Paradise Merton to Paradise Asia – Paula’s Peregrinations

After many weeks anticipation and planning, it is only five days away.

The minor obstacles have been overcome, like choosing the airline, deciding on the length of time to be away (45 days is what I chose, because of the travel insurance restrictions), and then making a rough itinerary to include four countries.

Thinks...Good, no more washing up for six weeks!

Paradise Merton to Paradise Asia – Paula’s Peregrinations

Originally I wanted to visit China, then go on to other countries in SE Asia but that proved too difficult because of the vast distances involved, and the comparatively short time. Flying costs within China would have pumped up the budget too.

Finally the countries are Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia, flying back from Singapore.

Everyone I have spoken to seems to have visited Thailand, and speak with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Less of my friends and acquaintances have visited Cambodia and Malaysia, but Vietnam seems a popular destination.

The BBC have co-operated by broadcasting several interesting programmes about Cambodia and Vietnam recently. The appalling damage from land mines makes me shudder – how will I cope with looking at the frightful damage done to innocent children and adults? – how do they cope with the mutilation day after day? I decided to take some small items to give to a school or other organisation, which the children might like. I wrote to the children in the family, asking them to turn out some items that they no longer need, like hair ornaments, chalks, notebooks, paper stick-on pieces, mock ‘tattoos’. Hope they send something before the departure date.

I have been learning snorkelling at Dorking Snorkelling Club, and have bought a mask and snorkel. What a strange contraption! Strangely enough, when you are in the water wearing fins, you feel quite streamlined and move easily, but on the pool-side, nothing could be more laughable. You even have to walk into the water backwards when on a beach.

Hope that the islands of SouthThailand are not victims of mass tourism (yes I will be one of the mass tourists) with the attendant flotsam and jetsam, floating plastic water bottles. The locals must be fed up with the influx of foreigners, despite the much needed dollars.