As we have now been travelling for a month, our "anniversary" is spent travelling to the Philippines. Both of us thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get a feeler on each others views on travelling and whether it's all that!!! Obviously,H being Helen and N being Nick! 

H- Right, so Nicholas. We are currently on our flight to the Philippines, Manila to be precise! I am going to ask you a couple of questions now that we are at our one month anniversary of travelling.

Q - so how would you sum up the last 1 month of travelling?




N - Excellent.




H - that's it?




N - well what do you want me to say?




H - ok, just be short and sweet then(!)




Q - what's been your best destination?




N - Mabul and Melaka




Q - why?




N - Mabul for the diving and Melaka for the food!




Q - what's been your worst destination?




N - Semporna, because it smells!




Q - what is it like travelling with Helen?




N - Shes a pain in the ass at times but overall a delightful companion.




H - likewise!




Q - what do you miss most about home?




N - Family, in particularly Lucie who I have not yet met




Q - Best single moment so far?




N - seeing the Whale Shark, quite ironic actually as when I saw it from the boat I couldn't be 100% sure that it was a whale shark and had to ask Helen "what is it?" and she screamed at me "WHALE SHARK" then she jumped in!




Q - Worst single moment so far?




N - seeing 500 bedbugs crawling all over us and our stuff!

Ok, that'll be all folks!

Now it's Helen's turn, She's not in a good mood!!! (Helen will have you guys know that Nick was provoking her!).........

N - Welcome to the show, Helen!

N - how are you feeling right now?




H - p*ssed off (laughing)




N - has the first month met your expectation of travelling?




H - Absolutely YES!




N - favourite place so far?




H -  Mabul - world class diving, it certainly lives up to its reputation and the fact that we saw a whale shark and hairy octopus. Sepilok - our hostel was slap right bang in the middle of the rainforest and there were plenty of orang utans to see. You know me, I love nature!




N - nice one, worst place so far?




H - Tioman because the sand files attacked me by the millions and Mersing as I still can't get bed bugs out of my head. While I love nature, I certainly don't like creepy crawlies!




N - that is true, people, for your information, Helen still checks her bags for bed bugs two weeks later, it was a very bad experience!




Best foods so far?




H - Chicken and rice in Melaka




N - worst foods so far?




H - cendol in Melaka




N - how are you feeling about travelling with Nick?




H - I love it but of course there is a big but, Nick needs to stop flapping and acting like a woman!




N - what? Me, that cannot be true, you must have mistaken me for someone, else, anyway, last question for the day - any tips for those who wish to travel?




H - take each day as it comes, don't get worked up if it doesn't go your way and always take an accountant with you!

N - I'm assuming you mean me, how kind! Thank you for your time.

Over and out!

H - well now, a blog wouldn't be a blog without a bit of a waffle. Over the last four weeks, I have taken a greater interest in the social differences in people and how they deal with it in Asia In particular, their view is if you speak good English you must be rich(!) It's certainly funny seeing people's response to us as Deaf people, in particular when we met a Malaysian sign language interpreter she couldn't get over the shock that I actually worked with hearing children! Certainly makes me appreciate the "equality" system back home and the opportunities we are given! 

N - Well the time has certainly flown by the last month, obviously we are enjoying ourselves, we've learned, seen, touched, and eaten so many different things!! I being an analyst here, is very pleased to say that our spending so far after a month is in line with our budget, although we are not liking the charges imposed on us by the bank back home! I still can't get over the fact that we still have a long time to go, near enough 2 years to go!