Hi Guys

Well we are in Bangkok. Very nice Hotel Andrew. Soft pillows, normal toilets, 5 star brekky. Wooo hooo.

Well the last couple of days through to Battambang was an adventure. We had a 7 hour boat ride on the Tonle Sap to Battembang. Hmmm, it wasn't really a boat more like a long dingy with padded seats and a roof. It was fun though, we could stand on the outside and just hold on. Have lots of photos that Shane will load on tonight.

All the way along the river/lake people live. It is an incredibly poor area. They live in stilt houses/huts. With thatched roofs. Some live on small boats and some live just with a tarp over their heads. Children everywhere swimming. Everytime we went past the kids they would come out waving and smiling. Beautiful. It is very hard to explain, but the overall feeling was crushing poverty, but with a smile.

After the 7 hour "luxury" boat ride we arrived at Battembang and went to lunch at an orphanage. We had a chat to the children and had a look at what they can learn. This orphanage is for poor children and girls who may be sold into tafficking or have been raped. Sad but the children seemed happy.

Then off we went. Shane and i on a Tuk Tuk and Georgie and Callum on motorbikes. Yep motorbikes. Don't panic mum, it was ok. They had a ball. After a 1/2 hour mad ride we arrived at the bamboo train, which is just a flat bamboo raft on train wheels. The track goes for 250 klm. Thank god we did not have to go that far. We had about a 20min ride. Not very comfy, but worth the experience.

That night we went to dinner at a home. Facinating insight into how people live and their culture. Great food. They are very food orientated. They like to keep feeding you. They told us about their lives now, and also what it was like in the war. Compelling listening. The famine, which we would all remember being on tele years ago. How difficult it was to survive. Puts it all into perspective now.

We left the next morning in our comfy mini buses for Bangkok. Long drive 7 hours. Crossing into Thailand was an interesting experience. Lots of police. Lots of checking. Eventualy got in. You have to walk through the border, it is about 250m long. They all just stare at you.

As soon as we got into Thailand you could see the difference. The roads were better. There were lots of cars and hardly any motorbikes. Big freeways. When you have to pass a car you just go up the middle and the cars coming toward you just move to the side. Freaks you out a bit, but you get used to it.

Bangkok traffick is madness. We are staying in Chinatown at the moment and it is amazing. Lots of very strange things in the shops. They say it is food, but i am not so sure. Went out last night for dinner. Very interesting. lots of girls in very tight red dresses. I think somehow we ended up in a red light district. There was a big sign saying "House speciality - Testicle massage"!!!! Hmmmm had us all in fits.

Well changing hotels today, it is the start of 5 star yey.....

After that we are going to the biggest Shopping centre in Bangkok. Need to buy some clothes for Cal as everything is dirty so we will send it all out to get washed. Can't have him walking around naked.

Need to find the Bus Station, coz i think we will bus out of Bangkok to Hua Hin, then pick up a hire car there. Much easier i think. Having trouble finding my way around though. Saigon was easier than this.....

Well might go. Jenny have fun in Adelaide. Andrew, no there will not be any photos of girls in red dresses. Yey Kimmie for getting into Bond. Wendy i hear from Georgie that Al said the dogs are on a diet. Good luck with that. Hi Mum and Dad, thanks for the messages. We all a bit tired at the moment from many days travelling and also a bit of travellers runs..... So we have all had to take Gastrostop and the antibiotics. Not surprising though, cos we have eaten some very weird food in some very weird places.

Well, will get Shane to drop some photos on tonight.

Toodles

Janie, Shane Cal & Geo.