On the road again

(We are catching up on posts before we head home so check to see which ones you have read in case we have uploaded them faster than you can read them. We have had a wonderful time exploring and writing about our adventures, although we will be sad to leave, we are looking forward to seeing our families again and eating food our bellies are used to.)

So we are on the road again heading for home. We have had a wonderful eight weeks of travel with so many highlights  it is hard to name our favourites. In the spirit of travel I have decided to summarize some of the modes of transport we have taken and another lists of some we saw and are thankful we didn't take.

Methods of Transport Taken:

1) Plane - in total we will have taken 14 flights on multiple airlines, some fancy, some not so fancy

2) Train - our trains were good experiences, although the temperature of the night train in Vietnam left something to be desired

3) City Bus - Never a fun ordeal with loaded backpacks in rush hour but enjoyable when not carrying anything, Singapore buses were the best of course

4) Tuk Tuk (traditional) - Strange combo of motorcycle and taxi used in Thailand, drivers are organized to take you to the wrong places so you are forced to spend more money and they get a large cut

5) Tuk Tuk (modern) - instead of sitting behind the driver you sit in a covered side car contraption that someone thought was a good idea until a sudden stop when there would be nothing between you and the front, only did this one once as the town had no regular taxi service

6) Metered Taxi - Hard to find in tourist areas as the drivers would rather charge you a higher flat rate than turn on the meter. We were quoted 400 Baht but them etered taxi down the street ended up taking us for 155 Baht

7) Subway train - MRT in Kuala Lumpur, fantastic service although the charge to get back is double

8) Monorail - Excellent service, super cost effective and always exactly where we needed to go on the same line. Amazing!

9) Private truck - Wonderful girl who saved us in Prachuap Khiri Khan who drove us our our hotel, and again on Borneo with Cobra

10) Private Car - Many transfers, grounded out a few tiny ones on Borneo, we are just too big for Asian cars on Asian roads

11) Longboat - Traditional Thai boat with an unruffled car motor on the back

12) Car Ferry - Twice in Thailand due to a miscommunication a do nice in Vietnam due to incoming Typhoon

13) Passenger Ferry - Way better than car ferries

14) Junk - Two different versions in Ha Long Bay, both fantastic

15) River Boat - For river cruises in Borneo

We were  in the same boat, this is our photo of our circling paparazzi

16) Mountain Bike - In Borneo where two broke on Chris, and then the 70km ride in Vietnam

17) Singe Speed Chelsea Bikes - Thailand, Vietnam, Chris hates them but I love the baskets in front, I meander along my route imagining flowers, then Chris wonders why I am so slow, oops

18)) Mini Bus - Yuppers, lots of these. No 14 people are not meant to fit, but they do, just like clown cars

19) Transport Bus/Coach - Many of these, too many

20) Sleeper Bus - I understand the requirement on over night trips but for a 9hour trip starting at 10am I would rather be sitting, not lying on a broken recliner so all it does is recline

21) ELEPHANT - Saved the best for last!

Methods Not Taken (But Witnessed)

1) Motorcycle/Scooter - Many carrying large families we many small babies and infants

2) Pony and cart - Witnessed on an eight lane highway in Vietnam

3) Two ox cart - Witnessed twice in Vietnam

4) Two person bike, not a tandem - One person sitting on the back rack

5) Cage on motorbike - in all fairness the occupants of the cages were pigs but stuffing a 50kg+ into a cage balanced on a motor bike just seams odd

Not a pig in a cage but you get he idea with four large vases

I am sure I am forgetting some but the idea is there. Looking forward to coming home and catching up with everyone again!

Love,
Chel
Xoxoxo