Only 5 days left...............
We decided to send off the trip on the beach, so we're on Koh Samet, the closest island to Bangkok.
It's pretty here, but sort of played out and expensive. Lots of top-less (clue-less) farang. It's funny to see the looks of shock on the Thai vacationers when some 250 lb Brittish girl takes her top off and bounces into the water.

But I'm having fun practicing a new sport; 'floatie surfing'. The waves here can get pretty big, and sometimes you can ride them in all the way to shore.

Hey there people!
I haven't really been feeling very 'bloggie' lately, so please forgive my lack of attention.
So, we're in Laos. Specifically Luang Prabang. It's such a charming little town, obviously the UNESCO dollars are being put to work. The streets are all paved, things are amazingly clean (by S.E. Asia standards) and most of the colonial buildings are in great shape.
But, since I've been slacking so much in the blog department, I really should catch you up on the Issan region in Thailand and the other places in Laos.
Read on!

Back from Cambodia, Malaria free (I think), and happy to be back in ol' Bangkok again, I had my first hot shower today in over 2 weeks and just finished receiving an hour long foot massage. Heavenly.............

I really enjoyed my time in Cambodia, there is alot there to see and experience. The things that impressed me the most are:

The ancient temples (obviously)
Adorable friendly kids
Red dirt and dust everywhere and on everything
The abject poverty of such a large percentage of people
The money being poured in (especially near Ankor Wat) by foreign interests
The expat communities

Overall, I can say that I would love to go back. It isn't as easy as Thailand, but it's cool to feel on the edge of the world.

Phnom Penh is quite a city of contrasts. Crumbling 1920's French mansions, Vietnameese, Chineese and Thai shopkeepers selling spices and mobile phones, beautiful temples with orange, red and yellow-robed monks strolling with umbrellas in the sun, NY baseball caps on mototaxi drivers every two steps you take asking "Killing fields today? Genocide museum? Shooting range, you wanna shoot AK?"
Baguette stands dot the riverside, and mine victims hold their hats for change, NGO-owned Land Rovers ride alongside rickshaws down back streets where you can have your shoes repaired or your fortune told.

Wow! Very cool!
We've spent the last few days at the ancient Ankor temples. I'm overwhelmed by the beautiful artistry and condition some these temples remain in and the supeurb job being done to preserve and restore them.
That said, it isn't all gravy. It's super hot and dusty and after two hours I'm already sticky, stinky, filthy, and exhausted. (to give you an idea of how hot it is, I haven't felt the urge to pee either of the first two days, and we've spent at least 6 hours a day there, and I am drinking alot of water)
Worth it? F-in'yah it is! What I've seen and felt in the last two days has far surpassed any ancient ruins I've ever seen (Mexico, Greece). Here's a few teaser pictures since I don't have time right now to upload everything (this IS Cambodia, and the power goes out every few hours)....................

Well folks, we're here!
It was quite a journey (opting for going in overland rather than an easy/comfortable/expensive flight) and much stressed about too, since I've heard SO many horror stories about border tricks, by everyone from the tour companies to get you there, to visa officials, to taxi drivers, to little kids picking your pockets to god only knows what else!

Hey there everyone,
Well I'm back in ol' Bangkok after some serious tanning and drinking out of a bucket.
Koh Phangan was alot of fun but it kinda wore me out. It's becoming more obvious that I'm not 21 anymore. Still though, that said, I'm pretty proud that I managed to do my version of rocking till the break of dawn more than once.

Hey there!
Right now, Cartoon and I are on Koh Phangan, off the east coast of the Andaman Penninsula in the gulf of Thailand. Honestly, I would normally wait until I got back to Bangkok before writing this entry (especially since I don't have my card reader = no pictures) but I'm experiencing my first bout with bad weather so I can't really go out to play.

A new sun shines in Bangkok
it has two names
Apple and Cartoon
View image

I have an entirely new view now of Thailand thanks to their friendship, and I'm so glad for my fortune in meeting them (thank you Tim!)

Us girls have been quite busy!....................

I had a great Christmas (or 'Kissmaht' as they say in Thailand).........