Bond, James Bond...Island

 15 to 21 February 2023

From the island we headed to Patong Beach in Phuket. After settling in we wandered down the famous Bangla Road watching the street performers and perusing the go go dancers from the bars you can see from the street.

The next day we took a day tour, organised through our hotel, to Khao Phing Kan. More commonly known as James Bond Island because of the unique rock formations used as a backdrop for The Man with the Golden Gun. The movie I remember being the first movie I ever saw on the big screen many many decades ago. The tour included stopping at a cave to see the big reclining Buddha and going on a canoe trip around Talu Island. Then we arrived at James Bond Island and enjoyed a pleasant walk around the whole island seeing the fantastic views of the rock and scenery and cave formations.

Following morning we went to a gym that let you pay daily, we got a discount by paying for the week. Then breakfast and a swim at the beach before heading for an afternoon city tour. This was a full on tour that kept us on our toes. We went down to the most southern most point, Promthep Cape to see a lighthouse done up as a temple. Then off to see the Big Buddha, climbing all the steps to see it up close. Next was a cashew factory where I learned that the nut grows on the outside and the fruit is edible followed by a honey place with much tasting occurring. We ended up at Chalong Temple where some visitors filled up a big metal outside stove with fireworks and then lit it. The sound was deafening and ongoing. We found out this is done by people that have had their prayers answered.

Also interesting that our guide tells us that military service is done by ballot where each year the military work out how many recruits they need and they get chosen by picking marbles out of a bowl. Black you get to live your life, yellow you have to devote it to the military for the next 2 years for a low salary. Our guide did not have to go and so devoted a month as a monk instead.

On our last day we wanted to finish on a nature hike. We found Kathu Waterfall was not far and so hired a tuk tuk to go visit. The driver was nice enough to wait for us while we wandered up the trail and took in the waterfall. 

An Island Wonderland in Thailand

10 to 14 February 2023

On Ko Yao Noi Island in Thailand we stayed in an amazing treehouse villa. 2 stories, bottom part with our own personal plunge pool and top with a luxurious bedroom and huge bathroom including standalone bathtub. The view was picture postcard looking over the top of trees and out over the water as the sun rose in the morning.

Day 2 was a hike through the jungle to the 150 year old Buddha Tree, followed by Yoga and dinner at the beach restaurant. Day 3 was kayaking and massages. Day 4 was a trip to Pakbia Island for snorkeling and swimming and then passed by an island inhabited by monkeys on the boat trip back followed by darts and table tennis. Day 5 was valentines day and we started by kayaking in the opposite direction and found a cave to pull into shore and explore. In the afternoon we swam in our pool, went to see the hornbills get fed and had dinner on the beach.

Perfect Palawan in the Philipines

 February 2023

The vast majority of our time in the Philipines was on Palawan, a small island. Arriving in Puerto Princesa on the 3rd of February we spent the next week on a tour around the island finishing up in El Nido, a lovely beachside town. It was an amazing island full of wonderful treks, boat rides, climbs and kayaking. 

Puerto Princesa

El Nido

Cruising the South Pacific

 January 2023

Finally, with Covid on the downturn and the world opening back up it was time to get back on the road, or more correctly, on the ocean. We started with a cruise on Royal Caribbean around the South Pacific visiting a few countries like Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Vanuatu was our favourite where we visited a place called Eden on the River and crossed a sequence of rickety hanging bridges culminating in a cooling swim.

There is no place like home

March and July 2022

As things started settling down after Covid we decided to explore with some short trips in our own backyard. First up was a trip down south including a climb up Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges. A much more challenging climb than I expected. So MANY steps. Later we headed down to Wave Rock for a weekend. 

I have gotten very far behind in these blogs with many travels behind us that have not been put up here. So in the interests of keeping a record of our travels under increasing time constraints I will try to catch up by mainly posting pictures of our travels.

Bluff Knoll

Top of Bluff Knoll

Stirling Ranges

Wave Rock

Old Chevrolets and a Cuban Cigar

 3rd April to 6th April 2018 - Vinales

Two and a half hours west from Havana we arrived at Vinales, a fabulous little town. Staying at another Homestay we were well spoiled by Ana and Dairon. The rooms were really cheap but meals are extra and can be relatively expensive. To compensate the meals were HUGE and way more than we can eat, though we had a good go.

Our homestay and a big breakfast on the balcony

The centre of town was an easy walking distance and had a huge town square area with a community centre that was full of dancing, music and art. This was buzzing with people, not least because it was about the only place you could get internet reception with cards that you brought for $2. This was a great place for people watching and random dancing when the music was right.

The cute little town of Vinales

The next day we arranged a taxi to see the sights. You paid a set fare and they stayed with you all day. First stop was a huge mural on the rock face of a hill that was painted by a local artist and featured the area's prehistoric origins with dinosaurs, people and snakes taking centre stage. Their was also a trail leading up to the foliage along the top which we followed until we ran out of trail. We did get a nice view looking back from right above the mural.

Working on the mural, the mural itself, the view from the top

Next stop was the Santo Tomas cave, the second biggest cave in Central America. What was unique was that unlike the fairly sanitised large caves we normally visit with fancy lights and trails, this one was as is. No fancy lights, no fancy steps and trails or sounds, it was just the cave. Donning hard hats with torches we descended into the bat filled cave. This gave it a completely different feel and it felt more like an eerie adventure. You could see the true colours and contours of the different interiors and rock formations and at one stage we were asked to turn all our lights off and were plunged into total darkness. At another time he played music on a rock formation that was amplified in the unique acoustics of the cave. This was a great experience.

The next day we went for a guided 3 hour walk through the countryside with guide Miguel. It included a tour of a tobacco farm where we were able to sample a genuine Cuban cigar. Much smoother and more enjoyable than expected and I ended up wishing I had smoked a full one, rather than sharing. We washed that down with a glass of Mojitos sweetened with honey instead of the usual sugar. We continued on the walk and soon came across a coffee plantation, a perfect fit after the Mojitos. Instead of coffee though we were treated to a very strong (and yummy) honey and cuban sugar cane rum. This was turning into a very wobbly trek. Fortunately the rest of the trek was more normal, coming across some beautiful countryside, pigs and wooden houses.

Tobacco leaves, enjoying a cigar, making a cigar and leaves drying

That night in the town square we were offered Salsa dancing lessons for $10 and enjoyed half an hour each of private tuition from 2 talented instructors. The next day we hopped in a 1957 Chevrolet Taxi for the return trip back to Havana, staying overnight in our original homestay, before leaving to return home. We really enjoyed our stay in Cuba and the wonderful and helpful people we met despite difficult circumstances. Would love to come back one day.