...You forget that when your travelling it really is about the journey and not just the place you get to... as after the sleeper train, the 2 hour bus ride and the tuk tuk journey I couldnt help but be proud of myself for surviving it all (with no complait) ..on the bus a WEIRD thai film was playing where everyone dies (nice) and the randoms that got onand off the bus - well one guy had a maaive knife slit down his face (one ofthe girls in the group thought it was funny this dude had a piece of chillie on his face - though stopped laughing when inface I saw it was a knife slit with the blood and hanging skin coming out -ewwwwww!).

The views were lovely mountainous green terrain everywhere and when we got sorted in our accommodation we all went tubing down the river (swinging in - on side swings)..going over rapids... it was another mekong adventure (without the bars on the side and less of a current)... HOWEVER although beutiful from the outside its inside is abit mroe interesting...as there are bugs everywhere... and EVERYTHING bites!! Tubing... me and several others were bitten by the fish - a bleeding big toe as proof... mosquitoes...cockroaches... flying random things with massive stings..and ants (of all variety) are EVERYWHERE... a couple of the guys had to change rooms due to infestations... Me and Sio are lucky we only have about 30 giant black ants in the jail style bathroom and il ants in the bedroom - though with our pokey little room the bed covers half the front door - the accommodation is not the best (actually preferred the tribe huts - bring them back)! If I cotch in the room I get under the bed's mosquito net and flick off the odd red ant that runs over my bed... so a visit to the bar is necessary before bed before any sleeping can be done (torch and bug spray in bed with me ;) hee hee)...

Things which were pretty kool out here - include the views..some of the waterfalls (and viewpoints)... monkey temple... we got to feed monkeys roaming temple ground... and got to see a decompositing monk (88 yrs being in a glass box for all to see... this monk apparently reached enlightenment si has been preserved for all to see and smell).

WE also went for a trek in the national park...armed with a map and our hiking gear we all went for a trek to see what wonderous animal and waterfalls we could find...sounds idealic right...well the lizards were pretty cool but the other animals must have been hiding!

--- We found 3/4 of the park was closed due to flooding and after an hours walk to a couple of waterfalls we were all disappointed to find lame rocks and rapids calling themselves "waterfalls"

---Terrential rain hit us while treking through this glamourised rainforest and helf the group were attacked by leeches... literally through the socks..on the feet up the legs...eeeew thank god for 100%DEET and sexy walking boots! Again MINGING!

p.s. I have decided that the amazon will not be on my "to do" list... I still hate bugs and when they say " the rain forest comes alive when it rains" ...they are OMLY talking about the bugs (again all if which bite you)... tomorrow we leave for Ko Samui...CANT WAIT for a bliss relaxing day at the beach after this bug adventure (again ewww)... a tip all bathrooms here have sprays (like toilet sprays for when you finished squatting... they make good waterguns for spraying the bugs away from you while on the loo :P ) ...