Venice HDR

Now that we're home and I have a real computer available, I'm having fun playing with photomatix and photoshop.

This one is a photomatix HDR based on 3 exposures - and no tripod. I bought a small tripod later in the trip in Rome.

Chester

Notre Dame

I've spent tonight having a first browse through some of the 3700+ photos taken on the trip. I don't think I'll be short of a photo for a while.

Lauren's Souvenir s

Surprise!

Photo: Surprise!

Day 50: Mid-air to home

The plane touched down in Sydney at exactly 6:00am, just as the curfew ends. We were the first plane into Sydney, so all the formalities were quick and painless. Once we headed out we were surprised to see Grandma and Grandpa standing waiting for us. What a lovely surprise. We sat for a while having a coffee with them before calling Simon (We wouldn’t all fit in G&G’s car) to join us. Back at the Roche house we caught up on some of what we had missed before heading home.

We have been so lucky with the timing of everything over the last week or so; More riots in Greece the day after we left, floods in 70% of Thailand – but not in the area we were, and airport strikes in Sydney which we missed by a day or two.

There was some talk about what we were most looking forward to when we got home; for Lachlan it was seeing Puppy and Domino, Carol said her own bed, I opted for a reliable shower and Lauren said nothing. She just wanted to keep travelling.

Lots of people will ask, “What was your favourite place?” It will be impossible to answer. So many great places, so many great experiences. I’m sure the kids have learnt more in the last 50 days than they could ever learn in 500 days of school. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when they start telling their friends and teachers about their experiences.

Overall – 50 days that we’ll always remember, always treasure.

Bangkok Airport

Photo: Bangkok airport

Day 49: Bangkok to mid-air

A morning of packing up for the trip home and some last minute shopping. In the afternoon we headed to the airport to begin our overnight flight home.

Elephant Girls

Photo: Elephant Girls

Day 48: Bangkok

Today was our last full day and our day trip out of Bangkok to see some of the Thai culture. We were up early for a 6:20 pickup. Before we even left the hotel we had a surprise highlight – a parade, complete with dragons, bands and fire-crackers, passing the front of the hotel. At 6:15am! We found out later it was the last day of a 10 day Buddhist vegetarian festival.

The tour began with a stop at a coconut processing plant where they make coconut sugar and coconut oil. Next was an elephant ride; definitely a highlight. Then came a long tail boat ride to the floating markets, which was a great place to sit and watch the world go by. A teak carving workshop came next with some amazing pieces, and Thailand’s largest Buddhist stupa. Next was a fabulous smorgasbord lunch at the Rose Gardens. After we ate way too much we headed out for an elephant show followed by a Thai cultural show, with dancing, drumming, Thai kick boxing, self defence, sword fighting, bamboo pole dancing, and a traditional wedding ceremony.