Shao Love your post! Humorous and a light touch about Banda Aceh. The one about the children was so funny. Am gonna link your post to my compilation (soon on www.dive-weh.com) of travel blogs & articles about Aceh. Hope it's alright.

Joana I just loved this story! Thank you for sharing it! I'm going to Sumatra in a few days and Bukit Lawang is definitely on the must visit list. I would like to ask how were you able to haggle the price for that guide Omano? I just looked into Jungle Inn website and the prices that they show forovernight jungle trekking are quite different from what you payed. I would very much appreciate some help from you guys! Also, if you could tell me how much you payed for lodging, it would be great. Thank you so much!

Bethnsdad I hope you continue this blog when you're back, and chronicle the return to "normality".

MumP I'm enjoying your blogs so much, I hope you're both going to carry them on when you get home and give us all lovely descriptions of the view on your way to and from work?

MumP Well, I know we may be a bit overprotective over here (Simon didn't make a machete till he was at least 14, not 4!), I did cringe at the picture of those children let loose like that! I suppose it's just their version of getting streetwise early.

Bethnsdad Linda's right - 'When I was dying of malaria in Laos...' is a line you can dine out on for years to come.

Mum P What a horrendous time that was for you. You feel so helpless, watching someone who's ill, don't you. Still, all in the past and just one for the dramatic holiday memories now. I hope the rest of your trip goes well, without any more scares.

Bethnsdad You poor thing! (Well, both of you really, but having to watch someone special who's ill is difficult at the best of times, let alone the situation you two were in.) We hadn't picked up how serious it was from Facebook, but thank goodness it's over now. Lots of love, and starting to count the days down until we see you.

Neil Hi guys, Loving these blogs. Sounds like you're having an amazing time. Things back home are crazy, you're missing out on some stunning drizzle....and greyness, and quite chillyness. Keep up the good work, looking forward to the next installment! Neil xx

'auntie'M It seems to me that your entertaining diary will be full when you return with all the readers of your blog wanting to sample hte results of all your cookery schools. A pity I live 150 miles away!

LindaP Wow!!!

Bethnsdad (so only a bit biased ;-} ) Quote from your second blog: 'As Si and I are newbies to the blogging world, then I'm full of joyful optimisim that we will unlock our inner blogger and turn out to be naturally captivating story tellers.' You've succeeded. Well done both.

Bethnsdad I like the curly hair, Simon. Makes you look like a Victorian young man Takng The Tour.

Bethnsdad So what DID he do with his slaves? Or do we have to wait for the book?

bethanharris No way! Where are you guys staying? Tonsai is amazing, my jaw hasn't left the ground..!