| | | |
| Contributors: ©Mapbox ©OpenStreetMap
|
This map shows all of the countries we have visited over the years, excluding Europe, which can be viewed by clicking on the EU flag. Click your mouse on the flags or ships for a quick summary of the trips.
There are 249 countries currently listed in ISO 3166, of which we have travelled to 28.1% of them between us (including UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey). If countries that were only visited on the World cruise are excluded then this drops to 21.7%.
For more details and slideshows visit the links in the left panel which will be populated over the coming months.
|
|
Angola | Work (without Alison): SSL, Summer 1983 |  |
 |
There was still fighting going on in Angola at the time so we had to stick to the protected areas. 4/5 of us were doing an offset survey offshore on a Total rig close to the Congo border. When we first arrived we had to undergo a rudimentary medical to make sure we weren't infected with measles etc as the local population had no resistance to it. We were then transported to the rig and had a few days to check the equipment. On the third night they had a bbq and even served some beers and wine! We later retired to a room where the occupier had a illicit bottle of pernot which we happily finshed off. Unlucky for us we started our survey the following morning. I was on the supply vessel which acted as base for the source air gun and the captain chose the moment I was up the mast connecting our aerial, to pull away from the barge - I had to hang on for my life! Afterwards I took a couple of hours nap in the canteen.
When we finished we spent 10 days waiting for a flight out of Luanda as it was peak holiday time for the French and all the flights had been booked for months. We spent the time in Total's hotel eating the fine French cheeses and supping their wine. The only respite we had was a morning's visit to the local fort.
|
|
Aruba | World Cruise, Oranjestad, 20th Jan. 2019 |  |
| My recollection of Aruba was it was barren island with some interesting rock formations (nowhere near as impressive as Durdle Door in Dorset) and nice beaches in the middle of the Caribbean. Basically it was a holiday resort for the Americans. | 
|
|
Australia | |  |
 |
Work (without John) Sept. 1960: Alison was born in Cronulla, but came to UK 2 years later.
Work (without Alison), Summer 1998: As I had recently been appointed Product Manager for Europe and Africa I was invited to attend the annual conference.
Holiday, Apr. 2016: When I started planning our first holiday to Australia Alison wasn't particularly interested. But when her mother died and she started going through her parents' paperwork that all changed and she just had to visit their old haunts. So the holiday was extended to accommodate this. Then we needed to see 'The Dish' because we love the film. The best part though was the Ghan railway.
Holiday, May 2017: We enjoyed the first trip so much we returned the following year to take the Indian Pacific railway between Perth and Sydney, with a week's break in Adelaide. We timed the trip to coincide with the Vivid Sydney festival.
World Cruise, Feb./Mar. 2019: We revisited Sydney and Yorkies Knob (just outside Cairns).
|
|
Azores (Portugal) | World Cruise, Ponta Delgada, 11th Jan. 2019 |  |
| Stop-over in mid-Atlantic. Almost as soon as we stepped off the ship I managed to find the red light district - purely by chance - honest! We toured a bit of Ponta Delgada in the morning and had a trip to the blue/green lakes in the middle of Sete Cidades, an extinct volcano in the afternoon. |  |
|
Bahrain | Work (without Alison): SSL, Summer 1984 |  |
| I'd joined Cairo Rugby while in Egypt and we joined 15-20 clubs at the Bahrain Fifteens in 1984. The other sides loved our open play and thought we would get to the Quarter Finals, but our players wanted to make the most of the evening's festivities and we didn't play well after the first day. |
|
Barbados | World Cruise, 18th Jan. 2019 |  |
 | Well we were warned - everything is about the rum on this 4x4 trip across Barbados. We had a tipple before we set off at 10 in the morning, with another one or two at every stop!
|
|
Botswana | |  |
Holiday, Jun. 2006: We visited the Tuli Block, in Botswana as part of our first safari to South Africa. Our Kenya friends had applied to manage the Tuli Safari Lodge and we were sent to assess it from a customers' point of view.
Holiday, Jun. 2018: We returned to Botswana for 3 days safari in Chobe National Park, staying at the luxurious Ngoma Safari Lodge at the end of our trip to South Africa and Victoria Falls.
|  |
|
Canada | Canada in the Fall Cruise, Sept. 2022 |  |
 | We made the following stops on/in Canada on this cruise: St. Johns, Newfoundland; Charlottetown, King Edward Island; Cap aux Meulles, Isle de Made; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Harve St Pierre; Baie-Comeau; Quebec; and, Montreal. We also visited: Faroes; Greenland; and, Iceland. We spent three nights in St. Johns due to a storm which upset our itinerary, but we weren't disappointed as it was a pleasant stop. The only place that beat it was Quebec, which was a surprise as it has been transformed for tourists over the last few years, beating Montreal hands down.
|
|
China | World Cruise, Mar. 2019 |  |
As we sailed across the South China Sea we had the roughest weather we've ever experienced on a cruise. It was so bad the restaurant doors were blown in (while we were eating) - everybody grabbed the most precious item on the table - the wine! In the best British stiff-upper-lip tradition after a few tables were moved to the middle of the restaurant we carried on. The evening's entertainment in the theatre was also affected as the stage was shifting too wildly for the dancers.
16th Mar. 2019: Tianjin. We had visited the Terracotta Army exhibition in Liverpool in 2018 so it was an easy decision to visit the Great Wall of China on this trip.
20th Mar. 2019: Shanghai. We stayed a few nights here taking in the high skyscrapers with a show of lights on the buildings at night.
|  |
|
Egypt | |  |
 | Work (without Alison): SSL, Cairo, 1982-83: I did a 12 month stint running the seismic office in Egypt. Follow the SSL link for more details.
Holiday (without Alison), Luxor, Mar. 1983: Before leaving Egypt we visited Luxor over 5 days, taking in the Valley of the Kings and the temples. On the last day we decided to splash out, but had to exchange some currency - unfortunately the guy counted out 20 Egyptian pound notes as 10 - so we had a whale of a time!
Holiday, Nile Cruise, May 1997: Alison and I returned on holiday - I should have known better than travelling there at that time of the year - it was roasting! Again we did: the temples of Luxor; cruised the Nile down to Aswan; flew to Cairo to see the pyramids; returned to Luxor to relax for 4-5 days in a hotel. (A year later there was the shooting at Hatshepsut's Temple - there is absolutely no cover there).
World Cruise (without John), Hurghada, 21st Apr. 2019: Alison had a stop at Hurghada on the world cruise, where she took a submarine trip in Sindbad (it sank in 2025 with 6 lives lost).
World Cruise (without John), Suez Canal, 24th Apr. 2019: The transit of the Suez Canal didn't seem as interesting (lots of desert) as the Panama Canal.
|
|
Faroe Islands | Canada in the Fall Cruise, 15th Sept. 2022 |  |
(Strictly speaking this would be better on the Eu page, but it fits better with the Canadian cruise).
Torshavn. We had a coach tour to: Kvivik, a small fishing village; Noroadalsskaro, a scenic spot; and, a wander round the old part of Torshavn.
|  |
|
French Polynesia | World Cruise, Feb. 2019 |  |
 | 6th Feb. 2019: Nuku Hiva. We had a wander round the town by ourselves rather than do a specific trip. When we came back we saw how the staff disposed of the bodies that had mounted up.
7th Feb. 2019: Papeete. I went snorkelling here and Alison did a short trip to the interior.
8th Feb. 2019: Bora Bora. I was unwell here so Alison took a glass-bottomed boat trip so they could see the sea life.
|
|
The Gambia | Dec. 1993 |  |
| We spent Christmas in Gambia this year. We went to local shops for supplies when we arrived and a local engaged us on the way out. We decided to go into the local 'Tesco' to avoid him but he followed all around the shop! We didn't go out of the hotel complex much after that. We did a Land Rover 'safari' to a local peanut farm and the beach where 'Live and Let Die' was filmed, where Alison got caught by local hawkers again!
|
|
Greenland | Canada in the Fall Cruise, Narsarsuag, 19th Sept. 2022 |  |
| Alison took a boat trip to the foot of a glacier that was falling into the sea.
|  |
|
Guatemala | World Cruise, 25th Jan. 2019 |  |
 | Puerto Quetzal. We took a trip to a small pretty village called Antigua Guatemala within sight of an active volcano, Volcan de Fuego. We did see it smoking but the photos weren't particularly good.
|
|
Hong Kong | |  |
Holiday, May 2017: We tagged a two night stop-over in Hong Kong on to the end of our 2nd trip to Australia. We tried to get to the top of Victoria Peak but the funicular wasn't working. So we had a wander around Hong Kong Park and had a nice lunch in a back street cafe. In the evening we went on to the hotel roof to get some photos of the light show - but having taken the camera out of an air-conditioned room the lens fogged up with the humidity.
World Cruise, 23rd Mar. 2019: We took one of the cruise trips on returning to Hong Kong, including: lunch at the floating restaurant, Jumbo (later burnt down); a street market in a small fishing village; trip to Victoria Peak, but didn't want to wait for the funicular as there were long queues and it was getting dark.
|  |
|
Iceland | Canada in the Fall Cruise, Reykjavik, 12th Oct. 2022 |  |
 | In the morning we walked in to town and spent a couple of hours going around the maritime museum. After lunch we joined a trip to Viking World museum at Njarovik, then across the hills past the Blue Lagoon (volcanic activity in recent years probably makes this trip impossible now) and on to Seltun to view (and smell) the volcanic pools.
|
|
India | World Cruise, 2019 |  |
This is where Alison and I separated on the World Cruise, as I had been suffering from a liver complaint. Since Australia I had kept off the booze and needed to rest continually. Unfortunately, I had 2 relapses when the doctor put me off the ship for more detailed exams in hospital. Cochin was the second time and after being sent to 2 hospitals I refused to sign a 2nd consent form (others had been bankrupt through medical bills). Eventually the ship's agents got me back to the ship just before it departed when I asked the doctor if he would transport me to Mumbai, where I would disembark and fly home. Although the captain wasn't happy, he agreed.
Cochin, 10th Apr. 2019: While I whiled the time in hospital Alison took a trip to: Kerala, a fishing village, where the guide said the Best Marigold Hotel was filmed in a passing comments - we all spent ages photographing it; Santa Cruz Cathedral; Jewish synagogue; Dutch Palace; St. Francis church.
Mumbai, 12th Apr. 2019: This morning we spent the time together before I disembarked and went to the airport.
|  |
|
Israel | World Cruise, Ashdod for Jerusalem (without John), 25th Apr. 2019 |  |
 | This was one of the places Alison really wanted to visit as she has Jewish roots and was why she didn't leave with me at Mumbai. I think her highlight was seeing the Western Wall.
|
|
Ivory Coast | Work (without Alison): SSL, Oct. 1984 |  |
| I was sent to the Ivory Coast as part of another offset survey team. One our guys had his bag go missing but the heavy weight we carried (to drag the seismic tool down the offset well) was one of the first items off the conveyor. Unfortunately, the rig didn't have the equipment necessary to carry out an offset survey and I spent a day at a hotel onshore enjoying the pool with another guy before returning to UK.
|
|
Japan | World Cruise, 2019 |  |
Yokohama, 12th Mar. 2019: We did a coach trip which included: the volcanic vents of Owakudani with views across to Mount Fuji in the distance; a pirate ship across Lake Ashi; lunch in a restaurant; visit to Hakone Open Air Museum, where we saw many great outdoor works of art.
Kagoshima, 13th Mar. 2019: Here we visited: the very moving Charin Peace Museum, with a tribute to the kamikazi pilots - some of their stories were moving - the room girls finding wet pillows in the morning where they had stifled their cries etc; Charin Samurai street residency, with very nice gardens.
|  |
|
Jordan |  |
 | Summer 1984 (without Alison), Amman: I did a weekend rugby tour here with Cairo Rugby (while working for SSL) but I nearly missed the flight back.
World Cruise, Aqaba for Petra (without John), 22nd Apr. 2019: This was another one of Ailson's must-see places after I left the cruise (and one I was disappointed not to see).
|
|
Kenya | |  |
We've travelled to Kenya many times and the details are given on the East Africa Dreams pages. The summary is given here:
|
Dec. 1994: Keekerok Lodge, Masai Mara; Lake Nakuru; Naivasha Country Club; Tortilis Lodge, Amboseli; Kilaguni Lodge, Tsavo West NP; Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu
Dec. 1995: Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu
Dec. 1996: Mombasa; Lunatic Express; Fly-camp, Amboseli; Our wedding at Tutle Bay Beach Club, Watamu; Sobo Camp, Tsavo East NP
Dec. 1997: Sobo Camp, Tsavo East NP; Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu
Dec. 1998: Sobo Camp, Tsavo East NP; Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu; Mnarani Club, Kilifi
Sept. 1999: Simba Lodge, Masai Mara; Mnarani Club, Kilifi
Dec. 1999: Millenium Safari, Sobo Camp, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui; Samburu Game Lodge, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu
|  |
 |
Aug. 2000: Orphanage Safari, Sobo Camp, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Nov. 2001: Melinda's wedding, Watamu; Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2001: Mum's (John's mother) safari, Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs: Che Shale, Mambrui
Oct. 2002: Che Shale, Mambrui (without John - Alison had more holiday left over)
Dec. 2002: Wilderness Trails, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy; Loisaba; Che Shale, Mambrui
Jul. 2003: The Ark, Aberdares NP; Loisaba; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2003: Loisaba; Che Shale, Mambrui
Jun. 2004: Finch Hatton's Camp, Tsavo West NP; Ol Donyu Waas, Chyulu NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2004: Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Else's Kopje, Meru NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
|
Jul. 2005: Ol Seki Camp, Masai Mara; Ol Kanjau bush camp, Amboseli NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2005: Shompole; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2006: Galdessa, Tsavo East NP; Voi Wildlife Lodge, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2007: Wilderness Trails, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy; Elephant Watch Safaris, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Che Shale, Mambrui
Mar. 2008: Elephant Watch Safaris, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Che Shale, Mambrui
Jun. 2009: Langasani, Bisil; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2009: Che Shale, Mambrui; Mukurumji Camp, Shimba Hills NR; Finch Hatton's Camp, Tsavo West NP
Dec. 2010: Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
|  |
 |
Dec. 2011: Che Shale, Mambrui; Kulalu, Tsavo East NP
Dec. 2012: Galdessa, Tsavo East NP; Kulalu, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2013: Kulalu, Tsavo East NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec. 2014: Nairobi NP; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec 2015: Elephant Watch Safaris, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec 2016: Olerai House, Naivasha; Elephant Watch Safaris, Samburu & Buffalo Springs NPs; Che Shale, Mambrui
Dec 2019: Olerai House, Naivasha; Mutara Camp, Ol Pejeta; Che Shale, Mambrui
|
|
Libya | Work (without Alison): SSL, 1981-82 |   |
| I was sent out to Libya as a punishment in the hope I would leave, shortly after joining a seismic company - as I got married between the interview and joining the company. They thought it was a punishment, but as a good Boy Scout I relished the challenges. I ended up doing 4x three month tours and it took them over 3 years to get rid of me - twice as long as their normal employment period.
|  |
|
Malaysia |  |
 | World Cruise, Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur, 4th Apr. 2019: On this trip we went to a pewter factory and spent 20-30 mins or so hammering a bowl from a disk of pewter. Then the fun really started. We visited Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple, which has many steps up to the temple. Unfortunately, it started raining (and I mean raining) about half way up. Even though we had rain macs, we were soaked through by the time we got to the top. The rear of the coach was like a Chinese laundry with clothes hanging everywhere on the way back to the ship.
World Cruise, Penang, 5th Apr. 2019: We visited: Kek Lok Si Temple a sprawling temple on a steep hill; we then took a train to Penang hill for beautiful views across the harbour.
|
|
Malta | World Cruise (without John), Valletta, 28th Apr. 2019 |  |
(Strictly speaking this would be better on the Eu page, but it fits better with the World cruise).
I was disappointed not to do Malta, then I should have done it like many of my colleagues in Libya. Alison seemed to like it and we may do it on a long weekend.
|  |
|
Mexico | World Cruise, Acapulco, 27th Jan. 2019 |  |
 | As we were berthed close to the city we decided to walk ourselves round Acapulco (which may not have been the best thing to do as it is known as the centre for drugs in the area). We went up to where the boys/men dive off the rocks into the sea; walked around Fort San Diego and the museum; and later wandered along to sea front.
|
|
Morocco | |  |
Marrakesh, Sept. 2010: I surprised Alison by booking this holiday as a surprise as I always said I wouldn't take her here. I prepared an Eye-Spy booklet & bought her a shrug as it was Ramadan and then only let her know the day before. We stayed at a hotel a little out of town & visited Marrakesh a couple of times. We also took a 4x4 and driver and went over the High Atlas Mountains to the film studios at Ouazazate.
Marrakesh, Jun. 2014: We travelled back here with Tui and stayed at the Blue Medina Gardens hotel in the heart of Marrakesh just outside Jemaa el-Fnaa, the souk.
|  |
|
Namibia | Dec. 2008 |  |
 | After two cold safaris to South Africa in June we slipped in this trip to Dec. in the hope it was a bit warmer. Then I raised the stakes by deciding to safari in Namibia - a country I wanted to visit after reading so many Wilbur Smith books. On the face of it it was doubling up as far as the temperature stakes were concerned - but then we didn't know about the Benguela Current drawing cooling air from the Antarctic. We had an excellent safari flying between: Etosha; Damaraland; and Sossusvlei.
After the safari we went: along the Garden Route to Swellendam; Sanbona Wildlife Reserve; Citrusdal for New Year; Cape Town and the cape.
|
|
New Zealand | |  |
Bay of Isles, 15th Feb. 2019: This was a change of itinerary following the sea rescue and storms. We wandered around Paihia in the morning and joined a tour in the afternoon to: Kororipo Heritage Park; Puketi Forest; Kawiti Glowworm Caves
Auckland, 16th Feb. 2019: We took a trip to Waiheke Island where we saw the sites and then had lunch at Stoneyridge Vineyard.
Tauranga for Rotorua, 17th Feb. 2019: We took a trip to Rotorua to view: Rachel Spring Whangapipiron where we saw many works of art in amongst the pools; Waharoa to see the geothermal pools and visit the theatre for a traditional show.
Akaroa for Christchurch, 18th Feb. 2019: We took a trip to Christchurch and saw the damage caused by the earthquake many years earlier. Alison also bought a very expensive pair of trainers as hers had deteriorated.
Picton, 19th Feb. 2019: We took this trip to view some of the famous Marlborough wineries, including: Forest Wines; Spy Valley Wines (there was a US listening post at the head of the valley); Makana Confections.
|  |
|
Norway | |  |
 | (Strictly speaking this would be better on the Eu page, but that would make the Eu map too tall).
Work (without Alison), 1986-1989: I did a number of trips to Oslo and also to Stavanger for my employer.
Midnight Sun Cruise, Jun. 2025: We had hoped to do a cruise to the fjords for a number of years when this one came up. We travelled to: Haugesund; Andalsnes; Tromso; Honningsvag for North Cape (the furthest point North in Europe); Hammerfest; Harstad.
|
|
Oman | World Cruise (without John), Salalah, 16th Apr. 2019 |  |
| The first stop on the world cruise after I left the ship. Alison took a trip to: Mughsail beach; Marneef Cave and Blowholes; the head of the Frankincense trail; Nabi Ayub (Job's) Tomb.
|  |
|
Panama | World Cruise, Panama Canal, 22nd Jan. 2019 |  |
 | We were lucky the schedule had changed so we travelled through the Panama Canal in daylight. Everybody was out on deck all day for this spectacle - I got sun-stroke. You can see the ships only just fit in the canal in places and the trolleys have a lot of work to do.
|
|
Papua New Guinea | World Cruise, Rabaul, 4th Mar. 2019 |  |
| We stopped off where the Japanese hid their coastal craft in caves - a long way from the sea and then went on to the Allies military cemetery.
|  |
|
St. Lucia | Jun. 1991 |  |
 | This was our first all-inclusive holiday, at Couples and it was so relaxing not to have to worry about belongings etc. We hit it off with a few Brits who embraced the discipline of volleyball. We made quite a splash and even beat the Americans on Independence Day - and repeated it after midnight on the same night. Unfortunately, we were taking a catamaran trip the following day to the Pitons - I spent the outward trip sleeping on the netting between the hulls and getting very wet.
|
|
Singapore | World Cruise, 3rd Apr. 2019 |  |
| This trip took us to: Sultan Mosque; Indian Heritage Centre; Chinatown. We passed Raffles Hotel but it was closed for refurbishment so we couldn't get a Singapore Sling.
|  |
|
South Africa | |  |
 | Jun. 2006: We first visited South Africa to visit our friends who had emigrated there. After doing the Johanesburg trips we flew to Sabi Sands, just outside The Kruger and then drove up to Tuli just over the Botswana border.
Nov. 2006 (without John): Alison was on garden leave waiting for a new position to be created, so she suggested she had an opportunity to investigate in South Africa and took a week with our friends in Johanesburg.
Jul. 2007: We returned to Sabi Sands again before flying to Cape Town where our friends had moved.
Dec. 2008: Our third visit was after our Namibian safari and we took the opportunity to travel along the Garden Route before driving up to Citrusdal to celebrate New Year. After this we toured the Cape.
May 2018: On this trip we wanted to experience the Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Pretoria, staying 4 nights in Cape Town, followed by a visit to Victoria Falls and 3 nights safari in Botswana.
|
|
Sudan | Work (without Alison): SSL, 1984 | 
|
| This was a quick 5 day trip North of Port Sudan. We had no trouble taking a 2000 psi air bottle on the international flight, but when we got to Khartoum the pilot chartered to take us onward would only carry the air bottle if it pointed towards the front, in case the valve snapped off. He was right it would act like a torpedo. The flight was uneventful. On the return trip we spent the night with a travel agent working out a flight home via Cairo and Rome. The problem was finding someone to take travellers cheques - company credit cards were not de rigueur then.
|
|
Tanzania | |  |
We travelled to Tanzania in between safaris to Kenya and the details are given on the East Africa Dreams pages. The summary is given here:
|
Dec. 2000: Sopa Lodge, Tarangire NP; Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area; Sopa Lodge, Western corridor Serengeti NP; Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Mayara NP. We spent beach time at Che Shale, Mambrui, Kenya
May 2001: Sopa Lodge, Tarangire NP; Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Again, we spent beach time at Che Shale, Mambrui, Kenya
Jul. 2002: We used Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area as a base on this holiday while we toured: Olduvai Gorge, some of the oldest remains of man; Shifting Sands, a black sand dune that moves 100m/year; Lake Empakaai, an old volcano. As normal, we spent beach time at Che Shale, Mambrui, Kenya
Dec. 2017: Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area; Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge - luxury, Serengeti NP. Again, we spent beach time at Che Shale, Mambrui, Kenya
|  |
|
Thailand | World Cruise, Mar./Apr. 2019 |  |
 | Bangkok, 29th Mar. 2019: After release from the hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we made our way to the airport and caught a flight to Bangkok for the night.
Bangkok/Ko Samui, 30th Mar. 2019: We caught a connecting flight to Ko Samui to catch up with the ship (this was preferable to getting a hotel, connecting with ship in Bangkok the next day, but missing the tour). I was surprised they took one of my powerbanks away at the airport because it had more than 20000mAh charge. We got a taxi from the airport back to the ship which was tendered offshore at Nathon Town.
Laem Chabang for Bangkok, 31st Mar. 2019: The tour took us to: Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram Worawihan, a famous buddhist temple; a boat trip along the Chao Phraya River calling at Thonburi Palace; onto Tha Maharaj (a shopping centre) where we disembarked for: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; Phra Ubosot (The Chapel); the Grand Palace.
Phuket, 6th Apr. 2019: Today we had a treat. There was confusion as we tendered to the port and we had to wait for someone on a later boat, but they didn't turn up. So on our bus there was the driver, our guide fom the ship and just us. We visited: the Big Buddha, another shrine with great views across the Andaman Sea; San Chao Kiew Tien Keng, a shrine; before a tour of the city.
|
|
United Arab Emirates | Work (without John): Organon, 2001 |  |
| As business intelligence manager, Alison had to attend the annual sales conference and was lucky enough to get Dubai. She did a desert trip and Bedouin evening one night. On another trip she went shopping for gold and frankincense.
|  |
|
United States | |  |
 | Camp America, Summer 1977: I did Camp America in between the 1st & 2nd years of university. I acted as woods skills specialist due to my extensive Scouting experience, although I spent most of my time helping the guys with sports. In between 2 week stints at camp in New York State, I spent most of my time at another counsellor's home in Hackensack, New Jersey. After camp we spent a couple of weeks with another counsellor in Florida before a night's stint at a Marvin Gaye concert, topping up the bar at Radio City, New York.
Work, Summer 1988: A 'good' sales rep sold a software package (that was only supported from the UK at the time) to a client in Florida. As the specialist I was sent to get them out of trouble - the package was never suited to the client's operation. I spent a week re-designing it so the system to work for them. Then I went to California to teach our US guys how to support it - they never sold another package again!
Holiday, Jun./Jul. 1989: We spent 5 days at Disneyland, Orlando before a further week on the coast at Fort Lauderdale (where we saw a drugs bust on the beach), stopping off at Kennedy Space Centre in between.
Holiday/Work, Aug. 2008: We took a week's holiday going to: San Francisco; Yosemite NP; Death Valley NP; Los Angeles. After I spent a 2 further weeks on a training course in Los Angeles.
|
|
Vietnam | World Cruise, Mar. 2019 |  |
World Cruise, Halong Bay, 25th Mar. 2019: Halong Bay was were the outdoor scenes from 'The Man with the Golden Gun' were filmed. We did a trip around the islands and then took in a cave with impressive stalagmites and stalactites.
World Cruise, Ho Chi Minh City, 28-29th Mar. 2019: I had a relapse of my liver stats and the ship's doctor put me into a local hospital for further tests. Alison came too and slept in a chair in my room, which was a pleasant surprise. I would say the service was better than in the NHS! After testing me further overnight I was finally released from hospital at lunchtime with a permission to travel. We went to the airport and caught a flight to Bangkok.
|  |
|
Zimbabwe | Jun. 2018 |  |
 | After a break in Cape Town and the Rovos Rail trip to Pretoria, we travelled to Zimbabwe staying at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. After that we safaried in Chobe National Park in Botswana.
|
|
| Spring 2019 | World Cruise |
The world cruise took us to: Amsterdam; Ponta Delgarda in Azores; Bridgetown in Barbados; Oranjestad in Aruba; the Panama Canel; Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala; Acapulco in Mexico; Nuku Hiva, Papeete & Bora Bora in French Polynesia; Bay of Isles, Auckland, Rotorua, Akaroa for Christchurch & Picton in New Zealand; Sydney & Cairns in Australia; Rabaul in Papua New Guinea; Yokohama & Kagoshima in Japan; Tianjin for The Great Wall of China & Shanghai in China; Hong Kong; Halong Bay & Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam; Ko Samui & Bangkok in Thailand; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur & Penang in Malaysia; Phuket in Thailand; Cochin & Mumbai in India; Salalah in Oman; Safaga in Egypt; Petra in Jordan; through the Suez Canal; Ashdod for Jerusalem in Israel, Valetta in Malta; Gibraltar; and, Lisbon in Portugal.
Take a look at our photo album of the trip.
|  |
|
| Sept. 2022 | Canada in the Fall Cruise |
 | This cruise took us to: The Faroes; Nar Sasuaq, Greenland; St. Johns in Newfoundland; Cap aux Meulles; Corner Brook (Newfoundland); Quebec; Montreal; Reykjavik in Iceland.
|
|
| Jun. 2025 | Land of Eternal Sunshine, Norway |
| This cruise to Norway took us to: Haugesund; Andalsnes; Tromso; Honningsvag for North Cape; Hammerfest; Harstad.
|  |
