BACKGROUND TO THE LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON.

 22nd April 2026

The Bhutanese flag

The National flag, yellow and orange (it's not called red) with a white dragon holding jewels in its claws. The yellow symbolises the secular authority of the King and civil traditions. The amber the spiritual power of Buddhism. The white dragon (druk) represents the name of Bhutan ("Druk Yul", Land of the Thunder Dragon) and symbolises purity and loyalty. The jewels represent the wealth, security and perfection of the nation. The population of Bhutan numbers about 800,000.

Bhutan, a landlocked mountainous Himalayan country, has a complicated history. It has never been colonised but came about by the various invasions of warlords from Tibet which borders it to the north. It has had (and still does have) mutually beneficial 'dealings' with India and did with the British when they were in that part of the world. It has few dealings with China. It is a staunchly Buddhist country. It became an absolute hereditary monarchy at the beginning of the 20th century and is now a constitutional one. Great respect is shown both to the Buddhist tradition and to the King. The Buddhist religion here stems from a 'legendary' character called Guru Rinpoche who was 'born out of a fiery lotus flower' as a reincarnation of Buddha in the 8th century. There are so many myths, fables, legends, reincarnations, magic etc. concerning this religion I failed to keep up! The monarchy (Kings only please) started in 1907. I will try, probably hopelessly, to summarise the history.

Bhutan (it had several previous names and is now called Druk Yul by the Bhutanese) first became a 'semi-united' autonomous country in the 17th century after an ex-Tibetan lama/warlord called Zhabdrung Namgyal built several fortresses (Dzongs) across the area. He is credited with being the founder...although, due to the mountainous terrain, it contained many communities which never met one another, or if they did it was probably only to fight.

Another warlord, Jigme Namgyal (nicknamed The Black Ruler), who ruled the place in the 19th/early 20th century produced a son whom, after much civil strife, he appointed as the first King and started the Wangchuck dynasty. The capital city, containing the Royal Palace, was originally Punakha, but this was moved by the third King to the present capital of Thimphu which had more space for development ...and it continues to expand and develop.

Left: The first King. Termed 'A Monarch of Destiny'. 1907 - 1926.

Right: The second King. 'The Consolidator'. 1926 - 1952.

Left: The third King. 'The Father of Modern Bhutan'. 1952 - 1972. A greatly respected monarch who, with many technical, building and cultural initiatives, brought the country kicking and screaming into the 20th century.

Right: The fourth King. 'Propounder of Gross National Happiness'. 1972 - 2006 when he abdicated and established the present constitutional monarchy. He is still alive and holds influential jobs in the Government. His son became King. This philosophy of 'Gross National Happiness' is considered more important than 'Gross Domestic Product'....and they are proud of it.

Left: The fifth, and present, King. 2006 - onwards. 'The People's King'. Another much respected monarch.

Click on to enlarge these photos to read the plaques.

Above: There are 20 'provinces' in the country, and due to their mountainous and semi-impassable separation from one another developed their own languages....and still use them. In fact, I was told, there are 19 different languages/dialects. However there are two common languages spoken by all, namely Dzongkha and English!

To further enhance these provinces' isolation there were no 'motorable' roads between them, or anywhere else, until 1961. Transport was, up until then, restricted to mule, pony, yak or on foot. There are now several good asphalt roads which zig-zag, with hairpin bends, up and along the steep valley sides to surmount the high passes, although some at the tops are still dirt tracks in the process of being completed. Being driven up or down these roads in our mini-bus was a slow and somewhat unnerving experience. On the outer side of the bus the wheels were often only about 3 feet away from sheer vertical 1000ft+ drops down to the valley floor. Viewing that from a window seat was quite alarming and not good for those who have a fear of heights (acrophobia). Our driver, Tensin, negotiated these arduous and perilous routes over many hours of flawless driving (otherwise I would not be here to write this!) PS. They drive on the left side of the road here, as per India.

There are extraordinary and amusing road signs along the larger lower 'highways' in the valleys, all written in English. As below. The Bhutanese have a good sense of humour!

Signage:

• "No Hurry, No Worry"
• "Be Gentle on My Bends"
• "Going Faster Will See Disaster"
• "On the Bend, Go Slow Friend"
• "Life is a Journey, Complete It"
• "Time is Money, But Life is Precious"
• "Don’t Hurry, Be Cool, Since Heaven is Already Full"
• "After Whiskey, Driving Risky"
• "Drinking Whiskey Driving Risky"
• "Let Thy Horn Be Gentle"
• "Speed Thrills But Kills"
• "Safety is Price Less, So Be Careful"
• "Better Be Late Than Never"
• "Don't Be A Foodie On Road"
• "Kiss Her Goodnight, But Not While Driving"

Right: Throughout the countryside between trees and along stretches of paths, roads and rivers Buddhist prayer flags are hung, seemingly at random, in abundance. They have 'mantras' written on them in tiny Tibetan script.

Yellow flag for 'earth', green for 'water', blue for 'sky', red for 'fire' and white for 'air'.

That will do for now as a background 'starter' for our impending travels. These were to be far ranging and I suffered from serious 'information overload' at all the various places we visited (many fortresses, stupas, temples, museums etc.) as well as some long and quite exhausting hikes up and down vertiginous high altitude countryside.

To be continued.....at length I'm afraid.

BHUTAN - GETTING THERE

20th - 22nd Apr 2026

Poor pic out of the window of a Drukair Airbus A319 on the hairy approach through the mountains to Paro airport in Bhutan. The runway was hidden somewhere in between the mountains. Not for a faint-hearted pilot!

To visit Bhutan you must be escorted by an official Bhutanese guide. There is no ability, as is my normal desire, to go solo and wander. As such it is necessary to organise the journey through an approved travel agency for a 'guided tour' (something I am not normally keen on) and it is not cheap. I chose to use a company called 'Wild Frontiers'. They were in fact most communicative, efficient, informative and helpful in all respects.

Preparing for this trip via Delhi one has to complete and submit within 4 weeks of arrival, on-line, a request for a months' Indian E-visa, which I did 4 weeks before. What an appallingly tedious, and long form that is requesting all sorts of information including such vital information as 'your mother's place of birth'! I hadn't a clue. Any mention of visiting or any of your contacts having any connection with Pakistan would have got you a refusal.  It took several failed attempts and most of an afternoon before my application was eventually accepted...and then you have to wait, indefinitely, for confirmation and issue of the E-visa. I waited over 2 weeks for this and was beginning to panic. There was, of course, nobody to speak to. It did arrive with 5 days to spare. Then another 'on-line' form to complete within 72 hours for an E-arrival card. What a bureaucratic hassle.

I left the scrum at London Heathrow at 7.00pm on the 20th April for the BA 8 hour flight initially to Delhi. We arrived at 8.00am local time. I had a semi-overnight stay before the Bhutanese Drukair (Druk is the Bhutanese word for Dragon) flight to Paro left at 04.45am! the next morning.

I had found a cheapo hotel in the vicinity of the airport for £10 per night, with a £5 taxi fare to get there. Left: My hotel on the left in a rough backstreet. The taxi driver got lost in the jungle of small streets but found it eventually. There are, according to the rather sullen receptionist, about 600 similar doss-houses in the area. It was fairly basic with a few faulty electrics, an appallingly loud fan (30º outside) and very limited hot water, but perfectly acceptable and no fleas in the bed. I had an early sleep before departing at 10.00pm for the terminal...taking no chances of being late.

I had given myself a lot of time, too much in fact, to get back by taxi to the airport. Delhi airport is one of the largest in the world with few facilities before you can get into departures. In fact they won't even let you into the terminal building until 4 hours (I had to wait outside for an hour) before your flight and then there was a long delay in a queue before being able to check-in hold baggage 2 hours before the flight with a multitude of 'disclaimer' forms to fill in. More Indian bureaucracy. Eventually into 'departures', or rather another vast shopping mall which account for most of the space in all international airports nowadays.

I am now going to bore you with a long, but to me relevant, story concerning smoking. I used to smoke cigarettes (not many I hasten to add) until 15 years ago when I lived in a small flat in London. One day my CD player packed up. I knew a helpful local Indian electrician, Viraj, who repaired such things. I took it to him and he rang me two days later to tell me he had fixed it. He then asked me "Mr Matt, do you smoke?". I replied "yes, what's that got to do with it Viraj?". He said "Ah, that explains, the lens in your CD player was covered in tar from cigarette smoke and I have replaced it". I then went around my flat and wiped glass surfaces with a kitchen towel and found they were all covered in greasy black/orange tar. My television picture improved as a result. I realised that this tar would also be embedded in all the carpets, curtains and chair covers and, most significantly, in my lungs! I gave up smoking there and then, all thanks to Viraj, but I missed the relaxation of having a cigarette to puff in the evenings. I then, about five years later, discovered e-cigarettes and 'vaping'. I became, after trying many vape flavours, rather addicted to them and they certainly provided a suitable and seemingly harmless replacement. They, as the word implies, produce vapour (not smoke), which contains no residue (ie. solids such as tar) nor lasting odour. They certainly don't cause me to cough up in the morning or have any ill effects other than, I suppose, an addiction to nicotine. I have been travelling the world with my 'vapes' without any problem and they have passed through airport X-ray machines such as in Heathrow without comment. Until now! After passing through the passport check-out there was the normal cabin baggage X-ray check. I had much electrical stuff in my shoulder bag. The very hostile looking and scowling man on the X-ray machine (indeed all the officials at this airport looked hostile and unwelcoming) made me empty my bag and said "you have e-cigarette". I said yes. "Not allowed" he snapped. I tried to explain that I was leaving India now (technically I had already been stamped out) and had been allowed in with it. "Not allowed" he repeated, and before I had the chance to say anything more he grabbed the e-cigarette and just threw it into a bin. I was rather pissed-off to say the least. I subsequently gathered that one of my fellow tourists had the same experience.

OK, but why are e-cigs 'not allowed', I pondered, when cigarettes are not only allowed but were on sale in multiple shops in the departure area shopping mall. The excuse that they encourage children to buy vapes and become nicotine addicts does not wash with me. They should prohibit children under the age of 18 buying vapes, as with cigarettes (and children still manage to get hold of cigarettes). Some mention that the batteries could catch fire in the aircraft. I have never heard of an e-ciggy bursting into flames. Could there be a financial reason?

Right: Not only that, but the ultimate hypocrisy was that at every departure gate there was a well used 'Smoking Room'!

Left: I went into one of the smoking rooms. It was a lot 'smokier' than this photo shows.

I remain baffled.

OK, enough of the side-track and on with the journey. The the 2.5 hour Drukair flight from Delhi to Paro was on time leaving (04.45am) and we arrived at about 7.00am. As shown at the top I have much admiration for the pilots here as there was a most alarming approach, following valleys, to land! Right: It was a quiet and pleasant airport with a most attractive arrivals hall and smiling welcoming officials. We had been provided with visas by the efficient travel company.

Left: Even the baggage collection area was beautifully decorated. I came to see later that all buildings and houses in this country were similarly well and skilfully decorated.

Our party, six of us, and the first time we had met up, were greeted outside by our 'guide to be', Sonam, and our driver Tensin, with a comfortable mini-bus. They were to be with us and look after us for the next two weeks. It was a 1 hour drive east from the airport to the capital city Thimphu which gave us a first impression of the spectacular mountainous terrain. Right: A glimpse of the mountains as seen from the aircraft.

Our first day (22nd) and we arrived at a very comfortable hotel in Thimphu, the Phuntsho Peira, at about 9.00am where we were given a welcome and briefing by Sonam. Left: He is the one wearing the red 'Gho', a sort of loose dressing gown which is the traditional men's 'official' dress. Plus three fellow 'tourists'. After which time to recover until 12.30pm then lunch and then straight on with a tour of some city sights. Not much time was spent hanging around on this tour!

Right: Sonam wearing his 'gho'. Commonly worn by all males.

Left: My fellow five tourists before lunch on the first day. 

This was to be a very 'busy' tour. We were kept on the move between breakfast and supper every day and visited a myriad of places including much driving along perilous (to me) mountainous terrain and a lot of strenuous 'hiking' up and down the high altitude hillsides (ranging from about 7,000ft at the valley bottoms to over 11,000ft at the tops . There was much to be seen and I tried to keep a diary. There is so much detail to report that I fear it will take me a month to complete the 'blog' on this trip and probably much confusion due to the complexity of our excellent guide's descriptions at each venue. Have patience! Much to follow.

Re. Smoking in Bhutan. It is forbidden everywhere indoors and in public outside. There are some designated, often primitive, 'smoking areas' outside most hotels and restaurants. Cigarettes of dubious origin are sold cheaply in grocery shops.

PS. The bad news. Myself and the fellow tourist who had her vape confiscated at Delhi have succumbed to buying a packet of cigarettes each! Thanks Delhi! I will have my first cigarette for 15 years.

ONWARDS ONWARDS!

 21st April 202

Getting there….slowly

There will be a delay on posting details of my latest exploits. I seem to have arrived, via Delhi, in the Kingdom of Bhutan (The Land of the Thunder Dragon) as part of a 'guided tour'. It is so well 'guided' that I have had no time to make any reports. I hope to catch up eventually. 

I bet you are quivering with anticipation……..??!!

NEXT TRIP?

 7th April 2026

Just checking that this machine is still working as I haven't posted anything for a long time!

Hopefully off on anther jaunt on 20th April.

JUST CURIOUS.

Over the past month I have been receiving a remarkably high number of 'hits' on this blog (much more than usual for some reason). 

I would be fascinated to know who (or some of whom) reads it; or maybe they just open it.

Please can someone leave a comment at the end to give me a clue? Or maybe the 'comments' box is not easy to use? Anyway, any info would be much appreciated at this end.

I have now discovered some interesting information. It explains that the unwarranted increase in 'hits' on this blog is probably due to 'Bots', predominantly in China/Singapore, scanning the internet for information for use with AI. Hopefully harmlessly! Hey Ho.

UPDATE OF INDEX

UPDATE OF INDEX

To remind my reader of how to view a particular location: Click on to the 'arrow' next to the relevant year at the 'blog archive' list top right of most recent blog. This opens up the month selections. Then click on to relevant month arrow and that will open up the blogs in that month.

It's a long scroll down to the latest on this list!

If you wish to enlarge a photo, just single click on it.

Incidently, if using a 'smartphone', scroll down to the bottom of the first page where you  should opt to 'view web version'. This allows you to select the 'arrows' as above.

 

It seems that after a long period of not being able to 'comment' on these blogs, the problem has been resolved (I think). If you wish to make a 'comment' (anonymous if you prefer), however rude, in the box at the bottom of each blog, please do so! 

List of Posts

2011

Jan

1.      The Beginning

2.      At Sea - Now Antwerp - Belgium

3.      Stranded in Le Havre - France
Feb

4.      Crossing The Pond

5.      Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk - USA

6.      Virginia - USA

7.      Washington DC - USA

8.      Columbia - South Carolina - USA

9.      Charleston - South Carolina - USA
Mar

10.    Miami - Florida - USA

11.    Fort Lauderdale - Florida - USA

12.    Savannah - Georgia - USA

13.    Boston - Massachusetts - USA

14.    Boston - Post Script - USA

15.    Niagara Falls - Ontario - Canada

16.    Toronto - Ontario - Canada

17.    Winnipeg - Manitoba - Canada

18.    The Canadian - Toronto to Vancouver - Canada
Apr

19.    Vancouver Island - British Columbia - Canada

20.    Seattle - Washington - USA

21.    Amtrak. Seattle to San Francisco - USA

22.    San Francisco - California (Part 1) - USA

23.    San Francisco - California (Part 2) - USA

24.    San Diego - California - USA

25.    Tijuana to La Paz - Mexico

26.    La Paz - Mexico

27.    Mazatlan - Mexico
May

28.    Guadalajara - Mexico

29.    Mexico City

30.    San Christobal de Las Casas - Mexico

31.    Antigua - Guatemala

32.    San Salvador - El Salvador

33.    Managua and Granada - Nicaragua
Jun

34.    San José - Costa Rica

35.    Panama City

36.    Flight to Lima - Peru

37.    Lima - Peru

38.    Nazca - Peru

39.    Cusco - Peru

40.    Machu Picchu - Peru

41.    Andean Explorer - Peru

42.    Puno (Lake Titicaca) - Peru

43.    Arequipa - Peru
Jul

44.    Panama to Auckland - New Zealand

45.    Bay of Islands - New Zealand

46.    Lake Taupo - New Zealand

47.    Cape Reinga - New Zealand

48.    Russel Birdman Festival - New Zealand
Aug

49.    Rotorua - New Zealand

50.    Napier - New Zealand

51.    Wellington - New Zealand

52.    Blenheim - New Zealand

53.    Nelson - New Zealand

54.    West Coast, South Island - New Zealand

55.    Queenstown - New Zealand

56.    Lake Tekapo - New Zealand

57.    Christchurch - New Zealand

58.    Kaikoura - New Zealand

59.    Auckland - New Zealand

60.    Across the Tasman Sea
Sep

61.    Sydney (Part 1) - Australia 

62.    Sydney (Part 2) - Australia 

63.    Melbourne (Part 1) - Australia 

64.    Melbourne (Part 2) - Australia 

65.    Tasmania - Australia
Oct

66.    Adelaide - Australia

67.    The Ghan - Adelaide to Darwin - Australia

68.    Darwin - Australia

69.    The Red Centre - Australia

70.    Back to Adelaide - Australia

71.    Onwards to Brisbane - Australia

72.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 1)

73.    Taxis
Nov

74.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 2)

75.    Brisbane to Singapore (Part 3)

76.    Singapore (Part 1)

77.    Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia

78.    Up Country - Malaysia

79.    Singapore (Part 2)

80.    Mozart. Malaysia to Sri Lanka

81.    Colombo - Sri Lanka

82.    Coffee
Dec

83.    Kandy - Sri Lanka

84.    Nuwara Eliya - Sri Lanka

85.    Back to Colombo - Sri Lanka

86.    Galle - Sri Lanka

87.    The Ancient Cities - Sri Lanka

88.    Trincomalee - Sri Lanka

89.    Negombo - Sri Lanka

90.    Tiruchirappalli - India
91.    Kerala - India

2012

Jan
92.    Goa - India
93.    Bombay - India
94.    Delhi - India
95.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 1) - India
96.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 2) - India
97.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 3) - India
98.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 4) - India
99.    Palace On Wheels. Rajasthan (Part 5) - India
100.  Calcutta - India
Feb
101.  Rangoon - Burma
102.  The Train To Bagan - Burma
103.  Bagan - Burma
104.  Mandalay (Part 1) - Burma
105.  Mandalay (Part 2) - Burma
106.  Inle Lake - Burma
107.  Ngapali Beach - Burma
108.  Bangkok - Thailand
109.  Siem Reap - Cambodia
Mar
110.  Phnom Penh - Cambodia
111.  Saigon - Vietnam
112.  Hanoi - Vietnam
Apr
113.  Sa Pa - Vietnam
114.  Ha Long Bay - Vietnam
115.  Beijing (Part 1) - China
116.  Hong Kong
117.  Beijing (Part 2) - China
May
118.  Mongolia
119.  Siberia - Russia
120.  Trans-Siberian to Moscow
121.  Moscow (Part 1) - Russia
122.  Moscow (Part 2) - Russia
123.  St Petersburg - Russia
124.  Helsinki - Finland
125.  Rovaniemi - Finland
126.  Up To Kirkenes - Norway
127.  Hurtigruten (Part 1) - Norway
128.  Hurtigruten (Part 2) - Norway
129.  Hurtigruten (Part 3) - Norway
130.  Hurtigruten (Part 4) - Norway
Jun
131.  Bergen to Oslo - Norway
132.  Oslo - Norway
133.  Copenhagen - Denmark
134.  Hamburg - Germany
135.  Hook of Holland - and Home
Jul
136.  The End
Aug
137.  Post Script - London
138.  Stand-by For More...

2013

Sep
139.  To The Democratic Peoples Republic Of Korea (North Korea)
140.  Pyongyang 1 - North Korea
141.  Pyongyang 2 - North Korea
Oct
142.  Kaesong and Panmunjom - North Korea
143.  Back to Pyongyang - North Korea
144.  Pyongyang 3 - North Korea
145.  Samjiyon and Mount Paekdu - North Korea
146.  Daehongdan County - North Korea
147.  Chongjin - North Korea
148.  Hamhung - North Korea
149.  Wonsan and Mount Kumgang - North Korea
150.  Mount Kumgang 2 - North Korea
151.  Mount Kumgang 3 - North Korea
152.  Wonsan Again - North Korea
153.  Back To Pyongyang and On To Nampo - North Korea
Nov
154.  Nampo and Back To Pyongyang - North Korea
155.  Train To Beijing - North Korea
156.  The Finale
157.  Impressions of North Korea
158.  Vids From North Korea
Dec
159.  Zambia
160.  Battledore Farm - Zambia
161.  Cool Bananas - Zambia
162.  Banana Hazards - Zambia
163.  Back On The Farm - Zambia
164.  Continued Jollities - Zambia

2014

Jan
165.  Christmas In Darkest Africa - Zambia
166.  Lusaka 1  - Zambia
167.  Lusaka 2  - Zambia
168.  Livingston (I Presume) - Zambia
169.  On Safari - Botswana
170.  Ndola N'Home - Zambia
Feb
171.  Onwards To Sarf America
Mar
172.  Buenos Aires and The Wedding - Argentina
173.  Around Buenos Aires - Argentina
174.  Jujuy Province - Argentina
175.  Salta - Argentina
176.  Cordoba - Argentina
177.  Mendoza - Argentina
178.  Santiago (Part 1) - Chile
179.  Olmue and Valparaiso - Chile
180.  Santiago (Part 2) - Chile
Apr
181.  To Osorno and Bariloche - Argentina
182.  Bariloche - Argentina
183.  Ruta National 40 - Argentina
184.  El Calafate - Argentina
185.  Tierra Del Fuego (Part 1) - Argentina
186.  Tierra Del Fuego (Part 2) - Argentina
187.  Iguazu - Argentina
188.  Buenos Aires - Finale - Argentina

2015

Jan
189.  The Saga Of My Nearly Lost Hat - UK
Jul
190.  We Wish To Apologise... - UK
Aug
191.  Those Blasted Announcements... - UK
Sep
192.  Tuscany By Train - France
193.  Mulhouse to Montecatini - Italy
194.  Florence - Italy
195.  Around Montecatini - Italy
196.  Lucca and Pisa - Italy
197.  Venice 1 - Italy
Oct
198.  Venice 2 - Italy
199.  Venice 3 - Italy
200.  Turin - Italy
Dec
201.  'Nam Revisited - Vietnam
202.  Saigon Again - Vietnam

2016

Jan
203.  Merry Keesmah - Vietnam
204.  Up The Mekong - Vietnam
205.  Happy Noo Yeer - Vietnam
Mar
206.  Snowdrops - UK
207.  Turkey - An Inspiration
208.  Istanbul Or Bust
209.  Budapest - Briefly - Hungary
210.  Brasov - Transylvania - Romania
Apr
211.  Bucharest - Romania
212.  Onwards To Istanbul - Bulgaria
213.  This Was Constantinople - Turkey
214.  Up The Bosphorous - Turkey
215.  The Turkish Bath - Turkey
Sep
216.  Up The Kennet - UK
Oct
217.  Down The Baltics
218.  Tallinn 1 - Estonia
219.  Tallinn 2 - Estonia
220.  Tallinn 3 - Estonia
221.  On To Riga - Latvia
222.  Around Riga - Latvia
223.  Riga Finale - Stuck Up A Steeple - Latvia
224.  Vilnius...And The Dark Side - Lithuania
225.  Vilnius...The Bright Side - Lithuania
Nov
226.  A Damp Day In Warsaw - Poland
227.  Berlin And Bed Bugs In Brussels - Belgium
228.  Cultural Day In Lille - France
Dec
229.  Bah Humbug And Chrexit - Vietnam
230.  Laid-Back Laos - Vientiane - Laos
231.  Va Va Vang Vieng - Laos
232.  Vang Vieng Voom Voom - Laos

2017

Jan
233.  Luang Prabang - Laos
234.  Luang Prabang And Elephants - Laos
Oct
235.  Ariba Ariba and Off to Cuba
Nov
236.  Havana Wander - Cuba
237.  Havana Further Wander - Cuba
238.  On West to Viñales - Cuba
239.  Cienfuegos - Cuba
240.  Ye Olde Town of Trinidad - Cuba
241.  Santa Clara. Viva La Revolución - Cuba
242.  Varadero. - Cuba
243.  Guanabo. Playa del Ested - Cuba
Dec
244.  Back to Havana - Cuba
245.  Havana Finale - Cuba
246.  Chrexit 2017 - Thailand
247.  Phuket and Beaches - Thailand
248.  Phuket Town - Thailand
249.  Saigon Again - Vietnam

2018

Jan
250.  Wats in Chiang Mai - Thailand
251.  A Day Out in Chiang Mai - Thailand
252.  More Chiang Mai - Thailand
Feb
253.  Chiang Mai - Bangkok - and Home
Apr
254.  Silly Signs
May
255.  By Plane to Ukraine
Jun
256.  Kiev Part 1 - Ukraine
257.  Kiev Part 2 - Ukraine
258.  Chernobyl Disaster. The Background Story - Ukraine
259.  Chernobyl Part 1 - Ukraine
Jul
260.  Pripyat. The Ghost Town - Ukraine
261.  Chernobyl Part 2 - Ukraine
262.  Bermuda or Bust - Bermuda
Aug
263.  St. George's - Bermuda
264.  More Bermuda
265.  Carnival Time - Bermuda
266.  Hamilton - Bermuda
267.  Finale - Bermuda
Sep
268.  Update of Index 2

Nov

269. Colombia. Caramba

270. Bogota. A Prelude - Colombia

271. Transport around Bogota - Colombia

272. More Bogota - Colombia

273. Medellín - Colombia

274. More Medellín - Colombia

Dec

275. On to Cartageña - Colombia

276. Santa Marta - Colombia

277. Bogota. Post Script - Colombia

278. Chrismiss 2018 - Thailand

2019

Jan

279. Saigon Again - Viêt Nam

280. Vietnam Underground - Viêt Nam
Apr
281. Amsterdam Cultural Tour - Holland
282. Yodel-ay-ee-Hoo around Switzerland
May
283. Yodelling on and back - Switzerland
284. Down the Balkans to Ljubljana - Slovenia
285. Down to Split - Croatia
286. Split to Dubrovnik - Croatia
287. On South to Montenegro
June
288. Cetinje - Montenegro
289. To the beach - Montenegro
290. Bar and back home - Montenegro
Sept
291. To Japanada (or Canapan)
292. Vancouver Island - Canada
Oct
293. All Aboard the Westerdam - Canada
294. Juneau (Juneau What?) - Alaska
295. Onwards Westwards
296. Past Kodiak Island and Beyond
297. Across the Bering sea
298. Kushiro Briefly - Japan
299. Arrival Yokohama - Japan
300. Kyoto Intro - Japan
301. More Kyoto. Day 1 - Japan
302. More Kyoto. Day 2 - Japan
303. Hiroshima - Japan
304. Nagasaki - Japan
305. Brief Visit to Kure - Japan
306. Tokyo - Japan
307. Sayonara Nippon - Japan

Dec

308. (Not) Christmas Again
309. No 'Ell in Far East - Thailand
310. OMG!. Pattaya - Thailand

2020

Jan
311. Sodom and Gomorrah - Thailand
312. Back to 'Nam Again - Vietnam
313. Đà lạt  Part 1 - Vietnam
314. Đà lạt  Part 2 - Vietnam

Apr

315. Lockdown. Week 1

316. Lockdown. Week 2

317. Lockdown. Week 3

318. Lockdown. Week 4

319. Lockdown. Week 5

May

320. Lockdown. Week 6

321. Lockdown. Week 7

322. Lulok Island. Part 1. Arrival.

323. Lulok Island. Part 2. The Village.

Jun

324. Lulok Island. Part 3. The Hills.

325. Lulok Island. Part 4. The Aztecs.

Jul

326. Lulok Island. Part 5. The Coast.

Aug

327. Lulok Island. Part 6. The Capital.

Sep

328. To Stockholm - Sweden

329. More Stockholm - Sweden

330. Yet More Stockholm - Sweden

331. Uppsala - Sweden

332. Tällberg - Sweden

Oct

333. Mora - Sweden

334. Back to Stockholm - Sweden

335. Finale Stockholm and Home - Sweden

Nov

336. Zanzibar or Bust.

337. Stone Town - Zanzibar

338. Nungwi - Zanzibar

339. The East Cost - Zanzibar

340. Bwejuu - Zanzibar

341. Back to Stone Town - Zanzibar

342. Tortoise and Spice - Zanzibar

Dec

343. Temple, Shops & Slaves - Zanzibar

344. Mainland Tanzania and Back - Tanzania

345. More Stone Town - Zanzibar

346. Further Haunts & Sights - Zanzibar

347. Final Fling in Zanzibar

348. On to Ndola - Zambia

349. Gone Bananas Again - Zambia

2021

Jan

350. Back to Livingstone (I presume) - Zambia

351. The Falls and Zambezi - Zambia

352. Booze Cruise and Wildlife - Zambia

353. Back to the Bananas - Zambia

Feb

Now back in Stasi UK and travel illegal or difficult and expensive until 202?

Mar

354. Single Life - UK

Apr

355. Single Life 2 - UK

May

356. Single Life 3 - UK

357. My Little Covid Rant

Dec

358. More Frustrations and Events - UK

359. Chrexit 2021

360. Onwards to Bangkok - Thailand

361. Back in Bangkok - Thailand

2022

Jan

362. Pattaya and Jomtien Revisited - Thailand

363. Art in Paradise Pattaya - Thailand

364. The Highlife in Bangkok - Thailand

365. The Train to Kanchanaburi - Thailand

366. The Bridge - Kanchanaburi - Thailand

367. More Sights around Kanchanaburi - Thailand

368. 50 Ridiculous Rules

369. Out and About around Kanchanaburi - Thailand

Feb

370. Back to Bangkok - Thailand

371. Bangkok and Home - Thailand

May

372. Return to Warsaw - Poland

373. By train to Ukraine - Ukraine

374. Checkin' Kyiv - Ukraine

375. More Kyiv - Ukraine

376. Encore and Farewell Kyiv - Ukraine

377. Train back to Warsaw - Poland

378. Krakon to Krakow - Poland

379. More Krakow and Home - Poland

Aug

380. Old Buffers and Geriatrics Pool Society

Oct

381. Silly Signs and Nutty Notices

Nov

382. To Brussels and Beyond - Europe

383. Tally Ho! To Tirana - Albania

384. Touring Tirana - Albania

385. More Tirana - Albania

386. Yet More Tirana - Albania

Dec

387. Toodle Pip Tirana - Albania

388. Chrexodus 2022

389. Saigon Saigon - Vietnam

390. The Journey to  Đà Lạt - Vietnam

391. Đà Lạt Revisited - Vietnam

392. Đà Lạt Day Tour Part 1 - Vietnam

393. Đà Lạt Day Tour Part 2 - Vietnam

394. On to Nha Trang - Vietnam

395. Hué - Vietnam

2023

Jan

396. The Dee Em Zee Part 1 - Vietnam

397. The Dee Em Zee Part 2 - Vietnam

398. Uncle Sam in Vietnam - Vietnam

399. Hué back to Sài Gòn - Vietnam

400. New Year in Saigon - Vietnam

Jul

401. Bits and Bobs

402. To Portugal. Algarve - Portugal

403. On to Lisbon - Portugal

404. A Trip to Bélem - Portugal

405. A Day in Cascais - Portugal

406. Encore Lisbon - Portugal

Aug

407. To Porto (or Oporto) - Portugal

408. Up the Douro - Portugal

409. By Train Again to Ukraine - Poland/Ukraine

410. Around Lviv. A Start on Svobody - Ukraine

411. Lviv and the War - Ukraine

412. Churches and More in Lviv - Ukraine

413. Lviv Finale and Home. Eventually - Ukraine/Poland

Dec

414. Chrexit 2023

415. Off to Taiwan - Taiwan

416. A Start in Taipei - Taiwan

417. Taipei 2 - Taiwan

418. Taipei 3 - Taiwan

419. Up Taipei - Taiwan

420. Taipei. Post Script - Taiwan

421. South to Tainan - Taiwan

422. Hot Springs in Guanziling - Taiwan

423. Further South to Kaohsiung - Taiwan

424. More Kaohsiung - Taiwan

425. Around the Coast to Taitung - Taiwan

426. North up to Hualien - Taiwan

2024

Jan

427. Return to Taipei and Onwards - Taiwan/Vietnam

428. Taipei Finale and Home - Taiwan/UK

Mar

429. Train Again - Nuremburg - Germany 

430. Vienna - City of Dreams - Austria

Apr

431. Prague - City of a Hundred Spires - Czechia

432. Vorrüken zu Berlin (Part 1) - Germany

433. Mehr Berlin und Zurück - Germany

May

434. A Drive to Ukraine. Part 1

435. A Drive to Ukraine. Part 2

Jun

436. Cyprus Revisited 1

437. Cyprus Revisited 2

Oct

438. To Cape Verde

439. More Santiago - Cape Verde

440. Volcanic Fogo - The Costa Lava

Nov

441. Back to Santiago - Cape Verde

Dec

442. Chrexit 24

443. Around Saigon Again - Vietnam

444. A Brush with Death in Saigon - Vietnam

445. A Spot of Culcha - Vietnam

2025

Jan

446. New Year's Eve in Vung Tau - Vietnam

447. Finale in Saigon - Vietnam

Mar

448. A Visit to the Stans

Apr

449. Aljolsen, Alcapone- No! It's Almaty - Kazakhstan

450. Almaty Amusements - Kazakhstan

451. Almaty Encore - Kazakhstan

452. The Ghost Train to Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan

May

453. Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan

454. More Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan

455. On by Bus to Tashkent - Uzbekistan

456. Tashkent - Uzbekistan

457. More Tashkent - Uzbekistan

458. Samarkand or Bust - Uzbekistan

459. Encore Samarkand - Uzbekistan

460. More Encore Samarkand - Uzbekistan

Jun

461. Onwards to Bukhara - Uzbekistan

462. Around Bukhara - Uzbekistan

463. Outside Bukhara - Uzbekistan

464. Back to Tashkent…and Home

465. Danube River Cruise - Germany

466. On Down the Danube - Germany

Jul

467. Further Down the Danube - Vienna - Austria

468. Onwards Further - Budapest - Hungary

469. Back the Way We Came - Bratislava - Slovakia

470. More Bratislava - Slovakia

471. On Upstream to Linz - Austria

472. Back to Passau and Home - Germany

473. A QUESTION !

Dec

474. A Thrilla in Manila...Maybe. - Philippines

475. Más Manila - Philippines

476. Getting Around Manila - Philippines

2026

Jan

477. Intramuros. Old Manila - Philippines

478. Travellin' North - Philippines

479. On up to Mayantoc - Philippines

480. Panglao - Philippines

481. A Day Out on Bohol Island. Part 1 - Philippines

482. A Day Out on Bohol Island. Part 2 - Philippines

483. Back in Manila - Philippines