bangkok it is very easy to oversleep. We headed out about 0930 by train to Pasar Seni and Kasturi Walk. It was just for a wander so that Jo can say that she did something […]
31 March 2018
The adventure turns electric
Breakfast was served around 0800. The steward converted my bed back into seat and I had mine there with the gentleman from the upper bunk. Jo had hers in bed; oh what luxury. We stopped at Hat Yai Junction soon after. With the uncoupling of the Sungai Kolok vs Padang Besar carriages, there was a […]
30 March 2018
The rail adventure continues: Bangkok to Padang Besar
With a 1510 train departure, we decided we’d have a massage between breakfast and 1200 check-out, then eat lunch before going to the train. That worked well until the massage places didn’t really have anyone there despite the nominal 1000 opening. Even though we went at 1030, they only managed to start on my […]
29 March 2018
Shopping day in Bangkok
Today was dedicated to a little more shopping, mainly clothing for the grandkids. I asked the taxi to take us to Pratunam Market. We got dropped off outside a building called City Complex. Even though it was a wholesale clothing place, there didn’t appear to be much of interest inside. Jo did pick up […]
28 March 2018
Bangkok Sightseeing
Today’s the hot and sticky day of sightseeing I had planned with Jo. Hopefully it will be just half day. Our hotel included a good set breakfast. That placed us in good stead for the explorations ahead. The easiest way to the Royal Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) area was by the […]
27 March 2018
Flying to Bangkok
Jo and I had separate rooms last night, the only night during our travels together. This cheap, well-located and highly-rated guesthouse only had double rooms and it didn’t break the bank for us to have two rooms. We woke early, had breakfast in my room. It was an easy day with a pick-up and […]
26 March 2018
Kota Bharu to Hat Yai
We woke to some birdsong, more like chirping actually, even though we had a windowless room (there may have been a birdhouse for swifts to make nests nearby). We investigated breakfast options around the hotel and decided against walking to the market so that we wouldn’t get too hot and sweaty before the long […]
25 March 2018
Exploring Kota Bharu
We remained horizontal (due to lack of choice), had some pastries and canned coffee for breakfast. The scenery outside was pretty gorgeous living up to the line’s nickname “The Jungle Railway”. There was dense jungle and in sparser areas I could recognise breadfruit, rubber and coconut trees. As we headed further north, we saw some […]