Singaporean Dream - Thursday 24th April

Today was not only my last day in Singapore, but the last day of my travels in South East Asia! How quickly time had passed!

This morning, I went to see the National Museum of Singapore. It was fascinating to read about how Singapore has come to its place in the world today. There was an exhibition that charted Singapore through the 50s until the present day, and it explained the changes and development that the country saw. I also learnt about the different heritage backgrounds that make up today's Singaporeans.  

After the museum, I met Urvi for lunch. We walked around the Arab district, admiring the mosques and lovely aromas from cafés. We settled at an Egyptian place and enjoyed falafel and Arabic salad. Sophie met us also, it was good to spend some time with them both before I set off. 

Later in the afternoon, I walked around the central business district, looking up at the tall buildings in awe. Nearby was the Marina Bay, which was beautiful. I also walked around the Bugis shopping area, enjoying the refreshing rain. There were shops selling absolutely everything here! I was all shopped out though. 

I made my way to the airport and reminisced about the last few weeks before boarding my flight home. 

Out and about in Singapore - Wednesday 23rd April

I slept well and was ready to see as much as possible today. I only had two whole days in Singapore, so it was essential to fit in as much as I could manage. I started the day by walking around the Orchard shopping area. This is where the big names had pristine shops and boutiques. On the other side were smaller tourist souvenir shops and food outlets. I came across a food court and having heard so much about them, I went in to see what I could find for breakfast. I had a traditional Singaporean breakfast of milky sweet tea, small cheese toasties and runny eggs. It was an interesting experience!

Next, I went to visit the famous Botanical Gardens. They were huge! The atmosphere was ultra calming and it was so peaceful with only natural sounds. I was surrounded by many wonderful plants and trees and I could just feel the greenery doing me some good! I saw healing plants, a ginger garden, an orchid garden, a fragrance garden and more. I really enjoyed the gardens and learning about the different plants. 

Later in the afternoon, I went to see the Little India district. It reminded me so much of Wembley! There were Indian food shops, clothes shops, restaurants, beauty parlours and more. It's nice that Singapore has such a wide mix of heritages. There was also a Chinatown and an Arab district, which I would go and see tomorrow.

Later in the day, I went to visit my aunt's sister, who had lived in Singapore for many years. It was great to visit them, having not seen them for some years. After that, I met Sophie and Mehul and Urvi for dinner. We went to an organic vegetarian restaurant. How wonderful to be able to choose absolutely anything I wanted from the menu! Suffice to say, it took us rather a long time to decide on our order! We enjoyed a delicious meal and great conversation. After dinner, they took me to a bar by the river. This place had beautiful views of the impressive buildings and of the river. The more I see, the more I love Singapore!

Absorbing last day in Nha Trang - Monday 21st April and Tuesday 22 April

Shirley was leaving for Da Lat this morning, so it was goodbye to the last member of my G Adventures family. For the rest of the day,  I wanted to soak up as much of the relaxed atmosphere in Nha Trang as possible, as it was my last day in Vietnam.

I enjoyed a stroll around the little town and people watching in a cafe. A last bit of sea breeze and pampering and it was evening before I knew it! I had a night sleeper train to take me back to Ho Chi Minh City, ready to fly to Singapore.

The sleeper train was fine and I shared my cabin with a sweet little toddler and her mother. I managed to get some sleep so that was helpful as I would now be spending a lot of time waiting at the airport! The train got into Ho Chi Minh City at around 4am, but my flight to Singapore wasn't until 1.30pm so I had a long time to kill. Chatting to family and friends back home and reading a good book thankfully got me through the 9 hours of waiting rather easily .

I was all checked in and ready to explore the final country of my trip. Singapore impressed me right from the start. Sweets at the immigration counters with sweet wrapper pots also, what tidiness! The airport was pristine and it was lovely to be greeted by Sophie.

There were beautiful buildings all around, as well as greenery. Sophie settled me into her place and I rested for a couple of hours before we went out for dinner. We met up with my family friends, Mehul and Urvi at a famous dumpling chain. It was great to all catch up together. We all share the love of scuba diving so exchanged stories of our scuba dives and talked a lot of travel in general.

Scuba diving in Nha Trang - Sunday 20th April

Dive day was here! I was very excited and went to the dive centre to meet the other divers and set off for the sea. There were quite a few of us and we all had experience in diving at different places. We were taken to the sea and then got onto our boats. The views were stunning and the breeze was wonderful. While on the boat, we were told our dive teams and met with our dive masters. I was diving with a Chinese couple and a German guy. Our dive master had done over a thousand dives! He briefed us on the dive site and we got equipped and changed into our wetsuits.

We jumped off the boats and descended below the sea. It was very cold to begin with but then we had warm water. The water was very different to any I had dived in before - turning from hot to cold very quicly. We saw a very cool jellyfish and made sure to stay at distance length from it. We also saw many snake fish and different types of shell fish. However, the best part of the first dive was swimming through a very narrow cave. There were fish everywhere that we swam through and it was increduble to see deep into sea cave! What an adrenaline rush! After the first dive, we rehydrated and fuelled up while excitedly comparing notes on what we saw. There was some fruit and cakes laid out for us and it was good to get some rest before the next dive. 

For the second dive, the boat took us further to sea and again, our divemasters briefed us on the dive site. BCGs, flippers and masks on, we jumped off boat and descended once again. I thought that there were extremes in temperature of sea on the last dive, but these currents were even more hot and cold! We saw some beautiful bright coloured fish and more unusual snake and shell fish. The visibility was not as clear as the first dive but it was good neevrtheless. We were all flowing through the water with more ease, having warmed up a bit from the first dive. Before I knew it, 45 minutes had passed and it was the end of the dive. Again, we excitedly swapped notes and then relaxed on the sun deck at the top of the boat whilst exchanging travel stories. 

I'd had a fabulous day so far with my two dives and now it was time to rest off. Diving was exhausting and I wanted to have enough energy for the evening. Shirely and I went for our last meal together and then walked around. We found a cute little night market and although I was all shopped out, I still managed to buy something for my dear mother! Just behind the market, we came across some traditional dancing and role play that was being performed. Perhaps it was for Easter Sunday? There were many children sat there watching and we stood and admired the traditional costumes. What a wonderful day.

Nha Trang - what a beautiful place! Saturday 19th April

We had reached Nha Trang very early in the morning at 5am. The hotel let us leave our bags safe until we could check into our rooms later at 8am. When the sun rose, Shirley and I headed to the beach. We walked along the shore and we saw so many local families swimming in the sea and playing with their children. It was 6am! It would seem that the Vietnamese prefer to head to the beach early morning when the sun rays are not so strong. They do not like to tan either so are well covered when the sun is out. We then got a couple of sun loungers and napped in the shade until we could go back to the hotel.

After checking in and refreshing ourselves, we set off in search for some breakfast and wander around the lovely little town. When we went back to the beach around noon, all the locals had gone and the beach was full of tourists. Many Russians come to Nha Trang for their holidays as Russia has a special relationship with Vietnam since the war. Russians need not buy any visa and are able to fly direct from Moscow to Nha Trang, meaning they can avoid their harsh Russian winters. There were many restaurants and shops catering just for Russians and most even had separate Russian menus.

Late afternoon, I went to find my dive centre. It was good to meet with the dive masters ahead of tomorrow morning's dives. I was very much looking forward to getting back into the sea with full dive gear! After a brief run alongside the beach, Shirley and I enjoyed a lovely meal together and a walk around before an early night ready for early start again.

Exploring Ho Chi Minh City and final goodbye to the tour family

Friday 18th April

I felt much better today after a good rest and my appetite back. Officially, the tour had ended for me, so I had a free day to do whatever I wanted before leaving Ho Chi Min City this evening. I wanted to catch up and see what I had missed due to sickness yesterday so I gave myself a rough plan for the day.

For the morning, I walked around the river side and to the Opera building and admired the beautiful designer brand boutique area. It was pristine clean with wide roads and well dressed people walking around. I really stuck out like a sore thumb with my bum bag and camera around my neck, not to mention traveller clothes! It was nice stroll and I went back to stay in hotel for hottest part of the day.

Later that afternoon, I went to see the cathedral and sat inside. It was beautiful and I felt lucky to be able to appreciate it on Good Friday. Although I'm not a Catholic, I feel like I can go inside most places of worship for a few quiet moments. Next I passed the square and went into the Independence Palace. It was huge! The rooms were impressively decorated and well kept. For the last part of the afternoon, I went to the War Remnants Museum. I learnt many facts about the Vietnam war and also saw some disturbing pictures. It was full of information and I was impressed.

Shirley and I were getting a night train to Nha Trang this evening. I had to pack my things and say goodbye to all the friends I'd made on the tour. We'd been a family for three weeks, exploring everything together and country hopping on buses, trains, boats and planes! How would I cope without them! It was emotional goodbyes to both Shirley and I.

Once at the station, Shirley and I had something to eat and boarded our sleeper trains. They were two bunk beds per cabin, like the last one we took earlier on the trip. We had a good journey with a lovely young Vietnamese woman in our cabin.

Cu Chi Tunnels - Thursday 17th April

After a good night's sleep, this morning we set off to see the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. It was an hour or so drive away, so we gazed out of the bus window observing different things along the way.

The tunnels were so interesting! There were all sorts of different kinds of traps that the Vietnamese had set up during the war. The tunnels themselves were also very smartly covered up with camouflage.

After the tunnels, the others went for lunch and then a walking tour. I was unwell, so had to give that a miss and stayed in the hotel for the rest of the day.

Flying to Ho Chi Minh City - just a quick stop in Cambodia!

Wednesday 16th April

We had a couple of hours as free time this morning before we had to leave for the airport. Most of took the opportunity to have some pampering done at the spa next door - a massage or pedicure!

All packed and ready for the road again, we were driven to the airport. It was a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The flight was good until it came to landing time. It was stormy weather in Ho Chi Minh and our pilot was not able to make a safe landing. So instead the air controllers directed us to Phnom Penh airport on Cambodia. What an adventure! Unfortunately we had to stay on the plans for an hour or so as we were not permitted to spend time in the airport. Our pilot refuelled the plane and once we got the go ahead signal for good weather, we were in the air again.

A slight delay due to weather, meant that it was evening time already by the time we got to our hotels. We all went for dinner and then had a quiet night to sleep of the day's excitement.

Every shopper's dream come true! Tuesday 15th April

Anne and I went to try on and collect our tailor made items this morning. We were very excited to see how our outfits looked. We were both very pleased. The tailors and dressmakers work very fast here. I imagine that they must work through the night to meet the demands of tourists, who only stay for a couple of days.

Later that morning, we hired bikes and cycled to the beach. It was such a scenic and enjoyable bike ride! When we reached the beach, some Vietnamese ladies designated parking spots for our bikes. It was a clever little system! The beach was beautiful and we enjoyed the sea and sand.

My fellow tour group members all had clothing, shoes or glasses made, so we all excitedly talked about our purchases over dinner. We enjoyed traditional marketplace style restaurant food, where you can see your food being made. A walk around the market and some healthy haggling meant that a market vendor was chasing Mike for the last price for a set of chopsticks! It was great to watch!

What a wonderful couple of days in Hoi An. Everyone in the tour group really loved it and vowed to return back. We packed our things ready to fly to Ho Chi Minh city tomorrow!

Vietnamese cooking class: Monday 14th April

Hoi An is such a gorgeous little town, very artistic and picturesque. This morning, I walked around the town browsing all the clothes on display everywhere. I saw a dress I fell in love with so had a fitting for it and was asked to return the next day to try it on. It was so easy to get tailor made clothes here. Shoes and bags were also easy and wide ranges and materials were available for all tastes. I didn't really intend to get anything made but once I saw the talent of dressmakers and tailors I would have been a fool not to! I have several occasions this summer anyway.

I also admired the artwork in the galleries. It was absolutely boiling and the sun was so strong so I had to stay indoors for the afternoon. Later in the day, I caught up with my roommate, Anne, about our mornings. Anne had been on an adrenalin adventure morning, so it was great to hear about that.

Late afternoon, four of us had our Vietnamese cooking class. It was something we had all been looking forward to, especially since we really enjoyed our last one- the Thai cooking class. We were picked up from our hotel and taken to the local food market. Our cooking teacher pointed out all the important ingredients to us and gave us tips on how to pick them. There were all sorts of new vegetables we were shown. It was a great experience! Next comes the cooking part. We were each given an apron and chef's hat and guided through step by step on how to make four different Vietnamese dishes: fresh vegetable spring rolls, vegetable curry for me and fish wrapped in banana leaf for others, Vietnamese pancakes and grilled aubergine. It was fascinating we picked up many new tricks. The food we had learnt to make was served to us for dinner, which we a enjoyed very much. At the end of the class, our cooking instructor have us a recipe book and some cooking chopsticks. It was great to learn about new cuisine and foods.

Scorcher days are here, en route to Hoi An- Sunday 13th April

What a bright morning! It was scorching hot today. We had a group tour to see the citadel in Hue. It was huge! We struggled a bit with walking in the heat and the general energy level in the group was pretty low. Amazing what heat can do to sap a personality or two!

After cooking off, we were on the road again. We were going by private bus to Hoi An today. It was a very scenic route along beaches, very beautiful. When we arrived, us ladies couldn't take our eyes away from all the gorgeous clothes shops. They were everywhere! Hoi An was famous for its tailoring and we were advised to wait until now to purchase our tailor made clothes.

After check in at the hotel, our tour guide, Huen took us on a walking tour around the town. We were under strict instructions to be allured and walk off into a clothes shop! There would be plenty of time for shopping over the next three days. It was stunning here, gorgeous bridges and lanterns everywhere. We were all in love with the place.

For dinner we all excitedly discussed what we had set our eyes on. Everyone was eager to explore more the next day!

On the road, sea, train - Bye Halong Bay and Hanoi, hello Hue

Friday 11th April and Saturday 12th April

This morning we enjoyed another feast of brunch on the boat and some last of the sea gazing before having to say goodbye to our private junk.

Once we got back to Hanoi, we did some food shopping for our next journey and then packed our bags and checked out. We were on the road again. We were taking a night train to Hue! Having enjoyed the night train experience in Thailand, we were curious to see what the Vietnamese trains were like. The trains were two bunks per cabin and they were a bit more enclosed. This meant it was more private but less social. Anne and I were with Holly and Matt. We played Taboo and it got rather competitive! Matt was crowned worthy champion.

Before bedtime, we decided to explore the rest of the train. We were lucky enough to be in first class, but the rest of the train looked rather dreary and rather cramped. Some people were even on just simple bus style seats for the whole night! Suffice to say, we felt very grateful for our bunk cabins.

Morning had arrived after a bumpy night train and we were welcomed to Hue. There was a festival going on in Hue while we were there, so the station was very busy. The hotel we had was absolutely gorgeous and we felt spoilt rotten with luxurious breakfast. The tour has included a mixed range of accommodation styles, so we are always pleasantly surprised when we check in to a nicer hotel.

What an exciting day ahead- we would be given a tour of Hue on motorbike! I love the adrenaline and breezy ride of a motorbike so I was bursting with energy. However, some of the others were rather nervous though at the prospect of being a passenger on Vietnamese roads, so we tried to reassure them. I was paired with Huen, our tour guide.
Huen was a great driver! We had several stops on our tour. We were taken to some pagodas, an incense stick shop where we were shown how they are made. Also on the tour, we were taken to a Vietnamese hat shop, again we were shown how they were made. Lunch was at a nunnery/monastery. It was a pure vegan lunch and absolutely delicious. I really loved being able to eat everything rather than having my own separate vegetarian meal.

In the afternoon, we were shown the bunkers from the war and also an emperor's tomb. We also enjoyed a boat ride along the Perfume River. We were all exhausted from all the travelling over the last few days and the highs of the motorbike ride the whole day. I fell asleep on the boat ride as it was so peaceful!

After a rest, we strolled around Hue, taking in the beautiful sights. Then, while walking along, I spotted my German friend, Steffi, sitting at a cafe! She was on holiday in Vietnam and I'd planned to meet her the following day in Hoi An, but here she was! We caught up over a drink and excitedly made plans to meet again the next day.

Dinner was at a family home, where we were served a huge range of traditional Vietnamese dishes. It was fascinating and delicious.

Halong Bay - A traveller's paradise : Thursday 10th April

This morning we said goodbyes to the departing group members. We then made our way to Halong Bay. Everyone is super excited! Halong Bay is a world heritage site and it lived up to its status. We all had mouths wide open when they pulled out the red carpet for us to step onto our private junk. We had no idea that we would be spending the day and night on a cruise! Our boat was immaculate and the views were incredible. We were provided with a feast of fresh vegetables and fruit for lunch and then we sat back on the top back and admired all the rocks and passing boats.

Late afternoon we went to visit a cave. It was huge inside and quite eerie. The light looked fascinating and it was really like something out of a fantasy film. For the rest of the evening we cruised and enjoyed our private junk and another feast for dinner. Some games in the evening and lots of laughs before a lovely peaceful sleep on shore. No cockerels or barking dogs: bliss.

Hello Hanoi: Capital of Vietnam - Wednesday 9th April

This morning we were taken to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is the holiest of holy places for the Vietnamese. It is Ho Chi Minh's final resting place. We queued up in single file in silence to pay respect. He was well dressed and looked as fresh as he was just napping! It was fascinating to see how clean and well preserved he was. Next, our tour guide, Huyen, showed us around the palace where he lived. Ho Chi Minh was a simple man who did not like to make a display of his money, so his bedroom was rather basic. However, he had to keep up a grand image for the world and as such, the building exterior was stunning, as were the gardens.

After the Mausoleum, we went to the prison. This is where

Anne and I enjoyed going around the different art galleries in the old quarter. There were so many stunning pieces that we were blown away by the talent! Later that afternoon, the whole group went to see a water puppet show. This is an art form originating from northern Vietnam. It was so beautiful and creative! Lovely traditional music and puppets meant it was smiles all around.

It was the last night for four of our group buddies. Hailee and Peter and Chrissy and Jeff would be flying home to Australia tomorrow. For their farewell meal, we went to a fancy restaurant. It was a real treat! The head chef for this restaurant used to cook for Bill Clinton. We all enjoyed our meals and soaked up the company of the four leaving.

A wonderful day!

Last day in Laos- what an eye opener: Tuesday 8th April

This morning we had a couple of hours before we had to make our way to the airport. We would be flying to Vietnam today! We used the time to go to the COPE visitor centre. This is a rehabilitation centre where they help those that have been injured by bombs. There is a museum also which sets the scene and provides facts. Laos PDR is one of the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita in history. More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over Laos PDR during the Vietnamese war. However up to 30% failed to detonate and remained in Laos PDR after the war. This leaves approximately 80 million unexploded bombies throughout the country after the war. As such, everyday there are explosions and more killed and injured. We tried to absorb the facts and also watched a short documentary. It was rather upsetting and the general mood in group was of sadness. Additionally, we were all appalled that it was kept so much underwraps. It was a shame that we would be leaving Laos today but at least we had the opportunity to visit COPE and learn of the horrors. The best we can do is support and create awareness.

I didn't feel like I had my share of this beautiful country just yet. However, time waits for nobody and Vietnam was waiting! It was a very short but pleasant flight. On arriving in Hanoi, the capital city, we were hit by the humidity and the fast pace straightaway. There were motorbikes and cars everywhere and the general atmosphere was more city bustle, much unlike the ultra laid back Vang Vieng. All of us were gawping out of the windows on the bus to the hotel, fascinated by the madness on the roads, the skinny buildings and the big names we saw.

We were staying in Hanoi's old quarter. After checking in to the hotel, we absorbed the neighbouring streets and kicked back a bit before this evening's meal. Today was Peter's birthday and to celebrate, we went to a very traditional, family run restaurant. We enjoyed good local food and tried to learn some basic Vietnamese words. There was a beautiful surprise cake lit with candles for Peter after our meal. He looked delighted and it was great to all celebrate together. We ended the day by a walk by the riverside to digest our food and admire the night views.

Vientiane - The capital of Laos: Monday 7th April

This morning we checked out and made our way to Laos' capital city, Vientiane. Our guide filled us in on some background on the journey there. On arriving, we were immediately taken aback by how clean and modern looking it was. There were proper roads and huge buildings. It looked like we were in Europe!

Today we had a free day so we all went to explore by ourselves. Shirley, Mike and I went to see the Wat Sisaket temple. It was stunning. There was a young couple dressed up and having professional photos, it may have been their wedding day. Next, we went to Patuxai, a local rendition of the Arc de Triomphe. It was huge! The views from the top were beautiful and we enjoyed the climb up.

For the rest of the day, we enjoyed walking around the city and taking in the sights.

Tubing and Kayaking in Vang Vieng - Sunday 6th April

This morning we were fed fresh baguettes for breakfast and enjoyed a few more minutes playing with children before saying goodbyes and departing.we were now heading to Vang Vieng.

The hotel was spacious and relaxing and the general aura of the town was even more relaxed! The roads were quiet and there wasn't so much noise from animals. We settled down our bags and went our separate ways for the day's activities. I'd chosen to do tubing and kayaking for the day with a few of the others. I'd never heard of tubing before. It was sitting in tyres and floating through water under a cave using ropes. It was so much fun! It was dark under the caves, but we were equipped with head lights. We had to make sure to follow the rope and watch out for rocks. It was brilliant and I loved it!

After drying up, we enjoyed some lunch before being taken by the water side to enjoy our afternoon of kayaking. I teamed up with Jeff as he had done some kayaking before. We paddled away and enjoyed some beautiful views of mountains. We passed some snorkelers and sunbathers on the way too. At some points we had to make sure not to bump into the rocks, or we would stall. We were doing so well! It was a great workout too, paddling away. Suddenly, Jeff lost balance as he got a leg cramp and he fell into the water! The boat wobbled but I somehow managed to stay on it. Poor Jeff! At least it wasn't deep or cold. We were kayaking for an hour and half but it didn't feel like it at all! It was so enjoyable and I would love to be able to do that again.

Late afternoon, after a small rest, Anne and I went to get a massage. All the tubing and kayaking left us rather achy. We also enjoyed a spot of shopping. In the evening we met the rest of the group and went for dinner to a popular Laon restaurant. Lastly, we went to a delightful little French bakery to enjoy something sweet. It was my dad's birthday today, so I felt the need to eat some cake to celebrate, since I could not be at home in London. Everyone was in high spirits again and it was great to enjoy food together again. A wonderful day.

Homestay in a Laon village - Saturday 5th April

We were all packed and ready for the road. Today we would be driving for seven hours to get to a small village outside Vang Vieng, where we would be spending the night in a homestay. Unfortunately, a few from the group were unwell with traveller's stomach bug. It was bad times having to spend the day on the road and we all felt awful for them. General morale was low as a result, but we tried to keep as positive as we could for them.

Once we got to the village, we were introduced to our homestay families and the sickly ones in the group rested. The rest of us were taken on a walk around the village. There were so many chicken, duck, dogs and cats! There were also so many children. 127 families lived in the village, but there were 800 inhabitants in total. Laon families have an average of six children.

To our delight, us ladies were presented with traditional Laon skirts, which we were asked to wear for a surprise after dinner. Dinner was a lovely mix of Laon food and some crinkle cut chips! Next the surprise: the children all performed a traditional dance and asked that we watch and learn. We would be joining them in the next round! It was so much fun and we couldn't stop dancing. More complicated routines followed as did other games. They also played some western music and asked us to teach them some moves! All in all, a fun filled evening full of music and laughter.

Last day in Luang Prabang - Friday 4th April

Today was a free day for us to spend as we please. A few of us got together and went to the Museum am King's Palace. It was interesting to see the grandeur of the rooms and furniture. There was also a classic car showroom. Next we went to a couple of temples along the route to the river. I have seen many temples now on my travels, but each and every one has something different to define it. The detailing and architecture continue to fascinate me!

We enjoyed a cool fruit drink by the river to rest our feet after all the walking. Some other tourists in the cafe told us to cross the bridge to the other side to experience a village wedding. So off we went! The bridge was rather rickety and not for the faint hearted! On the other side was a cute little village and sure enough some music playing out loudly. Everyone was dressed up and dancing at this wedding. Also at the village were little craft shops, paper making and paintings.

A spot of traditional lunch and it was late afternoon already. I packed up my backpack ready for tomorrow's journey. For dinner, we walked across to the river and crossed another rickety bridge to go to a traditional barbecue place. They had cushions and candles and the atmosphere was great. A few from the group got the barbecue and it was a real experience! They had to cook their own meat, veg and egg using broth and fat. They were working up a sweat whilst building their appetites! Everyone enjoyed dinner. After dinner, we had a last stroll through the night markets as we would be leaving tomorrow morning.

Waterfalls and bears - Thursday 3rd April

We woke up bright and early for our jam-packed day. This morning we would be going to the Arts and Ethnology Museum. We leaned about the different Laos tribes and their rituals. We saw some traditional clothing and saw a video which explained the rituals of a wedding. It was fascinating how similar yet different neighbouring cultures can be!

Next, we were taken to the waterfalls. They were stunning and we were blown away! We even managed to enjoy a swim. Everyone enjoyed the experience. Although the water was cold and the fish were biting our feet and legs, it was very refreshing! I never thought that I would say that I swam at waterfalls!

After the swim, we admired the beautiful bears at the Bear Rescue Centre. They were adorable! We also spotted a massive spider! Some lunch and a walk around the markets and we were tired and dozing on the bus back!

In the evening, we walked up to a temple and sunset viewing point. It was pretty, but too smoggy to see a full sunset. We had built up a nice appetite for tonight's meal though. We would be dining a traditional Lao meal at a local's home.

On arriving at the home, the three sweet ladies performed a ceremony and tied sacred bracelets around our wrists. We were then presented with a large banquet of colourful food. What a feast! There was something for every palate and everything was so yummy. We loved the salad secret dressing and the crispy aubergines. I also loved the seaweed, even though I am not normally a fan. And if that wasn't enough, there was also yellow curry and purple rice. Lastly, we were even given some exotic dessert of mangoes and coconut rice puddings. All that eating meant a walk was needed! Many thank yous to our hosts and we strolled through streets to digest food.

Mekong River Day Two: Wednesday 2nd April

After a good night's sleep we got back on to our slow boat for another day along the Mekong River. We were getting used to the relaxed and peaceful boat life by now! A morning of card games and reading and before we knew it, fresh lunch was served! I thought it couldn't get more delicious than yesterday, but how wrong I was!

In the afternoon,we stopped off at some caves along the river. There was a temple beneath the caves. It was very unique and rather dark also. We spotted a bat too! Our tour guide explained the history a little. There were many noisy insects around us so we had to listen carefully to him!

A couple more hours on the boat and we had reached our destination: Luang Prabang. We all had great expectations for this place, as we had heard good things. We got into a bus and were taken to our hotel. We would be staying here for three nights, so it felt good to unpack and settle down a bit. After a rest, we set out for dinner and to find some bargains at the night market. A long wait for dinner, but satisfying meal later and we were bargaining for gifts at the market!

Mekong River Day One: Tuesday 1st April

Today was boat day one. We went trough border immigration at Thailand and got our passports stamped before embarking on our beautiful boat. We would be spending most of the day on the Mekong River. It was a slow boat, letting us admire the mountainous region and greenery. We had unsurpassable views of the riverside villages and the tropical jungles.

We all had a communal stretch to straighten ourselves up after yesterday's long bus ride. Some of us girls got together and did our nails to neaten up and kill time. We were served a delicious hot fresh lunch on board too. Most of the afternoon involved view gazing, napping and reading. There was some excitement as some of the group spotted a dead body in the water. There was much speculation and our tour guide reassured us that the body would be found and buried.

Early evening we stopped over for our night's stay at the most beautiful little hotel overlooking the sea. Each room had a little balcony too. We checked in and headed out for dinner - out first Laon dinner. Everyone was in high spirits and we had so much fun together!

Zip Wiring and Cashew Nuts! Last day in Thailand: Monday 31st March

I awoke early to begin my day flying like a monkey around the wild! This morning, Mike, Hueng and I would be doing the flying squirrels zip wiring around Chaing Mai.

It was a scenic drive up to the greener parts where the zip wiring would take place. We were strapped up and provided with helmets and explained the safety procedures. Then,before we knew it, we were flying around from tree to tree experiencing the adrenaline! It was such a thrill! We even had some obstacle courses and some unusual flights involving bicycles and skateboards! We were zip wiring for about two hours and I enjoyed every minute! This was a great taster and now I was even more eager to do a bungee and skydive!

We were shown our photos and provided with a buffet lunch before we thanked our team and said goodbye. All that adrenaline release meant a small rest was in order before we checked out of our hotel again. This afternoon we would be taking a long bus journey to our next destination, Chaing Kong. It is located near the Laos border.

On a toilet stop, we were taken to a shop selling cashew nuts and other delicious delicacies. We tried many different types of coated cashews and bought all sorts of Thai treats for our bus journey. In the evening, we had another toilet stop at a temple in Chaing Rai. We had no idea that we would be seeing the most beautiful fairy tale like building before our eyes. The White Temple was luminous white and silver; it was simply spectacular. There was a gold carved building also and golden toilets. It was very creative architecture with demons hanging off trees. We were all speechless by its beauty and felt very lucky to have caught it just as the sun was setting.

A bit more of a drive and we had arrived at our little border town hotel. It was so quaint! We went for our last dinner together in Thailand and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. Tomorrow we would be crossing the border to Laos and having a day long boat ride along the Mekong River.

Chiang Mai Uncovered: Sunday 30th March

I slept surprisingly well on the top bunk of the train. We were all quite impressed with train journey and with how quickly 14 hours passed. Chiang Mai was fast approaching now and we were all eager to see our next destination!

We checked in our bags and made our way to the Doi Suthep temple. It was huge and there were many steps to climb up to the main temple. Our tour guide provided us with the history and background of the temple which was very informative. On the way down, we counted the steps with as much concentration as we could manage in the sun - it was considered good luck to count the correct amount of steps! I counted 308 but there were actually 306 steps. Ah well!

For lunch, Anne and I explored the surrounding area and picked a cute looking tea room serving Thai food. It was very calm inside and beautifully decorated. An afternoon rest and Thai massage later, I was ready to have my Thai cooking class!

Christal, Mike, Anne and I were picked up from the hotel by our teacher and taken to a local food market to pick up and learn about our ingredients. She was a sweet Thai lady and her and her husband worked together. We were shown how to pick tofu and also how coconuts are put through a machine to have their cream and water separated. It was so fascinating! I could do with that machine in my home in London! Next, we were taken to the teacher's home, where she had set up cooking stations to teach large groups. We were given our ingredients and taken through step by step process on how to make all four dishes. We learnt to make Penang curry, cashew stir fried vegetables, pad Thai and papaya salad. It was so much fun! We also ate our creations for dinner. You can imagine how stuffed we were after four dishes! Our teacher also provided us each with a cookery book so that we could learn and practice many other Thai dishes.
It was such a great class and I would love to do a similar one in Laos and Vietnam too.

To walk off our dinner we strolled the Chaing Mai Sunday market and the night markets. There were many beautiful things. We then went to see a Muay Thai boxing fight! The boxers were tiny, but vey strong! They were also very young. The match was very interesting. I particularly liked the way that the opponents graciously wished each other well at the end of the match. Overall, a jam packed but absolutely delightful day!

Day 1 - Bangkok, Saturday 28th March

This morning we all awoke early and enjoyed the hotel breakfast before setting off on a morning tour around Bangkok's river and temples. We had a local tour guide called Betty, who was very bubbly. He gave us a lot of interesting information about Bangkok. We fed fish on the boat ride along the river and admired the little river dwellings. Our first stop was the Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha temple. I'd seen this temple before on my volunteering Bangkok tour but really loved it and so was happy to see it again! The grandeur and beauty doesn't diminish on second viewing and it was also good to learn different information from another tour guide.

In the afternoon, a few of us went to check out the shopping centres in the heart of Bangkok. There were many impressive looking shopping complexes and we were ready with our walking shoes on! As we got to the shopping district, we saw many people and traffic was stopped. It was calm, though there were some policeman too. It was Election Day tomorrow so there were to be some more protests today. We stayed on bridges and watched the peaceful march.

The shops were fabulous! We had to restrain ourselves from buying anything really as we had a long journey yet and many more shopping opportunities. It wouldn't help to fill up the backpack any further just yet! However, one thing I would need is some new footwear. The reliable purple Birkenstocks I had bought on my first day in Khao San Road two months ago, had seen better days frankly and were almost ready to fall apart! Shirley and I bought some sandals made from recycled tyres, they were colourful and seemed good for walking. As you know, I am rubbish at throwing things away and my friends had to give me some encouragement to throw away the old Birkenstocks and start wearing my new sandals!

After the shopping trip, we had to check out of our hotel and make our way to the train station. We would be taking the night train to Chiang Mai. The night train was impressive with fold out bunk beds and curtains for privacy! There was also hot dinner and breakfast served on board that was delicious. The menu provided much amusement with the funny spellings and phrases. We had a great time, playing UNO and exchanging funny stories. We were asked to be quiet by a neighboring passenger at 9pm!

Goodbye Bali and hello tour buddies! - Friday 28th March

I'd had a wonderful week with Shane exploring Bali and now it was time to say goodbye! I packed my things and made my way to the airport to fly back to Thailand. I was meeting my tour group in Bangkok. It was a four hour plane journey and really quite smooth. I was greeted by the Bangkok bustle once again and now had the challenge to tail down a taxi and find my meeting point hotel!

The hotel was very impressive and swish. I just had enough time to settle in and relax a bit before heading to the lobby to meet my fellow traveLlers and tour CEO, for a first group meeting. There were fourteen of us, all from different countries and a nice mix of ages too. Our tour CEO gave us some initial information and checked our visas and then we all went around the table and introduced ourselves briefly.

For the fellow solo travellers like me, there is Anne from Canada, who is my roommate, Mike also from Canada. Shirley was also travelling solo and a fellow Brit, from Newcastle. Next, we have Jeff and Chrissy, a couple from Australia and Molly and Dan, a couple from Canada. Holly and Matt, a young couple were also fellow Brits. Gerhard and Christal were German Canadians and brother and sister.
We also have Hailey and Peter, father and daughter Kiwi Aussies. It was great to get to know each other over a yummy Thai dinner. Everyone was just so friendly and fun! I can't wait to explore new areas together :)

Happy Birthday Shane! Last day in Bali - Thursday 27th March

I can't believe it was Thursday already and our week in Bali coming to an end soon. It was Shane's birthday today and we had grand plans for the day! We started the day early and headed to the beach for our first surfing lesson. The sea was a gorgeous blue and the waves were perfect for beginners. Our instructor first gave us some pointers and showed us the different methods on a practice board on land. We tried different styles until we felt ready to hit the waves!

Holding a surf board and handling it through the waves is quite a challenge. Everytime I stood up I would fall down off the board again and have salty sea in my face. It was so refreshing! I wasn't very good at it at all, but wanted to try a couple more times. I was still exhausted from my diving and from lack of sleep for few weeks, so wasn't at my best and after three attempts and achy knees, I decided to sit on the beach and watch Shane instead. He was managing well and enjoying it very much. Shane has great balance and core strength so took to surfing well and did brilliantly. I dried off on beach and tried to nap.

We were presented with our photos and they were brilliant! Shane and I explored more of the beach area and then we found a local place to eat some lunch. We then found a beautiful looking bakery and took about 30 minutes to decide which cakes to choose! We finally decided on Balinese flavours of avocado and white chocolate cake, Balinese coffee cake and Shane's favourite, classic lemon cheesecake with a birthday candle. It was delightful!

We headed back to the homestay and I got my things together to pack. Tomorrow morning I would be flying back to Thailand and meeting my tour group. The third chapter of my adventure with some new people and new countries.

Bali Part: Scuba Diving Day 2

This morning, I was picked up at 7am again to travel to my dive site. Today, we will be diving in Blue Lagoon. Famous for its white sandy beaches and chilled out atmosphere, it sounded different to the mountainous, stony beach of Tulamben yesterday. Blue Lagoon was an hour and half drive away and today we were picking up divers from other hotels to go to dive site too.

It was great to meet new people and fellow divers. They were all doing fun dives rather than a course. We were a nice mixed age group and from Singapore, Canada and Russia. We would be going on a boat and jumping off today. Yesterday, I just walked into the sea from the stony beach, so jumping off a boat definitely seemed more dramatic! 

It was exhilarating jumping off boat and diving down. The water was beautiful, so blue and warm. My first dive was a deep dive, so we descended 30 metres below. I expected it to be more of a challenge to equalise pressure in my ears, but it was actually just the same as any other dive. Going so deep had consequences which my instructor had warned me about before we descended. It is possible for nitrogen to build up in the body and cause the diver to experience something called Nitrogen Narcossis. The effects can vary person to person but resemble being drunk - having less acute sensory and feeling happy or anxious. It is not however, dangerous and passes within few hours. I don't think I experienced any effects, so probably didn't have too much nitrogen build up in me. I saw even more variety of sea life and coral and enjoyed the adrenalin rush of being so deep under.

We got back onto the boat just under 40 minutes later and relaxed and dried off. The other divers who were doing their fun dives, all returned back too and we all exchanged stories of what we saw. A cup of tea and some briefing for my second and last dive followed. My last dive was a fish identification dive. My instructor showed me a book identifying characteristics, both visual and personality, of different fish. I was to descend with a slate and pencil and circle the ones I saw. We jumped backwards off the boat this time and descended about 25 metres. Already we saw so many different fish! Nemo, the clownfish, was everywhere! There was such a range; from beautiful little electric blue fish to large, flat, camouflaged fish. I kept referring to the slate of fish and clutched tightly while swimming. Everytime something looked familiar, I circled the fish on slate with my pencil. My instructor helped by pointing out fish that were hiding away. We swam up and down changing direction often and weaving through things to best spot hiding fish. It was fascinating and just stunning to see such a wide array. I tried to soak up every second as I knew it was my last dive.

Climbing back onto the boat after the last dive, I felt incredibly happy, but sad at the same time. I'd experienced so much underwater and now it was the end of my course. I have definitely come to love diving as much as baking and reading! We all travelled back exhausted and falling asleep on the journey. 

Bali Part 3: Scuba Diving Adventures Day 1

I was so excited to be diving again, that I must have dreamt of fish! Finally, I would be back in the sea. Along with teaching English, scuba diving was an important part of my trip. I absolutely loved it when I first tried it, back in 2011 in Thailand. This time, I would be doing the Advanced Open Water course.

The diving school bus picked me up from our homestay at 7am. It was a two and half hour drive to the dive site, Tulamben. My diving instructor filled me in on the day's plan and we chatted on the journey. It was such a picturesque car journey to Tulamben. There were volcanos and lots of greenery. We were driving down windy little roads and normally I would be nervous about driving on such roads, but I was too impressed with the views to care!

Once we reached Tulamben, my instructor and I went through the diving brief and some basic theory as a reminder. I was provided with my equipment and wetsuit and taught about navigation skills underwater. Some practice with an underwater compass on land and I was ready to hit the sea! We descended down about 16 metres underwater and saw many different fish and other underwater creatures. There was a little current, so it was challenging at times to keep together. I used the compass underwater to navigate myself and find bearings. It was interesting how distracting fish and sea life can be when you are trying to focus! The dive was just under 40 minutes and I enjoyed every minute!

For my second dive, my instructor gave me a little background history. I would be doing a wreck dive. Tulamben is a famous wreck dive site as there are remains of shipwreck from 1942, which make for a great adventure and exploration dive. We descended down 18 metres this time. It was fascinating to see the ship remains and details of the wreck. I'd never experienced such a dive before so it was particularly interesting to swim and explore.

Diving is extremely tiring work - all that breathing underwater and carrying an oxygen tank on your back! We had a spot of lunch and relax before the brief for the third and final dive of the day. I would be practising my buoyancy skills underwater, so my instructor explained me some theory beforehand. We descended down 18 metres again with a hula hoop in tow. We swam to the bottom of sea bed and used weights and string to attach hula hoop. I was to swim through the hula hoop on my back, my front and my sides, in as smooth movements as possible. It was challenging at first as I was not kicking effectively, but once I got the hang of that, it was much easier. I really enjoyed swimming through effortlessly and felt like a fish! It was so rewarding to see improvement with my fluidity.

The three dives of the day left me deliriously happy and excited for more the next day! My dive instructor said that I was surprisingly confident underwater with breathing and flowing through, considering that I hadn't done any diving for almost three years. It was such a compliment and good to hear. I got back to the homestay around 7pm and was eager to tell Shane about my whole day. I didn't stop smiling all evening :)

Bali Part 2- Bali Spirit Festival - Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th March

Shane and I had a couple of hours with Sophie this morning before she left us. We wished her farewell and got ourselves ready to check out the Bali Spirit Festival. This is a yoga, music and dance festival held every year in Ubud, Bali. People here were so relaxed and happy. There were many stalls selling yoga clothes, spiritual stuff and dance and yoga classes held throughout the day. We were lucky to be able to catch it. Shane is a huge yoga fan and writes for a yoga company, so this was right up his street! He was in his element, making new contacts in the yoga industry and handing out flyers and business cards. I enjoyed the atmosphere and music.

While Shane took part in one of the yoga classes, I went along to a dance class. It was called 'Masala Bhangra' and it was a dance workout class -this was right up my street! The instructor and creator of Masala Bhangra is a lady called Sarina Jain. She is originally Indian but brought up in America and she told her story of how she came about setting up Masala Bhangra. It was really moving and we all warmed to her straightaway. The class was so much fun! It was such an energetic workout and there were happy faces all around enjoying the beat of the music. There were even live dhol (Indian drums) players!

We enjoyed the rest of the festival and then headed into Ubud town or lunch and a walkaround. We would be leaving for the south of Bali tomorrow, so we made the most of our motorbike and tried to see as much as possible.

On Monday morning, we travelled south to Canguu. We were staying in a homestay, tucked away in a quiet corner and very peaceful. A French lady called Maud had settled down here and opened up the homestay. Maud was from Lyon, where I have been a couple of times, so it was great to chat away in French to her. She was so lovely. Shane and I loved playing with her little son and her friendly dogs.

For the rest of the day we just explored our new surroundings and settled down. I had some reading to do ahead of my diving course starting tomorrow. I was so excited that I will be underwater swimming with fish and other marine life again tomorrow. It's been too long since my last dive!

Bali - Part 1 Ubud: Saturday 22nd March

Having just said goodbye to Surin and my fellow volunteer friends, I had mixed emotions of sadness, but excitement to see my friends Sophie and Shane, in Bali. I had a six hour coach journey to Bangkok from Surin and then a four hour flight to Bali. A good book and eye mask (thank you Marion!) and I was all set!

Sophie and Shane were already there and waiting for me when I reached Bali airport. It was so great to see them! I hadn't seen Shane since my visit to China and Hong Kong, back in 2009! A short taxi ride to our hotel and we were all set to begin our weekend together. The hotel was so serene and beautiful. We had our own private pool with jet spa too. This is all too luxurious compared to the rest of my backpacker trip! We caught up lots and enjoyed an Indonesian lunch and walk around the area. There were many beautiful scenes of greenery and rice fields in Ubud, it was so peaceful.

I felt a little ignorant as I had settled in Thailand and learnt some Thai words, but here I was in a new country and although some things were familiar, I felt like a fish in new waters. People spoke good English here though, and were very friendly too. It was lovely to speak to some of the locals about their way of life. We were invited to look around someone's  personal temple. Bali is a Hindu country, so there were many familiar looking dieties, statues and food offerings around, that I felt rather at home in a way! It was also so much more vegetarian friendly here than anywhere else I have experienced so far in South East Asia. We enjoyed Balinese coffees and fresh avocado juices when the walking got too much! Although a few degrees cooler than temperatures I was used to in Thailand, it was a dry heat in Bali, so didn't feel cooler!

Tomorrow we will be saying goodbye to Sophie, as she was only visiting us shortly. We made the most of our time with her though. Tomorrow, Shane and I will check out the Bali Spirit Festival. This is a yoga, music and dance festival held every year in Ubud.

Last week as a volunteer teacher - Monday 17th - Friday 21st March

The final week had come around for me faster than I could blink. I'm not supposed to leave, I'm the one that says goodbye to those leaving every week! My time was up now and it felt vey strange. I'd settled down pretty well in just six weeks in Surin. I have loved every minute of my time in the classroom as a volunteer teacher and enjoyed my free time with fellow volunteers too. I've gained so much insight into children, Thai culture, food and language, as well as other things. I've learnt to relax, to be spontaneous rather than so planned out all the time and finally to learn not to worry over little things. I've met some incredible people, both the Thai and the fellow volunteers and have really enjoyed making new friends from all over the globe. I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity really!

This week I was teaching a special class of children who had chosen to come into school especially to learn English. School was shut for summer holidays now, so these children were a delight to teach as they had chosen to be there. It was a new challenge teaching a mixed age and ability group and I had to tailor my teaching style and worksheets to suit all of them. My coordinator, Nikki, helped me quite a lot this week - it is difficult teaching how to tell the time in English! It was so rewarding to see that they understood though and hearing them shout out the time made us feel so proud! I also taught the children some holiday vocabulary at the end of the week.

On my last day, we had a small party for us all. I took in snacks and drinks for the children as a treat and they were so polite and helpful in helping set up and serve. It was wonderful seeing them so happy and playing and smiling. It was so sweet to be given flowers as a token of gratitude. It was tough saying goodbye, but equally I know they are happy and will learn more with new volunteers.

In the evenings this week, I went for runs in the park. On Wednesday, we all treated ourselves to luxurious ice cream. It was Sara and Fred's last day as medical volunteers so a bit of a leaving do for them. Fred and Sara have been wonderful to talk to about travelling and learn medical related things from. On Thursday, my last evening, our coordinator, Nam, invited us for dinner. She made my favourite Thai dish -green curry! It was so lovely all eating together coordinators and volunteers. It was great to spend time talking to other English girls who arrived last week. They are a sweet group.

For my last day today, I have enjoyed a traditional Thai massage. I was stretched and stood on and it felt so rejuvenating. I am so perfectly relaxed now for my bus ride to Bangkok and flight to Bali. Let the next part of the journey begin!

Weekend in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The time to visit Cambodia was finally here. Having heard so much about it from some others, I've had to wait until nearer the end of my stay to visit, due to the visa rules. I would have liked to have come with friends but it wasn't possible due to everyone's visa expiry being at different times. It was only a weekend though and I'm sure I would be able to meet new people once there. Surin is a one hour minibus ride away from the Cambodia border. Many people worked at the border so the Friday morning minibus was packed. Once I got to the border, I had a two and a half hour taxi ride to Siem Reap. It was a bumpy and dusty ride!

My hotel was lovely with an air conditioned room, comfy bed and satellite tv - this felt like luxury! I relaxed a little, then headed out to explore and get some lunch. Cambodians are so warm and welcoming and I felt comfortable straight away. A spot of Cambodian lunch and an ice-cream and I was ready to tackle the markets! Some gift and souvenir purchases later and I was back at hotel for break from heat! For dinner, I came across a lovely little French pizzeria. I haven't had any pizza or cheese my whole trip, so gave myself the allowance and enjoyed it very much! The town was all lit up for night, so I explored the night markets and the famous pub street. It was similar atmosphere to Koh San Road in Bangkok. Very crowded and many people asking me if I wanted a tuk tuk!

Fresh and early the next morning after a good sleep, I was excited to walk around the world famous Angkor Wat temples. At breakfast, I met another solo traveller who wanted to explore the temples too. Linda is from Switzerland and also like me, had just spent time as a volunteer English teacher in Bali. She was heading to Thailand next and I am off to Bali next week, so we had many things to tell each other! We got on very well, having similar interests and being the same age.

Linda and I were taken to the floating village first. There was a whole community of Cambodians who choose to live on boats on the river. They avoid paying tax and they live mainly by fishing. We visited a floating school and orphanage, as well as a floating market. There were crocodiles caged on the floating market, their skins used for bags, shoes and other souvenir items. It was lovely to visit the school and orphanage but sad too. These children had lost their parents in a typhoon. They were still full of energy and huge smiles though. It was fascinating to be explained everything about floating village life by our tour guide.

After a spot of lunch, we were taken to the Angkor Wat temples. The temples were absolutely incredible and huge too. The carvings reminded me of all the Hindu temples I had seen in India and England too. The sun was scorching as there was no breeze at all. We really struggled climbing and walking at times so had short sit down and water breaks! It wasn't possible to see all the temples in a day, so we narrowed it down to the main ones (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon) before sunset. We choose to see sunset at Phnom Bakheng, which is renowned for its gorgeous views from above the many steps. There was already a crowd gathered by 5pm for the 6.15pm sunset! Although the sky was a pretty melange of pink and orange pre-sunset, there was no visible sunset as it was too smoggy. It was a shame, but a lovely view nevertheless!

By evening, Linda and I were in dire need of showers and a sit down! After a break, we went out for dinner and to see the night markets and pub street. Over dinner, we enjoyed hearing about each other's travelling experiences up to date. Linda was off to Thailand early on Sunday morning, so we had to say our goodbyes after spending the day together. One of the best things about travelling is the opportunity to make friends from around the globe and those of you that know me well will know how much I love that!

I enjoyed a lie in on Sunday, before checking out and travelling back to the border. I really enjoyed my short visit and would love to come back to explore more!

Week five of volunteering - Childcare - Monday 10th - Thursday 13th March

This week, I was volunteering at a different project as my schoolchildren had their end of year exams, so I volunteered at the childcare centre. The children at the childcare centre are aged between two and four. There are all sorts of activities to keep them entertained throughout the day. The mornings begin with breakfast snacks, daily sing-song, some physical exercise, followed by lots of playing and some dvd watching. Next is lunch and then a nap for two hours. When they are freshly energised from their naps, there are more snacks and playing, before their school bus picks them up at 3pm.

I really enjoyed playing with the children and didn't know how the mornings passed so quickly. I'd be used as a climbing frame, as a hair model and as a sofa! They children are so loving and playful and I'd gotten quite attached to them already in my two days at the childcare centre last week. This week we had two new volunteers at the childcare centre. Lauren and Jay are childhood studies students and this was their placement, so it was interesting to hear their ideas about the way that children interact, behave and socialise. I enjoyed spending my days with Lauren and Jay, they are lovely girls.

It was a busy week in the evenings. A longer run than usual on Monday evening, trip planning for upcoming Cambodia weekend on Tuesday and Thursday and a visit to the night market on Wednesday evening. On Thursday evening, we went for a meal at the restaurant that serves pad-thai wrapped in an omelette, to say farewell to Steph. She was heading back home to Australia that night.

It is strange to think that I have been living in Thailand for five weeks now and saying farewells to people every week and it will be next weekend. For now though, Cambodia awaits! I am so eager to see the world famous Angkor Wat temples and experience Cambodian culture and food.

More goodbyes but hellos too! Weekend four - Friday 7th - Sunday 9th March

The weekend already! On Friday, we enjoyed our last day with Amber, Becky and Alex by relaxing and swimming at the pool. We bid them farewell by having dinner at our favourite local restaurant. Tomorrow morning once we say our goodbyes to them, it will be just Steph and I until our new volunteers and housemates arrive on Sunday evening.

After the morning goodbyes on Saturday, Steph and I went to our coordinators' Tukky and Worn's village to teach the village children English for the day. The class was held at Tukky's house and the children were a mixed age group. It was so lovely to teach again as I had missed school a couple of days during the week and worked at the childcare centre. Steph and I taught the children fruits, animals and classroom objects. They really enjoyed doing the word searches! It was an enjoyable day and I wished I could come again to teach the village children. A quiet evening for Steph and I, but we kept busy by cooking dinner, trip planning, chatting and reading.

Our coordinator, Worn picked us up on Sunday morning to go and watch some local football being played between his team and opponents. Having been to watch a couple of weekends ago and really enjoying the atmosphere, I was delighted to be able to go again. Another victory for Worn's team and smiles all around. On the way home, we stopped off at a watermelon farm and bought a whole bag of fresh watermelons! We returned home and Worn taught us how to make Thai fried rice for lunch. Watermelons and fried rice - just wonderful!

After a quick clean and relax, we were eager to welcome our new housemates. There were two new medical volunteers from Sweden called Fred and Sara, and two new childcare volunteers from England called Lauren and Jay. We were all chatting away in no time. The coordinators and Steph and I took them for dinner and to the local supermarket. It was good to be able to welcome them into the home and fill them in a little bit about Surin.

Week four of volunteering - Monday 4th - Thursday 6th March

This week is slightly different to my usual teaching in school Monday - Thursday. We were all invited to attend the opening ceremony of the childcare centre's new building on Monday. There were a lot of people invited from the village, as well as parents, friends and families of the children and teachers from the childcare centre. It was a momentous occasion as the childcare centre staff, local villagers, monks and volunteers had been working hard to construct this new building for the last six years. So it is wonderful for everyone to finally see it come together. Although, the roof still remains to be finished, they will be well under way to achieve this also, as my housemates have managed to successfully fundraise approximately £2000 through family and friends. Well done Amber, Becky, Louise and Alex!

We went in the truck together, a little more dressed up than everyday, and upon arrival at the childcare centre, we spotted some of the children and their parents, dressed up and full of smiles. First, there was a small Buddhist ceremony given by the monks, in order to bless the building auspiciously before its first use. Then, there was plenty of food and sweet celebratory treats. It was interesting to try these! We were then blessed with string bracelets, which represent luck, by the monks. The ceremony and the lucky string bracelets tradition reassembled the Hindu tradition that I grew up with. We also had ceremonies for new houses or buildings and had important sweet food and lucky string bracelets presented to us by priests. After helping wash and clean up, we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon by cooling down with ice cream. It was a very hot day!

In the evening, we went to the festival/fair in the local park where I normally run. This is an annual event that runs for a week, in celebration of the rice farmers. There was a stage with traditional Thai dancing, a Miss Surin competition and gorgeous Thai children all dressed up and modelling children's clothing. There was also food stalls, gift stalls and games stalls. It was lovely to wander around. After several attempts, unfortunately we were unable to win a huge cuddly toy, by throwing darts accurately at the board, for our coordinator Tuk!

On Tuesday, I went to school and taught my seven and eight year olds about family members. I also recapped animals. It was pancake day today, so in the evening we all got together to toss some pancakes up and enjoy them with various toppings. It was so much fun and our coordinators enjoyed learning how to toss a traditional English pancake!

I was back at the childcare centre on Wednesday and Thursday, as my schoolchildren had exams. It was a different experience and I enjoyed playing and interacting with the children. They are aged between two and four and are adorable. We also help serve them lunch, wash and clean up after lunch and get them settled down for their afternoon nap time. It was Amber, Becky and Alex's last day at the childcare centre on Thursday and it was rather emotional for them to say goodbye to children and teachers. In order to cheer them up, we all went on a road trip to pick up our housemate Steph from the elephant village. Any excuse to see elephants again!

This weekend I will be saying bye-bye to them and welcoming in new volunteers/ housemates. Even though this is becoming a weekly thing now, goodbyes do not get easier!