Oh my buddha!! what a great day, too tired to tell you all about it know, but we will soon. xxxxxxxx

Hi u2, Back in sunny sunny England!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow your in Loas now, and sounds like u love it as much as we did, its was definatley one our fav countries, can't wait to hear about your stories of tubing, getting pulled in with bamboo for some beer lao ahhh we miss it! Just had a look at ur pic's there great, looks like ur both really enjoying yourselves. Me and nick are settling in ok, we haven't found jobs yet but won't be long hopefully, its been great to see everyone and catch up had a good night out in birmingham for nick's birthday, and now living in Windsor so been catching up with friends from school its been wicked, think we may get slightly more depressed when we start work and the excitement of being home has worn off, but were all good. Looking forward to seeing you both when u return sure we will loads to tell us.

When you go to cambodia and you wanna visit the Angkor Wat, call this guy Vannda - [email protected] 012227335 he was a tuk tuk driver who took us on our 3 days there, he knew loads about the temples and history, we went to his home for dinner with his family, he was our age, nicest guy in cambodia, we said that you 2 would be coming over and he said you must call him to show u around.

Loadsa Love Rach and Nick xx

Its so hard to let you all know what weve been doing because everyday is action packed with loads of stories to tell, but we'll give it a go as best we can. On our last day in Luang Prabang we tried to sort out some future travel plans it is pretty expensive to fly to Hong Kong so thinking of changing our flights home to leave from Bangkok instead, then we can meet up with Johny, Eggy and even Sarah and Pete if there in Thailand then. Had a pretty lazy day and wandered round the grounds of the Museum and checked out other parts of the town discovered along the river there were lots of cheap but really nice resturants so planned to go back that evening. Before dinner me and Verity went to a Lao Childrens Puppet show with the local children all danced traditional dancing in beautiful costumes, the others didn't want to come but it was there loss as we really loved it. Re-grouped and picked out our place to dine and even ordered the food, whilst waiting for the food to be prepared Toby started to notice lightning flashing behind our heads, we told him it was a strobe light that illuminates the huge temple on the hill.  Then moments later the restaurant staff came rushing out the kitchens grabbing every thing they could carry in a frantic rush, we were all dinning across the road outside then suddenly the wind started rushing and they called for us to pay for our drinks as a storm was coming, within seconds the heavens opened we all ran across the road into the resturant owners home away from the storm, the rain was crashing down outside we had missed it by seconds. It was quite an experience listening to the wind howling and rain rushing around us, we thought of all those people in the wooden huts we had passed the day earlier can't imagine them being that waterproof. They even had to turn of all the electricity as someone was electrecuted outside. After this the kitchen outside was flooded so we had to move on to find somewhere else to eat. We found another place as quickly as possible as we were all starving by this point, ordered our food and 45 mins later it arrived it was so disappointing a unamunous decision the worst food all 6 of us had had on the whole trip, warm beers, horrible meat, hard pasta, disgusting Mekong River weed (something we had been recommended) we all had to laugh about it and went to bed hungry.

The next morning we were picked up early (big Bai our driver) to go to Phonsavan to see the Plain of Jars. This was a UXO site, Lao is the most bombed country in the world, about 30 % of the bombs were not detinated. The Plain of Jars are huge stone shaped jars of unknowed origin they have been there for over 2000 years, and they still remain a mystery, they could have been used for burial purposes as coffins. It took us the whole day driving through the mountains down huge winding roads passing lots of small villages nearly knocking down pigs, dogs, children, chickens driver must have worn down his horn!! It was on constantly.

Arrived about 6, searched around a few guesthouses until we hit gold, less than 80p a night, beautiful room with hot shower, clean white linen and even had our own TV with cable, such a luxury, all relaxed and had a good dose of TV the boys caught up on the football, that night we scared ourselves watching a scary horror movie about the Underground.

Next day we visited the Jars it was pretty eerie, like the x-files, we chatted to a lady who was returning to Lao from USA, she had been at the Jars as a nurse during the fighting and bombings and gave us all a history lesson about the area, it was so interesting, it was the first time she had been back in 30 years.  After this we continued our drive to Vang Vieng the road was just as windy and we were thrown around the minibus for another 8 hours,  the scenery was so breathtaking, Laos is such a beautiful country. Finally arrive in Vang Vieng it is abit like Koh San Road (Bangkok) but in the jungle, full of westernised food and cool restaurant where you can chill out relax watching movies, we will prob stay here for a while as there is lots to do caving, tubing, trekking and kayaking, going to hire bikes later to explore. Just  moved to a really nice hostel, the one before we were sharing with an army of ants and mosquitos.

Thanks for all your messages, guys, lovely to hear from you Sue, will be round to teach you green curry when we get back.  Hi to Rob and Rach and Nick how your settling in back home, our time is running out too!! will be seeing you all before you know it, we are minus tans at the moment, hopefully see some more sun back in Thailand. x x x

Hi guys

Sorry I haven't posted a message for a while I have been slack. I have checked out the pictures and it looks like you are still having an amazing time. I loved the ones of Thailand because I have been on Hat Rin an been very hungover from Chang. When are you guys back? Life is good, working hard at my job in Birmingham and living for the weekends. Hopefully off to Morocco with Adil in August for his cousins wedding. Its really good having Nick and Rach back and they are seriously brown. Still not got myself a girlfriend, thinks its about time! haha. Anyway Englans vs Isreal kicking off so better go. Hope you are both well and chat soon. Rob x

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!  to my little bro just wanted to say happy birthday for tomorrow in case I can't get to a phone, thinking of you and missing you so much, love you honey, hope you have an amazing time in Greece, love and hugest hugs and kisses missing you sooooooooooo much love  Verina and Toby x x x x x 

Can you please send my love to everyone in the Isle of Man, I am thinking of you all, each day I have been chanting to feel closer to you all x x x  gotta go get on the coach everyone is waiting for me x x x love you all x x x

Hi Verina, only just heard from your dad that you've been away all this time, the pictures are amazing and just started to read your diaries, they're so interesting and how lucky are you, we all envy you.  I agree with Pete how the heck are those tigers so dosile.  Vince ask's have you rode on the back of an elephant yet, he quite fancies the idea of that and washing the elephants in the river, I wouldn't mind that cookery course I could do wish some of that, you'll have to show me how to make an authentic green curry sometime on your return.

Great to see you're having loads of fun and good for you, I will read some more of your diaries this weekend and write some comments, obviously take loads of care as you have been and more than that enjoy the rest of your brilliant travels.  Lots of luv, Sue, Vince Matt and Charz xxx

Hey Verina and Toby,

just spent a couple of hours looking at all your photos!! i'm really pleased and jealous that your having such amazing experiences, I'm just about to start on grans service book in a minute, and were going to the isle off man on sunday! but its not all gloom and doom, i'm goin to rhodes (a greek island) with Liz her uncle and her Brother, a couple of days after I get back! so that should be good! i'm sorry i haven't had many chances to write to you so far but im generally pretty busy with general crap, ie still looking for work! which is becoming a pain in the arse!! any way thinking of you both and missing you heaps.

all my love

Jack x x x

Just a quickie so we dont get to far behind again, still in Luang Prabang its a really nice little city with the mekong river running through it there are some beautiful views, we are staying in a wicked guesthouse, its the nicest weve stayed in for ages, even got a bath and hot shower!! Yesterday we all got a tuk tuk up to a huge waterfalls where they had a bear and tiger rescue center, and we all went swimming in the waterefalls jumping in off the trees into the freezing cold water, all went out for dinner again then to the hive bar for more beer lao and cocktails and there homemade rice whisky!!yuk!!its a really nice bar it wouldnt be out of place in notts or derby.

Today were trying to sort out how and where we are going next, will let you know when we do!!

p.s keep the msgs coming gran we are very impressed!!

Increase the Peace. xxxxx

Hey All,

will have to continue the last message, we are now in Laos in a small city called Luang Prabang. We arrived after a 2 day longtail boat trip travelling along the Mekong River. 8 hours per day is a long time and we even hit a storm that offered an exciting twist to the second day. But we arrived safetly with our travel buddies Jackie and Brad the star seat savers (we would have such sore bums today if it wasn't for them) and Verity Jane and William Joseph our (second name buds) made the trip fly by quicker, lots of pringles and ritz crackers to help it along. Stopped at Pak Beng for the evening had a nice Indian that night and woke early to jump back on the boat the second day. The scenery was beautiful endless river banks with a small villages springled along the river and a few cow that seemsed to be abondoned on random banks. We stopped a few times and local people would jump on the boat and run up and down selling snacks and plenty of Beer Lao, some children selling traditional materals. There is something very simple about Laos that I love already they say it is about 20 years behind Thailand and I would agree it already seems more authentic and less spoilt by tourism. It is an ex-french colony and so we have been taking full advantage of the baguettes and cakes everywhere a welcomed change from rice and noodles, just sampling a free lao coffee is so strong like a syrup we will be buzzing around the Wat later on the caffeene.

Going to try and piece together the last week as we have got slighty behind on the blog as so much has been happening since the trek and travelling over the boarder into Laos haven't had a chance to get near a computer.

To continue from the second day of trekking in Chaing Mai ..... we got up early after sleeping in our comunal hut all 12 of us some had slightly hazier head than others from drinking the rice whisky and Changs, if we went awake the guides soon made sure with the strategically placed bell on the door which they jangled and wipped off the blankets until everybody was up for brekfast. We we quite supprised to get egg sandwiches and toast and jam don't know where they plugged the toaster into!!! the trek started with the biggest incline so far it was so hot and we were struggling with jelly legs within minutes, it was hard work but made it up the hill in the end, the scenery of the valleys and mountains were amazing although i must admit I was focusing hard on my next step at times to make sure I didnt tumble down the hill (on my bum like the day before!!!) had my trusty walking stick still my bestfriend for the entire trip.  we reached a small village for our first stop where they showed us fields of poppies (growing opium is a big trade here still).

From here we carried on walking into the hills learnt a few rude marching songs (thank you Ollie - will remember those) ollie had to carry his guitar the whole way so we walked to the sound of music (actually Wizard of Oz)  but it made the walk more enjoyable. Had to watch out for our menacing guides especially Beckam who had a knack of finding skulls and hanging them on the girls backpacks (as if we needed anything else to carry!!) At least we didnt have a huge backpack like Julien carrying the stuff of 3 people crazy man!!) I renamed myself Zena  the Warrior with my fellow princesses and our skulls on sticks, as we marched down the hill where we stopped for lunch Packet noodles and cabbage very authentic (the local pigs seemed to like it!!) yummy. We all  enjoyed a swim and slight wash at the waterfall. It was so nice to be in a group that got on so well everyone seemed to click together.  After the waterfall we walked to the elephant trekking it was great plodding along on the elephnants for 1 hour and half, shame me and toby were separated but still had a good time actually managed to check out the scenery great view from the top of one of them, they had gorgeous little babies that followed and played with the guides.

Got to our final nite, an identical hut on the hill like the night before, we were made dinner various dishes and carried on drinking and playing games that night, beckam really came out of his shell and mystified us with his many mind games and tricks with sticks. This night was very cold so everyone got drunk to try and keep the frost away, however the guides were warning us of our uphill walk the next day!! they teased us for hours but the next day was pretty chilled hardly any hills got to the river and were split into groups for our bamboo rafting, i was with the girls my princess warriors and toby with the boys, it was rather chilled at first until the pelting of swamp weed began and then it was war of the rafts everyone was covered in mud and weeds, it was so much fun, a few rafts sunk especially the boys fatties (too many noodles) and there were a few poo stops!) we lost the boys for about half hour not ure what they were up to but later discovered there raft was full of water so sunk (thats what they say!!) We were all sad to say goodbye to Bai and the other guides,made ourway back to Chang Mai ready for a big party,  had wonderful showers (long time due) and headed out to an amazing all you could eat Steak Buffet, less than 2 quid, everyone was in there element had to cook your own steak but we had our own Aussie barbeque king mike who cooked everyones steak like a pro, stuffed ourselves silly, then got so pissed on buckets and danced to Jungle bar, it was a great sent off, for everyone. Next day 6 of us from the trek all arranged to go to Lao together, got the minibus to Chiang kong where we got our visas and got a longtail boat over the border to laos. Stayed the night in the town of hoay xai, next day getting on the boat to Luang Prabang where we are now, best go as everyone has comed to meet us for breakfast so speak to you all soon love to all x x

Mum, I will try and ring tonight haven't managed to find a international phone card yet, thinking of you all, still feel like I should be home with all of you, both send our love, hope the Youth day went well how were the entertainments? did you take any photos? Hope you had a nice Mothers Day, wanted to ring but we were on a boat on Mekong so phones were abit scarce.

Yo T & V,

 Everyone who visits your site is seriously jealous. You guys are seriously seeing a lot of life and it will stay with you for ever. The time now is 11.50pm and I'm at working drafting an Offering Document and listening to Classic FM.

When you get back to England I'm coming straight around to hear all the stories. Just in the process now of buying my own place in Hackney - its very cool. You will have to come round.

Increase the peace

 Powell 

 

 

its mothers day  here.your pictures are amazing especially the tigers .karen is coming over soon and later we are going to sues for dinner. last sunday jason took us to harding shute where karen cooked us lovely roast lamb and we picked loads of daffodils. the island is covered in daffodils at the moment really lovely/// you really seem to be enjoying every moment.jason has settled in with us quite well andwe like having him. grandad sends his love and enjoys all the news fromyou. very sorry to hear about your gran verina, we all send our condolences.  take care xx x x x