MATT: Back in Bangkok to celebrate the King's birthday.

Kel: Wow - we're so lazy. After about two weeks after our tour we finally get round to updating our blog again! Yes we are still alive.

We ended our tour at the delightful Bangkok, which was decidedly less scary this time. Our tour group dropped from 12 to 9 as 3 stayed behind at Siem Reap to fly home avoiding Bangkok altogether. However the others that were flying from there were pretty upbeat as things seemed to be getting back to normal. We headed out for our farewell meal together on a public bus to the touristy area and then suddenly heard these massive banging noises. Our tour leader turned a bit white until we realised it was the biggest fireworks display ... ever... for the King's birthday. Phew. So that and a nice meal were a nice way to say farewell to everyone.

It was sad to say bye but equally exciting to see whether we could get ourselves from a to b now all on our own - eek (oh and also exciting to get out of Bangkok again)

MATT: So I am going back a bit now - as it is about 3 weeks since we finished our tour and I am writing this from Koh Samui - but want make a few notes about what we have done...especially since we have had some time now to reflect.

Our tour around Indochina has been an amazing - possibly life changing - experience. It has really openened our eyes to how other people live their lives and get by with nothing but the support and love of their families and communities. I think it has made us both realise that we have it very easy back home in the UK and we should spend a bit less time worrying about the few pennies we try and amass or save here and there and more time enjoying the experiences and people around us every day.

It has certainly toughened us up a bit also - we won't flinch at ant infested outside toilets and a bit of dirt or live animals or public butchery etc....

Anyway...it has been real...but we are now living it up amongst tourists, in nice hotels and western menues..I think we both actually preffered the rougher side of Indochina to this sanitised tourist facing side.