Backpacking

I know it has been a while but we have had some technical difficulties in getting this long awaited, much anticipated email out (ie. Adam, in a cut and paste frenzy deleted the email - if this one is a little lack lustre be aware that the original one was hilarious).

We left Bangkok some time ago - it feels like ages but in reality it was only about a week ago. The plan was to head to Ko Chang for some beach time and then go to Cambodia via the southern land border crossing. Sound easy?

We jumped on a bus at the Bangkok Eastern Bus Station. According to the Lonely Planet the local buses are very reliable and generally better than the private companies. Mostly, we agree with that assessment. The bus trip was meant to take 5 hours but we took six and a half. We were late partly due to a late departure and partly due to the bus catching on fire. No, it actually caught on fire and we all piled off in a bit of a hurry especially when flames were spotted underneath the bus near the engine. All on video of course . . . .

Naturally in the face of near disaster, Adam found a friend who proved to be very helpful. She was a local woman who owned a bar on Ko Chang. We basically followed her to the island and then her and her Dutch boyfriend gave us a lift to the town and then put us up in their hotel at a discounted rate (which was still a bit beyond our budget!!). It was a welcome bit of luxury with hot water, TV, fridge etc. After that adventure we were pretty tired, so we went to bed and watched Air Force One. Awesome. . . love a bit of Harrison Ford as the American President. . .

The next morning we checked out and found some less expensive digs - which turned out to be amazing. A little bungalow right on the water with a great view and our own bathroom. We decided to stay three more nights at the expense of our budget and travel plans. We're on holidays!!!

We went out to another island and did some snorkelling - beautiful place but the snorkelling wasn't fabulous. The next day we hired a kayak and cruised around for about four hours enjoying the scenery and getting very sunburnt (yes Mum, we had sunscreen on. . .). It was a very relaxing four days and a great way to recharge the batteries before the Cambodian border onslaught.

And so here we are in Cambodia. We have heaps of time to kill because we missed all of the morning buses to Phnom Penh and now we have to wait for three hours for the next one. Good work Team!! The border crossing went very smoothly. We caught a truck to the ferry at Ko Chang, then the ferry to Trat, then a truck to the bus station, then a mini bus to Hat Lek (border), walked accross the border, then caught a taxi to a dodgy guest house on Koh Kong. Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy describes Koh Kong as Crap. I want to elaborate but I guess that pretty much explains it. Good baguettes though - only saving grace. The guesthouse was a haven for a drug dealing Australian who has been there for months. We were sure that it may have also been a brothel in its former life. Charming place. . . .

The next morning (and not soon enough I might add) we walked to the Ferry Pier (via baguettes of course) and boarded a dodgy looking boat for the four hour trip to Sihanoukville. We sat next to the exit window of course and were fairly certain that our packs would float better than the life jackets. Uneventful trip (lucky - because we haven't got much luck when it comes to boats) except for the terrible music TV / Karaoke channel on ten minute repeat at ear drum bursting volume. We arrived at Sihanoukville, caught motobikes to a guesthouse that the drivers work for of course, and met up with all our other ferry mates who had also been sucked in. The guesthouse was cheap and alright and close to the beach. The beach was fantastic with restaurants and bars everywhere as well as tourists.

Cambodia has been discovered! We enjoyed a lovely afternoon and night there and then got up early (not early enough obviously) to catch the bus to Phnom Penh.

Our plan is to spend one or two nights in Phnom Penh then up to Siem Reap for a couple of nights, then back to PP and then on to Vietnam. Not much else to report - we are both well, no real health incidents apart from bus on fire and previously mentioned sunburn.

I drank instant coffee (with sugar in it) and my spork broke. Only those of you that understand and appreciate the beauty of a spork know what I am talking about.. . .

Our time in Thailand is drawing to a close. We will probably be here for about four or five more days then we are off to Cambodia. Not sure how our planned border crossing will go (I suspect not that smoothly) but it will save some backtracking - which I hate - and will allow us to go to at least one of Thailand's famous beaches.

We spent the last six days travelling to Chiang Mai, trekking in Chiang Mai and returning from Chiang Mai. The trek was quite touristy but fantastic. It was only three days and not arduous by any stretch of the imagination.

We had a bit of an elephant ride - big fan of elephants, would really like one. . . .then trekking and bamboo rafting which was surprisingly good fun. We stayed in bamboo hut type things which were very cool and the food was amazing. We met some nice people on the trek who we are hoping to freeload off in the not too distant future! Gotta love networking. . . .We went swimming at some beautiful waterfalls and saw some amazing scenery.

However, we were both quite challenged by the environmental (or lack of) considerations during the trek. It didn't spoil our experience but made us wonder how sustainable those trips will continue to be.

Our return to Bangkok was kind of fun in a really loud, uncomfortable, shaky, dirty kind of way. The train was a local overnight sleeper which is funny because neither of us remember sleeping really. A few times I thought we were going have a crash / did have a crash. Quite a painful tripreally. This does not bode (my favourite word of the trip) well for the Transiberian Rail!!!! Originally we were going to try and get to Ko Chang today but decided to spend a night in Bangkok to rest and relax and send emails before the next adventure. We are staying in a reasonable guesthouse for about $9AUD . . all good. We had three hours sleep this morning after the train extravaganza and have had nothing else to do all day. A rarity for us while we are on holidays. The adventure starts again tomorrow. . .early . . .who knows how far we will get. Bangkok seems unseasonably cool today which is a welcome surprise.

We have registered our Cambodia trip with DFAT and will try to continue update the registration as we go. Skype has been going pretty well but not all of the internet cafes have it so we have to search for it. Good to talk to Peta and Bwett and Jen today - reception was bad though. . . .

I hope everyone is wondering how our first 48 hours have been and are missing us terribly!!! The airport was quite intense so it was a relief to get through customs (even though I left my leatherman in my hand luggage . . Mum (of the Barry variety), this is coming to you through the mail!) and have a drink and celebrate our last moments in Australia for some time. . .all going well.

Bangkok is ace! Uneventful taxi trip from the airport although the driver was trying to break the land speed record in big city traffic, nice one. Uneventful guesthouse - no five star luxury but comfortable and conveniently located. Not that we knew where it was actually located as it turned out. The first few hours of exploring were annoyingly interrupted by people wanting our money and people wanting us to ride in tuk tuks. We eventually got to a tourist bureau where we booked a trip up to Chiang Mai - leaving on the 23rd and returning on the 29th. Can't wait . . .literally. . .so we are going to Kanchanaburi tomorrow for a couple of days. Kanchanaburi is of Bridge over the River Kwai fame and we are also hoping to get up to Hell Fire Pass. We leave tomorrow. Had dinner in Khao San Rd last night. Khao San rd is close to our guesthouse if you take a direct route. . . . which we do now. . .but earlier. . .

Today in Bangkok was truly amazing. We are both constantly surprised at how clean it is and compared to Manilla or Cairo it isn't that busy. Heaps of backpackers everywhere which is a bit strange but it is all good. We went to the Grand Palace, National Museum, the Reclining Buddha and had a little boat ride. Meals on the street are cheap and good - we are both still healthy so it must be ok. There was some huge shindig on all for the King of Thailand. Still not sure what it was all about but it was very busy today.

Jen and Stephen - we have thought about the two of you quite a bit over the last two days. We hope that your flight was good and that London is blowing your mind. Can you send us your mobile phone number in England. We will try and give you a call over the next week.

Anyway, we are safe and well and loving it. We are looking forward to heading off tomorrow - Kanchanaburi should be grouse (Adam's word suggestion - nice one. . .). Missing everybody lots.