Check Out Our Travel Blogs…
This Travel Diary is a work in progress…. Newest to Oldest.
Feb 2016 to Now
Waiting for a safe world.
Well not quite… up until April 2020 we were taking care of Joann’s dad, Joe. It’s been a wild ride giving him a fabulous last 5 years. He passed on April 2nd, 2020 at 98 years. Went quickly and never really suffered the full effect of the Covid lockdown.
We’ve been in a holding pattern waiting for the Vaccine. Now we are both double Vaxed and double Boostered so we finally have plans to head back to SE Asia the end of October 2022. Not to say living in good ol’ Victoria has in any way, been a hardship, oh contraire.
The Moss Lady pictured, is in the 200 acre park directly in front of our place… Beacon Hill Park
May-June – 2015
Morocco for a month
Because we came home from Asia early this year, we’ve had terribly itchy feet. So we’re going to Morocco for a month.
As usual, we are self catering this tour… TripAdvisor – Booking.com – AirBnB – Lonely Planet… are our research and booking resources.
As usual, we are self catering this tour… TripAdvisor – Booking.com – AirBnB – Lonely Planet… are our research and booking resources.
October 2014 – Febrary 2015
Thailand… Chiang Mai and Siboya
Simple winter in South East Asia this year… 2 months in Chiang Mai and 1 month on Siboya.
November 2013 – March 2014
Thailand – Cambodia – Bali – Sulawesi – Borneo
November departure… we plan chill in Chiang Mai for a month then head for Cambodia for Christmas. After that it’s back to Siboya, then Bali for 3 weeks before heading up to Bunaken Island for some of the best snorkeling anywhere. (last here in 1996) Finally we went back to Kuching, Borneo for 10 days.
November 2012 – March 2013
Thailand and Borneo
November departure… we plan to see more of northern Thailand, chill on Siboya, then circle tour Borneo.
Chiang Mai > Northenr Thailand > Balikpapan > Derawan Island > Sabah > Brunei > Sarawak
November 2011 – March 2012
Thailand – Laos – Myanmar
November departure… we plan to do a ‘new’ tour of Thailand, discovering small towns. We’re also doing a quick side trip to Cambodia for Christmas. Then Siboya and finally hook-up with friends to do a ‘Main Events Tour’ of Laos.
Bangkok > Chiang Mai > Siboya > Vientiane > Luang Prabang > Yangon > Mandalay > Bagan > Inle Lake > Home
May-June 2011
Paris – Morocco – Loire Valley
How about 8 weeks in Paris with a 3 week side trip to Morocco.
November 2010 – April 2011
Thailand – Cambodia – Laos
November departure… we plan to do a ‘new’ tour of Thailand, discovering small towns. We’re also doing a quick side trip to Cambodia for Christmas. Then Siboya and finally hook-up with friends to do a ‘Main Events Tour’ of Laos.
Bangkok > Koh Chang (west) > Siboya > Vientiane > Vang Vieng > Phonsavan > Luang Prabang
November 2009 – April 2010
Thailand – Laos – Bali
November departure… we are enjoying going Business Class this year. Champagne and flat beds… Oh yes!
Chiang Mai > Sukothai > Vientiane > Siboya Bungalows > Bali
November-December 2008
Cambodia – Vietnam – Siboya
October departure… transit Kuala Lumpur before arriving in Siem Reap.
Siem Reap > Phnom Penh > Saigon > Nha Trang > Saigon > Siboya Bungalows.
November 2007 – January 2008
Winter at Siboya Bungalows
The trek doesn’t get any easier. It took a long 44 hours getting home to Thailand. So nice to be back.
September-October 2007
South Africa Tour
On October 13th we flew to Amsterdam for a 3 night mustering en route to Cape Town, South Africa. Glenn had enticed us with a gift of a safari in the Sabi Sands private game reserve adjacent to Kruger Nation Park.
November-2006 – March 2007
Cambodia…Thailand…Bali…Borneo
Joann has retired… yes I said Retired.
So here we go for the winter…
In November we headed off to Asia again. Victoria > Bangkok > Siem Reap > Phnom Penh > Sihanoukvile > Phanom Penh > Bangkok > Trang > Krabi > Phuket > Kuala Lumpur > Bali > Nusa Lembongan > Ubud > Kuching > Singapore > Victoria… doing nothing on Siboya is still the best.
So here we go for the winter…
In November we headed off to Asia again. Victoria > Bangkok > Siem Reap > Phnom Penh > Sihanoukvile > Phanom Penh > Bangkok > Trang > Krabi > Phuket > Kuala Lumpur > Bali > Nusa Lembongan > Ubud > Kuching > Singapore > Victoria… doing nothing on Siboya is still the best.
September – 2006
Road Trip… Georgia to Victoria
So… we bought a 2005 Honda Element on eBay in Blairsville, Georgia and took 3 weeks to drive home.
January-February – 2005
R&R at Siboya Bungalows
I had a total replacement of my left knee in Jul’04… titanium and plastic; so back to Siboya Bungalows for a wee bit of R&R. We flew to Singapore, up to Krabi for 4 weeks; then back to Singapore overnight on the way home!
April – June 2004
Bali and Kuching, Borneo
This year we flew to Singapore then on to Bali for 4 weeks > back to Singapore > overland to Johor Bahru airport > then over to Sarawak (Borneo) for 10 days > and then back to Singapore for 2 nights on the way home!
December 1999 -April 2000
Siboya Bungalows • Southern India • Back to Siboya
* Y2K New Years party of the century.
* A 5 week tour of Southern India.
* Back to Siboya Bungalows to decompress.
* A 5 week tour of Southern India.
* Back to Siboya Bungalows to decompress.
January-March 1999
Bangkok and Koh Siboya
* Bangkok to collect Noel.
* Relaxing at Siboya Bungalows.
* The the SHIT hits the fan in Phuket.
* Relaxing at Siboya Bungalows.
* The the SHIT hits the fan in Phuket.
January-March 1998
Koh Siboya
* Joe and Mabel come to Asia.
* Started in Penang.
* Relaxing at Siboya Bungalows.
* Started in Penang.
* Relaxing at Siboya Bungalows.
January-March 1997
Siboya and Bali
* Enjoying our Siboya Cottage.
* Haven’t been back to Bali for years.
* Haven’t been back to Bali for years.
January-March 1996
Siboya and Bunaken, Sulawesi
* Finishing the Siboya Cottage.
* New adventure snorkeling in Sulawesi.
* New adventure snorkeling in Sulawesi.
January-March 1995
Leasing a Beach Plot in Thailand
We now have a 60 year lease, (that should be long enough for us don’t you think?) on approximately 1/5 acre of tropical sandy beach waterfront. That’s right..! Cool eh?
It has six, 40 foot coconut palms, a mango tree, a Kaffir lime tree and a Tamarind tree.
It has six, 40 foot coconut palms, a mango tree, a Kaffir lime tree and a Tamarind tree.
February-April 1994
Vietnam… Hanoi to Saigon
* Bangkok to Krabi for 10 days.
* Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for a weekend.
* Then Vietnam for a month.
* Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for a weekend.
* Then Vietnam for a month.
February-March 1993
Back to Pine Bungakows, Krabi.
Bangkok for a few days of business then down the Krabi for two months… lovin’ this rut.
January-April 1992
Back to Krabi and Penang
Strange coincidence… we flew out of Seattle on January 15th… the first day of Desert Storm and flew home the day it ended. Two months at Pine Bungalows, Krabi and Thaipusam in Penang.
January-March 1990
Two Months in Thailand
Two months in Thailand is good for the soul. It’s back to paradise… Pine Bungalows, Railay Beach!
January-April 1988
Thailand Revisited
I don’t mean to sound blase… but no we’re not yet excited about heading off on a six-month leave of absence. Although we do seem to be smiling a lot more often and for no apparent reason at all. Our ETA in Hong Kong is estimated to be 10:00PM tomorrow… should be fun finding a place to stay at that time of the night.
September 1984
January 1985
Yelapa, Mexico
In late 1983 BCTel-CT&S was in down-size mode… so we were returned to headquarters (from Victoria to Vancouver). Part of the down-sizing included the mass approval of leaves of absence. It had been 3 years since we had been back from our Pacific Rim Walkabout… wanderlust was again setting in. So I successfully obtained a 6 months leave of absence and we headed for Mexico for the winter.
December 1979
June 1981
Pacific Rim Tour
Joann was infected with wanderlust long before I knew her. And, ever since we’ve been together I’ve heard… “Bob, we just have to go traveling. If we don’t, we’ll regret it.”
So here goes… we sold our house, quit our jobs and bought one-way tickets to Bangkok…
So here goes… we sold our house, quit our jobs and bought one-way tickets to Bangkok…