Bangkok’s MOCA Our final day in Thailand began with the familiar routine of hotel breakfast and showers, followed by the last packing of the trip. The main sightseeing objective today
Category: Asia
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 17: One Night in Bangkok
Although largely dedicated to relocation, today still managed to be reasonably interesting and enjoyable. Breakfast was a little different and considerably more colourful than usual as the hotel was hosting
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 16: Exploring Chiang Rai
Into the City We only had one full day in Chiang Rai and we were determined to make the most of it. Sizing up our new destination compared to the
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 15: To Another Northern City
Relocation After the customary (and rather nice) hotel breakfast at the earlier hour of 0715 and having then attended to showers and packing, we checked out of Le Méridien Chiang
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 14: Chang Moi
Introduction Today’s plan, intentionally a little less ambitious than Tuesday’s, concentrated on the district of Chiang Mai in which our hotel stood: Chang Moi. Even so, we weren’t intent on
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 13: Temples of Chiang Mai Old Town
Morning Today’s hefty programme – and indeed the next couple of days as well – got off to a good start with an inclusive breakfast at the hotel. This was
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 12: Onwards to Chiang Mai
The journey north Today began when Bruce’s phone alarm went off at 0444 and mine followed at 0445. (He has a penchant for using non-standard times!) We both knew that
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Days 8-11: At Leisure on Phuket
Our room Our Phuket hotel, where Bruce had arrived on schedule on the first day of the new month, was the Hilton Arcadia Resort & Spa, situated at Karon Beach.
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Days 6-7: An interlude in Leiden, then onwards to Phuket
Leiden Yes, Day 6 and I was still in the Netherlands – but on track to travel this evening! I had my usual Hampton breakfast before showering, packing and checking
Thailand Contrasts (2022): Introduction
Although the Covid-19 pandemic certainly wasn’t over, 2022 finally brought a significant recovery in long-haul travel. Bruce and I envisaged one joint-venture extended trip this year, based on Thailand. The
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 6: Last full day in Sapporo
Today, like Thursday before it, was neatly subdivided into three sections. After sampling a McDonalds breakfast (which, if anything, was marginally better than the previous day’s Starbucks experience), we set
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 5: Getting to know Sapporo
Morning … Today started with breakfast at a local Starbucks – the coffee was nice enough, but the food wasn’t so great. After a brief return to the room to
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 4: Onwards to Sapporo
Morning relocation Today began with another fabulous, private-dining breakfast – just as good as the previous day’s, but tinged with a feeling of regret that we were about to leave
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 3: Heaven and ‘Hell’
Breakfast & Hotel Tour A member of staff arrived at 7:30 to begin setting up for our 8am breakfast. Just like dinner the previous evening, but on a smaller scale,
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 2: To Takinoya Ryokan
Transfer to Noboribetsu Onsen Following our inclusive hotel breakfast, we checked out and took the bus to Memanbetsu Airport. This visit brought home what a small airport this is, although
Japan in Winter (2020): Day 1: Disappointment and Delight
Morning: Cruise to nowhere Spoiler alert: the header image above is what we were MEANT to be doing this morning. We got up nice and early, had breakfast at the
Japan in Winter (2020): Introduction
This trip, like many before it, was planned and undertaken as a joint venture with my Bristol-based friend and travelling companion, Bruce. We had both become great fans of Japan