Extended Travel Weariness: from the followsummer archives
I stumbled upon this blog entry from August 2004 as I was going through some files here on followsummer. So interesting to note and remember our feelings of a year full of travel, and with only three and a half months left in...
PHOTO: And Buddha Blesses All
Our first stop is the Wat Bupparam, housing the famous 400-year-old Teak Buddha, and we are met at the gates by two women bearing small baskets and we think, “oh, no, more touts. Religious touts this time”.
On the Steps of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
Hot, Hot, Hot. The predicted temperature in Bangkok will be 42 degrees! This does not include the humidity. Some businesses and venues are open; some are closed for day two of Songkran in Bangkok. Staff at our hotel isn’t...
Diving the King Cruiser Wreck and Shark Point in Koh Phuket, Thailand
A gorgeous day! We are on a boat, heading to 2 dive sites in the Andaman Sea, for the 1st day of diving in our advanced scuba certification course. The course consists of 5 different dives over two days. Today we will do 2 of...
Last Day In Primošten
Like the pension in Forster’s “A Room with a View” our little villa keeps changing personalities. We all meet over breakfast and exchange our pleasantries. I find that it is either John or I that make the initial attempt at...
On the Ground in Phuket. Some Advice
Phuket, Thailand – truly one of the most unique places I have ever visited. I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout many European cities, so making my way over to South East Asia has been a completely unparalleled...
And Buddha Blesses All
This turns out to be a wonderful, magical and somewhat mystical day. It starts late for us, even John sleeps into 9:00. We head downstairs for our “American Breakfast” and are out by 10:30. I am not feeling 100% this morning. I...
Completing Our Diving Certification: Thailand
We have made it part of our daily routine to actively introduce ourselves to our fellow travelers and today is no exception. On the Dive Tuk Tuk we meet Pete and his two kids Manda, 16 and Theo, 14. Pete and his wife (who isn’t...
An Athenian Sunday Wander on The Acropolis
Sunday in Athens. Today is the day, it seems when all Athenians take to the street to shop, walk, chat, gossip or sit in a café and drink coffee. Everyone is out doing something. We sleep in a little after our late night and...
I am a Mahout For a Day!
We have no words except THANK YOU to our global travel family for all support, kind thoughts and well wishes as my husband, co-founder, partner of 27 years and chief instigator of our 2004 around the world followsummer trip John...
As Usual, Billy Crystal Saved the Oscars.
Everyone keeps talking about fall and indeed the temperature has dropped a few degrees. The high today is only 23 degrees and going down to a low of 15 tonight. The shops have all their fall and winter clothes out on display and...
A Day of Ghosts
We plan a quiet day of internet updating and beach. We wake up and have a wonderful breakfast at the hotel – all fresh fruit, fresh squeezed juice, and coffee made in an automatic machine. We head to the internet café we found...
Even in Paradise, There Are Bills to be Paid.
Breakfast by the pool at 8, to say goodbye to Tony and Graeme. Tony has stopped in Phuket on his way home from a business trip to Europe, and today he heads to Singapore for a couple more days R&R. Graeme will stay in Phuket...
A Songkran Day With Elephants and Mahouts
This Songkran morning does not start auspiciously – the minibus that is to pick us up for our day in the country-side around Chiang Mai does not appear. Finally, we head out of town, and after about 45 minutes, we stop. Our guide...
Avoiding Happy Songkranners
I head out early to scout around. There is nobody on the street, so I am safe, for the moment, from the happy Songkranners. But the streets of Surawong are deserted. This is the most important day of Songkran, and it appears that...
Isn’t This What Travel and Discovery is All About?
Bye Bye Bangkok and Thailand We have seen many different and wonderful things here, and both marvel at and question the relaxed views on sex in Thailand. We would comment daily on the number of young men and women on the arms of...
Night-Time Arrival: Mumbai
We arrived at Mumbai airport about 9:30 last night. We were met at the airport by a driver and our contact here in Mumbai, and we drive the very short drive to our hotel. The condition of the streets reminds us of both Bali and...
Early Morning Prayers
We are on the road by 8:00 this morning with a “hail” to the honking car drivers of India. We have learned a lot from our expert young driver Manu – he can navigate the best of the worst of Ahmebadad’s congested roads. From the...