For our own future recollection, just a few of the best bits of part 1 of our travels (14 countries, 6 months and almost 28,000 miles later…)

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES:

The Vietnamese Road Trip - just amazing.

Amazing people in Iran…"Welcome to Iran!"

Indonesian boat trip (the scary & the beautiful)

Birthday week on Koh Rong, Cambodia - turning 34 has never been so much fun.

Gobi Desert trip, Mongolia…totally vast, remote and 'away from it all'.

Ouro Sapulot trip in Sabah (Borneo): super-sized creepy crawlies, virgin rainforest and lovely people.

Seeing both wild and semi-wild orang-utans in Borneo: pure magic.

Horse-riding and our lovely Tibetan homestay in western China

Trans-Mongolian train trip from Moscow-Beijing: getting the true scale of the vast spread of Russia.

Amazingly cute pandas in Chengdu, China

Gorgeous hiking in Bako National Park, Borneo

Kalimantan river fun: pure off-the-beaten-track adventure

Post-bike trip fun in Hanoi: on an adrenaline high!

Chinese sleeper trains - smooth, comfortable and the perfect excuse to do nothing.

Vietnamese and Iranian food - just YUM.

Crossing overland from Iran into Kurdish Iraq - not your everyday border crossing.

TOP MEALS:

Hanoi wedding anniversary meal, a mere 7-courses at the Ly Club.

Belated birthday meal at the Cargo Club in Hoi An, courtesy of Hannah & Sam

Bucket of shrimps on ice, chips and wine at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Phnom Penh

Fresh barracuda and giant shrimps on Koh Rong, Cambodia

Seafood Amok (coconutty curry) in Kampot, Cambodia

Ravioli in St Petersburg

Wood-fired pizza and Banoffee Pie on Gili Air, Indonesia

Seafood hotpot in Kon Tum, day 4 of Vietnam road trip

Beef & chive dumplings in Shanghai

Fresh fish and nasi goreng in Maumere, Flores (Indonesia)

Rice paper pancakes, Saigon

Sichuan chicken and peanut dish, China

Brunch at The Place Cafe, Hanoi

TOP DRINKING TIMES:

Shanghai Ritz Carlton - rooftop cocktails with the most amazing view

Bia Hoi (draught beer) corner in Hanoi, every night.

Birthday G&Ts while kayaking at sunset, Koh Rong (Cambodia)

More rooftop cocktails in Hong Kong, with Chris & Gaelle

Anniversary drinks at the Metropole Hotel, Hanoi

Lunchtime red wine in Riga (still in European flashpacker mode)

Vodka shots & herring roe on the train from Riga - St Petersburg

Post-volcano climbing beers on the edge of Bromo's crater, Java

Anniversary beers (3-months of travelling) on the beach at sunset in Bako National Park, Borneo

Coffee stops on our Vietnamese road trip

Vodka-sampling session on the Trans-Mongolian Railway with Sally & James

Tea-drinking with pretty much anyone in the Middle East...