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A semi-serious adventure
  • Kim and Alex

A semi-serious adventure

A 186-day adventure by Kim and Read more
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  • Kim and AlexA semi-serious adventureKim and Alex

    Bangkok

    October 19, 2015 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Neither of us slept well in the hot house that was our bedroom. The air was thick and still whilst noises of the city and an archaic pluming system rattled around us. Admittedly it was not solely these conditions that deterred our bodies from falling into deep sleep. The impending homecoming, with its sense of both ending and beginning, brought an excitement that whirled in our minds and bubbled beneath our skin.

    Walking along the pavement (a novel experience after Vietnam), slick and shining with the early morning rain, we marvelled at the scale of the shopping malls that lined the streets. Towering upward with broad colourful signage to denote their brand, we detoured into these mountains of glitz, waltzing past giant cartoon sculptures and shining fashion displays. The scale and opulence was like nothing else we had seen in South East Asia and was somewhat comparable to parts of Las Vegas, minus the casinos. As with Trang Tien Plaza in Hanoi, there were no real bargains to be found and some of the prices in recognisable stores were even higher than back home (shirt in Topshop £90?!)

    Our turning heels squeaked on the over polished floor as we took ourselves to what we had heard described as the 'working class mall' of Bangkok - MBK. This description is due to its layout being more like a market with thousands of makeshift stalls selling unbranded or fake branded clothing items at prices more in line with the average local salary. With limited finances the opportunity to replace some of our clothes, brutalised by 6 months backpacking, interested us.

    After a day of much haggling for items that will likely disintegrate on their first wash, we met with Freddie, our friend from Stray who 'hopped off' the bus in Ho Chi Minh City.

    Whilst our backpacking styles differ somewhat (Freddie was holding a signature Starbucks coffee, sporting a new haircut and staying in the Holiday Inn) he is very likeable and it was great to catch up on our respective adventures since we parted 3 weeks ago.

    Freddie was in Bangkok to continue his own round the world trip by flying to Bali tomorrow before travelling to New Zealand and beyond. We wish him the very best on his travels and hope to see him back home once he returns next year!    Read more

  • Kim and AlexA semi-serious adventureKim and Alex
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    Bangkok

    October 20, 2015 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Neither heat nor noise could keep us from sleep last night after a marathon through Bangkok's malls. Our feet numbly trudged our exhausted bodies up the hostel's steep steel stairway and we collapsed into bed.

    Kim enjoyed 'dippy eggs and soldiers' for breakfast before we returned into the depths of Bangkok's retail fantasyland for final gift and souvenir shopping. Our pace was leisurely but time past quickly as our last 24 hours in the city clicked down.

    Up through the zig-zagging line of escalators up we ascended to the very top of the Siam Paragon mall, where we entered its regal Cineplex where plush upholstery was softly light by the creamy glow of a giant chandelier. We chose to watch 'The Walk' in IMAX 3D, which was half the price it would be at home and a sheer visual spectacle.

    It felt poetic that on the last day of our adventure we were watching a film set in a city where it all begin 6 months, New York.

    After packing our bags for the last time we sought some sleep before having to rise in the dark early hours to take our flight home.    Read more

  • Kim and AlexA semi-serious adventureKim and Alex
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    Bangkok to Hong Kong

    October 21, 2015 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Bleary eyed we rose in the pre-dawn darkness to tentatively eat a breakfast our still sleeping stomachs reluctantly accepted. Through the silent streets by taxi, we bade farewell to the humid heat and entered the bright and airy cocoon of airport controlled atmospheres, which would accompany us until we arrived in London.

    Daylight steadily motioned across the departure gate's glass panelling, illuminating our plane as we boarded. Nestling down into our seats we settled into the few hours it would take to cross back over the countries we had visited and land in Hong Kong to transfer planes.

    Both tired but not ready to sleep we watched with surprise as a man, seated across the aisle and donning what appeared to be liberated hotel slippers, broke into heavy snoring within one minute of takeoff. However his symphony did not last long before he was asked to change seats to accommodate the whims of a young girl who did not want a window seat after all.

    Entering the cavernous terminal at Hong Kong we changed the last of our remaining money to buy a picnic of Starbucks pie and muffin over brown napkins, the taste still lingering as we were called to board...    Read more

  • Kim and AlexA semi-serious adventureKim and Alex
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    Hong Kong to Heathrow

    October 21, 2015 in England ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Our final flight went smoothly; descending down through the cloud and over an illuminated London to arrive early on a dark damp October night. Although we had caught a few hours of sleep on the flight, we calculated that we had probably slept less than 6 hours in the last 48. So it was with eager anticipation that we sought our taxi to take us the very final leg to Alex's parents. However we could not find our driver amongst the many who lined the arrivals hall with their surnamed signs...

    A phone call later and we discovered that an administrative error by the taxi company meant that there was no driver or car ready to take us. Instead, as fatigue crawled over our eyelids and along our spines, we waited 1 and 1/2 hours for another car to be driven all the way up from Herne Bay. When the call handler explained that the car had been 'upgraded' to a Mercedes as compensation, Alex nearly laughed and said 'a Robin Reliant here and now would be better'. Sat under the stark lighting of the arrivals hall it felt ironic that we had travelled around the world without too much difficulty but the final leg had become unstuck by a Kent-based taxi company.

    It was the early hours of the following day when we eventually arrived at Alex's parents. We were completely knackered yet happy. After 6 months and so many hours we were finally home!    Read more

  • Kim and AlexA semi-serious adventureKim and Alex
    1

    Home

    October 22, 2015 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    So we made it.

    With the soft caress of carpet under our feet and the shades of Autumn outside the window, it did not seem as if we had ever been away that long. Yet 6 months had passed and we had seen and done so much. Memories flickered into view as we shared stories with curious family and friends around kitchen tables.

    ...Hiking up onto mountains, through canyons, over glaciers and deep into caves. Sailing across bays, rafting down rivers, snorkelling in reefs and swimming in waterfalls. Free falling at 16,000 feet to sleeping under the stars. Dancing with Navajo, eating with Maori and drinking with Lao. Swimming with sea turtles, riding on elephants, holding koala and feeding monkeys...

    6 months and a lifetime of memories, worth every second and penny.

    Travelling is as much about sharing as it is about the individual experience. We met fantastic people who have shared in our enjoyment and become friends; be they fellow travellers, guides or locals. We hope the friendships forged will endure and that someday, somehow, our paths will cross again for more laughter and memories.

    Lastly but most importantly, thank you, our family and friends, for reading, complimenting and encouraging. Without your support the adventure would have been harder and lonelier. We look forward to seeing you in person soon.

    This will be the last post for now but maybe not forever.

    Love, Kim and Alex    Read more

    Trip end
    October 22, 2015
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