Category: 2018

Flight to KL not until 1.30 so had nice leisurely breakfast. Left for airport at 11.00. Flight half hour late.
The bus schedule and travelling time to Melaka from the airport is not great so we pr-booked a car rental, to be picked up at airport. The terminal that Air Asia arrive at is not the main International Terminal so we had to have a “meet and greet” to pick up car. Got the local phone number to ring all wrong but eventually after a little panicking met the Europecar chap. Sorted out the paperwork on the boot of the car, he taking photos of passport, driving licence etc.
We had no local cash so went to an ATM which having tried to use two different cards would not give me any Ringits. Went to an exchange and changed a few left over US dollars. Whilst trying to phone the guy to get the car had a text from RBS fraud department to ring urgently, Ugh!
As it happens no great problem but had to get it sorted via long phone call to UK or all cards would have been blocked.
Pissing down with rain on the drive to Melaka but arrived OK at about 8.30 pm after hour and half drive.
Explore Melaka tomorrow.

Our last day in Thailand. Glad we had a few days in this lovely hotel

A pictorial Blog is all that is needed to sum up and record the last few days here at Surin Beach, Phuket.

Last day in Phuket tomorrow, might go to the beach !

Lazy day on the beach and around the pool. A bit cloudy but very hot.

Left hotel about 8 am to transfer to Don Mueng Airport which took over an hour because of traffic, still checked-in with plenty time to spare. Arrived Phuket Airport early and got to hotel about 1.30. Took a walk to the beach and back and finished off with the usual beer.

Great thing about our Sydney Airport hotel is the proximity to the Inernational Departure Terminal and the great view over the Airport from bedroom. It took two minutes to walk from the hotel to the Qantas check-in desk. Nice and relaxing.

Left Sydney on time and arrived Bangkok on time after 9 hour flight.

Staying at another hotel near airport as we have another early flight to Phuket in the morning.

Said goodbye to Pitwater this morning and Chris took us to our Sydney Airport hotel to check in ( Have to overnight in Sydney because we could not make our Tuesday morning flight to Bangkok in time from Pitwater)

Went to the Museum of Contemporary Art to see the Yoko Ono “War is Over” exhibition.
Had a wander around the Opera House and Harbour Bridge area before having dinner. Took train back to Airport and hotel.

Had a drive to West Head lookout spot for more stunning views over Pitwater. Tour of the mainland area visiting Akuna Bay and Cottage Point where we shared a fish curry. Great weather today to see this beautiful area.

Caught the ferry across to the “mainland” and Chris gave us a tour of some of the Northern Beaches, Whale Beach, Palm Beach etc. Weather still a bit iffy but improving. Took a walk up to a lighthouse at Barren Joey’s. Great views over Pitwater, Ocean side and lagoon side.
Did a bit of shopping before returning on the 4.30 ferry back.
M and C’s friends John and Sue came for dinner.

As predicted woke up to lousy weather but it did improve for some time during the day which allowed us to take a walk.Lots of birds and wallabies around and great view over Pitwater from lookout point.

Left Brisbane for Sydney arriving at 14.00. Chris picked us up at airport and had a little wander around the city before heading off to Pitwater about an hour away. Caught the 6.15 ferry across the water. Weather starting to close in.

Last couple of days in Brisbane, weather still good unlike what we may expect in Sydney apparently. Made the best of it going on a couple of walks. Took the car to Redcliffe, parked up and walked along the coast to Scarbourgh.
Relies came round for last supper on Wednesday evening.

Out and about to various places including, Petrie Heritage Village market, open air cinema beside the river in Brisbane ( with Emma, Andrew, Libby and Lachlan) long walk to Woody Point over the 2 mile Bridge and to Bribie Island.

Tuesday we visited China Town in Brisbane to buy ingredients for our evening meal, which was going to be two recipes from our Thai Cookery Course. We cooked Panang Pork Curry and Chicken with cashew nut stir fry. Both successful. Least successful was parking in China Town costing 30 dollars, £20 for 1hour and 10 mins! Extortionate.
Wednesday Paul was under the weather, maybe it was our cooking! Actually think a bit of a bug from Elizabeth. I went out with Ann in the morning, whilst Dennis and Paul pruned the garden! The evening was Maddies grade 12 graduation. Very interesting with food served afterwards in their hall. We left there about 9.30 pm.
Thursday, we’ve been to Toowoonba, a town on the Great Dividing Range. Took us about 2 1/2 hours to get there. We went to a small complex with a few shops and cafes, very pretty. We were with Ann, Dennis and Emma. We had lunch at Picnic Point which had great views over the coastal plain. We walked around the area before the trip back.

Borrowed Dennis’s car and drove south down the coast to Byron Bay which took a couple of hours along the Pacific Highway. Chris and Martin, friends from Sydney/Nice, are staying there for a week so went down to see them. It’s a very popular place for the young backpacker and surfing types.