Cambodia...

Ahh after an action packed, glorious month the Laos government has wised up and chucked Andre and I out of their poor defenceless country.Though they clearly didn't think this whole thing too carefully as that means that Shinead, Yee-Man and Niall have been left unchaperoned down in the four thousand islands! Oh god, those poor little islands...

Ok, so i guess i have some gaps to fill. I've been a bit off the radar lately because...well...we've been living remote. After a few days in big town Vientene we decided to head down to the Bolaven Plataeu.We did not realise that was going to neccesitate travelling on buses for hours and hours (and hours and hours... etc!). Anyway, we ended up at this little one horse town called Tat Lo which is in fact just a series of guesthouses built onto the banks of a river at the base of a waterfall. It was just lovely. The locals were really friendly and kind to us and it was a lovely place to chill out and just swing in a hammock for awhile. So, although we would have loved to stick around longer concious of our tight time frame we headed down to the islands.

The islands were a huge trip actually. No power connected, it is only generated for a couple of hours each night. And after no sleep the first night (due to some serious freaking out about the rat crawling around our hut rafters) we decided that maybe fishing would be a pretty zen thing to do. Only of course we were taken fishing in the most uncomprehendably stupidplace ever with nothing but some string tied to a stick... remind me again what i paid my $5 for? But anyway, we all made the best of the situation, swam, ate our picnic (a dry bread roll that was older than me and a banana that made the bread roll look like a spring chicken!) andhad a bitofa boat ride around the islands. but i guess it was the company that made the whole experience so much fun.

Andre and I left the girls for the first time in a month this morning. We're nowheading around Cambodia (but i'll get to that momentarily) but the girls havealready been here so they'reheading back to thailand to do some mediation and then get shinaed a flight back to ireland. Yee-man will continue on with us through the thai islands, malaysia and indonesia.although that whole schedule is looking a little shaky as we seem to have simply lost two weeks of time. not quite sure how that happened! but we will endevour! we're spending about two weeks in Cambodia, which sounds like a dream after Laos. Roads that are smooth; cool, clean, cheap accomodation and street food that doesn't put the fear of god into me. Not that i didn't adore Laos and want to cry as we were leaving!

So right now we're in a town in Cambodia called Kratie. There are apparently a whole bunch of dolphins hanging around near here so we'regoing to go check that tomorrow before heading to Phomn Phen (allegedly because i want to see S-21, a museum about the Pol Potregieme and the Khmer Rouge...but actually i hear they do fantastic cake by the lake there!But shh... don't tell anyone!) then Angkor Wat and after that..well...we'll let you know for sure when we're sure!

ok, i'd better go... there are no words for how expensive this internet access is!! keep emailing though guys... i miss you stacks and can't wait to see you at home soon :)

simone xxx