Hi everyone, we are on our second day in Thailand and it hot and sunny. Yesterday we visited an elephant village at Plattaya. It was a wonderful experience mingling with around thirty elephants and a month old baby which was running around like a little puppy would. We were all stroking and patting it. We watched them having baths, they went in the water right over their heads. Later we got asked if anyone would like a ride and Sheila encouraged me to go for it ...

We are now in Hong Kong and having a look round Kowloon this morning and it's a beautiful day. Some lovely designer shops - would suit the likes of Victoria Beckham - still we can always window shop. Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves that we are actually here. This afternoon we are on a coach trip to Hong Kong Island, we've heard there are some good markets and sites to see. The last place we visited was Manila in the Philippines - what a manic place with the...

We are now in the third day of five at sea, having visited Whitsunday Islands and Cairns, North Queensland. Whitsunday Islands were the stuff of Treasure Island, and Hamilton, where we visited, has only been developed in the last thirty years. We had a bus ride around the island with some amazing views of the coast and the flora and fauna. Back at the harbour we strolled around the various shops and had a a relaxing lunch. The sea was a bit rough and we had to us...

Back to hot sunny weather in Brisbane, a lovely modern city with a great atmosphere and very welcoming. We got a real buzz walking round and seeing how the locals spend there Saturdays. After the city centre we had a walk through the Botanical Gardens, the biggest and best in Queensland said the notice board and we agreed. The range of trees and plants was amazing and we saw exotic birds and even three-foot lizards at the side of the ponds. We are really enjoyin...

Hi everyone, Sheila here; its lovely that you are all following our travels. It gives us great comfort hearing from you. We are in Sydney today, it's much cooler but dry. We caught a ferry to Manly beach, a lovely place and people were surfing the waves. On return to the City we had a look round China Town and Paddy's Market. I loved it but Bill wasn't too impressed. Then we had a good look around the City sights, including the opera House and Sydney Harbour brid...