Author Archives: TJ

Getting to know Budva and taking a trip to the stunning Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor

Friday, 17 February 2017 to Thursday, 23 February 2017
We woke up groggily this morning after yesterday’s 12 hour bus journey from Belgrade; we were still in recovery mode. The weather was a cool but balmy 15°C, a welcome change from the negatives in Belgrade.

Our new apartment is wonderful and has everything to make our lives very comfortable, even a large balkoni (balcony) with a view over Continue reading

Saying goodbye to Belgrade and travelling to Budva by bus

Danube

Danube

Friday, 10 February 2017 to Thursday, 16 February 2017
Adri went downstairs and up the road to get us a burek for breakfast, the long thin type. I prefer the long thin pastry variety to the flat round one; the latter can be rather oily, too oily for my liking and health, but of course it is delicious. Adri brought home a beef as well as a feta-like cheese burek, both were amazing. Continue reading

We were not expecting to be escorted off a NATO bombing site… but we were!

Saint Mark’s Church, view from Tasmajdan Park

Saint Mark’s Church, view from Tasmajdan Park

Friday, 3 February 2017 to Thursday, 9 February 2017
Today was the first day we dared leave the windows open for a prolonged period of time; it was +11°C outside and forecasted to go up to +16°C, it was beautiful outside. Wow! Belgrade is truly a wonderful city in winter; I can just imagine how beautiful it must be in summer when the multitude trees carry their green mantle with pride and dignity. Maybe, just maybe, we will come back to witness that sometime. Continue reading

We went to see Swan Lake… and then we saw it again, for real

Belgrade Fortress

Belgrade Fortress

Friday, 27 January 2017 to Thursday, 2 February 2017
I was ready for my early morning news fix but the wifi wasn’t. That circle just kept spinning around and around and around… There was no way to contact Miha from the apartment without wifi, so we would have to visit a coffee shop with wifi to accomplish this. I then noticed that Adri’s phone – with its Thailand AIS sim still in place – made a perfect connection to the local Serbian network. I sent Miha Continue reading

Having fun getting acquainted with a frozen Belgrade

Belgrade - Student Park

Belgrade – Student Park

Friday, 20 January 2017 to Thursday, 26 January 2017
This last week we never saw the temperature raise its head above freezing, in fact the highest was -2°C with the lowest around -16°C. The sun was hardly visible; taking a peek only now and then just to make sure we had not forgotten him. This weather obviously kept us pretty much housebound although we endeavoured to at least go for one lengthy walk during the day or early evening. Continue reading

From Bangkok to Belgrade and from 30 to 3 degrees below and beyond

Skadarlija (Skadarska) street

Skadarlija (Skadarska) street

Friday, 13 January 2017 to Thursday, 19 January 2017
It was Friday morning and we had another mountain trip planned with Patrick and Oi and this would also not disappoint, just like our magical mystery tour of two weeks ago. It was after 09:00 that we met up with the pair and departed along the ring road towards Manaem. At Soi 1 we turned left, rode up and past the Sereena Restaurant that we visited a while back and enjoyed the mountain road ride towards Lamai. It really is a lovely ride with wonderful tropic scenery. Continue reading

Between the rain and heart attacks we were having great fun

Koh Samui - View from Big Buddha area

Koh Samui – View from Big Buddha area

Friday, 6 January 2017 to Thursday, 12 January 2017
It rained… and then it petered out to a drizzle… and then it intensified into an all-out watery attack, and then… so it went in cycles, cycle after cycle, it never did stop raining. We were housebound, I cannot recall ever having done so much nothing in my life.

Yesterday we started watching a Swedish series called 30° i februari which translates to 30 Degrees In February. Continue reading

Rain, Rain, Rain… uh oh oh oh oh… Rain, Rain, Rain…

Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay

Friday, 30 December 2016 to Thursday, 5 January 2017
Today Patrick took us on a magical mystery tour… not to be confused with the Beatle’s tour of the same name. We met at his home in the morning from there we rode down the ring road, through Chaweng and Chaweng Noi, through Lamai, and a kilometre or two past the Lamai Makro we turned right and headed up into the mountains. We were riding along, minding our own business when I suddenly saw Oi’s feet ever so gracefully glide over and past Patrick’s ears. I was rather surprised at her athletic ability but then saw the motive for this act… Continue reading

Celebrating Christmas and happy news… with a six star Christmas dinner

Choeng Mon beach

Choeng Mon beach

Friday, 23 December 2016 to Thursday, 29 December 2016
For some reason I woke up at 03:00 even though the alarm was set for 04:00, which is when I got up, and we

left for the airport at 4:30. Adri dropped me at the airport by 04:45 and by 05:00 I was seated in the lovely open-air departures area of the Koh Samui Airport. I was on my way to fetch our passports in Bangkok which had been returned to the TLS Contact Centre from the French Embassy, with or without a Schengen Visa, that remained to be seen, but we were of course hoping it would be the former. Continue reading

Arriving back home again… back home again on Koh Samui

Koh Samui

Koh Samui

Friday, 16 December 2016 to Thursday, 22 December 2016
Another travel day lay ahead of us as we got up early on Friday morning; we packed, had a simple breakfast and boarded a taxi for the airport. The trip to Samui today proved to be uneventful and rather enjoyable. We flew to Surat Thani on the mainland; from there we took a bus to the Donsak Pier, boarded the ferry and arrived on Samui mid afternoon. The Airasia flight tickets include the cost Continue reading