So.. Mhairi for those of you reading who don’t know it, used to play quite a lot of tennis. In fact until she was 21, playing for Scotland and Britain quite a bit – all over the world (I’m hoping to see her old passport at some stage!). Anyway, I guess the tennis community in Scotland at that level is kinda small, and Mhairi was coached by the Scottish national coach (a lady called Judy Murray). Now Judy has a son (well two), who Mhairi used to train with – one of whom is Andy Murray.

After arriving in Bangkok, and starting the process of getting our visa for Vietnam, Mhairi saw on a website that Andy was playing here in Bangkok in the Thailand Open. A few text messages later, and we’d got tickets to see him play his second round match (players get a certain amount of free tickets for family + friends).

He won.

So we put off leaving for another day – to watch him play the quarter finals (against the 40th ranked player in the world – or so)

He won.. again.

So we put it off for another day to watch him play the semi finals against the Thailand Champion Paradorn Srichaphan.

This time we came better prepared for the match.. as I suggested we get a Scottish flag (Mhairi has a towel flag – but it’s a little small). So we walked down Khaosan and popped into a few of the tailor shops, and we finally found a place that would make one for us!

I also had a very quick run around the Vianmek Palace (made out of teak wood). It was a really pretty place – and still decked out with all the original furniture.. the Thai monarchy does know how to live!

Anyway.. Andy won.. again. The atmosphere was electric as he was playing the Thai champ..

I dunno if he could hear our shouts, but still.. I guess it might make a small difference knowing there are a few friendly faces out there! (next pic of Mhairi, Andy and I)

So, now we have one more match to watch. The Final, against Roger Federer. Should be fun! And then it’ll be off to Cambodia.. (oh, and I put a 5.5meg 30 sec video of a tuk tuk ride (not our scariest yet!) up here)

Oh, my Irish SIM seems to be working again (though I can only use web text) +353 86 3607332

And, YAY! Glynn has booked to come climbing in Thailand. Life is good.

After dropping the car off at 08:00, and getting a lift to the airport with Jen (a lovely ozzie friend of Gavins (Mhairi’s brother who was here for 5 months)) it was time to fly to Hong Kong. Watching Sin City, Warm Springs (pretty ok film) and The Transporter (fairly awful) made the flight pass reasonably quickly!. Upon arrival found I could check in for my next flight, 18 hours early. Which was handy, met a bloke called Brian from Tallaght (North Dublin) and had a pint with him before he got his flight. Then it was time to curl up on 3 seats for the night.

So up at 6am and took a bus into Kowloon. It really is one massive skyscraper this place..

Went straight to catch a boat across to Hong Kong island, and to have a look at the Golden Bauhinia Square and the flag raising ceremony. The square marks the return of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.

Then I walked through Hong Kong park (really stiflingly hot even at 8am!). One of the things you really notice is that there are hundreds of people all over the place – in all the parks, quayside, etc. exercising. Tai Chi? who knows – but they really are all over the place.

After that I took the funicular railway up to the top of Victoria Hill to look out over the city, and had a nice 3km walk around up there. This next pic is of an India Rubber tree. The strands hanging down are actually roots, which take moisture and nutrients from the air. Once they hit the ground they continue being rootish, but also begin to hold the tree up as well.

Then got the plane to Bangkok, taxi to Khaosan road, and met Mhairi, as arranged, on the street corner. For once I was the late one ;) Mind you, hats off to Mhairi (who hasn’t written it up yet I don’t think), but while my taxi fare was 300Baht (6 Euro), she made it into town from the airport (train->bus) for 7Baht (14 cents). Did take 2 hours or so… but an interesting adventure for sure.

Before leaving Perth had a quick look around the bell tower they have. St. Martins church

Lend me a farthing say the bells of St. Martins

were going to melt their bells down and remake them, as they were too heavy for their bell tower and it was all going to fall down (eventually). Perth city council said “hold on a minute” (or something like that) and offered to take the bells, and give them the metal they needed.

End result was that St. Martins got what they wanted, and Perth got a nice set of tubular bells.

Ringing the bells is quite an art, takes about 3 months training to do it properly.

So just a few pics from the whitsundays which were only developed the other day… as it was an underwater camera. They came out kinda blue! but the lady in the shop told Mhairi that they were some of the best she’d seen off a cheapy disposable camera.. who knows – Anyway here they are..

Yesterday had a proper wander around Freemantle, really is a nice place. Mostly eating ice-creams and lazing on the grass reading books.. then back via Kings Park – where I had a wander through the botanical gardens and a short walk.. and Mhairi went off on a run. She managed to find ‘Jacobs ladder’ a staircase (100 odd steps or something). So she did it 12 times or something.. apparently there were other nutters doing it too ;) hehehe… No it’s all good, but I’ve been enjoying (Quite a lot) being lazy the last few days, I think Asia will be hectic enough.

I (stupidly) forgot to sort out my jabs before leaving NZ.. I think I’m pretty up to date on them all though typhoid is coming to the end of its life (I got jabs for vietnam 3 years ago – or 4 perhaps.. still, hopefully twill all be ok.

So one day left before flying to Hong Kong. I was going to try to have a couple of days there but it didn’t quite work out that way. Now I get in at 8pm and leave at 2pm the following day, so will try to check bags through and go for a wander around town. Then meet Mhairi again in Bangkok on Wednesday. Somewhere on the Khao San road most likely!

So thanks (big thanks) to Domhnall for having us to stay – it was magic getting to climb, and just being able to have the run of his place.. wonder where (and when) the next time I’ll see him!