Friday 15th January

Almost time to leave our hotel and we noticed that over the road they have washing machines. So we put a wash on - 20 baht which is 0.40 pence for a 57 minute wash!!! I remembered to pack my no peg clothes line too which has come in very handy.

We had to wait around a bit this morning as we've managed to loose the camera again! So we had to get reception to ring the tour operator to see if it had been found. They were going to check and get back hence the wait. Unfortunately we didn't hear anything so set off to visit another temple later this morning.

Visired Wat arun, temple of dawn which has the steepest set of steps I've ever seen. I had to grab the hadrail with both hands and pull myself up one step at a time. It was scary. Even more scary coming down but the views were lovely.

Walked to next pier and stopped to drink fresh coconuts which are really refreshing then a lunch stop. Lots of locals were eating at this restaurant so we went in. No one spoke any English but they had a menu with what looked like 3 courses but was actually only 1. You chose your noodle type from 7 or 8 noodle types, the type of soup (including a dry soup??) and meat, beef, chicken or pork. We made our choice and they were giggling. Even showed it to someone else eating at our table. This lady showed us how to use chopsticks and how they eat the dish we had chosen. They bash it around a lot in the bowl, turning it and bashing some more. The thin soup i ordered usually gets spooned over the one Sam ordered but we liked it fine the way we had it. We were very unsure of what it was going to be but thankfully it was really nice. Just like soupy noodles with pork. And Sams dry soup was garlic and oil. Total bill including 2 cokes 60 baht - £1.20!!! There was mountains of peeling and shredding going on there too. They just prepare all the ingredients on a table in the middle of the restaurant.

We had a stroll around the area but missed the next boat back. So I went for a visit to the loo. 4 toilets in there 2 ordinary and 2 the hole in the floor type. Went to go on the first and noticed the floor was swimming so waited for the next free one. A lady came out and the attendant stopped me going in. There is a bucket by ghe side of the toilet with a hose and tap, for those who like to wash what we wipe. The lady proceeded to throw some cleaning agent onto the floor, give it a scrub and then pour the clean water out of the bucket over the floor. Stood back and showed me in. Yes, it was swimming but at least it was clean. No flush though. You use a scoop which is in the water in the bucket and pour it into the toilet. While I was in there, the next toilet must have been getting the cleaning treatment as all the water came flooding through to mine. Sam thought id got lost I'd been gone so long. Nearly missed the next boat too

Headed back toward the hotel then as we'd booked a 1hr thai massage. Oh my lord. I think I'll be black n blue in the morning. Thank goodness I go to yoga (thanks Annette) or I'm sure I would've been screaming. Pulled and pummeled, twisted and stretched. Sam was doing quite a lot of owwwwiing I have to say. £3.80 for an hour so it's got to be done.

Tried to trak down the camera, called at last night's restaurant but no luck. Called at the tour operator too. Felt rather sheepish as it was the same one we left the camera in last time. Ah, lost your camera again, she said! Fingers crossed they think they may have found it so we have to go back tomorrow night. I do hope they have as it has all our elephant photos on. Sam said he's going to tie it round my neck if we get it back.

Called into Rambutti village where Mike and Gill stayed and had a cocktail before going for something to eat. Don't know why I'm piling on the pounds as we're eating really small portion of what seems like healthy food. Hope I'll get into that dress for Shelley's wedding!

Think we're going to chill out at this hotel tomorrow before heading off to the Centra Hotel for the start of our second leg. Cambodia