Jet Lag

It has been a little over 24 hours since we arrived home. David and Lisa made it back to Indy without their luggage. It did get delivered later that evening. Quite the overall adventure for all. It was hard to hit the work gig today, but survived pretty much without a hitch. Drake and Logan were excited to see us and it sure is good to be home. Despite the piles of laundry, and errands to run in order to get the house up and running. Thanks Sara for picking us up at the airport.

I'm sure that Koby and Katelyn were glad to see David and Lisa. As Lisa's parents were I'm sure now that watching the kid duty is over.

It was quite the coming home to see snow on the ground in Chicago and most of the flight home. Even a few signs of the snow that hit KC. We even had a few flurries this afternoon to remind us we are not on vacation any longer.

As Dorothy said there is "No Place Like Home"!!

WE ARE HOME!!!

After 49 hours of traveling home, we all arrived home safe and sound and SO happy to see our children.

More later!

Elephant trek and last day in Phuket (keep your fingers crossed)

We went on an elephant trek today which was really cool - we went through some jungle and a rubber tree plantation area. In addition to actually riding the elephants we got to feed some, get a kiss on the cheek (see pic) and pet/touch some. We also had a bit of a show put on for us as they were training some of the younger elephants - that was neat as well. The pictures should show what I mean.

We spent the rest of the day at the beach (over a mile of pristine beach) and it was beautiful with very clear water and sand as far as you could walk or swim out. We went to the Executive Lounge for the last time this evening and enjoyed another wonderful spread of food and cocktails. We have a great view of the beach and resort from the lounge...if you were ever stranded in Thailand, this was the place to be....

Please note that we are leaving tomorrow morning for 2 days of traveling to get back to the good ole United States. We arrive on Tuesday evening US time. While we had a blast, we can not wait to get back to family and friends.

Thus, this is the LAST blog entry for the Clemows' Asian Adventure until we arrive home for our final thoughts on our trip.

Day Relaxing

Saturday was a day of pool, beach, Spa and recovery. David finished his video of the hotel and we all walked up the street for some final shopping. There are numerous hotels, resturaunts, shops, bars, bars, bars, and massage pallors (of all sorts varieties - very interesting indeed). No new pictures, but a lot of great conversation with fellow travelers. There may be up to a 100 thousand passengers stranded or with travel severly altered in the Thailand area. Thailand really didn't need this mess after their recovery from the Tsunami a few years ago. While our hotel is very nice, most of Thailand is very poor - think going to the resorts in mexico.

Lisa, Janie, and Dave went for a "full" body cleansing with herbal rub followed by a massage (half Tai half Swedish in nature). No pics (thank goodness :). We all agreed it was the best massage we ever had (ok, only Dave's 2nd ever, but the girls had experience to compare!). These Tai girls are very good, particularly when you ask for the hard massage - wow.

Friday - Pool Side and Sick

After realizing we had to stay in Phuket a couple extra days and a lot of hassle figuring out the way home, Friday was a little more relaxed. David and Lisa decided to hit the pool and hang at the hotel reading books and taking a dip or two. Jeff unfortunately game down with a bug and spent the previous night and all day in bed or the bathroom. Janie did her own thing along with taking care of Jeff. Here are some pictures of the resort David took as they spent the day relaxing. The Hilton here in Phuket is pretty awesome. We will let the pictures do the explaining. Check out the previous blog info for our new flight information.

Phang-Nga / Kayak Adventure

Thursday was a mixed bag for the trip. Unfortunately the girls ended up skippubg their spa day to work out plane reservation in order to work around Bangkok airport. The airport was closed due to anti-government protestors (we had no idea it would be such a challenge - nightmare). The end result is we now have to spend a couple extra days here in Phuket (one for J&J and two for D&L). That means an opportunity to make up the Spa and pool time. To reduce the stress the men may join them - of course there are worse things then being stuck at a resort (but still stressful). :)

Meanwhile Jeff/Dave went on a sea kayak excursion to Phang-Nga (national park in the ocean so to speak). Hongs everywhere, which are large rock formations sticking out of the ocean (think James bond movie - forget which one, but they filmed a lot of it here). We visited Hong lagoons, islands, mangroves, and caves. The coolest part was going through caves in the kayak via the ocean into what were inner Hong lagoons. Think football stadium of rock covered in tropical jungle and you kayak through a cave that is not even visible in high tide (but may be almost dry in low tide) from the ocean, through the rock, and into an inner lagoon of water - like standing on the football field - now surrounded by the stadium on the inside (but sitting in a kayak on a lagoon of water). Very cool indeed. One of the caves you could see light on both ends - called it oyster cave because all the walls and ceilings were covered with their shells. One of the others was bat cave - much larger and longer - pitch black so needed light. And yes, the ceiling was covered with bats - lots of bats! In both cases, coming into the inner lagoons, we had to lay all the way down flat on our backs to get through to the other side (think 12 inches between face and permanent facial damage on the cave covered in jagged shells and rock). Again, way cool (at least David and Jeff thought so). We also went to another little island to swim and relax and ate a Tai lunch on the boat.

Never in the USA, but we were able to jump from the upper deck of the boat to get in our kayaks and even swim into shore at the last stop. About 500 yards (of course we didn't know the water went to only a few feet deep within the first 100 yards). David captured some great pictures.

Upon return we met up with the girls for dinner and more logistics rearranging before hitting the sack (see previous blog).

Updated Itinerary for travel home - now leave dec 1

Updated 7:24a.m. 11/30

Monday, December 1
Leaving Phuket (HKT) at 8:00 AM on flight #AK823
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 10:10 AM. 2 hour and 10 minute flight
Kuala Lumpur is in Malaysia

Leaving Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 4:05 PM on flight #AK78
Arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) at 8:00 PM 3 hour and 55 minute flight

Tuesday, December 2
Leaving Hong Kong (HKG) at 11:40 a.m. on Flight 0896
Arriving in Chicago (ORD) at 11:48 a.m.

David and Lisa
Leaving Chicago at 1:12 p.m. on Flight 0500
Arriving Indianapolis at 2:17 p.m.

Jeff and Janie
Leaving Chicago at 3:21 p.m. on Flight 7528
Arriving in Kansas City 4:52 p.m.

Telephone calls and computer work...

and, 15 hours later, we got our travel arrangements changed to get us back home without going through Bangkok. Now, this is Lisa and Janie reporting as Fric and Frac (Jeff and David) were out on a 12 hour adventure enjoying the beautiful Phuket Island. We are sure they will report every detail of their adventure like they have done so far on our trip. Thanks guys for always updating our blog....even though you do get a little long winded at times!!! We will be updating our blog later with the changed travel arrangements. Love to you all and hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We are so thankful to have such a loving family and dear friends.

Bangkok Airport

Hmm. Yes, the airport issue in Bangkok is causing a problem (see your news) with logistics, but no worries, we will figure it out! Everything here in Phuket is great - no problem other than flight logistics. Having a great time but missing all of you! Koby and Katelyn - love and miss you and we will see you in a couple of days!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family!!!!

Love,

The Indy and KC Clemow's

Wednesday..snorkling and more - Tai Island hopping

We spent the day on the ocean as we took a trek out on a speed boat (fast and bumpy) from Phuket that took us out about an hour out into the ocean (East) to a group of islands called Phi Phi - Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley (non-populated - where the movie The Beach was filmed). Our boat driver took us to about 4 different beach areas, and we even had lunch on one of the islands.

We swam at a couple of places, stopped for the views at a few different coves, and we went snorkeling at two different reefs off the islands were we saw a ton of coral and fish - a lot of giant clams that would suck in when we swam by. Before heading in we also stopped at a tiny private island called Khai that was half tropical mound and half beach (finest you could think of) with nothing but 360 of ocean. Then we headed back to the Hilton at Phuket where we stayed at the resort for a buffet dinner that included all you can eat shrimp and lobster (Shawn, you would be proud - 3-plater plus 2-dessert platter!) among what seemed like 50 other dishes. Well, no words will describe it better then the pictures so here they are (sand, sun, moutains rising 90 degrees out of water, tropical forest, boat).

Phuket Arrival

Tuesday morning brought an early rise for all to get to the airport. Ming Lee picked up D&L at 6:00 a.m. then J&J and off to the airport. A little hassle at the ticketing stage. Janie's suitcase had grown a bit and slightly over weight. Also, there was a rule regarding presenting the credit card the tickets were purchased under. Long story, but suffice it to say after a supervisor was brought in we got all checked in and off to the plane.

The flight was uneventful and we made it down to Karon Beach to the resort. The drive was an hour of seeing row after row of very poor areas. Then turn left and we are at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia gated resort. We were greeted with a boquet of flowers along with wrist flowers and a nice refreshing drink (flowers also delivered to our room with bed turn down along with a beautiful basket of fruit). The rest of the day has been getting oriented and debating what to do for the remaining days. We enjoyed the beautiful view from the Executive lounge for cocktails and appetizers and booked a few excursions. We are all missing home and family, but the trip has been one you just seem to want to go on and on.

Big Budha, Tai O, Red Door

The last day in HK was spent traveling by train, gondola, bus, ferry and subway to see Lantau Island and its sights. David and Lisa met J&J at the train and then all headed to the gondola ride up to the largest outdoor Budha in the world.

The Gondola ride took an entire half hour from start to finish over a lake and moutains from Tung Chung to the Budha. Also at the base of the Budha we found the Po Ling Monestary, where you could make a million dollars on all the incense being burned. There where 260 steps to the top of the Budha for a wonderful panaramic view. If you were in tip top shape you could have followed the path from bottom to top up and down for a couple of miles. Maybe a return trip. :)

Before heading out from the Budha we sat for a quick chinese fast food stop including noodles and soup. Way different from McDonalds and a whole lot better for you.

Then the gang jumped aboard a bus for a Disney like ride down the moutain to Tai O fishing village. Here we found what you would have seen in a movie where the homes are on stilts and poverty is something of an understatement. Not a place to stop for a bite, but a lot of great pictures, smells and something you just need to experience to appreciate life.

After some scratching our heads on getting change for the bus ride to Mui Wo on the other side of the island, we took another bus ride that made the first seem like the kiddy ride at Disney. David noticed a sign along the way that said watch for cows crossing. Around the next corner there were cows crossing the road. Good thing the bus had good breaks. When we go to the Ferry pier we were amazed by the thousands of bikes parked. It must be everyone riding too the ferry to head into HK for work? Something to see.

The ferry ride took us through the maze of boats (ships) that traverse or park in the harbor. Everything from a big freighter to the battle ships to the crane barges used to unload the cargo ships.

We then wondered past more construction and took a quick break at the Conrad. From there a quick taxi ride to the restaurant where we planned to meet up with Katy and Gary. Too our surprise 3/4 of the way to the restaurant, Lisa spotted Gary (among thousands)walking on the sidewalk. We jumped out of taxi and continued walking with Gary only to arrive at the restaurant at the same time Katy was getting out of her taxi. Small world even in a big city. We had dinner in our own private room which was awesome and then we topped it off with a chocolate desert stop. Hard to believe but we then headed to a very busy party area of HK for a night cap. All departed for another successful day and preparation for the trip to Phuket the next morning.

Picture of the group out on the town was in order (Katy, Gary, Jeff, Janie, Dave, Lisa - Katy took the pic).

Tai Tam & Stanley

Katy and Gary live on the south side of Hong Kong in an area (Tai Tam) just near an area called Stanley where thre is a public beach and another city market. So after a little later start (hour) J&J headed out via Subway and Taxi to Shek O Beach as did the rest of the gang from Tai Tam.

When J&J arrived they found David and Gary in the surf with everyone else enjoying a little shade on the beach. After a bit of relaxing, David, Katy, Gary and Jeff took a hike out to the point of the cove where there was terrific vistas looking back at the coast line on a clear sunny day (of course after lugging the camera everywhere for days we left it at the beach and thus no pictures). After scampering on some rock formations for awhile (boys must be boys) we headed back to the beach. Ah, Katy took a couple of pics!

We gathered at the beach to find Janie had bought Ice Cream for those who did not take the trek. We decided to pack up and crab some lunch. Like last night we did a family style lunch on the beach in an open air restaurant. The food and atmosphere was heaven. Of course we ate too much and decided to head back to Stanley on the winding, narrow mountain roads.

David, Lisa, Katy and Janie headed to the Stanley Market for one of the last shopping trips. Whew says Jeff! Gary stayed home to watch the kids as Jeff got some laundry done and updated the blog. Not too mention a cold beer on the balcony watching the view!!

After chatting for a while J&J headed back to the city and the rest had a bite to eat, with some after dinner chocolate.

Katy and Gary have been the most outstanding hosts - we are so lucky to have them, and 3 month-old Sophie and 2-year old Liam!! We were all tired so we hit the rack pretty early as we had another big day planned. This trip is going way to fast!!