Cam's in Europe

And we're home.

After 80 days of the most amazing experiences and time with my most loved family we arrive home safely.

We had a wonderful final week in Phuket Thailand.

Lots of nothing this week, in fact it wasn't until Thursday evening we left the resort to venture out for dinner at the local town down the road. And after getting slightly carried away with some fresh seafood and not realising weight per pay I bought the biggest and most expensive prawns ever - equivalent of $20 AUD ea. But as big as the biggest banana - and worth it at the end of our wonderful trip.

Our last night was just as special, and as much in talking about the trip we were completing. Favourite experiences?, what you learnt?, what was interesting? were part of our discussions.

The history of France, the bike ride tours, Pompeii, and spending time with our family were some of the many noted points.

We are all very conscious that trip like this is not possible for everyone for a range of different reasons. It is something I have personally cherished so much and certainly used to ensure I had very special time with my dearest family. My walks and talks with my daughter's, our laughter, tears, excitement and fun in being together has certainly been so satisfying.

The time with Angela is just the same. We've both loved each others company, being together for this amount of time is a foreign thing for most of us due to work consuming most of the time in our weeks - we've walked the idyllic romantic streets, rivers, parks and beaches and we've pinched ourselves while doing it. But my satisfaction comes from watching my beautiful wife, laughing and playing with our girls - the simple things that makes life what its all about - and ultimately all we could ask for, Happy, Healthy children.

Journeys like this are special and must influence us in what and who we are, and whatever that journey is - it's important. My lesson and maybe advise is to simply enjoy your journey, make it as happy as you can (as there is the reality of bad days and luck for us all from time to time) - you don't know what's around that next corner and no matter who, where or what we are we can all only live the moment we are in.

Work is that other reality the we all must have . We've seen and met so many people on this trip while they are working. Those free smiles - when you get one, you give one, a hello, Bonjour, or good morning from a stranger working the cafe, bus, or whatever they were doing would often help shape our day. Happy people finding positive and happiness in what they do. It's a great lesson.

I can't wait to return to work. It's a big part of my life and will remain that way for this period of my life because I derive so much enjoyment, satisfaction and happiness from what I do and those I work with.

I can't wait to return home to share a juice (time to have a break) with my mates and our friends - Those who every day also add so much fulfilment to our lives and help also add to the happiness we enjoy.

I can't wait to see our parents, my brother and sister, niece and nephew and enjoy time with them and their families, partners and kids.

And finally I can't wait to get back to 'normal' life with my family, where we sit down to dinner most nights, talk about our days and continue to love and cherish the family I have have.

Thank you to those who have enjoyed this journey with me. As I started out by saying, this blog gave me a chance to keep a diary as much as allow it as a communication tool for those interested in keeping up with where we were and what we were doing - I think I've achieved that and shared a bit more of the person I am in doing that.

It's so nice to be back home - love to you all, especially Ange, who as always was the back bone to making this trip happen - I Love you.

I was The Happy Traveller.

Phuket - Thailand.

We're on our way from Rome.

One bombed out Liv Liv arriving in Phuket.

Big enough to be seated alone.

Back on the bikes.

My beautiful Claire.

Ange finally got her Japanese meal.

Google again making magic from a series of my photos

Our pink Tuk Tuk ride

The last supper!

Goodbye -

This morning (Sunday) I post from the Rome airport - waiting for our flight back to Singapore and then onto Phuket.

Its not my intention to become too nostalgic, although as this blog was acting as a big part of my diary I will share some of my thoughts and feelings as the trip concludes over the next week.

Our time in Siena continued last Sunday by beginning again at the local markets. If I've made mention that churches, bridges, and statues have started to all look similar, I can honestly say this of the markets more so.

The crowds were out buying more 2€ t-shirts and 10€ shoes while we looked at more fruit and vege that the worst supermarkets back home wouldn't dare try and display - but is was about getting amongst the community and seeing the town, and Siena was very pretty.

Anyone for a pork roll?

We found a terrific bakery and purchased some lunch items which we took back and had an afternoon in, where I finally got to see some Tour De France on TV. Not super exciting, but being I had wanted to try and see a stage and then after that fail being so close we haven't seen or heard boo about the Tour.

An afternoon walk to the local supermarket had Ange and I salivating, as we found prices for some our favourite Champagnes at bargain prices. Surprise to some, and us, we weren't silly but did buy a couple to at least say we got a deal. All the same so much of the local Italian wine is so good and super cheap - but you do need to do your homework.

We took a drive to a town a little further along on Monday - called Arezzo. Sun flower fields had us smiling the whole way and arriving we found another beautiful historic place.

We climbed the streets found a look out and again imagined the Roman life from so long ago.

The afternoon bought a huge storm and after returning to Siena and having lunch we got hit walking back to the car - not so bad considering it was still in the mid 20's when at home they were struggling for double digits!

Soaked!

Tuesday was move on day - Rome. Our final destination for our trip of Europe. We stopped on the way at the top end factory outlets, but still felt in a big way we were now shopping purely for the sake of it - an easy way to waste it ($$). I was close to buying a pair of Prada red shoes (something I've been threatening the girls I will do while in Italy), purely because they were discounted from 1750€ down to the red hot bargain of 320€ - Hmmmm??

We arrived in Rome mid afternoon in 32 degree warm heat. I again pushed limits of the rules and drove in the 'inner city' permit area, decided against following our trusty sat nav system and thought a short cut as it appeared on the screen would be far quicker than the heavy Rome traffic. - wrong on all counts.

Streets so narrow people had to stand in doorways, side mirrors had to be pulled in and outside cafe tables moved as the Risstrom's came to town. Our apartment, a great 2 bedroom large 2nd story pad is just so 30m from Trevi fountain - which we ironically drove past but didn't notice due to huge volumes of tourists / people on the streets I was trying to negate - funnier still is its now closed for 12+months of renovations, yet those special tourists still queue to take a photo of the scaffolding and construction site it has become - "D&#$ heads"!

Our Rome apartment on the 3 level.

The crowds around the Trevi construction zone,
and the lane I drove up and we're staying on.

After unloading and finding a lawful car spot we headed out for a walk to get our bearings, grab some supplies from the local supermarket and have dinner. A quick check on the car on the way home discovered a clamp - Oh No! The clamping guys who I tried arguing with (but being much bigger was very short lived) said the police had enforced it because of the non registered inner city driving - Oh well 40€ for the clamp (not bad really) and a fine that they're waiting for me to pay!

Wednesday was a day trip down to Pompeii (which was the reason I kept the car a day longer than planned), and to a tour and visit that was one of the most spectacular of the whole trip. We had a fabulous guide, who made it so worth while. Engaging the girls and maintaining our interest on something he does twice a day. We had us feeling goose bumps at times as he really had us living and understanding the moment of so long ago.

A fascinating place and tour.

Our wonderful guide Gaetano explaining to the girls
about the height of Mt Vesuvius.

De ja vu - maybe this will catch on?

Thursday was shopping day and the girls dosed up on retail therapy.

Friday we had lunch booked with Pope Francisco, but we missed our bus, so used our time to look around his pad - again another truly inspiring building and associated museum. Some of the paintings weren't bad either.

We did another tour yesterday - this time the Colosseum. While the tours cost more than entrance fees you save hours queueing in lines that can be easily 2-3 hrs and in the current heat of Rome it was worth every cent - including the genuine history and information the guide passes on.

More walking, a little more shopping (and for me - but no red shoes) and we reached the end of our final day and our last Italian dinner.

So we wish Italy fair well, we keep the very real, special and close memories we have from our 10 weeks of Europe and we begin our bounce home via Phuket.

This trip has given a range of experiences, emotions, opened new discussions and most importantly grown stronger the relationship I have with my family.

We've obviously had so much excitement, joy, happiness in the new places, experiences and opportunities we have experienced. But we've dealt with sadness, loss, and the interesting emotions that heighten when your so far from home inhibiting you from caring more or be cared for and reassured.

We certainly learnt a lot about each other, without question I see a greater resilience in Claire and Olivia - I have been amazed by their constant ability to maintain a interest, focus and appreciation for new experiences and new situations.

We've had so many great discussions on life, death, religion, taxes, the poor and the rich. Why love and friendship is so important and how lucky we are to have so many experiences in one special privileged trip. (We also talked about Britex a lot too).

A continued emotion for us all is that of missing our friends. As I said in a earlier blog very genuinely - we have missed the day by day chats and that support that true friendship brings. While my Dad jokes have kept the mood high, it's the interactions of friends, my work colleagues and obviously family too that make up a special part of every day.

Finally, like all at home and around the world we were and are deeply moved by the attack on the Malaysian MH17 flight. Being in a similar time zone we received first reports witin hours of it happening. Maybe again being away makes you feel that little more vulnerable. Its one of so many terrible things that continue to happen in many areas of the world where peace and respect for other just doesn't seem to be able to exist - the question why is just so hard to answer.

So tomorrow I will (again) don the buddgie smugglers for my last week - one we are very much looking forward to for rest and relaxation, out of the rat race of these marvellous big cities. Enjoying hopefully some Thai culture and that friendly hospitality that they are also renowned for.

So until my last blog next week - Another Pina Colada please!

The Happy Traveller.

Siena