Clare writes:

Perhaps f there are enough monks in a town they can affect the ambience and make it more calm and serene, less grasping. Something in the power of prayor after all.

We're still staying in the Phonemalee Hostel where we were unceremoniously dumped at by the taxi driver wehn we arrived - after a lengthy trawl around other possibilities we decided that we had a good deal. There are cheaper, but much less nicer, and there are nicer much more expensive. As it is we're in a wooden-panelled air con twin with brekkie for about 6 quid between us. It's just three doors up from the banks of the Mekong, which is busy with food stalls, boatmen, exotic sights and sounds... there are hiking trips on offer but the town is sort of soporific... so we're more inclined to wander around and sit in cafes and rcharge batteries...