The Dark Depths of Asia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!!

Thank you to everyone who is leaving comments for us. It is fantastic to keep in touch and still know what is going on in our 'normal' lives while we are away. Great to hear all the news. Scroll down the page to see more photos if you haven't already seen them.

We are about to cross the border from Thailand into Laos. It is only a stone's throw across the Mekong River.

After Australia Day, we moved on to see some ancient ruins in Ayuthya and Sukothai. We rode around these cities on pushbikes, as the flat terrain is very conducive to an afternoon of mild physical activity. In Ayuthya however, our lovely afternoon pedal turned into a bit of a Tour de France (or Thailand) as we somehow ended up riding about 20km out of town. We knew there was something wrong when the ruins and temples petered out and were replaced by the faces of locals looking at us strangely. We knew we were lost when they started getting genuinely excited to see us. Dennis' directional abilities have lacked their usual lustre of late.

We then ended up in Chiang Mai, discussing deep and meaningful philosophies with Buddhist Monks in a program called 'Monk Chat'. The program teaches monks how to speak English by exposing them to interested foreigners. It was a very interesting way to spend an afternoon.

Today, we have travelled 7 hours (from 6am) through the jungle mountains in the North of Thailand in a rickety old bus, with the locals. It makes for a very uncomfortable trip when the seats are made for skinny people!!! (more to the point -not for Andrea) Next trip we'll book the back seat! Even Dennis found the seats to be extremely narrow. We will be in Laos for the next week. As we're unsure of the state of the internet there, we may not update for the next couple of days. Until later, you guys play nice.