Far East trip 1994 to Sri Lanka and Thailand - Our Bangkok adventure.
Wednesday,  Up at 0545 before the early morning call - no breakfast, only a cup of tea and a banana as we had to be outside the Oriental Hotel to join the Royal Barge to journey north along the Chao Phraya river. Down to the Hotel lobby by 0645 up to the car park and zipped of at breakneck speed towards Rama 5 statue where we wait for 5 mins before tearing off again full pelt along Silom.  Brake,  Accelerate- never let anyone in - fill in the gaps-force yourself through the traffic-overtake on the left hurry, hurry overtake on a right bend, get in before the others.  Nic calls it something like  gen sing. Along New Road and a sharp turn under the Redemption College before grinding to a halt outside the Oriental Hotel- 20 minutes early What a rush!
All is peace and tranquility as we enter under the Porticos of the Oriental, the best Hotel in the world.  Colonial splendour,  stucco and plaster work inside all painted in a beautiful Ivory. Growing bamboo clusters at each corner with inside facing balconies - Terrific.  We took some photos and went through to the jetty where the Oriental Princess lay, panting to be off. {Tons of food going aboard. tarts, quiches, cakes and meats all in beautiiful silverware). We had to await the completion of the victualling, before we were allowed on board. .Eventually we were allowed on the upper deck as the lower was all set out for lunch and we had a good seat facing front, a Japanese couple shared our four seater table. English, Italian, New Zealand, American and Japanese, with a sprinkling of Chinese.  We had coffee at 0900, and a ball by ball comentary as we progressed out of town. heading north, past factories, temples, condos and native homes on stilts.  The Chao Phraya was alive with workers using the taxi boats, the cross-river ferries and the various oriental craft up and down river. Slow old barges, and speedy little long tails, and through it all, the majesty of the Oriental Princess, with her bows a copy of the Royal Barges, as she ploughs through the crowds. In order to save 20 minutes we follow a route of a canal which literally turned a bend in the river into an island , with no transport - only by water.
At 11 o clock we all went down to the lower deck, where we were allocated a table with a NZ(Adrian) and his wife, an American maths teacher, Frank and his wife, Margie and me and an Italian couple. We soon associated ourselves with Frank and Adrian plus their wives and we got on really well.A lovely meal with much to choose from the gorgeous buffet.After lunch at 12 noon we still had an hour to go and we got acquainted with our English speaking friends.  We arrived at Bang Pa-In Palace and spent 30 mins looking round this peaceful spot. surrounded by about 50 statues of Buddha.  After this, we were transferred to a coach for the return journey, and the coach parties took our place on the Oriental Princess. We continued on to the Ayudhaya Palace & ruins and we eventualy left at about 3.30 to return to Bangkok A rather uneventful journey back, past dreary concrete buildings, until we arrived back on the outskirts of Bangkok at 5 pm. Frank said it will be another 90 minutes before we negotiate the traffic to get to the OH.  Unfortunately, he was right. So ended our wonderful day out in the OP
We knew the way to the Robinson department store (There is one in Sg)and I bought a watch and M bought a wallet and we went into a MacD for an English cup of coffee and a Mac Chicken. In all only about £3.  We watched out for a number 4 bus and it started to rain. We watched out for a no 4 bus and eventualy one came along although being air con, it was quite cold inside the bus. We booked to the WTC.  After about an hour grinding through the traffic of Silom and Raja damon roads, we eventually reach the WTC and the Zen shopping complex.  It was now 8pm and we did a quick flip through these lovely shops before heading for Sumkhivit Rd and the Amari Boulevard hotel. We quite enjoyed the walk after so much sitting about but we were ready for a drink in the  bar.A beautiful Thai maiden knelt and poured my beer, which was nice and before long we noticed a couple who were trying to attract our attention. It was Janice and Andy from Phuket 007 trip,  who, like us were going back to UK on the 0215 o Thursday. We spent an hour in their company before going upstars to sart our packingand I wrote this report

1994, Far Eastern trip --  BANKOK
 The Amari Boulevard Hotel, Sumkivvit Road, Bankok.

Friday.  We got up early and had breakfast by 8.45 ready for the Tour guide at 9 oclock. We waited until 0920 and he eventually turned up with a driver, in a battered old Toyota.  He was a very interesting man and we drove along good wide  roads to the WAT TRAIMIT, the Temple of the Golden Buddha. From there we went to the Grand Palace, The temple of the Concealed Buddha and eventually to WAT PO the temple of the Reclining Buddha.
 We then went, eventually to a Jewellers , where M bought a pair of malachite earings- very pretty green through.with white veins.  After that we had lunch at a very posh restaurant. At 2.30 we went to the Vinarnmak Palace (the TEAK PALACE)as it closes a 3m. We had to get a move on as we were in the last Guested English Speaking tour.  Out at 3'50 we were blocked in by a large van with the driver asleep at the wheel!. Well, he eventually woke up after a policeman banged on his door and we returned to the hotel at 4.15pm.  We had a cup of tea with thanks to the s/ market and I had a quick 40 winks. At 6.30 I awoke and went into the s/market to buy our breakfast, as we had arranged a klongs river trip starting at 0730,  costing 700 baht and I returned to the Amari for a super evening meal.
Saturday. We were up  at at 6, our own breakfast in our room, bought at the s/market last night. Off in a different Toyota, this time, to River C/P to catch a water bus.  What a sight!. everywhere were long tailed boats , and barges stacked high with Pepsi-Cola cases, but we had a 40 seater - more sedate.  Down river, passing Oriental and Shangri-la hotels, turned off into the klongs where boat people were selling their wares on the floating market, past houses on stilts. I am surprised that the long tailed boats were allowed to move about so quickly. High bow wave and higher stern wave from the propellers. Through many Klongs (narrow canals, just wide enough for the fruit barges) bordered by rude houses on stilts; some built under bridges.  The barrow boys in their boats, loaded with a myriad of coloured fruits. Stopped at large market/shop and M bought an evening bag and a round leather box and I bought a little coin purse. We continued along the klongs until we went into a snake farm. This was a small zoo  ,but with a  snake farm. Handlers showed us cobras and pythons and 'milked' cobra fangs for serum.  This was very interesting though I didn't like the idea of snakes being teased  for our purposes.  There was another interesting little zoo with eagles, kites and crocs and various birds and reptiles and a big black bear. On along the klongs and finally arrived back on the Chaio Praya river again.This is the widest river I have ever seen - like Moon River it must have been a mile across. Not only water buses and small taxis but huge barges, some top heavy with Pepsi Cola cases.  I am still amazed at the speed of the taxis.   We left the flat bottomed boat and travelled back to the hotel.
After we had a rest as we had been up since 6am,, we had a walk out on to the Sumkhivit Road and a breakfast of a pizza (11.15am)e then walked round and had a drink at a local pub before going back to the Amari. I could have bought a tailored Boss suit for only a few pounds, made in 24hrs, but I had no spare packing space in my suitcase.  Nic had telephoned us this morning after we had left and M rang him back at 3pm.  Our next trip out started at 7pm when we were taken to Silom village, a charming old house in true Thai style. We went upstairs,, took our shoes off and were ushered into a large hall, complete with stage and laid out with low tables and cushions. I thought we were supposed to sit on the floor but luckily there was a drop under the table to put your feet.  A Thai dinner of rice, chicken, veggies and fish balls and crab was put before us and at 8.30pm we had 3/4 of an hour of traditional Thai dancing in the classic style,  with a band. There were beautiful young girls and handsome men in their coloured tunics, with their lovely posture. The Thai girls were able to bend their fingers over backwards to touch the back of their wrists1.  The men were very acrobatic. Our taxi collected us at 9.30 and now we were able to put off our guide from other trips now  that we have seen what Bankok can show us at night.
Sunday. I was not surprised to see that M woke with stomach pains after our Thai curry and we did nothing more that day but just sit around all day. I went to the foodstore to get some alum tablets t o try and settle her but she is still poorly at 3.40pm.  I had a Thai curry at the Foodstore, very nice as it was cooked in front of me. I finished my book Diana and dumped it in the Landmark WPB when we went out for a walk.The sun was very hot ou tside but we walked to the hotel to sit by the pool. We thought we would cross the min road, but Sunkhivit Road must be over 100 yards wide with flower painted bridges and six lanes of traffic so we decided to cross by the flowery bridge..Later, as M was feeling no better I decided to walk to Siam Square. Left Amari at  4pm, leisuredly strolled past the British Embassy 4-10 centre stores at 4-20 WTC at 4.30, Omega centre at 4,50 and Siam Square at 5pm.  Caught a Tuk Tuk back to the Amari at 5,15 and had a lovely shower feeling better as it was very hot outside.  Jazz evening at the hotel and M agreed to try and eat something, but she ate very little and we didn't stay very long Glad to say we both ad a good night.

Batu Ferringi  Dad's Diary  Malaysia 1994
The Restaurant was beautifuly fitted out like all the hotel facilities and we were treated like Royalty.  Back through the other restaurants along lighted paths and floodlit palm trees to the main hotel and back to our room/.  Nic decided to go for a walk outside the hotel as there were dozens of stalls outside with all sorts of wonderful things for sale.,Anyway Nic returned to our room and we were awakened at 3 am by his return. Then about an hour later we were again awakened  by the Muezzin in the mosque under our window. This went on for about 15 minutes.
Sunday 14th August
We had a lovely cookeed breakfast and went into Georgetown where we visited a big Chinese temple KEK LOK SEE and spent an hour in and around it.  Underneath was a large car park!!and almost a shopping parade  Quote "You have made my temple a den of thieves'   Later we returned to the hotel and had a swim in the pool. In the evening we decided to try the Italian restaurant but it was fully booked, so we walked on until we went into the GRILL room.What a beautiful room this was and again we were treated like Royalty.  We had a bottle of red  Bordeaux wine. I had fish soup and ZURICHOISE veal ie strips of veal cooked in a delicious mushroom sauce. Nic had rack of lamb and M had dover sole.  It was a lovely meal, as good as I have ever had.  Nic was good company and we spent a lovely evening with M having a sweet of strawberries and cream. Nic had ice-cream , but I was so ful, I decided to forgo the sweet!  afterwards we went outside to look at the 'market and I bought a lovely looking watch a Rolex, the man said ' you can tell by the crown printed on the back.  only about £12, but it certainly looked genuine! About four years later in Chinnor, we had a burglary and I lost my  'Rolex'. M bought a lovely bracelet of green stones and some lovely earrings. Also stolen from our house in Chinnor, but we were well insured and collected the'value' from the Insurance.
We returned to our room after our explorance in the market. Nic and I watched MU and Blackburn on the telly. Then as we were sleepy we turned in,
Monday 15th Aug.
We could sense that Nic was not keen to leave us, and he even thought of accompanying us on our next  stopover, in Phuket. But in the end he knew he had to get back to Sg. We all had a cooked breakfast and packed our gear ready to leave this wonderland,  for our next stopover, in Phuket.  We called into the Hertz office in Georgetown for Nic to explain why we were late, then went to the airport, which we reached in spite of the fact that there were no direction signs!
Our flight was not due until 12 noon but we bid Nic a tearful adieu and we eventually caught the THAI AIR flight to Phuket., An hour later in this lovely little half empty six across plane with beautiful Thai maidens , after a salad meal, we landed in Phuket and were met by the AMARI rep who told us to get a taxi for 450 baht.  One hour and 50 kms later we were deposited at KATA TANI.   The taximan wanted 850b but I settled for 500 only.  After settling in we had a walk round the complex.  Once again a resort in a beautiful small bay with swimming pools and palm trees and this time - crashing waves.
Thais are cheerful and polite but with their strange writing are not easy to understand.
We learn that 80% of the island is covered in rubber and coconut trees.  The side of the hotel facing the sea is fringed with palms around the pools, but before entering we had an hour or two in and around the pools - not sun bathing but sun hiding.  We went for a walk outside the hotel, towards the small village. Bought some postcards and met a family of M&D plus two grown up sons from London who had come out east to meet their son,just as we have done. They recommended that we do not spend too much time in BKK as it is very crowded ad stuffy, so we decided to take their advice.. We had a cool drink at a beachside cafe called the Shady, and slowly walked back to the hotel, taking care not to get too hot. Again we met our acquaintenances and stopped for a chat.
We decided to make up for our failure at the Italian restaurant in Penang by eating at the (not full) restaurant in the Kata Tani.  Again,, a very elegant restaurant, faultless service and a lovely meal of spagetti with tomato sauce and basil for M (and Minestrone soup)  and I had Zuppa fish fruit de mer  followed by a lovely meat dish of spag bol.for me. We had lost an hour by then and the excellent meal made us sleepy and we turned in at 9.30.
Tuesday we tried to change our accommodation to Chiang Mi, for couple of days with no luck.It had to be done through Trailfinders.  Never mind - perhaps we can go on a day trip. We took it easy for the morning and booked a trip to PHANG NGA for tomorrow and also to Phuket town at 2pm.  Read our books by the pool.  Had a light lunch in the hotel then caught the 2pm taxi for PKT. We were not surprised to stop on the way outside a jewellers shop, but no go!. Went into PKT shopping centre looking for souvenir. Spent a lot of money as we bought things, like a shirt for me and some trinkets like Thai lions etc. Went into a discount store and bought a conch shell (Still got it) Caught the hotel taxi back at 5pm and on the way back stopped at a super shopping complex but we were running short of bahts. Good job our bank cards were left in the hotel safe.  In the evening we had a Thai food and buffet meal, a band and some Thai dancing girls with their extravagant hand movements gave us a lovely cabaret.but we went a la carte and had a light meal of prawns and chips for M and tomato soup followed by beef stroganoff for me. Bought a skin carving for 850 baht (very beautiful) I hope to frame it when we get home.  Changed $150 for 3516- roughly £90. Not bad. No stamps in reception so Nic and Cathy will have to wait for their cards

Dad's Diary South East Asia trip 1994, Contd.  We leave Malacca bound for Kuantan.
A few trips round Malacca to get our bearings then we took the coast road towads Kuantan.  Mum's diary for now]   Arrived in Kuantan and went on to the beach where the seaside was very beautiful - we were looking for an hotel. eventually we reached the Hotel Kuantan ( It was a long drive that day and Nic had been fined $25 for speeding), so we had to take it easy. Very nice Chinese hotel, run by three brothers. We signed in and had a very nice meal before going to bed  On Wednesday Morning we walked through the jungle pass on the high rocks, overlooking the South China Sea. We saw  two more hotels being built and the Hyatt was being extended.  We walked on to the next bay and had a llovely meal of a Spanish omelette.  This part is called Kelok Chempedek.
We spoke to a mature English gentleman in the hotel who was very interesting as he knew the area very well.  The temperature was very pleasant but the sun was very hot, so we waited for a while until it was suitable for us to have a swim in the sea. I have never experienced the sea being so warm, but then, it was the South China Sea!.  We went back to the hotel and sat reading our books.  Later we had a very good dinner. I had a prawn cocktail and Spaghetti Milanese and Dad and Nic had  sweet and sour fish and prawns in a wonderful savoury sauce.
Next day, Nic found a lovely Chinese restaurant and we had fresh fruit juice and what they called a Steamboat.  This is a cooking pot over the gas, and you cook chicken pieces,prawns, squid, fish balls, noodles, vermicelli,  and spinach.. We needed some help with the sequence of cooking and  the boys enjoyed it very much. We also had Chilli crab, which was super.
Nic met a couple of guests who were from Norway, who were on the way south.. We spent two nights in Hotel Kuantan then packed up to move on to the east coast.  It was a pleasant drive in the Proton through acres of olive oil trees before stopping for a coffee and a p&p, then later found a typical small fishing village Kempang Capek Natasha (Mouth of the river). Fishing boats in the lagoon, huge coconut trees and glorious golden sands. We walked on the footbridge, but it was not complete, so we went to the turtle information centre. We watched videos of turtles laying eggs and the conservation going on in this area. The baby turtles are kept in large tanks for three days until they are large enough to be transferred into the sea to save them being eaten by the hundreds of kitehawks
We travelled on to Tanjong Jara, which is a holiday centre of Malaysian houses and bungalows.
We decide to hire one of these beautiful bungalows, which I thought would be ideal for a Princess, but Nic could not find her!!.  Everything was beautifully made, all the locks and door handles were polished brass and the doors were fantastic.  We move in and go for a wonderful swim in the bay. An eagle flies overhead, off out to sea to catch fish. We think there are a pair in the trees overhead.  In the evening I had a very nice meal of red mullet in ginger sauce, while Nic and Dad had the buffet. Later on they played snooker but there were no leather tips to the cues and the cues kept slipping. I went into the shop and bought some postcards to write home. The beds were wonderful, so soft and comfortable and we all slept well. but noisy birds woke us up at about 4am, but I soon went back to sleep. Dad goes for a walk on the beach and I woke early and had a shower. Then we watched the large kingfishers (perhaps Aussies) and other birds in the trees above our balcony. Soon it was time for breakfast and have you ever had curry for breakfast - yummy! We did and thoroughly enjoyed it.At 10.30 we packed and with great sorrow we left this beautiful bungalow in this beautiful bay, with all its lovely assets.  We will never forget Tanjong Jara.
FRIDAY - Dad is writing now.  Left at 11.30 heading south along roads which seem to have been recently re-surfaced. Except for the fact that the roads were only two carriageways, we made good time.  Everywhere we can see major Civil Engineering works. New roads, new blocks of flats, new houses and new village centres. Turn-offs to larger villages are expensively prepared and the whole area of PAHANG, of which Kuantan is the county town,seems to be preparing for a tourist boom.
Pulling themselves up from the old Malaysian banana leafed houses on poles to this luxury into the 21st century.  There is so much new toad work in the Kuantan area that it is obviously going to expand in the next few years (This is 1994).   From driving south we now turn off west past the huge oil and gas terminals at SIMPANG, all the time passing through forests of palmolive trees.
We turned off on route 3 towards MARAN, KEMALOK AND KERAK  We stopped at MENTACOP, or MENTACAP for an Indian Chicken Birani at a local restauran. Then we did a cIrcle round town and on to the road to BENTANG.  We were now driving into the hill country and we turned off to FRASERS HILL  a hill station which sadly is also facing large developments of condos
breaking the skyline. A pity, this because it is one of the last if the 'English looking cool areas in Malaysia. We booked in to the Merlin Hotel in super rooms. Had dinner in the hotel, M had three lamb chops, I had a sirloin steak and chips and Nic had noodles and chilli beef.
W e were all glad of a beer after spending nearly all day in the Proton.We went into the lounge where our eating neighbours were on the Karoake machine. After a while Nic plucked up courage to have a sing, and eager not to be out-done, I, too had a go but the words were too fast for me and I gave way to some local karoake specialists, who were really good. Later on the standard got better as two men sang in the local language and got many cheers.
Went to bed, tired out at about 12.30
Got up early and had a good (free) breakfastt we went for an uphill\downhill walk but left Nic to continue on as we returned to Bukit Fraser, with its beautiful tree and plant life, with exotic plant life- all in a well kept small village, again being developed in the centre. Went into the local Information office which had photos of the old Frasers Hill in the days of the Raj.  read some booklets and bought some postcards. Nic had continued with his walk and after about 1.5 hours he met us for coffee and we packed up and left, heading downhill. Because the road is steep and narrow there is a traffic light at each end to control what is in the road..

Dad's Diary Far Eastern trip 1994 part 2 Leaving Colombo airport Sri Lanka. We boarded the plane bound for Singapore at 10.15 and after a long flight, landed in Singapore at 4.50 where Nic met us . His friend Robert, driving a super old Merc brought us from Changi airport through beautiful wide roads to Weyhill Close. Nic shares the house with Thomas, who works in Foreign Exchange at UOB, and Salvat who also works in UOB as a Bank Dealer. We unpacked and settled in, then Nic asked us to go with him into the town Nic took us out to Newton, where everyone was eating. We had baby octopuses crispy fried, a whole fish, with rice, vegetables in sauce. Quite an experience! Nic then took us to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) to Orchard station and we walked around Orchard Road, where his latest project is, in the Mandarin Hotel, where he is designing the massive circular fish tank. We went into the hotel bar, where we had a drink and listened to a live band. They were playing some Tina Turner songs, with a good beat. Mainly old 70s-80s music with an energetic couple of singers. No2 band was not up to much and tried to play some Reggae. We took a taxi home, at 0130 and turned in. bWe crossed the Singapore river by the Cavenaugh bridge, had a drink at a bar and and walked around the old Colonial area, near the Padang, where whites used to play cricket. It is now used by all colours.out 01.30 and soon turned in. Friday, we were up and Nic took us to the UOB plaza. We arranged to see him later as he had some things to attend to, as he was going to spend a week with us. We crossed the Singapore river by the Cavenaugh bridge, had a drink at a bar and and walked around the old Colonial area, near the Padang, where whites used to play cricket. It is now used by all colours. we returned to the other side of the river, along the refurbished water front and had breakfast at the popular Deli France in the UOB building.and eventually re-crossed the river to walk in the Medina Park. We went into the shopping arcade as it was getting very hot, along Raffles Avenue to the Padang and back to the UOB Plaza where we met Nic again We lunched in the Chatterbox in the ground floor of the UOB, with all the usual curries,fried rice etc.in a hot pot. Nic gad some more work to finish,so we took a bus to Erskine Road and went into a large building like an indoor market hall, where hundreds of people were eating and drinking at tables - eats, drinks, stalls - very ethnic Chinese. We just had some mixed fruit drinks melons, papayas, cucumber carrott etc. After about an hour Nic returned and we took a taxi to the WTC (world Trading Centre). Up 14 floors to the cable cars and sailed high over the harbour and ships to Mount Faber where we were now in Sentosa (A playground area, being developed for future holiday experience,) Quite a massive development.with monorails, zoos, etc. Back to the WTC and caught a bus to Nic's local Queensbury shopping centre, quite small by singapore standards, with small shops - tailors, etc, where Nic go measured for two shirts and new trousers (Ready tomorrow), then taxi back to Weyhill. Washed and changed and we were off again in a taxi, this time to the world famous Raffles Hotel.(Asia's No.1 Hotel! We had a buffet in the Tiffin Roomthe walked around for a bit in the shopping area. Another bus ride back to Erskine road to Baba Louis's night club where we spent the rest of the day.

Shenington 2013.......real "drunk" flying!

The Wenman, School Outing

The Wenman, School Outing, a photo by Archive of Lord Williams's School, the OTA , Thame on Flickr.

Cathy Nina and Christine

Then we headed off down south and to Leavesden Studios near Watford; Hogwarts and Potters, broomsticks and Watsonians. I took about 300 pictures so here are a few. This is simply a must whether you like the movies or not, just awesome.

And the mill;

We so much loved the WMSP, we took advantage of the pay one price and get two entries and went back, enjoying the animals closer up (we bought a box of pellets) and then on to Bridgnorth to visit Daniel's Mill.

Then we scooted back across the border into Wales to "Go Ape" in the Forest of Dean. Great fun even for us oldies. We stopped at the Bakers in Ross-On-Wye and picked up some sandwiches and buns and had a picnic afterwards besides the lake. Then back to Droitwich for a spot of fishing on our personal still water fishery;