Sydney - Castlereagh Street

Have now made our way to Sydney after short delay due to accident at Heathrow last Saturday.

Arrived to drizzle but warm weather.

Spent most of our time in and around Sydney and Darling Harbour and being Seniors!
We can get discounts using our driving licences as evidence of our age. Great hay!

• Water show and firework display and Chinese Garden in Darling Harbour.
• Sydney mono-rail.
• Sydney Aquarium and we still have a ticket for the Wild Life section.
• Paddys Market and food halls.
• Blue Mountains, including Jamison Valley, scenic railway ride, Kooba waterfalls, Luera, Olympic park and ferry ride return to Sydney.
• City bus tour yesterday with 31 stops and managed to find the Lord Nelson pub, oldest in Sydney which brews its own beer.
• Today have been to Bondi Beach had a swim in the rough waves and walk around the bay.

Generally enjoying all the sites and tastes around the city and harbour area.

Food very good choice but only Aussie beer which is full of GAS

Saturday is Australia Day and will have a busy day with all the free shows, rock concerts and firework displays all over the city.

Sunday we have booked to see Billy Elliot at the Capitol Theatre just round the corner from our apartment.

Taking loads of video and pictures but sorry to all having difficulty loading onto BLOG.

Will try and put some on when we get to see Trea in New Zealand.

Imperial Queens Park Hotel - Bangkok

Last posting in Thailand before leaving for Sydney - day 13 of tour.

In Patong we visited the Phi Phi Islands on a high speed motor boat Phuket Sea Island, fantastic experience of sights and snorkeling over coral reefs with many types of fish. A great day out.

Again visited Patong Beach and chilled out Dave and Carole went parascending and on a jet ski and we had beach Thai massages.

Visited the Phuket FantaSea attraction, Thai Disney!
Side shows of animals and Thai culture, buffet meal and a show which gave a simple story of a Prince with his elephant rescuing the Princes and getting his girl. Over 30 elephants, chickens, goats, water buffalo and horses, fantastic.

Flight from Patong yesterday was postponed and we managed to get an earlier flight to the old Bangkok airport Don Muang and arrived at hotel around 5.30pm local time.

Another great meal in the Park View Restaurant last night and breakfast this morning.

This is the end of our oriental experience and now look forward to the start of the southern hemisphere section.

Patong - Phuket

Its now day 8 of our tour and enjoying the sunshine and beaches at Patong since Wednesday 9th and unfortunately we have to move on this week to the next stage in Sydney.

Been to several bars, Thai restaurants, last night excellent meal at Lair Lay Tonge, seen Elvis for his 73rd birthday at Kam Po and been to Simon Cabaret.

Dave is diving today so will be tired when he returns so having a quite night in playing cards.

Bangkok - The Imperial Queens Hotel

Well today is day 3 or our tour and what a start.

Thanks to Ray we arrive at Heathrow in very good time, 9 hours before we were due to fly.

The flight to Bangkok was very tiring and boring but we arrived safely and the it all started.

We picked up a limousine taxi and we then had the bonus of a half day temple tour of only 500 BHT ( 7.80 pounds) which was great.

We arrived at out hotel thanks to Marcus and it is TDB, fantastic. Stopped in the hotel for a oriental meal in the Park Garden Restaurant.

The next day with Nancy (local guide) and driver we went to 3 temples with, GOLDEN, RECLINING and MARBLE BUDDHA. Also China Town, flower market. What a great way to see the area in the comfort of our private taxi.

We then met Marcus & Sally and went to the famous Lemongrass Thai restaurant. Great.
Finished off with a couple of pints of Guinness.

Today we again went with Nancy to a coconut farm, floating market ( very commercial ) cobra snake farm (very cruel), elephant and crocodile zoo/show, Thai wood carving centre (very skilled).

Been for a couple of pints in The London Brewery Co. micro brewed beer was poor but Guinness was again good.

Dave and the Girls are now having a nap before we go for dinner.

We fly to Patong Beach Phuket tomorrow so will let you know how that goes.

Bye for now P

WOFSHT 2008 - Carole, Dave, Trudy & Paul

Saturday 5th January 2008.
Well here we are at last after all the planning we are on the way to Heathrow for the first flight to Bangkok. Watch this space for future news C, D, T & P xxxxx