Julie and Colette feeding their transport while exploring unknown jungle in deepest Thailand

Julie and Colette, master chefs Thai style

In May Beth and Graeme were planning to come up but those dastardly Red Shirts were causing problems and Bangkok was not the ideal holiday destination.  They explored Japan instead but hopefully we’ll see them some time soon.

In late June Julie’s sister Colette came up for a week, her first time to Thailand, and didn’t these two girls have fun!  They must have hit every foot massage place in town and every shop in MBK plus flew up to Chiang Mai for a few days of elephants, rafting, wats, night markets and frivolity.

Jann and Chris, Julie and Bill let loose in the Royal Palace grounds

In July Jann and Chris stayed with us for a few days on the way back from their big European holiday.  Julie organised a schedule to suit our guests and Chris and I also managed to pack in a few beers and a run in Lumpini.  They could have easily just decided to fly straight home after their long trip so we were really excited to see some of our best friends for a few days.

This might look kinda weird but we’re in a restaurant and our wives are somewhere nearby

In October Julie’s ex-work mate Carolyn and her husband Guy stayed for a few days.  Unfortunately I was away travelling at the time but I hear I missed some good travelling partners as they explored Bangkok with a vengeance, taking in everything on offer from their expert tour guide Julie.

We also got to see our old mate Mike Dwyer on his brief visit to Bangkok for a business conference.  We hadn’t seen Mike for ages but it’s always good to reminisce about our old times – going all the way back before kids! – and we think often of Mike, Mandy and their two girls.

Col and Marg, Bill and Julie enjoying our kids’ inheritance

But the prize winners for the longest visit, the most ambitious, adventurous and keenest visit overwhelmingly goes to Marg and Col who stayed in Thailand for 12 days.  But did they just lay around the pool drinking cold beers and telling old stories?  Hardly! They went full tilt every day, driven like a demon by our resident tour guide they hit all the sights in Bangkok, then the three of them flew to Chiang Mai for a couple days of exploring, shopping, wats, rafting, elephant riding, trekking, and more.

Team snorkeling off Phi Phi Island

No sooner had they returned when the four of us flew down to Krabi in southern Thailand for a long weekend staying in luxury at Raylay Beach, enjoying the magnificent limestone karst mountains and islands, snorkelling around Phi Phi Island, kayaking, swimming and eating.  And yes, I think there was one hour around the pool but that’s all we could fit in.

There’s really nothing I can say about this

But wait, there’s more.  As soon as we returned from Krabi the three of them – Julie, Marg and Col – were off again with a driver for two days in and around Kanchanaburi to visit the floating markets, the Bridge Over River Kwai, Hellfire Pass, more elephants, Erawan National Park and all the great stuff in between.  No truer has it ever been said that they needed a holiday to get over their holiday, especially with Julie constantly cracking the whip.

But the year isn’t over yet and neither are the visitors.  This month we also got a delightfully unexpected surprise visit from Will, who rang us up one day and said he was organising a four day weekend so he could come up to Bangkok and hang out with his parents for a few days.  Do you know what that sort of talk does to proud parents’ heart?

Riding a ferry to the end of the line

The Will/Bill team voluntarily visiting another wat

We had a great time seeing a few extra things that first or second time visitors would not see plus it was the Loi Krathong festival weekend which added some colourful celebrations to the list.  It was such a joy to spend that time with Will, catching up on stories and our recent lives but also quickly realising that some beautiful things never change.   On ya, Will.

And to really top it off, we already know our first visitor for 2011 – Zach is organising a group of six friends to tour around Vietnam, Laos and Thailand and he’s extending his trip for a few days to do ‘some fun stuff’ with his parents also.  Howzat?

So 2010 has been a great year for Julie and I in Thailand and the highlights have been all the people who have taken the time (and cost) to come to Bangkok or extend their holiday or divert their travel plans or whatever the case may be just to visit us.  So if you want to see Bangkok from a different perspective with free accommodation and a killer tour guide I know just the place!