Another catch up post to update you on the start of the year. It’s cold, grey and drizzly in January and February so like migrating birds we took off for warmer climates.

Loyal readers will remember we started our travelling adventure back on 2008 with the classic backpacker route through South East Asia. It was time for a revisit to some of our favourite places but with a different budget and travelling style. After a bit of research we found two back to back group tours plus cruises with IGLU, an online agent we haven’t used before. As we were putting together two different packages we decided to book our own flights and extra hotel days needed to fill the small gaps.

Starting with Thailand, we arrived in Bangkok which is one of our favourites. To get into the time zone and to acclimatise to 30C+ we opted to go a few days early. This gave us time to enjoy the atmosphere, delicious Thai food and ride the river ferries along the Chao Praya in both directions. We finally ticked off two experiences we had always wanted to do, a crazy night at the Muay Thai Stadium and the fabulous show, The Ladyboys of Bangkok.

The tour began and we met our new chums for a welcome dinner at the hotel. The group was 20 in total and the tour took us around the main sights in Bangkok. We had a lot of fun getting to know the group and our scatty, irritating and very loud Thai Tour leader.

Jim Thomson House, watching the locals pose for their special occasion & social media at Wat Arun and rooftop bar cocktails overlooking the river.

Being with a tour meant a revisit to some places but added new experiences we wouldn’t have done. Bangkok done we headed East to The Bridge on The River Kwai and then to The Death Railway near Kanchanaburi. On the way we stopped off at the railway market where traders have set up their stall just inches from the tracks so that when a train is due into the station all the overhang shade canopies are quickly pulled in and everyone gets off the tracks and squeezes together either side to avoid being flattened. Our group had a reserved space at a cafe where we stood on benches just millimetres away from the train, so close we shook hands with the passengers who were also enjoying the madness and mayhem.

Next stop was to the floating market which had changed a lot since our first trip back in 2008. It was very commercialised and touristy and lacked the charm we experienced when we stayed locally to get an early morning boat ride when the locals use the market. It was here back in 2008 that we had the best ever Phad Thai from a lady who cooked it on her tiny boat. It was only after we had eaten it all and handed back the plate that we watched in horror as she washed it in the canal!

A full day ended with arriving at the bridge at sunset and then at our hotel which wasn’t quite as described in the itinerary but turned out ok.

Next morning began with the Bridge Museum and on to the The Death Railway where its possible to walk along the site of the tracks. We had been to the railway before, almost 20 years ago, but not too much had changed – it’s still a moving experience and makes you wonder how one human being can be so brutal and cruel to another human being.

The day ended with a visit to a new place for us, Erawan waterfalls, stunningly beautiful natural pools which are suitable for swimming in.

Last day of the tour we headed back to Bangkok via Ayutthaya a former capital of Thailand to walk amongst the atmospheric ruins.

The tour finished with a tuk tuk night tour to taste street food in chinatown.

Overall a good tour made extra special by the group who got on really well and provided a lot of laughs. Next morning we were taken to the port to get onboard Norwegian Sun for the second part of the holiday headed to various ports in Thailand and Malaysia before finishing in Singapore. We’d never used Norwegian Cruise lines or been to Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand or Vang Vien in Vietnam so the trip was a good mix of new places and revisiting others.

First impressions of Norwegian were mixed, there was a huge well covered eating area at the stern of the ship which was needed as temperatures were very high at the start and the heavens opened as we approached Singapore. However the public areas were cramped and we encountered for the first time, a ship that allowed smoking indoors in the casino. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the casino had sealed doors and wasn’t a walkthrough to other public areas on that deck – yuk! Cheryl also discovered that the high impact dance based classes were held near the pool without shade and were unfortunately so dumbed down and short in duration to make them more frustrating than fun. However, our tour mates kept our spirits up and we all sat together for a big dinner together on the last night. We won’t be doing a Norwegian cruise again.

The sightseeing in the port stops was good – here’s a roundup.

The ship finally docked in Singapore and we headed to the airport to begin the second cruise & tour booking, but you will have to wait for Part 2 to find out what happens next.

This post has been sponsored by the following cheapskates who as usual gave no payment for access to our followers……

And before you go – some toilet humour

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