theukchapmans
Travel blog — 30 posts, archived and preserved.
2018
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Costa Rica – Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula and the finish …
DAY NINE After a good breakfast, we were collected again by Roy, our driver for the journey to Manuel Antonio. With road works closing main routes down winding mountainside, he anticipated delays and planned our trip around the half hour window when the ‘tea break’ must occur and the road is open for traffic to […]
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Costa Rica – Arenal, Monteverde and ‘the bird’…
DAY FIVE This morning we awoke, excited to be collected by the captain of our little boat, to travel the short distance across the waters to the airstrip which actually did turn out to be literally ‘a strip’, of tarmac, in a field, adjacent to a small square building where we were instructed to stand […]
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COSTA RICA – THE START – Tortuguero and the frog …
DAY ONE The start of our Costa Rica wildlife, volcano and jungle experience – how we hoped to see a green tree frog glaring, sloth slouching and toucan flying – tightly packed suitcases housing Rohan khaki jungle gear and Deet bug repellent, our anticipation and excitement bursting! So, a good start – British Airways delaying […]
2017
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China – Beijing – The Wall and the finish …
So, we arrived by Bullet train following a 4 hour journey and headed for our final adventure. I have to say, not my best entrance – walking off the station platform and cut up by a passenger clearly on a mission to exit at speed, he changed direction without noticing me, ran over my foot […]
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China – Xian, Luoyang – warriors and batons! …
Following a flight on Hainan Airlines to Xian (pronounced phonetically as ‘shoo warn’), sitting aside a man that persisted in spitting the contents of his phlegmy cough into the sick bag for the whole hour long flight, I was somewhat relieved to disembark! Met by Ben, a young man who waved the sheet displaying our […]
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China – Chengdu … Pandas and a Phoenix!
Landed in Chengdu and were greeted at the airport by the incredibly smiley, bubbly and most enthusiastic, Alina. She shared with us that she has been married one year and is from northern China where there is snow – she loves snowboarding and during the less busy summer season in Chengdu, she is a tour […]
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China – Suzhou to Guilin …trains, planes, boats and cars!
Final day with Troy and drove almost 2 hours to Suzhou, an area renowned for its Chinese gardens (recognised by UNESCO World Heritage). Visiting the Garden of the Master of the Nets and then on to the Humble Administrator’s Garden (12 acres, very humble!), with zigzag walkways, water lilies, bonsai and traditionally styled pavilions, a […]
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China – Shanghai …
So, Thursday – here we are, arrived in Shanghai via the most efficient Cathay Dragon Airlines – again, an incredible inflight service, and met by’ Troy’, our guide for the next 3 days – a really lovely man (he shared with us, he is 33 years old, has a 2 year old daughter and has […]
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Hong Kong – The Start …
Greetings from our first stop, Hong Kong! Following a lovely flight provided by Cathay Pacific (our first time with this airline and I have to say, cabin crew were wonderful; like busy little worker ants, they seamlessly, swiftly and gracefully delivered a first class service throughout the 11 hour flight…). Landed to be greeted between […]
2015
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Africa – Rwanda … and the finish…
Following a 6 hour drive through Uganda and reaching the boarder controls of Rwanda, I have to say, I don’t believe I was the only one who believed a visit to the London Embassy to obtain visas prior to travel might have provided for a ‘feeling safer’ option (as with Ugandan visas ..) for being […]
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Africa – Uganda – gorillas…
Now at Bwindi Lodge within the Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. Thankfully this lodge has light bulbs, albeit solar powered, water warm out of taps though still only plugs in lounge area…. Arrived yesterday with jungle stretched out before us, enjoyed a lovely lunch (being the only guests here!) then set off on an almost three hour […]
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Africa – Uganda – salt ….
Our morning starts with a drive through open landscapes to Queen Elizabeth National Park and then a boat trip. We visited salt rivers (where rock salt is extracted in such a fashion, ladies are encouraged to ‘double layer up’ at certain times of the month, as their job requires wading waist deep in vast salt […]
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Africa – Uganda – the start …
After what can only be described as the most horrendous flight ever endured, I can only say – note to self, NEVER fly with Kenya Airways again: flat tyres, lost luggage, replacement planes, seat bookings misplaced, stranded between airports to eventually be left running between interconnecting flights, looking for boarding areas that were as […]
2014
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The Arctic – music and the finish …
Here we are today simply sailing along trying to reach a particular place en route where apparently tide times dictate our landing on the Zodiac’s for a walk about. Frustratingly, we were meant to pull aside a glacier this morning for a zodiac drive by, but as has occurred more than once, something changes and […]
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The Arctic – facts and furry tummies!
So, yesterday and touching wood, today, appear to be migraine free! YIPPEE!! I cannot express how great it felt simply soaking all this in without the looming cloud of strained eyes and throbbing head – wonderful – worry not though, naturally, as one departs, the next appears, yep, cold sores! Fortunately, I appear to have […]
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The Arctic – ‘Santa’, facts and bands!
All good here – well, I say good, sadly another migraine day for me today and with the addition of fuel stench from my rookie rear seating on the morning RIB trip, accompanied by a visit to the toilet very ill!! Spent the afternoon sleeping after paracetamol, then finally can converse happily, partake in dinner […]
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The Arctic – icebergs and facts!
Today, I woke with a smacker of a migraine so slept for an extra hour in the morning – believe it is the whiteness/brightness of the Arctic causing such a reaction ….. our ship gently carved her way through some floating ice today which I looked down on – WOW, the stunning blueness deep under […]
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The Arctic – Our ship awaits (the start…)
Having arrived in Longyearbyen (a small coal-mining town on Spitsbergen Island) from Oslo, our ship awaits us – the G Adventures MS Expedition – about to embark on the Realm of the Polar Bear in depth Arctic tour ….. ‘she’s’ looking resplendent in red and our excitement barely contained – our first trip on a […]
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India – Mumbai – the finish…
Following a lengthy car journey from Khana National Park to Nagpur (where airport to Mumbai is situated), with the journey taking almost 7 hours along a mix of bumpy roads and tarmac highways interspersed with small villages, larger towns, fields and a log lorry plummeting down the swirling steep hillside into a small wall, yes, […]
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India – Kanha National Park
So, did park area 1 this afternoon (previous times were park 2) – much more mountainous, green and more water areas – up there with rock climbs of Samburu, and declines of a Disney roller coaster! Thank goodness our land rover jeep is made of sturdy stuff and coped with all thrown at it – […]
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India – more jungle …
So, after a good sleep in our little cottage, listening to the odd critter bleeping away and the whirr of our ceiling fan overhead (sounds authentic and tranquil right ….? ) we received our gentle ‘wake up’ knock on our front door at 5:15am …. ‘ello’ from Bhola, our butler – a change into ‘jungle […]
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India – Bandhavgarh jungle!
Hello from the Bandhavgarh jungle! Started an early morning flight from Delhi airport, Air India, having enjoyed a lovely McDonald’s before take off, lusting after t shirts in marks and spencer, accessories in Accesorize, soaps in Body Shop and all things that looked British (has it only been a week?!) … Flight very swift and […]
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India – Jaipur and Agra …
Good evening from Jaipur and Agra Well, Tuesday started early with collection from hotel at 5am. We were taken to the railway station by cox and kings transfer chap and escorted to our carriage on the Shatabdi Express – I have to say, on arrival at the station amidst sleeping bodies along the platform, […]
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India – Delhi – the start…
Greetings from Delhi – following day one of our official tour of India, book table for dinner, have tea and cookies, Indian meal in eve (most yummy!) and slept like logs in enormous VERY HARD bed in the Leela Palace; I am pleased to say, all is sunny, pretty hot and good ….. This […]
2013
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Thailand – back to Bangkok and the finish …
All good here as the end of our trip fast approaches. Yesterday, we went to another temple, up a mountain this time and in the eve caught a taxi to local shopping mall – more Thai stuff or clothes trying desperately to be ‘westernised’ but looking like cheap tat off a market … KFC enjoyed […]
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Thailand – Chiang Mai …
Greetings from Chiang Mai …. By road approximately 2 hours from Chaing Rai, though we took the scenic route today via places of interest …. Yesterday’s elephant experience was incredible – I have never shook so much with nerves, watching a bunch of older Australian folk mounting their elephants with much banter and effort, I […]
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Thailand – Chiang Rai and Burma …
Following a brief flight yesterday we arrived in Chiang Rai and were bought to the Anatara Resort. At breakfast, we were greeted by a baby elephant (5 years old) called ‘Am’ who was happy to trumpet when asked (by means of an agreed word?) …. We were given bananas which she insisted be placed on […]
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Thailand – Bangkok – flowers and dinosaurs! …
So, today we were ‘day at leisure’, with no Pim to guide us, we planned our own itinerary…. After brekkie we caught the public ferry boat and sailed up the river to the first destination on our ‘plan for the day’, the flower, fruit and vegetable market! We managed to find it pretty easily (locals […]
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Thailand – Bangkok – and a sad bit …
So, today (following a yummy buffet brekkie!) we went to the old capital city, Ayutthaya (when Thailand was called Siam). We popped to the Old Palace and gardens which was beautiful, with turtles and fishes swimming happily in vast ponds, amidst beautiful grounds and architecture. Then onto some temple ruins, monasteries and more Buddha’s …. […]
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Thailand – Bangkok – the start …
Greetings from our first visit to Thailand! Arrived in Bangkok, greeted at the airport and taken to the stunning Mandarin Oriental hotel – our room, simply wow! A split upper level bedroom (with en suite) and lower level dining area with lounge; unpretentious luxury with local touches of fine Thai fabrics, fresh flowers and teak […]