Hi there,

I'm now in Phnom Penh. Its incrediably hot and humid, over 40 degrees.�If you could see me zipping around on a back of a bike, you would all cringe. But its good fun and a cheap way to get you around the city. The volume of traffic is wild and unforgiving. I really like Camdodia, its a beautiful country with beautiful people that are haunted by�thier grim and torturous past. I've been� here for just over a week and one day I�would love to return.�

Here's an update from Laos .......

LUANG PROBAN (LAOS)

I didn't get to see much of this little town as I was confined to my bathroom. My new travelling companions were a mixed bunch, Chris from UK, Corne from S.Africa, Dermot from Ireland and Linda, Micheal, Martin from Holland. The Lao people were in the throws of celebrating their new year, entitling them to give you a massive soaking. Yep, waterfights were in. Luang Probang has many historic temples and thriving markets. Its also famous for the Pak Ou limestone�caves and the Kauangsi Falls. Shame I didn't get to see them.....

VANG VIENG (LAOS)

Hmmmm, interesting place. The landscape is breathtaking and beautiful, jagged limestone rocks jut out along the Song River. Many travellers stop here (as we did) on our way to Vientiane. Vang Vieng is an active place where you can go mountain biking, kayacking, hiking, rock climbing and tubing. It was five hour bus journey and we arrived in the biggest waterfight I have ever seen. Our sense of humour was exhausted from the bone shaking, arse cracking, neck breaking journey. It wasn't the most comfortable of journeys.... We all seemed to be over the waterfights and thank-god we didn't get�wet, I think someone would have been punched if we had got wet. After some good food and watering we retired to our beds. I was the first one to go.

We all went tubing in this little town. Tubing involves sitting inside a massive rubber inner tube and floating down a river. I have to say it was a surreal experience.There are bars at the side of the river all enticing you to stop for food and beer. The bars are made from bamboo and boom music out, whether its western or lao music. Each bar has its own trapesse swing for people to jump off in to the river in non acrobatic ways, most westerners who do this�are fuelled by alcohol or hash/grass.�At 11am in the morning, it was not appealling. there were safety signs on the platforms for the swings, stating �you can't swim, don't jump!'�The bamboo structures of the frames and ladders looked a tad rickety for me.�There certainly was a fear factor and it wasn't from the jumping.� Did I jump???� Did I hell????? No....

Even on the river, people were still�in water fight mode. Everybody�splashing everybody else.�There was a festival atmosphere. I was attacked by two chinesse guys in a canoe. I got my sweet revenge as I manged to capsize them, (not intentionally I may add). I was very grateful when they saw the funny side of it.� It was a great day and I loved the sun on my skin,� the sound of the rippling water and gazing up at the at the towering limestone rocks. I drifted in and out of sleep whilst floating down the river. Very relaxing...

There was one very strange thing about this little town. It was littered with bars showing/playing 'Friends' dvds. The scary thing was, people flocked to them! It has to be one of the most tradgic sights I have seen on my travels. I was shocked to see people transfixed, sitting in lines, all facing the tv and in silance.� It was sick and very wrong.

VIENTIANE (LAOS)

Oh how the waterfights continued..... It was exceptionally hot. 38-40 degrees. This was the place�our group disbanded and and went our seperate ways. We went out for our lasr supper and celebrated our good times. We all got�filthy drunk in�the local nightclub. We had to get a tuc tuc to get us there. All 7 of us piled into one. It was a sight for sore eyes, 7 people stuffed into�a�tuc tuc� and it squealling and struggling down�a flat road. We pleaded to the driver that we would get out nearer the night club but he insisted to taking us to the front door. Our enterance�was neither impressive or stylish.�I managed to find an admirer, he told me that he loved me very much and wouldn't let go of�my hand, I think�that's all he knew in�english.�I eventually told him that Corne, (one of the tallest men in�our group) was my boyfriend.�It was a very funny night and we later met a lao girl called 'Hon''�who could drink anyone under the table, even�our irish man, Dermot struggled to keep up. I don't think I have ever seen a woman who could drink like that.....�

We were all feeling pethetic the following day. I was sad to see everyone leave but was excitied to move on and visit Angkor Wat. My flight to Seim Reap was� in the early hours of the following day. I was thankful for the early night.

Well, take care of yourselfs and I will type up my Camdodian adventures soon.

Love Annie