Final notes on the Continents.

Notes on Europe

Small countries that make up for it by making huge buildings.
Reykjavik is always 9 C, apparently winter and summer.
The Grand Place in Brussels is the most spectacular city square in the world.

Notes on Africa

Forgot about all the speed bumps.
For having an all out alert on a water shortage, surely they could fix the taps from leaking.
As the birthplace for man and cradle of civilization, that should have given them a head start on being able to give you a decent hot shower.
Internet is brutal.  And the lovely lady in Swaziland stated in response to Cindy asking if they had wifi, Madame, if you find South Africa’s internet slow, then you will be very disappointed.  In Johannesburg, a rainy day slows down the internet. 
For vehicles, slow down is spelled “STOP”

Notes on Australia

My favorite sound of the trip, the kookaburra laughing in the morning.  Wonderful sound and enjoyed it all through Australia.
Worse sound are the Lorikeets at night.  They are beautiful, but were not gifted with a singing voice to match their beauty.
The trees are enormous.  Europe was the land of big buildings, Africa the land of big animials, and Australia the land of big trees, and beautiful birds.
The Great Ocean Road is spectacular, maybe one of the most scenic roads I have ever been on.
Always thought that paying $65 a night to camp at Clear Lake was ridiculous, now am thrilled to get a campsite for under $70, which does not happen too often.

Notes on Asia

The garbage is back in style.  Everywhere, in the water, on the beaches, on the streets.
Hu Long Bay could be spectacular if not for the over tourism, thanks to people like us.
Tam Coc is spectacular.
The sound of people spitting, all types of people and anywhere and everywhere.
Laos food is incredible, way better than the Vietnam food.
On June 26, Nate lost his sixth tooth of the trip.  That is two in Europe (Iceland and Amsterdam), one in Africa (believe Plettenburg Bay), two in Australia (Adelaide and Burleigh Heads), and two in Asia (Luang Prabang and Vientiane).  That is five continents (North America as well of course) he has loss teeth on, must be some type of world record.  He has also lost a hat on three continents.  This record we are not so happy with.
Phnom Penh is a very stinky city.
Singapore knows how to through a party, and that was just the rehearsals for their National Day.
Japan is one quiet organized polite society.  Lots of people, but quiet.
SE Asia is hot in the summer.  We walked around in 40 C weather for 10 weeks.

Carman

Great to be home.
We have the second slowest internet in the world right here in rural Manitoba.  South Africa you expect poor, but not here.  How disappointing.
We have great family and friends and it is wonderful to be with them again.

In review

192 days on the road
4 continents
13 countries
12 major city centres
4 world class human rights museums
7 missing teeth by Nate
parasailing, AFL, scuba diving, surfing, squid, Thai boxing, meeting people

People ask how our vacation was.  This was not a vacation.  A trip of this length has everything.  Lots of amazing adventures and experiences, but as with life anywhere over an extended amount of time, there are good and bad, stresses, disappointments, and home sickness.
Our boys were amazing.  For the last six and a half months we have lived in very close quarters with each other, and have been together constantly.  Ten and thirteen year olds love to wrestle, not always with the best results, but we always recovered. They allowed themselves to experience life, the food, eating with chopsticks, and other really cool events that are not always available.  Their ability to talk to people we meet was very rewarding for us.  The last two and a half months in SE Asia were hot, often with real feels in the low 40's.  But everyday we went out and did something amazing.  And Cindy is beyond amazing.  My role in the trip was to carry things and to drive.  Cindy organized our accommodation (which is not easy when travelling as a group of five), food experiences, and everything else.

Was it worth taking ourselves and our kids out of their regular lives for half a year?  Absolutely.

The end... until the next trip.

Home sweet... is that our garden?

Monday, August 14, 2017
A day of yard work.  Our next door neighbor kept our lawn mowed, but we said do not worry about the garden beds.  Let them weed up and we will look after it when we get home.  Knew it would be weedy, but certainly did not expect this.  Weeds over 2 meters high.  Wow!  After a mere six hours, it was all back to normal.  The hard days work was needed.  Sleeping at 10 pm and up at 6:30 am - with no laying awake during the night.  Jet lag is officially over.

And just like that, it is done

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Six and a half months, 292 days since we were last in our own beds.  Georgina and Larry pick us up at the airport, and Benny and Sandy are there as well as there flight from Toronto was delayed and they arrived at the same time as us.  We get back to Larry and Georgina's for a short sleep before we drive to Carman.  However, getting to sleep after a long flight is not that easy.  At 3:00 am in Winnipeg, our internal clocks are still 5:00 pm in Tokyo.  We eventually fall asleep but are up at 10 for a great breakfast and some visiting.
On the way out of Winnipeg, we do a quick stop at Soby's for some groceries and home.  The house looks great, and except for some dead bugs, is very clean and undusty.  I guess it is true, dust is dead skin, and with no bodies in the house - no dust.  After sorting mail, and the boys getting a feel for the neighborhood, we go to sleep.  More accurately, we lie in bed for the night.  I fell a sleep at 10:30 pm, was up at midnight, and then lay awake waiting for 5:00 am, my determined time.  Cindy and I got out of bed at 4:45 am as 5 became to far away.

We are not happy until you are not happy.

Misery loves company, and looking at the number of 

delayed flights with Air Canada, we have lots of company.

Saturday, August 12... the second time around
We happily devour our meal on ANA after surviving the first Saturday on toast for breakfast, an ice cream cone for lunch, and candy for a late supper.  We decided that after the walking tour we would eat at the Tokyo Airport, but all we could find of interest was some candy.  The meal was great on the airplane.  We landed on schedule in Vancouver, cleared customs quickly, gathered our luggage and checked it in for our Air Canada flight to Winnipeg.  It is about 3:00 pm and we are happy as we fly out at 7:30 pm.  As we check the departure board to find what gate, we notice a flight delay, and within the next 30 minutes, the delay increases to just under two and a half hours.  Comedian Big Daddy Tazz in a skit says that Air Canada's slogan is We are not happy until you are not happy.  The lady at the information desk believes the flight is delayed because of the wind.  Not sure if she realizes that planes fly based on wind, and that every other airline seems to be able to fly in this same wind.  Oh well, we jump on the train and go to a nearby mall to kill some time.  After a couple of hours, we return to the airport, have supper at Tim Hortons, and board our plane just prior to 10:00 pm for Winnipeg.

It is time...

Saturday, August 12, 2017 - the first time around.
After six and a half months of travelling east, we are now 14 hours ahead of home.  Today we will get to experience Saturday, August 12... twice.  We fly out at 9:50 pm and arrive in Vancouver on Saturday around 2:00 pm, almost eight hours earlier than we left.  Have to love time travel.
We still have one more day in Tokyo though.  This morning we checked out the Nippori section of old Tokyo as this is fabric town, and Cindy loves fabric.  The day is slightly overcast, which is perfect for the four sad looking males waiting outside the fabric store.  Cindy is in seventh heaven, and just over an hour later returns with her spoils of warring the thick crowds inside this store.  Every now and again one of the boys would venture into the store to get an update on her status.  We then jumped the train to Tokyo Station for our walking tour.  We did not leave much time for the change over and ended up missing lunch.  Tokyo Station has over 420 000 people a day pass through it, making it the busiest station in the world.  The tour took us through the Imperial Palace grounds.  Very nice and peaceful.  After the walking tour was completed, we jumped the train to get back to our neighborhood.  We left our luggage with our landlord and needed to collect it before heading off to the airport.  Our bags stink!  The landlord has a couple of smoking roommates and cats.  At 7 pm we are all check in and at 9:55 am we are lifting off, getting ready to experience our second Saturday shortly.  We are excited to be returning home, but not so excited about 13 hours in the air with a five hour layover.

Farewell old friends.

Friday, August 11, 2017
Leaving precisely on time, we left Kyoto on the Hikari Express 464 for Tokyo.  I was forced to bid farewell to my trusted flip flops.  After they have been with me for the whole trip, Cindy said enough was enough.  An unfortunate roll over in South Africa required that the one spend the rest of the trip wrapped in duct tape (glad I brought a roll).  I pleaded that I still had duct tape left to have them make the trip home, but I was voted down.  They were good shoes and I will miss them deeply.

After arriving in Tokyo precisely on time, we did a subway and then Luke managed to direct us to our apartment.  Funny, he is always the slowest one, put a phone with GPS in his hand and suddenly no one can keep up to him.  The apartment is roomy compared to our previous box.  After getting settled, we find a little restaurant down the street.  Although they were tired of it, the boys went for another helping of Katsu don.  Cindy and I changed up our meal for the night.  We then walked into Shinjuku area.  True big city living.  Friday night, lots of people out and bright lights.