Finale

This is the final post for the Antipodal

This has been the most extraordinary experience, I knew that it would be, but it has been made that much better by friends and family who have participated.

Our thanks go to people who wished us well along the way, and for the good will and happy birthday wishes. Thanks to the blog readers, believing that someone was reading along has pushed me to keep adding to the blog. I hope you were at least a little entertained. Sorry for the long breaks.

A big thanks also must go to the Sarres; Russell, Silke, Ellen, Sebastian and Tristan. They welcomed us into their home and provided a really pleasant and much needed breather, and Russ, thanks especially for the travel tips.

Bernice, Pop, Richard and Noreen, Hilary, Naomi, Lorrie, Kerry and Garry, Tim, Rick, Lynne-Marie, Wendy, Chris D, Nathan and Alden, thank you especially for the good wishes along the way.

To our Kids, Pete and Erica, Adie and Isolde, being with you for my birthday night was such a treat.

To Pete and Erica, Sheryl and I are so glad for the times we shared together, on the ship, in Munich and in Amsterdam, they were most excellent times, and I will remember that I don't remember aspects of some of them all that well !! We had such a time, you both bring good vibes with you. Thank you both.

Thanks also to Richard and Julie. They would say, any excuse for another trip to Asia, but we would not have enjoyed Penang, Langkawi and Phuket nearly as much without you guys. Thanks Richard for helping me get value out of the Casino Ship, that was an enormous lot of fun.

A very special mention must go to Pete and Liz. You travelled so many hours to be with us for such a short time in Phuket. I am so humbled by the effort you made. Our dinner out with the lovely view over the bay and the impeccable food, service and company was just sublime.

I want to also include in my sincerest thanks, those people who, by giving up a lot of their time at home helping to make sure Sheryl's Dad was cared for, have made all this possible for Sheryl and me.

Christine, Graham, Bernice, Terri and Ashley, thank you so much for helping with him it has been such load off, and meant that we have been able to enjoy our time away so much more, supremely confident that Pop would be fine while we were gone.

We also know that other family members (forgive me if I miss you out) have made sure that they could help by looking in on him and making sure his needs were met, Karl and Jay, Richard and Noreen, Lynne-Marie, Rick, Pam, Venesa and our kids; thanks so much.

To Keith, Chloe and Dean: you guys were amazing. We feel proud and privileged as parents to have you three as our children. You really are such fine people. Thanks so much for making the time and effort so we could be together and lifting my birthday holiday to the wonderful experience that it was. We hope the time inspires you to want to travel and experience more of the world.

Thanks again to Terri and Bernice for keeping an eye on the kids and the house.

My best memory of the holiday?

Well, it took some time to decide but: there are a very many memories of the same thing. They are remembering the clink of glasses in the countless holiday toasts that we had, either just together or, with our friends. From the cluck of the beer steins to the crisp ping of fine crystal lit by candles, those hundred odd toasts are my holiday memory.

Why? Because you cannot toast on your own, and friends are needed to share your life and laughter with, and those memories I will treasure most.

Now, words are now going to fail me. I don't have the skills or words of a poet at my command, and they are needed here.

Sheryl, we have spent the last 11 weeks effectively joined at the hip. We have worked side by side to make things happen and bring people and places of the holiday together, and for the vast majority of times they worked as planned.

There were brief times of friction, and I want to say, that I apologise for those times were I could have listened more. But we expected those short-tempered times from the outset, and they were brief because we worked through them together.
What we have achieved together on this holiday, and in our lives together is just remarkable.

Sheryl, you are the rock I stand on, you complement me in so many ways. Together we are a sum greater than its parts. I have been so rewarded by sharing these experiences with you, they have been so much better with you in them.

You are my best friend, the one I wanted to share these times with, the one I could always raise a toast with. You are really my endearing memory of this holiday, thank you so much for being with me.

I love you, with all that I am, and always will.

..To Go Home

We left Patong beach at 6AM Monday

With Jetstar cancellations and such, and delays and a longer flight path planned by Qantas, we got to Perth at 6AM Wednesday.

All that travel and this was our first major air travel hiccup.
Dropped the bags, cup of tea, snack and straight to bed.

Sheryl hasn't slept nearly so well as this morning, all those hotel beds are like wooden boards compared to ours.

After this - final Antipodal Post

Show me the way...

Well, just whe you thought the blogs were done

Jetstar have cancelled our flight home.

Due to the small fuel capacity of their planes and the fact that they have to fly around the volcano ash over Indonesia, our flight home last night was cancelled. (my speculation, btw)

The 180 passengers that had been scheduled with us, and traipsed all over the airport gates were suitably pissed, but we just think, Oh well, a longer holiday, and a safer trip home.

I booked us into the Crowne at Changi, as the best Jetstar could do was place us in emergency hotel accomodation (rent by the hour I think). So I am waiting here in the club with a cuppa, and surfing to see if we get a mention. None yet. Maybe I will email the West Australian. Nahh!!!

I miss my kids, and my bed. Soon.....

Very Chilled Out

After over a fortnight in Penang and Phuket, we are in transit to home. Sitting in Starbucks at Changi waiting for the Jestar flight.

I have half a post which I will put up now, which covers half our time in Penang, theres more, and I will post it all even though I am home in less than 10 hours.

The blog has two purposes, to perhaps interest other readers, and for me to flag the events into memory, with at least a rudiment of chronology.

Here's the most recent entry, hope you enjoy it:

RUN RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN

Leaving for Singapore 20 Oct

On the KLM 777 we scored (arsed) bulkhead seats so there's heaps of legroom. Got some sleep. I watched the A-team and Shrek 3 on the plane, both aptly low-level cerebral adventures.

Singapore (Changi) is a layover for 7 hours, because Tiger cancelled a flight on us. AirAsia opens their desk early so we can get checked in.

Penang 22 Oct - very early AM

Richard and Julie pick us up in the hire car. It's fantastic to see them. It's so good not to have to worry about transport out to the hotel. The rental car is a Proton POS with dicky supension that struggles with we weighty Aussies.

Our hotel is right on the beach, and we have scored the best room. The view out of the window is just amazing.

A hire car was a good choice here, in Malaysia, they drive on the left, and everyone goes slowly and is courteous on this island. The roads are Ok in Penang but it's busy. Big one metre deep concrete gutters yawn on the edge of the road with no kerb to ward you off. Watch that left hand wheel!

We find a shopping centre, close to the hotel for supplies. Fruit, chocolate, Leffe beers, Koonunga Hill Cab Shiraz (score!)
Penang Island is about half the size of Phuket, you can drive right around the island in half a day.

Resorts dot the northern shores and the tropical forest encroaches onto the roadsides in the nicest way.
We seem to be back in Italy again, at this hotel anyway, we have the return of the dontgiveashit service level. But unlike Italy, they do make a reasonable Pizza.
Since the dates here are kind of irrelevant, I will omit them, and besides by now it would be hard work attaching dates to events.

We took the ferry up to Langkawi.
The Euro-jetlag has hit me, I slept most of the way to Langkawi stretched out across four seats.

Langkawi is a beautiful tropical island, about 2.5 hours north of Penang by ferry. The ferry we got there was a sexy aluminium Cat, with comfortable seats and a quiet cabin.

A tour bus collected us and the guide took us to a spot where we selected a small boat tour combination. Everyone seemed surprised when we asked not to be taken to the Bat Cave.

What the tour calls a fish farm was in fact a floating fish zoo, but the spitting fish, and the 6 kilo Giant trevally that lept 1/2 metre out of the netted pond to get a morsel of food, causing Sheryl to squeal with surprise and me to laugh like a drain at her response, were the highlights of that segment.

The sea eagles that we fed from the water were just a delight. Floating in a little mangrove enveloped bend in the river (estuary really), we sat quietly in the sun watching a dozen or more of them delicately wheel around and swoop to pick pieces of food off the waters surface. You could hear their wings cutting the air.

Click for Video here.

After a lap around the rocks we returned to the base and the guide took us around the Island to the chair lift.

The island has only 1 industrial area, a Hanson cement works (using a local lime quarry) the rest is rubber plantations and rice paddies and the occasional fruit tree stand. And there are, of course, the great swathes of rainforest that cover the hills everywhere you look.

We were there in a quiet time, but I imagine that the Island (group) would tolerate a lot of tourists.
It's just an opinion, but it seems tourists are hemmed in, isolated from the fragile bits. It's a comforting example of eco-tourism done well.
The chair lift was just amazing. It gives 360 degree views over the entire island, and absolutely worth the vist and the fee, it's not just for the ride.

We persuaded the tour guide to take us to a nice beach for a swim, which, after the hot closet cable car, was a welcoming and very refreshing dip in paradise. White sands + cool aqua coloured water + nobody else = heaven on a stick. Even with sufficient time up our sleeves after the tour, a fight with the ATM, compulsory visit to Starbucks and some last minute browsing almost made us late for the ferry, so we rushed on.

Langkawi back to Penang was 3 unforgetable hours. The ferry was not the Ali Cat that we came out on. This thing was shaped like an artillery shell, and had three distinct cabins and twin turbo aircraft engines driving twin jets. This thing was loud, I mean space shuttle loud. I lay down in the midships cabin and you could hear that the engines made the whole boat shake. It sounded like a rapid fire canon shooting rounds into in a metal rubbish bin factory.

Added to that, I swear the aircon was connected directly to the drive shaft so that cabin was a freezer. We were all dressed for the tropics and had to move. We went outside to get some warmth. Unfortunately that is down the back near the engines. Our 10 minutes there, warming up, and straining for the broken conversation caused my ears to ring all night after. I shook my head at the fate of the crew who worked next to the engines.

We sat back inside, at the front and away from the noise, but they were playing some slasher/splatter movie on the video, so we talked and froze some more. I took to standing up for the last half an hour in the harbour as it seemed warmer.

When we disembarked, the kids in the other cabin looked shell shocked, and I wonder how much they had to watch the movie. It might have been a cold day in hell for them.
All in all, Langkawi was a great day. Thanks to Rich and Jules for recommending it, and we were so glad to have them with us to share it.

There were veiled admonishments when we got to the car, and the battery was completely dead. But, after losing our way in Little India, finding a cab, and a bit of scrambling for dinner, and we settled back in the hotel.

With the goal of visting Butterworth (an old Australian outpost) and driving across the bridge to the mainland our next excursion turned out to be something of a fizzer, as Butterworth in places, resembles the more run down areas in Europe we'd already seen, but we did get to cross the iconic bridge, and then put the car on a car ferry and go back to Penang jetty. I got out of the car on the ferry, both because we wanted to see the harbour as we traversed, but also because in the seemingly likely event of the ferry swamping, I'd prefer my own floating skills, not those of the rental Proton.

But we survived the traverse unscathed and I lived to blog yet another day.
Richard, always on the lookout for a bargain, spies an overnight cruise to nowhere, aboard the Star Cruiser - Pisces. So we part with the dosh, and climb abord with the standard cruise protocols in play, safety, bars, food, casinos.

Well, it turns out they were in the completely wrong order, because apart from three middle-eastern types we were the only 'round-eyed' guests aboard. So the majority of people were there for the gambling, an overnight cruise to nowhere, and back, bring your wallet. Well, what did we expect (I hear you ask)?

Our 'stateroom' was a closet with bunks, but we knew that when booking, and didn't care, we were going to stay awake all night anyway.

They had selections of entertainment, including an 'Oktoberfest' celebration. All you can drink in 2hrs for $25 pp. Richard and I forced down as many Carslbergs as we could manage in the 90 minutes we were there. I am fairly sure the ship made a substantial loss on beer that night, even though it was only us two drinking. (The casinos were open, total beer drinkers=2)

At the casino, Richard and I played the law of averages on Roulette, he finished up well ahead, I was a layer of skin above even, Sheryl and Julie played a pokie each, and (literally) waited for the gravy train that never came. In the end we had a real hoot, and it was a cheap night.

We dragged ourselves off to bed about 4am and left the boat after 9.

Be warned, navigation in Penang is hard. Especially in Georgetown. The city has taken the unidirectional solution to traffic management, so you can get stuck on a one way road in the middle of the town and travel many km's in the opposite direction before you get a look at a road sign and a chance to make a turn in the correct one.

I didn't have the TomTom maps for Asia, so we went on street signs and deciphering arrows on the hotel tourist map. In one afternoon I burnt through about $10 worth of fuel, seemingly going in ever-decreasing circles, not getting anywhere.
We put it down to exploring, but it was called bog laps when I was a teen.

The time in the Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel (yep) was really special not just for the great views, but because we ventured out and explored Penang on our own, and all enjoyed the time together.

October 29, transit to Phuket.

The only air carrier available to us for this travel segment, is a tinpot operation called Firefly. (apparently MAS domestic)

My suspicions of tinpot were confirmed at Penang airport by the twin prop 80 seater that pulled up at the gate. "What sort of plane have you put me on Richard?" yells Sheryl when she sees it. Its only salvation is that it's bright orange so it will be easy to see in the water.

The trip is safe and short enough (1:20) and the ocean island view was nice and we are Phuket ready by the time they get the plane down.
All of us like Phuket, its friendly buzz makes the time there worthwhile.

We can't wait for the shuttle trip to be over so we can see the hotel. So we can share it with Pete and Liz, we booked at Le Meridien, Karon beach for our first three nights. It is 5 star heaven. A private beach, 6 pools, 10 bars, 7 restaurants, all the facilities, gym to avoid, golf range, diving, tennis etc. You never have to leave the estate.

The ocean is warm, sky blue and beer very cold. The poolview room is just the cherry on top of the cream. After a swim, unpack, & mandatory test of the bath, we head back to Patong for dinner with R & J.

Phuket day 2.

All that sporty sort of activity is too much like work so today we settle for a swim and some quiet time. We catch up with Rich and Jules for a time, when Pete and Liz arrive, suitably wrung out from so much travel.

The Thai smorgasbord is a welcome treat, so we find a spot and get some catching up done.
They are in really good spirits.

Phuket Day 3

A delightful hotel breakfast starts the day for us. Then the beach beckons. There's some rain about, which we artfully dodge.
Liz and Sheryl opt for some time in the day spa, this suits our 'incognito' plans, as the green hotel surroundings support that Heinekken camouflage so well.

As part of their visit, Peter and Liz have treated us all to a lash up dinner in the Baan Rim Pa, a restaurant with to-die-for views down and over Patong beach and 5 star service.
I was sad to finish up such an exceptional dinner there, but we settled into a bar at the hotel and kicked on a little.

For me, it was far too early for them to leave on the next afternoon for me, I would have liked to have shared so much more time with them both.
The next week in Patong has been just a chill out.

The weather was unkind for two days, but we dodged and weaved and made the best of it.
The Hotel we moved to, "BaumanBuri" has a poolside access room, good bars and good staff.

You could spend all your time here looking for just the right massage, but with a bit of research we found a crew that could do all the types (foot/back/neck/shoulders) as well as we needed, so they got our custom, quite often.

For the next week the weather cleared and we got som hot days, we swam, explored, shopped, talked, ate and drank and laughed with Richard and Julie and basically fell into a chill-out routine. It's hard to do better.

It has been the most excellent time, and a seriously good way to finish off a seriously excellent holiday.

Right now, after 3 re-announcements of our aeroplanes schedule, delayed due to the volcano in Indonesia, I have spent the last hours finishing the blog in the poolside bar at Changi T1. I have to board in an hour.

After this there's only the last post, the finale which I have finished but will leave up as a draft until I am home. Hope you have enjoyed it.

Roland

Nice to haves

Its nice to have followers and readers but until now I thought it was a good idea to restrict comments.

I have changed that, if you want to comment on this or any other previous posts feel free. In fact, I would appreciate comments.

I have more content to add since arriving in Asia. Firstly, its nice to be out of the cold.

Back tomorrow to update with luck

Yours - Orlando

Break the drought.

First thing to say is that the Kids have been and gone and are safely home. We are now in Penang. Secondly, I have reviewed this text (and previous posts) for grammar and found that I switch tense constantly. Please forgive the weakness in my english.
But the blog needs catching up, so I have to indulge the reader in some retro-thinking.

9th - Oct
We have made our way with the Kids to Prague. It's been on the visit list since early stages of planning the trip.
The city has some 600 spires, many that you can see from just about anywhere.
The food can be described most aptly as - interesting.
Pork and its products feature prominently on the menus. Funny though, we chose a Chinese restaurant for our first dinner out, because it was convenient to the hotel. The menu had all the chinese greatest hits on it, but the flavours were completely different to what we were used to. Nice, and cheap, at last!!

10-10-10
Our first full day out and about, was spent with the kids exploring, we took the wrong tram and wasted 90 minutes trying to get into the old town. (Most trams look pre- 1960's here.) We eventually found the iconic town square. After the beautiful astronomical clock in the town square struck the hour, a lone trumpeter blew a lttle refrain from the top of the tower, to the delight of the watching crowd below. He seemed to turn up in towers all over the town after that, heralding the change of the hour.

Prague turned out to be a real surprise. The old part of the city (Mestre) has been preserved as much as possible. Like Venice and the old Amsterdam the buildings are maintained in their original design with the representative architecture of the time, and so there is a sense of a real soul in the town. Cobblestone roads are all throughout.

The five of us crossed the iconic Charles Bridge heading away from the old town toward the Castle. There are hawkers all along, most seem to be sketch artists. The kids want to see a Monster Spider exhibit, so after locating that, we went looking for a pub.

We hooked up again with the kids, and after climbing most of the way up to the Prague Castle, we found, "The Dungeon". With stone walls and wooden benches, candles, and a real dungeon in the basement below, it's a pseudo-medieval experience. We settled in for a Czech meal. Quite a few drinks later, and we were all laughing. Laughing about the huge spiders they saw and the pork dripping in the food we had ordered, and the 'medieval' electric hand dryers in the toilets.

Prague is not entirely preserved as it was. The city has grown and the Soviets were here, so it has its not-so-appealing/ugly bits all over. They seemed to thicken, out and away from the centre.

Oct 11- Full Day two in Czech.
We have booked a tour to Kutna Hora (careful how you say that). The town is about an hour away from Prague. Sheryl is very excited that we are the only ones in the van, and we have a guided tour! The driver takes the long way to the town, avoiding the motorway enough to put us into rural Czech land. Its a pleasant way to go.

Michelle, our tour guide, is a pretty Czech girl, who has really good english and gives us a good deal of context for the things we can see, even in Prague as we are leaving. But... can she talk!! After the touristy part of the conversation is over she starts talking to the driver. For a full 25 minutes she does not shut up, on and on about something that seems so important. Peter, the driver, just gives monosyllabic affirmations every now and then, and she keeps going. We had no idea what the diatribe was about.

Kutna Hora has a long history as a significant part of Bohemia (the western part of Czech that includes Prague). The three things we visited were; The Bone Cathedral , the actual Kutna Hora Cathedral and the Silver refinery.

The Bone Cathedral (click for history)(ossuary) was a church that has became the resting place for about 40,000 locals. Unable to cope with the demand on its graveyard space, (due to superstition and happenstance) the bones of the dead are stored inside the church. It is the most macabre setting. It has become something of a heavy metal icon, so the kids were fascinated.

Chloe & Dean with the Bone Chandelier

The main town cathedral is of gothic style, so the hook is in me already. It's plain windows have been replaced over time with the painted glass style popular in the early 20th century. The adorment of gold that you see throughout Prague is here also. The church organ and its angels perched way up in the mezzanine are lovely.



On the way back, Peter, the driver, recommended we go to the Marina restaurant, a boat anchored permanently in the river, that serves Italian fare. The kids have organised a pub crawl tour for themselves, so we went our separate ways. Our italian menu was absolutely lovely, and the view out over the river to the lit up castle in the hill just rounded out a perfect evening after a big day.

Oct 12 Prague - day 3
The kids are wiped out. Dean managed to struggle down for breakfast then crawl back to bed.
Sheryl and I chose to visit the Prague Castle. The St Vitus Cathedral sits squarely in the centre of the castle. Its also large and in Gothic style, but they wanted us to pay for entry, and I have, by this time, become desensitied to churches .

I took lots of external photos and we moseyed along. Inside the castle, the Lobkowitz museum hosts the history and artifacts of the Princes of the Lobkowitz family. (Dont be surprised if you've never heard of them). With an audio tour you get a good idea of the scale of their presence in europe. They (apparently) feature large in european history, making connections with Kings and Queens of Spain & France. The have a signiificant collection of Art, Armoury and Music, that goes back 4 or 5 centuries. (and pictures to prove it)

Not that I'd have a clue, but I struggled to put a value on the set of 12 identical wheel lock hunting rifles dated in the late 18th century. They featured pearl inlays in the stocks and were in as-new condition. But, just in the room next door, the original signed and dedicated scores from Mozart and Beethoven (including the 5th) were the outstanding features. We sat on the museum cafe balcony enjoying the view out over the city, and felt more than a little regal. We had an appointment in town, so after finding yet another (better) Dungeon bar to have a beer in, we wandered across the Charles bridge again.

Spoiler alert!! - " Life is a Cabarette, old Chwm, come to the Cabarette"

For the whole time in Prague, Sheryl has been thinking about a leaflet advertising some 'night music' in a local church. There are qite a few leaflets of this type about. Sounds attractive.
We choose one - Broadway classics, in a Church on the old town.
Well- these things are not all they seem. After a cold wait in the street with the other patrons (suckers) who seem to be all Yanks, we're allowed in.

Firstly, it's in the Monastery library not in the Church hall, but the acoustics are OK. We are expecting a string quartet, well no, you get a piano player and a girl (mezzo soprano). He can play well, and she can sing well, but English is not her first language, so the harder bits are in Czech. There's no amplification, so at least the sound is pure, save the scoffing Yanks who won't shut up, muttering complaints to each other or trying to guess the song title. I closed my eyes and listened. Even though it's money burning in front of you, you start to wish the hour were over.

Sheryl and I went to the Prague fountain display (Fontana), a little along the lines of the fountain at the Belaggio Casino in Vegas. It was a fountain with lights and music. Enough said.

Went for dinner at the Marina again, it was freezing cold on the top open deck, fortunately we were able to go downstairs after a short wait for a table. Dinner, again, was a delight.
Kids had gone out for dinner, on their own.

Wednesday 13/10
Bug-out day. Its so cold I bought some thermalite/ woollen gloves.

Today we are in transit from Prague to London via Amsterdam. (It's cheaper this way, -airfares are illogical )
A longish layover in Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), and I am starting to call it Shiphole aiport.
There was a guy behind the Kids on the Easyjet plane into London that was sick all the way over. Pretty unpleasant for all of us to have to listen to him, but he couldn't help it. He was already sick in the Schiphol airport gate. Arrived in Gatwick London and caught a cab to the city. We dropped the kids off at a cheap hotel for their stay in London and went onto the Best Western for two nights for us.(If you think thats stingey, there are no triple rooms at the 3 star BW and we got a last minute 30% off special at $240 a night for a double) It's about 1 AM when we get to the hotel in London.

London Day two Thursday, 14/10

A decent cup of tea, at last!!
The Kids joined us in the morning for breakfast at our hotel, then we are all off to the Camden Markets on the Tube. For those who dont know Camden markets is a real eye-opener. It's the largest and most ecclectic market I have ever seen. The kids were fascinated with the selection available. Chloe found lots to buy, but the boys seem to only buy T-shirts. Chloe brought lots of prezzies for her friends back home. We lost Dean briefly in the busy town of Camden. He knew where he was. Back to London on the tube.

Left the kids to their own to find dinner, it seems if we all go together, Mum and Dad always pick up the bill.
We found a nice pub to have dinner in, near our hotel, but they had no Australian wines left, two Stump Jumps listed on the menu but they were all gone ... Is there a nice red somewhere??? The Girl behind the bar is an Aussie.

On our way back to the hotel we ran into Dean and Chloe sitting outside another Pub. Keith was flaked out in the hotel.
We went inside with them and continued with our evening till the girl rang the bell for last orders. Once again the bar staff are Aussies.
Day Three- Friday 15/10

We changed hotels to the Park Lane Inter-Continental for three nights. (It's a deal we have with our Ambassador membership.) Girl at the desk is from Adelaide.
Having not had a chance to see Cambridge and Oxford last time we were in England, we caught the train up to Cambridge for the day. What a great day it, was a little drizzley and very cold, but Cambridge is a lovely town. We took a personal punting tour up and down the Cam river and received a spoken tour of the different University Colleges (Colloquially known as "The Backs"), and some explanation about the history and the rules. It seems tourists have to pay to enter into areas in the colleges, and it's mostly closed to visitors. We found Trinity College, and I got to walk the halls and gardens that Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking have walked (or ambulated). I bought a book about oceanography, published on my 50th birthday by Cambridge University Press, from the shop of the same name.

- Seats Taken!

Coming back to London on the train was a nightmare, it's Friday night and the platform is full because everyone wants to go to London. Sheryl was lucky and got at seat, but I stood up all the way for the 50 minute ride, as the train seats were full. Then, the tubes out of Kings Cross station were an unforgettable experience. People are the same everywhere, the train is full to the brim but they wont stop pushing you on. They behave like it's the last train they will ever see. It was squashy and hot, but, I got a nice cuddle from a young Blonde. I swear, I had no choice.

Kids joined us at the hotel . They had been on the Hop On - Hop Off bus for the day and had done some of the touristy things. London eye, Trafalga square etc. A big day for them.
I organised the concierge (also an Aussie) to find an Indian Restaurant close by for dinner. It's freezing outside! Very good food in the curry place, not such good service, and it's in Mayfair, so kind of exxey.
The kids went off to meet a friend in London and party more - we are off to bed coz we had a big day. The Balcony room with views over Hyde park and the soft bed was very welcome.

London - Day four
Saturday 16/10

Started the day with a fabulous breakie in the Club Lounge. Eggs benedict, hot tea, croissants. Restaurant manager is an Aussie. The girl at the internet desk is from Sydney.
We have been into St Peter's in Rome and St Mark's in Venice, so our very last church experience needs to be St Paul's Cathedral in London.

What a difference between this and the the other two. The English have made this tour a work of significant detail and a pleasure to take. You pay your money and receive a mult-functional interactive iPod which has commentary, video, music and instructions. We spent a couple of hours in the cathedral and felt that this was the way to run tours. You can take your time, and when you want to know about something, push the button on the picture. But if you do not want to use this device there are many volunteers willing to offer guided tours, who are very knowledgable and helpful.
Then we went to Sheryl's favourite- Paul pastry and had afternoon tea, hot tea!!!

Back to our hotel, and have we been upgraded into a suite and the kids joined us the hotel club room for free drinks and canapes. We got our money's worth. Black Label Johny Walker for us and Chloe wanted bubbles. "I am sorry Miss, we only have Moet". She managed to force down four glasses in a bit over an hour.

Went outside to look for Pub for dinner. It was very cold but we found somewhere in Mayfair - kids went off to party - we went back to our suite and the soft bed.

Sunday 17/10

We have no clean washing, bags are in a state, Sheryl has chosen to stay in today. I went for a walk in Hyde Park. Sheryl went up to Primark (equivalent to K-Mart for clothes) for shopping and it was an absolute crush. People everywhere, very cheap clothing but there's no service and it's simply hard to even get around in the shop. She bought some great clothes for Willow and undies for Chloe and me. But it was a task.

I caught up with the kids at their hotel about lunch time, and we went off walking through Hyde park to the Natural History Musuem. Chloe and I laughed at the squirrels burying chestnuts under the trees in Hyde Park. The Museum was a factual treat. I got to see the museum wing I had missed last year. Keith walked into the main hall where a huge dinosaur skeleton is, and the exhibit starts, and immediately said "Diplodocus". He was right. But the one thing I took them all to see was the Star of Africa(?), a huge diamond, and it was GONE, perhaps stolen! We all met up at the hotel, everyone was very worn out.

We all went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a look, it's kind of a let down. Sheryl and I went for dinner on Piccadilly, and the Kids went to meet up with Lloyd and friends and more party.

Monday 18/10

Sheryl and Chloe went last minute shopping at Primark and the boys and I went to Buckingham Place for a gekko. We had lunch in a Knightsbridge pub that sells Fullers and I introduced them to the 1845, a broad ale with lots of fruit flavour. The taxi driver arrived at Park Lane at 3pm to take us to Gatwick for a flight at 7pm.
The flights to and from London and Prague from Amsterdam are mercifully short, so Easyjet was the choice. Their planes are all brand new, like Airasia, and the service and free seating is adequate. All very tired. In the Vander Valk hotep Schiphol the Kids got a huge room. Its more like an apartment, and Sheryl worked till 2 am playing Tetris with the suit cases. The kids are leaving for Perth Tuesday 11.30am.

Tuesday 19/10
Left hotel at 8am dropped the kids off at airport and all had breakfast together. It has been fun having them around and we are so lucky that they joined us. I feel very privileged to have had them with us for this time. It has been fantastic. I'll miss them lots.
We have orangised to catch the train up to the Hague and met up with Pete and Erica who we have not seen since my birthday on the 7th. We found a specialist beer pub in the middle of the city while dodging the downpours. A really pleasant catch-up. In both directions no-one checked our train tickets.

Wed 20th - Thurs 21st.

In transit to Penang. When we left Schiphol, it was bucketting rain and about 6 degrees.

London Calling

Hello from London

Our 4 days in Prague is over and I do have more stuff to say about that, but in the meantime we have made it to London, to chuck the kids in at the deep end of city life.

Those people who follow the blog should know I have updated some past entries.

Its cold and grey here, fortunately not raining.