We headed off on an overnight tour to Chiew Larn lake on the other side of the national park
Then it was back to Khao Sok village for our last few days in Thailand 😭
Author: Niamh Broderick
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Lake life
Our accommodation – definitely the most ramshackle option on the lake . . . But nice views Wild elephants! Seen through my binoculars We visited the Coral Cave named after its coral like stalagmites and stalactites Jack’s birthday was celebrated in style Jack was visited by monkeys Including a mother and baby combo Ramen was unexpected but delicious. I had green curry ramen! Neng, contemplating the local street food stall -
More adventures in Thailand
The hotel buffet in Bangkok was insane Then we were off to Krabi for one night before heading to Koh Lanta
A strangler fig in the process of smothering another tree (the pine leaves at the top!). The plant life is incredible here 
Ate loads of street food and enjoyed a drone show in Krabi town 
We headed to the pier the next morning to catch our boat to Koh Lanta
We’ve got our own little cabin at Lanta Pearl Beach Resort, with hammock and deck chairs 
The mango shake came with a spoon 
This little guy was in the bathroom at one of our restaurants 
Jack fulfilled another dream (fried rice served inside a pineapple) at the sunset beach bar 
We went to Time for Lime cooking class 
The profits go to the adjoining animal welfare centre – they let some dogs in during the day to say hi and get used to people! This is Primrose 
The fruits of our labours 
One of the dogs was absolutely determined to eat raw curry paste I didn’t do laundry until too late so am spending today in a sarong by the pool waiting for my clothes 😂
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Bangkok pt. ii (we are safe)
We’ve had an eventful day, with one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Bangkok in years. We felt nothing (really! we’re still analysing our day to figure it out but we didn’t notice a thing) and are completely safe
Our view of Wat Arun from across the river 
It’s so hot here that cats sleep belly up 
The Grand Palace was amazing for sheer opulence, as well as an excellent textile museum
Secret kisses are as old as time apparently 
Potentially taken during the earthquake we didn’t feel The earthquake meant everyone working in a high rise was sent home for the day, which resulted in the worst traffic Bangkok has ever seen. It took us an hour to travel a distance we could have walked in 15 minutes.
In the taxi we knew we had missed the bag drop time for our flight, so we booked a new one for the next day and a hotel . . . And then got an email that our flight was delayed so we could have made it anyway 🫠 oh well, we’ll just go tomorrow
We were at the pool by then tbh 
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Monastery trip
Before heading to Koyasan for our stay at a monastery, we checked out Kyoto castle
Some lovely cherry blossom already starting to show, and lots of little birds drinking from the flowers 
We were craving Italian food so after careful research we picked a place that didn’t seem to only do ketchup on pasta. They quizzed us when we arrived on whether we knew it was Italian so clearly have had some confusion in the past 😂
The food was delicious and they even had nice wine Then we started our journey to Koyasan, the sacred mountain
We had to get two trains to start with 
Then a “cable car” which was actually a funicular (cable cars are called ropeways here) 
And then from this station at 827m we got a bus along a very windy road to the town which has over 100 monasteries 
At the top of the mountain everything was shrouded in clouds which made the temples even more magical 
Lunch 
Our traditional Japanese accommodation with paper walls and a table with a heater underneath 
Jack was pleased with the vegetarian feast we were served for dinner 
After dinner we walked around the cemetery 
Our futon beds were ready for an early night before 6am prayers the next day 
The cemetery had even more to see in the daytime, including the temple where the founding monk is supposedly still meditating since the year 859, and this pyramid of mini buddhas 
You can just about see Osaka in the distance . . . Which was our next destination 
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More Tokyo
Brush your teeth or this surfing bear will be upset 
Sesame noodle soup was amazing 
Jack found more of his favourite vending machines 
My first glimpse of blossoms 
We visited the greenhouse in Shinjuku Gyoen national gardens 
An immense staghorn fern 
I think I was looking for Jack to get him to come over for a picture 
Crochet clothing for the statues. Fair enough as it’s snowed both days so far! 
The attendant was explaining how this dog’s cheeks are like a mochi. 10/10 they were so squishy 
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Queenstown to Oamaru
Jack with fantail falls 
Excellent lenticular cloud over Queenstown 
View from the wineries cycle 
Jack being infuriatingly a lot fitter than Kelly and I was always in front and waiting a lot After Queenstown we took a trip to the dark sky reserve further north at Lake Poaka. We had a perfectly clear night with no moon – the milky way was indescribable, so amazing! No pictures of the stars cause they all look crap in comparison to the real thing, but the campsite was excellent
From Lake Poaka we went to Oamaru specifically to see the little blue penguin colony (https://www.penguins.co.nz/) where you can watch their arrival home after a day of fishing. So cute and definitely worth the trip to Kelly’s least favourite town in NZ 😂
Jack coincidentally suggested we get coffee in Kurow and then took me to see this sign 😂 
Oamaru has a cute Victorian district 
Moments before disaster 
So many cormorants on this disused pier 
Getting excited 
Getting more excited 
Unbothered seal which slept through the entire penguin arrival including announcements over loudspeakers 😂 
No filming during the arrival but these penguins were first to arrive before dusk. Bonus baby seal cub included! -
Wellington and the start of the South Island
Our first stop in Wellington was Zealandia which is a fenced off predator-free reserve with loads of native birds
A North Island robin was extremely inquisitive 
Jack was mobbed by baby quail 
And had a bizarre feijoa custard sour 
Next day on the ferry I was paranoid about being sick . . . So stayed outside in 80mph winds 
Almost broke the window to get to these dogs on the ferry We arrived at Abel Tasman last night in the dark and put our tent up in the rain in a record 20 minutes flat! Then today did a walk – tomorrow is kayaking!
We saw quite a few weka! 
White faced heron -
Niamh’s pictorial backlog
I’ve been letting Jack do all the talking on the blog, but here are a few of my favourites from the last few days. Today we’re off to Whanganui, which we have recently learned is pronounced “Fanganui” (wh = f), and then Martinborough where our plan was to do a cycling tour of vineyards. However there was a nasty accident there just a few days ago involving some tourists so we will see how it feels.
Butter chicken pie! 
Stuffed kiwi in a really cute town museum in Pirongia 
Our camping equipment from rent-a-tent! Nicely organised, everything we need 
Stunning sunsets 
Impressive teaspoon collection at the blueberry farm 
A lot of dead birds near a vent 😦 
Jack soaking in the free thermal pool in the park 
Tongariro Crossing was so good but very hard. I borrowed hiking poles from Kelly’s mom and I am a massive fan!! My knees are a lot happier today than they should be. 
Lava tube 
The flowers brought me so much joy on the crossing, so cute! 
Soaking in the room’s private mineral pool to ease tired muscles 
MUSSEL MANIA -
Auckland/Red Beach
We’re staying until Tuesday with Kelly’s mom in Red Beach about an hour outside Auckland – a great place to recover from jet lag and start to get to know New Zealand!
Chip and dip culture here is excellent – kiwi onion, kumaru crisps, basil pesto dip and rosemary and thyme crisps 😋 
My tea came on a tea warmer which was definitely unnecessary, it’s HOT here 
Pūkeko – the only native bird we’ve got a picture of, but we’ve seen parrots and a couple of swamp harriers too! 
Volcanic views from Shakespear nature reserve. 
Jack got this bucket hat in Singapore airport with his last S$20 
Wine tasting on Waiheke island 
Our view for lunch. Lunch was 327 on Waiheke and it was AMAZING. 
Batch vineyard – highest point on Waiheke island with lovely views and less lovely wines. If you zoom in on the centre of the picture you can just about make out Auckland
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Singapore pt ii and the trip to New Zealand – Niamh
We did two more zoos – Bird Paradise and Night Safari. I didn’t take any pictures at Night Safari but it was so great to see animals awake and active during their natural hours, including civets!
Bird Paradise well worth it 
We headed to the old botanic gardens for our last day in Singapore, leaving the bags at the hotel until the afternoon.
We both loved half boiled eggs from Toastbox 
Old botanic gardens had some amazing specimens 
And the national orchid collection was incredible!! 
Then off to Changi Airport for our flight to New Zealand.
Best airport meal ever 
Then met up with Kelly on the plane before heading to Auckland and Kelly’s mum’s house!
Jack and Niamh's Sabbatical Adventures 