Round the World 2005

On 5 January 2005 we left for our long awaited around the world trip.

Our first stop was Los Angeles to see Jo, Todd and Alexander before going on to Fiji where we enjoyed (amongst other things) a wonderful cruise to the reefs on a super yacht.

Annie
acting as
lookout
on the cruise
Before she
enjoyed a double
ration of rum at
the insistence of
the captain.

Our next stop was Tuvalu and a truly amazing experience. Whilst it is very poor and underdeveloped it is a beautiful country with less than 10,000 people spread over 9 islands. The largest island is only 8Km long by a maximum of 400 metres wide with a maximum height above sea level of only 5 metres – Global Warming spells disaster for Tuvalu. We had a wonderful time and were made so welcome by everyone. A few pictures to show what we mean.

We then moved on to New Zealand where we had 3 weeks touring North and South Islands in a camper van. These are just a few of the photographs we took. We also managed to meet up with Tim and Ruth Mowat from Fairford for dinner in Christchurch and with David Frazer (originally from Fairford) in Dunedin. We also had a couple of lovely days with Annie’s nephew Dan and his wife Kate who live in Wellington.

From New Zealand we went to Australia visiting Cairns, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Sydney We had a nice surprise in Sydney when Margaret and Murdoch Frazer called at our hotel and we were able to have dinner together. They were visiting from Singapore.

Leaving Australia, we had a weekend in Singapore with Margaret Frazer. Unfortunately Murdoch was away working – but at least we had had dinner with them the weekend before in Sydney!

So on to Borneo and Turtle Island some 40 Km off the coast of Sandakan (reached by a very hairy and wet ride in a speedboat) before returning to the Orangutang sanctuary at Sepilok and some R&R in a luxury hotel.

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Our next adventure was to Vietnam and a three week trip from Hanoi to Saigon visiting many cities and towns as well as the Central Highlands where we stayed with a family in their long house. They were a super family and although they had no running water, started the cooking fire by rubbing sticks and had got electricity only 2 weeks prior to our visit (they had 2 light bulbs and a tv!), they seemed very happy and content – wow they had to work hard to exist though. We also visited the Mekong Delta and stayed in another homestay but this was an old colonial house and we did not get to meet the family. We loved our time in Vietnam and marvelled at the friendly and welcoming people. See the photos.

After Vietnam, we had 5 days in Cambodia visiting Siem Reap and the amazing temples as well as Phnom Penh and the Killing Fields. Whilst we took many photographs, we did not feel it right to phoptograph the Killing Fields or the prison where so many were tortured and killed. A very poor country making significant progress since the terrors of Pol Pot.

Next we visited Thailand , flying into Chiang Mai and then travelling North to the Golden Triangle before crossing into Laos.

Our first day in Laos involved visiting a remote and very poor Hmong Tribe at Ban Nam Chang village. Again, we were treated as honoured guests and invited to a feast. As the only non vegetarian, Gerry was obliged to eat dog. Dog is a cash crop in both Vietnam and Laos and once one accepted that it was like eating lamb or chicken etc in the UK, it was not a problem. In fact the dog tasted very much like lamb but was a lot bonier! The villagers had traditional costumes (died with natural indigo) for the adults whilst most of the children wore western style dress. After the village visit we ventured 360Km down the Mekong in a flat bottomed speedboat. The journey (wearing life vests and crash helmets) lasted 6 hours and was very hairy! Annie had a bad dose of the flu in Luang Prabang and had to have a doctor visit the hotel (total cost including medication was $US 35). Next we went by road through the highlands to Vient Vang. The UK Foreign Office had only recently cancelled its advice not to visit the town. There were indeed lots of armed militia around and lots of evidence of a drug culture for western tourists. Nevertheless, it was a lovely restful town on the banks of a river. Our final destination was Vientiane where we arrived in time for the new-year celebrations. This meant it was free to visit the temples but that you were likely to get soaked in water as you walked along the street. It was a lovely way to end our round the world trip. Lots of photos.

We travelled home knowing that we both wanted to travel more and set our sights on South America for our next adventure.