Cape Panwar, Phuket What a perfect way to finish our travels alongside Matthew, Rachael, Andrew and Kaytie when they joined us for a week in Cape Panwar, Phuket. Thanks to cyclone Nathan we reached Phuket a day sooner than planned so we were able to surprise the 'kids' when they arrived at the hotel travel weary but happy in the sunshine! The hotel is fabulous and spreads out to enclose a beautiful palm fringed beach with fine white sand and a crystal clear aqu...

Bangkok Enroute to Bangkok we had a 7hour stopover in Sydney airport whilst outside the rain was relentless - glad we hadn't gone ahead with our former plans to revisit Sydney! We eventually arrived in Bangkok at 2am, Thai time following a 20 hour journey so now 7 hours ahead of UK. By the time we got to the airport we ended up skyping the boys at 4am as our last chance before they join us in Phuket next week. Decided to have a lie in and catch up on some lost ...

Goodbye Australia We have had an amazing time in Australia and think that we have done our best to explore this vast continent in the time we had available. Of course we have only seen parts of it but in our minds eye it has totally lived up to our expectations and at times, exceeded them. It is inevitable that we should be asked to compare it to New Zealand but that is impossible as, although there are some similarities as they share a region within the souther...

Cairns 2 We had already booked a barrier reef trip for next day which would take us out to the outer and reputedly, more superior reef. 7am start for the boat trip that would take us to 2 reef destinations. A little 'splashy' on the way out with everyone eventually opting to stay inside with most accepting anti-sickness medication! Got to the first snorkelling spot, Michaelmas Cay which is a sandbar really and inhabited by thousands of birds! As it is a protec...

Cairns 3 For our last day in Cairns we thought that we should really do the rainforest justice as we had missed out on our scheduled trip so we took a tour to the Daintree rainforest for the day. So 'another 'early pick up (7am) but first had a lovely skype with Teresa and Jacqui - reception bad and difficult to talk but great to see them and catch up. We travelled via the rainforest in a 4WD vehicle which allowed access further into the terrain than other t...