I had a wonderful time on my first week at home, I got to spend some time with my lovely Nan, as well as some very dear close friends and my wonderful family. On the second week my Nan's health went down hill rapidly and she sadly passed away. She died in her own home with her family around her, which is how she wanted to go. The Priest said that "if my Nan doesn't get into heaven God help the rest of us". RIP Nan. Thanks for all the love and the laughter (and the knitted jumpers).
Whilst I was away Nic decided to go to Kanchanaburi. He went on the train which made it's way very slowly through the flooded outskirts of Bangkok. Here are some people living on the train station platform.
At one point the train track were completely under water:
Nic didn't think much of Kanchanaburi as it was too westernised, although he did get a great pie and mash! He headed to Chiang Mai in the north and I met him there a few days later. It was so lovely to be together again.
We really liked Chiang Mai with it's cooler, fresher climate and we found a hospital where I could get some physical therapy to straighten my arm. The nurses at the hospital were very sweet but I didn't like it when they giggled when I was in pain!!! Sadists.
In between hospital visits and eating, we managed to do a little bit of sightseeing:
Me doing my Harry Potter impression:
Due to my Nan's health deteriorating so rapidly, my Uncle Jeff rushed back from Australia to be with her. Jeff was due to marry Yvonne in Thailand the following week but ended up cancelling both the wedding and the honeymoon. Sadly he was unable to get a refund for the Banyan Tree in Bangkok and so he offered Nic and I a 3 nights, all-expenses paid, treat.
We got the night train from Chiang Mai and checked into the hotel at 10.30am on Thursday 15th December and we did not leave the hotel until 6pm the following Sunday. All the food and drink was paid for and we definitely made the most of our stay.
We were very sad that Jeff and Yvonne weren't on their honeymoon there but at least it didn't go to waste. Thank you so much and good luck with the wedding plans.
Then we got back to earth with a very large bump and got the night train to Nong Kwai (near Laos). Here's me settling in for the night:
Next we got our new visa, crossed the border in Laos and headed to the capital Veintiane.
We'll be in Vientiane for a few weeks as I'm still having (very painful) physio on my arm. We found a great French clinic and the guy there really knows what he's doing, so fingers crossed I should be better soon.
Vientiane is a really nice laid back place, here's a few snaps from today:
So this is where we'll be for Christmas and New Year. We're going to meet up with some Hash House Harriers on Christmas Eve so we can feel a bit more festive (drunk).
What a mad year it's been for us. We left Australia in March, cycled through parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and some of Thailand, and visited Sumatra and Myanmar. We've seen wild Orangutans, wonderful marine life, ancient temples and so much more. We've met some very kind, wonderful people. I broke my elbow and we waved goodbye to our bikes. I said my final goodbye to my amazing Nan. Let's hope 2012 teaches us more lessons and takes good care of us.
HOPE YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
LOVE JEANETTE AND NIC XXX
