Not much to say really it was raining when we arrived and the planned activity was going to the beach.when it died down abit we wondered over.sure it would have been lovely ion the sun.the following day the group went to a local waterfall wwhere further upstream you could jump into the river and let the current take you down the river.it was so much fun we had many gos at this.we then sat around in hammocks for a couple of hours enjoying our surroundings.
The next morning it was the drive to the vietnam border.little did we no what was infront of us for this trip.the vans got stopped at a little toll bit in the road where our van got through after some words which we have no idea were but the other van got taken to the side but apparently they haddnt paid a previous toll and someone clocked the van.but our guide says that it was probably some corruption going on.anything can happen in cambodia as she likes to say.it was at this border that we heard a rumour that we could not get to the border because the road was blocked but we carried on anyway.an hour passed when we came to a holt with cars/vans parked to the side of the road and before us was a road which had turned into a river.what wre we to do it was like a scene that we only witness on the news boats being paddled,people on rubber rings and the brave wading heigher than there waist through ,with the only thoughtr of getting to the end of the road/river which was out of sight.our driver turns to us and says he thinks he can do it.(drive us through it).but told us we all had to get in the very back of the van to try and lift the front of the van.there were seven of us so we crammed as far as we could all go to the back.the moment of truth.off we go into the water making an instant wave the excitement and nerves overcomes the feelings inside van.this was it no turning back.so far so gd the van was still moving for how long wew did not no as long as we didnt stop we would be ok.the horn sounds in front of us people are wading through carrying things high abone their haeds they need to move because we have no chance small little steps is all they can manage but they make it and we are still going the speed increases but that means so do the waves.we look to our right and see a lady with a small boy huddled close to each other up against a shop wall,then we see the wave created by us creep up to them and washes the boy away from the lady.he could not be seen the wave had ungulfed him below the water.we think he was fine.our guide says to us "please could you pick your bags up from the floor" seconds after the van was starting to fill with water.what was ging to happen how could we still be going and the end not in sight.then the smoke started to pour in through the vents.worry starts to kick in.we plough on taking photos and videops of what we were witnessing.we see the end worry turns to hope and joy.just dnt stall it was racing through the minds of the passengers.we see people standing with just the feet covered by water.what a relief we made it and pull up to a garage and wait for the others and it was at this time that i(mike)had left his raincoat in the hotel hanging up.guted.
the other van was not in sight.news spreads they did not make it.i then realise my backpack is in the other van.i panik.there kate is standing with her pretty pink raincoat and backpack and me with nothing.what can i do. all i can do is wait.our guide just leaves us to try find out what is going on an hour and ahalf we wait untill the sight of the van members wading down the road with all their belongings happens.laughter cries out from all the dry members who made it.luckily for me the person whose backpack was on our van was the biggest person in the whole group,so he carried mine through and some how did not manage to nget the bag wet only damp on the outside.other members were empting their bag and ringing their clotehes out and electrical equipment soaked.
the rest of the journey was fine luckily.
sorry for the long blog i thought id try and make it into a story to try and get back what it was like.we have videos of it.