Happy New Year!
Got an email from a friend asking what we had been up to and wondering about the blog... I didn't realize it had been so long. I confess, I joined facebook and haven't blogged in a long, long time.
So anyway, here is one about our holidays this year. Simon's dad came over for a visit. He spent a week with us and then took the Orient Express to Bangkok to see Matt (Simon's brother) and family.
We finished up school and then went off to Laos for a 5 day bike ride. It was great, we went down to the southern part starting off in Pakse. We saw temples that were part of the Angkor era, rode green, lush islands and enjoyed sunsets over the Mekong river. It was even a bit chilly, I had to buy a jacket!
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Our bike guide in Laos on the way up to temple ruins
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| We stayed one night in an Eco Lodge - great "cabin" - we could watch the elephants grazing from the comfort of the hammock. |
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Simon getting a haircut - complete with chickens and the village ladies coming around to check him out. How does that guy keep the cape so white in the middle of all of that?
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We travelled around the 4000 islands, often taking boats between the islands - we didn't have to ride with the pigs though!
Of course, something always happens when riding. My pedal fell off in the middle of nowhere - of course being Laos an older gentleman had all the items needed to fix it. Turns out he is the palm sugar harvester in the area so Simon climbed up the tree to see how it was done while my bike was being fixed.
We got back from Laos to Bangkok in time for New Year's - this is how we spent New Year's Eve, cruising the river. A nice way to end 2013 for sure.
Apparently we had not done enough biking so Simon, Matt and James went on a Thai bike adventure of their own. Matt was the guide and they took off outside Bangkok for a really lovely ride in the countryside. The plan was to take a boat back the next day but that didn't work out so they rode back 100K! James is doing
alright for 80 years old.
We are in our final semester teaching at ISS. Simon is busy training for the Iron Man he is doing when we return to the states. Life is good, come and visit - we are leaving Singapore at the beginning of July.
Take care and all the best in 2014.
