So after leaving the stunning, tranquil island of Ko Phi Phi the next port of call was Hanoi, Vietnam. The place is absolutley nuts, a simple task like crossing the road took most of the day, you really took your lilfe into your own hands! 3 million people, and 3 million motorbikes, all out in town at the same time! all sorts of crazy1

We then managed to escape Hanoi (not to return me thinks) to the beautifu Siem Reap, Cambodia. Has to be one of my favourite places on this round the world excursion. so many stunning places and temples to visit, and so many friendly people as well. Great to be back in a tuk tuk again, definately the way forward! As expected the Ankgor Wat was truely astonishing piece of architecture. After walking along the 'catwalk' to the temple, you then have to decide which of the many ways you are going to turn to get the best of the place.Ours took us to a hub of tourists looking upwards in amazement, curios, we went to investigate. And behold was bar far, even by inca trail standards , the steepest, most dangerous staircase i have ever seen. You would be a fool to climb, one false move in the sweaty, scorching heat and you were a goner. But. . . . . . when in Rome. Well you see all these elderly Japanese tourists doing, cause they have lived most of their life and havent got a lot to loose. So after many a discussion and deep breaths up we go, practically vertical. Then a big sigh of relief when you reach the top and have survived and admire the stunning view, and then it sinks in . . . . . what goes up must come down. Oh god that was a bad feeling. So to take our minds off it we took the scenic walk around, and then joined the que of idiots that came up, to go back down. Never, ever again is all im saying.

The next place after Cambodia. . . . . Chaing Mai, Thailand. Here we payed some elephants a visit. Was definately one of the best things outings i have done. After you meet your group, you are taken out to a village where they look after the elephants. Your choosen elephant pulls up in it bamboo parking slot ready for you to jump, plus one very squeally sister in tow. Then off you go into the thick of the forest, making a few banana stops on the way for the elephant, a whooping 200kgs of them a day! So they pick up bananas like takeaway coffes out there! So they give you this bar to place in front of your seat, like a rollercoaster ride, didnt quite understand why we need this piece of flimsy aparatus, till we started going up and down hills. Lisa screaching so much i thought the elephant might knock her out with his trunk! Such amazing animals. Then it was off to the local villages to sample some food, and then a spot of bamboo rafting. Now, having done this in south america i knew what might be in store, didnt feel like sharing it with Lisa though. Fully dressed minus, valuables and shoes, we head towards the edge of the river. I could see the thoughts running through the heads of the other, the rafts are'nt water proof, water coming up and over them, and we are fully clothed. So on we hop, and let the fun times begin. The guys steering the rafts definately went all out in making us part of the adventure, with numerous attempts at sinking the raft, and making out various species were surrounding the waters. All excellent fun, and many amusing memories. great bunch of people.