I AM THE BUTTERFLY PRINCESS.... So since the last time a wrote we have done so much. We were in Cambodia just about to see the temples at ankgor. The first temple we saw (and the only one i'll wrtie about coz u'll get bored otherwise, we saw over 12 temples!) was called Angkor Wat. So we stepped off the tuk tuk - which by the way we had a crash with a motorcycle on and fell off! - on to a a really long stone walkway over water. at the end of the walkway is an enormous entrance with ornate carvings and statues. so we're looking around that thinkinf how amzing it is, and then we walk further and in full view is the mighty ankgor wat. It was absoultely magnificant. So gigantic. It's so well preserved adn there are such beautiful carvings and stone structures. We climbed up a really steep staircase to get to the top (see www.statraveljournals.com/katie to see pics) and then we walked around, looked at the view etc. It was so cool. Then it was time to get down...fine for me and laura, but not do good for kt and dani who are scared of heights!! eventually we found a better way down so all was good. anyway, the next couple of days we saw more temples. imcluding the one where tomb raidor was filmed! i loved it, it was ruins of a temple with massive trees growing in a around the temple. We then flew to Bankok to get the train to Chiang Mai in North Thailand. However, all the trains were cancelled so we had to fly instead of getting a 15 hour train - oh it's a hard life! We have now got 8 flights, 3 more to go! it's definately a record! so we had to stay the night in bangkok and we stayed int he most amzing hotel with a swimming pool, gym, jacuzzi, steam room....it was gr8. a night of luxury well deserved! anyway, we then flew to chiang mai where i am now. This place is gr8, so laid back and pretty. the first night we went to a wicked night market and bought lots. then we did a 2 day trek in the jungle and got back a few hours ago. It was eventful to say the least. Here's what happened..... 1. We climbed up the most magnificant limestone waterful. it was one of the best experiences of my life. Unfortuantely not so godo for kt as our guide dropped her camera down the waterful! luckily he went chasing after it and retrieved it but it died :( the guide is trying to resusitate it! 2. we tehn went on a 3 hour hike and i was in a BAD mood cause i really started feeling the effects of a 2 week throat cold! 3. we tjhen rode some elephants to our lodging for the night with a hill tribe. The elephants were lovely but the elephant guide for kt and laura's elephatn was disgusting to it - whippint it and coverign it's eyes and beign really horrible. kt got really upset and rightly so! went i saw the guide covering the elephants eyes and went off on one at hiim shoutign at him and telling him to stop. he just started laughing the b****** but eventually stopped. I'm ringing UNICEF when i get home! 4. we slept in a hut with no electricity but it was soo much fun!! we met the local tribe villagers and they sang for us etc. 5. the next morning we had a gr8 breakfast and set off on anotehr hike to a village to get lunch and go on a leisurely meandor down the river on a safe bamboo raft....or so we thought! 4 of us on a small bamboo raft with the bamboo 'driver', a recipe for disaster. the raft started sinking into the water when we turned directions. My bum got wet and was really not impressed! Bum schmum! that's nothign compared to what came next! Our raft got wedged on a log so we all clambered onto the log to try and push the raft off. Unfortuanely the log gave way and we all fell into the river. Now not just my bum was wet but my whole being! the raft started to move off and disater stuck. laura got her leg caught between the log and the raft. she was screaming and i was tring to hold her up with my free arm (the other was trying to cling to safety of a log). katie and dani managed to eventually move the raft off. they then hopped on to the raft and laura and i got stuck on the log in the middle of the water, laura in agony and me scared of the water (flashbacks of the kayaking ordeal!). the bamboo driver then came to get us and we had to swim down the river to where the raft was. the rest of the journey was spent on terrified silence. anyway, we're all ok now!! don't worry mum and dad. 6. I am the butterfly princess! during the course of the trek, 3 butterflies landed on me. they obviously loved my smell. dani thinks i was a butterfly in my previous life...i think i was their princess. anyway, so the trek was fun and not so fun but an experince none the less. definatly worth it. doing a thai cooking couse tomorrow and getting a pedicure, hopefully nothign will go wrong with that!! so much love to all, L xxxxx