Christmas 2006- Easter 2007.

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What I see as the most travelled and amazing year of my life to date comes to an end.

For Christmas 2006 I plan to go back home to Bolton. I miss my family and friends, it as been 16 months since I was last there, most of all I miss my brother and nephew.
The boat is now in Thailand having some work and paint done for the next few months and although my holidays are not due for another month, they feel long over due, so I’m off.

I head south to Koh Samui. I haven’t seen my parents for a year, I miss them and I am looking forward to 3 days with them in their gorgeous newly built house (pictured) that was just an hole in the dirt last I saw of it.

I spend my Christmas in the UK then after the Christmas pudding rituals, I decide it’s about time I learn how to ski. My Auntie Susan has the crazy idea to just book a flight to Switzerland and see if we can find a hotel on arrival. Now, I don’t know if anyone has showed up at one of Europe’s top get away resorts, at 9pm, on new years eve and just randomly tried to find a place to stay, so for those who haven’t, the laughs off other people and the crazy looks you receive are quite normal. A hotel owner took pity on us after he laid witness to us dragging our suitcases through the snow and skidding on the ice. He put us up in the fire escape of his hotel; equipped with 2 mattress’s and a cold-water tap, with our shower an elevator ride away. None of this damped the mood of our holiday, due to the sadistic attitude of my family, it actually lightened it. We took full advantage of the snow. Despite the ten tumbles down the slopes per day, we thoroughly enjoyed it! All of this was great practice for the 6 weeks I was about to spend in the snowy town of Vail, Colorado in the USA.

Beginning of January I find myself heading to America for the first time (except for the obvious childhood trip to Disney Land).

Arrival in Denver International Airport
Driving to an altitude of aprox 3000mts wipes it out of you. One glass of wine, so to say, “puts you on your ass”, not that I was even old enough to party in the US- a fact that I did not consider when accepting my boss’ offer to house sit for him. But, what’s age got to do with it? I lived it up and became quite the little skier by the end of the 6 weeks.

So now you’re all pretty much up to date on dawnstravels. I made my way back to Koh Samui and spent a few days with my dad, mum and brother. I’m now sat in Samui airport waiting for a flight that will take me back to the boat.

I’m ready for a new adventure that will start with us crossing the Indian Ocean and making our way to the Med. I’ll keep you entertained and up to date along the way.