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England was the practical transition back to Canada in that we needed to pick up all the stuff that Clare's very kind and understanding aunt had been storing since our departure back in February. And it was also the natural emotional transition back as we needed to say our goodbyes for now. We spent our 9 days with family and tried to savour each lovely moment in what we consider to be our second home.
The journey from Singapore to England via Warsaw was surprisingly and welcomingly easy - it's amazing how a 12 hour flight now feels comfortable. England welcomed us with grey skies which was extremely pleasing - the concept of not being soaked in sweat daily anymore is so beautiful! We squeezed in a pub quiz, a trip to the spa in Bath, and a couple of day trips back into London where Clare and her aunt saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in the West End (because it's 1993 again, right?!) It was all perfect. Clare had bought a book called, "London's Hidden Walks" before we left in February and so we spent very full days in the city following 2 of them - we continue to be amazed and enchanted by how many little streets and neighbourhoods we have still never chanced upon. And it hurts to say goodbye. London and England are of course always there, but there is that great big ocean creating those physical and financial limitations for us.
And home life is calling, especially with our jobs starting again in September, so it's time to reluctantly start to wrap this whole thing up. We know it will take time. That's okay. Troy's sister, Carrie, posted questions about our "Best ofs" over the last 2 years, and we are going to take her up on this great idea, and share our thoughts below (and there was no consulting with each other!)
Best of:
Beach: Paliton Beach, Siquijor, Philippines (Clare and Troy)
Curry: Panang Curry, Bobby Big Boy Restaurant, Koh Lanta, Thailand (Clare - helped that it was amongst family, on Christmas Eve!), Chana masala in Tiruchirappalli, India (Troy)
Meal: Khao soi, Nan, Thailand (Clare and Troy)
Bevvie: Oolong tea at Jiufen Teahouse, Jiufen, Taiwan (Clare), $0.50 rum and Cokes at Langob Beach, Malapascua, Philippines (Troy)
Temple: Borobudur, Java, Indonesia (Clare), Angkor Wat, Cambodia (Troy)
Sunset: Long Beach, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand (Clare), Views from Plaka, Milos, Greece (Troy)
Sunrise: Top of Ijen crater, Java, Indonesia (Clare and Troy)
Tourist blunder (Edit: ours, or someone else's?!): Not insisting on rabies shots at home before we left and having to schedule most of Vietnam around them (Clare), Not doing a train journey in India (Troy)
I/we did it moment: Leaving London after living there for 6 months on mostly one person's salary, and still having a good chunk of money to take to Asia (Clare), Trekking through the mud and rain in Sapa, Vietnam (Troy)
Mode of transport: A lazy slow boat on a pancake flat, calm sea during a day trip to explore islands off of Flores, Indonesia (Clare), Bangkok tuk-tuk (Troy)
City: London (Clare), Tokyo (Troy)
Cultural experience: George Town Heritage Celebrations, Penang, Malaysia (Clare), Visiting the hundreds of Buddhist temples in Myanmar (Troy)
Beach accommodation: Koh Tao Tropicana Resort, Koh Tao, Thailand (Clare), Koh Mak Buri Hut Natural Resort, Koh Mak, Thailand (Troy)
City accommodation: Full House 1 Villa, Hoi An, Vietnam (Clare), Centre Point Silom, Bangkok, Thailand (Troy)
Views: Ijen crater, Java, Indonesia - the Sunrise choice! (Clare), Vistas of the Great Ocean Road and Uluru, Australia (Troy)
Excursion: Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Clare), Komodo National Park, Indonesia (Troy)
Country: England (Clare), Japan (Troy)
Bucket list accomplishment: Seeing semi-wild orang-utans at Semenggoh Nature Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysia (Clare and Troy)
Memory: Seeing a sea turtle for the first time at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Clare and Troy)
Item in your backpack: Hat (Clare), Merino wool anything (Troy)
Tip for future travellers: "Don't be a fool and not bring a practical hat" (Clare), "Pack less…then look again and pack less!" (Troy)
Best picture: The one we took right before we left Canada in all our new gear - we look so fresh and tidy! (Clare), Underwater GoPro shot of a thresher shark (Troy)
- comments
Carrie These are awesome you two!!!! Love them. Thank you for indulging xoxo
Clare They were so fun to write - thanks for the idea!