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  Bangkok then Singburi, Thailand
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Gawd, just taken me about half an hour to log on to the site so a bit frazzled! Here I am in Thailand and have spent the first 3 days in Bangkok doing cultural stuff. We then moved about 150 km to Singburi where we'restaying in an eco lodge type place which is great -all meals provided -all Thai food -yum!

Great bunch of peeps here and have had a fab week. We're right out in the sticks here and we're located near a river along which I amble in the evening. You have to be fairly robust tho to brave the regular ambush and cacophony of barking dogs all defending their owners dwellings but it's worth it. Local peeps almost without exception smile and wave as they go about their daily tasks and there are THE most stunning buterflies I think I've ever seen which are all too quick to photograph -curses! 

This last week we've visited enough temples and buddahs in various positions to last me a lifetime -not that they're not beautiful you understand but you can suffer from a degree of overload

Andre n Jo playing sumo with rucksacks

! We had a visit to a very interesting place yesterday -a temple cum village for sufferers of HIV and AIDS.  People living there are in various stages of the disease,some still living in "sheltered" accom and others in hospital in a pretty rough state.We were permitted and even encouraged to walk thru the ward of poorly peeps and we smiled and said hello in Thais to them and some smiled and wai -ed back  (Wai-ing is where you put your hands together as if in prayerat a height between your chest and head  -and whre you put them all depends upon whom you are addressing)
We've also had the opportunity to learn the basics of Thai culture, some language and some cooking -it's been really great.  

There are 13 of us on this trip and on Monday 4 of us do the ellie bit about 3-4 hours away for 2 weeks whilst the others do more cultural stuff and some trekking, then we all meet up again in Koh Samet for a week of R and R. I've had some late nights whilst here 1and 2am; I blame Jo and Andre who are 2 people I've particularly hit it off with -unfortunately neither are ellie-ing but it'll give us loads to catch up on when we get to KS.  

The cost of living out here for us Farangs (Westerners) is so cheap -I bought 3 lovely hand made bracelets and some earrings this morning -90 baht the lot (60 baht is a quid) There is an abundance of fresh fruit at every turn too -every morning pineapple and water melon is available in addition to bananas and oranges

Grrrr -just look at that!!! Bangkok

. Along the "lane" where we are there are banana, mango, papaya and even pomegranates growing! Tried soem unrpe mango last night in the bar  and that was mighty tasty too.
Only down side is ruddy mossies  -have a large collection of bites on my heels and ankles and they ITCH like mad -aaaaaargh!! 
When we're on our next leg on the ellie bit we also apparently get the opportunity to do some teaching in the village schol so that will be interesting.... Think I'm going to keep this short and upload some photos and then do some bits  -y'know pick up some money and supplies.
Sending you love n hugs
Asia Sal
xx

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Huge sitting buddah	Local chap and cows down the lane	Local View	Me n megolomaniac Steve!
Our welcome party at the Eco lodge	Shiny pointy stupa	They even have topiary ellies!	View from accomm in Phnom Pehn

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