Test Run

Having visited Thailand so many times we thought we'd find it difficult to find exciting new experiences and adventures. How wrong we were; Myanmar, for now at least remains on the horizon. We agree trekking in the remote hill tribes of Mae Hong Son was our highlight. Pordee was such a brilliant, knowledgeable guide and such a generous character. The villagers were so welcoming and interactive, communicating with hand gestures and smiles and teaching us a few w...

Waking up to a bright sunny day (typical), we head off to the daunting Shinjuku train station to begin the twenty four hour journey home. Giving ourselves an extra half an hour to get from the entrance of the station to the platform (the station is that big), we board the train and reach Narita airport only to find our plane is delayed by an hour and a half. In spite of the initial delay, our flights are fine and we have no problem catching our connecting flight...

Konnichiwa, as we now say. Our trip has been smooth so far, starting with a jolly taxi driver dropping us at Leeds Bradford and a hop down to Heathrow T5 for our flight to Narita airport Tokyo. The flight is called on time and we do not endure any delays taking off at 12.50. The route the plane takes is much further north than when going to Thailand (which is towards Turkey) and we head off towards the frozen north of Finland. I must say the view from the plane...

Arriving at the airport in HCMC we are amazed to find ourselves being checked in by one of the girls we met on our snorkelling tour on Phu Quoc island. She gives us a huge smile when she sees us and gestures to her colleague who was also on the tour who gives us a big smile and wave. David and I cheekily ask her for the upgrade we had mentioned on the trip but she said that as the flight wasn't full she couldn't upgrade us but instead she upgraded our luggage t...