The year 2014 was a mixture of sailing and travelling overland, mostly the latter.
A great sailing trip came to an end in March in Phuket Thailand. After joining an Amel Super Maramu in New Zealand in April 2013 I sailed to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, PNG, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and eventually Thailand.
January saw me in Thailand having taken a Christmas break from the boat. I saw a friend in Pattaya and then travelled to Ayutthaya, Chang Mai, Chang Rai and then returned to Langkawi.
The remainder of January and February saw me boat sitting in Kuah, Langkawi, as the boat owners went travelling overland through south east Asia. Days of battery checks, anchor checks, running the generator, topping up the fuel, took me to the end of February.
We left Kuah and sail toward Thailand and entered Phuket in Ao Chalong. After formalties and a few days relaxing I decided that my trip had come to an end, it was time to say goodbye to the boat that had been my home for nearly 11 months.
I decided as I was already in Asia to have a break from boats and travel overland through south east Asia.
My highlights included watching the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at Sepang –
Visiting northern Thailand –
The Golden Triangle where Thailand meets Laos and Burma –
The original capital of Thailand Ayutthaya –
Kayaking around Pha Nga Bay in Phuket –
Beaches of Phuket –
Going back to Labuan Bajo and more diving in Komodo National Park –
Halong Bay, Vietnam –
Boat rides and waterways of Ninh Binh –
Vietnams various cave systems –
Mekong Delta –
Cracking off an AK47 at the Chu Chi tunnels –
A second visit to the amazing Angkor Wat temples ar Siem Reap, Cambodia –
Trekking in Kalaw, Burma –
The temples of Bagan –
Always plenty of food to be had, think this little lot cost me about 2 pounds tops !! –
I finished up back at my friends house in Pattaya and caught up with some friends I had met before, always good to return somewhere where you have connections.
2014 was coming to an end and I came after 20 months away. It had been a great year and I strongly recommend south east Asia as a great place to explore.