Hey Everyone,

As we are now ending the South East Asia part of our trip we thought we'd give a brief round up of our thoughts, likes and dislikes of what we've experienced over the last three months.

Asia is obviously a very different culture from the Western world but what surprised us the most was their lack of health and safety measures, but in a weird way how well this works showing how OTT the English standards really are. A few examples;

• People carrying the most random objects on their mopeds we've seen some crazy things such as pigs, 6 foot book cabinets and a woman with no less than 100 pillows/cushions tied all around her. • Instead of having family cars here they have family mopeds with up to 6 people being on one moped at a time including newborn babies!! • At junctions, even at traffic lights, there are no set rules people just go when they feel like it, even if this means going on the other side of the road to do so. • Moped drivers being as young as maybe five years old. • Asians don't use indicators; instead they use their horn to signal they are overtaking. • In Vang Vieng we even saw a construction worker hanging over the edge of a building 10 floors up only being held by the equivalent of chicken wire.

Although all of these things are a little out there, they make Asia what people come to see. Other things we like about Asia include;

• The views of amazing landscape and beaches • Friendly, happy children who wave and smile when they see you. • The elders also greet you happily with wide teethy smiles. • Street sellers who have learned what they see as English phrases, some of the best being; "lovely jubbly" and "alwight mate". • Other street sellers trying to pressure you into buying things with phrases such as; "cummon lady boy", "no money no honey" and "you don't need the suit, the suit needs you" • The amazing craftsmanship of the buildings and temples • The bus journeys with continuous speeding, horn beeping and bad English music covers. • Tuk Tuk drivers - especially the ones who you have for the whole day on trips you quickly become very aware of how friendly and happy they are to have work • The best part of Asia overall though has to be the price - everything is so cheap and 9 times out of 10 you can still barter it down to a lower price to make it even cheaper•

So we know this is going on a bit now but last of all we just want to highlight some of the experiences we have had or activities we have done which have made the last three months so special for both of us;

• Snorkelling • Scuba Diving • Scooter Tour • Quad Biking • Tubing • The Sunsets • Slow Boat to Laos • New Year at Patong • Full Moon Party • White Water Rafting • Our Moped Adventures • The Amazing Beaches and The Clear Blue Seas • Meeting People • The Temples • The Photos • Kayaking • Sunrise at Angkor Wat • The Animals that we've got to interact with; Crocodiles, Tigers, Snakes, Elephants, Monkeys, Lizards (and all of the baby animals that are roaming free everywhere along the way) • Cooking Class • Kies Epic Moped Ride From Pai to Chiang Mai • Weather •

We each have different places which we regard to be our favourite, although we loved 99% of the places we visited, the three places that stick out in Sophie's mind as her best are; Sihanoukville; as she fell in love with Sam (our tuk tuk driver), his family and Otres Beach. Koh Phi Phi ; due to the pure paradise setting and the snorkelling opportunities. Finally, Singapore; because it exceeded all expectations and was the first place she could imagine herself living (although it was our last Asian country). Kie's top three in no particular order were; Vang Vieng; purely because of the tubing and the guesthouse that we stayed in. Si Phan Don; for the reason that it was our first real taste of roughing it without all of the luxuries we were used to. Lastly, Singapore; for the same reason as Sophie but additionally it was the first time on our trip we had spent the night in a dorm and showed how beneficial that was in meeting new people.

We would recommend Asia to anyone and everyone, no matter of wealth or age there is definitely something for everyone. We're sad to be leaving but at the same time excited for what Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have to offer.

Lost of love, Sophie and Kie xx