Hitting the Road...YAY!

We're off to snowy Ireland tomorrow and I can't wait. It's Tom's family's turn to enjoy our company over the holiday season, but the timing is a bit shorter than usual due to my new work schedule.

We're also heading over to France for a quick wedding planning session. I am sure after a few days there we'll have a better idea of what we'll be experiencing in May.

2011 is shapping up to be a busy year for us...with a few trips already planned and the possibility of a new blog on its way!

Back to it

A year and a half really does fly by. My return to Canada happened in September of 2009. I yet again chose September 11th to I departed.

After a year in Ottawa, and a few more trips together to Florida (Miami to Key West) in April 2010 and Malta in Summer 2010, and of course a number out west (one with Tom at Christmas), we (I) moved to Toronto.

Since the adventures of 2008/09, Tom has been back in Iraq trying to make up monetarily for our travels, and I have been busily working away as well (though never contributing like he can). So after another year on the Hill, it was time, I figured, to try something new, hence the move to Toronto. Despite the fact that many remember me saying that I would never live in Toronto, here I am, with Tom soon to join me at the beginning of December.

Other news is that we are planning a wedding. We will most likely have a civil service in Toronto as soon as Tom arrives back. Our ceremony, of course, has to be an adventure; it is after all us. So, despite the difficulties we knew we'd encounter, Tom and I will be getting married in the south-western region of France on May 21st, 2011.

We took many regions into consideration, including our own two countries and many in the Carribean, but settled on the French wine region, and a town called Sainte-Emilion. I thought this the perfect time, therefore, to start writing about our travels again. As Tom will shortly return, and therefore our planning will really commence, as will our return to short trips (one is being considered currently for New York City in January, as Tom didn't get to join me when I headed there this past May) and perhaps a few comments about our new city, including it's food, events, etc. Really, it's time for me to start writing again, and now off the Hill, I have more time to do just that.

Back in Ireland

Without internet in the house it has been difficult to update. Sorry that the stories of our week in Istanbul and short break to Edinburgh. We did have a great time despite my injured wrist, which is still giving me grief.

After a week back in Belfast, we took off again, but this time by car. In order to get out of town to celebrate my birthday in quiet we travelled four hours across the country to the West Coast and Achill Island.

We were lucky with the weather; despite the wind, we had sun everyday. Lots of hiking, enjoying the local Republican pub, reading and viewing he historical sites around. Champagne on the beach was how we celebrated the big day.

Here are a few shots of what we have been up to since arriving back.

1. Birthday Champagne
2. Pointing to Canada
3. Tent and Monte
4. Up the Mornes
5. Tommy and two of the brothers

Recent Photos of Trips taken during May and June

I know they are not from Chaing Mai, but here are a few of our recent travels and I promise more to come. We don't have internet at the house in Belfast, so it has been tough updating even though I do have plenty to say about things we have seen and done.

'İstanbul was Constantinople...'

Vibrant ıs a good way to describe Turkey's biggest city. A total of 16 Million call ıt home, but really the chaos is organized and quite civilized.

So far we've watched a very poorly played UEFA Cup game at a small bar off İstiklal Caddesi, fınally enjoyed our first Hammam experience (or I should say Turkısh Bath), seen the two most beautiful mosques Aya Sofiya and the Blue Mosque, as well as the Topkapı Palace and generally enjoyed thıs fabulous city.

Our plans for tomorrow include a boat trip down the Bosphorus and another trip into the Grand Baazar to fınally puchase a nargıla, something we have been talkıng about doıng since Morocco. We'll be finishing the trip off with dinner at the 360 restaurant, reputed not only for its Modern Turkish food, but all its view of the Old City.

Have to say we are pleased wıth the length of time we planned for this trip and are really having a great time, I will write more once we are back to the land of Engish keyboards!

Back on the Road

I really must put up some of the pictures of the remainder of our time in Thailand. Note to self.

After 10 days in Belfast we are heading out again. It was very nice to cook meals, clean and really all of the stuff you get to do at home, but we said we would get to Turkey, so off we go. We'll be in Istanbul by this time tomorrow. Just a week this time, but on our way home the plan is to stop over in Edinburgh for a long weekend. We're just in time for sporting events galore. Not only does the UEFA Cup take place tomorrow in Istanbul, but the last of the Seven's Rugby season finishes up in Edinburgh on the last weekend in May.

We'll not be heading to the game tomorrow, but we've got tickets for the 30th. After watching the Hong Kong matches in KL, we're looking forward to some live rugby.

Plans for the week? Well, I think we are ready to hit the tourist track again. Smaller bags are packed and we're already looking forward to warmer weather and less rain. I will be sure to update over the next little while.

Flight of the Gibbon

Voted the number one attraction in Chiang Mai by visitors (or at least that is what they say on their poster) is the Flight of the Gibbon. Tom and I, yesterday, got to pretend that we were those gibbons, swinging freely through the trees.

An eleven o'clock pick-up had us up in the much cooler tropical forest 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai. Harnessed up and helmeted, we headed for the treetops. With 15 stations including zip-lines, rope bridges and abseils, New Zealand designed course (originally set up for scientists) took us well into the afternoon to complete.

It was totally worth the approximately fifty Canadian dollars we spent on it. Zooming through the trees from platform to platform supervised by friendly and very safety aware Thai staff was amazing. The pictures will come as soon as well get back to Belfast (they will not include the shots that Tom took from below as I abseiled down).

After a lovely Thai lunch (included in the price), which we enjoyed with a hoard of wasps, we took a short journey up the road to a waterfall. Tom and I took off on the steep climb to the top. Half way up the torrential rains started. We did manage to get down after 30 minutes in a small covered rest spot. It was a great day that left us tired and in bed by nine.