Angie

Its good to know it wasn't to humid - humidity can be a killer if your not used to it.  My only concern about the bike ride is that I haven't ridden a bike since I was about 12yrs old.  I know they say you never forget how to... but is that really true!!  Just the thought of me on a bike is making me laugh out loud.  I wonder if they have stabilizers for adults these days lol

I believe that one or two of our group hadn't ridden for many years either, but they managed well.

Katy

If you do it, I'd appreciate a comment on how you found the bike ride when you get back!

Cheers,

Bob

Hi Katy,

If you do it, I'd appreciate a comment on how you found the bike ride when you get back!

Cheers,

Bob

Hi Bob,

will do a very mini review/my impressions of this holiday when I get back - we're very fortunate to have some excellent reviews already, which are really making me keener than ever to do the trip.  From what Jonah has just post, looks as if there may be time issues, but I would like to have a go on the bike if I can - will include whatever happens (or not) with bike riding.

Regards

Katy

Cheers,

Bob

Dave

Hi Dave - I was last on a bike a few years ago so I'm not so much worried about falling off (famous last words!) but the heat factor.  I'll see how I feel when the time comes!

Cheers,

Bob

PS Are you booked on the Feb Burma tour?  With so many forum regulars booking both Borneo and Burma, I'm completely confused!!

,

For those of you are considering doing the bike ride (I did not) - you will have been up since 4 A.M for the flight to Mandalay!! I personally spent the afternoon exploring around the hotel (fascinating village behind, especially if you are a photographer) and doing some washing! The itinerary of course may be changed, but his is really about the only free time of any significance that you get.

The choice is yours!

Cheers,

Hils

Many thanks for this info - you have convinced me: I will not be doing the bike ride!!  Hopefully I'll get the chance to explore the village behind the hotel and chill a bit as well.

All the best,

Bob

Yes I meant to say 2018 instead of 2017! I have decided to get Costa Rica and Nicaragua out of the way next year. As you know I would have done this trip when you did, but I was advised not to do any long haul trip soon after recovering from my stem cell transplant. Fingers crossed Just You will use BA as they are going to fly direct to Costa Rica as from April this year (even though I prefer other Airlines!).

I will definitely do Burma in 2018 and I also want to do Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos sooner rather than later. I have put China on the back burner for the time being as I think it will always be on offer. I too will not be doing the bike ride in Burma or anywhere else as not sure if I will be able to ride one now. The last time I rode a bike was when I was 10 or 11 (I taught myself) . I am sure I will definitely fall off if I tried to ride one now!

Jaya

We flew with Iberian to Costa Rica and I think I would prefer almost any other airline to them!  The plane on the way out was old and tatty and just had centralized tv monitors so you could not choose what to watch!  On the way back the plane was much more up to date - and of course, flights were via Madrid.  The food wasn't great either!  Hope JY go with BA from next year for this tour!  Having said that, as I've said before the flight for me is just a means to an end, so once I get there safely I don't mind too much!  By the way, you may have seen on another thread that I mentioned that Freddy, our brilliant TM on the Mexico tour, said that the new JY Cambodia and Laos is his favourite tour so I hope you get to do it at some stage!

All the best,

Bob

I really was interested in the Costa Rica trip but was put off as it went via Madrid adds so much time to a long trip but didn't know about the planned direct flights so may well look at doing this in 2017.

Alan

Hi Alex and Julie (and Sally?!),

OK I couldn't wait any longer and I'm now booked for Burma (main tour only) for 13 Feb next year.  Only 8 places left, very excited!!  Hope you book too....

Cheers,

Bob

By the time I got my leave approved (shift work) All the spaces on 13Feb have gone..... Sob sob.... I've noticed they have added extra dates in for Feb 2017 So hopefully i can get my leave moved to accommodate the new dates available....... Grrrrrr

Has any one else booked for the later Feb trip?

Hi Jaya

I really was interested in the Costa Rica trip but was put off as it went via Madrid adds so much time to a long trip but didn't know about the planned direct flights so may well look at doing this in 2017.

Alan

Hi Alan

I am going to wait for the new brochure to come out to make sure Just You will be using the direct BA flight for the Costa Rica / Nicaragua trip as I do not really fancy going via Madrid.  But having said that, I want to do this trip in March next year so will just have to go with the flow.  I know once you get there, by any means, the trip will be worth it.  Hope to see you on this trip  next year!

Jaya

Hi Jaya,

We flew with Iberian to Costa Rica and I think I would prefer almost any other airline to them!  The plane on the way out was old and tatty and just had centralized tv monitors so you could not choose what to watch!  On the way back the plane was much more up to date - and of course, flights were via Madrid.  The food wasn't great either!  Hope JY go with BA from next year for this tour!  Having said that, as I've said before the flight for me is just a means to an end, so once I get there safely I don't mind too much!  By the way, you may have seen on another thread that I mentioned that Freddy, our brilliant TM on the Mexico tour, said that the new JY Cambodia and Laos is his favourite tour so I hope you get to do it at some stage!

All the best,

Bob

Hi Bob

I will go ahead and do the Costa Rica trip even if I have to go via Madrid as am sure the trip is worth it.  I am planning to go ahead and do Burma in 2018 and if at all possible, will aim to do Cambodia and Laos in the same year provided I can get time off work.  So many places to visit and so little time and money!!

Jaya

Despite what I said about the Iberian Airlines flight on the way to CR, going via Madrid was fine really so I certainly wouldn't let that put you off doing the tour - Tortuguero was the highlight; I have never seen so much wildlife in one area anywhere else in the world.  It was truly fantastic with so much variety!  I've just been watching Davina McCall in CR; although she went to a different area to us it brought it home to me how lucky we were to see so much - Davina had to work much harder for her wildlife sightings than we did!

Cheers,

Bob