See the world - Explore it

Watching the UK coast line come into view was an incredibly emotional moment, remembering how long ago we had left to start a new life in New Zealand. The countryside appeared scorched from the ongoing heatwave, not its usual lush green, but still recognisable as home. We arrived into London after two flights and 14 hours which actually was remarkably pain free. Michael had slept and woke in a good mood which was fortunate as we had mistakenly booked to arrive into Gatwick Airport, meaning we had a train and the underground to navigate with backpacks before arriving at our Airbnb situated in Camden. Exhausted but determined to stay awake we dumped the bags and headed straight into chaotic colourful Camden Market where we were thrilled to watch the expression on Michael's face as he stared at the outlandish shop fronts, and marvelled at the range of Fortnite t-shirts and memorabilia every where. He decided instantly he liked London! Our first meal in London left us feelin...

Kiwi See the World “through my eyes”- Cambodia We took a bus over the border into Cambodia and with quiet trepidation surveyed the view from the window. In many ways it reminded us of Lao. Lots of dilapidated villages, wooden shacks and extremely poor, a sharp contrast to the more affluent Vietnam we had left behind. We were however pleasantly surprised to arrive into Phnom Penh, which was a bustling, relatively clean glittering city, much to Michaels relief who had fretted and questioned us about our likely accommodation the whole way. Our first day was to tour the Killing Fields and S-21 genocide museum. A former high school converted into jail where thousands of Cambodians we're brutally tortured, starved and murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 -1979. A graphic and harrowing experience to look into the eyes of the men, women and children catalogued and photographed on entering the jail never to leave. 3 million victims over quarter of the population murde...

Kiwi See the World - Through my eyes Rather than write another article on Asperger’s, we decided to keep a running diary on how Michael copes travelling for a year and share some of the problems we face, as well as the successes on our journey as we go. This isn’t intended to be the answer to managing his ASD. The saying you’ve met one person with ASD is correct. You really have only met one person with ASD. Everyone is individual and different. We are sharing our experience of travel, good and bad in the hope that it has a positive impact on Michael's life and will have value to another parent faced with the same or similar issues to our selves. Michael is fully involved in this blog and approves every thing before publishing. January 2018 A week to go! Michael 10 is smart, articulate but lacking in empathy, has limited social skills around his peers and has extremely high levels of anxiety. Faced with the prospect of travelling around the world for ...

We arrived in Hanoi exhausted after a 26-hour torturous sleeper bus journey from Lao but were instantly energised, as we stepped out of the taxi into the brightly lit night streets of the old quarter. A wall of sound, lights, people and aroma hit us. Scooter exhausts growling, horns beeping, street sellers and touts instantly produced their wares, a wave of people and an abundance of colour. Wow we had arrived! Michael was instantly overloaded and proceeded to shout at anyone in his path, while Jason and I just walked, mouth wide open in amazement, soaking in the amazing, welcoming vibe. This city just rocks! We had heard just how bad the traffic was going to be, but nothing had prepared us for trying to cross a road. Realising that we were going to be stood a very long time, we just had to put the theory to the test and step out into the sea of scooters and taxis. One step slowly in front of the other, don’t panic, don’t change direction and don’t stop. I realised afte...