An early start for all (though not for a lot of the relatives who ahve been up all night preparing and the food for the event) and the sun is shining. Events such as these always have a meaning in Thai culture and things happening during the day, before and ...

่เรียกขวัญ is a cultural ceremony that is performed in the NE of Thailand before a wedding. Thai people there believe that a marriage can be a worrying event for some people and there is a chance that the bride or groom's spirit may be wandering in the preceeding days. This ...

After an hour or so I hear extremely loud music very close so decide to get up. Damm has music on and it's playing through a speaker the size of something that Lemmy & Co would have. A few of their relatives are there and they're drinking beer, Thai whiskey and ...

Jane's there to meet me along with her brother Damm and two of her sisters' children, Lom and Am. I thought Buriram was closer to Surin than this but we stop for lunch by the reservoir and have somtam and some chicken - delicious! Afterwards it's straight to Jane's mothers' house and ...

Taxi from the hotel to Don Mueang and at security I get the, "Cant take that on board!" This is, of course (as always), referring to the CO2 cylinder for my lifejacket. "Yes I can, it's exactly the same as the ones in the aircrafts lifejackets." "No you can't!" "Yes I can!" (Escalates to ...

It was a long wait at Cairo and another 5.5 hour wait at Mumbai but we get into Suvarnhabumi Airport pretty much on time. I was expecting it to be busy but have neve seen an immigration line like this, anywhere. It's a free-for-all for the first 20-30 metres with ...

We land at Cairo after a pleasant 1-hour flight and after retrieving my bag go through to the main airport entrance. I go to the EgyptAir desk and explain the situation. "There are no storage facilities for bags at this airport !" "But I was told....!" "Sorry sir!" "So I have to sit ...

I get two hours kip before multiple alarm clocks sound. My lift arrives early (at 03.45) so we get to Hurghada airport in good time. No sign of the other 3 so good job I set an alarm. I do hope they don't run into any gay dwarfs as the ...

Before the agent comes out to us again we get a call saying we have been cleared and can now come into the marina. The rib comes out to guide us again and this time we ARE allowed to stay. The marina manager, etc., are there to meet us and come on ...

Tim calls the agent in Hurghada and is told that he will be there to meet us and is made aware of flights booked. We're told that shouldn't be a problem and all, at this stage, is looking good.