New Year was spent in Krabi under the cliffs of Rai Le Bay, a mecca for free rock climbers, with Roz and Kev from Santana.
Keith celebrated his birthday here with Roz and Kev from Santana
We stopped off at Koh Hong on our way to Phuket – we’d enjoyed it so much last year!
Thailand is certainly a great cruising ground.
Australia Day! Keith did it proud…
… and the Australian’s gathered at Nai Yang for a BBQ and Beach Cricket.
Then we headed north to Koh Phayam and the Similan and Surin Islands – a quiet time more-or-less on our own this year.
In Boat Lagoon having the forestay replaced and the furler repaired by Rolly Tasker’s.
Thankfully we managed to get a pilot to take us back out – without running aground!
With John and Irina from Footloose and Roz and Kev from Santana for a final dinner before we all headed in different directions.
Poco Andante is sold! We ‘dressed overall’ with the flags from all 47 countries we have visited on board Poco Andante – a sad day.
Gill and Aidan from Dunwurkin…
… they kindly let us load our 12 years of accumulated ‘stuff’ onto their boat at Rebak Marina!
They sailed over to Telaga Harbour on Langkawi Island where we arranged this local truck to collect our worldly possessions…
Our new temporary ‘home’ – a beautiful 2-bedroom apartment in Kuah, Langkawi…
The main bedroom (with en suite bathroom)…
The kitchen/dining area…
… and the main attraction – the view from our balcony!
We have been trying the restaurants on Langkawi with Lorraine and Graham of Lorrigray II.
Graham kindly took this photo of us in the pool at our apartment – don’t we look happy and relaxed!
We also had Michelle, Bernie, Lola and Jana from Momo come to stay with us, which was fun.
We spent about a week in KL and Keith visited the Bird Park…
The Bird Park in KL…
The Bird Park in KL…
The Bird Park in KL…
The Bird Park in KL…
The Bird Park in KL…
The Bird Park in KL.
And we celebrated Christine’s birthday at a lovely French restaurant ‘Rendez-Vous’…
Happy Birthday!
We decide to travel overland back to the UK and take the Trans-Siberian Railway.
We go to KL to apply for our Russian Visas.
While waiting for the Russian Visa, we return to Langkawi to pack our stuff for shipping to the UK.
Packing up in Langkawi…
Our travel suitcases for the 2-month trip back to the UK
Packing up in Langkawi…
Packing up in Langkawi…
Success! We get our Russian Visas…
Success! We get our Russian Visas…
And visit the Chinese Visa Office in KL…
And visit the Chinese Visa Office in KL…
And get our Chinese Visas!
And get our Chinese Visas!
Keith and Christine about to depart Langkawi for Beijing via Kuala Lumpur.
At the airport in KL – writing up our blog for ‘Life After Cruising’.
On board Air Asia flight from KL to Beijing – going East so we can cross our path to complete our circumnavigation overland as we head West back to the UK.
