Yesterday was a restful sort of day except in the afternoon my father and aunt insisted I join the latter to attend a tea party hosted by the groom’s aunt. I had originally said I wouldn’t, but the social pressure was strong, and I felt obliged for my sister’s sake, so I went along. We […]
On the spirit way
An early start this morning, as there was a long drive north and a tide to catch. The Hilux was loaded and we left; Lady Bright and her son in front, the Gentleman Friend and I behind. We caught the ferry to Opua in good time, then drove back along the coast to Paiha (of […]
Cosh to the head
We left our flat to catch a 9.30 flight, forgetting a delicious croissant on the counter so had to buy breakfast at the airport. I was impressed by how well arranged the security and immigration was. Immigration was entirely through electronic gates, I had to place my passport on the reader and go, that was […]
In the garden
I took advantage of the time difference to finish work due this morning by around noon, and then had my first proper day in Melbourne. We went first to the very cool Rose Street with excellent graffiti and the hippest patisserie I have ever seen. We bought three pastries – a plain croissant, a pain […]
Market morning
In the morning we went for brunch (of course) and there was a long queue, but enlivened by a little sparrow picking delicately at a croissant, and the Chinese Malaysian (I think) man ahead of us who was clearly much more interested in chatting to other people than his glum companion. Interesting, the clientele was […]
Old haunts
The first time the Gentleman Friend and I came to Bangkok we stayed in Phra Arthit, just to the north of the older parts of town. On Saturday, after I finished up with some work, we went first to Siam Square where the GF bought a new telephone to replace the one that was old […]
JJ Market
In the morning we went to Chatuchak Market. We’d been there on our first visit to Thailand over ten years ago, and had forgotten how immense it is. We found the section we were looking for – sections 2-4, where the trendy young designers are. Ten years ago I bought myself a canvas bag that […]
A kind of homecoming
Strange how much South East Asia feels like coming home even though we have never lived in Thailand. We arrived late at night and it felt such a relief: the warmth, the humidity, the smells, the bearing of the people. Today my eczema, which had flared in both Lebanon and Nepal, has calmed down; the […]
Inside
I was inside for most of the day, as it was back to working and the Gentleman Friend was not feeling well at all. I am increasingly convinced that he did have at least the start, or a mild form, of high-altitude pulmonary oedema, which is often deadly. But he is not one to go […]
Move on
Yesterday we checked out of the hotel and moved to our next Airbnb, a room in a family house in Lazimpat. This is the embassy district of Kathmandu, about a 20 minute walk from Thamel. The main road is full of restaurants and shops, and behind it is the usual Kathmandu warren of very narrow […]