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An overambitious itinerary and limited time made the planning of this trip a logistic nightmare both for us and our long-suffering travel agent. After booking we suffered 23 amendments to itinerary through various airline changes, political unrest and the terrorist bomb in Bali! However, once we were underway, it all went amazingly smoothly, and we had the 'Holiday of a Lifetime'! We travelled
We spent
We drank
These are just a few of our hundreds of photographs:
For our silver wedding we had a plan And took our ideas down to Trips A five week period the journey would span They had plenty of excellent tips This was to be no average tour We both wanted plenty to see Canada, Chile and so much more The trip of a lifetime for me Just as we thought it was all arranged And everything going to plan Several flights then suddenly changed Back to John at Trips we ran Lots of e-mails and phone calls John had to make To rearrange tours and hotels An extra day's holiday we had to take Under Bali's magical spells Then Bali was bombed it was not to be More tours and hotels to be moved John worked so hard it was plain to see His worth he certainly proved I wanted to see a polar bear In Churchill on Hudson Bay Although it was proving to be rather dear They included a husky sleigh In Peru the plan was the Nazca lines I'd read all about them before On to Chile, well known for its excellent wines 'Let's just try a little bit more' On Easter Island the giant heads Were another strange idea Stone sculptures painted in browns and reds They really are rather queer In Sydney the bridge we thought we would climb An experience totally awesome Some friends we met, but so little time Dining out in a frindly foursome Papua New Guinea we had to include The jungle was steamy and wet Bright feathers but otherwise almost nude The Huli Wigmen posed no threat From Ambua Lodge we wanted to trek But daywalks were taken instead At the end of the hikes I felt quite a wreck My blisters were sore and bled A short stop in Cairns to wash all our stuff It really wasn't too soon A bit of free time, the decision was tough We chose to go up in a balloon Still plenty to see, no need to feel blue To Darwin, the top end, we'd go To see ancient drawings in Kakadu Aboriginal pride would glow A plane was hired to take us aloft We really do like to fly Over the escarpment gently we waft So spectacular from the sky Borobodur cancelled, so what do we do? We can't just lie on the beach To Kuala Lumpur and Singapore too These places are not out of reach It's all very well to live life to the max It's an adventure, that's for sure But we wanted to have some time to relax At the end of such a big tour In Pangkor we spent the last few nights Bright skies and golden sand To chill out after twentyfive flights And walk by the sea hand in hand I'm ready and packed, no more room in my case It's the end of our holiday Enjoyable memories from each little place I really would much rather stay A once-in-a-lifetime, a marvellous treat A very well organised tour Trips' customer service you couldn't beat We're both left feeling in awe Another last thank-you I wanted to add For all the time John spend on this Now it's over I'm sure he feels rather glad That our holiday was pure bliss! |
Churchill - a cold and forbidding place miles from anywhere
We explored the surrounding area in 'Tundra Buggies' which curious polar bears would investigate
For a different perspective, we took a helicopter flight over the tundra
The Eskimo Museum
Dog sledding
The dogs are straining at the reins and eager to go
On a night trip we had the privilege of encountering a polar bear up close and personal - less than two feet from my face!
The magnificent Northern Lights also made an appearance that night
Toronto: Hippo Tours - the amphibious bus that also drives on water
The mysterious Nazca Lines - created two thousand years ago and only visible from the air. Did the ancient peoples have the knowledge of flight?
DO NOT take this flight if you suffer from motion sickness!!!!
Dune buggy at Ica - extremely adventurous drive over steep dunes
David having a go at sand boarding. Just getting to the top of the hill was extremely hard work!
Wildlife cruise around the Ballestas Islands - billed as a 'mini-Galapagos'. Sea lions in the water.
Humbolt penguins - unusual visitors this far north.
Concha Y Toro vinyard outside Santiago
David sampling the finished product
Who knows who made them, when or why?
There are 1013 statues scattered all over the island
Orongo ceremonial village
Cultural show
1000 people - the whole town and most of the surrounding area - had turned out to see the aeroplane land at Tari. 
Ambua Lodge - incongruous luxury amongst primitive surroundings
The road and pedestrian bridges were 'interesting' experiences
Peter and Helen
Most of the Huli tribe are still dressed in traditonal headdress and clothes
We were honoured guests in a local home.
Still with bones through his nose
Proudly displaying his 'wig'.
The widows
The plane that took us to Mount Hagen
Haus Poroman - our hotel in Mount Hagen
Stilt village on the outskirts of Port Moresby
Sydney - the harbour bridge climb
Meeting old friends Jenny and David for dinner
Hot-air-ballooning over the Atherton Tablelands outside Cairns
Yellow Waters cruise in Kakadu National Park
Ancient Aborigine rock art at Nourlangie Rock
Scenic flight over Arnhem Escarpment
Termite mound
Christmas is coming! Time for some retail therapy
Kuala Lumpur
The luxury resort of Pangkor Laut off the west coast of Malaysia
Celebrating our Silver Wedding
