So, after nine months, two days and approximately nine hours we have returned to the UK. We have successfully circumnavigated the world, survived 23 flights and explored eight countries. We have eaten insects, climbed mountains and talked about our bowels daily. Greg's fear of flying is now somewhat under control...we think becoming a gold member of Singapore Airways frequent flyer club has helped. Claire has the tan of a lifetime and no longer reflects all natural light. We're both a little older, a little wiser and a lot poorer. However it was certainly money well spent. There have been highs and there have been lows, luckily all lows were short lived and easily resolved. We have escaped unscathed, unswindled and with dignity in tact (mostly).

We are surprised to find that travelling the world and expanding our horizons has had the opposite effect on us than it seems to on most 18 year old gap yah students. When we get home the last thing we want is to walk around barefoot without washing and start pestering people in the streets with clipboards. All we want is a nice sit down with sensible, clean clothes and a proper cup of tea (none of this Liptons rubbish). Maybe we're getting old (at least Claire is anyway...big 3-0 the day after our return).