As is usual with a holiday, our final day consisted of travelling, shopping, and eating airline food. With me still taking antibiotics, there was of course no alcohol, but I was determined to enjoy our day at Changi Airport. 

Checkout from the Furama Riverfront was at midday, but with Changi Airport being probably the best airport in the World, and our flight not leaving until 7pm, we decided to leave earlier.  Changi has many facilities and experiences to enjoy, so because we had so much time to kill, we made the most of our opportunity. This is an airport that Singaporeans use all the time, even when not taking a flight. Every weekend the place fills with locals, just wanting to relax, shop and enjoy everything this amazing place has to offer.

The Furama was the ideal hotel for our stay and explore Singapore. It was centrally located and only a two-minute walk from the MRT station. This hotel was pretty dated in places, and the room certainly wasn't up to the high standards of the Aira Hotel in Bangkok, but it was superior in many respects. The bed was the best we had slept in; neither of us suffered with back problems here, unlike the two previous places. The room had a bath and shower and more importantly, the water was piping hot. Also, out of all the hotels we stayed in, The Furama served the best breakfast, with a huge choice of local and western cuisine on the buffet menu. 

Unfortunately, the lifts were terrible, and I did find myself going up and down in them for ten or fifteen minutes at a time, as our electronic key card failed to register our floor. There were also a lot of children about, as it was school holidays, which didn't make for the most relaxing experience ever. Nevertheless, the pros outweighed the cons, and yes, I would stay at The Furama again for sure.

It took half an hour to get to the airport, at a cost of S$30.00. On arrival, we checked in and dropped off our bags within twenty minutes. It was a dream navigating the modern, vast, terminal 3, and without our luggage we were free to roam as much as we pleased. The Singapore Airlines representative who helped us with our check in, directed us towards the famous Jewel, within this vast complex, and after a quick coffee at Starbucks we made our way there.

The Jewel consists of a large waterfall with vortex at the bottom, along with what I can only describe as an indoor rainforest, surrounded by a ginormous shopping centre and restaurants. Unless you actually go there yourself, you just have no idea how spectacular this venue is. The scenery is breathtaking and the waterfall awesome. I just stood there dumbfounded at how this place was even constructed — it was a site to behold.

We spent a good hour at The Jewel, before navigating our way towards departures for a long five-hour wait for the flight. This wasn't too much of a problem for me, since there was so much to do. After a Burger King lunch, (not my idea, Darrell wanted something western before the long flight) we took the monorail to terminal 1 and 2, to take a look at the shops. There are of course a lot of stores, and surprisingly, most of them are competitively priced, unless of course, you are looking for designer bands.

I am definitely not a label person, and would rather waste my money on souvenirs, not expensive clothes and jewellery. If you want that experience, however, there are plenty of designer shops to choose from. Airports always promote rampant consumerism, so even I bought some Jean Paul Gaultier aftershave from the duty-free shop. That was it, mind you. After shopping for ten days in Asia, I was all shopped out. Darrell, however, was spending more money than ever, looking for various Asian toys and memorabilia to take home with him.

To be honest, I think we both love the Asian way of life. Part of the charm of holidaying in this part of the World, is the enjoyment of cultural experiences. Heritage and history aside, there are plenty of plastic toys, and kitsch retro memorabilia to enjoy as well. Society, customs, and traditions in this part of the World are so different to the west, that both of us are enthralled and captivated by its gentle, often juvenile nature. Even at 55 years old (nearly) I love Hello Kitty, manga and the almost strange vending machine culture that exists in abundance.

​Changi Airport is full to bursting with the most colourful, gaudy and childlike items and is a joy to walk around. Both of us did buy some of the tackiest items we could find, to add to our collection, but why wouldn't you. We are only in Asia once or twice a year, so bringing choice objects home is just part of the course.

By the time 7 pm came, we were both particularly tired and ready for the four and a half hour flight home. We flew on an Airbus, unlike the Boeing that took us to Singapore twelve days before, and you could immediately tell the difference. There was noticeably less legroom and the whole experience felt cramped and stressful, compared to the first flight we arrived on. 

With Darrell watching the inflight entertainment, I sat happily chatting with an Australian gentleman, living in Indonesia. His name was Cathcart and like me was very politically aware. We chatted contentedly for the duration of the flight, covering every topic, from politics, religion, travel and gay rights. Cathcart wasn't gay, but as a left wing, Green party activist, he was aware of the difficulties both Darrell and I had gone through over the years. He was knowledgeable, full of advice and made the flight a hell of a lot easier to deal with.

The flight itself was a little turbulent at times, and I did feel rather ill on occasion, as the plane jostled from side to side. Cathcart was also physically sick. This was unusual for him, since he was used to flying regularly, unlike me, but this is how bad the return journey home was. This was one of the worst flights I had ever been on, and I am thankful we arrived in once piece. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed flying with Singapore Airlines, it was an almost perfect experience.

Our 30th Anniversary trip was exhausting. Once again, we saw things we could have only dreamt of before now. We visited new places in Bangkok, which is always a wonderful experience. Bangkok, of course, always remains my city destination of choice. It isn't as polished as Singapore, but it is far more down to earth, a bit gritty and always an enjoyable place to stay. 

Thai people also remain the most welcoming in the World. Darrell and I have always enjoyed the hospitality in Thailand and just can't fault anything about the city or people who live there. If I had my way, I would move there at the drop of a hat, it gives me a warm feeling inside, and is perfect in every respect.

Singapore was a very different adventure. The cleanliness, organisation and polished exterior was a joy, and I did feel safe staying there. However, the city is full of designer shops and appears at times to only cater for the richest people in society. After staying there for four days, I had, had enough of the glitz and glamour and was ready to go home.

We did nevertheless fall in love with China Town. This historic quarter gave us a more authentic Asian experience. The people who live and work here were far more honest and approachable. Situated in the older part of the city, it was more characterful and attractive to look at, and thankfully there wasn't a designer shop in sight. This was the real part of Asia I wanted to see. You can keep the tall glass buildings, imposing skyscrapers and pristine streets.

I would of course return to Bangkok tomorrow, but I'm not too sure about Singapore. I would like to stay there again, for its sheer ease of stay. It is quick and easy to get to and only a short distance from the airport. The underground is uncrowded and very simple to use, and it makes for a very convenient location to stay. As a stopover it is perfect, staying beyond four days would, however, be pushing it a little, but as a short break, I would go back.

This was a holiday about reliving old experiences and remembering our 30 years together. Bangkok is my favourite city — Singapore Darrell's — this was the best of both worlds for us. It was an exhausting trip and as we look forward to our next holiday, our advancing years, dictate a more relaxed break, with far less travelling. No matter what we do in the future, we are grateful for the memories we made, the people we met and of course the quality time we had together. After our 30 years together, in our favourite part of the World, we couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time!

After flying 10000 km from the UK for the briefest of time, Justin was gone. It was lovely to see him, even if it was short, and it made me realise just how much I do miss home. From London, Justin is flying onwards to Spain, two back to back holidays in a two-week period. There would have been a time when I could have done that myself, but these days I would rather not!

Since leaving the UK in 2015, Justin has visited us in Spain and the far east, and he has always been a tremendous source of support. Don't get me wrong, we have had our ups and downs in life, but we have always been there for each other. I have said this many times before and will say it again, I do have the deepest respect for Justin and for all he has achieved in life. His successful career is a tenotomy to his hard work over the years. Both of us have had periods of inactivity, but we have got through the worst life can throw our way and have become the success we both are today — well him more than me, but who's counting.

I am of course sad to see him go, but life goes on and we both have our own lives to lead. I'm sure we will all see one another again in some other part of the World, until then we have the memories to take with us on our journey!

With Justin safely on his way to London, Darrell and I spent a relaxing last full day in Singapore. We made our way to our favourite part of this great city, China Town, where we browsed around the many stalls and shops, buying yet more stuff to take home with us. We, we do have a 30 kg limit each, so why not fill it. 

Darrell and I have a lot of collectables from our travels all over the World, sadly most of them now lost, as we moved countries three times over the years. In some respects, I think I collect stuff, because of the items I lost over our 30 years together. The nature of our relationship is such, that we have never stayed in one place too long. Consequently, we haven't been able to establish ourselves in one place long enough, to accumulate the things most people have built up over many generations. Having said that, I am giving it a good go now though. I do love things around me, it does make me feel somewhat secure in my surroundings. Australia is still, even today, unfamiliar to me, so I am doing all I can to settle into my new home; buying items on our travels helps create memories and connections with our recent past — important when you are building a new life! 

China Town is such a down to earth place and despite not loving Singapore as much as I would have liked, I do adore this area. I am not a pretentious old Queen, who loves designer brands — I like a bargain, something cheap and cheerful that lifts my mood. China Town offers bargains galore in a relaxed setting away from the super rich side of Singaporean life.  Yes there is a lot of money, in this low tax ex British colony, but there is also the normal side of life, with people doing their best to survive in this harsh money making environment.

Having said that, there is a harder sell culture in this area. With money tight, street vendors do fight for every customer, which does make it very difficult to relax and browse, without being hassled to buy something. I am pretty easy to give in and buy anything, whereas Darrell isn't. He will walk away, I generally won't.

After China Town, we made our way towards the city centre, where we stumbled across a huge hawker centre on Cross Street. Now why is it, you always find the best place to eat on your last day. This vast centre is full of different stalls serving a cosmopolitan array of food, from all over the World. The smells as you enter this place are unbelievable and really does play with your senses. This large building is impressive, and I just wish we had found it earlier.

The prices here are also unbelievably cheap. On our first night, we had a meal on Marina Bay, which cost about S$200 for two of us. It was nothing out of the ordinary, although the food was good, but I mistakenly assumed that this would be the price we would pay throughout our brief stay. However, in this popular hawker centre, we paid S$17.00, yes S$17.00 Singaporean dollars for two of us. Now that is impressive, and the food tasted great as well.

If we do return to Singapore in the future, this will be a first port of call for us, as we navigate the World's most expensive country. For all my criticisms of Singapore, the hawker centres and China Town make up for the overpriced, designer, pretentious side of this place, which I absolutely hate. 

Tomorrow we leave for Australia and the end of another interesting few weeks in Asia. As is usual with me, it hasn't turned out in the way I would have hoped. After getting another infection, I have had to adjust my itinerary to cope with my change in circumstances. Nevertheless, I have been delighted to do all I have done and hope to learn from the mistakes I made, returning to this special part of the World in the future!

With only a few days left of our trip to Asia, Darrell and I decided to take it easy and avoid the more tourist areas of Singapore. Instead, we decided to go shopping along Orchard Road, where I had heard there were many British shops and goods to choose from.

Now I haven't actually been back in Britain for over three years now, so imagine my excitement, finding Marks and Spencer, in this rather plush district of Singapore. This used to be my go-to, feel good shop, when I lived in the UK. The food was always a family favourite, and I was so happy to stumble across this most British of all British shops, in the middle of Asia. Darrell and I bought a few choice reminders of our UK past, and it was delightful, just walking around, reliving some old memories.

Sadly, Australia doesn't have M&S, although I am able to order online. Even then, you cannot get food, and the homewares section is pretty limited. When you are living abroad, far away from your country of birth, it gives you a warm feeling inside, when you come across shops you've grown up with since childhood.

Of course, this isn't a reason to fly to Singapore alone and even though I could pick up an M&S Mountain Bar and a packet of Percy Pigs, I still don't like this country that much. Singapore has not been the destination I expected, and I won't be sad to leave here on Thursday.

The prices at Marks & Spencer, Singapore, are pretty high as you can see from the photo's below. With a bag of potatoes approaching $10 a bag, this wouldn't be a place I would shop at too often, even if I did live here. This expat staple is in Singapore to cater for the large, wealthy ex-pat community that reside here and for that reason, you can understand why it was so busy.  There is a huge British/western population living and working in the country; you can see it as you walk around the Orchard Road area. It would certainly be an impressive place to be located, especially if you had the money. Certainly not a place for me to stay long term — Bangkok is more my thing!

Just around the corner from Orchard Road, I did manage to find a Fair Price Supermarket. Now I remembered from my reading on Singapore, that this is where you can buy Marmite, so I took a chance and wondered in to have a look. This distinctly western style supermarket had a lot of British products on the shelves, so I expected to find one in the international food section. Low and behold, after ten minutes of searching, I found one. For S$7.70, I picked up a large jar of the black stuff, to take home as an unusual souvenir. The price here was also a little cheaper than Coles or Woolies in Australia, which just goes to show how much we are ripped off down under!

At a cost of S$105 for the two of us, I was pretty impressed. This probably would have cost far more in the UK, and I remember paying a lot more than that ten years ago. Back in the 2000s, Darrell and I used to frequent Pizza Express several times a week. This was always a favourite of ours, especially with our love of Italy. Although not as authentic as eating a pizza in Rome, this restaurant chain offered a pretty close experience in a setting that we loved.

After lunch, we spent a few hours shopping in the beautifully air-conditioned malls. Now, here's my final moan of the blog today: I am fed up with the high-end designer shops in every mall. There are literally no normal shops, that don't involve taking out a second mortgage. Everything in Singapore is expensive, aimed at the super rich. Normal, average Singaporeans and tourists, like me, can't afford thousands of dollars. 

The Malls themselves are magnificently designed, and a cool retreat from the heat of the day, but even here you can't escape the expensive nature of these places. There is very little seating for older people like me to sit down and rest, and after another, 20000 steps, I do need to take the weight off my lallies occasionally. The shopping centres want you to spend money, not sit and recuperate from the heat outside.

​I find Singapore rather pretentious. There isn't much to do here, if you are a peasant like me, and I find the people rather rude and entitled. As stunning as this country is, it lacks character, kindness, and a soul. I would never return here in the future, it just isn't for me! This may well seem harsh to you, but having stayed all over this region, there are far better countries to explore. I am glad I visited, but could never see me returning again — We are all different after all!

The Singapore MRT is unlike anything I have seen before. Apart from anything else, the platforms, stations, and trains were virtually empty, as we made our way to Marina Sands. The system its self is orderly, exceptionally clean and above all safe. There is one aspect of it I find particularly strange, and it is the lack of advertising. In any other public transport system across the World, you will see posters on every wall and train - in Singapore, none! There is no advertising whatsoever; I don't know if that is part of the Singaporean culture, but the walls of the MRT system are empty, and it makes for a very dystopian and eerie feel.

Our first stop was Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion. Now, so far I haven't been particularly impressed by Singapore. It isn't my usual destination of choice and I do find it just a little boring, for want of a better word. Bangkok is the complete opposite of this place. It is manic, disorganised, and full of history, heritage, and people — lots and lots of people. In Singapore, the streets are empty; perfectly sanitised, but completely empty.

This isn't what I expected of Singapore — I really thought it would be busier than this. It was a bit of a culture shock going from Thailand to here, and Singapore appears to be completely different to any other South East Asian country we have visited. I don't dislike it, I am just finding it rather difficult to adjust to!

Marina Bay Sands did look impressive if I am honest, but in the end it was just another large modern building in a sea of other modern buildings. I sound a little downbeat about Singapore, don't I? But it does get more positive throughout the day, I promise, and it is somewhere to tick off my bucket list. It was possibly an anti climax coming here after Bangkok; If we had done it the other way around, it may well have been different!

Photo opportunities over, we walked along the front and headed into the city, where we had a quick coffee before heading to China Town!

China Town was my sort of place. It was colourful, vibrant, and full of life. This is what city life should be about and a thoroughly enjoyed walking around the streets, markets, and shops in this popular area of Singapore. Where the city was quiet, China Town was heaving with people and tourists, and it's easy to see why. 

Singapore is such an expensive place, that the sad reality is, it only caters for the rich and more affluent members of society. This is especially the case in the CBD itself, where there are mainly high-end designer shops. China Town offers an alternative vision of the city and even though prices are still relatively high, by Asian standards, bargains can still be found.

Darrell and I bought a lot of stuff, but then we always do on holiday. I have been wanting to buy a small jade pendant for a long time and found one for S$160. It wasn't cheap, but it was perfect and certified real Jade. You certainly get what you pay for. 

The market stalls also has their fair share of tat, which I absolutely love. The more kitsch and retro the better, and in China Town there was plenty to choose from. S$800 later, I was completely shopped out and ready for some lunch!

Darrell wanted McDonald's, but I persuaded him to stay in China Town, where we had authentic Chinese food from a small family run restaurant. We had plenty to eat and drink for the reasonable price of S$75. I am actually enjoying Chinese food over here. It is unlike the western style food you get back in Australia and has a real depth of taste. I think Darrell has had enough of it, however, demanding a western food day today. All good, I can't completely eat Chinese food every day myself, and I did spy a Pizza Express, while walking around the city after my trip to hospital a few days ago!

Finally, we made our way to Gardens by the Bay, a destination I have wanted to see for years. This amazing structure was out of this world, with the backdrop of Marina Bay Sands Hotel behind.  The gardens have other attractions, but in the heat of the day, neither of us wanted to explore too much. Instead, we had a bite to eat, ice cream and refreshments before the light show at 7.45pm in the evening.

There was great anticipation as we were waiting for the light show to start. Thousands of people had by now arrived, setting up their cameras for what is advertised as the best light show in the World. To be honest, I never expected it to be as good as it was.

At 7.45, the lights in the park dimmed and the spectacular display of light and music began. I was absolutely awe struck by the whole event and judging by the gasps from the audience, they were also. It's not often I can say I am overwhelmed by something, but on this occasion I was. The light show hasn't changed my views on Singapore, as an overrated destination for the rich, but it has allowed me to look at it in a more positive light. It is worth coming to Singapore to see China Town and the light show alone. Leave the rich to do their thing in the fancy air-conditioned malls, and instead, explore the more down to earth places like us. We are all different, and as hard as it is for me to admit, Singapore does have something for everyone, whoever you are, you just have to look hard to find it!

Well it wasn't the start to our stay in Singapore I wanted, but after arriving at Chiangi Airport, I was noticeably worried about the wound on my arm, which was showing serious signs of infection. Now look, I have been here before, so know what I have to do. The difference this time, of course, was the nature of the injury. If I had left it alone in the first place, after the fall, it probably wouldn't have got as bad as it did. 

My overcautious approach was born from previous experience. I have contracted two very serious forms of Staphylococcus on the last two holidays I went on, so the panic that followed my tumble on the boat on the second day of our holiday in Bangkok, was noticeable! I wasn't prepared to go through the IV antibiotics I had in the past, and tried everything to stop any infection before it started. It is likely I did too much, way too much, and should have left well alone.

While Darrell made his way to our riverfront hotel, I took a taxi straight to Raffles hospital in the centre of the city. I had a particularly funny conversation with the driver, who accidentally took me to the world-famous Raffles Hotel. He looked confused, when I said 'No Raffles Hospital'! This was a first for him, taking a visitor straight to hospital, but he was good-humoured and deeply apologetic. Only I would end up in hospital on arrival!

I was in the 24-hour Acute and Critical Care unit for a good few hours, while the wonderful staff poked, prodded, examined and dressed my wound. This plush hospital was first class, and rushed me through as quick as they could. I was prescribed a high dose course of antibiotics, and I was told in no uncertain terms, that I couldn't drink with them at all — that's no more alcohol for me on this holiday then.

After I was officially declared fit to go, I was directed to the desk to pay the bill. Now I am well aware of how expensive this place is, so I was expecting a few thousand dollars, but to my surprise I was told it was just S$300. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. With my health being top of my list of priorities these days, I would have paid anything to make sure I was well enough to resume my travels, so this was a small price to pay. After being given a fit to fly certificate, I was sent on my way, by some of the friendliest medical staff I have ever come across — and the welcoming nature of Singaporeans didn't end there!

As I tried to find a taxi for my journey to the Furama Riverfront Hotel, I was approached by the young concierge, who went out of his way to do all he could for me. He explained about the app I should install on my phone, and how it would make getting around Singapore much easier. After arranging a car for me, he then waited with me for fifteen minutes, checking I was OK and chatting about his life in Singapore.

Like other Singaporeans I have met, he was looking at a future away from his country of birth. The cost of living, house prices and lack of opportunities were big factors in why he wanted to leave. He did feel sad because he loved his home, but he just didn't see a future for himself. He also asked about my life living in Australia, a place he also hoped to travel to one day.

When the taxi arrived, I promised to pop back and say goodbye before I left, and he thanked me for taking the time to talk to him. Asia is a very friendly part of the World as I can testify, but so far, the locals in this tiny south-east Asian nation have been exceptional. Suitably impressed, I waved goodbye and he did the same. I actually really felt like I had made a connection with someone new. I know he was just doing his job, but I could tell he just wanted to talk and get things off his chest, while I was there to listen. Sometimes, a friendly face is all it takes!

The Furama hotel isn't the Aira Hotel, it is in a completely different class. This Singapore hotel is a bog-standard family establishment that is vast. Catering for hundreds of guests, it doesn't offer the luxury we had in Bangkok, but with hotel space here at a premium, we were lucky to get rooms that were big enough to cater for our needs. This is a perfect place for a few days and has all the facilities we require, so despite it being a little shabby in places, it will be fine for our brief stay!

At the hotel I finally met Justin after ten years and that was a rather emotional reunion! Justin has proven me wrong on so many levels over the years, and I am so glad to see him doing so well in his career and new home. Our lives fourteen years ago, when we first met, were very different, with partying and living in the moment, at the forefront of our thoughts. Today all our priorities have changed, but it was good to see that Justin remains the life and soul of the party, as he always was!

We made our way down to Boat Quay in Singapore, where we had a few pints in The Penny Black, a pub I had seen on the internet and a place I had wanted to visit for a long time. This old traditional English style pub, was everything I expected and more. Like all of Singapore, however, it was very expensive, with two beers costing me S30. This wasn't too much of a shock, however, this is probably the most expensive country in the World and certainly a place I couldn't afford to visit too often.

With Justin feeling worse of wear, and the rain pouring down, Justin made his way back to the hotel, while Darrell and I had a typical Singaporean meal at Tian Tian Fishermans Restaurant on the Quay. The food was delicious, but at a cost of S$200 for the two of us, it wasn't cheap. It was well worth the money nevertheless. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the terrace, looking out across the river. With the skyline lit up, it really was a beautiful place to chill, eat, chat and talk about the future.

We both decided to walk back to the hotel after the rain cleared. I don't think I have ever felt safer walking through a city at night. This was a magical experience and probably the first time Darrell and I have truly relaxed this holiday.

I am hoping that now, we can finally enjoy our last few days in Asia together, with Justin, and we can pick up our friendship where we last left off ten years ago. It is good to see a friendly face, when you live on the other side of the World, and Justin has visited us more than most. Singapore offers the chance to reconnect in a setting that we could have only dreamed of a decade ago. I hope that we can form the lasting memories that make us the people we are, before we, once again, go our separate ways — until we meet again in another part of the World!

Well that's it, our final day in Bangkok, before travelling on to Singapore tomorrow. Today has been a day of shopping, eating, drinking and more shopping. The weather has been particularly bad, so neither of us have wanted to do anything taxing. Out of all the days we have been here, this has been the least tiring, and it has been a welcome break, after the last six manic days in Thailand.

Despite contracting another infection, which isn't unusual for me, our time here has been great on the whole. Spending our 30th Anniversary with Aom, at, So Samsen, was an absolute delight and a memory we will keep with us until we return in a few years. Eating at our favourite restaurant was the real reason we came back to Thailand, and it will be a reason to return in future. Of all the places we have visited over the years, this has been by far the most welcoming and friendly. They really don't call Thailand the land of smiles for nothing, and it of course shows in the hospitality this country offers.

This first leg of our journey has been memorable for all the right reasons. We have been able to see attractions we didn't see the first two times round, and they have once again left us awe struck, at the sheer majesty of Thailand. Of course this is a vast country, and we have only seen a small part of it, but when you fall in love with a city like Bangkok, what else can you do, but return and return again.

Bangkok is by far the best city we have ever visited, and we have travelled to many over the years. For a blogger like me, it is an essential resource, when writing about this part of the World. This is a melting pot of different nationalities and religions, all living harmoniously side by side. I did read recently, that Bangkok is the World's most visited city, and it is easy to see why. There is something for everyone here. From its history and culture, to the food and nightlife; Bangkok has never failed to impress me.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Singapore to meet an old friend, Justin, who arrived this morning. Here I will be exploring a country that I have never seen before, which is highly unusual for me. I have travelled to nearly every country in this region, and this is one of the last ones on my bucket list. Darrell has been to Singapore many times before, but this has always been a place I have avoided. If you ask me why, I really don't have an answer — apart from mentioning the expense and small size of the country. On the surface, there doesn't appear to be a lot to do there, but Darrell assures me there is. 

Bangkok has given us some wonderful memories to take away once again, and we have met some wonderful people on our journey. This is the most important aspect of my life now. At my age, I am happy to be exploring on a more modest level. We will of course return in the future, once we have been to Bali and Japan. Until then, it's a fond farewell to the most special city in the World and a big thank you to everyone who has been a part of our trip this year.

Yesterday we went to Ancient City, just outside of Bangkok. This was a trip I was looking forward to after researching it on YouTube. It is true to say, that most tourists only stay in Bangkok for a few days, so Ancient City isn't at the top of most visitors itineraries. Staying in Bangkok for a week, has allowed us to do things, we wouldn't otherwise have done. Ancient City is an all-day trip, so if you are in Bangkok, you will have to dedicate time to go here — however it is well worth it and better than anything I have ever seen before.

We got to the city by 9 am, after taking the BTS Sky train from our hotel in Nana to Kheha, right at the very end of the green line. From the station, we took a taxi, at a cost of THBT60 to Ancient City, which was about 3 km away and there wasn't a soul in sight. We were the first in the queue, just how I like it. I actually don't think I've ever been late for anything in my life, so early starts are perfect for me. That may well change when we meet Justin in Singapore next week, but for now I am enjoying the cooler early mornings in Bangkok! 

It cost THBT800 each, for me and Darrell to get into the park and a further THBT350 for the hire of a golf buggy for an hour. We also paid a further THBT200 for an extra two hours hire, after spending a total of about three and a half hours at Ancient City. To be honest, I don't think either of us really understood just how big the complex was. As soon as we passed the entry point, I was literally awe struck, by the surrounding history and richly decorated buildings — this was Thai decadence at its finest!

Now I am a big fan of Thai architecture as you know, but nothing could have prepared me for the stunning buildings, monuments, temples, and gardens that were inside. This is a Thai theme park in everything but name, and it was amazing.

The weather was a little moist, shall we say. Despite the temperature being in the 30s, the rain clouds were out, and it did pour down at various points on our journey. We were lucky we were in a golf buggy, which kept us relatively dry, rather than a bicycle, which you can also hire.

I really wish I could tell you what the different monuments were called, but I just can't there were too many to mention. However, all of them are related to Thai architecture in some way. From Grand palaces, Wats, native dwellings on stilts and Buddhist statues, everything had a deep connection to the Thai people that lived, worked and gathered in these relics from Thailand's historic past. These were indeed special places, recreated, restored and cared for in a majestic setting, just outside of Bangkok!

As our day progressed, we bumped into numerous school children with their teachers, also visiting Ancient City. I am always amazed by how polite they are and always have been. No matter where I have been in the World, either living or visiting, the local children have always been a delight. They are so respectful and courteous — waving and saying hello, as we walked by. All of them, wearing their neatly pressed school uniforms, gave us a high five and a welcoming greeting; in some cases, telling us how much they loved us. I'm not sure if they used the world love entirely correctly, but their enthusiasm, on seeing tourists, was infectious and Darrell and I were happy to reciprocate, with a wave and a smile.

After three and a half hours of driving around the park, taking pictures and savouring the delights of Ancient city, we were done. Both of us were tired and wet by this point, so made our way back to the BTS train station. We hailed a taxi from the site and were charged THBT120 for the return trip, double what we had paid before. To be honest, I didn't care too much. It was a rainy day and all of us have to make a living somehow. The driver was nice enough, and I was just glad to be back on the train home.

A day at Ancient city is tiring and this isn't a trip you can make on foot, not matter what you think. The golf buggy was invaluable, and it was better than sitting in a crowded tram, surrounded by other people, all fighting for space to take the right photo or video. Darrell and I have got to an age now, where we would rather be on our own, which indeed made for a better experience for us. You of course may feel different and prefer to be around others. However you explore the city, just make sure you do your best to see it all. Around every corner, there is something more spectacular than the corner before, and I couldn't get over the splendour of the place — It was literally a dream come true for a history buff like me.

On the train home, I phoned my insurance company; the wound on my arm wasn't feeling right and something was telling me I needed to see a doctor quickly. Darrell thought I was overacting, but when you suffer with health anxiety, you instinctively know when something isn't right.

My insurance company arranged for me to have a consultation with a local Thai GP over the phone, via the Air Doctor App, which I have come across before. They emailed me when we arrived back at Nana, and I was speaking to a doctor within 15 minutes.

​He looked at the graze on my arm and immediately said it was infected, likely because I had been advised to use the wrong cream and plasters. Boots pharmacy had told me to use waterproof band-aids, which had probably caused more sweating in the humid weather, contributing to the infection bubbling under the skin. He prescribed some antibiotic cream and the medical team at my bank also arranged for a follow-up appointment tomorrow night, before we fly to Singapore.

I have been here before, and I was happy enough to take the advice in a timely manner, before I end up on IV antibiotics again, which happened after my last two holidays. I am of course hoping this won't happen this time and the ointment prescribed will do the job, but I understand just how this can end. For now, I have to treat it three times a day for the next week and that's fine — fingers crossed all works out OK.

After a quick shower and lunch over the road from the hotel, we picked up the immaculately washed and pressed clothes from the laundry. This is what I love about visiting Thailand — having all your washing done for you, so you don't have to do a thing, when you arrive in Singapore.

It did cost me THBT950 for this service, but it was worth it. The ladies had to handwash some of my shirts as they didn't want to put them through the washing machine. To be honest, they are quite expensive European linen shirts, so I'm glad they did — even though I won't be doing it myself!

Tonight, blogging with a view, after a few bottles of beer. This is a view I will miss when I return home. The vibrancy of city life, still pulls at my heart strings, no matter where I am.

Today was a day to take it easy. Both Darrell and I have been burning the candle at both ends on this holiday, and at 55 years old, we are feeling old age creeping slowly up on us. Despite my love of humid weather, it really doesn't love me. It is well known for creating the right moist environment for germs to breed, which is probably why I had infections after returning from holidays in the past, and it does make one's arthritis flare up. For those reasons, and one too many pints last night, we decided to take it easy today and visit a local Cat Café, one of our favourite things to do on holiday.

The Asok Penthouse Cat Café, situated next to the Terminal 21 shopping mall, just a few stops on the BTS sky train from our hotel, is a delight. Now, we have been to many Cat Cafés in the past, with varying degrees of success. Sadly, the majority of them were badly run and maintained, and the poor cats looked decidedly down and depressed. This is one of the reasons why I didn't want to go to another one this time around in Bangkok.

However, Darrell persuaded me to go, and I am so glad I did. The last thing I want to see are animals in distress, as I have in the past, but here, you could immediately tell how happy, content, and loved they are. The café is not a money making machine, it is a not for profit organisation that is there to care for cats who need it most. 

Situated on two levels, there are cats everywhere you look. After ordering a drink and piece of cake, we made our way upstairs to the second floor, where there are cats that are waiting to be rehomed, or in need of more, one on one care. Here I met Som, a three-legged ginger kitten who had been involved in a car accident and was now being cared for by the staff and volunteers at this amazing place.

Som was lovely, such a sweet girl and so loving. You could tell she was still very fragile, but as one of the volunteers said — 'she is growing stronger each day'! I am sure that with a bit of help and encouragement, she will be fine eventually. I would have taken her home like a shot.

All the other cats are equally well-adjusted and very friendly. The Asok Penthouse Cat Café, gave me faith back in these most unusual of eating establishments, and I may just go to another one in future. For now, I am happy we spent time there and would like to offer my sincere thanks to all the volunteers who work there, for an informative and relaxing few hours in the company of their cats!

Over the road from the cat café is Terminal 21, which has become our new favourite shopping mall in Bangkok. I suppose it is set out like an airport terminal building, with each floor named after a country. The signage, throughout Terminal 21, looks similar to an airport and the sheer size of the place mimics an airport in every respect.

This is a place where you can get lost pretty easily, and like most of Bangkok itself, there appears to be no logic in regard to the layout. Having said that, the atmosphere of the mall was friendly and unlike Icon Siam and Central World, it isn't overpriced in the slightest. Unusually for me, I enjoyed walking around this rabbit warren of shops and stalls and could have spent the whole day and a hell of a lot of money being there.

The London floor, was particularly well done, with the restrooms created in a London Underground theme. I'm not sure that it was entirely appropriate to be taking photos in public toilets, but I was just so taken with the place, it just had to be done.

If you are coming to Bangkok, give Terminal 21 a visit, I know you won't be disappointed. Equally, bring a rather fat wallet of cash — cash is most certainly king here. Yes, they do take cards, but they would rather you give them money, which, it has to be said, much of Thailand prefers as well!

​I'm sure me and Darrell will be back before we leave for Singapore on Sunday!