We started back on 1 January in Bangkok and somehow turned that into Cambodia and nearly three months in Vietnam. Along the way we’ve eaten food that made us grin like lunatics and food that made us look at each other with the quiet understanding that one of us might not make it.

Bangkok: Heat, Hope, and Immediate Confusion

Bangkok doesn’t ease you in. It arrives fully formed, slightly sweaty, and entirely unconcerned whether you are ready or not.

We learned quickly that pavements are optional, crossing roads requires commitment, and air conditioning is less a luxury and more a survival tool.

It was disorientating, loud, and exactly what we needed.

Cambodia: Slower Days and Unexpected Highlights

Then on to Cambodia, where things slowed down just enough for us to catch our breath.

Places like Siem Reap gave us space to settle into travel properly. Mornings stretched, routines appeared, and life felt calmer. From the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat to the tranquil world of the elephants Cambodia was amazing.

But Cambodia also gave us one of the standout moments of the entire trip: the day Craig went full Forest Gump. No warning, no build-up, just a man suddenly committed to running like he had a message to deliver.

I’m still not entirely sure why.

Then the journey from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong had everything: taxi, trains, boats and buses with confusion and laughter at every point, but the highlight had to be out shock of staying at Baby Bong Hotel.

Vietnam: Noise, Motion, and Beautiful Madness

Then came Vietnam, where everything turned up several levels.

Nearly three months of movement, noise, and journeys that rarely went exactly to plan.

From the chaos of Tet in Ho Chi Minh City to the quieter edges of Cat Ba Island, Vietnam became the main body of the trip.

And then there was the north.

The scenery there is genuinely jaw dropping. Hills folding into peaks, roads winding through landscapes that look slightly unreal, as if someone has turned the saturation up just a bit too high.

For Craig, the King Kong ride will stay with him forever. For me, it has to be Fansipan peak. One of those moments where you stop, look around, and realise this is why you said yes to the whole trip in the first place.

The Moments That Stick (For Better or Worse)

Not everything was postcard perfect.

I won’t forget the cockroach encounter in Ha Tien. That was less “travel memory” and more “character building exercise”.

But I will miss the daily dose of smiles. The small, constant kindness that turns up everywhere when you least expect it.

Food, Glorious… and Occasionally Questionable

Food was a mixed experience.

There were moments of real enjoyment, but also a fair amount of quiet negotiation around exactly which part of the animal we were being served.

It’s probably the one thing we won’t miss.

The Reality of Slow Travel

Across all three countries, a few things became clear.

Plans are optional. Comfort is negotiable. Google Maps is helpful but ultimately quite judgemental.

We got lost regularly, travelled on transport that operated on optimism, and slowly became more comfortable being uncomfortable.

Which, it turns out, is quite a useful life skill.

Craig, Marriage, and General Survival

Craig remained the sensible one throughout.

Calm, practical, and occasionally preventing us from making decisions that would have added unnecessary drama to the day.

I remained committed to approaching most situations with enthusiasm and only a vague understanding of what was happening.

I have continued to walk into hotel lobbies looking as if I’ve been tumble dried on high. We’ve crossed roads that felt like live-action Frogger, survived motorbikes, monsoons and one hotel shower that sprayed water sideways, upwards and directly into the light fitting. We’ve got lost often enough that Google Maps now feels like a disappointed parent.

There were days we felt like seasoned travellers and days we couldn’t find the entrance to a temple the size of a small moon. We argued about directions, laughed about directions, then got lost again because we were too busy laughing.

Marriage, it turns out, is a team sport. We are both playing with energy and absolutely no understanding of the rules.

What We Take Away

Four months doesn’t transform you into different people.

But it does shift something.

You become more patient. You learn to adapt and it takes time, this is a new chapter of our lives and it takes some adjusting. We huffed and puffed at each other, we are human, it is all part of our journey together.  We are less bothered when things don’t quite work and more willing to accept that the best parts are usually the ones you didn’t plan.

The Simple Verdict

Bangkok was the refreshing.
Cambodia was the pause.
Vietnam was the experience.

And all of it together?

Loud, chaotic, occasionally confusing… and absolutely bloody brilliant.

But Most of All…Thank you

Thank you so much to everyone who has followed along, and especially to those who have commented and kept in touch. It really did make it feel like you were part of it with us.

We’ve loved it. All of it. Even the chaos.

And honestly, if anyone is thinking of going… don’t think. Just go. It’s bloody brilliant.

Now we’ve packed up and headed back to a world where kettles don’t hide, showers point in one direction, and nobody tries to transport a family of five, a dog and a fridge on one scooter.

We will miss the food (no), the chaos, the fun, the adventure, the people and the scenery.

I will not miss Craig asking every single day, with the seriousness of a man announcing a national emergency, “Have you got some bog roll.”

And on that note, we’ll say cheerio and see you in a few months when we head off to Europe in our motorhome.