After sleeping the night in Cairo airport (long story), I got on a plane to London to meet Sarah again. Apart from going from Egyptian prices to London prices, it was great to be in a quiet and organised city again for a while. Being the first English speaking country since New York, it felt like I'd developed a new 'sense' as I could listen to other people's conversations and even have my own. London was as I expected. Plenty of pubs serving ordinary beer, lots of beautiful buildings and churches that are a little bit older than me, and plenty of pale Poms coming to terms with the thousands of problems that only they seem to face. I got to admire all the shrines to the English class system which the English seem to appreciate even more than the tourists and sit down to a pie, beer and chips at last (I was looking forward to English fish and chips, but that was a mistake). Our head of state wasn't in residence while I was there sadly (off shooting pheasants or something I guess) so I failed to get an audience. We also went over to Berlin for three days. We met a friend there who showed us around and answered all our questions about pre/post war and wall times. Berlin (especially East) is definetly one of the best (and cheapest) cities I've seen and the history there is still very tangible as you walk across a street and realise the streetlights etc. have change and you have just crossed 'the wall'. The Jewish museum was well funded and extensive as you would expect. The German's themselves were a welcome change from Egypt and England enjoying conversation beyond scams or football (the drama with the national coach was front page news EVERYDAY while I was in London!! Only an American president could get more press from a minor sexual discrepency). From London I'm heading to Bangkok on the 14th August. I'll be almost on Australia's doorstep but given how cheap it is, I should be able to delay the inevitable for a little while longer. The plan is to head north, cross into Laos, Cambodia and then Vietnam (who stung me nearly $150 for a visa!) and then back to Bangkok. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'll be able to avoid being home for the election though. Apparently Australians can't focus on a sporting event and politics at the same time?